e three women took Christian to the top of the hill and shown the beautiful land that lay in front, where he was told, he would find the gates to the Celestial City. Yet before they would send him off, they took him into the armoury and when they came there, they harnessed him from head to foot with what was of proof, lest, perhaps, he should meet with assaults in the way(50). Here, Christian was given shields that protected him on his way, and without this, he would have not been able to continue his journey to the Celestial City. These women, as Christian had discovered, were among the few that were placed in his path in order to abet him forth. Nearing the end of his journey to the gates of the Celestial City, Christian, who is now accompanied by Hopeful, come upon the shepherds of the Delectable Mountains. It is here, from these men, that the two are given advantageous knowledge to guide them in their final phase of travel towards the City. When first seen, the shepherds asked many questions. Whence came you? and, How got you into the way? and, By what means have you so persevered therein? For but few of them that begin to come hither do show their face on these mountains. But when the Shepherds heard their answers, being pleased therewith, they looked very lovingly upon them, and said, Welcome to the Delectable Mountains (105). The Shepherds first wondered about where the two were coming from and how they had survived thus far, because many had turned back by the time they had reached that location. Yet, when Christian must have explained that Evangelist, the three women, and others had helped him along, the Shepherds were pleased. They had realized that he had been helped by the right people and directed down the correct path, and were aware that they, the Shepherds, were next in line to assist the two on their way. Thus, they received them, and asked for them to stay a while. The Shepherds, were appropriately named ...
