taketh hold with her hands, (as you see,) and is in kings' palaces." And wherefore is this recorded, but to show you, that how full of the venom of sin soever you be, yet you may, by the hand of faith, lay hold of, and dwell in, the best room that belongs to the King's house above! I thought, said Christiana, of something of this; but I could not imagine it all. I thought that we were like spiders, and that we looked like ugly creatures, in what fine rooms soever we were; but that by this spider, this venomous and ill-favoured creature, we were to learn how to act faith, that came not into my thoughts. She worketh with hands, and, as I see, dwells in the best room in the house. God has made nothing in vain. Then they seemed all to be glad; but the water stood in their eyes: yet they looked one upon another, and also bowed before the Interpreter. He had them then into another room, where was a hen and chickens, and bid them observe a while. So one of the chickens went to the trough to drink, and every time she drank she lifted up her head and her eyes towards heaven. "See," said he, "what this little chick doeth, and learn of her to acknowledge whence your mercies come, by receiving them with looking up. Yet again," said he, "observe and look:" so they gave heed, and perceived that the hen did walk in a fourfold method towards her chickens: 1. She had a common call; that she had all the day long. 2. She had a special call; and that she had but sometimes. 3. She had a brooding note. And, 4. She had an outcry. Matt. xxiii. 37. * Our Lord hath, in immense condescension, employed this emblem, to represent his tender love to siuners, for whom he bare the storm of wrath himself, that by flying to him, they might be safe and happy under the shadow of his wing. Matt. xiii. 37. The common call signifies the general invitations of the Gospel, which should be addressed without restriction to every creature within the sound thereof: "preach this my Gospel to every creature:" "as many as ye find bid to the marriage." In proportion as sinners obey what Mr. Bunyan termed a common call, so shall they feel what he styles a special call; when God bestows the grace, peace, and pardon of the Gospel of Christ upon those who believe with an heart unto righteousness. The brooding note is when he gathers them under his wings, warms their hearts with the comforts of his love, nourishes their souls with close fellowship with himself, and refreshes their spirits with the overflowings of joy in the Holy Ghost. "In the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice," says David. Ps. Ixii. 7. "I sat under his shadow with great de Now, said he, compare this hen to your King, and these chickens to his obedient ones. For, answerable to her, himself has his methods, which he walketh in towards his people: by his common call he gives nothing; by his special call he always has something to give; he has also a brooding voice for them that are under his wing; and he has an outery, to g.re the alarm when he seeth the enemy come. choose, my darlings, to lead you into the m where such things are, because you are women, and they are easy for you.* "And, sir," said Christiana, "pray .et n see some more." So he had them into the slaughter-house, where was a butcher killing a sheep and behold, the sheep was quiet, and took her death patiently. "Then," said the Interpreter, "you must learn of this sheep to suffer, and to put up with wrongs without murmurings and complaints. Behold how quietly she takes her death, and, without objecting, she suffereth her skin to be pulled over her ears. Your King doth call you his sheep."† After this he led them into his garden, where was great variety of flowers: and he said, "Do you see all these?" So Christiana said, "Yes." Then said he again, "Behold the flowers are divers in stature, in quality, and colour, and smell and virtue: and some are better than some; also where the gardener hath set them, there they stand, and quarrel not one with another." Again, he had them into his field, which he had sown with wheat and corn: but, when they beheld, the tops of all were cut off, only light, and his fruit was sweet unto my taste." Song ii 3. Oh for more of these precious, brooding notes, to be gathered under the wings of our Immanuel! But be our frames and experiences what they may, still we are ever in danger; for our enemies surround us on every side. Therefore our Lord has an outery; he gives the alarm, calls upon us, and warns us of danger. Why? that we should flee to him, and run inte him. For" the name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." Prov. xviii. 