i «». Tre. '""'■' -^m ^ W THE PILGRIMS PROGRESS FROM THIS WORLD T O THAT WHICH IS TO COME. DELIVERED UNDER THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM. IN TWO PARTS. Br JOHN BUNTAN, I HATE USED SIMILITUDES. HOSEA XU. lO. A NEW EDITION, DIVIDED INTO CHAPTERS. WITH THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. TO WHICH ARE ADDED, EXPLANATORY and PRACTICAL NOTES. EMBELLISHED WITH ELEGANT ENGRAVIJs'G.S. DUBLIN: Printed bv JOHN JONES, 90, DRin^-STRr, 1802, 4*^ O^fci TsS^^ SUBSCRIBERS NAMES T O JONES'S EDITION OF THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. REV. Robert Alexander, L.L.D. Rois Arthur Alexander, Eiq. do. Captain Armrtrong Doaor Aflack Mrs. Ardil A^r. James Allen, 3 copies Mr. James Auden Mr. Richard Auftin Mr. William Atkin, Wexford B John Theophilus Boileau, Efq. William Bradihaw, } fq. ^Vm. Banks, Elq. Rofs P. Baley, Efq. Mr. John Bufteed, Tralee Mr. Wm. Barrett, Hacket's- town Mrs. Blachford Mr. Buchanan Mr. John Boyle Mr. George Brookes, Bookfel- ler, 2 copies Mr. Jofeph Bayly, Woodbank Mr. Benjaaiin Bayly Mr. P. Burnel Mr. Peter Bertrand Mr. Nath. Barry Mr. Cha. Burbridge, 2 copies Mr. Robert Bell INIr. Wm. Bigger Mr. Barth. BoUon Mrs. Bales Mr. Thomas liaker Mr. Jofeph Butler Mr. Burnett, Bookfeller, 2 copies Mr. Bull, Bookfeller, Water ford 1 2 copies Mr. Boyde, Bookfeller, Rofs, 3P copies Mr. Barry, Bookfeller, Lime- rick, 25 copies Mr. Bennett, Bookfeller, Kil- kenny, 23 copies Mr. Ifaac Barrington, Rofs Mr, Tobias Butler, do. Mr. Thomas Batt, do. C Rev. r^r. Caul field Rev. George Carr, Rofs Rev. Mr. Chartres, Ferns Rev. Mr. Crofton Captain Campbell, 7 2d Reg. Michael Clarke, Ejq. Michael Cox, Efq. Mifs Cavanagh Mr. Richard ClifFard Mrs. Conner, 2 copies Mr. Cruife Mr. Edward Connolly Mr. Peter Campbell, Sackvillc- ftreet Mr. Randal CaOiel Mr. Conyers, Carlow Mr. Cunningham, Bookfeller, 3 copies Mr. Joieph Clarke Mr. Nicholas Condon Mr. Wm. Curry Mr. Courtney SUBSCRIBERS NAMKS. Mr. JohnCbarrurier, iiooKicllcr 4 copies Mr. John Campion, Marybo- rough Mr. Moles Cafhmore Mr. Daniel Coghlan, Rofs Mr. Jofeph Collins, do. Mr. Wm. Collier Mr. Cooper Crawford Mr. Cumming, Bookfeller, Newry, 7 copies Mr. John Couzins Mr. Geo. Chapman, New-tn. Mount-Kennedy Mr. Wm. Chriftian, do. Mr. Henry Collins D Rev. B. Duncan, Rofs Rev. James Dunne Ifaac D'Olier, Efq. T. D'Olier, Efq. Edward Dalton, Efq. James Doyle, Efq. M. D. Rofs Samuel Drapes, Efq. do. Mr. Thomas Doolittle Mr. John Dinnen Mr. John Darragh Mr. Arthur Dunne Mr. Ifaac Deacon Mr. Ben. Dill Mrs. Dann Mr. Richard Davis Mr. George Dreaver, Rathdrum Mr. Philip Davin, Drewftown Mr. James Debar Mrs. Dick Mr. Paul Deighan, Mathemati- cian, Dublin Mrs. Doolittle, 2 copies Mr. Charles Dreaver, Gorey Mr. John Delany Mr. Dickinfon Mr. Davenport, Londonderry E Mr. A. Edwards, Bookfeller, Cork, 25 copies Mr. S. W. Everitt, Rofs Mr. Samuel Edge, Fair-View jVlr John Euftace Mafter Er Englith F Revd. Richard Frizell Fdmund Fitzpatrick, Efq. Rofs Edward Forbes, Efq. Thomas Francis, Elq. Samuel Fitzpatrick, Efq. Mifs Fernfly Mr. John F'agg Mr. Samuel Fifher JMr. James Fielding Mr. Thomas Franklin Mr. C. Flanagan, America,50C0p. G Rev. Mr. Gamble Mrs Goff Mr. Thomas GrifHn Mr. Alex. Gaul Mr. Anthony Gardiner Mr. Hugh Gregg Mr. Edward Garvey Mr. Charles Gunning, Athlone Mr. Dilmore Graham Mr. Matthew Gamble Mr. Richard Groves Mr. George Harvey Mr. Wm. Godwin, Rofs Mr. Ezekiel Gill, do. Mr. James Grace Mr. Nath. Greenham, Lucan Mr. Gorman, Bookfeller, Clon- mcU, 12 copies Mr. Robert Grumley Mr. James Greenham H Rev. Archdeacon Helfham Rev. Mr. Hans Hamilton Mr. BemTd^Dorn-mrfor Anie- Uev. John Ifaac Harrifon, Naas rica 1 00 copies iThomis Howie, Eiq. Mr. Jofeph Dinn, Rofs jMrs. Handcock, 2 copies %r. SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. Mifs Harris Mr, Thomas Hutchinfon Mr. Robert Hutchinfon Mr. Tobias Handcock Mr, Luke Hacket Mr. John Hill Mr. Robert Hutton Mr. Henry Holdcraft I Mr. John Harding, Tinehalv jRev. Mr. John Hughes, Portarlington'Alex Mr. John HaTl, Wexford Mr. £d. Harris Mifs E. Hankifon Mr. Edward Hayes Mr. Wm. Hutchinfon Mr. James Harper, Gorey Mr. John Hicks Mr. Edward Jennings Mr. Robert Jones, Bennetftown Mr. James J.ickfon, Mouncrath Mr. Wm Ja. kfon, do. Mr. Ed. Jones iMr. Johnfon, Bookfeller, Youghall, 12 copies K Thomas Kingfbury Knox, Efq. Mr. Rob.Hammerton, StrabanelMifs Kirchoffer George Keough, jun. Efq; Rofs Ed. Keough, Efq. do. Mr. Aylmer Kelly Mr. \dam Keith Mr. Kinfley Mr. Francis Kear Mrs. Kane Mrs. Frances Hobfon Mr. Edward Hale Mifs Ham mitt Mr. Howard Mr. Hayes, Bookfeller, Mr. Wm. Healy Mr. George Harvey Mr. James Holmes Mrs. Hurley ,Mr. Hale Mr. John Handcock Mr. Thomas Harper, Gorey Mr. James Hall Mr. Geo. Hartrick, Rofs Mr. David Hare, Cork Mr. James Henderfon, Sligo Mr. John lemmings Rev. Mr. Jones, RofTan^ Captain Johnfon John Jones, Efq. Nevill's Court Mr. Paul Johnfon, M. D. Mr. Thomas Jones Mr. Matthias Joyce Mr. Samuel Jones Mr. Michaeljordqa Mr. Wm. Jeflbn Mr. Charles Jones Mr. Edward Kelly Mrs. Kingfmill Mr. Samuel Kennedy Mr. Robert Kilfall, fen. Mr. John Kerr Mr. Thomas Kirk, America, 50 copies L Mrs. Peter Latouche, 4 coplet John D. Latouche, Efq. Rev. Charles Cobbe Lyndon, Newtown, Mt.-Kennedy James Lambert, Efq. John Ladaveze, Efq. John Livingrton Efq. Mr. George Leech Mr. John H. Lowther Mr. Samuel Lawrence Mr. Matthew Lidford Mr. George Lundy M-s. Lyndon Mrs. Lawrence, Newtn.Mt.Ken. Mr. Jofeph Litton Mr. Thomas Lutton Mr. Hugh Lavery, Athlone Mr. G. Lewis Mr. Samuel Lahee, Rois Mr. Jofeph Lodge "J i SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. M JohnF. Madden, Efq. Galway Rice Meredith, iTq. Queen's co, Philip Meredith, Efq. do. Mifs Mazier, Eccles-ftrcet Michael Mills, Efq. Mr. Michael MuUin Mr. M'Garvey Mrs. Margrett Mr. Maloney Mr. Charles Mayne Mr. James M'Keoy^p Mr. Thomas M'Guire Mr. Wm. WDonnel Mrs. Rebecca Mayne Mr. John Montgomery Mr. J. Molony Mrs. A. M'Ginn'.s Mrs. M'Murray, Leixlip Mr. Wm. Magee, Bookfeller, Belfaft, 12 copies Mr. John Miller Mr. Thomas Magrath Mr. Alex. Marfhall Mr. Wm. Morgan, Claycaftle Mr. Thomas M'Comas Mr. James Martyn Mr. Maxwell M'Cann, fen. Mr. Maxwell M'Cann, jun. Mr. Michael M'Cormick, Rofs Mr. Martyn, Engraver Mr. Joleph Morn ion, Rofs Mr. James Mafon, do. Mr. John Mitchell, Bookfeller, Drogheda, 6 copies Mr. Thomas Mathews Mr. John Mathews N Right Hon. Lady Norwood, Garrett Neville, Efq. Kilkenny Ed. Neville, Efq. Rofs Mr. Edward Nugent, Printer Mr. Nevvland Mr. Robert Newfom Mr. Geo.Ncedham, Newtown Mount-Kennedy Mafter T. Noble 'Rt. Rev. Lord Bifliop of Oflory John O'CallagUan, Efq Limerick MichaelB. O'Brien, Efq. Rofs Mr. Hugh Oldham P Rev. Ed. Pidgeon, Kilkenny Mrs Paine Mr. John Powel Mr. Monk Prim Mr. Parks, Bookfeller, Dundalk 6 copies Mr. JohnPentard Mr. Wm. Parks Mr. Thomas Patterfon, Belfaft Mr. P».obert Pearfon Mifs C. Quin R Kev. Mr. Roe, 2 copies Rev. Mr. Roberts, Leighlin- bridge Rev. P. Roe, Kilkenny Robert Rogers, Efq. Rofs — Roe, Efq. M. D. Jonathan Rogers, Efq. G.T. Ridfdale, Efq. Rofs Counfellor Ridgeway Mrs. Ray, Cavendifh-row ;Mifs Mary Roche ^'Jr. Robert Revell Mr. Thomas Robinfon Mr. P. Rogers Mr. Jof. Robinfon Mr. Ebenezer Ralph Mr. Ed. Ryan Mr. Jolly Reade, Athlone Mr. Richard Rudd, Wexford Mr. George Reade Mr. John RufTutt Mr. Richard Ring Mr. Thomas Ring Mr. Rogers, Gorey Mr. John Robinfon, Rofs Mr. Wm. Robinfon, do. Mr. Thomas Reilly SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. Rev. Mr. Shaw, Sand-pits, Carrickon-Suir Rev. Mr. Snead Hon. Mrs. B. Stratford Hon. Mifs Eliza Stratford Hon. Captain Stratford Mrs. Shaw, Merrion-fquare Sir Walter Synnott Lieut. Steele Henry Strahan, Efq. Attorney Mr. George Shaw- Mr. George Speare Mr. James Strahan, yzd Reg. Mr. Jofeph Stopford Mr. A . Stewart, Bookfeller, 7 cop. Mr. John Stevens Mr. Wm. Smith Mr. A. T. St. Lawrence Mr. John Stokes Mr. Henry Sibthorp Mr. Thomas Spear Mr. Salt Mr. Wm. Stopford Mr. Thomas Schiebel Mrs. Marg. Smith, Ballymenagh Mr. Richard Smith Mr. Richard Sharp Mr. Michael Saxmith Mr. George bkelleren Mr. Robert Sharman, BiiT Mr. Cha. Sproule, Newtn. Stuart Mr. Wm. Smyth, Waterford T Rev.Mr.Tighe, Drumgooland Co. Down George Thoinas, Efq. Mrs. Tyrrell, Merrion-fquare Mrs. N. Taylor Mr. Henry Turner Mr. John Teare Mr. John Torrington Mr. John Townlend Mr. Henry Trail Mr. Wm. Taaffe Mr. Roger Trinor Mr, Edward Topham Mr. Andrew Torrington Mr. John Tollerton Mr. Robert Taylor Mr. Geo. Tuamly, Rofnallrevor Mr. Wm. Thornton Mr. Wm. Tomes Mr. E. Tape V Mr. Thomas Vero W Rev. Mr. Whitelaw Mrs. Wilkinfon, Dawfon-ftrect MifsWilkinfon, do. John Williams, Efq. WiUiams, Efq. Wm. Aug. Walker, Efq; Mrs. Anne Warren Mrs. Waring, CalHe Bonford Mr. Robert Watfon, 7 2d Reg. Mr. Dougald Wainrighc Mr. George Ward Mr. Thomas Watfoa Mr. Griffith Williams Mr. Wm. Ward, Monaghan Mr. Ben. Woodcock Mr, Henry Wheeler Mr. James Wickftead Mr. Edward Wolfendon Mr. George Wallace Mr. Henry Wilkins Mr. James Whitefides Mr. Jofeph Wright Mr. David Weyman Mr. Wm. Wright Mr. Philip Wilfon Mr. Wilkins Mr. Warren, Belfaft, 25 copies Y Mr. Jacob Young Mr. George Younrf Mr. John Youell Mr. John Yandell Mr. John Youn^j A genuine FAMILY BIBLE, J • JONES embraces this means of prefenting his grate- ful acknowledgments to his fubfcribers for their kind patro- nage—and begs to acquaint them, that from the advice of a number of correfpondents throughout Ireland, he has re- folved upon printing (by fubfcription in numbers, if encou- raged) a very neat" QUARTO FAMILY BIBLE; to be cmbellifhed with fome choice Ekgravings, executed in a high ftyle, by Mr. Martyn, an eminent Iriflj Artift.- • This Work, when bound, is not to exceed ow Guinea and a half to Subfcribers. It fhall be printed with the fame Type, and on the fame Paper as the Pilgrim's Progrefs.—The Notes fliall be feleaed from the mod celebrated Commentators, and be chiefly explanatory and praaical.— Unremitting care fhall be taken to have the marginal references llriaiy cor- rea— To render this Work perfeftly accurate, it fhall be read for prefs, by an eftablilhed correftor, a clergyman of Dublin, as alfo, by two others equally qualified. Heads of families, as alib individuals, defirous of being pofleffed of a neat edition of the Sacred Oracles, have now an opportunity of affifting in the compietion of the above fuggefled plan, by forwarding their names to the pubhfher, or to the different Bookfellers who fell Jones's Publications. Perfons advancing one third of the fubfcription, fliall have an allowance made in the binding of the Work— thofc who advance a Guinea, or the entire Subfcriptiony a ftill greater. Security will be given for all caQi paid in advance. BIBLES EXCHANGED. As an inducement to encourage thofe perfons to fub- fcribe, who may already be furnifhed with Bibles ; but which, from their largenefs, are found too unwieldy and cumbrous for the parlour table, or even the library or ftudy, JONES will allow reafonable value for all fuch, as arc not imperfea, or greatly abufed. No. 90, Bride-ftrect, Sept. t8o2. PREFACE. ■•«99 i!i*S99«' 1 HE high eflimation in which the 'Pilgrim's Progress' has been held for above a century, fuffi- ciently e\'inces its intrinfic value : and there is every reafon to fuppofe, that it will be read with admira- tion for ages to come j probably till the confumma- tion of all things. The pious chriftian, in proportion to his " growth " in grace, and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus," derives more and more inflruftion from repeated perufals of this remarkable book ; while his enlarged experience and extended obfervation enable him to unfold, with progreflive evidence, the full meaning of the very agreeable fimrlitudes employed by its truly ingenious author. And even the carelefs or uninftrufted reader is fafcinated to attention, by the fimple and artlefs manner in which the interefling narrative is arranged. Nor fhould this be repre- fented as a mere amufement, which anfwers no fur- ther purpofe : for it has been obferved by men of great dtfcernment, and acquaintance with the human mind, that young perfons, havitig perufed the Pil- grim as a pleafmg tale, have generally retained a remembrance of its leading incidents, which, after continuing perhaps in a dormant ftate for feveral A 2 yearsJ^ IV PREFACE. years, has at length germinated, as it were, into the moft important and feafonabte inftruftion, while the events of their own hves, placed it before their minds in a new and affeding point of view. It may, therefore, be queftioned, whether modern ages have produced any work which has more pro- moted the befl interefts of mankind. It would not perhaps be difficult to fhow, that the Pilgrim's Progress, as firft publifhed, is as really an original production of vigorous native genius, as any of thofe works, in profe or verfe, which have excited the admiration of mankind through fuccef- iive ages, and in different nations. It does not in- deed poffefs thofe ornaments which are fo often miflaken for intrinfic excellence : but the rudenefs of its ftyle (which however is chara£terifl:ic of the fubject) concurs to prove it a mod extraordinary book ;— for had it not been written with very great ingenuity, a religious treatife, evidently inculcating dodrines yet difefteemed by the unenlightened mind, it would not, in fo homely a garb, have fo durably attracted the attention of a polifhed age. Yet it is undeniable that Bunyan*s Pilgrim continues to be read and admired by vaft multitudes ; while publi- cations on a fmiilar plan, by perfons of refpechible learning and talents, are configned to almofl total negle£t and oblivion ! This is not, however, that view of the work which entitles it to highefl honour, or moft endears it to the pious mind : for, comparing it with the other produQions of the fame author, (which are indeed edifying PREFACE. edifying to the humble believer, but not fo much fuited to the tafte of the ingenious) we fhall be led to conclude, that in perufmg this he was highly favoured with a peculiar meafure of the divine affift- ance : efpecially when we recoUeft, that, within the confines of a gaol, he was able fo to delineate the chriflian's courfe, with its various difficulties, perils, conflids, ^c. that fcarcely any thing feems to have efcaped his notice. Indeed, the accurate obferver of the church in his own days, and the learned ftu- dent of ecclefiaflical hillory, muft be equally fur- prifed to find, that hardly one remarkable character, good or bad, or mixed in any manner or proporr tion imaginable ; or that one fatal delufion, by-path, or injurious miftake, can be fmgled out, which may npt be paralleled in the Pilgrim's Progress: that is, as to the grand outlines j for the minuticB, about which too many narrow minds wafte their zeal, are with very few exceptions wifely pafled over. This circumftance is furprifmg j that everypart of this fingular book fuits the various defcriptions of fuch as profefs godlinefs ; and relates the experiences, temptations, conflids, fupports, and confolations of chriftians in our own times, as exadly as if it had t)een penned from the obfervation of them, and for their immediate benefit : while, like the facred Scrip- tures, it remains a fealed book to all who are ftran- gers to the power of godlinefs, and that peace which pajfeth underjianding. Thefe remarks may be very properly concluded with the words of a juflly admired poet of the pre- fent Vl ?REPACE. fent day, who in the following lines has fully fanc- tioned all that has been here advanced — • Oh thou, whom, borne on fancy's eager wing Back to the fcafon of life's happy fpring, I plcas'd remember, and while mem'ry yet Holds faft her office here, can ne'er forget. Ingenious dreamer, in whofe well told tale Sweet fidlion and fweet truth alike prevail, Whofe hum'rous vein, ftrong fcnfc, and fimple ftyle. May teach the gayeft, make the graveft fmile, "Witty, and well employ'd, and like thy Lord, Speaking in parables his flighted word. I name thee not, left fo defpis'd a name Should move a fneer at thy defervcd fame ; Yet ev'n in tranlitory life's late day That mingles all my brown with fober gray. Revere the man, whofe Pilgrim marks the road) And guides the Progr^fs of the foul to God. 'Twere well with moft, if books that could engage Their childhood, pleas'd them at a riper age •, The man approving what had charm'd the boy, "Would die at laft, in comfort, peace, and joy. And not with curfes on his art who ftole The gena of truth from his unguarded foul.* COWPER, TIROCINIUM, V. 1 29, In refped to the prefent edition of the Pilgrim's Progress, (which is copied verbatim from Hepr tinjlair% fuperb work, that fells for il. 6s.) it may be proper to obferve, that it having become general in London, to publifh every approved work, in fuch a ftyle, and with fuch decorations, as may recommend it to «t place ;n the collec- tions i-REFACE." Vii tions of the curious and alHuent ; and thus attract the notice of thofe who would perhaps otherwife have overlooked it : — fbmething of this nature was fuggefted to the proprietor of this edition, who has, after the mofl fedulous induflry, collected a variety of former editions of this work, for the exprefs pur- pose of offering to the Irish nation, a book, in all refpeds calculated to enfure public patronage : nor would he be fufficiently candid, did he not here avow, that in this undertaking, he has carefully attended to the moil feafonable and falutary counfel of feve- ral Divines. It may alfo be proper to add, that the Notes, explanatory and practical, are felected from thofe publications, known to be edited by the celebrated reverend Meffrs. Mafon, Scott, and Burder : — to the ingenuity of the latter, is the prefent work indebted for that excellent plan — the divifion by chapters. — Great pains have been taken to examine every fcriptural reference, in order to render this edition as corre<3; as poflible. — The author's marginal references feemed fo effential a part of the work, that it was deemed indifpenfably requifite to infert them in their places. But as the other marginal notes are only ufeful in pointing out any paffage in the text, to which the reader might wiih to refer; it was thought mofl advifeable to fupply their place by a running title on the top of every page, conveying as nearly as poffible the fame ideas : for, indeed, they fo en- cumber the page, and break in upon the unifor- mity of printing, that all hopes of elegance muft be precluded while they are retained. To Vlll PREFACE. To render the Pilgrim's Progress of ftill greater ufe, this edition is prefented to the public in a form entirely new. The work is divided into diflin£t feclions, of convenient length ; the defign of which is to oblige the reader to make a frequent paufe : for fo entertaining is the narrative, that the heart becomes interefted in the event of every tranfaclion, and is tempted to proceed with a precipitation that excludes proper refle£lions : fo that it may be juftly feared, that thoufands have read it with no other advantage than temporary amufement, without the lead conception of its fpiritual defign. Several minifters have thought it a pleafmg and profitable exercife, to read and explain the Pilgrim to their people in private meetings. Should any into whofe hands this edition may come, think proper to purfue fuch a method, they will find fome afliftance from the divifion of chapters made ready to their hand, as well as by fome hints which poffibly might not have occurred to them. It is alfo fubmitted to the confideration of heads of families, whether the Pilgrim, in this form, may not be well adapted for the purpofe of reading to their children and fervants on Lord's-day evenings. The fubjed matter is fo entertaining, that the attention of all would be fecured; and the pradical improve- ments might tend, by the "bleffing of God, to en- lighten their minds in the grand truths of the gofpel of Chrift. TI-IE CONTENTS, PART THE FIRST. CHAP. I. ^T'HE author s tmpnfonment and dream — Chrijiiany convinced -*■ of Jm^ jlies from the lurath to come^ and is direBed by the go/pel i to Chriji. - - Page 49 CHAP. II. Chriflian proceeds^Obfinacy reftfes to accompany hivi — Pliublt goes as far as the Sloughy and returns - - ^^ CHAP. III. Chrifiian, deceived by the advice of Mr. Wor/d/y-TVifman, turns out of the ivay, and is greatly alarmed ; but happily meeting with Evangelifl^ returns to the right path ^ and pro- ceeds on his journey ■ - - 6 1 CHAP. IV. Chrijlian arrives at the Wicket-gate, ivhere he knocks ^ and if kindly receivtd - - _ -j [ CHAP. V. Chriflian delightfully entertained at the Interpreter s hoiife 76 CHAP. VI. Chrijlian lofes his burden at the Crofs - - 88 CHAP. VII. Chrijlian finds Simple, Sloth and Prefumption fajl ajleep — Is defpifed by Formalijl and Hypocrif — Afcends the Hill Diffi- culty — Lofes his roll, and finds it again - - 00 CHAP. VIII. Chrifian fafely pajfes the lions ; and arrives at the hotife called Beautiful, where he is kindly receivtdf and agreeably enter- tained - - - - - 100 CHAP. IX. Chriflian enters the Valley of Humiliation, ivhere he is fiercely ajfaulted by ApolJ\on, but overcomes him - 113 [ F J Chriflian CONTENTS. CHAP. X. Chrijiian forely JifreJJld in the Vallty of the Shadow of Death ^ through lohlch, h',ivever, he pa[f:! unhurt Page 122 CHAR XI. Chr'ijliun meets ivkh an excellent companion in Faithful^ ivith "whom he has much profitable converfiiion - 1 29 CHAP. XII. The piBure of an empty profefjor accurately dranvn, in the cha- rcBer of palliative , fon of Mr. Say-ivell, of Prating- row - - - - 140 C H A P. XIII. Perfecution exhibitedy in the treatment oj Chriflian and Faithful, in Vanity- Fair - - 1 53 CHAP. XIV. Chrifian meets nvith another excellent companion in Hopeful — • Dialogues betiveen theniy By-ends, Monej-lcve, and De- mas - - - 168 C H A P. XV. Chri/liqn and Hopeful miflahe their ivayy and fall into the hands of giant Defpair - - 1 82 CHAP. XVI. The Pilgrims entertained by the Shepherds on the Dekclahle, Mountains - - - 194 CHAP. XVII. The Pilgrims meet ivith Ignorance — -T^he robbery of Little-Faith related — Chriflian and Hopeful caught in the net - ipy CHAP. XVIII. The Pilgrims meet ivith Alheifl, and pafs over the Enchanted Ground - - - 214 CHAP. XIX. The Pilgrims have ancthtr coffer ence ivith Ignorance 225 C ?I A P. XX. The Pilgrims travel the pleafant country of Beulah.-— Safely pafs the river of Deathy and are admitted into the glorious citycf God - - - 238 PART CONTENTS. PART THE SECOND. CHAP. I. Chr'ifllana^ tu'tth her four Sons, and a Neighbour, fet out on pilgrimage _ . - - Page 259 CHAP. II. Chri/IiaJia, Mercy\ and the Children^ pafs the Slough with flfetyy and are kindly received at the JVicket-gate 2']6 CHAP. III. The Pilgrims are ajfaulted, but relieved — Are entertained at the Interpreter s houfe - - 284 CHAP. IV. T'he PilgrimSy conduced by Great-heart, proceed on their jour- ney - - - 302 CHAP. V. The Pilgrims ajcend the Hill Difficulty, pafs the lions, and ar • rive at the houfe Beautiful - - 3 ^ ^ CHAP. VI. Mr. Bri/k pays his addreffes to Mercy — Matthew taken ill, hut recovers, ^c. - - S^l CHAP. VII. The Pilgrims purfue their journey, and pafs through the Valley of Humiliation, and of the Shadow of Death - 338 CHAP. VIII. The Pilgrims overtake Mr. Honefy who relates his own experi- ence, and that of Mr . Fearing - - 352 CHAP. IX. The Charaaer of Mr. Self-will - - 364 CHAP. X. The Pilgrims arrive at the houfe of Gaius, where they are l.ofpi- t My entertained - - - 3^° The CONTENTS. CHAP. XI. The Pilgr'wts continue at the koiife of Gaius ; from tvl.ence they fally out, and defroy giant Slay good, a cuiiibal ; and refcue Mr. Feeble- mind - - - l^'^g^375 CHAP. XII. The Pilgrims are joined by Mr. Ready-to halt ; and proceed ii the toivn of Vanity^ ivkere they are agreeably lodged by Mr. Mnafon ; and meet with agreeable company — They encounter a formidable monflcr - - 38 j CHAP. XIII. The Pilgrims kill giant Defpairy and his nvife ; and totally demolfb his coflle — They proceed to the DdeBable Moun- tains - - - 394 CHAP. XIV. The company joined by Mr. Valiant and Mr. Standfafl — They pafs over the Enchanted Ground — A defcription of Madam Bubble - - - 406 C H A P. XV. The Pilgrims arrive at the land of Beulah ; ivhere they wait for the fummons of their King — Ckrijliana and feveral cf her companions pafs the River ^ and are admitted into the city of God - - - 423 THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. X H E whole compafs of biography exhibits not a charadler more interefting, than that of a man con- verted from fmgular depravity of manners, to emi- nent piety ; and raifed from the deeped obfcurity, to be an author celebrated for genius, and uncom- monly ufeful to mankind. Such was the excellent writer of the Pilgrim's Progrefs. John Bun van was born at Elftow, within a mile of Bedford, in the year 1628. His defcent was, as himfelf exprefles it, of a ' low and inconfiderable generation/ his father being an itinerant tinker, and his mother of the like rank. They gave him the bed education in their power, which was common reading and writing, of which he afterwards made a very excellent ufe ; but for the prefent he gave himfelf up to the mod execrable vices, particularly ' curfmg, fwearing, lying, and blafpheming the holy ' name of God.' During this period he was not without confidera- ble checks of confcience. At but nine or ten years of age, in the midd of his fports and childidi vani- ties, he was often didreffed, both by day and night. For even in his fleep he was terrified with ' appre- * henfions of devils and wicked fpirits,' and * of the fearful torments of hell-fire,' infomuch that he fome- times widied himfelf to be a devil to torment others, that thereby (as he ignorantly hoped) he might ef- cape being tormented by them. B Thefe 10 TH£ LIFE OF JOHN BtJNYAN. Thefe terrors were but partial arid temporary re- flraints upon his conduft, and by no means cured him of his delight in fin, or of his averfion to true religion. He mentions it, however, as a remarkable circumftance in his experience, that though he de- lighted in his own fins and thofe of his wicked com- panions, ' it made his heart ache,' to hear profane language from people reputedly religious, and to fee the wicked a£lions of perfons profelling godlinefs. The early part of Mr. Bunyan's life was alfo at- tended with fome hair-breadth efcapes from danger- ous accidents. At one time he fell into the river Oufe ; at another into a creek of the fea ; in a third inftance he efcaped the bite of an adder, and (after wounding it) drew out its fling with his fingers ; but the mofl remarkable inftance was the following : while a foldier in the Parliament army in 1645, he was drafted for the fiege of Leicefter, but another, defiring to change with him, took his place, and was fhot through the head with a mufl;et-ball, while ftanding centinel. Soon after this he married a young woman poor as himfelf; for they had not, he fays, ' fo much ' houfehold-ftufF as a fpoon or difli between them.* But file had been blefled with a religious education, and brought for her marriage-portion two fmall devotional tracts, ' The Plain Man's Pathway to ' Heaven,' and ' The Pratiice of Piety.' I'hefe books Bunyan repeatedly read ; and though they were not the means of his converfion, they had fuch an eftedt on him, that he was willing to ' do many ' things,' and give up fome of his outward vices. At this period he received a confiderable check of confcience under one of the fermons he heard at church on fabbath-breaking, to which he was much addided ; but this conviction he fliook out of his mind, and the fame afternoon returned to his ufual Sunday fports, when the following incident happened, which fliall be related in his own words : « The THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. II ' The fame day, as I was in the midft of a game of cat^ and having ftruck it one blow from the hole, juft as I was about to ftrike the fecond time, a voice did fuddenly dart from heaven into my foul, which faid, " Wilt thou leave thy fms and go to hea- ' ven, or have thy fms and go to hell ?" ' At this I was put to an exceeding amaze ; wherefore, leav- ing my cat upon the ground, I looked up to hea- ven, and was as if I had, 'with the eyes of my un- derjiajiding^ feen the Lord Jefus looking down upon me, as being very hotly difpleafed wkh me, and as if he did fevereiy threaten me with fome grievous punifliment for thefe and other ungodly pra6lices, ' I had no fooner thus conceived in my mind, but fuddenly this conclufion was faftened on my fpirit, that 1 had been a great and grievous finner, and that it was now too late for me to look after hea- ven. Then I felt my heart fink in defpair, and therefore I refolved to go on in fin : For, thought I, if the cafe be thus, my ftate is furely miferable : miferable if I leave my fins, and but miferable if I follow them. I can but be damned ; and if I muft be fo, I had as good be damned for many as for few. ' Thus I ftood in the midft of my play before all that then were prefent : yet I told them nothing ; but, having made this conclufion, I returned def- perately to my fport again : and I well remember, that prefently this kind of defpair did fo poffefs my foul, that I was perfuaded I could never attain to other comfort than what I fhould get in fin : where- fore I found within me great defire to take my fill of fin, ftill ftudying what fin was yet to be com- mitted, that I might tafte the fweetnefs of it, left I ftiould die before I had my defires. In thefe things I proteft before God, 1 lie not; thefe were really, ftrongly, and with all my heart my defires : the good Lord, whofe mercy is unfearchable, for- give me my tranfgreffions !' B 2 Thus 12 THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN, Thus Bunyan went on finning greedily for about a month or more, till one day, as he was {landing at a neighbour*s fliop-window, and ' there curfmg ' and fwearing and playing the madman' (as he ex- preffes it) after his ufual manner, the woman of the houfe, though a loofe and irreligious perfon, re- proved him very feverely, protefting he was * the ' ungodlieft fellow for fwearing' fhe had ever heard, and enough to fpoil all the youth in the whole town. This reproof, coming from fuch a woman, filenced and fhamed him ; nay more, it even cured him of that deteflable vice ; and his remark on this circum- ftance is well worthy the attention of profane and cuflomary fwearers :* ' How it came to pafs (fays ' he), 1 know not, I did from this time forward fo ' leave my fwearing, that it was a great wonder to * myfelf to obferve it ; and whereas before I knew * not how to fpeak unlefs I put an oath before and ' another behind, to make my words have authority, * now 1 could, without it, fpeak better and with * more pleafantnefs than ever I could before.