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They come to the Land of Beulah.

"Oh!" said Standfast, 'what a mercy it is that I did resist her! for whither might she have drawn me ?'

Gr.-H. Whither! nay, none but God knows. But, in general, to be sure she would have drawn thee into "many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition."* It was she that set Absalom against his father, and Jeroboam against his master. It was she that persuaded Judas to sell his Lord, and that prevailed with Demas to forsake the godły Pilgrim's life: none can tell of the mischief she doth. She makes variance betwixt rulers and subjects, betwixt parents and children, betwixt neighbour and neighbour, betwixt a man and his wife, betwixt a man and himself, betwixt the flesh and the spirit.-Wherefore, good master Standfast, be as your name is; and “when you have done all, stand."

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At this discourse there was, among the Pilgrims, a mixture of joy and trembling, but at length they brake out, and sang

'What danger is the Pilgrim in!

How many are his foes!

How many ways there are to sin

No living mortal knows.

Some in the ditch spoil'd are, yea can

Lie tumbling in the mire :

Some, though they shun the frying pan,

Do leap into the fire.'

After this, I beheld, until they were come unto the Land of Beulah, where the Sun shineth night and day. Here, because they were weary, they betook themselves a while to rest; and because this country was common for Pilgrims, and because these orchards and vineyards that were here belonged to the King of the Celestial Country, therefore they were licensed to make bold with any of his things. But a little while soon refreshed them here; for the bells did so ring, and the trumpets continually sounding so melodiously, that they could not sleep; and yet they received as much refreshing, as if they slept their sleep never so soundly. Here also all the noise of them that walked in the streets was, 'More Pilgrims are come to town.' And another would answer, saying, "And so many went over the water and were let in at the golden gates to-day.' They would

*1 Tim. vi. 9. + Part. i. p. 192.

Christiana called to pass the River.

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cry again, "There is now a legion of Shining Ones just come to town: by which we know that there are more Pil-. grims upon the road; for here they come to wait for them, and comfort them after their sorrow.' Then the Pilgrims got up, and walked to and fro: but how were their eyes now filled with celestial visions! In this land, they heard nothing, saw nothing, felt nothing, smelt nothing, tasted nothing, that was offensive to their stomach or mind; only, when they tasted of the water of the River, over which they were to go, they thought that tasted a little bitterish to the palate, but it proved sweet when it was down. (d)

In this place there was a record kept of the names of them that had been Pilgrims of old, and a history of all the famous acts that they had done. It was here also much discoursed, how the River to some has its flowings, and what ebbings it has had while others have gone over. It has been in a manner dry for some, while it has overflowed its banks for others.

In this place, the children of the town would go into the King's gardens and gather nosegays for the Pilgrims, and bring them to them with affection. Here also grew camphire, and spikenard, saffron, calamus, and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes, with all chief spices. With these the Pilgrims' chambers were perfumed while they staid here; and with these were their bodies anointed to prepare them to go over the River, when the time appointed was come.

Now while they lay here, and waited for the good hour, there was a noise in the town, that there was a post come from the Celestial City, with matters of great importance to one Christiana, the wife of Christian, the Pilgrim. So inquiry was made for her, and the house was found out where she was; so the post presented her with a letter: the con

(d) The lively exercise of faith and hope, the anticipation of heavenly felicity, and the consolations of the Holy Spirit, soon make the believer forget his conflicts and sorrows, or only remember them to enhance his grateful joy.-This description represents the happy state of those that live in places, favoured with many lively Christians, united in heart and judgment; and where instances of persons dying triumphantly are often reported or witnessed. It has frequently been observed, that aged believers, in such circumstances, have been remarkably delivered from fears and temptations, and animated by the hopes and earnests of heaven; so that while death seemed bitter to nature, it became pleasant to the soul, to think of the joy and glory that would immediately follow it

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Christiana exhorts her Children and Companions.

tents were, 'Hail, good woman! I bring thee tidings, that the Master calleth for thee, and expecteth that thou shouldest stand in his presence, in clothes of immortality, within these ten days.'

When he had read this letter to her, he gave her therewith a sure token that he was a true messenger, and was come to bid her make haste to be gone. The token was, -An arrow sharpened with love, let easily into her heart, which, by degrees, wrought so effectually with her, that at the time appointed she must be gone. (e)

When Christiana saw that her time was come, and that she was the first of this company that was to go over, she called for Mr. Great-heart, her Guide, and told him how matters were. So he told her, 'He was heartily glad of the news, and could have been glad had the post come for him.' Then she bid that he should give advice how all things should be prepared for her journey. So he told her, saying, "Thus and thus it must be; and we that survive, will accompany you to the River side.'

Then she called for her children, and gave them her blessing; and told them that she had read with comfort the mark that was set in their foreheads, and was glad to see them with her there, and that they had kept their garments so white. Lastly, she bequeathed to the poor that little she had, and commanded her sons and daughters to be ready against the messenger should come for them.

