and her companions. Now when they were gone in, they were had into a large room, and oud to sit down; so they sat down, and the chief of the house were called to see and welcome the guests. Then they came in, and, understanding who they were, did salute each other with a kiss, and said "Welcome, ye vessels of the grace of God, welcome unto us who are your faithful friends."*

Now, because it was somewhat late, and because the pilgrims were weary with their journey, and also made faint with the sight of the fight and the terrible lions, they desired, as son as might be, to prepare to go to rest. "Nay," said those of the family, "refresh yurselves with a morsel of meat:" for they ad prepared for them a lamb, with the accustomed sauce thereto. Ex. xii. 6. For the porter had heard before of their coming, and had told it to them within. So when they had supped, and ended their prayer with a psalm, they desired they might go to rest. "But let us," said Christiana, "if we may be so bold as to choose, be in that chamber that was my husband's when he was here." So they had them up thither, and they all lay in a room. Jani. 29. When they were at rest, Christiana and Mercy entered into discourse about things Lit were convenient.

Christiana. Little did I think once, when my husband went on pilgrimage, that I should ever have followed him.

Mercy. And you as little thought of lying in his bed and in his chamber to rest, as you do now.I

Christiana. And much less did I ever think of seeing his face with comfort, and of worshipping the Lord the King with him; and yet now I believe I shall.

Mercy. Hark! don't you hear a noise? Christiana. Yes, 'tis, as I believe, the noise of music, for joy that we are here.

Here is a blessed mark of being vessels of the grace of God, when we delight in the sight of, salute, and welcome others in the way to Zion, and mutually 14e our hearts and affections drawn out to each other are. Ob how sweet is the fellowship of pilgrims wow! what must it be above! Infinitely above conpon. Lord, fire our souls with the thought of ever ng with thee and each other in thy kingdom. ↑ The Lamb is the food of pilgrims, and the end of 38-tronservation. Reader, can you feed upon Christ "farth? Is the Lamb the nourishment of thy soul, 4 the portion of thy heart? Canst thou say, from *t and blessed experience, His flesh is meat indeed, and his blond te drink indeed? Is it thy delight to think of him, hear of him, speak of him, abide in

Mercy. Wonderful! Music in the house, music in the heart, and music also in heaven, for joy that we are here! ||

Thus they talked awhile, and then betook themselves to sleep. So in the morning when they were awaked, Christiana said to Mercy, "What was the matter that you did laugh in your sleep to-night? I suppose you were in a dream."

Mercy. So I was, and a sweet dream it was; but are you sure I laughed?

Christiana. Yes, you laughed heartily; but pr'ythee, Mercy, tell me thy dream.

Mercy. I was a-dreaming that I sat all alone in a solitary place, and was bemoaning the hardness of my heart. Now I had not sat there long, but methought many were gathered about me to see me, and to hear what it was that I said. So they hearkened, and I went on bemoaning the hardness of my heart. At this, some of them laughed at me, some called me fool, and some began to thrust me about. With that, methought I looked up, and saw one coming with wings towards me. So he came directly to me, and said, "Mercy, what aileth thee?" Now when he had heard me make my complaint, he said, "Peace be to thee:" he also wiped mine eyes with his handkerchief, and clad me in silver and gold, He put a chain upon my neck, and ear-rings in mine ears, and a beautiful crown upon my head. Ezek. xvi. 8, 13. Then he took me by the hand, and said, “Mercy, come after me." So he went up, and I followed till we came at a golden gate. Then he knocked: and when they within had opened the man went in, and I followed him up to a throne upon which One sat, and he said to me, "Welcome, daughter." The place looked bright and twinkling, like the stars, or rather like the sun, and I thought that I saw your husband there. So I awoke from my dream. But did I laugh??

him, and live upon him? Oh bless him, and praise him for his mercy!

Pray, mind the above sweet note, "Christ's bosom is for all pilgrims." It is there the weary find rest and the burdened soul ease. Oh for more reclinings of soul upon the precious bosom of our dear Lord! We can be truly happy nowhere else.

