334 THEIR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS CONTINUED.

MAT. Why is the wick, and tallow, and all, spent to maintain the light of the candle?

PRUD. To show, that body and soul, and all, should be at the service of, and spend themselves to maintain in good condition, that grace of God that is in us.

MAT. Why doth the pelican pierce her own breast with her bill?

PRUD. To nourish her young ones with her blood, and thereby to show that Christ the blessed, so loveth his young, his people, as to save them from death by

his blood.

MAT. What may one learn by hearing of the cock crow?

PRUD. Learn to remember Peter's sin, and Peter's repentance. The cock's crowing shows also, that day is coming on; let then the crowing of the cock put thee in mind of that last and terrible day of judgment.

Now about this time their month was out; wherefore they signified to those of the house, that it was convenient for them to up and be going. Then said Joseph to his mother, "It is convenient that you forget not to send to the house of Mr. Interpreter, to pray him to grant that Mr. Great-heart should be sent unto us, that he may be our conductor the rest of our way." "Good boy," said she, "I had almost forgot." So she drew up a petition, and prayed Mr. Watchful the porter, to send it by some fit man, to her good friend Mr. Interpreter; who, when it was come, and he had seen the contents of the petition, said to the messenger, "Go tell them that I will send him."

When the family, where Christiana was, saw that they had a purpose to go forward, they called the whole house together, to give thanks to their King, for sending of them such profitable guests as these. Which done, they said unto Christiana, "And shall we not show thee something, according as our custom is to

EVE'S APPLE.

JACOB'S LADDER, &c. 335

do to pilgrims, on which thou mayest meditate when thou art on the way ?" So they took Christiana, herchildren, and Mercy, into the closet, and showed them one of the apples that Eve ate of, and that she also did give to her husband, and that for the eating of which, they were both turned out of Paradise; and asked her, "What she thought that was?" Then Christiana said, "It is food or poison, I know not which." So they opened the matter to her, and she held up her hands and wondered.*(a)

Then they had her to a place, and showed her Jacob's ladder. Now at that time there were some angels ascending upon it. So Christiana looked, and looked to see the angels go up; so did the rest of the company.(b). Then they were going into another place, to show them something else: but James said to his mother, "Pray bid them stay a little longer, for this is a curious sight." So they turned again, and stood feeding their eyes on this so pleasant a prospect. After this, they had them into a place, where there did hang up a golden anchor: so they bid Christiana take it down; for, said they, you shall have it with you, for it is of absolute necessity that you should, that you may lay hold of that within the veil, and stand steadfast in case you should meet with turbulent weather :-so they were glad thereof.†(c)—Then they took them, and had them to the mount upon

* It is not enough that the Holy Spirit convinces as of sin, previous to our first setting out on pilgrimage, and makes us sensible of our want of Christ, but he also keeps up a sight and sense of the evil of sin, in its original nature, as well as our actual transgressions. This often makes us wonder at sin, at ourselves, and at the love of Christ in becoming a sacrifice for our

sins.

This is the anchor of hope. This keeps the soul safe, and steady to Jesus, who is the alone object of our hope. Hope springs from faith. It is an expectation of the fulfilment of those things that are promised in the word of truth, by the God of all grace. Faith receives them, trusts in them, relies upon them, and hope waits for the full accomplishment and enjoyment of them.

(b) Gen. xxviii. 12. Heb. vi. 19.

(a) Gen. iii. 1-6. Rom. vii. 24.
(c) Joel iii. 16.

336 GREAT-HEART ARRIVING, THEY GO FORWARD.

which Abraham our father had offered up Isaac his son, and showed them the altar, the wood, the fire, and the knife; for they remain to be seen to this very day. When they had seen it, they held up their hands, and blessed themselves, and said, "Oh what a man for love to his Master, and for denial to himself, was Abraham!" After they had showed them all these things, Prudence took them into a dining room, where stood a pair of excellent virginals; so she played upon them, and turned what she had showed them into this excellent song, saying,

"Eve's apple we have showed you;

Of that be you aware;

You have seen Jacob's ladder too,
Upon which angels are:

An anchor you received have;
But let not this suffice,

Until with Abra'am you have gave
Your best of sacrifice."

Now about this time one knocked at the door: so the porter opened, and, behold, Mr. Great-heart was there! But when he was come in, what joy was there! for it came now fresh again into their minds, how but a while ago he had slain old Grim Bloody-man the giant, and had delivered them from the lions.

Then said Mr. Great-heart to Christiana and to Mercy, My Lord has sent each of you a bottle of wine, and also some parched corn, together with a couple of pomegranates; he also sent the boys some figs and raisins; to refresh you in your way.*

Then they addressed themselves to their journey; and Prudence and Piety went along with them. When they came at the gate, Christiana asked the porter, if any of late went by. He said, No, only one, some time since, who also told me, that of late there had

O how reviving and refreshing are those love-tokens from our Lord! Great-heart never comes empty-handed. He always inspires with courage and confidence.

THEY TAKE LEAVE OF WATCHFUL.

337

been a great robbery committed on the King's highway, as you go: but, said he, the thieves are taken, and will shortly be tried for their lives. Then Christiana and Mercy were afraid; but Matthew said, Mother, fear nothing, as long as Mr. Great-heart is to go with us, and to be our conductor.

Then said Christiana to the porter, Sir, I am much obliged to you for all the kindnesses that you have showed to me since I came hither; and also that you have been so loving and kind to my children; I know not how to gratify your kindness: wherefore, pray, as a token of my respects to you, accept of this small mite. So she put a gold angel* in his hand; and he made her a low obeisance, and said, "Let thý garments be always white, and let thy head want no ointment. Let Mercy live and not die, and let not her works be few." And to the boys he said, "Do you flee youthful lusts, and follow after godliness with them that are grave and wise; so shall you put gladness into your mother's heart, and obtain praise of all that are sober-minded."-So they thanked the porter, and de

parted.

No wonder that the pilgrims were thankful for their kind entertain. ment, or that they testified their esteem of the gospel, and its glorious Author, by the present they made to the porter; for says St. Paul, in behalf of the ministers of the word, "If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things"

43

338

CHRISTIANA HEARS CURIOUS NOTES.

CHAPTER VII.

THE PILGRIMS PURSUE THEIR JOURNEY, AND PASS THROUGH THE VALLEY OF HUMILIATION,

THE SHADOW OF DEATH.

AND OF

NOW I saw in my dream, that they went forward until they were come to the brow of the hill, where Piety, bethinking herself, cried out, Alas! I have forgot what I intended to bestow upon Christiana and her companions; I will go back and fetch it. So she ran and fetched it. When she was gone, Christiana thought she heard in a grove, a little way off on the right hand, a most curious melodious note, with words much like these:

"Through all my life thy favour is
So frankly show'd to me,

That in thy house for evermore
My dwelling-place shall be."

And listening still she thought she heard another an

swer it, saying,

"For why! The Lord our God is good,

His mercy is for ever sure:

His truth at all times firmly stood,

And shall from age to age endure."

So Christiana asked Prudence what it was that made those curious notes. They are, said she, our country birds they sing these notes but seldom, except it be at the spring, when the flowers appear, and the sun shines warm, and then you may hear them all the day long. I often, said she, go to hear them; we also ofttimes keep them tame in our house. They are very fine company for us when we are melancholy; also they make the woods and groves, and solitary places, places desirous to be in.*(a)

You see, these joyful notes spring from a sense of nearness to the Lord, and a firm confidence in his divine truth and everlasting mercy. O when

(a) Sol. Song ii. 11, 12.