* Soon after this he fell into company with a poor religious man that fpake pleafantly of religion and of the fcriptures ; which fo delighted Bunyan, that he betook himfelf to his Bible, and found great plea- fure in reading the hiftorical and more entertaining parts of it. This carried his reformation one ftep farther. He became now confcientioufly moral ; his acquaintance reckoned him very godly and religious ; and himfelf thought that he ' pleafed God as well a$ « any man in England.* Bunyan's * Similar to this, was a remarkable circuniftance in the life of Mr. Per- kins, an able rainifter of the gofpel. While a young man, and a fcholar at Cambrido-e, he was devoted to drunkenneft. As he was walking in the flcirts of the town, he heard a woman fay to a child that was froward and peevifli, '* Hold your tongue, or I will give you to drunken Perkins yon- der." Finding himfelf become a by-word among the people, his confcicnce was deeply imprcffed, and it was the firft flep towaids his conveifign. THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. Ij ^wii ■■ ■■■■■■■ — ■■■■■^■■^ . ■ ^—1. — -■■fci ..———I ■■■■ ' - i ' " ' ' r Bunyan*s two favourite amufements were ringing and dancing ; thefe now appeared inconfident with the character he had affumed, and therefore mud be relinquifhed, though reluctantly and by degrees : they were like the extindion of a right eye, or the excifion of a right hand. All this time, however, he was building upon a wrong foundation : being ' ignorant of God's righ- * teoufnefs/ he went about to eftablifh his own ; and had no fufpicion that he was in an error, till one day he overheard three or four poor women in Bedford difcourfmg on religious fubjecls. He was much fur- prifed to hear them talk of conviftion, the new birth, the fweetnefs of the promifes, and the power of temptation ; of the depravity of their own hearts, and of their unbelief ; and to hear them bitterly con- temn ' their own righteoufnefs as filthy and infuffi- * cient to do them any good,' They alfo fpake (as * he exprefles it) with fuch pleafantnefs of fcripture * language, and with fuch appearance of grace in all * they faid, that they were to hhn as if they had found a new world ; as if they were " people that *' dwelt alone, and not reckoned among the na* ** tions.**' Thefe topics were not only new to him, but in a great meafure unintelligible ; and he was led firft to fufpect, and afterwards to condemn himfelf, as a vain babbler and a hypocrite ; as wanting the * true ' tokens of a godly man,* and as a ftranger to thofe pleafures which he found thefe good people had ex- perienced. This convidion induced him to feek re- peated opportunities of their company, and the more he enjoyed of their converfation, the more earneftly he defired it. The various branches of chriftian ex- perience, and the important truths of fcripture, now engaged his whole attention, and he found it as dif- ficult then to bring his mind from heaven to earth, as, * Num. xxiii. 9. 14 TH£ LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. as, at fome other times, to elevate his mind from earth to heaven. Before his converfion, Bunyan had formed a ftrong attachment to a young man of very loofe morals, whofe acquaintance he novi^ found it necef- fary to drop ; but meeting with him a few months afterwards, and afking him how he did, the other replied in his ufually wild and profane language. ' But, Harry (faid Bunyan), why do you fwear and ' curfe thus ?' The other replied in a great rage — * What would the devil do for company, if it were ' not for fuch as I am ?* About this time Mr. Bunyan met with fome books written by the ranters of that age, who were a fet of practical, as well as theoretical, antinomians. Their leading maxims feem to have been (when fairly ex- preifed), thofe diabolical ones mentioned by St. Paul — ' Let us do evil, that good may come : — let us fm, ' that grace may abound.* About this time he began to read the fcripture, ' with 7iew eyes,' and as he had never done before ; cfpecially St. Paul's epiflles, which were now very delightful, though formerly they had much offended and difgufted him. In fhort, the Bible became his conftant companion, and he was (as he fays) ' never * out of it, either by reading or meditation ;' con- flantly crying to God, that he might know the truth, and follow it. A frefh difficulty however occurred. Reading in the New Teftament, of the various extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, wifdom, knowledge, faith, &c. he w^as particularly Humbled at the latter; and, mif- underftanding fome of our Lord's words on that fubjccl,* he was tempted to try to work a miracle to prove his faith. One day, in particular, walking between F.Ulow and Bedford, it was ftrongly fug- gefted to him to bid the puddle ' be dry,' and to fay ' Matt. xvii. ao. THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. 1^ fay to the dry places, ' Be you puddles.' But juft as he was about to fpeak, the thought came into his mind, to go under the hedge to pray that God would enable him. On the other hand it occurred to hinij that if he tried and could not effect it, it would dif- courage and fmk him into deep defpair. For this reafon he prudently declined it. While his mind was thus agitated between hope and fear, he had what he calls ' a kind of vifion,* refpeding the good people of Bedford, which is thus elated in his own words : ' I faw, as if they were on the funny fide of fome high mountain, there refrefhing themfelves with the pleafant beams of the fun, while I was fhivering and fhrinking in the cold, afflicted with froft, fnow, and dark clouds : raethought alfo, betwixt me and them I faw a wall that did compafs about this mountain ; now through this wall my foul did greatly defire to pafs, concluding, that, if I could, I would even go in the very midft of them, and there alfo comfort 'myfelf with the heat of their fun. ' About this wall I thought myfelf to go again and again, IHU prying as I went, to fee if I could find ' fome way or a paffage,by which I might enter there- in. But none could I find for fome time. At the laft I faw, as it were, a narrow gap, like a little door-way in the wall, through which I attempted to .pafs : now the paflage being very flrait and nar- row, 1 made many offers to get in, but all in vain. At laft, with great ftriving, methought I at firft did get in my head, and after that by a fideling ftriving, my Ihoulders, and after that my whole body. Then was I exceeding glad, went and fat down in the midft of them, and fo was comforted with the light and heat of their fun. ' Now this mountain and wall. Sec, was made thus out to me : the mountain fignilied the church of the living God ; the fun that ihone thereon, the comfortable fliining of his merciful face on them ' that l6 THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. * that were therein ; the wall I thought was the world, * that did make feparation between the Chriftians * and the world ; and the gap which was in the wall * 1 thought was Jefus Chrift, who is the way to God * the Father.' But forasmuch as the paflage was * wonderful narrow, even fo narrow that I could not, ' but with great difficulty, enter thereat, it fhowed * me none could enter into life, but thofe that were ' in downright earneft,' This vifion, whatever it was, abode milch upon his mind, gave him an ardent defire to enjoy the funfliine of the divine prefence, and excited him to cry mightily to God for it. A variety of temptations fucceeded thefe ; but with every temptation the Lord made a way for his efcape. At length he began to break his mind to the good people of Bedford, and they introduced him to their minifter, Mr. Gifford, who invited him to mingle with thofe ferious perfons that frequented his houie ; and to liften to the experience of others, in order to enlarge his own. He now acquired a deeper acquaintance with the human heart, its inward corruptions and unbelief; evils which he felt fo ftrongly working in himfelf, that he thought it impoffible he fliould be already converted, and had little hopes that he ever fhould. His fpiritual conflifts, therefore, increafed rather than diminifhed, infomuch that he compares himfelf to the pQJfeJDed child, brought by his parent to Jefus Chrift, who, while he was yet coming to him, was thrown down by the devil, and cruelly torn by him.* Bunyan obferves here, as a fign that his convic- tions were of the right fort, that they made him very confcientious ; fo much fo, as to tremble at the verge of duty, and fliudder at the approach of fin. He now became (as is often the cafe with converts) fo fcrupulous, that he who once never fpake without an «- John xiv. 6. Matt. vii. 14. * Lulcc Jx. 42. THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. jj an oath, was afraid to fpeak at all, left he fhould fpeak idly, or mifplace his words. He was not, however, fo entirely taken up with his own feelings, as totally to negleft obfervation upon thofe around him. The following remarks, as they cannot eafily be better expreffed, (hall be given in his own words : ' While I was thus afRided with the fears of my own damnation, there were fWo things would make me wonder : the one was, when I faw old people hunting after the things of this life, as if they fhould live here always : the other was, when I found pro- feffors much diftrefled and caft down, when they met with outward loffes : as of hufband, wife, child, &c. Lord, thought I, what ado is here about fuch little things as thefe ? What feeking after carnal things by feme, and what grief in others for the lofs of them ! If they fo much labour after, and fhed fo many tears for the things of this pre- fent life, how am I to be bemoaned, pitied, and prayed for ! My foul is dying, my foul is damn- ing. Were my foul but in a good condition, and were I but fure of it, ah ! how rich would I efteem myfelf though blefled with bread and water ! I (hould count thofe but fmall afflictions, and fhould bear them as little burdens. " A wounded fpirit * who can bear ?" Painful as he felt his convictions, yet was he at times fearful of their dying away, or being removed by improper means ; becaufe he had obferved per- fons in iimilar dillrefs, who, when their troubles wore away, or v/ere improperly removed, became more carnal, and more hardened in wickednefs, than before. That fcripture lay much upon his mind, * Without fhedding of blood there is no remif- ' fion y'^ and he was led to cry earneftly to the Lord, that he might be delivered from ' an evil confcience,* only by the fprinkling of atoning blood. C At * Heb. ix. aa. is tHE MFE OF JOHN BUKVAN. At length the time of his deliverance approached, and he received his firfl: confolation through a fer- nion on thofe words of Solomon, * Behold, thou art * fair, my love.'^ This reached Bunyan's cafe, afford- ed him ' ftrong confolation,' and gave him a happy interval of joy and triumph in the Lord : but his triumph was of fliort duration : the enemy returned to the charge with double force, re-attacked him with increafed malice, and he was now tempted to queftion the hrd principle and ground-work of all religion, the very being of a God. Or, admitting this, faid the fpirit of infidelity, ' How can you tell but the ' Turks have as good fcriptures to prove their Ma- ' homet to be the Saviour, as we have to prove our ' Jefus ? Every one thinks his own religion right, ' Jews, Moors, and Pagans ! and what if all our ' faith, and Chrift, and fcriptures fhould be no ' more !' Thefe fceptical fuggeflions were accompanied with flrong temptations to immorality and profanenefs — even to curfe God, and to blafpheme his Son. For infidelity and profanenefs are of near neighbourhood, and the arch-enemy of mankind knows how to acce- lerate the courfe of finners from one unto the other. Sometimes he attempted to reafon with his temp- tations, but under great difadvantages, for want of his being acquainted with the external evidences of Chriltianity. The principa^l check his doubts re- ceived was from an internal principle, which rejett- ed and difreliihed them. At length it pleafed God, however, to permit him for a time to fmk again into defpondency ; and, at intervals, he feared that his fenfes would have left him ; at other times he thought himfelf polTeffed by the devil. But the foreft trial of this period of his life, was a temptation to commit the unpardonable fin againft the Holy Ghoft j this he was prompted even to covet the * Cant. ir. I. THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. Ig the opportunity of committing, though the new prin- ciple within him fo revolted at the fuggeftion, that he forcibly clofed his mouth with his hands, left the fatal blafphemy {hould efcape him. Thi§ temptation lafted about a year, and was at- tended^ one while, with peculiar infenfibility, and at other times with fuch diftractions in duty as fruftrateJ his attempts to pray ; and fo much was his mind con- vulfed by it, that fome times he thought he even felt one behind him pulling his clothes, to ftop him when he began to pray. It is unneceflary, and might appear tedious, to re- late all the temptations with which thi«; good man was agitated, during this period ; it is, however, pro- per to obferve that they were not without fome allavs of comfort ; his cup was bitter, but mixed with fome pleafant ingredients ; or, to fpcak without a figure, he had intervals of confolation ; many pre- cious promifes were applied, and he was at fome times as much elevated with joy, as he was at others deprefled with grief. It is alfo worthy of obfervation, that during this time he enjoyed the advantages of fitting under the miniftry of good Mr. Gifford (an anceftor of the late learned Dr. Gifford), an evangelical and ufefuf minifter at Bedford ; whofe advice appears to have been very judicious and falutary. ' i^e would bid ' us take fpecial heed (fays Bunyan), that we took * not up any truth upon truft ; as from this or that ' man ; but pray to God that he would convince us * of the reality thereof by his Spirit in the word: for * (faid he), otherwife, when temptations come, not ' having received them with evidence from heaven, * you will find the want of that help and ftrength to ' refift, which once you thought you had.' This advice was very feafonable to Bunyan, who betook himfelf to the fcriptures, and to prayer ; and there found, as every fimple honeft inquirer doublefs will, all the fatisfa(^ion which he defired. He remarks C 2 ^0, JO THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. alfo, that the fenfe he had of the evil of fm, was of life to keep him fteady in the truth, by difcovering his abfolute need of a Saviour, and exadly fuch a Saviour as the New Teflament reveals. About this time he met with Martin Luther upon the Galatians, and was much ftruck with the fimilarity of his experience with that of the good old reformer ; and to find him defcribe fo nearly the va- rious temptations and confli61:s which he had felt. He alfo received from this book confiderable light into the gofpel fcheme of redemption, and efteemed it, next to the Bible, the moft valuable book he had ever met with. Now again he began to rejoice and triumph : now Jie began to fing with the Pfalmift, ' My mountain * ftands ftrong ; I fhall never be removed." He found however, this was but a fhort truce in his warfare y and that thefe comforts were only to fupport and ilrengthen him for future conflifts. The next trial which befet him was a truly diabo- lical one — ' it was to fell Chrift, to exchange him ' for the things of this life, for any thing.* And thofe words, ' Sell him, fell him,* would be impreflfed upon his thoughts an hundred times running, for iiours toge|:her, and that during a fucceffion of many weeks. It may well be fuppofed he prayed and ftrove againil this temptation ; at lad he found nothing fo much relieve him as anfwering the enemy in his own way, as fall as his temptations were repeated — ' I will * not, I will not, I will not ; no, not for thoufands, * thoufands, thoufands, thoufands of worlds !' At length, after much flriving, he felt the thought pafs through his heart, as he exprefles it — >' Let him go if ' he will ;' and he imagined alfo that, for the mo- ment, it had his free confent. ' Now, (fays our au- * thor) wa« the battle won ; and down fell I, as a * bird that is ftiot from the top of a tree, into great ^ guilt and fearful defpair.' And this continued un- til I Pfal. »3X. 6, 7. THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. 31 til he was at length relieved with that comfortable word, ' The blood of Jefus Chrift cieanfeth us from ' ALL fin.'' During the above period the tempter aflaulted him in a manner that fome perfons have jefted with, though it was no jefl to Bunyan. In fhort, he tells us his enemy would not let him eat his food in quiet : but ' forfooth (fays he), when 1 was fet at my table ' at any meat, I muft go hence to pray ; 1 mult leave ' my food now, and juft now ; fo counterfeit holy * would this devil be ! When L was thus tempted, I ' would fay in myfelf, " Now I am at my meat, let " me make an end." — " No (faid he), you muft do *' it now, or you will difpleafe God, and defpife *' Chrift." And when he omitted to obey this tempta- tion, his conference frnote him, as if he had refufed to leave his meat for God. We have already mentioned the confolation he re- ceived from a fenfe of the efficacy of atoning blood ; on this occafion it feemed to him ' as if the tempter ' did leer and fteal away from him as afliamed of what ' he had done :* but this modeft fit of the devil was of fhort duration ; he foon recollected his ufual ef- frontery, and returned with a more ferious and alarm- ing temptation. In fhort, he now tempted him to be- lieve that he had committed that unpardonable fin, the fm againft the Holy Ghoft ;* and that his cafe was like Efau*s, after he had fold his birth-right, ' when he would have inherited the bleffing, he was * rejedted ; for he found no place for repentance, * though he fought it carefully with tears. '^ Thefe paiTages have given fo much pain and un- eafmefs io others befide Bunyan, that it may not be a.n unprofitable digreffion, to beftow a .fhort explana- tion on them, in hopes it may be of ufe to fuch as may in future be attacked with the like temptations. Divines feem now pretty well agreed, that an en« lightened underftanding and a malicious heart mufl meet 5 } John i. 7. 2 Mark iii, 29. 3 Heb. xii. 17. THE LIFE OF JOHN EUKYA?.', meet in the fame perfon, to conftitute a capacity of committing the unpardonable fm. Thus it has been fappofed, that if Peter had denied his Mafter with the fame maHce that Paul perfecuted him ; or, if Paul had perfecuted Jefus with the fame conviftion of his divinity as Peter had received when he denied him- — either would have committed the unpardonable fm. The inftances of this union of knowledcre and hatred are fo few, that we may reafonaLly hope fm- ners of this clafs are far from numerous : the moft awful appearance of it feems to be in thofe malicious pharifees, who wilfully fiiut their eyes againft the evidences of Chrift's miffio;!, and attributed all his miracles to the agency of Beelzebub. The cafe of Efau has alfo been much mifunder- ftood : the place he fought for repentance was not in his own, but his father's mind, as appears by the hif- tory ; that is, he fought to revoke his father's blef. fing. ^ ' *" The fuppofition, however, that he had committed the unpardonable fm, had fuch an effe£t on Bunyan, that it not only diflrefled his mind, but made his very body tremble for many days together; and produced fuch a ftoppage and heat at his flomach, as greatly difordered him. Some comfort indeed he received^ at intervals, from occafional reflections on the pro- mifes : but the mofl effedual relief he met with was in the following extraordinary manner, which fliall be related in his own words : ' Once, as I was walking to and fro in a good * man's fhop, bemoaning myfelf in my fad and doleful * ftate, praying alfo in my heart, that if this fm of * mine did differ from that againft the Holy Ghoft, * the Lord would fhew it me ; and being now ready * to fink with fear, fuddenly there was, as if there ' had riilhed in at the window, the Tiofe of zc J fid upon. * me ; bur very pleafant, and as if I heard a voice * fpeaking, " Didft thou ever refufe to be juftified •* by the blood of Chrift ?" And withaJ my whole life THE LLFE OF jOHN BUNYAN. 2^ life of profeffion pad, was in a moment opened to me ; wherein I was made to fee, that defignedly I had not ; fo my heart anfwered groaningly, " No." Then fell, with power, that word of God upon me. See that ye refufe not him that fpeaketh."* This n'vade a flrange feizure upon my fpirit : it brought light with it, and commanded a filence in my heart. It fliewed me, alfo, that Jefus Chrill had yet a word of grace and mercy for me ; yea, this was a kind of threatening of me, if I did not, notwithflanding my fins and the heinoufnefs of them, venture my falvation upon the Son of God. But as to my de- termining about this llrange difpenfation, what It was, I know not ; or from whence it came I know- not : I have not yet, in twenty years time, been able to make a judgment of it : I thought then what here I fhould be loth to fpeak. But verily that fudden rufhing wind was, as if an angel had. come upon me ; but both it and the falvation I will leave until the day of judgment : only this I fay, it commanded a great calm in my foul ; It per- fuaded me there might be hope ; it fhewed me, as I thought, what the fin unpardonable was, and that my foul had yet the blelTed privilege to flee to Jefus Chrifl for mercy. This laflgd in the favour of it for about three or four days : and then I began to miftruft and to defpair again.* In this fituation Bunyan found his mind ftrongly impelled to private prayer, which, when the tempter perceived, he endeavoured to perfuade him that it •was now too late ; that having denied and reie£ted Chrift, it was only adding fin to fin, and farther pro- vocation to his crimes. His cafe w^as defperate ; but he Tefolved that if he perifhed it faould be ' at the -* foot of Chrifl in prayer,* About this time he took an opportunity to break his mind to an aged chriftian. ' I told him (fays he), * that I was afraid I had finned the fin affainft th 6' ie ' Holy 1 Heb. xii. aj. 24- *rH£ LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. ' Holy Ghoft. He told me he thought fo too.* Here therefore he had but cold comfort ; and talking far- ther with him, found him, though a good man, a ftranger to fuch fevere fpiritual conflids. He there- fore went to God again, and reiterated his cries for mercy ; though as yet with little comfort, becaufe the hour of his deliverance was not fully come. tn this interval he walked to a neighbouring town, where fitting to reft himfelf upon a fettle in the flreet, he fell into a deep paufe upon his ftate : after long mufing he lifted up his head : * But methought (fays he), I faw as if the fun that ftiineth in the heavens did grudge to give light ; and as if the very ftones in the flreet, and tiles upon the houfes, did bend themfelves againft me : methought that they all combined together, to banifh me out of the world ; I was abhorred of them, and unworthy to dwell among them, or to be partaker of their be- nefits, becaufe I had fmned againft the Saviour. O how happy now was every creature over me ! for they ftood faft, and kept their ftation, but I was gone and loft. * Then breaking out in the bitternefs of my foul, I faid to my foul, with a grievous figh, " How can God comfort fuch a wretch as I am ?** I had no fooner faid it, but this returned upon me, as an echo doth anfwer a voice, " This fin is not unto death.'*' At which I was as if I had been raifed out of the grave, and cried out again, " Lord, how couldft thou find out fuch a word as this ?'* For I was filled with admiration at the fitnefs and at the unexpeftednefs of the fentence : the power, and fweetnefs, and light, and glory, that came with it alfo, was marvellous to me to find. Now, thought I, if this fin is not unto death, then it is pardonable ; therefore from this I have encourage- ment to come to God by Chrift for mercy, as well as others.* The « I John ». i6, 17. THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. 25 The comfort of this word was not, however, of long duration^ any more than the preceding. Within two or three days he began to droop again ; but, again and again, was revived with the applicfation of fome or other of the promifes of the Gofpel. Thefe repeated temptations made him more attentive and fcrupulous in examining the ground of his confolati- ons, left he Ihould deceive himfelf with a mifapplica- tion of the promifes. Thus his mind continued for .weeks, and months, and in the whole for years, * hanging (fo he exprelTes it),#is in a pair of fcales ; * fometimes up, and fometimes down ; now in peace, ' and anon again in terror ;' not, however, fo ex- treme as he had felt before ; for this was but the hinder part of the tempeft : ' the thunder (fays he) * was gone beyond me, only fome drops did ilill now ' and then fall on me; but becaufe my former frights ' and anguifli were fore and deep ; therefore it oft * befell me ftill, as it befalleth thofe that have been ' feared with fire, I thought every voice was Fire! « Firer At length his chains were loofed, his irons knocked off, and thofe alarming fcriptures ceafed to trouble him. As he faw farther into the nature and fpirit of the Gofpel, he felt the ground of his depeftdance more fecure, and was in the end made an extraordinary inftrument of comforting others with the fame confo- lations which he had himfelf received. But, before we proceed, I beg to be indulged in a few obfervations on the preceding narrative ; and ihall begin with Mr. Bunyan's own reflections. I. On the caiifes of his extraordinary temptations.' Thefe he confiders as principally two, which ihall be related in his own fimple phrafeology. ' The firft ' was, that I did not, when I was delivered from the ' temptations that went before, ftill pray to God to keep ' me from temptations that were to come ; for though, ' as I can fay in truth, my foul was much in prayer D * before 2$ THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. before this trial feized me ; yet then I prayed only, or principally for the removal of prefent troubles, and for frefli difcoveries of his love in Chrill : which I faw afterv/ards was not enough to do ; I alfo (hould have prayed, that the great God would keep me from the evil that was to come : accord- ing to what is written, " Pray, that ye enter not into temptation." * Another caufeof this temptation was, that I had tempted God, and in this manner : Upon a time my tvife was great with child, and before her full time was come, her pangs, as of a woman in travail, were fierce and ftrong upon her ; even as if fhe would have immediately fallen in labour, and been delivered of an untimely birth. Now at this very time it was, that I had been fo fbrongly tempted to quefiion the being of God ; wherefore, as my wife lay crying by me, I faid, but with all fecrecy ima- ginable, even thinking in my heart, *' Lord, if ' now thou wilt remove this fad afflidlion from, my ' wife, and caufe that ihe be troubled no more there- ' with this night (and now were her pangs jufl upon ' her), then I fhall know that thou canft difcern the ' moft fecret thoughts of the heart." I had no focner faid it in my heart, but her pangs were taken from her, and ihe was cafl into a deep fleep ; at this I greatly marvelled ; but after a good while, I fell to fleep alio : fo when I awaked in the morn- ing, it came upon me again, what I had faid in my heart the laft night, and how the Lord had fliewed me, that he knew my fecret thoughts ; which was a great aftoniHiment unto me for feveral weeks after. ' Well, about a year and a half afterwards, that fmful thought, of which I have fpoken before, went 'through my wicked heart ; even this thought, '^ Let ChriiL go if he will :" fo when I was fallen under guilt for this, the remembrance of my other thought, and of the elTeft thereof, would alfo come upon me, with this rebuke along with it, " Now " you THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. 2/ " you may fee that God doth know the mofl fecret " thoughts of the heart.'