Oh what precious harmony is this! how joyful to be the subjects of it, and to join in it! The free sovereign grace of God is the delightful theme; and glory to God in the highest the universal chorus. It is the wonder and joy of sinners on earth, and of angels in heaven.

Pray observe this dream: it is a most precious one indeed. We find it true in the broad day of sweet

Christiana. Laugh! ay, and well you might to see yourself so well. For you must give me leave to tell you, that it was a good dream; and that as you have begun to find the first part true, so you shall find the second at last. "God speaks once, yea, twice, yet man perceiveth it not; in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumbering upon the bed." Job xxxiii. 14-16. We need not, when abed, to lie awake to talk with God; he can visit us while we sleep, and cause us then to hear his voice. Our heart ofttines wakes when we sleep; and God can speak to that, either by words, by proverbs, by signs and similitudes, as well as if one was awake.*

Mercy. Well, I am glad of my dream, for I hope, ere long, to see it fulfilled, to the making of me laugh again.

Christiana. I think it is now high time to rise, and to know what we must do.

Mercy. Pray, if they advise us to stay awhile, let us willingly accept of the proffer. I am the willinger to stay awhile here, to grow better acquainted with these maids; methinks, Prudence, Piety, and Charity have very comely and sober countenances.

Christiana. We shall see what they will do. So when they were up and ready, they came down, and they asked one another of their rest, and if it was comfortable or not.

Very good, said Mercy; it was one of the best night's lodgings that ever I had in my life.

Then said Prudence and Piety, If you will be persuaded to stay here awhile, you shall have what the house will afford.

Ay, and that with a very good will, said Charity. So they consented, and stayed there about a month or above, and became very profitable one to another. And because Prudence would see how Christiana had brought up her children, she asked leave of her to catechise them; so she gave her free consent. Then she began with the youngest, whose name was James. And she said, "Come, James, canst thou tell me who made thee?"

James. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.

experience; for then it is we get the most blessed visits from our Lord, when we get by ourselves and bemoan the deadness of our poor hearts. True, we may be laughed at, called fools, and despised by the profane and self-righteous, who do not feel the hardness of their hearts, nor bemoa themselves for it; yet the loving, compassionate, tender-hearted Saviour is ever near to us, he feels for us, sympathizes with us, will

Prudence. Good boy. And canst thou tell who saved thee?

James. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.

Prudence. Good boy still. But how doth God the Father save thee? James. By his grace.

Prudence. How doth God the Son save thee? James. By his righteousness, and blood, and death, and life.

Prudence. And how doth God the Holy Ghost save thee?

James. By his illumination, by his renovation, and by his preservation.

Then said Prudence to Christiana, You are to be commended for thus bringing up your children. I suppose I need not ask the rest these questions, since the youngest of them can answer them so well. I will therefore now apply myself to the next youngest.

Then she said, Come, Joseph, (for his name was Joseph,) will you let me catechise you? Joseph. With all my heart. Prudence. What is man?

Joseph. A reasonable creature, made so by God, as my brother said.

Prudence. What is supposed by this wordsaved?

Joseph. That man by sin has brought himself into a state of captivity and misery. Prudence. What is supposed by his being saved by the Trinity?

Joseph. That sin is so great and mighty a tyrant, that none can pull us out of its clutches but God: and that God is so good and loving to man, as to pull him indeed out of this miserable state.

Prudence. What is God's design in saving poor man?.

Joseph. The glorifying of his name, of his grace, and justice, etc., and the everlasting happiness of his creature.

Prudence. Who are they that must be saved? Joseph. Those that accept of his salvation. Prudence. Good boy, Joseph; thy mother hath taught thee well, and thou hast hearkened to what she has said unto thee.

Then said Prudence to Samuel, (who was

manifest himself to us, and revive us with the sense of peace, the joy of hope, and the comforts of love.

Oh how blessed are they who are watching ar i waiting continually to lear the small still voice of the Spirit speaking rest and peace to their souls by the blood of the Lamb! Oh how condescending is out Lord, thus to visit us, and converse with us in the way to his kingdom!

a stranger to the power of that which is good.

