So he said, "Amen :" and opened the door, and saluted her with "Peace on this house." The which, when he had done, he said, Christiana, knowest thou wherefore I am come? Then she blushed and trembled, also her heart began to wax warm with desires to know from whence he came, and what his errand was to her. So he said unto her, My name is Secret, I dwell with those that are high. It is talked of where I dwell, as if thou badst a desire to go thither; also there is a report that thou art aware of the evil thou hast formerly done to thy husband, in hardening of thy heart against his way, and in keeping of these babes in their igChristiana, the Merciful One has sent me to tell thee, that he is a God ready to forgive, and that he taketh delight to multiply the pardon of offences. He also would have thee to know, that he inviteth thee to come into his presence, to his table, and that he will feed thee with the fat of his house, and with the heritage of Jacob thy father.

norance.

There is Christian, that was thy husband, with le gions more, his companions, ever beholding that face that doth minister life to beholders: and they will all be glad when they shall hear the sound of thy feet step over thy father's threshold.

Christiana at this was greatly abashed in herself, and bowed her head to the ground. This vision proceeded, and said, Christiana, here is also a letter for thee, which I have brought from thy hushand's King; so she took it and opened it, but it smelt after the manner of the best perfume (f). Also it was written in letters of gold. The contents of the letter was this; That the King would have her to do as did Christian her husband, for that was the way to come to his city, and to dwell iu his presence with joy for ever. At this the good woman Was quite overcome: so she cried out to her visiter,

(f) Song i. 3.

Sir, will you carry me and my children with you, that we may also go and worship the King?

Then said the visiter: Christiana! the bitter is before the sweet. Thou must through troubles, as he did, that went before thee, enter this cœlestial city, wherefore I advise thee to do as did Christian thy husband: go to the Wicket-gate yonder over the plain, for that stands in the head of the way up which thou must go, and I wish thee all good speed. Also I advise thee that thou put this letter in thy bosom; that thou read therein to thyself, and to thy children, until they have got it by heart, for it is one of the songs that thou must sing while thou art in this house of thy pilgrimage (g). Also this thou must deliver in at the farther gate.

Now, I saw in my dream, that this old gentlman, as he told me this story, did himself seem to be greatly affected therewith: he moreover proceeded, and said-So Christiana called her sonstogether, and began to address herself unto them: My sons, I have, as you may perceive, been of late under much exercise in my soul, about the death of your father; not for that I doubt at all of his happiness, for I am satisfied now that he is well. I have been also much affected with due thoughts of mine own state and yours, which I verily believe is by nature miserable. My carriage also to your father in his distress is a great load on my conscience: for I hardened both my own heart and yours against him, and refused to go with him on pilgrimage.

The thoughts of these things would now kill me outright, but that for a dream which I had last night, and but that for the encouragement that this stranger has given me this morning. Come, my children, let us pack up, and begone to the gate that leads to that cœlestial country, that we may see your father,

(g) Psalm cxix, 54.

and be with him and his companions in peace, according to the laws of that land..

Then did her children burst out into tears, for joy that the heart of their mother was so inclined: so their visiter bid then farewell: and they began to prepare to set out on their journey.

But while they were thus about to be gone, two of the women that were Christiana's neighbours came up to her house, and knocked at the door. To whom she said as before. At this the women were stunned, for this kind of language they used not to hear or to perceive to drop from the lips of Christiana. Yet they came in : but behold, they found the good woman preparing to be gone from her house.

So they began, and said, Neighbour, pray what is your meaning by this?

Christiana auswered, and said to the cidest of them, whose name was Mrs, Timorous, I am preparing for a journey. (This Timorous was daugh ter to him that met Christian upon the hill of Dube culty, and would have had him gone back for fear of the lions).See Part I. p. 46.

Tim. For what journey, I pray you?

Chrift. Even to go after my old husband; and with that she fell a weeping.

