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Our tears to joy, our fears to faith,
Are turned, as we see;

That our beginning (as one saith),
Shews what our end will be.'

CHAP. III.

The Pilgrims are assaulted, but relieved.--Are entertained at the Interpreter's house.

NOW

TOW there was on the other side of the wall that fenced in the way up which Christiana and her companions were to go, a garden, and that belonged to him whose was that barking dog, of whom mention was made before. And some of the fruit-trees that grew in the garden, shot their branches over the wall; and being mellow, they that found them did gather them up and eat of them to their hurt. So Christiana's boys, (as boys are apt to do), being pleased with the trees, and with the fruit that did bang thereon, did pluck them, and began to eat. Their mother did also chide them for so doing, but still the boys went on.

'Well,' said she, my sons, you transgress, for the fruit is none of ours:' but she did not know that they did belong to the enemy: I'll warrant you, if she had, she would have been ready to die for fear. But that passed, and they went on their way.-Now, by that they were gone about two bows'-shot from the place that led them into the way, they spied two very ill-favoured ones coming down apace to meet them. With that Christiana and Mercy her friend covered themselves with their veils, and kept also on their journey: the children also went on before so that at last they met together. Then they that came down to meet them, came just up to the women, as if they would embrace them: but Christiana said, 'Stand back, or go peaceably as you should.' Yet these two, as men that are deaf, regarded not Christiana's words, but began to lay hands upon them:* at that Chris

* But began to lay hands upon them.] Satan suits his devices to all ages, accommodates his temptations to both sexes, and to every constitution. To the young he whispers, "Enjoy the pleasures of life while you can, and when you approach to old age, it will be time enough to be religious!" Christiana's boys eat of the "evil fruit," and

tiana waxed very wroth, and spurned at them with her feet. Mercy also, as well as she could, did what she could to shift them. Christiana again said to them, 'Stand back, and begone, for we have no money to lose, being pilgrims as you see, and such too as live upon the charity of our friends."

Then said one of the two men, We make no assault upon your money, but are come out to tell you, that if you will but grant one small request which we shall ask, we will make women of you for ever.

Now Christiana, imagining what they should mean, made answer again, We will neither hear, nor regard, nor yield to what you shall ask. We are in haste, and cannot stay: our business is of life and death.' So again she and her companions made a fresh essay to go past them but they letted them in their way.

And they said, We intend no hurt to your lives; 'tis another thing we would have.

Ay,' quoth Christiana, 'you would have us, body and soul, for I know 'tis for that you are come; but we will die rather upon the spot, than to ourselves to be brought into such snares as will hazard our well-being hereafter.' And with that they shrieked out, and cried. Murder! Murder! and so put themselves under those laws that are provided for the protection of women. But the men still made their approach upon them, with design to prevail against them. They therefore cried out again.

Now they being, as I said, not far from the gate, in at which they came, their voice was heard from where they

1 Deut. xxii. 23-27.

afterwards severely experienced the bad consequences of their transgression. To females he insinuates the pleasures resulting from indulging the "Lusts of the flesh," and though Moral and Philosophical principles may support Female Chastity, it is the Word of God alone that can enable a woman firmly to resist those temptations which peculiarly assail her in an age when seduction and debauchery, when adultery and fornication, are so prevalent as they are in our days. Wherever the spirit of God reigns supreme in the heart, the evil affections will be subdued, and sin will be rendered dead and morbid. When raised from the Death of Sin, a Life of Obedience will follow, if we are really the children of God.

were thither: wherefore some of the house came out, aud, knowing that it was Christiana's tongue, they made haste to her relief. But by that they were got within sight of them, the women were in a very great scuffle : the children also stood crying by. Then did he that came in for their relief call out to the ruffians, saying, 'What is that thing you do? Would you make my Lord's people to transgress?' He also attempted to take them; but they did make their escape over the wall into the garden of the man to whom the great dog belonged: so the dog became their protector. This Reliever then came up to the women, and asked them how they did. So they answered,' We thank thy Prince, pretty well; only we have been somewhat affrighted: we thank thee also, that thou camest in to our help, for otherwise we had been overcome.'

