Now, my old friend proceeded and said: But when Christiana came to the slough of Despond, she began to be at a stand; "For," said she, "this is the place in which my dear husband had like to have been smothered with mud." She perceived also, that, notwithstanding the command of the King to make this place for pilgrims good, yet it was rather worse than formerly. So I asked if that was true? Yes, said the old gentleman, too true: for many there be, that pretend to be the King's labourers, and say they are for mending the King's highways, that bring dirt and dung instead of stones, and so mar, instead of mending. Here Christiana, therefore, and her boys, did make a stand: but, said Mercy, "Come, let us venture; only let us be wary." Then they looked well to their steps, and made a shift to get staggering over.

and afflictions they can possibly assault us with that hate us.

And now Mr. Sagacity left me to dream out my dream by myself. Wherefore, methought I saw Christiana, and Mercy, and the boys, go all of them up to the gate: to which when they came they betook themselves to a short debate, about how they must manage their calling at the gate and what should be said unto him that did open unto them: so it was concluded, since Christiana was the eldest, that she should knock for entrance, and that she should speak to him that did open for the rest. So Christiana began to knock, and, as her poor husband did, she knocked and knocked again. But instead of any that answered, they all thought that they heard as if a dog came barking upon them; a dog, and a great one too; and this made the women and children afraid. Nor durst they for a while to knock any more, for fear the mastiff should fly upon them. Now therefore they were greatly tumbled up and down in their minds, and knew not what to do:

Then they went on again; and said Mercy to Christiana, Had I as good ground to hope for a loving reception at the Wicket-gate, as you, I think no slough of Despond could discourage me.

Well, said the other, you know your sore, and I know mine; and, good friend, we shall all have enough evil before we come to our journey's end. For it cannot be imagined, that the people that design to attain such excellent glories as we do, and that are so envied that happiness as we are, but that we shall meet with fears and snares, with what troubles

* But instead of being what they profess, the King's labourers, Paul calls them Gospel-perverters and soultroublers, Gal. v. 10. For instead of preaching a free and full salvation, graciously bestowed upon poor sinners, who can do nothing to entitle themselves to it, or to gain an interest in it; behold, these wretched daubers set forth salvation to sale upon certain terms and conditions, which sinners are to perform and fulfil. Thus they distress the upright and sincere, and deceive the self-righteous and wary into pride and delusion. Thus they mar, instead of mend the way;

back they durst not, for fear the keeper of that gate should espy them as they so went, and be offended with them: at last they thought of knocking again, and knocking more vehemently than they did at first.

Then said the keeper of the gate, "Who is there?" So the dog left off to bark, and he opened unto them.†

Then Christiana made a low obeisance, and said, Let not our Lord be offended with his hand-maidens, for that we have knocked at his princely gate." Then said the keeper, "Whence come ye? And what is it that you would have?"

Christiana answered, We are come from whence Christian did come, and upon the same

and bring dirt and dung, instead of stones, to make the way sound and safe for pilgrims. Beware of the sophistry of such professors.

No sooner does a poor sinner open his lips in prayer to Jesus, but the devil will bark and roar at him, and by all means try to terrify and discourage him. Do you find this? What is your remedy? Resist the devil, and he will fly from you. James iv. 7. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. James iv. 8. Oh ever remember our Lord's word, men should pray always and not faint. Luke xviii. 1.

errand as he, to wit, to be, if it shall please you, graciously admitted, by this gate, into the way that leads unto the Celestial City. And I answer, my Lord, in the next place, that I am Christiana, once the wife of Christian, that now is gotten above.

With that the keeper of the gate did marvel, saying, "What, is she now become a pilgrim, that but while ago abhorred that life?" Then she towed her head, and said, "Yea; and so are these my sweet babes also."

Then he took her by the hand, and led her in, and said also, "Suffer the little children to come unto me;" and with that he shut up the gate. This done, he called to a trumpeter that was above, over the gate, to entertain Christiana with shouting, and sound of trumpet, for joy. So he obeyed, and sounded, and filled the air with his melodious notes.

Now all this while poor Mercy did stand without, trembling and crying for fear that she was rejected. But when Christiana had gotten admittance for herself and her boys, then she began to make intercession for Mercy.

And she said, My Lord, I have a companion of mine that stands yet without, that is come hither upon the same account as myself: one that is much dejected in her mind, for that she comes, as she thinks, without being sent for; whereas I was sent to by my husband's King to

come.

Now Mercy began to be very impatient, and each minute was as long to her as an hour; wherefore she prevented Christiana from a fuller interceding for her, by knocking at the gate herself. And she knocked then so loud, that she made Christiana to start. Then said the keeper of the gate, "Who is there?" And Christiana said, "It is my friend."

So he opened the gate and looked out, but Mercy was fallen down without in a swoon; for she fainted, and was afraid that no gate would be opened to her.

Then he took her by the hand, and said, "Damsel, I bid thee arise."

"Oh, sir, (said she,) I am faint; there is scarce life left in me." But he answered, that

* Mercy's case is not singular. Many have set out just as she did, and have been discouraged by the same reason as she was. She, as many have been, was encouraged to set out in the ways of the Lord by her neighbour and friend. Hence she thought there was no cause to conclude that she was called by the Lord, but that it was only the effect of human power or moral persuasion, and therefore doubted and fainted lest she should not meet with acceptance. But her

one said, "When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came unto thee, into thy holy temple." Jonah ii. 7. Fear not, but stand upon thy feet, and tell me wherefore thou art come.

