CHARITY CONVERSES WITH CHRISTIAN. 71

my bosom, that will do it; and when my thoughts wax warm about whither Tam
going, that will do it.

Pru. And what makes you so desirous to go to Mount Zion?

Curis. Why, there I hope to see Him alive that did hang dead on the cross; and
there I hope to be rid of all those things that to this day are in me an annoyance to

7 and there I shall dwell with such company

me. ‘There, they say, there is no death ;°
as I like best. For, to tell you the truth, I love Him because I was by Him cased of
my burden; and I am weary of my inward sickness. I would fain be where [ shall
die no more, and with the company that shall continually ery, “ Moly, holy, holy!”

Cuar. Then said Charity to Christian, “ Have you a family? are you a married
man?”

Curis. I have a wife and four small children.

Cuar. And why did you not bring them along with you?

Curis. Then Christian wept, and said, “Oh, how willingly would [ have done it!
but they were all of them utterly averse to my going on pilgrimage.”

Cuar. But you should have talked to them, and endeavored to have shown them
the danger of staying behind.

Curis. So I did, and told them also what God had shown to me of the destruetion
of our city; but I seemed to them as one that mocked, and they believed me not.

Cuar. And did you pray to God that He would bless your counsel to them ?

Curis. Yes, and that with much affection; for you must think that my wife and
poor children were very dear unto me.

Cuar. But did you tell them of your own sorrow and fear of destruction? for I
suppose that destruction was visible enough to you.

Curis. Yes, over, and over, and over. They might also see my fears in my coun-
tenance, in my tears, and also in my trembling under the apprehension of the judgment
that did hang over our heads: but all was not sufficient to prevail with them to come
with me.

Cuar. But what could they say for themselves why they came not?

Curis. Why, my wife was afraid of losing this world, and my children were given
to the foolish delights of youth; so, what by one thing, and what by another, they left
me to wander in this manner alone.

Cuar. But did you not, with your vain life, damp all that you by words used by
way of persuasion to bring them away with you ?

Curis. Indeed, I cannot commend my life, for Lam conscious to myself of many
failings therein. I know also, that a man, by his conversation, may soon overthrow