* ' And with this, that of the palTages that were be- *• twixt the Lord and his fervant Gideon, fell upon * my fpirit ; how becaufe that Gideon tempted God ' ^vHh. his fleece, both wet and dry, when he (hould * have believed and ventured upon his word : there- ' fore the Lord did afterwards fo try him, as to fend ' him againfl an innumerable company of enemies ; ' and that too, as to outward appearance, without ' any flrength or help.' Thus he ferved me, and ' that juftly ; for I fhould have believed hiB word, * and not have put an if to the all-feeing God.' 2. Our author leads us next to remark the advan- tages he derived from thefe painful and diilreffing trials ; they were briefly fuch as thefe : a flrong and abiding conviction of the being, power, and holinefs of God — a deep experience of the value and preci- oufnefs of the promifes, to which he was enabled to cling and cleave, as a man in immediate danger of be- ing drowned — an exceeding lively fenfe of the infinite mercy, grace, and love of God, which was at times fuch, that he thinks if it had abode long ' it would * have made him incapable of bufinefs.* We mufl: now refunie our narrative, confider our author as a public character, and give fome account of his being called to the work of the miniftry, which was ' about five or fix years' after his converfion. This was firft fuggefled, it feems, by fome ferious and judicious members of Mr. Gifford's church, who apprehended that, both from his gifts and experience, he was calculated for public and eminent ufefulnefs in the church. His firft attempts were (as is the manner among diflenters) in private, and to a few feledt hearers ; afterwards he ventured to exhort in fome of the neighbouring villages j and finally, at the defire of D 2 the « Judges vl. 7. S8 THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. the church, he was folemnly fet apart, with prayer and fafting, to the public miniftry of the word. A3 tp himfelf, he tells us, he was enabled to fee ' that ' the Holy Ghofl: never intended that men who * have gifts and abilities fhould bury them in the * earth ; but rather did command and ftir up fuch ' to the exercife of their gift ; and alfo did commend * thofe that were apt and ready fo to do : " They '* have addicted themfelves to the piiniftry of the « faints."' When it was known that Bunyan, the profane tinker, had commenced a preacher of the GofpeJ, hearers foon flocked around him to the amount of ma- ny hundreds, and that from all quarters. Nor f^id he preach long without vifible fuccefs : many came with \yeeping eyes and bleeding hearts, to confefs their fms, and blefs God for him as the inflrument of their converfion. At firft he foijnd it hard to believe that the Lord had fo highly honoured him, but was foon conllrained to join with them in blelT^ng and adora- tion. One inftance particularly worth recording, is of a dliTolute ftudent of Cambridge univerfity, who, be- ing induced by curiofity to hear * the tinker prate,* was fo afFe(5i:ed with liis fermon as to become a real convert, and, iji the iifue, an eminent preaqher of the GofpeU The effeds of this honell man's preaching were fq different from what ufually attended the fermons of learned, ingenious, and polite preachers, that the reader may probably wifli to hear fomething of the matter ^nd method of his preaching, which cannot be given better than in his owr^ plain b^it emphatic language. f In my preaching of the word, I took fpecial no- * tice of this one thing ; namely, that the Lord did ' lead me to begin where his word begins with fin- * ners j » I Cor. xvi. 5. THE LIFE OF JOHN SUNYAN. 2g ners ; that is, to condemn all flefh, and to open and allege that the curfe of God by the law doth be- long to, and lay hold on all men as they come into the world, becaufe of fm. Now this part of my work I fulfilled with great fenfe [of terror] ; for the terrors of the law, and guilt for my tranf- greffions, lay heavy on my eonfcience, * I went myfelf in chains, to preach to them in chains j and carried that fire in my own eonfcience that I perfuaded them to beware of. I can truly fay, and that without diflembling, that when I have been to preach, I have gone full of guilt and terror, even to the pulpit door, and there it hath been taken off, and I have been at liberty in my mind until I have done my work ; and then im- mediately, ev-en before I could get down the pul- pit flairs, I have been as bad as I was before : yet God carried me on : but furely with a flrong hand ; for neither guilt nor hell could take me off my work. * Thus I went on for the fpace of two years. After which the Lord came in upon my own foul, with fome fure peace and comfort through Chrift ; for he did give me many fweet difcoveries of his blef- fed grace through him. Wherefore now I altered in my preaching ffor flill I preached what I faw and felt) ; now therefore I did much labour to hold forth Jefus Chrifl in all offices, relations, and benefits unto the world, and did ftrive alfo to difcover, to condemn, and remove thofe fal/e fup- ports and props on which the world doth both lean, and by them fall and perifh. On thefc things alfo I ftaid as long as on the other. * After this, God led me into fomething of the myflery of the union of Chrift : wherefore that I difcovered, and fliewed to them alfo. And when I had travelled through thefe three chief points of ■the word of God, about the fpace of five years or more, 50 THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN, more, I was caught in my prefent praftice^ and caft into prifon ; where I have lain above as long again to confirm the truth by way of fullering, as I was before in teftifying of it according to the fcriptures, in a way of preaching. ' When 1 have been preaching, I thank God, my heart hath often, all the time of this and the other exercife, with great earneftnefs cried to God that he would make the word effedual to falvation : wherefore I did labour fo to fpeak, as that there- by, if it were pofhble, the fm and perfon guilty might be particularized by it. * Alfo when I have done the exercife, it hath gone to my heart to think the word fliould now fall as rain on ftony places : flill wifhing, O that they who have heard me fpeak, did but fee as I do, what fin, death, hell, and the curfe of God is ! and alfo what the gracCj and love, and mercy of God is through Chrift, to men in fuch a cafe a» they are, who are yet eflranged from him ! And indeed I did often fay in my heart before the Lord, that if to be hanged up prefently before their eyes, would be a means to awaken them, and confirm them in the truth, I gladly could b^ contented. ' When I went firit to preach the word abroad, the do6;ors and priefts of the country did open wide againft me : but 1 was perfuaded of this, not to render railing for railing, but to fee how many of their carnal profeiTors 1 fhould convince of their miferable ftate by the law, and of the want and worth of Chrift ; for, thought I, " This fhall an- fwer for me in time to come, when they fhall be for my hire before their face.**' ' I never cared to meddle with things that were controverted, and in difpute among the faints, and efpecially things of the loweft nature ; yet it pleafed mt much to contend with great earneitnefs for « Gen. XXX. 23. THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. 3I for the word of faith, and the remiflion of fins by the death and fufferings of Jefus : but, 1 fay, as to other things I fhould but let them alone, becaufe I faw they engendered flrife, and becaufe that they, neither in doing, nor in leaving undone, did commend us to God to be his. Befides, I faw my v/ovk before me did run into another channel, even to carry an awakening word j to that there- fore I did adhere. ' If any of thofe who were awakened by my mi- niftry, did after that fall back (as too many did), I can truly fay, their lofs hath been more to me, than if my own child had been going to its grave. My heart hath been fo wrapped up in the glory of this excellent work, that I counted myfelf more bleffed and honoured of God by this, than if he had made me emperor of the chriliian world, or the lord of all the glory of the earth without it ! Oh, thefe words ! " He that converteth a finner from the ' error of his way, doth fave a foul from death.'*' ' They that be wife fhall fliine as the brightnefs of ' the firmament, and they that turn many to righ- ' teoufnefs, as the fi:ars for ever and ever»"* Thefe, I fay, with many others of a like nature, have been great refrefliments to me. ' My great defire, in my fulfilling my miniftry, was to get into the darkeft places of the countrv : yet not becaufe I could not endure the light (for I feared not to fliew my gofpel to any), but becaufe. I found my fpirit leaned molf after awakening and converting work, and the word that I carried did lean itfelf moft that way alfo : " Yea, fo have I ' ftrived to preach the gofpel, not where Chrift was ' named, left I ihould build upon another man's ' foundation. "3 ' But in this work, as in all other, I had my temp- tations attending mej. and that of divers kinds : as ' fometirae* ' James V. 20. 2 Dan. xii. 3. 3 Rom. xv. 20,' 32 THE LIFE OF JOHff BtiNYAN". fometimes I fliould be aflfaulted with great difcou- ragement therein ; fearing that I fhould not be able to fpeak a word at all to edification ; nay, that I fhould not be able to fpeak fenfe unto the people ; at which times I fhould have fuch a ftrange faint- nefs and (Irengthleflhefs feize upon my body, that my legs have fcarce been able to carry me to the place of exercife. ' Sometimes again, when I have been preaching, I have been violently afTaulted with thoughts of blafphemy, and flrongly tempted to fpeak the words with my mouth before the congregation. I have alfo, at times, even when I have begun to fpeak the word with much clearnefs, evidence, and liberty of fpeech, yet been, before the ending of that opportunity, fo blinded, and fo eflranged from the things I have been fpeaking, and have been alfo flraitened in my fpeech, as to utterance before the people, that I have been as if I had not known or remembered what I have been about ; or as if my head had been in a bag all the time of my exercife. ' Again, when at fome times I have been about to preach upon a fmart and fearching portion of the word, I have found the tempter fuggefl. What ! will you preach this ? This condemns yourfelf ; wherefore preach not of it at all ; or if you do, yet fo mince it as to make way for your own efcape ; left, inftead of awakening others, you lay that guilt upon your own foul as you will never get from under." But, I thank the Lord, I have been kept from confenting to thefe fo horrid fuggeftions ; and have rather, as Sampfon, bowed myfelf with all my might, to condemn fm and tranfgrefllon wherever I found it ' I have alfo, while found in this bleffed work of Chrift, been often tempted to pride and lifting up of heart j and though I dare not fay I have not ' been THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. 33 1 ' been afFedted with this, yet truly the Lord, of his * precious mercy, hath fo carried it towards me, ' that for the moft part I have had but fmall joy to * give way to fuch a thing ; for it hath been my * every day's portion, to be let into the evils of my ' own heart, and ftill made to fee fuch a multitude :,' of corruptions and infirmities therein, that it hath ' caufed hanging down of the head, under all my ' gifts and attainments. Mr. Bunyan's imprifonment has been already men- tioned. He was tried at Bedford quarter feflions in 1660 ; and the indictment ftated that * John Bunyan, * of the town of Bedford, labourer, had devilijhly ' and pernicioujly abftained from coming to church ' to hear divine fervice, and was a common up- * holder of feveral unlawful meetings and conventi- * cles, to the great difturbance and diftraBunyan; and the reader will doubtlefs agree with me, that he better merited the title than thole downy prelates who fuffered him to languifh twelve years in a jail, for preaching that Gofpel which they ought to have preached themfelves. In the following reign, when king James 11. de- clared for liberty of confcience, Bunyan was ena- bled, by the voluntary contributions of his hearers, to build a meeting-houfe, where he preached to large congregations, as he did alfo when he vilited the me- tropolis, where he was fometimes honoured with the attendance, and decided approbation, of the great Dr. Owen. And fo popular was he, that if but on^ day*s notice was given, the meeting-houfe in South- wark, where he generally preached, would not hold half the people who attended. Three thoufand hav^ been gathered together for this purpofe in a remote part of the town ; and not lefs than twelve hundred at feven o'clock on a dark winter's morning, even in the week-days. Amidft all this popularity he was kept humble and modefl: in his converfation, and exemplary in his be- haviour. Slanders, indeed, were invented by his enemies, but foon died away ; and his biographers are all agreed, that in the latter part of his life, from his converfion, his * moral charader was unexcep- • tionable.** His valuable life, worn out with labour, and with fufferings, clofed at the age of threeicore, with a ma- morable a£t of Chriftian charity. His conduct in his own neighbourhood had procured him the blelTed charader of a peace-maker : he "wa^ therefore fent to, while « Piog. Brit, THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. %ft while on a vifit at London, by a young gentleman at Bedford, to mediate with his offended father, who lived at Reading in Berkftiire, He fucceeded ; but on his return to the metropolis, being overtaken with cxceffive rains, came very wet to his friend's (Mr. Straddock, grocer), at the Star on Snow-hill, which produced a fatal fever. He bore this, as he had done his other fufFerings, with great patience and refigna- tion to the will of God, in fubmiffion to which, how- ever, he ' defired to depart and be with Chrift.* In this frame of fpirit he lay about ten days, when he crofledthe myftical Jordan, Auguft 31ft, 1688, fol- lowing his Chriftian Pi/grim to the celellial city. He was buried in a vault belonging to a friend in the Diflenters' burial-place, adjoining the Artillery Ground, Moorfields — fmce Bun-hill-ffeids, tradition- ally fuppofed to have been fo called from his having been one of the firfl buried there. Mr. Bunyan was twice married. By his firft wife, Elizabeth, he had four children, one of whom, named Mary, was blind, and died before him. He married his fecond wife about 1658, and fhe furvived him only about four years, dying in 1692. It does not appear that Ihe had any children. Nor have we any farther account of his children by his former wife, fo that he appears in hiRory, as an illuftrious pen exprelTes it, ' an ifolated indivi- dual,' without progenitors, and without defcendants. As to his perfon and temper, his charafter is thus delineated by the continuator of his life: ' He ap- ' peared in countenance to be of a ftern and roup-h * temper ; but in his converfation mild and aiTabfe, ' not given to much difcourfe in company, unlefs < fome urgent occafion required k ; obferving never ' to boaft of himfelf, or his parts, but rather^'fubmit * himfelf to the judgment of others ; abhorring lying * and fwearing, being juft in all that lay in his power ' to' his word ; not feeming to revenue injuries, lov- ' ing to reconcile differences, and make friendfhip ' with 40 THE LIFE OF JOHN BUNYAN. ' with all. He had a fharp quick eye, accompanied ' with an excellent difcerning of perfons, being of * good judgment and quick wit. As for his perfon, ' he was tall of ftature, flrong boned, though not * corpulent, fomewhat of a ruddy face, with fparkling ' eyes, wearing his hair upon his upper lip after the * old Britifh fafhion : his hair reddifh, but in his lat- ' ter days, time had fprinkled it with grey ; his nofe ' well fet, but not declining or bending, and his ' mouth moderate large, his forehead fomething ' high, and his habit always plain and modeft.* His works form two large volumes in folio, and contain, according to Mr. Grainger," as many tracts as he had lived years : a great part of them were probably the fubftance of his pulpit difcourfes, which he ufed commonly to commit to writing, not before, but after, he had preached them. ' Blog. HiQ. of £ng. THE THE AUTHOR'S APOLOGY. •«e©©)i®«9»« VV H E N at the firft I took my pen in hand, Thus for to write, I did not underftand That I at all fhould make a little Book In fuch a mode : nay, I had undertook To make another ; which, when almoft done. Before I was aware, I thus begun. And thus it was : I, writing of the way And race of faints in this our gofpel-day. Fell fuddenly into an allegory, About their journey, and the way to glory. In more than twenty things, which 1 fet down : This done, I twenty more had in my crown. And they again began to multiply. Like fparks that from the coals of fire do fly. Nay then, thought I, if that you breed fo fail, I'll put you by yourfelves, left you at laft Should prove ad infinitum^ and eat out The book that I already am about. F Well, 42 THE AUTHOR S APOLOGY. Well, fo I did ; but yet I did not think To fliew to all the world my pen and ink In fuch a mode ; I only thought to make I knew not what ; nor did I undertake Thereby to pleafe my neighbour ; no, not I, I did it mine own felf to gratify. Neither did I but vacant feafons fpend In this my fcribble ; nor did I intend But to divert myfelf in doing this. From worfer thoughts, which made me do amifs. Thus I fet pen to paper with delight, And quickly had my thoughts in black and white. For having now my method by the end, Still as I puird it came ; and fo I penn'd It down, until at lafl it came to be. For length and breadth, the bignefs which you fee. Well, when I had put my ends together, I fhew'd them others, that I might fee whether They would condemn them, or them juflify : And fome faid. Let him live ; fome. Let him die ; Some faid, John, print it ; others faid. Not fo. Some faid. It might do good ; others faid. No. Now I was in a ftrait, and did not fee Which was the bell thing to be done by me : At laft I thought, fmce you are thus divided, I print it v/ill j and fo the cafe decided. For, thought I, fome I fee would have it done, Tho' others in that channel do not run : 1\) prove then who avdifed for the bell, Thus I thought fit to put it to the teft. I farther thought, if now I did deny Thofe that would have it, thus to gratify, I did not know, but hinder them I might Of that which v.-ould to them be great delight : For THE author's apology. 43 For thofe which were not for its coming forth, I faid to them. Offend you I am loth : Yet fince your brethren pleafed with it be. Forbear to judge 'till you do farther fee. If that you would not read, let it alone : Some love the meat, fome love to pick a bone. Yea, that I might them better moderate, I did too with them thus expoftulate : May I not write in fuch a ftyle as this ? In fuch a method too, and yet not mifs My end, thy good ? Why may it not be done ? Dark clouds bringwaters, when the bright bring none. Yea, dark or bright, if they their filver drops Caufe to defcend, the earth, by yielding crops. Gives praife to both, and carpeth not at either. But treafures up the fruit they yield together ; Yea, fo commixes both, that in their fruit None can diftinguifh this from that ; they fuit Her well, when hungry ; but if fhe be full. She fpews out both, and makes their bleffing null. You fee the ways the fifherman doth take To catch the fifh; what engines doth he make ? Behold ! how he engageth all his wits j Alfo his fnares, lines, angles, hooks, and nets : Yet fifh there be, that neither hook nor line. Nor fnares, nor net, nor engine can make thine : They mufl be grop'd for, and be tickled too. Or they will not be catch'd, whate'er you do. How does the fowler feek to catch his game By divers means ? All which one cannot name : His gun, his nets, his lime-twigs, light and bell : He creeps, he goes, he ftands : yea, who can tell Of all his poflures ? Yet there's none of thefe Will make him mailer of what fowls he pleafe* Yea, he mufl pipe and w^hiflle, to catch this j yet, if he does fo, that bird he will mifs. Fa If 44 THE AUTHOR S APOLOGY. If that a pearl may on a toad's head dwell. And may be found too in an oyfter-fhell ; If things that promife nothing, do contain What better is than gold; who will difdain, That have an inkling of it, there to look That they may find it ! Now my little book CTho' void of all thefe paintings that may make It with this or the other man to take) Is not without thefe things that do excel What do in brave, but empty notions dwell. Well, yet I am not fully fatisfied. That this your book will (land, when foundly tried. Why, what's the matter ? It is dark : What though? But it is feigned : What of that ? I trow, Some men, by feigned words as dark as mine. Make truth to fpangle, and its rays to Ihine ! But they want folidnefs : fpeak, man, thy mind : They drown the weakj metaphors make us blind. Solidity, indeed, becomes the pen Of him that writeth things divine to men : But muft I needs want folidnefs, becaufe By metaphors I fpeak ? Were not God's laws, His gofpei laws, in older times held forth By Ihadows, types, and metaphors ? Yet loth XVill anv fober man be to find fault W'^ith them, leii he be found for to aflault The highed wifdoni : No ; he rather ftoops. And ^eek? to find out what by pins and loops. By calves and fheep, by heifers and by rams. By birds and herbs, and by the blood of lambs, God fpeaketh to him ; and full happy he That finds the light and grace that in them be ! Be not too forward therefore to conclude That I want folidnefs ; that I am rude : All things folid in fhew, not folid be j All things in parables defpife not we, Leil THE AUTHOR S APOLOGY. 45 Left things moft hurtful lightly we receive. And things that good are, of our fouls bereave. My dark and cloudy words they do but hold The truth, as cabinets inclofe the gold. The prophets ufed much by metaphors To fet forth truth ; yea, M^hofo confiders Christ, his apoftles too, (hall plainly fee. That truths to this day in fuch mantles be. I am afraid to fay that Holy Writ, Which for its ftyle and phrafe puts down all wit. Is every-where fo full of all thefe things, (Dark figures, allegories) yet there fprings From that fame book, that luftre, and thofe rays Of light, that turn our darkeft nights to days. Come, let my carper to his life now look. And find there darker lines than in my Book He findeth any : yea, and let him know That in his beft things there are worfe lines too. May we but ftand before impartial men, To his poor one I dare adventure ten. That they will take my meaning in thefe lines. Far better than his lies in filver fhrines. Come. Truth, although in fwaddling clouts, I find. Informs the judgment, redifies the mind ; Pleafes the underftanding, makes the will Submit, the memory alfo it doth fill With what doth our imagination pleafe ; Likewife it tends our troubles to appeafe. Sound words, I know, Timothy is to ufe. And old wives' fables he is to refufe ; But yet grave Paul him no-where did forbid The ufe of parables ; in which lay hid That gold, thofe pearls, and precious ftones that were Worth digging for, and that with greateft care. Let 46 THE author's apology. Let me add one word more : O man of God, Art thou offended ? Doft thou wiih I had Put forth my matter in another drefs ? Or, that I had in things been more exprefs ? To thofe that are my betters, as is fit. Three things let me propound, then I fubmit : 1 . I find not that I am denied the ufe Of this method, fo I do not abufe Put on the words, things, readers, or be rude In handling figure or fimilitude. In application ; but all that I may Seek the advance of truth this or that way. Denied, did I fay ? Nay, I have leave (Examples too, and that from them that have God better pleafed, by their words or ways, Than any man that breathes now in our days) Thus to exprefs my mind, thus to declare Things unto thee that excellentefl are. 2. I find that men (as high as trees) will write Dialogue ways ; yet no man doth thern flight For writing fo : indeed, if they abufe Truth, curfed be they, and the craft they ufe To that intent ; but yet let truth be free To make her fallies upon thee and me. Which way it pleafes God ; for who knows how. Better than he that taught us firft to plow, To guide our minds and pens for his defign ? And he makes bafe things ufher in divine. 3. I find that Holy Writ, in many placeSv Hath femblance with this method, where the cafes Do call for one thing to fet forth another : Ufe it I may then, and yet nothing fmother Truth's golden beams; nay, by this method may Make it cafl forth its rays as light as day. And THE author's apology. 47 And now, before I do put up my pen, ril fhew the profit of my book, and then Commit both thee and it into that hand. That pulls the ftrong down, and makes weak ones ftand. This book. It chalketh out before thine eyes The man that feeks the everlailing prize : It fhews you whence he comes, whither he goes j What he leaves undone ; alfo what he does : It fliews you how he runs and runs. Till he unto the gate of glory comes. It fhews, too, who fet out for life amain. As if the lading crown they would obtain : Here alfo you may fee the reafon why They lofe their labour, and like fools do die. This book will make a traveller of thee, If by its counfel thou wilt ruled be; It will direct thee to the holy land. If thou wilt its direftions underftand : Yea, it will make the flothful active be ; The blind alfo delightful things to fee. Art thou for fomething rare and profitable ? Or wouldft thou fee a truth within a fable ? Art thou forgetful ? Or wouldft thou remember From new year's day to the laft of December ? Then read my fancies ; they will flick like burs. And may be to the helplefs comforters. This Book is wrote in fuch a dialed. As may the minds of liftlefs men aft'ect : It feems a novelty, and yet contains Nothing but found and honeft gofpel flrains. Wouldft thou divert thyfelf from melancholy ? Wouldft thou be pleafant, vet be far from folly ? Wouldft 4.8 THE author's apology. Wouldft thou read riddles, and their explanation ? Or elfe be drowned in thy contemplation? Doft thou love picking meat ? Or wouldft -thou fee A man i* th* clouds, and hear him fpeak to thee ? Wouldft thou be in a dream, and yet not fleep ? Or, wouldft thou in a moment laugh and weep ? Or, wouldft thou lofe thyfelf, and catch no harmj And find thyfelf again without a charm ? Wouldft read thyfelf, and read thou know*ft not what. And yet know whether thou art blefs'd or not. By reading. the fame lines? O then come hither! And lay my book, thy head, and heart, together. JOHN BUNYAN. THE THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. PART I. ^^■^N^.^'^l CHAP. I. CHRIS- TIAN, CONVINCED OF SIN, FLIES FROM THE WRATH TO COME, AND IS DIRECTED BY THE GOSPEL, TO CHRIST. A: S I walked through the wildernefs of this world, I lighted on a certain place where was a den,* and laid me down in that place to fleep : and as I flept I dreamed a dream. I dreamed ; and, behold, ' I ' faw a man clothed with rags, (landing in a certain * place, with his face from his own houfe, a book ' in his hand, and a great burden upon his back." 1 looked, and faw him opeh the book and read there- in j and as he read he wept and trembled j and, not G being * Mr. Bunyan wrote this precious book in Bedford gaol, where he was confined for preaching the Gofpel, as a non-conforniift, or difl'enter. To this he refers when he fpeaks of the " den." The Lord frequently caufes " the wrath of man to praife him." The fervanrs of Chrifl,when reftrain- ed hy penal laws, from publirtiing the word of life from the pulpit, have become more abundantly ufeful by their writings. » Ifa, Ixiv, 6. Lukexiv. 33, Pf.1l. xxxviii. 4, Hab. ii, 2. A(3ssvi. ,^i. 50 TH£ PItGRl!,I*S DISTRESS. being able longer to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry,* faying, " What (hall I dor"^ In this plight therefore he went home, and re- frained himfeif as long as he could, that his wife and children fhould not perceive his diflrefs ; but he could not be filent long, becaufe that his trouble increafed : wherefore at length he brake his mind to his wife and children ; and thus he began to talk to them : ' O my dear wife,' faid he, ' and you the * children of my bowels, I your dear friend am in ' myfelf undone by reafon of a burden that lieth ' hard upon me : moreover, I am certainly informed ' that this our cityf will be burned with fire from ' heaven : in which fearful overthrow, both myfelf, ' with thee my wife, and you my fweet babes, fhall ' miferably come to ruin, except (the which yet I fee * not) fome w^ay of efcape may be found, whereby ' we may be delivered.* At this his relations were fore amazed ; J not for that they believed that what he had faid to them was true, but becaufe they thought fome frenzy diftemper had got into his head j therefore, it drawing towards night, and they hoping * The cry of an awakened finner, who fees his own rightcoufnefs to be as filthy rags, his foul in a (late of wrath and wretchednefs, expofed to ever- lading deftruClion, feeling the burden of his Gns upon his back, he turns his lace from his own houfe, from himfeif, from all his falfe hopes and vain con- fidences, for refuge, and takes his Bible in his hand to diredl him where he Ihall flee for fafety and falvation. The more a finner reads therein, the more he is convinced of the wretched ftate and ruined coudition of his precious immortal foul, and of his necefilty of fleeing to Chrill for eternal life and falvation. As he reads, he weeps and trembles to think what will become of him. Reader, wa.s this ever your cafe ? Did you ever fee your fins, and feel the burden of them, fo as to cry out, in the anguifh of your foul. What mud I do to be faved ? If not, you will look on this precious book as a ro- mance, or hiftory, which no way concerns you ; you can no more underftand the meaning of it, than if it was wrote in an unknown language : for you ^rc yet carnal, dead in your tins, lying in the arms of the wicked one in fiilfe fccurity. But this book is fpiritual ; it can only be underftood by fpiri- tually quickened fouls, who have experienced that falvation in the heart which begins with a fight of fin, a fenfe of fin, a fear of deftrudlion, and dread of damnation. Such, and only fuch, commence Pilgrims from the city of De- llrudion to the heavenly kingdom. f This world. \ Convivftion of fin in the heart, will difcover itfclf to thofe about ui, by the outward cocduA and behaviour of the life. « Aits ii. 37. EVANGELIST INSTRUCTS HIM. 5I hoping that fleep might fettle his brains, with all hafle they got him to bed:* but the night was as troublefome to hini as the day ; v;herefore, inflead of fleeping, he fpent it in fighs and tears. So when the morning was come they would know how he did : he told them, ' tVorfe and ivorfc* He alfo fet to talking to them again, but they began to be hardened. They alfo thought to drive away his diftemper by harfh and furly carriage to him : fometimes they would deride, fometimes they would chide, and fometimes they would quite negleft him. Wherefore he began to retire himfelf to his cham- ber, to pray for and pity them ; and alfo to condole his own mifery. He would alfo walk folitarily in the fields, fometimes reading and fometimes pray- ing ; and thus for fome days he fpent his time. Now 1 faw, upon a time when he was walking in the fields, that he was fas he was wont) reading in his book, and greatly diftreffed in his mind ; and as I>e read, he burft out, as he had done before, cry- ing, " What fliall I do to be faved ?"' f I faw alfo that he looked this way and that way as if he would run ; yet he ftood ftill, becaufe (as I perceived) he could not tell which way to go. I looked then, and faw a man named Evangelist coming to him ; and he aflced, ' Wherefore dofl ' thou QX^V\ He anfwered; Sir, I perceive by the book in my hand that I am condemned to die, and after that to eome to judgment j and I find that I am not willing to do the firft, nor able to do the fecond.^ § G 2 Then * When we begin to be wife unto falvation, carnal friends pronounce us Enad unto deftruiflion ; and adminifter carnal medicine for our fin-fick fouls. t No foul was ever in earneft for falvation, till there is a cry in his heart to be favcd from the wrath of an offended God. I Behold here the tender love and care of Jefus, the great Shepherd and Bilhop of fouls, to fin-diftreffed, heavy laden linners, in fending Evangclift; that is, a preacher of gofpel grace, and glad tidings of falvation to them. § A true confeflion of an enlightened, fenfible finncr. ? Ads xvi, 30, 31. 2 lieb. ix. z;. Job xvi. »i, a^. Ezfk. xxii. 14, 5^ EVANGELIST INSTRUCTS HIM. Then faid Evangelist, Why not willing to die, fince this life is attended with fo many evils ? The man anfwered, Becaufe I fear that this burden that is upon my back* will fmk me lower than the grave, and I (hall fall into Tophet.^ And, Sir, if I be not fit to go to prifon, I am not fit to go to judgment, and from thence to execution : and the thoughts of thefe things make me cry. Then faid Evangelist, If this be thy condition, ^vhy ftandeft thou dill ? He anfwered, Becaufe I know not whither to go. Then he gave him a parchment roll ; and there was written within, *' Flee from the wrath to come."^ f The man therefore read it, and, looking upon Evangelist very carefully, faid, Whither muft I flee? Then faid Evangelist, pointing with his finger over a very wide field, Do you fee yonder Wicket-gate ?■? The man faid. No. Then faid the other. Do you fee yonder Ihiniiig light .?'^| He faid, I think I do. Then faid Evangelist, Keep that light in your eye, and go up diredlly thereto, fo fhalt thou fee the gate ; at which when thou knockeft, it fliall be told thee what thou fhalt do, * The convldlions of the Spirit of God in the heart, make a man feci the infupportable burden of fin upon his back, and to dread the wrath of God revealed from heaven againil fin. f The gofpel never leaves a convinced finner in the mifcrable fituation in which it finds him, without hope and relief j but points him to Jefus for fafety and falvation, that he may fly from himfelf, and the wrath he feels in bimlelf, to the fulnefs of the grace of Chrill, fignlfied by the Wicket-Gate. I Chrift, and the way to him, cannot be found without the word. The word direcfts to Chrift, and the Spirit fliines into the heart, wiiereby the linucr fees Chrift in the word. This makes God's word precigus. f Ifa. XXX, 32. * Matt. iii. 7. 3 Matt. vii. 13, I4. ■♦ Pfal. cxix. 105. a Pet. i. 19. CHAP, OBSTINATE AND PLIABLE PURSUE CHRISTIAN. 53 CHAP. II. CHRISTIAN PROCEEDS OBSTINATE REFUSES TO AC- COMPANY HIM PLIABLE GOES AS FAR AS THE SLOUGH, AND RETURNS, 15 O I faw in my dream that, the man began to run. Now he had not run far from his own door, but his wife and children (perceiving it) began to cry after him to return;' but the man put his fingers in his ears, and ran on, crying, ' Life! life! eternal lifel' So he looked not behind him,'' but fled towards the iniddle of the plain.* The neighbours, alfo came out to feef him run : and, as he ran, fome mocked, others threatened, and fome cried after him to return ; and among thofe that did fo there were two that were refolved to fetch him back by force. The name of one was Obstinate, and the name of the other Pliable. Now by this time the man was got a good diftance from thein ; but, however, they were refolved to purfue him; which they did, and in a little time they overtook him. Then faid the man, Neighbours, wherefore are ye come? They faid, To perfuade you to go back with us ; but he faid. That can by no means be : you dwell, faid he, in the city of De- struction ; the place alfo where I was born ; I fee it to be fo ; and dying there, fooner or later, you "will fink lower than.the grave into a place that burns \vith * when a finner begins to fly from deftruAion, carnal relatioHS will drive to prevent him ; but it is wifer to flop our ears againft the reafonings of flefh and bloo Ifa. xxxT. 3, 4, &0 PLIABLE RETURNS HOME. there : but the ground is good when they are once got in at the gate.' * Now I fawin my dream, that by this time Plia- ble was got home to his houfe. So his neigh- bours came to vifit him ; and fome of therrt called him wife man for coming back ; and fome called him fool for hazarding himfelf with Christian: others again did mock at his cowardlinefs ; ffaying, * Surely, fince you began to venture. I would not ' have been fp bafe to have given out for a few diffi- ' culties :' fo Pliable fat fneaking among them. But at lad he got more confidence ; and then they all turned their tales, and began to deride poor Christian behind his back. And thus much concerning Pliable. * That is the Lord Jefu3 Chrift. We never find good ground, nor fafe founding, nor comfortable walking, till we enter into poffeffion of Chrift by faith, and till <>ur feet are fet upon Him, who is the Rock of ages. f They who a^c£i to defpife real chriflians, often both exprefs and feel great contempt for thofe that caft off their profeffion : fuch men are unable, for a time, to refunic their wonted confidence among their former compat- nions ; and this excites them to pay court to them, by reviling and deriding thofs v/hom they have forfaken. < t Sara. xii. Zi. CHAP. Q^ WORLDLY-WISEMAN MEETS CHRISTIAN. 6l CHAP. III. CHRISTIAN, DECEIVED BY THE ADVICE GF MR. WORLD- LY-WISEMAN, TURNS OUT OF THE WAY, AND IS GREATLY ALARMED; BUT HAPPILY MEETING WITH EVANGELIST, RETURNS TO THE RIGHT PATH, AND PROCEEDS ON HIS JOURNEY. N. OW as Christian was walking folitarily by himfelf, he fpied one afar off croffing over the field to meet him ; and their hap was to meet juft as they were croffing the way to each other.- The gentle- man's name, that met him, was Mr. Worldly- wiseman; he dwelt in the town of Carnal- policy ; a very great town, and alfo hard by from whence Christian came. This man, then, meet- ing with Christian, and having fome inkling of him (for Christian's fetting forth from the city of Destruction was much noifed abroad, not only in the town where he dwelt, but alfo it began to be the town-talk in fome other places) j Mr, WoRLDLY-wisEMAN, therefore, having fome guefs of him, by beholding his laborious going, by ob-^ ferving his fighs and groans, and the like, began thus to enter into fome talk with Christian. World. How now, good fellow, whither away kfter this burdened manner? Chr.. a burdened manner indeed, as ever, I think, poor creature had ! And whereas you aiked me, whither away ? I tell you Sir, I am going to yon> der Wicket-gate before me; for there, as 1 am informed, I fhall be put in a way to be rid of my heavy burden. World. Haft thou a wife and children ? Chr.. Yes ; but 1 am fo laden with this burden, that I cannot take that pleafure in them as formerly : methinks I am as if I had none.-* WoRLEb » I Cor. vii, 29. 62 WORLDLY-WISEMAn's counsel to CHRlSTIAy. World. Wilt thou hearken to me if I give thee counfel ? Chr. If it be goody I will ; for I ftand in need of good counfel. World. I would advife thee, then, that thou with all fpeed get thyfelf rid of thy burden ; for thou wilt never be fettled in thy mind till then, nor canft thou enjoy the benefits of the bleffings which God hath bellowed upon thee till then. Chr. That is that which I feek for, even to be rid of this heavy burden ; but get it off myfelf I cannot : nor is there any man in our country that can take it off my flioulders : therefore am I going this way, as I told you, that I may be rid of my burden.* World. Who bid you go this way to be rid of your burden ? Chr. a man that appeared to me to be a very great and honourable perfon ; his name, as I re- member, is Evangelist. World. Befhrew him for his counfel ; there is not a more dangerous and troublefome way in the world than is that unto which he hath direfted thee ; and that thou flialt find if thou wilt be ruled by his counfel. Thou haft met v/ith fomething, as I perceive, already ; for I fee the dirt of the ilough of Despond is upon thee ; but that flough is the beginning of the ibrrows that do attend thofe that go on in that way. Hear me : I am older than thou ; thou art like to meet with, on the way which thou goeft, v/earifomenefs, painfulnefs, hunger, perils, nakednefs, fword, lions, dragons, darknefs, and, in a word, death, and what not ! Thefe things are certainly true, having been confirmed by many tef- timonies. And why fhould a man fo carelefsly caft away himfelf by giving heed to a ftranger ? Chr. • A glirnpfe of the Wicket-gafe, or of deliverance from the guilt of fin by Chriik, will make the finntr rejedt all other ways, and prefs on towards thrift only. THEIR FURTHER CONVERSATION. 6^ Chr. Why, Sir, this burden upon my back is more terrible to me than are all thefe things which you have mentioned : nay, methinks I care not what I meet with in my way, if fo be I can alfo meet with deliverance from my burden.* World. How camefl thou by the burden at firft? Chr. By reading this book in my hand. World. -{- I thought fo ; and it has happened unto thee as to other weak men, who meddling with things too high for them do fuddenly fall into thy diftraftions ; which diflraclions do not only unman men (as thine I perceive have done thee), but they run them upon defperate ventures to obtain they know not what. Chr. I know what I would obtain j it is eafe from my heavy burden. World. But why wilt thou feek for eafe this way, feeing fo many dangers attend it? Efpecially fmce, hadfl thou but patience to hear me, I could direft thee to the obtaining of what thou defireft, without the dangers that thou in this way wilt run thyfelf into. Yea, and the remedy is at hand. Befides, I will add, that inftead of thefe dangers thou fhalt meet with much fafety, friendfhip, and content. Chr. Sir, I pray, open this fecret to me. World. Why, in yonder village (the village is named Morality) there dwells a gentleman, whofe name is Legality, a very judicious man, and a man of very good name, that has fkill to help men off with fuch burdens as thine is from their ihoulders; yea, to my knowledge, he hath done a great deal of good this way : aye, and befides, he hath (kill to cure thofe that are fomewhat crazed in their v/its with • Such is the frame of the heart of a real penitent. f Mr Worldly-wifcman does not like that men fliould be fcrious in read" jcg the Bible. •64 LEGALITV, AND THE VILLAGE MORALITY. with their burdens.* To him, as I faid, thou mayeft go, and be helped prefently. His houfe is not quite a mile from this place ; and if he fliould not be at home himfelf, he hath a pretty young man to his fon, whofe name is Civility, that can do it (to fpeak on) as well as the old gentleman himfelf. There, 1 fay, thou mayefl: be eafed of thy burden : and if thou art not minded to go back to thy former habitation, as indeed I would not wifh thee, thou mayeft fend for thy wife and children to thee to this village ; where there are houfes now ftand empty, one of which thou mayeft have at reafonable rates : provifion is there alfo cheap and good : and that which will make thy life more happy, is, to be fure there thou fhalt live by honeft neighbours in credit and good faftiion. Now was Christian fomewhat at a ftand ; but prefently he concluded. If this be true which this gentleman hath faid, my wifeft courfe is to take his advice ; and with that he thus further fpake. Chr. Sir, which is my way to this honeft man's houfe ? World. Do you fee yonder high hill? Chr. Yes, very well. World. By that hill you muft go, and the firfl houfe you come at is his. So Christian turned out of his way to go to Mr. Legality's houfe for help.f But, behold, when he was got now hard by the hill, it feemed fo high, and alfo that fide of it that was next the way-fide did hang fo much over, that Christian was afraid to * Mr. Worldly-wlfeman prefers Morality to Chrift the Strait Gate. This is the exadl reafoning of the flefh. Carnal reafon ever oppol'e;. fpiritual truth. The notion of juftification by our own obedience to God's law, ever works in us, contrary to the law of juflification by the obedience of Chrift and living faith in his blood. Self-righteoufnefs is as contrary to the faith of Chrift, as indulging the lufts of the flefh. f And a fad turn it proved to him ; for he turned from the work of Chrift, for his falvation, to his own works and obedience ; fo did the Galatians of old. Mark the confequence ; Chriflian is afraid that Mount Sinai, all the dreadful curfes of the law, would fall on his head. CHRISTIAN TURNS ASIDE. HIS ALARM. 6^ to venture further, left the hill fhould fall on his head : wherefore there he ftood ftill, and wotted not what to do. Alfo his burden now feemed heavier to him than while he was in his way. There came alfo flalhes of fire out of the hill, that made Chris- tian afraid that he fhould be burned:^ here there- fore he fv/eat and did quake for fear. And now he began to be forry that he had taken Mr. Worldly- Wiseman's counfel. And with that he faw* Evan- gelist coming to meet him ; at the fight alfo of whom he began to blufh for fhame. So Evange- list drew nearer and nearer ; and, coming up to him, he looked upon -him with a fevere and dreadful countenance, and thus began to reafon with Chris- tian. What doft thou liere, Christian? faid he. At v/hich words Christian knew not what to anfwer ; wherefore at prefent he ftood fpeechlefs before him. Then faid Evangelist further, Art thou not the man that 1 found crying without the walls of the city of Destruction? Chr. Yes, dear Sir, I am the man. Evan. Did not 1 diredl thee the way to the little Wicket-gate? Yes, dear Sir, faid Christian. Evan. How is it then that thou art fo quickly turned afide ? for thou art now out of the way. Chr. I met with a gentleman, as foon as 1 had got over the flough of Despond, who perfuaded me that I might in the village before me find a man that could take oft' my burden. ■ Evan. What was he ? Chr. He looked like a gentleman,! and talked I much • Evangelift findeth Chriftian under Mount Sinai, and looketh fcverely upon him. See the effed of difobeying the Gofpcl. f Beware of taking men by their looks. They may look as gentle as lambs, while the poiioii of afps is under their tongues -, whereby ihcy infe(5l many fouls with pernicious errors, turning them from Chiift and the hope of juftification and eternal life, through him only, to look and rely upoa their own works, in whole or in part, tor falvation. * Esiod, six. l6 — 18, Hcb. xii. 31. 66 CHRISTIAN IS MET BY EVANGELIST J much to me, vrnd got me at lafl: to yield ; fo I came hither : but when I beheld this hill, and how it hangs over the v/ay, I fuddenly made a ftand, left it fhould fall on my head. 'Evan. What faid that gentleman to you ? Chr. He afked me if I had a family : and I told him. But, faid I, I am fo loaded with the burden that is on my back, that I cannot take pleafure in them as formerly. Evan. And what faid he then ? Chr. He bid me with fpeed get rid of my bur- den ; and I told him it was eafe that I fought. And, faid I, T am therefore going to yonder gate to receive further diredions how I may get to the place of de- liverance. So he faid that he would fhow me a better way, and fhorter, not fo attended with difficulties as the way. Sir, that you fet me in ; which way, faid he, will dire£t you to a gentleman's houfe that has Ikill to take off thefe burdens : fo I believed him,* and turned out of that way into this, if haply I might be foon eafed of my burden. But when I came to this place, and beheld things as they are, I flopped for fear, as I faid, of danger: but now know not what to do. Then, faid Evangelist, ftand ftill a little that I may (how thee the words of God. So he ftood trembling. Then faid Evangelist, " See that ye " refufe not him that fpeaketh : for if they efcaped *' not who refufed him that fpake on earth, much " more fhall not we efcape if we turn away from " him that fpeaketh from heaven."' He faid, moreover, " Now the juft fliall live by faith ; but " if any man draw back, my foul fliall have no " pleafure in him."- He alfo did thus apply them : Thou art the man tha,t art running into this mifery : thou • As the belief of truth, lie? at the foundation of the hope of eternal life, and is the caulc of any one becoming a pilgrim ; fo the belief of a lie is the c,;ulc of ajiy one's turning out of iha ivay wiiich leads to glory, • Heb. >;ii. 25. 2 Htb. x. 38. HE IS ADMITTED AT THE WICKET-GATE. yt C H A P IV. CHRISTIAN ARRIVES AT THE WICKET-GATE, WHERE HE KNEELS, AND IS KINDLY RECEIVED. OO in procefs of time Christian got up to the gate. Now over the gate there was written, " Knock, and it fhall be opened unto you."' He knocked therefore more than once or twice, * faying — * May I nov/ enter here ? Will he within Open to forry me, though I have been An undeferving rebel ? Then fhall I Not fail to fing his lading praife on high.'' At lafl there came a grave perfon to the gate, named Good-will, who alked him who was there? and whence he came ? and what he would have ? Chr. Here is a poor burdened finner. I come from the city of Destruction, but am going to Mount ZiON, that I may be delivered from the wrath to come. I would, therefore. Sir, fmce I am informed that by this gate is the way thither, know if you are willing to let me in. flam willing with all my heart, faid he. And with that he opened the gate. ^ when Christian was ftepping in, the other gave him a pull.} Then faid Christian, What means that ? The other told him, « A little diftance ' from this gate there is ereded a ftrong caftle, of ' which * TInT'is praying and pleadings in faith with God for mercy and for- givenel's of fin through the blood of Jefus Chrift. f The gate will be open to broken-hearted finners. Here behold the _ Jove of Jefus, in freely and heartily receiving every poor fiiiner vvlio comcj unto him. No matter how vile they have been, nor what thintrs they have committed- he loves them freely and receives them graciouily. For he has nothing but Good- Will towards men. Luke ii. 14, I Every faved finner is a brand plucked out of the fir: by the loving arm •f Chrift, Zech. iii. 2. I Matt. vli. 7, 8. 72 GOOD-WILL DISCOURSES WITH CHRISTIAN, * which Beelzebub is the captain; from thence ' both he and they that are with him fhoot arrows « at thofe that come up to this gate, if haply they ' may die before they can enter in.* Then faid Christian, I rejoice and tremble. So when he was got in, the man of the gate alked him who direfled him thither. Chr. Evangelist bid me come hither and knock, as I did ; and he faid that you, bir, would tell me what I muft do. Good. " An open door is before thee, and no '* man can fliut it.** Chr. Now I begin to reap the benefits of my hazards. Good. But how is it that you come alone ? Chr. Becaufe none of my neighbours faw their danger, as I faw mine. Good. Did any of them know of your coming ? Chr. Yes, my wife and children faw me at the firfl, and called after me to turn again : alfo fome of my neighbours flood crying and calling after me to return ; but I put my fingers in my ears and fo came on my way. ' % Good. But did none of them follqjy ;VOU, to per- fuade you to go back ? y^ Chr. Yes, both Obstinate and Pliable : but" when they faw that they could not prevail, Oi^i- nate went railing back, but Pliable came ^tl^ me a little way. Good. But why did he not come through ? Chr. We* indeed came both together until we came to the flough of Despond, into the which we alfo fuddenly fell. And then was my neigh- bour Pliable difcouraged, and would not adven- ture further.* Wherefore getting out again on that fide next to his own houfe, he told me I iliould • polfefs * A man may have company when he fcts out for heaven, and yet go ihiihcr uloiie. " Many be called, but few chofen." Mat. xx. i6. CMJUj-UA^^m^'^^ kv j;oLri?jLz;jj'^ under M^n-NTSjnmj-, Fitdhr/ied hy J. J('ncr.J\/?SO-£ride St/YrtJ)ubltn . AND CONVINCED OF HIS ERROR. 6/ thou haft begun to rejecl the counfel of the Moll High, and to draw back thy foot from the way of peace ; even almoft to the hazarding of thy perdi- tion.* Then Christian fell down at his feet as dead, crying, " Wo is me, for I am undone !" At the fight of which Evangelist caught him by the right hand, faying, " All manner of fin and blaf- " phemy ffiall be forgiven unto men :*' " be not " faithlefs, but believing.'* Then did Christian again a little revive, and flood up trembling, as at firft, before Evangelist. | Then Evangelist proceeded, faying, Give more earneft heed to the things that I fhall tell the : of. I will now fhow thee who it was that deluded thee, and who it was alfo to whoni he feni thee. The man that met thee is one Wox^ldly-wiseman, and rightly is he fo called ; partly becaufe he favoureth only the dodlrine of this world^ (therefore he always goes to the town of Morality to church), and partly becaufe he loveth that do^lrine beft, for it faveth him beft from the crofs :^ and becaufe he is of this carnal temper, therefore he feeketh to per- vert my ways, though right. Now there are three things in this man's counfel that thou muft utterly abhor : — his turning thee out of the way ; — his la- bouring to render the crofs odious to thee ; — and his fetting thy feet in that way that leadeth unto the mi- niftration of death. | I 2 Firft, * Sec the danger of turnino; from the faith of Chrift, to truf}. in any de- gree to our own works for juRification and eternal life. Beware of legal teachers, and of thy own legal fpirit. f See the glory of gofpel grace to finners. See the amazing love of Chrifb in dying for iinners. O remember the price, with which Chrifl: obtained the pardotj of your fins; at nothing lefs than his own niofl: precious blood ! Believe his wonderful love. Rejoice in his glorious falvation. l^ive in the love of him, in the hatred of your fins, and in humblenefs of mind before him. I Gofpel comfort cannot be enjoyed, till the foul is convinced of the evil, and rejedls the do6lrine of Legality, or truft in any dcpendance upon our own works for juftification. This detcftable herefy abounds greatly in the prefent day. ' John iv, 5. * Gal. vi. it. 68 THE FALLACIES OF WORLDLY-WISEMAN DETECTED- Firft, thou mufl abhor his turning thee out of the way, yea, and thine own confenting thereto ; becaufe this is to rejeft the counfel of God for the fake of the counfel of a worldly-wife man. The Lord fays, *' Strive to enter in at the (trait gate** (the gate to which I fend thee), " for flrait is the " gate that leadeth unto life, and few there be tha,t *' find it.*** From this little Wicket-gate, and from the way thereto, hath this wicked man turned thee, to the bringing of thee almofl: to deftrudion. Hate, therefore his turning thee out of the way, and abhor thyfelf for hearkening to him. Secondly, thou mufl: abhor his labouring to render the crofs odious unto thee ; for thou art to *' prefer *' it before the treafures in Egypt,*** Befides, the King of Glory hath told thee, that " he that will " fave his life fhall lofe it :'* and, " He that comes *' after me, and hates not his father, and mother, " and wife, and children, and brethren, and fifters, '* yea, and his own life alfo, cannot be my difci- '^ ple.'*3 I fay, therefore, for a man to labour to perfuade thee that that fhall be thy death, without which the Truth hath faid thou canft not have eter- nal life : this do6trine thou mufl abhor. Thirdly, thou mufl hate his fetting of thy feet in the way that leadeth to the minillration of death. And for this thou mufl confider to whom he fent thee, and alfo how unable that perfon was to deliver thee from thy burden. He to whom thou wafl fent for eafe, being by name Legality, is " the fon of the bond-woman " which now is, and is in bondage with her chil- " dren ;**4 and is, in a myftery, this mount Sinai which thou hafl feared will fall on thy head. Now if fhe with her children are in bondage, how canfl thou » Luke xjii. »4. Matt vii. 13, T4. * Heb. xi. 25, a6. » Matt. X. 37 — 39. Mark viii. ;;4, 2,5- I-u'^e xiv. a6, 27. Jolin xii. 4 Gal, iv. XI — 27. THE PRETENSIONS OF LEGALITY CONFUTED. 6g thou exped by them to be made free? This Lega- lity, therefore, is not able to fet thee free from thy burden. No man was as yet ever rid of his burden by him ; no, nor ever is like to be. " Ye cannot ** be jultified by the works of the law ; for by the ** deeds of the law no man living" can be rid of his burden: therefore Mr. Worldly-wiseman is a liar, and Mr. Legality a cheat: and for his fon Civility, notwithflanding his fimpering looks, he is but a hypocrite, and cannot help thee. Believe me, there is nothing in all this noife that thou haft heard of thele fottifh men, but a defign to beguile thee of thy falvation, by turning thee from the way in which I had fet thee.* After this Evangelist called aloud to the heavens for confirmation of what he had faid ; and with that there came words and fire out of the mountain under which poor Chris- tian flood, that made the hair of his flefh ftand up. The words were thus pronounced : " As many as ^' are of the works of the law are under the curfe : *' for it is written, Curfed is every one that conti= '* nueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them."f ■ Now Chrstan looked for nothing but death, and began to cry out lamentably ; even curfing the time in which he met with Mr. Worldly-wiseman ; ftill calling himfelf a thoufand fools for hearkening to his counfel. He alfo was greatly alhamed to think that this gentleman's arguments, flowing only from the flefh, fhould have the prevalency with him as to caufe him to forfake the right way. This done, he applied • The gofpel pays no refpeA to demure looks, and a faneaified face ; but pronounces fiich cheats, hypocrites, and beguilers, who turn fouls from the crofs of Chrift, and the way of falvation by him, to truft in any-wife to their own works for juftification and falvation. f Legality is as great an enemy to the crofs of Chrift, as Licentionfnefs : for it keeps the foul from coming to, believing in, and trufting wholly to the blood of Chrift for pardon, and the righteoufnefs of Chrift for juftifica- tion ; fo that it keeps the foul in bondage, and fwelU the mind with pride, whik Licentioufnefs brings a fcandal on the crofs. » Gal. iii. lO. 70 CHRISTIAN ENCOURAGED BY EVANGELIST. applied himfelf again to Evangeli£;t in words and fenfe as follows : Sir,* what think you ? Is there any hope ? May I now go back, and go up to the Wicket-gate? Shall I not be abandoned for this, and fent back from thence afhamed ? I am forry I haA'^e hearkened to this man's counfel ; but may my fin be forgiven ? Then faid Evangelist to him. Thy fm is very great, for by it thou haft committed two evils ; thou haft forfaken the way that is good, to tread in forbidden paths : yet will the man at the gate receive thee, for he has good will for men ; only, faid he, take heed that thou turn not afide again, *' left thou perifti from the way when his wrath is " kindled but a little."' — Then did Christian ad- drefs himfelf to go back; and Evangelist, after he had kifled him, gave him one fmile, and bid him God fpeed.f So he went on with hafte, neither fpake he to any man by the way ; nor if any afked him would he vouchfafe them an anfwer. He went like one that was all the while treading on forbidden ground, and could by no means think himfelf fafe, till again he was got into the way | which he left to follow Mr. Worldly-wiseman*s counfel. * Chriflian inquires if he may yet be happy. Legal hopes will bring on diftrefs of foul, and defpondency of fpirit, as well as outward fins : there is no hope of a finner's being comforted by the ciofs of ChriQ, till he is made fenfible of this. f Nothing but the gofpel of Chrift can dired our fleps in the right way, and bring peace and comfort to our I'ouls. It falutes us with a chearing fmile, a kifs of peace, and a blefSng of cojifolation ; and hence it wings our peace to Chrift and holinefs. \ The faithful minifter mufl warn young converts not to turrr afide ; nor can any foul ever find confidence or comfort, till they are confcious of having regained the way they had forfaken. » Pfal. ii. iz. CHAP. GOOD-WILL CONTINUES HIS DISCOURSE. 73 poflefs the brave country alone for him : fo he went his way^ and 1 came mine} he after Obstinate, and I to this gate. Then faid Good-will, Alas, poor man ! is the celeftial glory of fo fmall efteem with him, that he counteth it not worth running the hazard of a few difficulties to obtain it ? Truly, faid Christian, I have faid the truth of Pliable ; and if I fhould alfo fay all the truth of myfelf, it will appear there is no difference betwixt him and myfelf. It is true he went back to his own houfe, but I alfo turned afide to go into the way of death, being perfuaded thereto by the carnal argu- ment of one Mr. Worldly-wiseman.* Good. Oh i did he light upon you ? What, he would have had you have fought for eafe at the hands of Mr. Legality! they are both of them very cheats. But did you take his counfel ? Chr. Yes, as far as I durft. I went to find out Mr. Legality, until I thought that the mountain that (lands by his houfe would have fallen upon my head ; wherefore there I was forced to fhop.f Gdod. That m.iuQtaia has been the death of many, and will be the death of many more. It is well you efcaped being dafhed in pieces by it. Chr. Why, truly, I do not know what had be- come of me there, had not Evangelist happily met me again as I was mufmg in the midu; of my dumps : but it was God's mercy that he came to me again, for elfe I had never come hither. But now I" K am * Where there is true grace in the heart, it will take fliame to irfelf, and give all the glory to God's fovereign grace, for any difference there is between us and others. Free grace deftroys pride, and lays the firmer low, while it exalts Chrift, and caufcs the believer to triumph in his righteouiiiefs and falvacion, f Though Jefus knows what is in man, and all his ways, yet he will bring the foul to conttflion unto him. See the loving heart of Chrirt 'to finners, and the free communications he admits them to with himfelf. Oh ! ye his people, pour out your heart before him : God is a refuse for -;-■ Pfalm. ixii. 8. 74 CHRISTIA>r INSTRUCTED IN THC WAY. am come, fuch a one as I am, more fit indeed for death by that mountain, than thus to ftand talking with my Lord. But, oh ! what a favour is this to me, that yet I am admitted entrance here.* Good. We make no objeftions againft any, not- withftanding all that they have done before they come hither. " They in no wife are caft out ;"■ and therefore, good Christian, come a little way with me, and I will teach thee about the way thou muft go. Look before thee ; doft thou fee this narrow way ? that is the way thou muft go. It was caft lip by the patriarchs, prophets, Cbrift and his apoftles, and it is as ftraight as a rule can make it : this is the way thou muft go. But faid Christian,-]- are there no turnings nor windings, by which a ftranger may lofe his way ? Good. Yes, there are many ways butt down upon this, and they are crooked and wide : but thus thou muft diftinguifil the right from the wrong, the right only being |ilraight and narrow.* Then * It is a fare fign of a g^cnuine work of grace, when the heart afcribes all to grace. Here is tio afcribing any thing to his own wii'dom or power : but his efcape from deflrudiion, and being yet in the way of falvation, are wholly refolved into the grace of the g()l])e!, tiie mercy of God, and in his free favour, and almighty power. It is fweet to converfe with Jefus, of his free grace to wretched and unworthy finners. Do not you find it fo .' f Chridian is afraid 'f lofmg his way; a bleffed fign of a gracious heart, when it pofltfles godly jealoiify. I Chriftian, being admitted at tht Jlniit gate, is dire(5led in the narrowway. In the broati road every man may choofe a path fuited to liis inclinations, Ihift about to avoid difficulties, or accommodate himfelf to circumftances ; and he will be fiire of company agreeably to histade. But chriflians mull follow one another, in tb.e uarroiu way along the fame track, furmounting difficulties, facing enemies, andbearing hardfliips, without any room to evade them : nor is any indulgence given to different taftes, habitii, or propenfities. It is therefore zJlraiteneJ, or, as fome render the word, an aJJUfUd ivay ; be- ing indeed an habitual courle of repentance, faith, love, felf-denial, patience ; in a word, a full conformity to the will of God, accoiding to the fcriptures. Chrifl himfelf is the way, by which we come to the father ; and by living faiih which v.'orks by love, we are " fet in the way of his fteps." This path is Mh^prji^Lt, as oppofed to the croiktd ways of men ; for it confifls in an uniform regard to piety, integrity, finceiity, and kindnefs; at a didance from ail the hypocrifies, frauds, aad artifices, by which ungodly men wind about ' John vi. 37. 2 Matt. vii. 13. 14. PASSION AND PATIENCE. jt) I faw, moreover, in my dream, that the Inter- preter took him by the hand, and had him into a little room where fat two little children, each one in his chair. The name of the eldeft was Passion, and the name of the other Patience. Passion feemed to be much difcontented, but Patience was very quiet. Then Christian afked. What is the reafon of the difcontent of Passion ? The Interpreter anfwered. The governor of them would have him flay for his bed things till the beginning of the next year ; but he will have all now. But Patience is willing to wait. Then I faw that one came to Passion and brought him a bag of treafure, and poured it down at his feet : the which he took up and rejoiced therein, and withal laughed Patience to fcorn. But I beheld but a while, and he had lavifhed all away, and had nothing left him but rags. Then faid Christian to the Interpreter, Expound this matter more fully to me. So he faid, Thefe two lads are figures : Passion, of the men of this world ; and Patience, of the men of that which is to come. For as here thou feeft Passion will have all now this year, that is to fay, in this world ; fo are the men of this world : they mud have all their good things now, they cannot Hay till next year ; that is, until the next world, for their portion of (.v,od. That proverb, ' A bird in the hand is worth wo in the bufli,' is of more authority with them than are all the divine teflimonies of the good of the world to come. But as thou fawell that he had quickly lavifhed all away, and dead, Rom. vii. 8. Has the application of the law to your confcience made fin fo revive in you, fo as that you died to all your former hopes of being juftificd by your obedience to the law ? If not, you are yet dead in fin, and cleave to lagal hopes and vain confidence. But if through the law you become dead to the law, has the gofpel come to you with its reviving, comforting, lan<5lifying influence ? Plasit made Chrift's blood and rij^hteouf- nefs precious to your foul, and given you the viiloiy of faith over the law, fin, aad death. If fo, go on your way rejoicing. 8o THE EMBLEM EXPLAINED. and had prefently left him nothing but rags ; fo will it be with all fuch men at the end of this world.* Then faid Christian, Now I fee that Patience has the beft wifdom, and that upon many accounts : — becaufe he flays for the befl things : — and alfo becaufe he will have the glory of his, when the other has nothing but rags. Interp. Nay, you may add another, to wit, — the glory of the next world will never wear out : but thefe are fuddenly gone. Therefore Passion had not fo much reafon to laugh at Patience becaufe he had his good things firft, as Patience will have to laugh at Passion becaufe he had his bell things laft ; for jirjl muft give place to lajl, becaufe lajl muft have its time to come ; but laji gives place to nothing, for there is not another to fucceed : he, therefore, that hath his portion^^y? muft needs have a time to fpend it ; but he that has his portion laji muft have it laftingly : therefore it is faid of Dives, *' In thy life-time thou receivedft *' thy good things, and likewife Lazarus evil things ; *' but now he is comforted, and thou art torment- *' ed."i Chr. Then I perceive it is not beft to covet things that are now, but to wait for things to come. Interp. You fay truth : " For the things that *' are feen are temporal ; but the things that are not " feen are eternal : *'* but, though this be fo, yet, fmce things prefent and our fleftily appetite are fuch near neighbours one to another ; and again, becaufe things to come and carnal fenfe are fuch ftrangers one to another 5 therefore it is that the firfl of thefe fo • Carnal men feek nothing more than the gratification of their fenfi;» ; their end will be the lofs of all things, and the deftrucSion of their ovru fouls. But the juft live by faith on Jefus, and in hope of joys to come v their end will be glorious ; for they fhall receive the end of their faith, the falvation of their fouls, and the cverlafting enjoyment of Chrift in glory. ' l>uke xvi. 19 — 31. « i Cor iv. i8. »,% THE FIRE SECRETLY KEPT FROM BEING QEENCHED. 8 I fo fuddenly fall into mnity, and that dijlance is fo continually between the fecond.* Then I faw in my dream that the Interpreter took Christian by the hand, and led him into a place where was a tire burning againfl a wall, and one (landing by it always cafting much water upon it to quench it ; yet did the fire burn higher and hotter. Then faid Christian, What means this ? The Interpreter anfwered, This fire is the work of grace that is wrought in the heart ; he that cads water upon it to extinguifh and put it out, is the Devil : but in that thou feefl the fire notwithftand- ing burn higher and hotter, thou fhalt alfo fee the reafon of that. So he had him about to the back- fide of the wall, where he faw a man with a veflel of oil in his hand, of which he did alfo continually caft, but fecretly, into the fire. Then faid Christian, What means this ? The Interpreter anfwered. This is Christ, who continually with the oil of his grace maintains the work already begun in the heart : by the means of which, notwithftanding what the devil can do the fouls of his people prove gracious ftilh' And in that thou faweft that the man flood behind the wall to maintain the fire ; this is to teach thee that it is hard for the tempted to fee how this work of grace is maintained in the foul.-j- L I faw ' Here fee the precioufncfs and glory of faith ; it caiifeth the foiil to make a proper eflimate, and fet a due value on thhigs : it pierceth throuch the olijeifts of time and fenfc, and fixes upon glory and eternity. This is the proper charader of every heaven-born foul; the juft fhall live by fairh Heb. ii. 4. This is a life of htavcn upon earth. f- It is plain Mr. Bunyan did not afcribe that glory to the work and power of the creature, which is due folely to the Lord, who is the Alpha and Omega, the Firft and the Laft ;. the Beginner, Carrier on, and Finiiher cf his work in finners hearts; and ri«ver can his work be extinguifhed there till Satan's water is more powerfiil to quench, than Chrifl's oil and orace are to keep the fire burning — The inftrudlion elpcchlly inculcated by this emblem is, an entire reliance on the fecret but powerful influence of divine grace, to maintain and carry on the fandifying work that has been bejriin ir the foul. ' % Cor. xii. j>. 4:0 82 THE VAIJANT MAK*S CONFLICT AND VICTORY. I faw alfo that the Interpreter took him again by the hand, and led him into a pleafant place, where was builded a ftately palace, beau- tiful to behold : at the fight of which Christiai* was greatly delighted ; he faw alfo upon the top thereof certain perfons walking, who were clothed all in gold. Then faid Christian, May we go in^ thither? Then the Interpreter took him, and led him ap towards the door of the palace ; and behold, at the door ftood a great company of men, as defirous to go in, but durlt noc. i here alfo fat a man at a little diflanee from the dooF, at a table fide, with a book and his inkhorn before hirn;, to take the name of him that fhoald enter therein : he faw alfo that in the door-way ftood many men in armour to keep it, being refolved to do to the men that would enter what hurt and mifchief they could. Now was Christian fomewhat in amaze: at laft, when every man ftarted back for fear of the armed men. Christian faw a man of a very ft out countenance come up to the man that fat there to write, faying,. * Set down my name. Sir :' th€ which when he had done, he faw the man draw his fword, and put an helmet upon his head,, and rufti toward the door upon the armed men, who laid upon him with deadly force ; but the man was not at all difcourag-. ed, but feU to cutting and hacking moft fiercely* So after he had* received and given many wounds to thofe that attempted to keep him out, he cut his way through them all, and prefled forward into the palace ; at which there was a pleafant voice heard from thofe that were within, even of thofe that walked upon the top of the palace, faying, * Come in, come in ; Eternal glory thou ihalt win** So • We muft through much tribulation e«er into the kingdom of. 6ll I have fhov/ed thee a Ettie more, and after that thou fhalt go on thy way. So he took him by the hand again, and led him into a very dark room, where there fat a man in an iron cage. Now the man, to look on, feemed very fad. He fat with his eyes looking down to the ground, his hands folded together, and he fighed as if he would break his heart. Then faid Christian, What means this? At which the Interpreter bid him talk with the man.f Then faid Christian to the man. What art thou? The man anfwered, i am what I was not once. Chr. What wert thou once ? The man faid,{ I was once a fair and flourilhing profeflbr, both in mine own eyes, and alfo in the eyes of others : I once was, as I thought, fair for the celeftial city,' and had then even joy at the thoughts that I Ihould get thither. § Chr. Well, but what art thou now ? Man. I am now a man of defpair, and am fiiut L 2 tip • Such is tlie fplrit and difpofition of a foul Who is determinec! to win Chrlft, and to enjoy the kingdom of glory. In fpite of all oppofition he re- solutely forces his way, and prefles towards the mark, for the prize of hio high calling of God in Jefus Chrift. Phil. iii. 14. He is not content with s, few lazy wifhcs, or languid hopes ; for the kingdom of heaven fuffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Mat. rl. 1 2. + The Holy Spirit would have us take warning by the fad examples of others. Hence he fets before us in the Ccripture, the dreadful things which iiave fallen prof^jfTors, that v/e may fee our danger, be humble, and watchful a-ad pray to tlie Lord to keepais from falling away. ^ Moft dreadful change ! Think of it with trembling. Thou ftandcft by faith ; Lie not higli-minded, but fear. § Soaring profeffors, beware. See how far this man went; fee what he thou'^ht of hifnfelf ; fee what others thought of him ; yea, he felt great joy in himfelf at the thoughts of getting to heaven ; but yet through imfaithfulnefs dcfpair feizcd on him, ♦' Let us 'watch and be fober." I Thcff.v. 6. » Luke viii. 13. 84 CHRISTIAN INTERROGATES HIM. up in it as in this iron cage. I cannot get out ; O '?wiu I cannot.* Chr. But how cameft thou in this condition ^ Man. I left oif to watch and be fober ; I laid the reins upon the neck of my lufls ; I finned againft the light of the word, and the goodnefs of God : I have grieved the Spirit, and he is gone ; I tempted the Devil, and he is to come to me ; I have provoked God to anger, and he has left me ; I have fo hard- ened my heart, that I cannot repent.f Then faid Christian to the Interpreter, But Is there no hope for fuch a man as this ? Alk him, faid the Interpreter. Then faid Christian, Is there no hope but you mufl; be kept in the iron cage of defpair ? Man. No, none at all. Chr. Why ? the Son of the BlefTed is very pitiful. * Man. I have crucified him to myfelf afrefli ; I have defpifed his perfon, I have defpifed his righ- teoufnefs, I have counted his blood an unholy thing. I have done defpite to the Spirit of grace : ' there- fore I have (hut myfelf out of all the promifes, and there now remains to me nothing but threatenings, dreadful threatenings, fearful threatenings, of cer- tain judgment and fiery indignation, which Ihall devour me as an adverfary.j Chr. For what did you bring yourfelf into this condition f Man. * A more dreadful ftate on this fide hell cannot be. f An awful warning to profefTors. O take heed of trifling with the God of truth, and the truths of God ; he is a jealous God; jealous of his honour and glory. Yea, our God is a confuming fire. Heb. xii. 29. \ It is exceeding difficult to draw the line here, fo as not to encourage in fin, or not diftourage broken-hearted finners from entertaining hope in Chrift. Many have written the fame bitter things againd themfclves ^s here, but to whom they have in no-wife belonged. A fight of fin. a fenfe of fin, and furrow for fin, with a defire to be i'aved '\^y Jefus from all fin as well as from wrath, do really befpeak the working:-, of the grace of Chr^il in the heart. 5 Luke xi.\. 14. Heb. vi. 4 — 6. x. ^%, 49. A DREAM CONCERNING THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 85 Man. For the lufts, pleafures, and profits of this world ; in the enjoyment of which I did then pro- mife myfelf much delight : but now every one of thofe things alfo bite me and gnaw me like a burn- ing worm. Chr. But canft thou not repent and turn ? Man. God hath denied me repentance. His word gives me no encouragement to believe : yea, himfelf hath fhut me up in this iron cage ; nor can all the men in the world let me out. O eternity ! eternity ! how ihall I grapple with the mifery that I mufl meet with in eternity ? Then faid the Interpreter to Christian, Let this man's mifery be remembered by thee, and be an everlafting caution to thee. Well, faid Christian, this is fearful! God help me to w^atch and be fober, and to pray that I may ihun the caufe of this man's mifery.* Sir, is it not lime for me to go on my way now ?f Interp. Tarry, till I fhall Ihow thee one thing more, and then thou (halt go on thy way. So he took Christian by the hand again, and led him into a chamber where there was one rifing out of bed ; and as he put on his raiment he fhook and trembled. Then faid Christian, Why doth this man thus tremble ? The Interpreter then bid him tell to Christian the reafon of his fo doing. So he began and faid. This night as I was in my fleep I dreamed, and, behold the heavens grew exceeding black : alfo it thundered and lightened in mofl fearful wife, that it put me into an agony : fo I looked up in my dream, and faw the clouds rack at • Reader, thou haft conftant need to put up this prayer for thyfelf. Thou art in a body of fin, haft a nioft deceitful and defpcrately wicked heart, and ,art expofcd to the world's fnares, ajid fatan's devices. f Why in fuch hafte, Chriftian ? Poor foul, he had yet got the burden of his fins upon his back ; this urged his fpeed. He wanted ro get to the crofs, to be delivered of his burden ; but the Spirit had many things to fiiew him firft, which would be profitable to him hereafter, *' He who beiieveth ihall not make hafte," Ifaiah xxviii. 16. ' 56 TH£ DREAM CONTINUED, at an unufual rate 5 upon which I heard a great found of a trumpet, and faw alfo a man fit upon a cloud, attended with the thoufands of heaven : they were all in flaming fire, alfo the heavens were on a burning |lame. I heard then a voice faying, ' Arife ye dead, * and come to judgment ;* and with that the rocks rent, the graves opened, and the dead that were therein carne forth : ' fome of them were exceeding glad, and looked upwards : and fome fought to hide themfelves under the mountains:* then I faw the man that fat upon the cloud open the book and bid the world draw near. Yet there was, by reafon of a fierce flame which iffued out and came before him, a convenient diftance betwixt him and them, as be- twixt the judge and the prifoners at the bar.3 I heard it alfo proclaimed to them that attended on the man that fat on the cloud, ' Gather together * the tares, the chaiF, and ftubble, and caft them ^ into the burning lake :' and with that the bottom- lefs pit opened jull whereabout I flood ; out of the mouth of which there came, in an abundant manner, fmoke, and coals of fire, with hideous noifes. It was alfo faid to the fame perfons, ' Gather my wheat * into the garner.M And with that I faw many catched up and carried away into the clouds,? but I was left behind. I alfo fought to hide myfelf, but I could not, for the man that fat upon the cloud ftill kept his eye upon me : my fins alfo came in my mind, and my confcience did accufe me on every fide.^ Upon this I awaked from my fleep. Chr. But what was it that made you fo afraid of this fight ? Man. Wh^ I thought that the day of judgment was come, and that I was not ready for it j but this » John V. 28,19. J Cor. xv. 51 — cS. fc TTieff. i. 7 — 10. Jude 14,15. Rev. XX. II — 15. * Pf- '• ' — 3" 22. Ifai. xxvi. 20, 21. Mic. ■vii. 46, 17. ' ^ Dan. vii. 9, 10. Mai. iii. 2, 3. 4 Mai. iv. I. Mat. iii. 12. xiii. 30. Luke iii. 17. 5 1 Their, iv. 13 — 18. * Rom. ii. 14, 15. THE DREA51 CONTINUED* Syr ■■■■■■■ ■ ■■^■»-^ -^ ■■■ ■■■■,-, — . . .. ■ I ■ ■■■■■■■ .^ ■■■■■■ — -^ I , . this frighted me moft, that the angels gathered up feveral and left me behind; alfo the pit of helt opened her mouth juft where I flood. My confci- ence too affiifted me ;* and, as I thought, the Judge had always his eye upon me, fhowing indignation in his countenance. Then faid the Interpreter to Ghblistian^ Haft thou confidered all thefe things ? Chr. Yes ; and they put me in hope and fear.f Interp. Well, keep all things fo in thy mind that they may be as a goad in thy fides, to prick thee forward in the way thoa muft go. — Then Christian began to gird up his loins, and to addrefs himfelf to his journey. Then faid the Interpreter, The Comforter be always with thee, good Christian, to guide thee in the way that leads to the city. So Christian went on his way, faying — * Here I have feen things rare and profitable ; Things pleafant, dreadful, things to make me ftabic In what I have begun to take in hand : Then let me think on them, and underftand Wherefore they fhow'd me were ; and let me be Thankful, O good Interpreter, to thee.* * Natural men's confciences are often alarmed and terrtf ed, when tliers are no fpiritual convt(Stions ; but fuch fears and terrors foon wear away, and do not generally iffue in convcrCon. f Where there is a gofpel hope, there will be a godly fear ; both are nc- ceftary ; both are the graces of the.UoIy Spirit. Eear niak«& lu cautious 3 kope Animate) u^ CHAP. 8S chrtstian's burden falls off at the cross. CHAP. VI. fcHRISTIAN LOSES HIS BURDEN AT THE CROSS. N. OW I faw in my dream, that the highway, up which Christian was to go, was fenced on either fide with a wall, and that wall was called Salva- tion/ Up this way therefore did burthened Chris- tian run, but not without great difficulty, becaufe of the load on his back.* He ran thus till he came at a place fomewhat afcending, and upon that place ftood a Crofs^ and a little below, in the bottom, a Sepulchre, So I faw in my dream, that juft as Christian came up with the crofs, his burden loofed from off his fhoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and fo continued to do till it came to the mouth of the fepulchre, where it fell in, and I faw it no more.f Then was Christian glad and lightfome, and faid with a merry heart, ' He hath given me reft by ' his forrow, and life by his death.' Then he ftood ftill awhile to look and wonder ; for it was very furprifmg to him, that the fight of the crofs fhould thus eafe him of his burden. He looked, there- fore, and looked again, even till the fprings that were in his head fent the waters down his cheeks. * Now, as he ftood looking and weeping, behold three {hin.ing ones came to him, and faluted him with " Peace • Our uphill difBcuIties, is the way to the greateft comforts. Burdens are more felt when comforts are near at hand. f Chriftian had faith ; he believed that there was redemption in the blood of Chrift ; even forgivenefs of fins, before he came up to the crofs, but now he finds and feels the comfort of it : He has now the joy of faith j the guilt of his fins is taken off his confcience, and he is filled with joy and peace in believing. You who believe Chrift to be the only Saviour, go on believing till you experience the comfort of knowing that he is your Saviour, and feel pardon in his blood ; for when God releafes us of our guilt and bur- den, wc are as thofe that leap for joy; but you cannot have this till you come to the crofs, and reft all your hopes upon it. « Ifa. xxvi. r. 2 Zech. xli, lo. CHRISTIAN S EXULTATION. 89 " Peace be to thee :'* fo the firll faid to him, " Thy " fins be forgiven thee;'" the fecond dripped him of his rags, and clothed him with change of rai- ment ; the third alfo fet a * mark on his forehead, and gave him a roll with a feal upon it,* which he bid him look on as he ran, and that he fhould give it in at the celeftial gate; fo they went their, way. Then Christian gave three leaps for joy, and went on finging — * Thus far did I come laden with my fin. Nor could aught eafe the grief that 1 was in, T ill I came hither : what a place is this ! JNIuft htre be the beginning of my blifs ? Muft here the burden fall from off my back ? Muft here the ftrings that bind it to me crack? Bleft crofs ! bleft: fepulchre ! bleft rather be The Man that there was put to fhame for me !' * Here is the love and grace of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghoft. Pray mind j when God pardons the finncr through the blood of Chrift, he alfo clothes him with the righteoufnefs of Chrift. Thcfe who deny Chrift's righteoufnefs, never faw the purity of tiie law; their own nakediiefs, nor abhorred the filthy rag's of their own righteoufnefs, 1 The author's uniform doflrine fiif&ciently fhows, that he conlidered fpiritual apprehenfions of the nature of the atonement as the only fource of genuine peace and comfort. And as the ' mark in the forehead' plainly fjgnifies the renewal of the foul to holinefs, fo tiiat the mind of Chrift may appear in the outward condu(fl, coiineiflcd with an open profeffion of the faith, while the roll with a feal upon it, denotes fuch an alTurance of acceptance, as ap- pears moft dear and fatisfaifiory, when the believer moft attentively com- pares his views, experiences, defires and purpofes, with the holy fcriptures,^ I'o he could not poffi!)ly intend to afcribe fuch effe^fls to any other agent than the Holy Spirit, who, by enabling a man to exercife all filial alTecSions to- wards God in an enlarged degree, as the " fjiirit of adoption bears witnefs" with his confcience, that God is reconciled to him, b.aving pardoned all his fins; that he is juftified by faitli. thrmigh the blood i;f Chrift; and that he is a child of God, and an heir of heaven. Thefc things are clear and intelli- gible to thofe who have experienced this happy change. ' Mark ii. 5. ^ Zech. iii. 4. Eph. i. 13. M CHAP. 90 SIMPLE, SLOTH, AND PRESUMPTION. CHAP. VII. CHRISTIAN FINDS SIMPLE, SLOTH, AND PRESUMPTION FAST ASLEEP IS DESPISED BY FORMALIST AND HYPOCRISY ASCENDS THE HILL DIFFICULTY LOSES HIS ROLL, AND FINDS IT AGAIN. 1 SAW then in my dream, that he went on thus even until he came at the bottom, where he faw, a little out of the way, three men fad alleep, with fetters upon their heels. The name of the one was Simple, another Sloth, and the third Presump- tion.* Christian then feeing them lie in this cafe went to them, if peradventure he might awake them • and cried. You are like them that fleep on the top of a maft,^ for the dead fea is under you, a gulph that hath no bottom : awake, therefore, and come away; be willing alfo, and I will help you off with your irons. He alfo told them. If he that goeth about like a roaring lion comes by, you will cer- tainly become a prey to his teeth.-' With that, they looked upon him, and began to reply in this fort : f Simple faid, ' I fee no danger :' Sloth faid, ' Yet 'a little more fleep:* and Presumption faid, ' Every tub mufl ftand upon its own bottom.* And fo they laid down to fleep again, and Christian went on his way. Yet was he troubled to think that men in that danger fliould fo little elteem the kindnefs of him that • The Lord fhews us tlie miTery and danger of other profeflbrs, to give us warnings by the way, and to IHr us up to watchfulnefs- t There is no perfuafion will do, if God openeth not the eyes. Remem- ber all is of grace. It is God's grace tliat quickens, enlightens, converts, .luftifics, prcfcrvcs, faniSifies, and glorifies. Well may pilgrims fing every O to grace what mighty debtors. Daily, hourly, Lord, are wc .' ' Prov, X2;iii. 34. 