Mercy. I am come for that unto which I was never invited, as my friend Christiana was. Hers was from the King, and mine was but from her. Wherefore I fear I presume.*

Good-will. Did she desire thee to come with her to this place?

Mercy. Yes; and, as my Lord sees, I am come; and if there is any grace and forgiveness of sins to spare, I beseech that thy poor handmaid may be partaker thereof.

Then he took her again by the hand, and led her gently in, and said, "I pray for all them that believe on me, by what means soever they come unto me." Then said he to those that stood by, "Fetch something, and give it Mercy to smell on, thereby to stay her faintings." So they fetched her a bundle of myrrh. A while after she was revived.

And now was Christiana, and her boys, and Mercy, received of the Lord at the head of the way, and spoke kindly unto by him. Then said they yet further unto him, "We are sorry for our sins, and beg of our Lord his pardon, and further information what we must do."

I grant pardon, said he, by word and deed: by word, in the promise of forgiveness; by deed, in the way I obtained it. Take the first from my lips with a kiss, and the other as it shall be revealed. Song Sol. i. 2; John xx. 19.

Now I saw in my dream, that he spake many good words unto them, whereby they were greatly gladdened. He also had them up to the top of the gate, and showed them by what deed they were saved; and told them withal, that that sight they would have again as they went along in the way, to their comfort.

So he left them awhile in a summer parlour below, where they entered into talk by themselves and thus Christiana began: “O Lord, how glad am I that we are got in hither!"

very doubts, fears, and distress, proved the earnest ness of her heart, and the desire of her soul after the Saviour; and also, that his mercy, love, and gracious power, had a hand in the work. Mark this, ye poor, doubting, fearful, trembling souls, who are halting every step, and fearing you have not set out aright, hear what Christ's angel said, and be not discouraged. Fear not, for ye seek Jesus. Matt xxviii. 5.

Mercy. So you well say: but I of all have cause to leap for joy.

Christiana. I thought one time as I stood at the gate, (because I had knocked, and none did answer,) that all our labour had been lost, especially when that ugly cur made such a heavy barking at us.*

Mercy. But my worst fear was, after I saw that you was taken into his favour, and that I was left behind. Now, thought I, it is fulfilled which is written, "Two women shall be grinding together, the one shall be taken and the other left." Matt. xxiv. 41. I had much ado to forbear crying out, Undone! And afraid I was to knock any more: but when I looked up to what was written over the gate, I took courage. I also thought, that I must either knock again or die:† so I knocked, but I cannot tell how, for my spirit now struggled between life and death.

Christiana. Can you not tell how you knocked? I am sure your knocks were so earnest, that the very sound made me start: I thought I never heard such knocking in all my life; I thought you would come in by a violent hand, or take the kingdom by storm. Matt. xi. 12.

Mercy. Alas, to be in my case! who that so was, could have but done so? You saw that the door was shut upon me, and that there was a most cruel dog thereabout. Who, I say, that was so faint-hearted as I, would not have knocked with all their might? But pray, what said my lord unto my rudeness? Was he not angry with me?

Christiana. When he heard your lumbering noise, he gave a wonderful innocent smile: I believe what you did pleased him well, for he showed no sign to the contrary. But I marvel in my heart why he keeps such a dog: had I known that before, I should not have had heart enough to have ventured myself in this manner. But now we are in, we are in, and I am glad with all my heart.

Mercy. I will ask, if you please, next time he comes down, why he keeps such a filthy cur in his yard: I hope he will not take it amiss.

Do so, said the children, and persuade him to hang him; for we are afraid he will bite us when we go hence.

The devil often barks most at us, and brings his heaviest accusations against us, when mercy, peace, ecmfort, and salvation are nearest to us.

"Press on, nor fear to win the day,

Though earth and hell obstruct the way."

So at last he came down to them again, and Mercy fell to the ground on her face before him, and worshipped, and said, "Let my Lord accept the sacrifice of praise which I now offer unto him with the calves of my lips."

So he said unto her, "Peace be to thee; stand up." But she continued upon her face, and said, "Righteous art thou, O Lord, when I plead with thee, yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments," (Jer. xii. 1, 2;) wherefore dost thou keep so cruel a dog in thy yard, at the sight of which, such women and children as we, are ready to flee from the gate with fear?

He answered and said, That dog has another owner: he is also kept close in another man's ground, only my pilgrims hear his barking: he belongs to the castle which you see there at a distance, but can come up to the walls of this place. He has frightened many an honest pilgrim from worse to better, by the great voice of his roaring. Indeed, he that owneth him doth not keep him out of any good-will to me or mine, but with intent to keep the pilgrims from coming to me, and that they may be afraid to come and knock at this gate for en trance. Sometimes also he has broken out, and has worried some that I loved; but I take it all at present patiently. I also give my pilgrims timely help, so that they are not delivered up to his power to do them what his doggish nature would prompt him to. But what! my purchased one, I trow, hadst thou known never so much before-hand, thou wouldst not have been afraid of a dog. The beggars that go from door to door, will rather than they will lose a supposed alms, run the hazard of the bawling, barking, and biting too of a dog; and shall a dog in another man's yard, a dog whose barking I turn to the profit of pilgrims, keep any from coming to me? I deliver them from the lions, and "my darling from the power of the dog."

Then said Mercy, I confess my ignorance: I speak what I understand not: I acknowledge that thou doest all things well.

Then Christiana began to talk of their journey, and to inquire after the way. So he fed them, and washed their feet, and set them in the way of his steps, according as he had dealt with her husband before.

So I saw in my dream that they went on

Here is a blessed example of deep humility, and of holy boldness, excited by the divine word. Go. thou ruined sinner, and do likewise.