VAL."Why, is this Christian's wife?" GREAT. Yes, that it is; and these also are his four sons."

VAL. "What! and going on pilgrimage too?"

GREAT. "Yes, verily, they are following after."

VAL. "It glads me at the heart. Good man, how joyful will he be when he shall see them that would not go with him, yet to enter after him in at the gates into the Celestial City!"

GREAT. "Without doubt, it will be a comfort to him to meet there his wife and children."

VAL. "But now you are upon that, let me hear your opinion about it. Some make a question, whether or no, we shall know one another, when we are there."

GREAT. "Do they think they shall know themselves then, or that they shall rejoice to see themselves in that bliss? And if they think they shall know and do these, why not know others, and rejoice in their welfare also?"

2 I'm but a youthful pilgrim here,
My journey's just begun;
They tell me I shall sorrow meet
Before my journey's done.
The world is full of sorrow
And suffering, they say;
But I will follow Jesus,
And follow all the way.

146

1. The way is dark, my Fa ther!

cloud upon cloud Is gathering thickly o'er my head, and loud The thunders...

}

By this time they were got to the Enchanted Ground, where the air naturally tended to make one drowsy. And if a man sits, or if a man sleeps, it is a question, some say, whether ever he shall rise or wake again in this world.

Now, they had not gone far, but a great mist and darkness fell upon them all; so that they could scarce, for a great while, the one see the other. Wherefore they were forced, for some time, to feel for one another by words; for they walked not by sight.

The way was also here very wearisome, through dirt and slabbiness. Nor was there, on all this ground, so much as one inn or victualing-house wherein to refresh the feebler sort. Here, therefore, was nothing but grunting, and puffing, and sighing, while one tumbleth over a bush, another sticks fast in the dirt, and the children, some of them, lost their shoes in the mire; while one cries out, "I am down!" and another, "Ho! where are you?" and a third, "The bushes have got such a fast hold on me, I think I cannot get away from them.

2 The day declines, my Father! and the night Is drawing darkly down. My faithless sight Sees ghostly | visions. Fears of a spectral band

Encompass me. O Father, take my hand,
And from the night lead up to light,

Up to light, up to light,
Lead up to light thy child!

3 The path is rough, my Father! Many a thorn Has pierced me; and my feet, all torn

And bleeding, mark the way. Yet thy command

Bids me press forward. Father, take my hand; Then safe and blest, O lead to rest,

Lead to rest, lead to rest,

O lead to rest thy child!

4 The throng is great, my Father! Many a doubt

And fear of danger compass me about;
And foes op- press me sore. I cannot stand
Or go, alone. O Father! | take my hand;
And through the throng, lead safe along,
Safe along, safe along,
Lead safe along thy child!

5 The cross is heavy, Father! I have borne
It long, and still do bear it. Let my worn
And fainting spirit rise to that bright land
Where crowns are given. Father, take my
hand;

And, reaching down, lead to the crown,
To the crown, to the crown,
Lead to the crown thy child.