10. Were we as sheep going astray? Are we now returned to thee, O Christ, the great Shepherd and Bishop of our souls? Lord, give us more and more of thy meek and lowly spirit! Christ's church is his garden; believers are planted in it by the power of his grace, and they shall soon be transplanted into his kingdom of glory. Though there may be little non-essential differences of judgment, yet why should they fall out? Oh for more love and peace from Jesus, and then there will be more among each other. the straw remained. He said again, "This ground was dunged, and ploughed, and sowed; but what shall we do with the crop?" Then said Christiana, "Burn some, and make muck of the rest." Then said the Interpreter again, "Fruit, you see, is that thing you look for, and for want of that you condemn it to the fire, and to be trodden under foot of men: beware that in this you condemn not yourselves." * Then, as they were coming in from abroad, they espied a robin with a great spider in his mouth; so the Interpreter said, "Look here." So they looked, and Mercy wondered; but Christiana said, "What a disparagement it is to such a little pretty bird as the robin redbreast is! he being also a bird above many, that loveth to maintain a kind of sociableness with men: I had thought they had lived upon crumbs of bread, or upon other such harmless matter: I like him worse than I did." The Interpreter then replied, This robin is an emblem, very apt to set forth some professors by; for to sight they are, as this robin, pretty of note, colour, and carriage; they seem also to have a very great love for professors that are sincere; and above all other to desire to associate with them, and to be in their company; as if they could live upon the good man's crumbs. They pretend also, that therefore it is that they frequent the house of the godly, and the appointments of the Lord: but when they are by themselves, as the robin, they can catch and gobble up spiders, they can change their diet, drink and swallow down sin like water.† So when they were come again into the house, because supper as yet was not ready, Christiana again desired that the Interpreter would either show or tell some other things that are profitable. Then the Interpreter began, and said: The fatter the sow is, the more she desires the mire; the fatter the ox is, the more gamesomely he goes to the slaughter, and the more healthy the lustful man is, the more prone is ne ur to evil. There is a desire in women to go neat and * A precious caution. See to it, Christian, that you avoid those things which cause deadness and unfruitfulness, and follow those things which tend to quicken and make your souls fruitful in good works, to the glory of God. † Reader, a very striking emblem this, and most pertinently applied: and if your soul is sincere, it will cause a holy fear, create a godly jealousy, put you upon self-examining, and make vou sigh out in fine, and it is a comely thing to be adorned with that which in God's sight is of great price. 'Tis easier watching a night or two, than to sit up a whole year together: so 'tis easier for one to begin to profess well, than to hold out as he should to the end. Every shipmaster, when in a storm, will willingly cast that overboard that is of the smallest value in the vessel; but who will throw the best out first? None but he that feareth not God. One leak will sink a ship; and one sin will destroy a sinner. He that forgets his friend is ungrateful unto him but he that forgets his Saviour is unmerciful to himself. He that lives in sin, and looks for happiness hereafter, is like him that soweth cockle, and thinks to fill his barn with wheat and barley. If a man would live well, let him fetch his last day to him, and make it always his company-keeper. Whispering and change of thoughts prove that sin is in the world. If this world, which God sets light by, is counted a thing of that worth with men, what is heaven, that God commendeth it? If the life that is attended with so many troubles, is so loth to be let go by us, what in the life above? Every body will cry up the goodness of men; but who is there that is, as he should be, affected with the goodness of God? We seldom set down to meat but we eat and leave: so there is in Jesus Christ more merit and righteousness than the whole world has need of. When the Interpreter was done, he takes them out into his garden again, and had them to a tree, whose inside was all rotten and gone, and yet it grew and had leaves. Then said Mercy, "What means this?" "This tree," said he, "whose outside is fair, and whose inside is rotten, is it, whin may compared to them that are in the garden f some such words as David: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Ps. cxxxix. 23, 24. Oh what will it avail in a dying hour, or in the judgment-day, that we have worn the mark of profession, and seemed to man what we were not in heart and reality of life before God? From all self-deceiving, good Lord, de liver us! for we are naturally prone to it. God; who with their mouths speak high in behalf of God, but in deed will do nothing for him; whose leaves are fair, but their heart good for nothing but to be tinder for the devil's tinder-box." Now supper was ready, the table spread, and all things set on board; so they sat down and did eat, when one had given thanks. And the Interpreter did usually entertain those that lodged with him, with music at meals: so the minstrels played. There was also one that did sing, and a very fine voice he had. His song was this "The Lord is only my support, And he that doth me feed; but all this I got over pretty well. But a dream that I had of two ill-looking ones, that I thought did plot how to make me miscarry in my journey, that hath troubled me: yea, it still runs in my mind, and makes me afraid of every one that I meet, lest they should meet me to do me a mischief, and to turn me out of my way. Yea, I may tell my Lord, though I would not have every body know it, that between this and the gate by which we got into the way, we were both so sorely assaulted, that we were made to cry out murder; and the two that made this assault upon us were like the two that I saw in my dream. Then said the Interpreter, "Thy beginning is good, thy latter end shall greatly increase." So he addressed him to Mercy, and said unto her, "And what moved thee to come hither, sweetheart?" Then Mercy blushed and trembled, and for a while continued silent. Then said he, Be not afraid, only believe and speak thy mind. Then she began and said, Truly, sir, my want of experience is that which makes me covet to be in silence, and that also that filleth me with fears of coming short at last. I cannot tell of visions and dreams, as my friend Christiana can; nor know I what it is to mourn for my refusing of the counsel of those that were good relations.