So after a few more words, this Reliever said as followeth I marvelled much, when you were entertained at the gate above, being ye know that ye were but weak women, that you petitioned not the Lord for a conductor: then might you have avoided these troubles and dangers he would have granted you one.

:

Alas! said Christiana, we were so taken with our present blessing, that dangers to come were forgotten by us beside, who could have thought that so near the king's palace there should have lurked such naughty ones? Indeed it had been well for us, had we asked our Lord for one; but, since our Lord knew it would be for our profit, I wonder he sent not one along with us.

Rel. It is not always necessary to grant things not asked for, lest by so doing they become of little esteem : but, when the want of a thing is felt, it then comes under, in the eyes of him that feels it, that estimate that properly is its due; and so consequently will be hereafter used. Had my Lord granted you a conductor, you would not, neither, so have bewailed that oversight of yours in not asking for one, as now you have occasion to do. So all things work for good, and tend to make

you more wary.

Chr. Shall we go back again to my Lord, and confess our folly, and ask one?

Rel. Your confession of your folly will I present him with: to go back again, you need not; for in all places where you shall come you will find no want at all; for at every of my Lord's lodgings, which he has prepared for the reception of his pilgrims, there is sufficient to furnish them against all attempts whatsoever. But as I said, "he will be enquired after by them, to do it for them." And it is a poor thing that is not worth asking for. When he had thus said, he went back to his place, and the pilgrims went on their way.

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Then said Mercy, What a sudden blank is here! I made account we had been past all danger, and that we should never see sorrow more.

Thy innocency, my sister, said Christiana to Mercy, may excuse thee much; but as for me, my fault is so much the greater, for that I saw this danger before I came out of the doors, and yet did not provide for it where provision might have been had. I am much to

be blamed.

Then said Mercy, How knew you this before you came from home? Pray open to me this riddle.

Chr. Why, I will tell you. Before I set foot out of doors, one night as I lay in my bed, I had a dream about this for methought I saw two men, as like these as ever the world they could look, stand at my bed's feet, plotting how they might prevent my salvation. I will tell you their very words: they said (it was when I was in my trouble),What shall we do with this woman ? for she continually cries out, waking and sleeping, for forgiveness if she be suffered to go on as she begins, we shall lose her as we have lost her husband,' This you know might have made me take heed, and have provided when provision might have been had.

Well, said Mercy, as by this neglect we have an occasion ministered unto us to behold our imperfections, so our Lord has taken occasion thereby to make manifest the riches of his grace; for he, as we see, has followed us with unasked ́kindness, and has delivered us from their hands that were stronger than we, of his mere good pleasure.

1 Ezek. xxxvi. 37.

Thus now, when they had talked away a little more time, they drew near to an house that stood in the way; which house was built for the relief of pilgrims; as you will find more fully related in the first part of the records of the Pilgrim's Progress.' So they drew on towards the house (the house of the Interpreter); and, when they came to the door, they heard a great talk in the house: then they gave ear, and heard, as they thought, Christiana mentioned by name. For you must know, that there went along, even before her, a talk of her and her children going on pilgrimage. And this was the more pleasing to them, because they had heard that she was Christian's wife, that woman who was some time ago so unwilling to hear of going on pilgrimage.. Thus, there fore, they stood still, and heard the good people within commending her, who they little thought stood at the door. At last Christiana knocked; as she had done at the gate before. Now, when she had knocked, there came to the door a young damsel named Innocent, and opened the door, and looked, and, behold, two women were there.

Then said the damsel to them, 'With whom would you speak in this place?'

Christiana answered, We understand that this is a pri vileged place for those that are become pilgrims, and we now at this door are such: wherefore we pray that we may be partakers of that for which we at this time are come; for the day, as thon seest, is very far spent, and we are loth to-night to go any further.

Dam. Pray what may I call your name, that I may tell it to my Lord within?

Chr. My name is Christiana; I was the wife of that pilgrim that some years ago did travel this way; and these be his four children. This maiden is also my com❤ panion, and is going on pilgrimage too.

Then ran Innocent in (for that was her name), and said to those within, 'Can you think who is at the door? there is Christiana and her children, and her companion, all waiting for entertainment here!' Then they leaped for joy, and went and told their master. So he came 1 Part i. p. 20---29.

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