Feeble-mind. Nay, said he, though I thank thee for thy good-will, I am not inclined to halt before I am lame. Howbeit, I think, when occasion is, it may help me against a dog.

Ready-to-halt. If either myself or my crutches can do thee a pleasure, we are both at thy command, good Mr. Feeble-mind.

Thus therefore they went on: Mr. Greatheart and Mr. Honest went before, Christiana and her children went next, and Mr. Deeblemind and Mr. Ready-to-halt came behind with his crutches. Then said Mr. Honest, Pray, sir, now we are upon the road, tell us some profitable things of some that are gone on pilgrimage before us.

Great-heart. With a good will. I suppose you have heard how Christian of old did meet with Apollyon in the Valley of Humiliation, and also what hard work he had to go through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Also, I think you cannot but have heard how Faithful was put to it by Madam Wanton, with Adam the First, with one Discontent, and Shame; four as deceitful villains as a man can meet with upon the road.

Honest. Yes, I believe I heard of all this: but indeed good Faithful was hardest put to it by Shame; he was an unwearied one.

Great-heart. Ay; for, as the pilgrim well said, he of all men had the wrong name.

Honest. But pray, sir, where was it that Christian and Faithful met Talkative? That same was a notable one.

Great-heart. He was a confident fool; yet many follow his ways.

Honest. He had like to have beguiled Faithful.

Great-heart. Ay, but Christian put him into a way quickly to find him out.

Thus they went on till they came to the place where Evangelist met with Christian and Faithful, and prophesied to them what they should meet with at Vanity Fair.

Excellent! See the nature of Christian love; ever to be ready to spare to a brother what we ourselves have occasion for. Love looketh not at the things of our own, but to provide for the wants of others.

Nothing more profitable than conversing on the faith, valour and success of those who have gone before us, with their trials, enemies, and dangers, yet how gloriously they fought their way through all, and

Then said their guide, Hereabouts did Christian and Faithful meet with Evangelist, who prophesied to them of what troubles they should meet with at Vanity Fair.

Honest. Say you so? I dare say it was s hard chapter that then he did read unto them. Great-heart. It was so, but then he gave them encouragement withal. But what do we talk of them? they were a couple of lion-like men; they had set their faces like flints. Do not you remember how undaunted they were when they stood before the judge?

Honest. Well, Faithful bravely suffered.

Great-heart. So he did, and as brave things came on't: for Hopeful and some others, as the story relates, were converted by his death.

Honest. Well, but pray go on; for you are well acquainted with things.†

Great-heart. Above all that Christian met with after he had passed through Vanity Fair, one By-ends was the arch oue.

Honest. By-ends! What was he?

Great-heart. A very arch fellow, a downright hypocrite; one that would be religious which way ever the world went: but so cunning that he would be sure never to lose cr suffer for it. He had his mode of religion for every fresh occasion, and his wife was as good at it as he. He would turn and change from opinion to opinion: yea, and plead for so doing too. But, as far as I could learn, he came to an ill end with his by-ends; nor did I ever hear that any of his children were ever of any e teem with any that truly fear God.

Now by this time they were come within sight of the town of Vanity, where Vanity Fair is kept. So when they saw that they were so near the town, they consulted with one another how they should pass through the town, and some said one thing, and some another. At last Mr. Great-heart said, I have, as you may understand, often been a conductor of pilgrims through this town: now I am acquainted with one Mr. Mnason, a Cyprusian by nation, and an old disciple, at whose house we may lodge. If you think good, said he, we will turn in there.

Content, said old Honest; Content, said

came off more than conquerors over all. Pilgrims love to hear these things.

How happy to find a house in Vanity Fair whou Master will receive and entertain pilgrims! Bles-ed be God for the present revival of religion in our day. and for the many houses that are open to the friends of the Lamb! The hearts of the masters of which be

opens.

and so they said all. Now you must think it was eventide by that they got to the outside of the town, but Mr. Great-heart knew the way to the old man's house. So thither they came; and he called at the door, and the old man within knew his tongue as soon as ever he heard it; so he opened and they all came in. Then said Mnason their host, "How far have ye come to-day ?" So they said, "From the house of Gaius our friend." "I promise you," said he, "you have gone a good stitch; you may well be weary; sit down." So they sat down. Then said their guide, Come, what cheer, good sirs? I dare say you are welcome to my friend,"

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I also, said Mr. Mnason, do bid you welcome: and whatever you want do but say, and we will do what we can to get it for you.

Honest. Our great want, a while since, was harbour and good company; and now I hope we have both.*

Munson. For harbour, you see what it is; but for good company, that will appear in the trial.

So Grace went to call them, and they came; and, after salutation made they sat down together at the table.

Then said Mr. Mnason, their landlord, My neighbours, I have, as you see, a company of strangers come to my house: they are pilgrims; they come from afar and are going to Mount Zion. But who, quoth he, do you think this is? (pointing his fingers at Christiana.) It is Christiana, the wife of Christian, that famous pilgrim, who, with Faithful his brother, were so shamefully handled in our town. At that they stood amazed, saying, We little thought to see Christiana when Grace came to call us: wherefore this is very comfortable surprise. Then they asked her about her welfare, and if these young men were her husband's sons. And when she told them they were, they said to the lads, "The King whom you love and serve make you as your father, and bring you where he is in peace."‡

Then Mr. Honest, when they were all sat

I will, said Mr. Mnason. So he had them to their respective places: and also showed them a very fair dining-room, where they might be and sup together, until time was come to go to rest.

Now when they were set in their places, and were a little cheery after their journey, Mr. Honest asked his landlord if there were any store of good people in the town?

Munson. We have a few, for indeed they are but a few when compared with them on the other side.

· Honest. But how shall we do to see some of them? for the sight of good men to them that are going on pilgrimage is like to the appearing of the moon and stars to them that are going a journey.t

Theri Mr. Mnason stamped with his foot, and his daughter Grace came up; so he said unto her, Grace, go you, tell my friends, Mr. Contrite, Mr. Holy-man, Mr. Love-saints, Mr.

Under all our wants may we not say, with our Father Abraham, God will provide? Gen. xxii. 8.

†The inquiry of disciples after suitable company discovers that they, with David, love the Lord's saints, and in the excellent of the earth is all their delight. P. xvi 3. A genuine discovery this of a gracious bart

A precious prayer for the best of blessings.

posture their town was at present.

Contrite. You may be sure we are full of hurry in fair-time. It is hard keeping our hearts and spirits in good order, when we are in a cumbered condition. He that lives in such a place as this, and that has to do with such as we have, has need of an item, to caution him to take heed every moment of the day. Honest. But how are your neighbours now for quietness?

Contrite. They are much more moderate now than formerly. You know how Christian and Faithful were used at our town; but of late, I say, they have been far more moderate. I think the blood of Faithful lieth with a load upon them till now, for since they burned him they have been ashamed to burn any more; in those days we were afraid to walk the streets, but now we can show our heads. Then the name of a professor was odious: now, especially in some parts of our town, (for you know cur town is large,) religion is counted honourable.

Mind this hint. May it kindle a sense of anger, and excite caution.

It is a merey, when open persecution for the word abates and religion is more respected; but how do professors in such times get cold and dead, grow formal and worldly! The smiles of the town of Vanity often prove more injurious than its frowns. Be on your guard, O pilgrims!

Then said Mr. Contrite to them, Pray how fareth it with you in your pilgrimage? How stands the country affected towards you?

Honest. It happens to us as it happeneth to wayfaring men: sometimes our way is clean, sometimes foul, sometimes up hill, sometimes down hill; we are seldom at a certainty; the wind is not always on our backs, nor is every one a friend that we meet with in the way. We have met with some notable rubs already, and what are yet behind we know not; but for the most part we find it true that has been talked of old: A good man must suffer trouble." Contrite. You talk of rubs: what rubs have you met withal?

Honest. Nay, ask Mr. Great-heart, our guide, for he can give the best account of that.

Great-heart. We have been beset two or three times already. First, Christiana and her children were beset with two ruffians that they feared would take away their lives. We were beset with Giant Bloody-man, Giant Maul, and Giant Slay-good. Indeed, we did rather beset the last than were beset of him. And thus it was: After we had been some time at the house of Gaius, "mine host, and of the whole Church," we were minded upon a time to take our weapons with us, and to go see if we could light upon any of those that were enemies of pilgrims; for we heard that there was a notable one thereabouts. Now Gaius knew his haunt better than I, because he dwelt thereabout; so we looked and looked, till at last we discerned the mouth of his cave; then were we glad and plucked up our spirits. So we approached up to his den: and, lo, when we came there he had dragged by mere force into his net this poor man, Mr. Feeble-mind, and was about to bring him to his end. But when he saw us, supposing, as we thought, he had another prey, he left the poor man in his house and came out. So we fell to it full sore, and he lustily laid about him, but in conclusion he was brought down to the ground and his head cut off, and set up by the wayside for a terror to such as should after practise such ungodliness. That I tell you the truth here is the man himself to affirm it, who was as a lamb taken out of the mouth of the lion.

Then said Mr. Feeble-mind, I found this true to my cost and comfort-to my cost, when he threatened to pick my bones every moment; and to my comfort, when I saw Mr. Great-heart

*This is a sound speech. Lord, grant that we, who profess thy holy name, may take good heed to this. It is a word of conviction to many.

and his friends, with their weapons, approach so near for my deliverance.

Then said Mr. Holy-man, There are two things that they have need to be possessed of that go on pilgrimage-courage and an unspotted life. If they have not courage, they can never hold on their way; and if their lives be loose, they will make the very name of a pilgrim stink.*

Then said Mr. Love-saint, I hope this caution is not needful among you: but truly there are many that go upon the road that rather declare themselves strangers to pilgrimage than strangers and pilgrims in the earth.

Then said Mr. Dare-not-lie, It is true, they neither have the pilgrim's weed nor the pilgrim's courage: they go not uprightly, but all awry with their feet: one shoe goeth inward, another outward, and their hosen out behind, here a rag and there a rent, to the disparagement of their Lord.†

These things, said Mr. Penitent, they ought to be troubled for; nor are the pilgrims like to have that grace upon them and their pilgrim's progress as they desire until the way is cleared of such spots and blemishes.

Thus they sat talking and spending the time until the supper was set upon the table. Upon which they went and refreshed their weary bodies; so they went to rest. Now they stayed in the fair a great while at the house of Mr. Mnason, who in process of time gave his daughter Grace unto Samuel, Christiana's son, and his daughter Martha to Joseph.

The time, as I said, that they lay here was long, for it was not now as in former times. Wherefore the pilgrims grew acquainted with many of the good people of the town, and did them what service they could. Mercy, as she was wont, laboured much for the poor; where-fore their bellies and backs blessed her, and she was there an ornament to her profession. And to say the truth for Grace, Phebe, and Martha, they were all of a very good nature, and did much good in their places. They were also all of them very fruitful; so that Christian's name, as was said before, was like to live in the world.

While they lay here there came a monster out of the woods and slew many of the people of the town. It would also carry away their children and teach them to suck its whelps. Now no man in the town durst so much as face this monster, but all men fled when they heard the noise of his coming. The monster was

An excellent observation and a just reproof. May it carry conviction to the heart of those it suits!