† When the song and music were ended, the Interpreter asked Christiana, What it was that at first did move her thus to betake herself to a pilgrim's life? Christiana answered: First, the loss of my husband came into my mind, at which I was heartily grieved; but all that was but natural affection. Then, after that, came the troubles and pilgrimage of my husband into mind, and also how like a churl I had carried it to him as to that. So guilt took hold of my mind, and would have drawn me into the pond; but that opportunely I had a dream of the well-being of my husband, and a letter sent me by the King of that country where my husband dwells, to come to him. The dream and the letter together so wrought upon my mind, that they forced me Mercy. Why, when our friend here was packto this way. ing up to be gone from our town, I and another Interpreter. But met you with no opposition went accidentally to see her. So we knocked before you set out of doors? at the door, and went in. When we were Christiana. Yes, a neighbour of mine, one Mrs. Timorous, (she was kin to him that would have persuaded my husband to go back, for fear of the lions,) she also befooled me* for, as he called it, my intended desperate adventure; she also urged what she could to dishearten me from it; the hardships and troubles that my husband met with in the way: Ah, Mrs. Timorous! How many professed pilgrims hast thou befooled and turned back! How often does she attack and affright many real pilgrims! Oh may we say to every incitement to selfcomplacency in our Lord's words, "Get thee behind me, Satan; thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." Matt. xvi. 23. A very simple and artless confession. The Lord works very differently upon the hearts of sinners, but always to one and the same end-namely, to cause us Interpreter. What was it then, dear heart, that hath prevailed with thee to do as thou hast done? within, and seeing what she was doing, we asked her what she meant? She said, she was sent for to go to her husband, and then she up and told us how she had seen him in a dream, dwelling in a curious place, among immortals, wearing a crown, playing upon a harp, eating and drinking at his Prince's table, and singing praises to him for the bringing him thither, to prize Christ, his salvation, and his ways, and to abhor ourselves, the paths of sin, and to cast off all selfrighteous hopes. If this is effected in thy heart, reader, no matter whether thou canst tell of visions and dreams, and talk high of experiences. Many are, and have been deceived by these things, and come to nothing. But where the soul is rooted and grounded in the knowledge of precious Christ, and love to his ways, though there may be many fears, yet this is an indubitable proof of a real and sincere pilgrim. &c. Now methought while she was telling | hast given credit to the truth; thou art a 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 further 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 my heart, and will, if I may, go with Christiana to her husband and his King. Interpreter. Thy setting out is good, for thou 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 before. "The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust." Ruth ii. 11, 12. 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 farther from her than ever they were before. So she lay blessing and praising God, who had such favour for her.t CHAPTER IV. The Pilgrims, conducted by Great-heart, proceed on their journey. In the morning they arose with the sun, and prepared themselves for their departure; but the Interpreter would have them tarry awhile, "for (said he) you must orderly go from hence." Then said he to the damsel that first opened unto 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 led them into the garden, and brought them to the bath; so she told them that there they "Thou hast given credit to the truth." What is this but faith; the faith of the operation of God? But some may ask what is justifying, saving faith: nothing more than a belief of the truth? If so, the very devils believe; yea, more, they tremble also. True: but mind how Mercy's faith wrought by her works. True, she did not tremble, like a devil, without hope, but she fled for refuge to the hope set before her in the Gospel. She fled from sin, from the city of Destruction, to Christ for salvation. Though she had not the jy of faith, yet she followed on to know the Lord, walking in his ways, and hoping for comfort from the Lord in his due time. Oh how are many poor pilgrims' hearts dejected and distressed about the faith of the Gospel, by the strange, perplexing, unscriptural definitions which have been given of