They are welcomed by the INTERPRETER.

children but now I also am come, for I am convinced that no way is right but this.

INTER. Then is fulfilled that which is written of the man that said to his son, "Go work to day in my vineyard; and he said to his father, I will not; but afterward repented and went."

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Then said CHRISTIANA, So be it; Amen. GOD 'make it a true saying upon me, and grant that I " may be found at the last " of him in peace, without (6 spot and blameless!"

INTER. But why standest thou at the door? Come in thou daughter of ABRAHAM: we were talking of thee but now, for tidings have come to us before, how thou art become a Pilgrim. Come, children, come in come, maiden, come. So he had them all into the house.

So, when they were within, they were bidden to sit down and rest them; the which when they had done, those that attended upon the Pilgrims in the house came into the room to see them. And one smiled, and another smiled, and another smiled, and they all smiled, for joy that CHRISTIANA was become a Pilgrim: they also looked upon the boys; they stroked them over their faces with their hands, in token of their kind reception of them: they also carried it lovingly to MERCY, and bid them all welcome to their Master's house.

After a while, because supper was not ready, the INTERPRETER took them into his significant rooms,

"This is the figure of a man in this world; is it not, good sir?"

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The man with the muck-rake.

and shewed them what CHRISTIAN, CHRISTIANA'S husband, had seen sometime before. Here therefore they saw the Man in the Cage, the Man and his Dream, the Man that cut his way through his enemies, and the Picture of the biggest of all; together with the rest of those things that were then so profitable to CHRISTIAN.

This done, and after those things had been somewhat digested by CHRISTIANA and her company, the INTERPRETER takes them apart again, and had them first into a room where was a man that could look no way but downwards, with a muck-rake in his hand there stood also one over his head with a celestial Crown in his hand, and proffered him that Crown for his muck-rake; but the man did neither look up nor regard, but rake to himself the straws, the small sticks, and dust of the floor.

Then said CHRISTIANA, I persuade myself, that I know somewhat the meaning of this: for this is the figure of a man in this world: is it not, good Sir?

Thou hast said right, said he, and this muck-rake doth shew his carnal mind. And, whereas thou seest him rather give heed to rake up straws and sticks, and the dust of the floor, than do what he says that calls to him from above, with the celestial Crown in his hand; it is to shew, that heaven is but as a fable to some, and that things here are counted the only things substantial. Now, whereas it was also shewed thee, that the man could look no way but (9.)

The spider in the best room.

downwards, it is to let thee know that earthly things, when they are with power upon men's minds, quite carry their hearts away from GOD.

Then said CHRISTIANA, Oh! deliver me from this muck-rake.

That prayer, said the INTERPRETER, has lain by till it is almost rusty: "Give me not riches." Prov. xxx. 8, is scarce the prayer of one of ten thousand. Straws, and sticks, and dust, with most are the great things now looked after.

With that MERCY and CHRISTIANA wept, and said, 'It is, alas! too true.'

When the INTERPRETER had shewed them this, he had them into the very best room in the house : (a very brave room it was :) so he bid them look round about, and see if they could find any thing profitable there. Then they looked round and round; for there was nothing to be seen but a very great spider on the wall, and that they overlooked.

Then said MERCY, Sir, I see nothing:' but CHRISTIANA held her peace.

But said the INTERPRETER, Look again: She therefore looked again, and said, Here is not any thing but an ugly Spider, who hangs by her hands upon the wall. Then, said he, Is there but one Spider in all this spacious room? Then the water stood in CHRISTIANA's eyes, for she was a woman of quick apprehension: and she said, Yes, LORD, there are more here than one. Yea, and Spiders