When she had spoken these words to her Guide and to her children, she called for Mr. Valiant-for-truth, and said unto him, "Sir, you have in all places showed yourself truehearted; be faithful unto death, and my King will give you a crown of life. I would also entreat you to have an eye to my children and if at any time you see them faint, speak comfortably to them. For my daughters, my sons' wives, they have been faithful, and a of the promise upon Mr. Standfast a ring.

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them will be their end.'-But she

(e) These messengers seem to be merely emblems of the different diseases or decays, by which the Lord takes down the earthly tabernacle, when he sees good to receive the souls of his people into his immediate presence. In plain language, it was reported that Christiana was sick and near death, and she herself became sensible of her situation. "The arrow sharpened by love' implies, that the time, manner, and circumstances, of the believer's death are appointed by Him "who loved us, and gave himself for us » He, as it were, says to the dying saint, "It is I, be not afraid."

And passes the River triumphantly.

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Then she called for old Mr. Honest, and said of him, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile." Then said he, I wish you a fair day, when you set out for Mount Zion, and shall be glad to see that you go over the River dry-shod.' But she answered, "Come wet, come dry, I long to be gone; for, however the weather is in my journey, I shall have time enough, when I come there to sit down and rest me, and dry me.'

Then came in that good man, Mr. Ready-to-halt, to see her. So she said to him, "Thy travel hitherto has been with difficulty; but that will make thy rest the sweeter. But watch and be ready; for at an hour when you think not, the messenger may come.'

After him came in Mr. Despondency, and his daughter Much-afraid; to whom she said, 'You ought with thankfulness, forever to remember your deliverance from the hand of Giant Despair, and out of Doubting-Castle. The effect of that mercy is, that you are brought with safety hither. Be yet watchful, and cast away fear; be sober, and hope to the end.'

Then she said to Mr. Feeble-mind, "Thou wast delivered from the mouth of Giant Slay-good, that thou mightest live in the light of the living forever, and see the King with comfort only I advise thee to repent thee of thy aptness to fear, and doubt of his goodness, before he sends for thee; lest thou shouldst, when he comes, be forced to stand before him, for that fault, with blushing.' (ƒ)

Now the day drew on, that Christiana must be gone. So the road was full of people, to see her take her journey. But behold, all the banks beyond the River were full of

(ƒ) The address made by Christiana to each of the company, and the circumstances of her passing the River, are well deserving of attention; but require no comment. When such believers as have long walked honourably, are enabled to bear a dying testimony to the truth, and to recommend the ways of the Lord with the last remains of their breath, a great effect will often be produced: but the confidence of some professors, in these circumstances, has a very different tendency. Many excellent persons, however, are incapacitated from speaking much in their last hours; and we ought by no means to judge of men's characters on these grounds: for it is remarkable, that the Scripture is generally silent about the manner in which its worthies terminated their lives; and a very few exceptions are found to this rule. We are particularly instructed in the nature of their faith and its effects upon their conduct during life; and thence we may assuredly infer, that they died in the Lord, and entered into rest.

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Ready-to-halt is summoned.

horses and chariots, which were come down from above to accompany her to the City-gate. So she came forth, and entered the River, with a beckon or farewell to those that followed her to the River side. The last words that she was heard to say, were, I come, Lord, to be with thee, and bless thee.'

So her children and friends returned to their place, for that those that waited for Christiana had carried her out of their sight. So she went and called, and entered in at the Gate, with all the ceremonies of joy that her husband Christian had entered with before her.

At her departure the children wept. But Mr. Greatheart and Mr. Valiant played upon the well-tuned cymbal and harp for joy. So all departed to their respective places. (g)

In process of time, there came a post to the town again, and his business was with Mr. Ready-to-halt. So he inquired him out, and said, 'I am come to thee in the name of Him whom thou hast loved and followed, though upon crutches: and my message is, to tell thee, that he expects thee at his table, to sup with him in his kingdom, the next day after Easter wherefore prepare thyself for thy journey.' (h)— Then he also gave him a token that he was a true messenger, saying, "I have broken the golden bowl, and loosed the silver cord."* (i)

Eccles. xii. 1-7.

(g) The happy death of an eminent Christian is a loss to relatives and connexions, to the church and the community; and in this view may be lamented: but it often yields great encouragement to ministers and other spectators of the interesting scene, and excites their adoring praises and thanksgivings.

(h) Evident decays of natural powers as effectually convince the observing person that death approaches, as if a messenger had been sent to inform him. But men in general eling to life, wilfully overlook such tokens, and try to keep up to the last the vain hope of recovering; and others, by a kind of cruel compassion, sooth them in the delusion: so that numbers die suddenly of chronical disorders, even as if they had been shot through the heart. Perhaps, however, the author had some reference to those inexplicable presages of death, which some persons evidently experience.

(i) These tokens are taken from a well-known portion of scripture ;* but it would be inconsistent with the plan of this work, to enter on a particular explanation of them. The dealings of the Lord are here represented, as uniformly gentle to the feeble, trembling, humble believers; and the circumstances of their deaths comparatively encouraging and

easy.

Eccleɛ. xii. 1-7,