it! whereas faith is the most simple thing in the world; it is the belief of the truth as it is in Jesus, that we are lost sinners in ourselves, and that there is saivation for us in him. Where this is believed in the heart, it causes a sinner to become a pilgrim; believing the exceeding sinfulness of sin, the perfect purity of God's law, his own 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 came out of that 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 ruined state, the preciousness of Christ, the glory of his salvation, the necessity of holiness, and the hope of glory; this faith will influence the conduct, bring love into the heart, and cause the soul to persevere looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. O reader, if thou hast a grain of this precious faith in thy heart, bless Jesus for it, and go on thy way rejoicing. † Here now is the comfort of faith. As by constant exercise of our faith, it grows strong, so it expels our doubts, enlivens our hearts, and sets our souls a blessing and praising our Immanuel. This prayer, "Lord, increase our faith!" is ever needful for God's glory and our soul's comfort. There are no pilgrims but daily need to have recourse to this bath. What may we understand by it! The blood of Jesus which cleanses us from all sin. 1 John i. 7. Christ is the fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness. Zech. xiii. 1. Christ is the soul's only bath. The Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier, leads us to the blood of the Lamb. The Spirit bears witness to this blood, and purifies and comforts by the application of this blood only looked upon them, and said unto them, "Fair as the moon." Then he called for the seal wherewith they used to be sealed that were 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 when they came out of the land of Egypt, (Ex. xiii. 8, 10;) and the mark was set hetween their eyes. This seal greatly added to their beauty, for it was an ornament to their faces; it also added to their gravity, and made their countenances more like those of angels.* Then said the Interpreter again to the damsel that waited upon the 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 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 Great-heart, and bid him take a sword, and helmet, and shield; "And take these my daughters (said he,) 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 speed." Those also that belonged to the family sent them away with many a good wish. So they went on their way, and sang "This place has been our second stage, This means the sealing of the Spirit. Eph. iv. 30. Oh this is blessed scaling! None know the comfort and joy of it but those who have experienced it. It e firms our faith, establishes our hope, and inflames our affections to God the Father, for his love, to God the Son, for his gracious atonement and righteousness, and to God the Spirit for his enlightening mercy, regenerating grace, quickening, sanctifying, testifying and assuring influences, whereby we know that we are the children of God, for "the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God." Rom. viii. 16. Therefore grieve not the Holy Spirit. Mind, they are commanded to put it on. Though God imparts the righteousness of his beloved Son to Those good things, that from age to age The butcher, garden, and the field, Me argument of weight, To take my cross up day by day, And serve the Lord with fear." Now I saw in my dream that those went or, and Great-heart before them; so they went and came to the place where Christian's burden fell off his back, and tumbled into a sepulchre. Here then they made a pause. Here also they blessed God. Now, said Christiana, it comes to my mind what was said to us at that gate, to wit, that we should have pardon by word and deed; by word, that is, by the promise; by deed, to wit, in the way it was obtained. What the promise is, of that I know something: but what it is to have pardon by deed, or in the way that it was obtained, Mr. Greatheart, I suppose you know, which, if you please, let us hear you discourse thereof. Great-heart. Pardon by the deed done, is pardon obtained by some one, for another that hath need thereof; not by the person pardoned, but in "the way (saith another) in which I have obtained it." So then, (to speak to the question more at large,) the pardon that you and Mercy, and these boys, have attained by another; to wit, by him that led you in at that gate; and he hath obtained it in this double way: he hath performed righteousness to cover you, and spilt blood to wash you in.|| Christiana. But if he parts with his righteousness to us, what will he have for himself? Great-heart. He hath more righteousness sinners, yet it is received and put on by faith. Hero it is called the righteousness of God, (2 Cor ▼ 21;) and the righteousness of faith. Rom. x. 6. Great-heart may represent the stated past al case of a vigilant minister, who is strong in the faith, and courageous in the cause of God. How thankful should we be for a pure ministry, and carefully improve al the blessings consequent thereupon! This, this is the comfort, joy, and glerifying of a pilgrim's heart. Hath Jesus performed righteousness to cover us, and spilt blood to wash us? Have we faith in him? Oh how ought we to love him, glory in him, rejoice in him, and study to glorify him in ever step of our pilgrimage! |