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be at the service of, and spend themselves to maintain in good condition, that grace of God that is in us.

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

Prudence. 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. Matthew. What may one learn by hearing the cocks crow?

Prudence. 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 be up and 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 the 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 pilgrims, on which thou mayest meditate, when thou art on the way?"

So they took Christiana, her children, and Mercy, into the closet; and showed them one of the apples that Eve did eat of, and that she also did give to her husband; and 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.t

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. Then they

*Note.-The weak may call the strong sometimes to prayer.
Note.-A sight of sin is amazing.-Gen. iii, 10.-Rom. vii. 24.
Gen. xxviii. 12.

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 with this so pleasant a prospect.*

After this, they had them into a place where did hang up a golden anchor;† so they bade 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 stedfast in case you should meet with turbulent weather." So they were glad thereof. Then they took them and had them to the mount upon 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 blest them selves, 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 shown to 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 Abraham you have

Giv'n your best 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 afresh again in their minds, how but a while ago he had slain old Grim Bloody-man, the Giant; and had delivered them from the lions.

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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

*Note-the sight of Christ is taking.

† Heb. vi. 19.

who also told me, that of late there had 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. GreatHeart 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 kindness 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 respect to you, accept of this small mite:" So she put a gold angel* into his hand, and he made her a low obeisance, and said, "Let thy 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 fly 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 departed.

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! have forgot what I intended to bestow upon Christiana and her companions; I will go back and fetch it."

So she ran to fetch 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 favor 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 answer, 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 such 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:†

*The angel was a golden coin, formerly current in England; worth. about ten shillings.

† Song ii. 11, 12.

and then you may hear them all the day long. I often (said she) go to hear them; we also oft-times 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.

By this time Piety was come again; so she said to Christiana, "Look here, I have brought thee a scheme of all those things that thou hast seen at our house; upon which thou mayest look when thou findest thyself forgetful, and call those things again to remembrance, for thy edification and comfort."

Now they began to go down the hill into the Valley of Humiliation. It was a steep hill, and the way was slippery; but they were very careful; so they got down pretty well. When they were down in the Valley, Piety said to Christiana, "This is the place where your husband met with the foul fiend Apollyon, and where they had the great fight that they had: I know you cannot but have heard thereof. But be of good courage; as long as you have here Mr. Great-Heart to be your guide and conductor, we hope you will fare the better."

So, when these two had committed the pilgrims unto the conduct of their Guide, he went forward, and they went after.

Then said Mr. Great-Heart, "We need not be so afraid of this Valley; for here is nothing to hurt us, unless we procure it ourselves. It is true, Christian did here meet with Apollyon, with whom he had also a sore combat; but that fray was the fruit of those slips that he got in his going down the hill: for they that get slips there, must look for combats here. And hence it is that this Valley has got so hard a name for, the common people, when they hear that some frightful thing has befallen such a one in such a place, are of opinion that that place is haunted with some foul fiend, or evil spirit; when alas! it is for the fruit of their doings that such things do befall them there. This Valley of Humiliation is of itself as fruitful a place as any the crow flies over; and I am persuaded if we could hit upon it, we might find somewhere hereabout something that might give us an account why Christian was so hardly beset in this place."

Then James said to his mother, "Lo, yonder stands a pillar; and it looks as if somewhat was written thereon; let us go and see what it is." So they went and found there written, "Let Christian's slips, before he came hither, and

* Part I. p. 37,

the burthen that he met with in this place, be a warning to those that come after."

“Lo, (said the Guide,) did I not tell you that there was something hereabouts that would give intimation of the reason why Christian was so hard beset in this place?" Then turning to Christiana, he said, "No disparagement to Christian more than to many others whose hap and lot it was. For it is easier going up than down this hill; and that can be said of but few hills in all these parts of the world. But we will leave the good man; he is at rest, he also had a brave victory over his enemy: Let Him grant, that dwelleth above, that we fare no worse, when we come to be tried, than he. But we will come again to this Valley of Humiliation. It is the best and most useful piece of ground in all these parts: it is a fat ground, and, as you see, consisteth much in meadows; and if a man was to come here in the summer time, as we do now; if he knew not any thing before thereof, and if he also delighted himself in the sight of his eyes, he might see that which would be delightful to him. Behold, how green this Valley is; also how beautiful with lilies. I have also known many laboring men that have got good estates in this Valley of Humiliation: (for God resisteth the proud, but gives more grace to the humble:)† for indeed it is a very fruitful soil, and doth bring forth by handfuls. Some also have wished, that the next way to their Father's house was here, that they might be troubled no more with either hills or mountains to go over: but the way is the way, and there is an end."

Now, as they were going along, and talking, they espied a boy feeding his father's sheep. The boy was in very mean clothes, but of a fresh and well-favored countenance; and as he sat by himself, he sung. "Hark! (said Mr. GreatHeart) to what the Shepherd's boy saith." So they hearkened; and he said:

He that is down needs fear no fall;
He that is low, no pride;
He that is humble, ever shall
Have God to be his guide.

I am content with what I have,
Little be it or much:

And, Lord, contentment still I crave,
Because thou savest such.

Fulness to such a burthen is,

That go on pilgrimage;

HERE little, and HEREAFTER bliss,

* Song ii, 1. 2.

Is best from age to age.

† James iv. 6.-1 Pet. v. 9.

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