Now, Mercy began to be very impatient, for each minute was as long to her as an hour; wherefore she prevented Christiana from a fuller interceding for her, by knocking at the gate herself. And she knocked then so loud that she made Christiana to start. Then said the Keeper of the gate, Who is there? and said Christiana, It is my friend.
So he opened the gate, and looked out, but Mercy was fallen down without, in a swoon, for she fainted, and was afraid that no gate would be opened to her.
Then he took her by the hand, and said, Damsel, I bid thee arise.
Oh, Sir, said she, I am faint; there is scarce life left in me. But he answered, That one once said, When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple. Fear not, but stand upon thy feet, and tell me wherefore thou art come.
Mercy. I am come for that unto which I was never invited, as my friend Christiana was. Hers was from the King, and mine was but from her. Wherefore I fear I presume.
Keep. Did she desire thee to come with her to this place?
Mercy. Yes; and, as my Lord sees, I am come. And if there is any grace or forgiveness of sins to spare, I beseech that I, thy poor handmaid, may be partaker thereof.
Then he took her again by the hand, and led her gently in, and said, I pray for all them that believe on me, by what means soever they come unto me. Then said he to those that stood by, Fetch something, and give it to Mercy to smell on, thereby to stay her fainting. So they fetched her a bundle of myrrh; and a while after, she was revived.
And now was Christiana and her boys, and Mercy, received of the Lord at the head of the way, and spoke kindly unto by him. Then said they yet further unto him, We are sorry for our sins, and beg of our Lord his pardon, and further information what we must do.
I grant pardon, said he, by word and deed; by word, in the promise of forgiveness; by deed, in the way I obtained it. Take the first from my lips with a kiss; and the other as it shall be revealed.
Now, I saw in my dream that he spake many good words unto them, whereby they were greatly gladded. He also had them up to the top of the gate, and shewed them by what deed they were saved; and told them withal, That that sight they would have again, as they went along in the way, to their comfort.
So he left them a while in a summer parlour below, where they entered into talk by themselves; and thus Christiana began: O Lord! how glad am I that we are got in hither.
Mercy. So you well may; but I of all have cause to leap for joy.
Chris. I thought one time, as I stood at the gate (because I had knocked, and none did answer) that all our labour had been lost, especially when that ugly cur made such a heavy barking against us.
Mercy. But my worse fear was after I saw that you was taken into his favour, and that I was left behind. Now, thought I, it is fulfilled which is written, Two women shall be grinding together, the one shall be taken and the other left. I had much ado to forbear crying out, Undone! undone!
And afraid I was to knock any more; but when I looked up to what was written over the gate, I took courage. I also thought that I must either knock again or die; so I knocked, but I cannot tell how, for my spirit now struggled betwixt life and death.