Nay then, said Mercy, I will look no more on him; for I purpose never to have a clog to my soul.*

Prudence then replied, that there needed no great matter of discouragement to be given to him; for continuing so as she had begun, to do for the poor, would quickly cool his courage.

So the next time he comes, he finds her at her old work, a-making of things for the poor. Then said he, "What, always at it?” Yes," said she, "either for myself or for others." "And what canst thou earn a day?" quoth he. "I do these things," said she, "that I may be rich in good works, laying a good foundation against the time to come, that I may lay hold of eternal life." 1 Tim. vi. 17, 19. "Why, pr'ythee, what dost thou do with them ?" said he. "Clothe the naked," said she. With that his countenance fell. So he forbore to come at her again. And when he was asked the reason why, he said that Mercy was a pretty lass, but troubled with ill conditions.†

When he had left her, Prudence said, Did I not tell thee that Mr. Brisk would soon forsake thee? yea, he will raise up an ill report of thee: for, notwithstanding his pretence to religion, and his seeming love to mercy, yet mercy and he are of tempers so different, that I believe they will never come together.

Mercy. I might have had husbands before now, though I spoke not of it to any; but they were such as did not like my conditions, though never did any of them find fault with my person. So they and I could not agree.

Prudence. Mercy in our days is but little set by, any further than as to its name; the practice which is set forth by thy conditions there are but few that can abide.

Well, said Mercy, if nobody will have me, I will die a maid, or my conditions shall be to

* Most blessed resolution! Ah, pilgrims, if you were more wary, how many troubles would you escape, and how much more happy would you be in your pilgrimage! It is for want of this wisdom that many bring evil upon themselves.

How easily are the best of characters traduced, and false constructions put upon the best of actions! Reader, is this your lot also? Mind your duty. Look to your Lord. Persevere in his works and ways: and leave your character with Him to whom you can trust your soul. For if God be for us, who shall be against us? What shall harm us, if we be followers of that which is good?

Though we are to beware of a censorious spirit in regard to professors, yet when they give evidence by

me as a husband, for I cannot change my na ture; and to have one that lies cross to me in this, that I purpose never to admit of as long as I live. I had a sister, named Bountiful, that was married to one of these churls, but he and she could never agree; but because my sister was resolved to do as she had begunthat is, to show kindness to the poor-therefore her husband first cried her down at the cross, and then turned her out of his doors. Prudence. And yet he was a professor, I warrant you!

Mercy. Yes, such a one as he was, and of such as the world is now full; but I am for none of them all.‡

Now Matthew, the eldest son of Christiana, fell sick, and his sickness was sore upon him, for he was much pained in his bowels, so that he was with it, at times, pulled, as it were both ends together. There dwelt also not far from thence one Mr. Skill, an ancient and well-approved physician. So Christiana desired it, and they sent for him, and he came: when he was entered the room, and had a little observed the boy, he concluded that he was sick of the gripes. Then he said to his mother, "What diet has Matthew of late fed upon?" "Diet!" said Christiana, "nothing but what is wholesome." The physician answered, "This boy has been tampering with something that lies in his maw undigested, and that will not away without means. And I tell you he must be purged, or else he will die."

Then said Samuel, Mother, what was that which my brother did gather up and eat so soon as we were come from the gate that is at the head of this way? You know that there was an orchard on the left hand, on the other side of the wall, and some of the trees hung over the wall, and my brother did pluck and eat.

True, my child, said Christiana, he did take thereof and did eat, naughty boy as he was. I chid him, and yet he would eat thereof.

their walk that they are not what they profess to be, holy followers of the Lamb, we are by no means to be deceived by them. For we have an unerring rule laid down by our Lord to judge of them, "Ye shall know them by their fruits," (Matt. vii. 16:) yea, and we ought to be faithful to them too, by reproving them in the spirit of humility and love.

See the effects of sin. It will pinch and gripe the conscience and make the heart sick.

? Observe how useful pilgrims are to each other is faithfully reminding them of their conduct. Thoogb this sin was committed some time past, and neither Matthew nor his mother thought of it, yet it must be brought to light and repented of.