2 , p^^^ y j?_ FORMALIST AND HYPOCRISY. 9I that fo freely offered to help them, both by the awakening of them, counfelling of them, and prof- fering to help them off with their irons.* And as he was troubled thereabout, he fpied two men come tumbling over the wall on the left-hand of the nar- row way ; and they made up apace to him. The name of the one was Formalist, and the name of the other Hypocrisy. So, as I faid, they drew up unto him, who thus entered with them into dif- courfe. Chr. Gentlemen, whence come you, and whither go you ? Form. & Hyp. We were born in the land of Vain-glory, and are going for pra'ife to mount ZiON. Chr. Why came you not in at the gate which ftandeth at the beginning of the way ? Know you not that it is written, that " He that cometh not in " by the door, but climbeth up fome other way, the " fame is a thief and a robber ?"' They faid, that to go to the gate for entrance was by all their countrymen counted too far about ; and that, therefore, their ufual way was to make a fiiort cut of it, and to climb over the wall, as they had done. Chr. But will it not be counted a trefpafs againfl the Lord of the city whither we are bound, thus tp viola'^e his revealed will ? They told him,f that, as for that, he needeth not trouble his head thereabout; for what they did, they had cuftom for ; and could produce, if need were, teflimony that would witnefs it for more than a thoufand years. M 2 But, * A chriftian fpirit feels for others dangers, and aims and ftrives to be profitable to them. f They that come into the way, but not by the door, think that they can fay fomething in vindication of their own pradlicc ' John X, I, g2 CHRISTIAN IN VAIN REASONS WITH THEM, But, faid Christian, will your praftice ftand a trial at law ? They told him, that cif/iom, it being of fo long {landing as above a thoufand years, would doubtlefs now be admitted as a thing legal by an imparfial judge : and befides, fay they, if we get into the "way, what's matter which way we get in ? If we are in, we are in : thou art but in the way, who, as we perceive, came in at the gate ; and we are alfo in the way, that came tumbhng over the wall : wherein now is thy condition better then ours ? Chr. I walk by the rule of my Mafter, you walk, by the rude working of your fancies. You are counted thieves already by the Lord of the way, therefore I doubt you will not be found true men at the end of the way. You come in by yourfelves without his direction, and fhall go out by yourfelves without his mercy.* To this they made but little anfwer ; only they bid him look to himfelf. Then I faw that they went on every man in his way, without much con- ference one with another ; fave that thefe two men told Christian, that, as to laws and ordhiances, they doubted not but they fliould as confcientioufly do them as he : therefore, faid they, we fee not wherein thou differefl: from us, but by the coat that is on thy back, which was, as we trow, given thee by fome of thy neighbours, to hide the fhame of thy nakednefs.f Chr. By laws and ordinances you will not be favedj' fince you came not in by the door. And as for * Here is the effential difference, between a real chriftian and formal hy- pocrites •, he takes the word of God fr^r the warrant of his faith, and the rule of his condudl, which they reje Ifa, xlix. JO. CHRISTIAN SLEEPS, AND LOSES HIS ROLL. 9^ to going, and from going to clambering upon his hands and his knees, becaufe of the fleepnefs of the place. Now about the midway to the top of the hill was a pleafant arbour made by the Lord of the hill for the refrefhing of weary travellers ; thither, therefore, Christian got, where alfo he fat down to refl: him : then he pulled his roll out of his bo- fom, and read therein to his comfort ; he alfo now began afrefh to take a review of the coat or gar- ment that was given him as he flood by the crofs. Thus pleafmg himfelf a while, he at laft fell into a llumber, and thence into a fad fleep, which detain- ed him in that place until it was almoft night ; and in his fleep his roll fell out of his hand.* Now, as he was fleeping, there came one to him and awaked him, faying, " Go to the ant, thou fluggard ; con- " fider her ways, and be wife."' And with that Christian fuddenly darted up, and fped him on his way, and went apace till he came to the top of the hill.f Now when he was got up to the top of the hill there came two men running to meet him amain ; the name of the one was I Timorous, and of the other Mistrust : to whom Christian faid. Sirs, what is the matter you run the wrong way ? Ti- morous anfwered, that they were groing to the city of ZioN, and had got up that dillicult place : but, faid • Happy for Chriftiati that he did not fall into the dream of Antinomian notions, fo as to Ikep in a fahe fecurity without his roll. Tlie heft: of blcf- fings, even fpiritual comforts from the God of grace, through the infecftion of our nature, (if we do not watch and uray in faith ■ are liable to be abufed, fo as to caufe us to fleep when we fliould be adive and diligent in runnint' the heavenly race, looking unto Jelus. •f The Lord loves his people, nor will he fuffer them to fleep the fleep of death, — he will, un their flirring up his gift within them, fhine upon, and revive his gracious work. \ Timorous and Millruft are great enemies to the chridian's fiiith, and bring up an evil report of his way I-ilten not to them, but look to God's truth and faithfulnefs; rely on his precious promifes, and have your ftet fliod with the goipel of peace. V/ho or what fhall iiarm ycu, ii >e be fo!lovvt:rj of that which is good. ' Prov. vi. 6, g6 MISTRUST AND TIMOROUS GO BACK, faid he, the further we go the more danger we meet with ; wherefore we turned, and are going back again. Yes, faid Mistrust, for juft before us lies a couple of lions in the way (whether fleeping or wak- ing we know not) ; and we could not think, if we came within reach, but they would prefently pull us in pieces. Then faid Christian, you make me afraid: but whither fhall I flee to be fafe ? If I go back to my own country, that is prepared for fire and brim- ftone, and I fhall certainly perifh there : if I can get to the celeftial city, I am fure to be in fafety there : * — I muft venture : — to go back is nothing but death ; to go forward is fear of death, and life ever- lafling beyond it : — I will yet go forward. So Mistrust and Timorous ran down the hill, and Christian went on his way. But thinking again of what he had heard from the men, he felt in his bofom for his roll, that he might read therein and be comforted ; but he felt and found it not. Then was Christian in great diftrefs, and knew not what to do ; for he wanted that v/hich ufed to re- lieve him, and that which fhould have been his pafs into the celeftial city. Here therefore he began to be much perplexed,| and knew not what to do. At laft he bethought himfelf that he had flept in the arbour • Chriftian fliakes off fear, by found fcriptural reafoning : even the rca- foning of faith, againft the fear of the ficfh, and miftrull or unbelief. We have always a fure word of prophefy, whereuiito we fliall do well to take heed. When dangers befet, and fears aflault, remember whofe ye are, and whom ye ferve ; look to the way you are in, and the end of your faith, even the falvation of your foul. Study the word of God and obey it. f He is perplexed for his roll: this h right. If we fuffcr fpiritiial lofs, and are eafy and unconcerned about it, it is a fure fis^n that we indulge car- nal fecurity and vain confidcirces. Many go on fo till they fink into a down- right Antinomian fpirit. O beware of this; for'many who abhor the name, yet have drunk into the fpirit of it, and hence live and walk without fpiri- tual communion with God the Father and his Son Jefus Chrift, and reft con- tented without the witnefs of the Spirit with their fpirits, thut they arc the children of God, CHRISTIAN S SORROWFUL REFLECTIONS. 97 arbour that is on the fide of the hill ; — and falling down upon his knees he afked God forgivenefs for that foolifh ad, and then went back to look for his roll. But all the way he w^ent back, who can fufficiently fet forth the forrow of Christianas heart ? Sometimes he fighed, fometimes he wept, and oftentimes he chid himfelf for being fo foolifh to fall afleep in that place, which was ereded only for a little refrefhment for his wearinefs. Thus, therefore, he went back, carefully looking on this fide and on that, all the way as he went, if happily he might find the roll that had been his comfort fo many times in his journey. He went thus till he came again in fight of the arbour where he fat and flept ; but that fighc renewed his forrow the more, by bringing again, even afrelh, his evil of lleeping unto his mind.* Thus therefore he now went on bev/ailing his finful fleep, faying, " O wretched man that I am!" that I fliould fleep in the day-time!^ that I fhould fleep in the midft of difficulty ! that I fhould fo indulge the fiefli, as to ufe that refl: for eafe to my flefli, which the Lord of the hill hath ereded only for the relief of the fpirits of pilgrims ! How many fteps have I took in vain ! Thus it hap- pened to Israel, for their fin they were fent back again by the way of the Red Sea : and I am made to tread thofe fteps with forrow, which I might have trod with c^elight, had it not been for this finful ileep. How far might I have been on my way by this time ! I am made to tread thofe fteps thrice over, which I needed to have trod but once :j yea, now N alfo • Look to your fpirits, chriftians See if you have not afcer-forrow for former indulgences. But it is far better to be crying, " O wretched man thar I am," than to be alive to carnal confidences, and dead to the tlefire of fjiiritual comforts. \ Chriiliau's perplexity, fear, forrow, remorfe, redoubled earneft-nefs, conipUints, and IcU-reproachings, when he milTcd his roll, and went back to » I Their. V, 7, 8. Rev. ii. 4, j. 98 CHRISTIAN SEEKS AND FINDS HIS ROLL. alfo I am like to be benighted, for the day is ahnoft fpent : — O that I had not flept ! Now by this time he was come to the arbour again, where for a while he fat down and wept ; but at lall (as God would have it), looking forrowfully down under the fettle, there he fpied his roll ; the which he with trembling and haflie catched up and put in his bofom. But who can tell how joyful this man was when he had gotten his roll again ? For this roll was the affurance of his life, and acceptance at the defired haven. Therefore he laid it up in his bofom, gave God thanks for directing his eye to the place where it lay, and with joy and tears betook himfelf agum to his journey.* But O how nimbly now did he go up the reft of the hill ! — Yet before he got up^ the fun went down upon Christian; and this made him again recall the vanity of his fleeping to his remembrance ; and thus he again began to con- dole with himfelf: * O thou fmful lleep ! how for ' thy fake am I like to be benighted in my journey ! ^ 1 '.null walk without the fun, darknefs muft cover ^ the path of my feet, and I muft hear the noife of * doleful creatures, becaufe of my fmful fleep !' Now alfo to feek it, exatSly fuit the experience of numbers, who, through unwatch- fnlneis, are br..ught into a ftate of uncertainty. Nothing can afford com- fort to a inind thar '.as enjoyed an affurance of the favour of God ; but ihac love, wri h i» '' better than life" : and fuch is the abundant mercy of Jeho- vah, .b .c he imparts ligl- and power to the humble foul, who, b} means of extra -rdinify diligence, with renewed application to the blood of jelus, will in time-recover his wtrranted confidence, which helo(},and God will "refl ore to him the y y of hi? falvation :" but he muO, as it were, pafs repeatedly over the fame ground with fcrrow, which had it not been for his negligence^ he might have pafied at once with comfort. " Thi- mean? a frefh ft;k- of the love and peace of Gnd, and joy in the J-Ioly Ghoft, tiirough faith in Chrift Jefus. Mind witli what alacrity ^nd fpced Pilgrim now purfues his journey. O this rich bleffing of affurance iis not enough prized, and too little foujjht for by profeffois. But how can any he content -vithout it ? It is impoflible for tiiem to be happy, and to rejoice in the Lord, withou' a real, fcriptural affurance of his love and favour. It is this which adds wings to faith, livf;|inefs to hope, joy to love, and chcar- fulnefs to obedance. Plead the precious 7>romifes : be not content without the enjoyment of the bleilings contained in them. Says our Lord, " Alk snd ye ftiall receive, that your joy may be full." Joh:i xvi. 24, THE PALACE BEAUTIFUL. 99 alfo he remembered the ftory that Mistrust and Timorous told him of, how they were frighted \vith the fight of the lions. Then faid Christian to himfelf again, Thefe beads range in the night for their prey ; and if they fhould meet with me in the dark, how (hould I (hift them ? how Ihould I efcape being by them torn in pieces ? Thus he went on. But, while he was bewailing his unhappy mifcar- riage, he lifted up his eyes ; and, behold, there was a very (lately palace before him, the name of which was Beautiful,* and it Hood by the highway fide. * Hitherto Chriftian has been a folitary pilgrim : but we muft next confider him as admitted t path is peace, and his end falvation. ■ » Hcb. si. i6. I06 PRUDENCE ASKS HIM OF HIS INWARD EXPERIENCE. a doing of that which is beft, that which is worfl is with me.* Pru. Do you not find fometimes as if thofe things were vanquifhed, which at other times are your perplexity ? Chr. Yes, but that is but feldom ; but they are to me golden hours in which fuch things happen to me. Pru. Can you remember by what means you find your annoyances at times as if they were van- quifhed? Chr. Yes : when I think on what I faw at the crofs, that will do it ; and when I look upon my embroi- dered coat, that will do it ; and when I look into the roll that I carry in my bofom, that will do it ; and when my thoughts wax warm about whither I am going, that will do it.* Pru. And what is it that makes you fo defirous to go to mount Zion ? Chr. Why, there I hope to fee him alive that did hang dead on the crofs : and there I hope to be rid of all thofe things, that to this day are in me, an annoyance to me : there they fay there is no death ;* and there I fhall dwell with fuch company as I like bed. For, to tell you the truth, I love him becaufe I was by him eafed of my burden ; and I am weary of my inward ficknefs. I would fain be where I fhall die no more, and with the company that Ihall continually cry, *' Holy, holy, holy.'*| Then faid Charity to Christian, Have you a family? are you a married man ? Chr. * Mind this. By Wieving his pardon by the blood of Chrift, the love of God to hitti, *iy the witnef> of his Spirit, and the glory of heaven to which he is going, are what llreiigthen the Chriftian's heart againft all oppofitions, f A fight of Chrift by faith, begets longing of foul to fee him in glory. A fenle of his pardoning love makes us long to be with him; a deCre of be- ing perfeclly freed from the very being nf fin, ever accompanies a true and lively faith in hini, and mauifefls that we profefs a mofl holy faith, Jude 2,0, '• I Rom. vii, * Ifa. kv. 8. Rev. xsi. 4. CHARITY INQUIRES CONCERNING HIS FAMILY. I07 Chr. I have a wife and four fmall children. Char. And why did not you bring them along with you ? Then Christian wept, and faid, Oh ! howwil- lingly w^ould I have done it ! but they were all of them utterly averfe to my going on pilgrimage.* Char. But you fhould have talked to them, and have endeavoured to have fhown them the danger of being left behind. Chr. So I did ; and told them alfo what God had fhovved to me of the deftruftion of our city ; but I feemed to them as one that mocked, and they be- lieved me not.^ Char. And did you pray to God that he would blefs your counfel to them f Chr. Yes, and that with much affedion ; for you mull think that my wife and poor children were very dear unto me. Char. But did you tell them of your own forrow, and fear of deftruction ? for 1 fuppofe that deftruc- tion was vilible enough to you. Chr. Yes, over, and over, and over. They might alfo fee my fears in my countenance, in my tears, and alfo in my trembling under the apprehenfion of the judgments that did hang over our heads ; but all was not fufficient to prevail with them to come with me. Char. But what could they fay for thernfelves why they came not .«' Chr. Why, my wife was afraid of lofmg this world ; and my children were given to the foolifh delights of youth : fo, what by one thing and what by another, they left me to wander in this manner alone. ^ O 2 Char. •f So the fpirit of a pilgrim maiiifefts itfelf, in love to thofe of his own houfe, by earnefti)' wifhinjj, driving, and praying, if by any means he can prevail ou them to flee from dcilrudion, and come to Jefu» for falvaticijt. ' Gen. £ix. 4. I08 CHRISTIAN SHOWS WHY HE CAME Al.ONE. Char. But did you not with your vain life damp all that you by words ufed by way of perfuafion to bring them away with you ?* Chr. Indeed I cannot commend my life ; for I am confcious to myfelf of many failings therein : I know alfo, that a man by his converfation may foon overthrow what by argument or perfuafion he doth labour to faflen upon others for their good. Yet this I can fay, I was very wary of giving them occa- fion, by any unfeemly a6lion, to make them averfe to going on pilgrimage. Yea, for this very thing, they would tell me I was too precife ; and that I denied myfelf of things, for their fakes, in which they faw no evil. Nay, I think, I may fay, that if what they faw in me did hinder them, it was my great tendernefs in finning againft God, or of doing any wrong to. my neighbour. Char. Indeed Cain hated his brother, " becaufe *' his own works were evil, and his brother's righ- '* teous ;**' and if thy wife and children have been offended with thee for this, they thereby fhow them- felves to be implacable to good ; and thou haft deli- vered thy foul from their blood.j* Now 1 faw in my dream, that thus they fat talk- ing together until fupper was ready. So when they had made ready, they fat down to meat \ Now the table * O foul confidcr this deeply : it is the life of a chriflian that carries more convidlion and perfuafion than his words. Though like an angel, you talk of Chrift, of the gofpel, of the dodrines of grace, and of heaven, yet if you indulge- evil tempers and live under the power of any finful lulls and paflions, you will hereby harden others againft the things of God, and prevent their fettingout in the ways of God, and are in danger of finally perilling. Study and pray to be a conftant walker in the ways of holincfs, elfe all is but windy profeflion, and airy talk. O how much harm is done to Chrifl's caufe by the unholy walk of many proftrffors! f Hence fee the necefliry of a Chriftian's giving good evidence, that he is really poffeflied of thofc graces of piety, prudence, and charity or love, Be- fore he can enjny the communion of faints. True faith in Jcfus is never alone, but is always attended with a train of chriflian graces. I This means the Lord's fupper j where chriftians in common feed on Je- •fus by faith, and dwell in contemplation, with wonder, love and praife, for what « John iii. 12. * Ezck. iii. 19. DISCOURSE ABOUT THE LORD OF THE HILL. I09 table was furnifhed with fat things, and with wine that was well refined ; and all their talk at the table was about the Lord of the hill ; as, namely, about what he had done, and wherefore he did what he did, and why he had builded that houfe ; and, by what they faid, I perceived that he had been a great warrior, and had fought with and flain him that had the power of death •,' but not without great danger to himielf ; which made me love him the more. For, as they faid, and, as I believe, faid Chris- tian, he did it with the lofs of much blood. But that which put glory of grace into all he did, was, that he did it out of pure love to his country. And befides, there were fome of them of the houfehold that faid, they had been, and fpoke with him lince he did die on the crofs ; and they have attefled, that they had it from his own lips, that he is fuch a lover of poor pilgrims, that the like is not to be found from the eaft to the weft. They, moreover, gave an inftance of what they affirmed, and that was, he had ftripped himfelf of his glory that he might do this for the poor ; and that they heard him fay and affirm, that he would not dwell in the mountain of Zion alone. They faid, moreover, that he had made many pilgrims princes, though by nature they were beggars born, and their original had been the dunghill.* Thus they difcourfed together till late at night ; and after they had committed themfelves to their Lord for protedion, they betook themfelves to reft. The pilgrim they laid in a large upper chamber, whofe window opened towards the fun-rifmg : the name of the chamber was Peace, where he flept till break of day, and then he awoke and fang — * Where what Jefus had done for them, Is in them, and is now doing for them at the right hand of God. Thus chriftians feed on him by faith, and are nouriflied up by him unto eternal life. • Heb. ii. 14, ij. * l Sam. ii. S. Pf. cxiii. 7. IIO THE CHAMBER PEACE, AND THE STUDV. * Where am I now ! Is this the love and care Of Jesus, for the men that pilgrims are Thus to provide, that I fhould Idc forgiven, And dwell already the next door to heaven !'* So in the morning they all got up ; and, after fome more difcourfe, they told him that he fhould not depart till they had fhowed him the rarities of that place. And firfl they had him into the ftudy,f where they fliowed him records of the greatefl anti- quity : in which, as I remember my dream, they fhowed him, firft, the pedigree of the Lord of the hill, that he was the Son of the Ancient-of-days, and came by that eternal generation : here alfo were more fully recorded the afts that he had done, and the names of many hundreds that he had taken into his fervice ; and how he hsd placed them in fuch habitations that could neither by length of days, nor decay of nature, be difTolved. Then they read to him fome of the worthy a6ls that fome of his fervants had done : as how they had " fubdued kingdoms, wrought righteoufnefs, " obtained promifes, flopped the mouths of lions, ** quenched the violence of fire, efcaped the edge of " the fword, out of weaknefs were made ftrong, " waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the " armies of the aliens."* Then they read again in another part of the re- cords of the houfe, where it was fliowed how wil- ling the Lord was to receive into his favour any, even any, though they in time pad had offered great affronts * A fmner cannot fleep fafely and comfortably till he has found peace with God. Rut " being juftified by faith, we have peace with God [and peace in our confciencesj through our Lord Jefus Chrift." Rom. v. i. But ali unbelievers of the grace of our Lord Jefus Chrill are under the curfe of the law, and condemnation for fin, and are at enmity againft God. f Chritl, and meditation on Chrift, on his birth, his perfon, his life, his works, his death, his atonement, righteoufnefs, and falvation are the delight of chrlftian fouls. Says David, " My meditation of him fliall be fweet : 1 will be glad in the Lord." Pfal, civ. 34. A lively chriftian cannot live wiihr out fpiritual meditation, ' Heb. xi. 33, 34. THE ARMOURY, AND ITS CURIOSITIES. Ill affronts to his perfon and proceedings. Here alfo were feveral other hiftories of many other famous things, of all which Christian had a view: as of things both ancient and modern ; together with prophecies and predictions of things that have their certain accomplifhment, both to the dread and amazement of enemies, and the comfort and folace of pilgrims. The next day they took him, and had him into the armoury,* where they fhowed him all manner of furniture which their Lord had provided for pilgrims, as fword, Ihield, helmet, bread-plate, all-prayer, and (iioes that would not wear out. And there was here enough of this to harnefs out as many men, for the fervice of their Lord, as there be ftars in the heaven for multitude. They alfo ftiowed him fome of the engines, with which fome of his fervants had done wonderful things. They fhowed him Moses's rod ; the ham- mer and nail with which Jael flew Sisera; the pitchers, trumpets, and lamps too, with which (Gideon put to flight the armies of Midian^ Then they fliowed him the ox's goad, wherewith Shamgar flew fix hundred men. They fhowed him alfo the jaw-bone with which Sampson did fuch mighty feats : they fhowed him moreover the fling and flone with which David flew Goliah of Gath ; and the fword alfo with which their Lord will kill the man of fin, in the day that he fhall rife up to the prey. They fhowed him befides many ex- cellent things with which Christian was much delighted. • The provJfion whicli is made in Chrift and his fulnefs, for maintaining and encreafing, in the hearts of his people, thofe holy dil'pofitions and affec- tions, by the vigorous exercife of which, vi*Sory is obtained over all their enemies, is here reprefented by the armoury. This fuffices for all who may feek to be fupplied from it, how many foever they be. We ought, therefore, *' to take to ourfelves the whole armour of God," and " put it on," by dili- g.ently uQng all the means of grace ; and we fliould aflift others, by our ex- hortations, counfels, example, and prayers in doing the fame. 112 CHRISTIAN SEES THE DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS. delighted.* — This done, they went to their reft again. Then I faw in my dream, that on the morrow he got up to go forwards, but they defired him to ftay till the next day alfo ; and then, faid they, we will, if the day be clear, (how you the Delectable Mountains ;f which, they faid, would yet further add to his comfort, becaufe they were nearer the defired haven than the place where at preient he was; fo he confented and ftaid. When the morn» ing was up, they had him to the top of the houfe, and bid him look fouth : fo he did ; and, behold, at a great diftance,^ he faw a moft pleafant mountain- ous country, beautified with woods, vineyards, fruits of all forts, flowers alfo, with fprings and foun- tains, very delegable to behold. Then he afked the name of the country. They faid. It was Emma- nuel's LAND ; and it is as common, fay they, as this hill is, to and for all the pilgrims. And when thou comeft there, from thence thou mayeft fee to the gate of the Celeftial City, as the fliepherds that live there will make appear. • Contemplatiors on the things of old, recorded in the word of God, u the joy and glory of faith, animate* hope, and caufeth the fouV to prefs for- Trard in the chriftian race. f The deledable mountains, as feen at a diftance, reprcfent thofe diAindt views of the privileges and confolations attainable in this life, with which believers are fometimes favoured, when attending on divine ordinances; or diligently making a fubfequent improvement of them, by means whereof, they are animated to " prefs forward toward the mark, for the prize of the " high calling of God in Chrift Jcfus." Great is the Lord our God, And let his praife be great ; He makes his churches his abode. His mofl delightful feat. Thcfe temples of his grace. How beautiful they Hand ! The honours of our native place. And bulwarks of our land. ■ Ifa. xzxiii. l6, 17. CHAP. CHRISTIAN ARMED. II3 CHAP. IX. CHRISTIAN ENTERS THE VALLEY OF HUMILIATION, WHERE HE IS FIERCELY ATTACKED BY APOLLYON, BUT OVERCOMES HIM. N^ OW Christian bethought himfelf of fettlng forward, and they were willing he fhould. But firft, faid they, let us go again into the armoury. So they did ; and when he came there, they harnefled him from head to foot with what was of proof, left per- haps he (hould meet with aifaults in the way. He being therefore thus accoutred,* walked out with his friends to the gate, and there he afked the Porter, if he faw any pilgrim pafs by ? Then the Porter anfwered, Yes. Chr. Pray did you know him ? Port. I a&ed his name, and^he told me it was Faithful. O, faid Christian, I know him; he Is my townfman, my near neighbour, he comes from the place where I was born : how far do you think he may be before ? Port. He is got by this time below the hill. Well, faid Christian, good Porter, the Lord be with thee, and add to all thy bleffings much increafe, for the kindnefs that thou haft fliowed to me. Then he began to go forward ; but Discretion, Piety, Charity, and Prudence, would accom- pany him down to the foot of the hill. So they went on together, reiterating their former difcourfes, till they came to go down the hill. Then faid Christian, As it was difficult coming up, fo, fo far as I can fee, it is dangerous going down. Yes, P faid • See what this diriftian armour Is in Ephef. vi, 13, &:c. 114 THE VALLCY OF HUMILIATION. faid Prudence, fo It is; for it is an hard matter for a man to go down into the valley of Humi- liation as thou art now, and to catch no flip by the way ; therefore, faid they, are we come out to accompany thee down the hill. So he began to go down, but very warily, yet he caught a flip or two,* Then I faw in my dream, that thefe good com- panions, when Christian was gone down to the bottom of the hill, gave him a loaf of bread, a bot- tle of \^^ine, and a clufter of raifms ; and then he went on his way. But now, in this valley of Humiliation, poor Christian was hard put to it; for he had gone but a little way, before he fpied a foul fiend coming over the field to meet him : his name is Apollyon .f Then did Christian begin "^o be afraid, and to caft in his mind whether to go back or ftand his ground. But he confidered again that he had no armour for his back, and therefore thought that to turn the back to him might give him greater ad- vantage, with eafe to pierce him with his darts ; therefore he refolved to venture, and jfland his ground : for, thought he, had I no more in mine eye than the faving of my life, it would be the befl way to fland. So he went on, and Apollyon met him. Now the monfter was hideous to behold : he was clothed with fcales like a fifli (and they are his pride) ; he had wings like a dragon, feet like a bear, and out of * Thus it is after a pilgrim has been favcnired with many fpecial and pecu- liar blefiings, there is danger of his being puffed up and exalted on account of them : fo did even holy Paul exprefs it : therefore, the meflenger of fatan was permitted to buffet him, 2 Cor. xii. 7, In our prcfent mixed ftatc, the Lord knows, it would not be beft for us always to dwell on the mount of fpi- ritual joy ; therefore, for the good of the foul, the flefii muft be humbled, and kept low, left fpiritual pride prevail. It is hard going down into the Valley of Humiliation, without flipping into murmuring and difcontent, and calling in queftion the dealings of God with us, ■f ApoUj-on fignific* tbe dijhvjer i (fee Rev. ix. Ii.) APOLLYON INTERROGATES CHRISTIAN. II5 of his belly came fire and fmoke, and his mouth was as the mouth of a lion. When he was come up to Christian, he beheld him with a difdainful countenance, and thus began to queftion with him.* Apol. Whence came you ? and whither are you bound ? Chr. I am come from the city of Destruc- tion, which is the place of ail evil, and am going to the city of Zion. Apol. By this I perceive thou art one of my fub- jefts ; for all that country is mine, and I am the prince and god of it. How is it then that thou haft run away from thy king .'' Were it not for that I hope thou mayeft do me more fervice, I would ftrike thee now at one blow to the ground. Chr. I was born indeed in your dominions, but your fervice was hard, and your wages was fuch as a man could not live on ; " for the wages of fin is " death ;'*' therefore whern I was come to years I did, as other confiderate perfons do, look out if perhaps I might mend myfelf.f Apol. There is no prince that will thus lightly lofe his fubje<5ts, neither will I as yet lofe thee ; but fmce thou complainefl of thy fervice and wages, be content to go back ; what our country will afford, I do here promife to give thee. Chr. But I have let myfelf to another, even to the king of princes ; and how can I with fairnefs go back with thee ? P 2 Apol. * Do not be terrified thoug}> you m?et fatan, and he affauUs you in the moft terrible form; but mind this, before fatan is fuffered to attack Chriftian, his Lord had provided and fitted him with armour ; the armour of God where- with he could (land his ground, conquer fatan, and repel all his fiery darts. In every conflidt with fatan, the battleis the Lord's: his llrength is eno-aged for our vidlory ; therefore fighc the good fight of faith. t All this is the effei^ of believing God's word, and the convidion which it brings to the mind of the evil of fin, of the dejilorable ftate the finner finds himfelf in, a;id of the grace and falvatiou of the Son of God. As foon as a man believes thele truths, he quits the fervice of the father of lies ; and by the faiih of the truth, he is armed to refill fatan : for it is the glory of faith to draw all its reafonings from divine truth. ' Rom, vi. aj. Il6 APOLLYON TEMPTS HIM TO GO BACK. Apol. Thou haft done in this according to the proverb, ' Change a bad for a ivorfe ;' but it is or- dinary for thofe that have profefied themfelves his fervants, after a while to give him the flip, and re- turn again to me. Do thou fo too, and all fhall be well.* Chr. I have given him my faith, and fworn my allegiance to him : how then can I go back from this, and not be hanged as a traitor ? Apol. Thou didft the fame to me, and yet I am willing to pafs by all, if now thou wilt yet turn again and go back. Chr. What I promifed thee was in my nonage ; and befides, I count that the prince under whofe banner now I ftand, is able to abfolve me ; yea, and to pardon alfo what I did as to my compliance with thee : and, befides, O thou deftroying Apol- LYON, to fpeak truth, I like his fervice, his wages, his fervants, his government, his company, and country, better than thine ; and therefore leave oflF to perfuade me further j I am his fervant, and I will follow him. Apol. Confider again, when thou art in cool blood, what thou art like to meet with in the way that thou goeft. Thou knoweft that, for the moil part, his fervants come to an ill end, becaufe they are tranfgreflbrs againft me and my ways. How many of them have been put to fhameful deaths ? — And befides, thou counteft his fervice better than mine, whereas he never came yet from the place where he is to deliver any that ferved him out of their hands : but, as for me, how many times, as all the world very well knows, have I delivered, either by power or fraud, thofe that have faithfully ferved me, ''^ Here the father of lies delivers a mod awful truth j but, like himfclf backs it with a lieing promife. Mod dreadful to think of, to fet out in the profefTiou of Jefus, and again to turn back to the fervice of fatan .' yet how common is this ! Such rejedl Chrifl's truth ; and believe the devil's lie, " that dll fhall be well." But their end is ill, and their death damnation. CHRISTIAN REFUTES HIS SUGGESTIONS. II7 me, from him and his, though taken by them : and fo I will deliver thee.* Chr. His forbearing at prefent to deliver them is on purpofe to try their love, v/hether they will cleave to him to the end : and, as for the ill end thou fayeft they come to, that is. mod glorious in their account : for, for prefent deliverance, they do not much ex- ped it ; for they ftay for their glory, and then they {hall have it, when their Prince comes in his and the glory of the angels. | Apol. Thou haft already been unfaithful in thy fervice to him ; and how doft thou think to receive wages of him ? Chr. Wherein, O Apollyon, have I been un- faithful to him ? Apol. Thou didft faint at firft fetting out, when thou waft almoft choked in the gulph of Despond ; thou didft attempt wrong ways to be rid of thy bur- den, whereas thou fhouldeft have ftayed till thy Prince had taken it off": thou didft fmfully fleep, and lofe thy choice things : thou waft alfo almoft perfuaded to go back at the fight of the lions : and when thou talkeft of thy journey, and of what thou haft heard and feen, thou art inwardly defirous of vain-glory in all that thou fayeft or doeft. | Chr. All this is true, and much more which thou haft left out : but the Prince, whom I ferve and ho- nour, is merciful and ready to forgive. But befides, thefe infirmities polfefled me in thy country : for there I fucked them in, and I have groaned under them, * Mark the many fubtle ways, and artful reafonings of fatan, to prevent pllgrimi from perfevering in the ways of the Lord. Happy for us not to be ignorant of fatan's devices. f Here is the precious reafoning of faith. Well might Paul fay, " Above all (or over all) taking the (hield of faith, wherewith ye (ball be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." Eph. vi. 16. \ Satan is jaflly fliled the accufer of the brethren of Chrift, Rev. x. 12. for he accufeth them before God, and to their own confciences. " But they overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their teftimony." Rev. xii, 1 1. namely, " that they have redemption in the blood of Chrift, even the forgivenefs of their fins." Eph. i. 7. Il8 APOLLYON WOUNDS CHRISTIAN. them, being forry for them, and have obtained par^ don of my Prince.* Then Apollyon broke out into a grievous rage, faying, I am an enemy to this Prince ; I hate his perfon, his laws, and people : I am come out on purpofe to withftand thee. Chr. Apollyon, beware what you do ; for I am in the king's high-way, the way of holinefs ; therefore take heed to yourfelf. Then Apollyon ftraddled quite over the whole breadth of the way, and faid, I am void of fear in this matter ; prepare thyfelf to die ; for I fwear by my infernal den that thou flialt go no further : here will I fpill thy foul. And with that he threw a flaming dart at his breaft ; but Christian had a Ihield in his hand, with which he caught it, and fo prevented the dan- ger of that.f Then did Christian draw; for he faw It was time to beftir him ; and Apollyon as faft made at him, throwing darts as thick as hail ; by the which, notwithftanding all that Christian could do to avoid it, J Apollyon wounded him in his head, his hand, and foot. This made Christian give a lit- tle back: Apollyon, therefore, followed his work amain, and Christian again took courage, and refifted as manfully as he could. This fore combat lafted for above half a day, even till Christian was almoft quite fpentj for you mud know, that Christian, * That IS the beft way to own fatan's charges if they be true, yea to ex- aggerate them alfo, to exalt the riches of the grace of Chrift, above all, in pardoning all of them freely. By thus humbling ourfelves, and exalting Chrift, fatan can get no advantage over us, though this will put him into a rage againft u'. f The fliield of faith : the belief of what Chrift had done for him, and in him, and what he was in Chrift, juftified and ran<5tified. This glorious confeflion of faith honours Chrift, repels and quenches all the fiery darts of fatan, and gets the vi(5tory over him. This is what Peter exhorts to, " rcfift the devil, ftedfaft in the faith," I Pet. v. 9. I Chriftian v/ounded in his underftanding, faith, and converfation. THEIR DREADFUL COMBAT. II9 Christian, by reafon of his wounds, muft needs grow weaker and weaker.* Then Apollyon, fpying his opportunity, began to gather up clofe to Christian, and wreftling with him, gave him a dreadful fall ; and with that Christian's fword flew out of his hand. Then faid Apollyon, 1 am fure of thee now : and with that he had almofl: prefled him to death ; fo that Chris- tian began to defpair of life. But, as God would have it,f while Apollyon was fetching his laft blow, thereby to make a full end of this good man. Chris- tian nimbly flretched out his hand for his fword, and caught it, faying, " Rejoice not againft me, O " mine enemy! when I fall, I fhall arife;"' and with that gave him a deadly thruft, which made him give back as one that had received his mortal wound. Christian perceiving that, made at him again, faying, " Nay, in all thefe things we are more than. ** conquerors, through him that loved us ;"* and with that Apollyon fpread forth his dragon's wings and fped him away, that Christian faw him no more. In this combat no man can imagine, unlefs he had feen and heard, as I did, what yelling and hi- deous roaring Apollyon made all the time of the fight ; he fpake like a dragon : — -and, on the other fide, what fighs and groans burll from Christian's heart. I never faw him all the while give fo much as one pleafant look, till he perceived he had wounded Apollyon with his two-edged fword j then indeed ^ he • We may think this is hard work, why fiiould a chrlftian be fo feverelf attacked by fatan ? Tlie Lord docs not give us an armour to be ufelefs, but to fight with, and prove its excellency, and in the ufe of it to experience his almighty power and unchangeable luve : for though we are weak he is al- mighty to ftreugthen us, therefore we are called upon to be " ftrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might," Epli. vi lo. f Obferve, tbic the Lord does ii'U look on as a mere fpedlator of our con- flifls, iiut he ftrengthens us in every evil day, and in every fight of faith, and brings us off at laft more than conquerors through his love. « Mic. vii. 8, » Rom, viii, 37 — 39. Jam. iv. 7. 120 christian's victory and thanksgiving. he did fmile and look upward!* But it was the dreadfullefl fight that ever I faw. So when the battle was over. Christian faid, I will here give thanks to him that hath delivered me out of the mouth of the lion, to him that did help me againft Apollyow. And fo he did ; faying, * Great Beelzebub, the captain of this fiend, Delign'd my ruin ; therefore to this end He fent him harnefs'd out j and he with rage ^ That hellifh was, did fiercely me engage? But b'eflcd Michael helped me, and I By dint of fword did quickly make him flyl Therefore to him let me give lafting praife And thanks, and blej's his holy name always.' Then there came to him an hand with fome of the leaves of the tree of life, the which Christian took and applied to the wounds that he had re- ceived in the battle, and was healed Immediately, f He alfo fat down in that place to eat bread, and to drink of that bottle that was given him a little be- fore : fo being refrefhed, he addreffed himfelf to his journey with his J fword drawn in his hand ; for he faid, I know not but fome other enemy may be at hand. But he met with no other afiront from Apollyon quite through the valley. Now at the end of this valley was another, called§ the valley of the Shadow of Death j and Chris- tian * Not a vain- glorious, but an humble, thankful fmile. He looked up and fmilingrly gave the Lord all the glory of his vidory. + No matter what wounds we get in our confiitfts with fatan, for Jefus will heal them all. But who will heal thofe which we get by complying with the devil, inftead of rcfifting him ? t Conflicts with fatan makes Chriftians wary, and value their fword, fo as to walk with the fword of the fpirit, the word of God, in their hands. As faith in that word prevails, the power of temptation declines, and the chrif- tian becomes vidorious ; yea, more than a conqueror, through the blood of Jefus. § " Many are the afflidions of the righteous :" fo Chriflian found it. He came oflF conqueror in the Valley of Humiliation ; his wounds were healed by the tree of life, and his foul rejoiced in God his Saviour. But new trials awaited hitn ; he expeded them. He beard a difmal account of the valley before DESCRIPTION OF THE VALLEY OP DEATH. 121 TiAN mufl: needs go through it, becaufe the way to the Celeftial City lay through the midft: of it. Now this valley is a very folitary place. The pro- phet Jeremiah thus defcribes it : " A wildernefs, *' a land of deferts and of pits ; a land of drought, ■" and of the Jhadow of death ; a land that no man,*' but a Chriftian, " pafleth through, and where no " man dwelt."^ Now here Christian was worfe put to it than in his fight with Afollyon ; as by the fequel you fhall fee. before him ; but as his way lay through it, no perfuaGons would flop his progrefs. The Valley of the Shadow of Death feems intended to reprefent a varia- tion of inward diftrefs, confliift and alarm, which arife from unbelief, and a fup- pofition that God has withdrawn the light of his countenance, and is accom: a- nied by manifold apprehenfions and temptations. Moft chril^ians know fome- thing of this ; but perhaps very few are acquainted with that pro- grefs, f This is the cafe with every pilgrim. From the powerful convidions which he has from above, of his ftacc and danger, he is urged by ncwlTity to flee from the wrath to come. CHRISTIAN INQUIRES CONCERNING PLIABLE. I3I Chr. And what faid the neighbours to him ? Faith. He hath fince his going back been had greatly in derifion, and that among all forts of people ; fome do mock and defpife him, and fcarce will any fet him on work. He is now feven times worfe than if he had never gone out of the city, Chr, But why fhould they be fo fet againfl him, fmce they alfo defpifed the way that he forfook ? Faith. O, they fay, ' Hang him ; he is a turn- * coat! he was not true to his profeffion :' I think God has ilirred up even his enemies to hifs at him, and make him a proverb, becaufe he hath forfakea the way.* Chr. Had you no talk with him before you came but? Faith. I met him once in the ftreets, but he leered away on the other fide, as one afliamed of ■what he had done : fo I fpake not to him.* Chr. Well, at my firft fetting out, I had hopes of that man ; but now I fear he will periih in the overthrow of the city : for " it hath happened to *' him according to the true proverb. The dog is ** turned to his vomit again ; and the fow that was " waflied, to her wallowing in the mire."* Faith. They are my fears of him too : but who can hinder that which will be ? Well, neighbour Faithful, faid Christian, let us leave him, and talk of things that more immedi- ately concern ourfclves. Tell me now what you have met with in the w^ay as you came : for I know you have niet with fome things, or elfe it may be writ for a wonder. Faith. I efcaped the flough that I perceived you fell into, and got up to the gate without that dan- R 2 ger; * Apoftates from the profeffion of Chrift cannot look his followers boldly in the face, fome convidlions will follow them, till their hearts are harden- ed, and their conlciences feared. » Jer, xxix. 18, 19. * » Pet. ii, zz. 132 FAITHFUL RELATES HOW HE MET WITH WANTON; ger;* only I met with one, whofe name was Wan- ton, that had like to have done me a mifchief. Chr. It was well you efcaped her net : Joseph was hard put to it by her, and he efcaped her as you did ; but it had like to have coft him his life. ' But what did fhe fay to you ? Faith. You cannot think, but that you know fomething, what a flattering tongue fhe had ; fhe lay at me hard to turn afide with her, promifmg me all nianner of content.-|- Chr. Nay, fhe did not promife you the content of a good confcicnce. Faith. You know that I mean all carnal and flefhly content. Chr. Thank God you have efcaped her : " the *' abhorred of the Lord fhall fall into her ditch."* Faith. Nay, I know not whether I did wholly efcape her or no.| Chr. Why, I trow you did not confent to her defires. Faith. No, not to defile myfelf ; for I remem- bered an old writing that I had feen, which faid, *' her fleps take hold on hell.*'3 So I fhut mine eyes becaufe I would not be bewitched with her looks : — then fhe railed on me, and I went my way. Chr. Did you meet with no other afTault as you came ? Faith. When I came to the foot of the hill called Difficulty, I met with a very aged man, who afked me what I was, and whether boun4 ? 1 told him * Thongh no {inner will flee from the wrath to come to Chrift for falva- tion, till the Spirit has convinced of fin, and dcfcrved wrath and deflruc- tion : yet all do not fall under the like defpondency of foul, at firft fetting out. f Fleflily lufts will plead hard, and promife fair. Happy thofe who look to the Lord for power againft them, and eye his precious promifts, that "we may efcape them . I A jealous confcience ir. grieved for temptations of the flefti to lull, and can hardly quit itfelf of guilt. This makes the cleanfing blood of Chrift c:f- ceeding precious, while the foul is funk into humility and fdf-!oathing. * Gen. xxxix. ii — 13. ^ ^rov, xzii, 14, 3 Proy, v. j. Job xxxi, » AND ASLO WITH ADAM THE FIRST. I33 him that I was a pilgrim going to the Celeflial City. Then faid the old man, Thou looked like an honeft fellow ; wilt thou be content to dwell with me, for the wages that I fhall give thee ? Then I afked him his name, and where he dwelt ? He faid. His name was Adam the first,* and that he dwelt in the town of Deceit.' I afked him then what was his work ? and what the wages he would give ? He told me, that his work was many delights ; and his wages, that I fhould be his heir at laft. I further alked what houfe he kept, and what other fervants he had ? So he told me, that his houfe was maintained with all the dainties in the world : and that his fervants were thofe of his own begetting. Then I alked how many children he had ? He faid, that he had but three daughters, " the Luji of the " Flejh^ the Liiji of the Eyes^ and the Pride of Life ; ^ and that I fhould marry them if I would. Then I afked how long time he would have me to live with him ? And he told rne, as long as he lived himfelf. Chr. Well, and what conclufion came the old man and you to at lafl ? Faith. Why, at firfl I found myfelf fomewhat inclinable to go with the man, for I thought he fpake very fair ; but looking in his forehead as I talked with him, I faw there written, " Put off the old " man with his deeds. **f Chr. And how then } Faith. Then it came burning hot into my mind, whatever he faid, and however he flattered, when he got me home to his houfe, he would fell me for a flave. So I bid him forbear to talk, for I would not come near the door of his houfe. Then he reviled me, and told me, that he would fend fuch a one • That is, original fin, and inward corruption, which has infeded our ■whole nature. f Bleffed is the man who does not confult with flelh and blood, but looki tp and obeys what is written by the Lord. J Ephef, iv- :?,, 3 I John ii. 16, 134 ESCAPED HIM WITH DIFFICULTY AND PAIN". a one after me that fhould make my way bitter to my foul. So 1 turned to go away from him ; but juft as I turned myfelf to go thence, I felt him take hold of my flefh, and gave me fuch a deadly twitch back, that I thought he had pulled part of me after himfelf :* this made me cry, O wretched man !^ — So I went on my way up the hill. Now, when 1 had got about halfway up, I looked behind me, and faw one coming after me, fwift as the wind ; fo he overtook me juft about the place •where the fettle ftands. Juft there, faid Christian, did I fit down to reft me ; but being overcome with fleep, 1 there loft this roll out of my bofom. Faith. But, good brother, hear me out : fo foon as the man overtook me, he was but a word and a blow J for down he knocked me, and laid me for dead. But when I was a little come to myfelf again, 1 afked him wherefore he ferved me fo ? He f^id, becaufe of my fecret inclining to Adam the first :f and v/ith that he ftruck me another deadly blow on the breaft, and beat me down backward - fo I lay at his foot as dead as before. When 1 came to my- felf again I cried him mercy : but he faid, I know not how to ftiow mercy ; and with that knocked me down again. He had doubtlefs made an end of mq but that one came by and bid him forbear, Chr. Who was it that bid him forbear ? Faith. I did not know him at firft, but ^s he went * Though original fin is hard to be borne, it is good to be fenfible of its evil. Though it makes us cry, " O wretched !" yet it tends to keep up a fenfe of our want of Chrift, and of the worth of him, and that nothing lefs than being delivered by the blood of Chrift, will perfe<5l our falvation. f This is afterwards explained to be Mofes, or the law of God. I'hink not that the law reacheth only to outward anions : nay, but it reacheth to the thoughts and intents of the heart, (t knocks a man's hopes down, and curfes him to death, even only for fecret inclining to fin. So ftridt, fo fpi- xitual, fo pure, is the holy law of God. Hence none but felf-iighteous, vaiii- giorious fouls can place the leall confidence in their obedience to the law, Mark vlil. 38 . HAD SUN-SHINE THROUGH THE VALLEYS. I 39 himfelf audacious, he would never attempt to do as he does : but let us ftill refill him; for, notwith- flanding all his bravadoes, he promoteth the fool, and none elfe. *' The wife fhall inherit glory," faid Solomon ; " but fliame fhall be the promotion of " fools."' Faith. I think we mufl cry to Him, for help againfl Shame, that would have us be valiant for truth upon the earth. Chr. You fay true : but did you meet nobody elfe in that valley ? Faith. No, not I; for I had fun-ihine all the reft of the way through that, and ahb through the valley of the Shadow of Death. Chr. It was well for you ; I am fure it fared far otherwife with me : I had for a long feafon, as foon. as almoft I entered into that valley, a dreadful combat with that foul fiend Apollyon ; yea, I thought verily he would have killed me, efpecially when he got me down, and crufhed me under him, as if he would have crufhed me to pieces : for as he threw me, my fword flew out of my hand ; nay, he told me he was fure of me ; but I cried to God, and he heard me, and delivered me out of all my troubles. Then I entered into the valley of the Shadow of Death, and had no light for almofl half the way through it. I thought I fhould have been killed there over and over : but at laft day brake, and the fun rofe, and I went through that which was behind with far more eafe and quiet. to call us, Brethren, Heb. ii. ri. Alas; we are prone to be afhamed of Chrill, of his words, and of his ways, which fhould be our greateft glory. O let us cry for more boldnefs for Chrift, our beft friend, that (hame may hide his pitiful hand, and fkulk away from us as our greateft enemy. Afham'd of Jefus ! yes we may When we've no fin to wa{h away. No tears to wipe, no joys to crave, Or no immortal ioul to fave. » Prov. iii. 35, S3 CHAP. 140 THEY OVERTAKE TALKATIVE : HIS CHAP. xir. THE PICTURE OF AN EMPTY PROFESSOR ACCURATELV DRAWN, IN THE CHARACTER OF TALKATIVE, SON OF MR. SAY-WELL OF PRATING-ROW. M. .ORE OVER I faw in my dream, that, as they went on, Faithful, as he chanced to look on one fide, faw a man, whofe name is Talkative, walking at a diftance befides them ;* for in this place there was room enough for them all to walk. He was a tall man, and fomething more comely at a diftance than at hand. To this man Faithful ad- drefled himfelf in this manner : Friend, whither away ? are you going to the hea- venly country ? Talk. I am going to the fame place. Faith. That is well ; then I hope we may have your good company. Talk. With a very good will, will I be your companion. Faith. Come on then, and let us go together, and let us fpend our time in difcourfing of things that are profitable. Talk. To talk of things that are good, to me is very acceptable, with you Or with any other ; and I am glad that I have met with thofe that incline to fo good a work ; for, to fpeak the truth, there are but few that care thus to fpend their time as they are in their travels ; but choofe much rather to be fpeaking of things to no profit : and this hath been a trouble to me. Faith. That is indeed a thing to be lamented : for what thing fo worthy of the ufe of the tongue and • There is a great difference between having notions in the head, anJ being able to talk of dodlrines of grace, and experiencing the grace and power of thofc dodrines in the heart. Look Co yourfslves, 2 John 8. PLAUSIBLE CONVERSATION WITH FAITHFUL. I4I and mouth of men on earth, as are the things of the God of heaven ? Talk. I like you wonderful well, for your fay- ings are full of conviction : — and, I will add, what things are fo pleafant, and what fo profitable, as to talk of the things of God ? What things fo pleafant ? that is, if a man hath any delight in things that are wonderful : for in- ftance, if a man doth delight to talk of the hiflory or the myftery of things ; or if a man doth love to talk of miracles, wonders, or figns, — where (hall he find things recorded fo delightful, and fo fweetly penned, as in the holy fcripture ? Faith.- That*s true : but to be profited by fuch things in our talk be our chief defign. Talk. That is it that I faid ; for to talk of fuch things is moil profitable : for by fo doing a man may get knowledge of many things ; as, of the vanity of earthly things, and the benefit of things above. Thus in general ; but more particularly, by this a man may learn the neceflity of the new birth ; the infufficiency of our works; the need of Christ's righteoufnefs, &c. Befides, by this a man may learn what it is to repent, to believe, to pray, to fuffer, or the like ; by this alfo a man may learn what are the great promifes and confolations of the gofpel, to his own comfort. Further, by this a man may learn to refute falfe opinions^ to vindicate the truth, and alfo to inftrud the ignorant.* Faith. All this is true, and glad am I to hear thefe things from you. Talk, Alas ! the want of this is the caufe that fo few underftand the need of faith, and the necef- fity of a work of grace in their foul, in order to eternal * Is not here the very ftandard of orthodoxy ? Hence obferve, a meer profeffor may learn, like a parrot, to talk of found docftrines, and may have a found judgment concerning them ; while his heart is rotten, as to any experience of them, love to rhem, and the power and influence of them upon his affeiSions and his life. Many own Chrifl for their mailer new. whom as their judge he will condemn hereafter. 142 KAITHPr L BEGUILED BY TALKATIVR:. eternal life ; but ignorantly live in the works of the law, by the which a man can by no means obtain the kingdom of heaven. Faith. But, by your leave, heavenly knowlege of thefe is the gift of God ; no man attaineth to them by human induflry, or only by the talk of them. Talk. All that I know very well : for a man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven j all is of grace, not of works : I could give you an hundred fcriptures for the confirmation of this. Well then, faid Faithful, what is that one thing that we fliall at this time found our difcourfe upon ? Talk. What you will : I will talk of things hea- venly or things earthly ; things moral or things evan- gelical ; things facred or things profane ; things pad or things to come ; things foreign or things at home ; things more eflential or things circumftantial j pro- vided that all be done to our profit. Now did Faithful begin to wonder; and flep- ping to Christian (for he walked all this while by himfelf) he faid to him, but foftly. What a brave companion have we got ! furely this man will make a very excellent pilgrim. At this Christian modeflly fmiled, and faid. This man, with whom you are fo taken, will beguile with this tongue of his, twenty of them who know him not. Faith. Do you know him then ? Chr. Know him ! yes, better than he knows him- felf. Faith. Pray what is he.? Chr. His name is Talkative; he dwelleth in our town ; I wonder that you fhould be a ftranger to him ; only I confider that our town is large. Faith. Whofe fon is he ? and whereabouts doth he dwell ? Chr. Christian knows and exposes him. 143 Chr. He is the fon of one Say-well, he dwelt in Prating-row ; and is known, of all that are acquainted with him, by the name of Talkative in Prating-row ; and, notwithflanding his fine tongue, he is but a forry fellow.