The Pilgrims taken to the Bath. 43 among immortals, wearing a crown, playing upon a harp, eating and drinking at his Prince's table, and singing praises to him for bringing him thither, &c. Now, methought, while she was telling these things unto us, my heart burned within me; and I said in my heart, If this be true, I will leave my father and my mother, and the land of my nativity, and will, if I may, go along with Christiana. So I asked her farther of the truth of these things, and if she would let me go with her? for I saw now, that there was no dwelling, but with the danger of ruin, any longer in our town. But yet I came away with a heavy heart; not for that I was unwilling to come away, but for that so many of my relations were left behind. And I am come with all the desire of my heart; and will go, if I may, with Christiana unto her husband and his King. Int. Thy setting out is good, for thou hast given credit to the truth; thou art a Ruth, who did, for the love she bare to Naomi, and to the Lord her God, leave father and mother, and the land of her nativity, to come out and go with a people that she knew not heretofore. (Ruth ii. 11, 12.) "The Lord recompense thy work, and full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust." Now supper was ended, and preparation was made for bed, the women were laid singly alone, and the boys by themselves. Now, when Mercy was in bed, she could not sleep for joy, for that now her doubts of missing at last, were removed further from her than ever they were before. So she lay blessing and praising God, who had had such favour for her. In the morning they arose with the sun, and prepared themselves for their departure; but the Interpreter would have them tarry a while; for, said he, you must orderly go from hence. Then said he to the damsel that first opened to them, Take them, and have them into the Garden to the bath, and there wash them, and make them clean from the soil which they have gathered by travelling. Then Innocent, the damsel, took them, and had them into the Garden, and brought them to the bath; so she told them, that there they must wash and be clean, for so her Master would have the women to do that called at his house, as they were going on pilgrimage. Then they went in and washed, yea, they and the boys and all; and they 44 The Pilgrims Sealed and Clothed. came out of the bath not only sweet and clean, but also much enlivened and strengthened in their joints. So, when they came in, they looked fairer a deal than when they went out to the washing. When they were returned out of the Garden from the bath, the Interpreter took them, and looked upon them, and said unto them, "Fair as the moon." Then he called for the seal, wherewith they used to be sealed that are washed in his bath. So the seal was brought, and he set his mark upon them, that they might be known in the places whither they were yet to go. Now, the seal was the contents and sum of the Passover which the children of Israel did eat (Exod. xiii. 8-10.) when they came out of the land of Egypt; and the mark was set between their eyes. This seal added greatly to their beauty, for it was an ornament to their faces. It also added to their gravity, and made their countenance more like that of angels.1 Then said the Interpreter again to the damsel that waited upon these women, Go into the vestry, and fetch out garments for these people; so she went and fetched out white raiment, and laid it down before him; so he commanded them to put it on. It was fine linen, white and clean. When the women were thus adorned, they seemed to be a terror one to the other; for that they could not see that glory each one had in herself, which they could see in each other. Now, therefore, they began to esteem each other better than themselves. For you are fairer than I am, said one; and you are more comely than I am, said another. The children also stood amazed, to see into what fashion they were brought. The Interpreter then called for a man-servant of his, one Greatheart, and bid him take sword, and helmet, and shield; and take these, my daughters, said he, and conduct them to the house called Beautiful, at which place they will rest next. So he took his weapons, and went before them: and the Interpreter said, God The author calls this 'The Bath of sanctification,' in a marginal note: whence we may infer, that he especially meant to intimate that believers should constantly seek fresh supplies of grace from the Holy Spirit. The pilgrims are supposed to have been justified on their admission at the gate; the Interpreter is the emblem of the Holy Spirit; and the raiment here mentioned rendered those who were adorned with it comely in the eyes of their companions. |