Tim. I hope not so, good neighbour; pray, for. your poor children's sake, do not so unwomaly cast away yourself.

Chrift. Nay, my children shall go with me, not one of them is willing to stay behind.

Tim. I wonder in my heart, what or who has brought you into this mind.

Chrift. Oh, neighbour, knew you but as much as I do, I doubt not but that you would go along with ine. Tim. Prithee, what new knowledge hast thou got, that so worketh off thy mind from thy friends, and that tempteth thee to go nobody knows where?

Chrift. Then Christiana replied, I have been sorely afflicted since my husband's departure from me; but especially since he went over the river. But L

that which troubleth me most, is my churlish carriage to him when he was under his distress. Besides, I am now, as he was then; nothing will serve me but going on pilgrimage. I was dreaming last night that I saw him. O that my soul was with him! He dwelleth in the presence of the King of the country; he sits and eats with him at his table; he is become a companion of immortals, and has a house now given him to dwell in, to which the best palaces on earth, if compared, seem to me but as a dunghill (h). The Prince of the palace has also sent for me, with promises of entertainment, if I shall come to him; his messenger was here even now, and brought me a letter, which invites me to come. And with that she plucked out her letter and read it, and said to them, What now will you say to this?

Tim. Oh! the madness that has possessed thee and thy husband! to run yourselves upon such difficulties! You have heard, I am sure, what your husband did meet with, even, in a manner, at the first step that he took on his way, as our neighbour Obstinate can yet testify, for he went along with him; yea, and Pliable too, until they, like wise men, were afraid to go any further. (See Part I. p. 6-10.) We also heard, over and above, how he met with lions, Apollyon, and the Shadow of Death, aud many other things. Nor is the danger that he met with at Vanity Fair to be forgotten by thee; for if he, though a man, was so hard put to it, what canst thou, being but a poor woman, do? Consider also, that these four sweet babes are thy children, thy flesh, and thy bones. Therefore, though thou shouldest be so rash as to cast away thyself; yet for the sake of the fruit of thy body, keep thou at home.

But Christiana said unto her, Tempt me not, my neighbour; I have now a prize put into my hand, to get gain, and I should be a fool of the greatest sort, if I should have no heart to strike in with the

(h) 2 Cor. v. 1-4

opportunity. And for that you tell me of all these troubles that I am like to meet with in the way, they are so far from being to me a discouragement, that they show I am in the right. The bitter must come before the sweet, and that also will make the sweet the sweeter. Wherefore since you came not to my house in God's name, as I said, I pray you be gone, and do not disquiet me farther.

Then Timorous also reviled her, and said to her fellow, Come, neighbour Mercy, let's leave her in her own hands; she scorns our counsel and company. But Mercy was at a stand, and could not so readily comply with her neighbour, and that for a two-fold reason: 1st. Her bowels yearned over Christiana. So she said within herself, if my neighbour will be gone, I will go a little way with her, and help her. 9dly, Her bowels yearned over her own soul (for what Christiana had said, had taken some hold upon her mind). Wherefore she said within herself again, I will yet have more talk with this Christiana, and if I find truth and life in what she shall say, myself with my heart fhall also go with her. Wherefore Mercy began thus to reply to her neighbour Timorous.

Mercy. Neighbour, I did indeed come with you to see Christiana this morning; and since she is, as you see, a taking her last farewell of the country, I think to walk this sun-shiny morning a little with her, to help her on that way. But she told her not of the second reason, but kept it to herself.

Tim. Well, I see you have a mind to go a fooling too; but take heed in time and be wise: while we are out danger, we are out; but when we are in, we are in. So Mrs. Timorous returned to her house, and Christiana betook herself to her journey. But when Timorous was got home to her house, she sends for some of her neig bours, to wit, Mrs. Bat's-Eyes, Mrs. Inconsiderate, Mrs. Light-mind, and Mrs. Know-nothing. So when they were come to her house, she falls to telling of the story of