Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/243

Rh porter to send it by some ﬁt man to her good friend Mr. Interpreter; who, when it was come, and he had seen the contents of the petition, said to the messenger, Go tell them that I will send him.

When the family where Christiana was saw that they had a purpose to go forward, they called the whole house together, to give thanks to their King for sending of them such profitable guests as these. Which done, they said unto Christiana, And shall we not show thee something, as our custom is to do to pilgrims, on which thou mayest meditate when thou art upon the way? So they took Christiana, her children, and Mercy, into the closet, and showed them one of the apples that Eve ate of, and that which she also did give to her husband, and that for the eating of which they were both turned out of Paradise; and asked her what she taught that was. Then Christiana said, It is food or poison, I know not which. So they opened the matter to her and she held up her hands and wondered. (Gen. iii. 1–6; Rom. vii. 24.)

Then they had her to a place, and showed her Jacob's ladder. Now at that time there were some angels ascending upon it. So Christiana looked and looked to see the angels go up; so did the rest of the company. (Gen. xxviii. 172.) Then they were going into another place, to show them some thing else; but James said to his mother, Pray bid them stay here a little longer, for this is a curious sight. So they turned again, and stood feeding their eyes with this so pleasing a prospect. After this they had them into a place where did hang up a golden anchor. So they bid Christiana take it down; for said they; You shall have it with you, for 'tis of absolute necessity that you should lay, hold of that within the veil, and stand steadfast in case you should meet with turbulent weather. So they were glad thereof. (Joel iii. 16; Heb. vi. 19.) Then they took them, and had them to the mount upon which Abraham our father offered up Isaac his son, and showed them the altar, the wood, the fire, and