Still I knew he had eaten something that was not wholesome food; and that food, to wit, that fruit, is even the most hurtful of all. It is the fruit of Beelzebub's orchard. I do marvel that none did warn you of it; many have died thereof.*

Then Christiana began to cry; and she said, "O naughty boy! and O careless mother! what shall I do for my son?"

SA Come, do not be too much dejected; the boy may do well again, but he must purge and vomit.

than honey. If thou lovest thy mother, if thou lovest thy brothers, if thou lovest Mercy, if thou lovest thy life, take it." So with much ado, after a short prayer for the blessing of God upon it, he took it, and it wrought kindly with him. It caused him to purge, it caused him to sleep, and to rest quietly; it put him into a fine heat and breathing sweat, and it quite rid him of his gripes.‡

So in a little time he got up and walked about with a staff, and would go from room to room and talk with Prudence, Piety, and Cha

Skill. Nay, I hope I shall be reasonable. So he made him a purge, but it was too weak; it was said it was made of the blood of a goat, the ashes of a heifer, and with some of the juice of hyssop, &c. Heb. ix. 13, 19; x. 1, 4. When Mr. Skill had seen that that purge was too weak, he made him one to the purpose: it was made ex carne et sanguine Christi,† (John vi. 54, 57; Heb. ix. 14;) you know physicians give strange medicines to their patients: and it was made up into pills, with a promise or two, and a proportionable quantity of salt. Mark ix. 49. Now he was to take them three at a time, fasting, in half a quarter of a pint of the tears of repentance. Zech. xii. 10. When this pation was prepared and brought to the boy, he was loth to take it, though torn with the gripes as if he should be pulled in pieces. "Come, come," said the physician, "you must ke it." "It goes against my stomach," said the boy. "I must have you take it," said his mother. "I shall vomit it up again," said the boy. "Pray, sir," said Christiana to Mr. Skill, "how does it taste?" "It has no ill taste," ys the doctor; and with that she touched one of the pills with the tip of her tongue. "Oh, Matthew," said she, "this potion is sweeter

Ilere is conviction for the mother in not warning of sin and chiding for it. She takes it home, falls ander the sense of it, and is grieved for it. A tender conscience is a blessed sign of a gracious heart. Ye parents who know the love of Christ, watch over your children; see to it lest ye smart for their sins in not warning and teaching them that the fear of the Lord la to depart from all evil; yea, to abstain from the very appearance of it.

Mr. Bunyan's great modesty and humility are truly admirable; though he quotes Latin, yet, as he did not understand it, he tells us in the margin, "The Latin I borrow." The English is, "Of the flesh and af the blood of Christ." This is the only potion for -tick souls. Feeding upon Christ's flesh and blood by faith keeps us from sinning, and when sick of sin

So, when the boy was healed, Christiana asked Mr. Skill, saying, "Sir, what will content you for your pains and care to and of my child?" And he said, "You must pay the Master of the College of Physicians according to rules made in that case and provided." Heb. xiii. 11-15.

But, sir, said she, what is this pill good for else?

Skill. It is an universal pill; it is good against all diseases that pilgrims are incident to; and when it is well prepared will keep good time out of mind.

Christiana. Pray, sir, make me up twelve boxes of them; for if I can get these I will never take other physic.

Skill. These pills are good to prevent diseases, as well as to cure when one is sick.|| Yea, I dare say it, and stand to it, that if a man will but use this physic as he should, it will make him live for ever. John vi. 58. But, good Christiana, thou must give these pills no other way but as I have prescribed; for if you do they will do no good. So he gave unto Christiana physic for herself and her boys, and for Mercy, and bid Matthew take heed how he ate any more green plums, and kissed him and went his way.

See the blessed effects of receiving Christ when under the sense of sin and distress for sin. Oh what a precious Saviour is Jesus! what efficacy is there in his blessed flesh and precious blood to purge the conscience from guilt! It is this sense of Christ's love and grace which heals, restores, and makes our hearts happy and joyful in God.

O pilgrims! let not a day pass without having recourse to the life and death of the Son of God, and live by faith upon Him who shed his blood to save us, and gives his flesh to nourish us, and who says, My

flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed."