THE GLORIOUS END OF THE PILGRIMAGE. 313

a while, and talked to his companions that had waited upon him thither. And he
said, “This river has been a terror to many ; yea, the thoughts of it have also frighted
me; but now methinks I stand easy; my foot is fixed upon that on which the feet of
the priests that bare the ark of the covenant stood while Israel went over Jordan.™
The waters, indeed, are to the palate bitter, and to the stomach cold; yet the thought
of what I am going to, and of the conduct that waits for me on the other side, doth
lie as a glowing coal at my heart. I see myself now at the end of my journey; my
toilsome days are ended. Iam going to see that head which was crowned with thorns,
and that face which was spit upon for me. I have formerly lived by hearsay and
faith ; but now I go where I shall live by sight, and shall be with Him in whose com-
pany I delight myself. I have loved to hear my Lord spoken of; and wherever I
have seen the print of His shoe in the earth, there I have coveted to set my foot too.
His name has been to me as a civet-box; yea, sweeter than all perfumes. ITis voice
to me has been most sweet, and His countenance I have more desired than they that
have most desired the light of the sun. His Word I did use to gather for my food,
and for antidotes against my faintings. He has held me, and hath kept me from mine
iniquities ; yea, my steps hath He strengthened in His way.”

Now, while he was thus in discourse, his countenance changed, his strong man
bowed under him; and, after he had said, “Take me, for I come unto Thee!” he
ceased to be seen of them.

But glorious it was to see how the open region was filled with horses and chariots,
with trumpeters and pipers, with singers and players on stringed instruments, to
welcome the pilgrims as they went up, and followed one another in at the beautiful
gate of the City.

As for Christian’s children, the four boys that Christiana brought with her, with
their wives and children, I did not stay where I was till they were gone over. Also,
since I came away, I heard one say that they were yet alive, and so would be for the
increase of the Church in that place where they were for a time.

Shall it be my lot to go that way again, I may give those that desire it an account
of what I here am silent about: meantime I bid my reader

ADIEU.

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