before that, come thither, as a conductor of pilgrims). When he was come down, he opened the gate, and seeing the guide standing just before it (for he saw not the women, for they were behind him), he said unto him, How now, Mr. Great-heart, what is your business here so late to night? I have brought, said he, some pilgrims hither, where, by my Lord's commandment, they must lodge; I had been here some time ago, had I not been opposed by the giant that did use to back the lions; but I, after a long and tedious combat with him, have cut him off, and have brought the Pilgrims hither in safety.1

PORTER. Will you not go in, and stay till morning?

Great-heart attempts to go back.

to the Porter;

damsel.

City of Destruction; I am a widow woman, and
my husband is dead; his name was Christiana makes
Christian, the Pilgrim. How! said herself known
the Porter, was he your husband? he tells it to a
Yes, said she, and these are his chil-
dren; and this, pointing to Mercy, is one of my
townswomen. Then the Porter rang his bell, as
at such times he is wont, and there came to the
door one of the damsels, whose name was Humble-
mind; and to her the Porter said, Go tell it within,
that Christiana, the wife of Christian, and her
children, are come hither on pilgrim- Joy at the noise
age. She went in, therefore, and told of the Pilgrims
it. But what noise for gladness
was there within, when the damsel did but drop

GREAT-HEART. No, I will return to that word out of her mouth!
my Lord to-night.

CHRIST. Oh, Sir, I know not how to be willing should leave us in our pilgrimage, The Pilgrims you implore his you have been so faithful and so lovcompany still. ing to us, you have fought so stoutly for us, you have been so hearty in counselling of us, that I shall never forget your favour towards us.

MERCY. Then said Mercy, O that we might have thy company to our journey's end! How can such poor women as we hold out in a way so full of troubles as this way is, without a friend and defender?

JAMES. Then said James, the youngest of the boys, Pray, Sir, be persuaded to go with us, and help us, because we are so weak, and the way so dangerous as it is.2

GREAT-HEART. I am at my Lord's commandment; if he shall allot me to be your guide quite through, I will willingly wait upon you. But here failed at first; for, when he bid Help lost for you want of asking me come thus far with you, then you should have begged me of him to have gone quite through with you, and he would have granted your request. However, at present, I must withdraw; and so, good Christiana, Mercy, my brave children, Adieu.

for.

and

1 How mindful is our Lord of us! How gracious is he to us! What blessed provision doth he make for us! If pilgrims are attacked by Giant Grim, and terrified with the sight of lions, they may be sure that it is only a prelude to some sweet enjoyment of their Lord's love, and that they are near to some asylum, some sanctuary of rest, peace, and comfort. Some bitter generally precedes the sweet, and makes the sweet the sweeter.-(Mason.)

2O it is hard work to part with Great-heart! How many blessings do we lose for want of asking! Great-heart is at the command of our Lord. O for more power to cry incessantly to the Lord for the presence of Great-heart, that we may go on more cheerfully and more joyfully in the ways of the Lord!-(Mason.)

coming.

So they came with haste to the Porter, for Christiana stood still at the door. Then some of the most grave said unto her, Come in, Christiana, come in, thou wife of that good man; come in, thou blessed woman; come in, with all that are with thee. So she went in, and they followed her that were her children and her companions. Now when they were gone in, they were had into a very large room, where they were bidden to sit down ; so they sat down, and the chief of the house was called to see and welcome the guests. came in, and understanding who they were, did salute each other with a kiss, and said, Welcome, ye vessels of one another. the grace of God; welcome to us your friends.3

Then they Christians' love

is kindled at the sight of

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 of the terrible lions, therefore they desired, as soon as might be, to prepare to go to rest. Nay, said those of the family, refresh yourselves first with a morsel of meat; for they had prepared for them a lamb, with the accustomed sauce belonging thereto, Ex. xii. 21, 28. Jn. i. 29; 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

4

First Part,
P. 109.

3 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 have our hearts and affections drawn out to each other in love. O how sweet is the fellowship of pilgrims below! What must it be above? Infinitely above conception.-(Mason.)

4 Reader, can you feed upon Christ by faith? Is the Lamb the nourishment of thy soul, and the portion of thy heart? Canst thou say, from blessed experience, His flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed ?' Is it thy delight to think of him, hear of him, speak of him, abide in him, and live upon him? O bless him and praise him for his distinguishing mercy, this spiritual appetite! It is peculiar to his beloved ones only.-(Mason.)