Page images
PDF
EPUB

came into the road, to their companions, and fhewed them what they had done. Now when Feeble-mind and Ready-to-halt faw that it was the head of giant Defpair, they were very jocund and merry. And as Chriftiana, if need was, could play upon the viol, and her daughter Mercy upon the lute, fo, fince they were fo merry difpofed, they played them a tune, and Ready-to-halt would dance: fo he took Defpondency's daughter, Much-afraid, by the hand, and to dancing they went in the road. True, he could not dance without one crutch in his hand; but, I promise you, he footed it well; also the girl was to be commended, for fhe answered the mufic handfomely.

As for Mr. Defpondency, the mufic was not fo much to him; he was for feeding rather than dancing, for he was almost starved. So Chriftiana gave him fome of her bottle of fpirits, for present relief, and then prepared him something to eat, and in little time the old gentleman came to himself, and began to be finely revived.

Now I faw in my dream, when all these things were finifhed, Mr. Great-heart took the head of giant Despair, and set it upon a pole by the highway-fide, right over against the pillar which Chriftian erected for a caution to pilgrims who came after to take heed of entering into his grounds'. Under

This is the work and aim of every faithful minister of Chrift; to deftroy giant Defpair and demolish Doubting

caftle

Under it he wrote upon a marble stone these verses

following:

This is the head of him whofe name only
In former times did pilgrims terrify.
His caftle's down; and Diffidence, his wife,
Brave Mafter Great-heart has bereft of life.
Defpondency, his daughter Much-afraid,
Great heart for them alfo the man has play'd.
Who hereof doubts, if he'll but caft his eye
Up hither, may his fcruples fatisfy.

This head alfo, when doubting cripples dance,
Doth fhew from fears they have deliverance.

When these men had thus bravely fet themselves against Doubting-Caftle, and had flain giant Defpair, they went forward, till they came to the Delectable Mountains, where Chriftian and Hopeful refreshed themselves with the varieties of the place. They alfo made themselves acquainted with the fhepherds there, who welcomed them unto the Delectable Mountains, as they had done Chriftian before.

Now the fhepherds, feeing fo great a train following Mr. Great-heart (for with him they were well acquainted), faid unto him, Good Sir, you have got a goodly company here; pray where did you find all these? The guide then spoke to the fhepherds thus:

caftie in the hearts and confciences of God's children. A more awful character is not in the world than the man who affumes the minifterial name and character, without understanding the nature of that miniftry of reconciliation which is committed to every one who is really called and fent of God.

First,

First, here is Chriftiana and her train,

Her fons, and her fons' wives, who, like the wain,
Keep by the pole, and do my compass steer,
From fin to grace, elfe they had not been here:
Next here's old Honeft come on pilgrimage,
Ready-to-halt too, who, I dare engage,
True-hearted is, and fo is Feeble-mind,
Who willing was not to be left behind.
Defpondency, good man, is coming after,
And fo alfo is Much-afraid, his daughter.
May we have entertainment here, or must

We further go? Let's know whereon to trust.

[ocr errors]

Then faid the fhepherds, This is a comfortable company; you are welcome to us, for we have entertainment for the feeble, as well as for the ftrong: our Prince has an eye to what is done to the least of thefe; therefore infirmity must not be a bar to our entertainment. So they had them to the palacedoors, and then faid unto them, Come in, Mr. Feeble-mind, come in, Mr. Ready-to-halt, come in, Mr. Defpondency, and Mrs. Much-afraid his daughter. These, Mr. Great-heart, said the shepherds to the guide, we call in by name, because they are most subject to draw back; but as for you, and the reft, who are ftrong, we leave you to your wonted liberty. Then faid Mr. Great-heart, This day I fee that grace doth fhine in your faces, and that you are my Lord's fhepherds indeed; because you have not pushed thefe difeafed neither with fide nor fhoulder, but have rather ftrewed their way into the palace with flowers, as you fhould.

So

So the feeble and the weak went in, and Mr. Great-heart and the reft did follow. When they were all fat down, the fhepherds faid to thofe of the weaker fort, What is it that you would have? For, faid they, all things must be managed here fo as to fupport the weak, as well as to warn the unruly.

So they made them a feast of things eafy of digeftion, pleasant to the palate, and nourishing; which when they had received, they went to rest, each one respectively to his proper place. When morning was come, because the mountains were high, and the day clear; and, because it was the custom of the fhepherds to fhew the pilgrims, before their departure, fome rarities; therefore, after they were ready, and had refreshed themselves, the fhepherds took them out into the fields, and fhewed them firft what they had fhewn to Chriftian before.

Then they had them to fome new places. The firft was Mount Marvel, where they looked, and behold a man at a distance, that tumbled the hills about with words m. Then they asked the fhepherds what that should mean? So they told them, That that man was the fon of one Mr. Great-grace, of whom you read in the First Part of the records of

This is a glorious defcription of the efficacy of the word, and of the power of faith; which enables the foul to fay to the mountain, Be removed, and it is done; and to take up the triumphant language which is recorded in Zechariah," Who art thou, O great mountain! Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain."

the

the Pilgrim's Progrefs.

And he is fet there to

teach pilgrims how, by believing, to cast down, or to tumble out of their ways, what difficulties they should meet with. Then faid Mr. Great-heart, I know him; he is a man above many.

Then they had them to another place, called Mount Innocence, where they faw a man clothed all in white, and two men, Prejudice and Ill-will, continually cafting dirt at him. Behold the dirt, whatsoever they caft at him, would in a little time fall off again, and his garment would look as clear as if no dirt had been caft at him. Then faid the pilgrims, What means this? The fhepherds answered, This man is named Godly-man, and the garment is to fhew the innocency of his life. Now those that throw dirt at him, are fuch as hate his well-doing; but, as you fee, the dirt will not ftick upon his clothes, fo it fhall be with him who lives innocently in the world. Whoever they are who would make fuch men dirty, they labour all in vain ; for God, after a little time, will cause that their innocence fhall break forth as the light, and their righteousness as the noon day.

Then they took them, and had them to Mount

▾ This is an encouraging view to those who are falfely accufed for their good converfation in Chrift. Such need not go about to justify themselves before men, for however their enemies may appear to triumph for a time, and their falfe and malicious afperfions be received and credited, nevertheless in the end their lies fhall be detected and expofed.

[blocks in formation]
« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »