And never let him suffer me To swerve, or turn aside, And et him gather them of mine, Lord, make them pray they may be thine, EXPLANATORY NOTES. THOUGH the second part of the Pilgrim's Progress will not strike the reader with the novelty of the first, because the same scenes are repeated; yet they are presented with such agreeable variations, as make it an equal source of profit and delight. The author explains, in this part, what was left more dark in the first, as he tells us in his Preface. On this account the Explanatory NOTES will be brief on those parts a'ready noticed, while the newer matter will be more largely improved. The second part is peculiarly adapted to d rect and encourage female christians, and young persons; and it is hoped will be particularly attended to by such. It is, perhaps, needless to remark, that no reasonable doubt can be entertained as to the authenticity of this work: Mr. Bunyan cannot be imitated; and the sweet simplicity that characterises the first part, is equally obvious in the secoud. IT is no wonder that the opinions of the world concerning real christian should be strange and various, since even “the great things of God's law" are accounted “ strange," by the carnal mind Yet it is observable, that those who could not speak a good word of Christian in his life-time, commended him greatly when dad. This is a common case, and fulfils that scripture, The memory of the just is blessed." All men wish to go to heaven, and they are sure that the godly do: "their minds therefore water at a pilgrim's gains, while they are resolved never to run a pilgrim's nazards.” O let me die his death!"--all nature cries: However, this may help to encourage us under the weight of reproach. Let every saint commit his character, as well as h's soul, to Christ; the latter he will safely keep, the former he will fully vind.cate. He has now a witness for his L+ people in every man's conscience; and he will one day reckon with ungodly sinners, for "all their hard speeches," which they have uttered against them," Jude 13. The first serious thoughts which impressed the mind of Christiana, commenced at her husband's death. Nature felt 4he heavy loss, and sovereign grace improved the feelings of nature. Happy is that death which brings the believer to heaven, and the surviving relative to Christ ;-which opens the gate of glory to one, and the door of conversion to the other! Then all her unkind treatment of Christian, on account of religion, rushed into her memory, and stung her with the keenest remorse. 46 Mark this, you who are churlish to godly relations:" should you survive them, every bitter word, and every ungenerous action, will prove a dagger to your breast, and you will be ready to think yourself their murderer. Happy for her, she recollected also, the deep concern her husband felt for his soul, and especially his bitter outery, "What shall I do to be saved!" This concern, which she once despised, became her own; and she was convinced, that what she then thought madness and folly, was the perfection of human wisdom. Let this be a spur to the diligence of professors, to pray and labour hard for the conversion of their relations. The seed they sow in tears, and prayers, and entreaties, may be buried long in the dust, and never shoot a blade while they live: but who can tell?"— It may spring up when they are in glory, and angels may bring them the welcome news! The trouble of Christiana's mind could not be concealed; she soon communicated it to her children. Every serious mother will seek the spiritual good of her offspring, and especially of the fatherless; or, when the father, like Gallio, "cares for none of these things." No wonder, that in this afflicted state, her very dreams should be religious. "Mercy" How was her cry, sleeping and waking. But mark (says the margin), mark the quinte sence of hell," the devils (as she dreamed) consulted how to divert her thoughts from eternal things; or," said they," we shall lose her for ever, and all the world cannot hinder her from becoming a pilgrim." many study to do the devil's work, in stifling the convictions of serious minds! but, lessed be God, neither devils nor men shall succeed, but invincible grace shall prevail ! Christiana was favoured with an help against her discouragements-she dreamed that she saw her husband happy with immortals, shouting the praise of his Prince. A word of caution may be proper here. Dreams are sometimes of use, to warn and encourage a christian, and seem to be really from God; but great caution is necessary, lest they mislead us, as they often do weak and enthusiastic persons; and they should never be depended on, as the ground of our hope, or the test. of our state. The word of God is the christian's guide; and those who duly prize it, will be jealous of putting any thing in its place. Soon was the conversion of Christiana publicly known, by her speech and behaviour, which occasioned the reproach of her neighbours. But the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him (Psalm xxv. 14.); and the hope of pardon, and acceptance with God, prevailed against all opposition. In vain are the objections urged by Mrs. Timorous. To a soul born of God, heaven is worth every thing, and every thing will be ventured for it. The invitation of Christ in the gospel, intimated by the letter brought by Secret, was a stronger inducement for her going, than all the world could propose for her staying at home. The secret influence of God on the mind, will powerfully persuade a man to leave all for Christ. She admitted that danger must be expected, and this was one argument with her to go, for "the bitter must come before the sweet." Excellent maxim indeed! Let every christian pilgrim adopt it, and let it be an answer to fleshly reasonings, whenever they would impede our progress to leaven. We have now another, and a very amiable character introduced. Mercy, a neighbour of a sweet natural disposition, was inclined to accompany Christiana a little way; partly through affection to her, and partly through concern for her own soul. It was grace alone that made the difference between her and Mrs. Timorous, for both had listened to Christiana's sory. Thus it is under the preached word; one is taken, another left. While the wretched crew of carnal females were profanely ridiculing our pious pilgrims, the Lord was sweetly working on the mind of this young disciple, and accompanying the heavenly eloquence of Christiana with divine power. O for more of this persuasion, that, like her, we might travail in birth for the conversion of souls? This is the true love of our neighbour; this is fulfilling the royal law. And O how happy are they, who are instrumental in causing any to "fall in love with their own salvation!" Poor Mercy, not being called in the remarkable manner of some others, was tempted to doubt whether she was called at all. The author's judgment appears in this circumstance; he well knew that many of his readers, finding nothing in their own experience so striking as in that of Christian and his wife, would suspect the reality of their call. This is fiequently the case with persons of a moral character, and mild disposition, especially if they have had a religious education. But Mercy clearly discovered a work of grace on her heart. She was anxious about her acceptance at last-she began to pay-she threw herself on the mere mercy of Christ's heart, and proved" the bowels of a pilgrim." by lamenting the sad condition of her carnal relations. Happy are those, who have these marks of a christian, though they cannot ascertain the particular time or mean of their conversion. CHAP. II. Christiana, Mercy, and the Children, pass the Slough with safety, and are kindly received at the Wicket gate. Now my old friend proceeded, and said :—But when Christiana came to the Slough of Despond, she began to be at a stand; for, said she, This is the place in which my dear husband had like to have been smothered with mud. (See Part I. p. 9-11.) She perceived also, that notwithstanding the command of the King to make this place for pilgrims good, yet it was rather worse than formerly: So I asked if that was true? Yes, said the old gentleman,. too true: for many there be, that pretend to be the King's labourers, and say they are for mending the King's highways, that bring dirt and dung instead of stones, and so mar instead of mending. Here Christiana, therefore, and her boys did make a stand; but said Mercy, Come, let us venture, only let us be wary. Then they looked well to their steps, and made a shift to get staggering over. Bot once or twice. Yet Christiana had like to have been in, and that Now they had no sooner got over, but they thought they heard words that said unto them, Blessed is she that believeth, for there shall be a performance of what has been told her from the Lord." Then they went on again; and said Mercy to Christiana, Ilad I as good ground to hope for a loving reception at the Wicket-gate as you, I think no Slough of Despond would discourage me. Well, said the other, you know your sore, and I know mine; and good friend, we shall all have enough of evil before we come to our journey's end. For it cannot be imagined, that the people that design to attain such excellent glories as we do, and that are so envied that happiness as we are, but that we shall meet with what fears and snares, with what troubles and afflictions, they can possibly assault us with, that hate us. And now Mr. Sagacity left me to dream out my dream by myself. Wherefore, methought I saw Christiana, and Mercy, and the boys, go all of them up to the gate: to which, when they came, they betook themselves to a short debate, about how they must manage their calling at the gate; and what should be said unto him that did open unto thei So it was concluded, since Christiana was the eldest, that she should knock for entrance, and that she should speak to him that did open for the rest. So Christiana began to knock; and as her poor husband did, she knocked, and knocked again. (See Part I. p. 24.) But instead of any that answered, they all thought that they heard as if a dog came barking upon them. A dog, and a great one too, and this made the women and children afraid. Nor durst they for a while to knock any more, for fear the mastiff should fly upon them. Now, therfore, they were greatly tumbled up and down in their minds, and knew not what to do: knock they durst not, for fear of the dog; go back they durst not, for fear the keeper of the gate shou'd espy them as they so went, and be offended with them: at last they thought of knocking again, and knocking more vehemently than they did a first. said the keeper of the gate, Who is there? So the dog left off to bark, and he opened unto them. Tan Then Christiana made low obeisance, and said, Let not our Lord be offended with his hand |