* Faith, Well, he feems to be a very pretty man, Chr. That is, to them that have not a thorough acquaintance with him ; for he is beft abroad, near home he is ugly enough : your faying, that he is a pretty man, brings to my mind what 1 have obferved in the work of the painter, whofe pidlures (how bed at a diftance, but very near, more unpleafing. Faith. I am ready to think you do but jeft, be-^ caufe you fmiled. Chr. God forbid that I fhould jeft (though I fmil- ed) in this matter, or that I fliould accufe any falfely. — I will give you a further difcovery of him : this man is for any company, and for any talk ; as he talketh now with you, fo will he talk when he is on the ale-bench ; and the more drink he hath in his crown, the more of thefe things he hath in his mouth: religion hath no place in his heart, or houfe, or converfation ; all he hath lieth in his tongue, and his religion is to make a noife therewith. f Faith. Say you fo .? then 1 am in this man great- ly deceived. Chr. Deceived ! you may be fure of it : remem» ber the proverb, " They fay, and do not :" but " the " kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.*** He talketh of prayer, of repentance, of faith, and of the new-birth j but he knows but only to talk of them, • Are we not forliid to fpeak evil of any roan ? Titus iil. a. Is not Chriflian guilty of this ? No ; for where the glory of God, and honour of the gofpel is at flake, and there is danger of a brother's being deceived by a meer talkative, loofe, wicked profefTor, here it is right, and the nature of things require it, that we fhould detedl and expofe fuch in a becoming fpirit. f Such profeffors there are now, as there always were. The blefTed caufe is wounded by them, and the moft glorious truths through them are brought in contempt. There is more hurt to be got by. them, than from the utterly ignorant and profane. Shun and avoid luch. ' Matt, xxiil. 3, 1 Cor. iv. ao. 144 TALKATIVE S TRUE CHARACTER. them. I have been in his family, and have obferv- ed him both at home and abroad ; and I know what 1 fay of him is the truth. His houfe is as empty of religion as the white of an egg is of favour. There is there neither prayer, nor fign of repentance for fin ; yea, the brute, in his kind, ferves God far better than he. He is the very flain, reproach, and • fhame, of religion, to all that know him :' it can hardly have a good word in all that end of the town where he dwells, through him. Thus fay the com- mon people that know him, — ' A faint abroad, and ' a devil at home.' His poor family finds it fo : he is fuch a churl, fuch a railer at, and fo unreafon- able with his fervants, that they neither know how to do for, or fpeak to him. Men that have any dealings with him fay it is better to deal with a Turk than with him ; for fairer dealings they fhall have at his hands. This Talkative, if it be- pof- fible, will go^ beyond them, defraud, beguile, and over-reach them. Befides, he brings up his fons to follow his fleps ; and if he finds in any of them a ' foolijh timoroufnefs* (for fo he calls the firfl ap- pearance of a tender confcience), he calls them fools and blockheads, and by no means will employ them in much, or fpeak to their commendations before others. For my part, I am of opinion that he has by his wicked life caufed many to {tumble and fall J and will be, if Qod prevents not, the ruin of many more.* Faith. Well, my brother, I am bound to believe you 5 not only becaufe you fay you know him, but alfo * Read this and tremble, ye whofe profeflioii lies only on your tongue, but who never experienced the love and grace of Chrift in your fouls, O Ai(',. how do you trifle with the grace of God, and with the holy word of truth ! O what an awful account have you to give hereafter to a holy, heart-fearch- 5ng God ! Ye true pilgrims of Jefus, read this, and give glory to your Lord, for faving you from retting in barren notions, and taking up with talking of truths ; and that he has given you to know the truth in its power, to em- brace it in your heart, and to live and walk under itsfandlifying influencea. Who made you to differ ? « Pvom. ii. J 3, 24, PIFFERENCE BETWEEN SAYING AND DOING. I45 alfo becaufe like a chriftian you make your reports of men. For I cannot think that you fpeak thofe things of ill-will, but becaufe it is even fo as you fay. Chr. Had I known him no more than you, I might perhaps have thought of him as at the firfl you did : yea, had he received this report at their hands only, that are enemies to religion, I fhould have thought it had been a (lander (a lot that often falls from bad men's mouths, upon good men's names and profeffions) : but all thefe things, yea, and a great many more as bad, of my own know- ledge, I can prove him guilty of. Befides, good men are afhamed of him ; they can neither call him brother nor friend : the very naming of him among them, makes them blufli, if they know him. Faith. Well, I fee th^it /ay ing and doing are two things, and hereafter I fiiall better obferve this dif- tindion. Chr. They are two things indeed, and are as diverfe as are the foul and the body ; for, as the body without the foul is but a dead carcafe, io fay- ing, if it be alone, is but a dead carcafe alfo. The foul of religion is the pradic part : " pure religion ** and undefiled, before God and the Father, is *' this : to vifit the fatherlefs and widows in their " affliftion, aiid to keep himfelf unfpotted from '* the world."' This Talkative is not aware of; he thinks that hearing 2ind faying will make a good chriftian ; and thus he deceiveth his own foul. Hearing is but as the fowing of the feed ; talking is not fufficient to prove that fruit is indeed in the heart and life : and let us alTure ourfelves that at the day of doom men fhall be judged according to their fruits :* it will not be faid then, ' Did you be- * lieve?' but, ' Were you doers, or talkers only V*' T and * Though fiimers are redeemed, and their fins wafhed away by the hloocj of Chrift — iho' by faith they are fully juftified, tho' the gift of God is eter- nal I Jamei i, 01 — a;. « Matt. xiii. 23. 146 MERE TALKERS, UNCLEAN". and accordingly fhall they be judged. The end of the world is compared to our harveil ; and you know men at harveft regard nothing but fruit. Not that any thing can be accepted that is not of faith ; but I fpeak this to fliow you how infignificant the pro- feflion of Talkative will be at that day. Faith. This brings to my mind that of Moses, by which he defcribed the beaft that is clean': — he is fuch an one that parteth the hoof, and chew- eth the cud ; not that parteth the hoof only, or that cheweth the cud only. The hare cheweth the cud, but yet is unclean, becaufe he parteth not the hoof. iVnd this truly refemblcth Talkative ; he chew- eth the cud, he feeketh knowledge ! he cheweth upon the word ; but he divideth not the hoof, he parteth not with the way of fmners ; but, as the hare, he retaineth the foot of a dog or bear, and therefore he is unclean. Chr. You have fpoken, for aught I know, the true gofpel fenfe of thofe texts. And I will add another thing : Paul calleth fome men, yea, and thofe great talkers too, " founding brafs and tink- *' ling cymbals ;** that is, as he expounds them in another place, " things without life giving found." * " Things without life ;'* that is, without the true faith and grace of the gofpel ; and confequently things that fhall never be placed ii\ the kingdom of heaven among thofe that are the children of life, though their found, by their talk, be as it were the tongue or voice of an angel. Faith. Weil, I was not fo fond of his company at firit, but am as fick of it now. What ftiall we do to be rid of him ? Chr. nal life, thro' Jcfus Chrift : yet none are partakers of thefe invaluable blefliiigs, but thofe who have living faith in Chrift. And rhis faith, %vhifh is the ^ift of God, mauifefts itfclt by its obi-diente to the will of God, and in bringing forth fruits to the glory of God. Therefore, let no one deceive himfclf : for faith without works is de.ad, and a dead fuith ne- ver begets living hope upon a rifen Saviour ; nor will it avail, when he (hall appear as the judge. 1 Lev. si, Dcut. xiv, * Cor. xiii. i — 3. xiv. 7. FAITHFUL S QUESTION TO TALKATIVE. I47 Chr. Take my advice and do as I bid you, and you fhall find that he will foon be fick of your company too, except God ihall touch his heart and turn it. Faith. What would you have me to do? Chr. Why, go to him, and enter into feme fe- rious difcourfe about the power of religion ; and afk him plainly, vi'hen he has approved of it (for that he willj, whether this thing be fet up in his heart, houfe, or converfation ?* Then Faithful ftepped forward again, and faid to Talk ATI vEj Come, what ch.eer ? how is it now ? Talk. Thank you, well ; I thought we fhould. have had a great deal of talk by this time. Faith. Well, if you will, we will fall to it now; and fmce you left it with me to Hiate the que*Hon, let it be this : How doth the faving grace of God difcover itfelf when it is in the heart of man? Talk. I perceive, then, that our talk muft be about the power of things : well, it is a very good queftion, and I fhall be willing to anfwer you : and take my anfwer in brief thus : — firft, where the grace of God is in the heart, it caufeth there a great outcry againfl: fin. — Secondly, — Faith. Nay, hold, let us confider of one at once : I think you fhould rather fay. It fhows lefelf by inclining the foul to abhor its fm. Talk. Why, what difference is there between crying out againft, and abhorring of, fni ? Faith. Oh ! a great deaL A man may cry out againfl fin, of policy, but he cannot abhor it, but by virtue of a godly antipathy againft it : I have heard T 2 maily * Without this, all is empty notion, mere found, and unavailing pro- felfion Men only take up fancy for faith ; the Jorni of godlinef-. inftead ui the poxver : and the old nature is dreffed up in the fpecious appearance of new pretenfioiis. True faith will ever fhew itfelf by its fruits : :i real converfion, by the life and converfation. Be not deceived : God !■• nop mocked with the tongue, if the heart is not right towards him in love and obedience. 148 FAITHFUL REFUTES TALKATIVE ; many cry out againfl: fin in the pulpit, who yet can abide it well enough in the heart, houfe, and con- verfation. Joseph's miftrefs cried wi^h a loud voice, as if Ihe had been very holy ; but (he would wil- lingly, notwithftanding that, have committed un- cleannefs with him'. Some cry out againft fm, even as the mother cries out againft her child in her lap, when fhe calleth it flut, and naughty girl, and then falls to hugging and kiffing it. Talk. You lie at the carch, I perceive. Faith. No, not I ; I am only for fetting things right. But what is the fecond thing whereby you will prove a difcovery of a work of grace in the heart ? Talk. Great knowledge of gofpel myfteries. Faith. This fign fnould have been firft : but, firft or iaft, it is alfo falfe ; for knowledge, great knowledge, may be obtained in the myfleries of the gofpel, and yet no work of grace in the foul. ^ Yea, if a man have all knowledge, he may yet be nothing, and fo confequently be no child of God. When Christ faid, " Do ye know all thefe things?" and the dlfciples had anfwered, Yes, — he added, " BlefTed are ye, if ye do them.** He doth not lay the bleffing in the knowing of them, but in the doing of them. For there is a knowledge that is not attended with doing : " he that knoweth his " mafter's will, and doeth it not.** A man may know like an angel, and yet be no chriftian : there- fore your fign of it Is not true. Indeed, to ktww, is a thing that pleafeth talkers and boafters ; but to do^ is that which pleafeth God. Not that the heart can be good without knowledge ; for without that the he?irt is naught. "J'here are therefore two forts of knowledge : knowledge that refteth in the bare fpeculation of things, and knowledge that is accom- panied with the grace of faith and love ; which puts ^ man upon doing even the will of God from the heart : ' Gen. xxxix. Ii — ij, * I Cor. xiii. AND SHEWS THE SIGNS OP A WORK OF GRACE. I49 heart : the firft of thefe will ferve the talker ; but without the other, the true chriftian is not content : " Give me underftanding, and I (hall keep thy law j " yea, I (hall obferve it wirh my whole heart.**' Talk. You lie at the catch again ; this is not for edification. Faith. Well, if you pleafe, propound another fign how this work of grace difcovereth itfelf where it is. Talk. Not I ; for I fee we (hall not agree. Faith. Well, if you will not, will you give me leave to do it ? Talk. You may ufe your liberty. Faith. A work of grace in the foul difcovereth Itfelf, either to him that hath it, or to (landers by. To hjm that hath it, thus : it gives him convic- tion of fm, efpecially of the defilement of his na- ture, and the fin of unbelief, for the fake of which, he is fure to be damned, if he findeth not mercy at God's hand, by faith in Jej-us Christ.* This fight and fenfe of things worketh in him forrow and fliame for fin ; he findeth, moreover, revealed in him the Saviour of the world, and the abfolute ne- cefiity of clofing with him for life ; at the which he findeth hungerings and thirftings after him ; to which hungerings, &c. the promife is made. 3 Now according to the (Irength or weaknefs of his faith in his Saviour, fo is his joy and peace, fo is his love to holinefs, fo are his defires to know him more, and alfo to ferve him in this world. But though, I fay, it difcovereth itfelf thus unto him, yet it is but feldom that he is able to conclude, that this is a work of grace ; becaufe his corruptions now, and his abufed reafon, make his mind to misjudge in this matter : therefore in him that hath this work, there is required a very found judgment, before he can ' Pfal. cxix. 34. * Mark xvi. x6. John xvi. 8, 9. Rom. vil, 24, 3 Vs. xxxviii. 18. Jer. xxxi. ip. Matt, v, 6. Ads iv. i%. Gal, i. ij, 16. P.iV. XX!. 6. 150 APPLIES THEM TO TALK ATI Ve's CONSCIENCE, can with fteadinefs conclude that this is a work of grace. To others it is thus dlfcovered : — i. By an expe- rimental confeflion of his faith in Christ. — 2. By a life anfvverable to that confeflion ; to wit, a life of holinefs ; heart-holinefs, family-holinefs (if he hath a family), and by converfation-holinefs in the world ; which in the general teacheth him inwardly to abhor his fm, and himfelf for that, in fecret ; to fupprefs it in his family, and to promote holinefs in the world ; not by talk only, as an hypocrite or talkative perfon may do, but by a pradical fubjec- tion in faith and love to the power of the word.*' And now. Sir, as to this brief defcription of the work of grace, and alfo the difcovery of it, if you have aught to obje£t, objed ; if not, then give me leave to propound to you a fecond queilion. Talk. Nay, my part is not now to obje£l, but to hear : let me therefore have your fecond queflion. Faith. It is this: Do you experience this firfl part of the defcription of it ; and doth your life and converfation teftify the fame ? or ftandeth your religion in word or tongue^ and not in deed2iw6. truth ? Pray, if you incline to anfwer me in this, fay no more than you know the God above will fay Amen to ; and alio nothing but what your confcience can juftify you in : " for not he that commendeth him- " feif is approved, but whom the Lord commend- " eth." Befides, to fay I am thus and thus, when my converfation, and all my neighbours tell me I lie, is great wickednefs.f Then • This, and tliii only, is what will evidence that we are real difciplcB of Chrjft, nonour his name and his truths, and recommend his religion in the world. Without this power of godlineis, we have only a name to live, while we are dead to the power of the gofpcl. Examine yourfeii : loolc to yvyw ways. f Blcflcd fiiirhful dealing! O that it was more praAifed in the world and in the church' How then would vain talkers be deteded in the one, and driven out of the other ! I Ps. 1. aj. Ezek. x^. 43. Matt, v. 8. John xiv. 15. Rom. %. 0, 10. Phil iii 17.— 20. WHO DEPARTS OFFENDED* I5I Then Talkative at firft began to blufii ; but, recovering himfelf, thus he replied : You come now to experience, to confcience, and God ; and to ap- peal to him for juftification of what is fpoken : this kind of difcourfe I did not expeft ; nor am I difpofed to give an anfwcr to fuch queftions : becaufe I count not myfelf bound thereto, unlefs you take upon you to be a catechizer ; and though you (hould fo do, yet I may refufe to make you my judge. But I pray, will you tell me why you aik me fuch queftions ?* Faith. Becaufe I faw you forward to talk, and becaufe I knew not that you had aught elfe but no- tion. Befides, to tell you all the truth, I have heard of you, that you are a man whofe religion, lies in talk, and that your converfation gives this your profefTion the lie. They fay you are a fpot among chriftians ; and that religion fareth the worfe for your ungodly converfation ; that fome already have ftumbled at your wicked ways, and that more are in danger of being deftroyed thereby ; your re- ligion and an ale-houfe, and covetoufnefs, and un- cleannefs, and fwearing, and lying, and vain com- pany-keeping, &c. will ftand together. The pro- verb is true of you, which is faid of a whore, to wit, that * (he is a fhame to all women j* fo you are a fliame to all profeflbrs. Talk. Since you are ready to take up reports, and to judge fo ralhly as you do, I cannot but con- clude you are fome peevifli or melancholic man, not fit to be difcourfed with : — and fo, adieu.-j- Then came up Christian, and faid to his bro- ther, I told you how it would happen ; your words and his lults could not agree. He had rather leave your • Heart-fearching, foul-examining, and clofe-queftioning of the conduA of life, will not Jo with talkative profefTors. Ring a peal on the dodrines of grace, and many will chime in with you ; Lut fpeak clofely how grace operates upon the heart, and influences the life to follow Chrift in felf-de- nying obedience, they cannot bear it ; they are offended with you, and will turn away from you, and call you legal. t Where the heart is rotten, it will ward off conviiflion, turn from a faithful reprover, condemn him, and juftify itfelf. Faithful dealing will not do for uufaichful fouls. Mind not that, but be faithful to the truth. 152 CONVERSATION- RELATIVE TO TALKATIVE. your company than reform his life ; but he is gone, as I faid : let him go, the lofs is no man's but his own : he has faved us the trouble of going from him ; for he continuing (as I fuppofe he will do) as he is, he would have been but a blot in your com- pany : befides the apoftle fays, " From fuch with- " draw thyfelf.'* Faith. But I am glad we had this little difcourfe Vith him ; it may happen that he will think of it again t however, I have dealt plainly with him, and fo am clear of his blood if he perifheth.* Chr. You did well to talk fo plainly to him as you did ; there is but little of this faithful dealing with men now-a-days, and that makes religion to flink fo in the noftrik of many as it doth : for they are thefe talkative fools, whofe religion is only in words, and are debauched and vain in their conver- fation, that, being fo much admitted into the fel- lowfliip of the godly, do puzzle the world, blemifii chriftianity, and grieve the fincere. I wi(h that all men would deal with fuch as you have done ; then fhould they be either made more conformable to religion, or the company of faints would be too hot for them. Then did Faithful fay — « How Talkative at firft lifts up his plumes I How bravely doth he fpeak ! How he prefumes To drive down all before him ! But fo foon As Faithful talks of heart- work, like the moor* That's part the full, into the wane he goes ; And fo will all but he that heart- work knows Thus they went on talking of what they had feen by the way, and fo made that way eafy which would otherwife no doubt have been tedious to them : for now they went through a wildernefs.f * Mind this. Thefe are right principles to a6l from, and right ends to Tiave in view, in faiihfal reproving, or aiming to convivhere fuch wares are vended, fo here likewife you have the proper places, ^ows, flreets, (viz. coun- tries and kingdom'sj, where the wares of this fair are fooneft to be found. Here is the Britain row, the French row, the^^lTALiAN row, the Spanish row, the German row, where feveral forts of vani- ties are to be fold. But as in other fairs fome one commodity is as the chief of all the fair, fo the v/are oi Rome and her merchandife is greatly promoted in this fair: only our English nation, with fome ethers, have taken a dillike thereat.* Now, as I faid, the way to the Celeftial City lies jufl: through the town where this lufty fair is kept ; and he that will go to the city, and yet not go through this town, " muft needs go out of the *' world.'* The Prince of Princes himfelf, when here, went through this town to his own country, and that upon a fair-day too : yea, and as I think' it was Beelzebub, the chief lord of this fair, that invited him to buy of his vanities ; yea, would have made him lord of the fair, would he but have done him reverence as he went through the town : yea, becaufe he was fuch a perfon of honour, Beel- zebub had had him from ffreet to ftreet, and fhowed him all the kingdoms of the world in a little time, that he might, if poflible, allure that BlefTed One,' to cheapen and buy fome of his vanities ; but he had no mind to the merchandife, and therefore left the town without laying out fo much as one farthino- upon thefe vanities.^ This fair, therefore, is an aru cient thing, of long fcanding, and a very great fair. Now thefe pilgrims, as I faid, mufl needs go through this fair. Well, fo they did; but, behold, even * The dcdlrine of the church of Rome. It is Jtuich to be wiflied that the vile prdumption of man's bartering with God, and purchafin? a title to heaven, by his performing terms and conditions of falvation, mcritine heaven by his good works, and procuring juftificatinn by his own obedi ence, to the exalting his pride, and the debafing the work and eiorv (H Chnil, was totally rejedcd by us. But aias ! thefe proud, unfcnptural no- tions too much prevail. f , _ * Matt, iv, 8, 9. Luke iv. 5—7. k I53 A HUBBUB IN THE FAIR, even as they entered into the fair, all the people in the fair were moved, and the town itfelf, as it were, in a hubbub about them ; and that for feveral lea- fons : for, Firft, The pilgrims were clothed with fuch kind of raiment, as was diverfe from the raiment of any that traded in that fair. The people, therefore, of the fair, made a great gazing upon them : fome faid they were fools;' fome, they were bedlams j and fome, they were outlandifh men. Secondly, And, as they wondered at their apparel, fo they did likewife at their fpeech ; for few could vinderftand what they faid : they naturally fpoke the language of Canaan; but they that kept the fair, were t^e men of this world : fo that from one end of the fair to the other, they feemed barbarians each to the other. Thirdly, But that which did not a little amufe the merchandifers was, that thefe pilgrims fet very light by all their wares : they cared not fo much as to look upon them : and if they called upon them to buy, they would put their fingers in their ears, and cry, " Turn away mine eyes from beholding va- nity ;"* and look upwards, fignifying, that their trade and traffic was in heaven. One chanced, mockingly, beholding the carriages of the men, to fay unto them, ' What will ye buy ?' but they looking gravely upon him, faid. We " buy " the truth. "*3 At that, there was an occafion taken to * An oJd rrply. What Jo they mean ? That they are neither afraid nor aihamcd to own, what wao the one ohjecft of their fouls purfuit, Tlie Truth. Underftand hereby, that the whole world, which lieth in wicked- uefs, fuffer themfelves to be deceived by a lye, and are under the delulion of the father of lies. In oppofition to this, all believers in Chrifl are faid to be of the truth, i John iii. 19. They know and believe that capital truth with which God fpeak from heaven. " This is my beloved fon, in whom " 1 am well pleai'ed. Matt. iii. 1 7. T his truth — that Jefus is the fon of God, and our only Saviour — he* at the foundatidn of all their hope ; and to get more and m.ore acquainted with him, is the grand objeiil of their purfuit. For this, the world hates them ; and fatan, who is an enemy to this rruth, ftirs up the world againft them. " For (fays our Lord) they are not of the " world, even as I am not of the world." John xvii. i6. » 1 Cor. iv. 9, 10. = Pf. csix. 37. 3 Prov. sxiii. a?. THE pilgrim's APPREHENDED, AND EXAMINED. I59 to defpife the men the more : fome mocking, fome taunting, fome fpeaking reproachfully, and fome calling upon others to fmite them. At lafl, things came to a hubbub and great flir in the fair, info- much that all order was confounded. Now was word prefently brought to the great one of the fair, who quickly came down, and deputed fome of his moil trufty friends to take thofe men into examina- tion, about whom the fair was almofl: overturned. So the men were brought to examination ; and they that fat upon them, afked them whence they came, whither they went, and what they did there in fuch an unufual garb ? fhe men told them that they were pilgrims and itrangers in the world j and that they were going to their own country, which was the heavenly Jerusalem ;* and that they had given no occafion to the men of the tov/n, nor yet to the merchandifers, thus to abufe them, and to flop them in their journey : except it was for that, when one a{ked them what they would buy, they faid they would buy the truth. — But they that were appointed to examine them, did not believe them to be any other than bedlams and mad, or elfe fuch as came to put all things into a contuiion in the fair. There- fore they took them and beat them, and befmeared ihem with dirt, and then put them into the cage, that they might be made a fpedacle to all the men of the fair.* Therefore they lay for fome time, and were made the objefts of any man's fport, or ma- lice, or revenge ; the great one of the fair laughing ilill at all that befel them. But, the men being pa- tient, and " not rendering railing for railing, but *' contrariwife • If we poITefs nothing to diflinguilh us from the reft of the world, which iieth in wickednefs, and for which they will hate and defpife us, we have no reafoii to conclude that we are new creatures in Chrift Jefus. If we are ChrittN, we muft become fools for Chrift, and be counted as mad, by thofe who know not Chrill ; for, if alive to Chrift, we Iliall be crucified to the world. " Woe be utito you, if all men fpeak well of you," faith Chrilt, Luke -vi. i6. , « Heb. xi. 13—16, l6o THEIR CONFINEMENT AND M£EIC BEHAVIOUR. *' contrariwife bleffing," and giving good words for bad, and kindnefs for injuries Ane, fome men in the fair, that were more obferving and lefs preju- diced than the reft, began to check and blame the baferfort, for their continual a,bufes done by them to the men : they therefore in angry manner let fly at them' again, counting them as bad as the men in the cage, and telling them, that they feemed confede- rates, and fhould be made partakers* of iheir misfor- tune. The others replied, that, for aught they could fee, the men were quiet and fober, and intended nobody any harm : and that there were many that traded in their fair, that were more worthy to be put into the cage, yea, and pillory too, than were the men that they had abufed. Thus after divers word$ had pafied on both fides (the men behaving them- felves all the while very wifely and foberly before them), they fell to fome blows among themfelves.^ and did harm one to another.* Then were thefe two poor men brought before their examiners again, and there charged as being guilty of the late hubbub that had been in the fair. So they beat them pitifully, and hanged irons upon them, and led them in chains up and down the fair, for an example and terror to others, left any ftiould fpeak in their behalf, or jpin themfelves unto them. But Christian and Faith- ful behaved themfelves yet more wifely, and re- ceived the ignomy and fhame that w^as caft upon them, with fo much meeknefs and patience, that itf won to their fide (though but few in comparifon of the reft) feveral of the men in the fair. This put the other party yet into a greater rage, infomuch that * It is common for the world to be divided in their opinions about pil- grims. A chriftiaii condiift and behaviour will put to filence the gain-fay- iwr i>f fome wicked men ; and fon-.ctimes win others to become followers of Chrift. O pilgrims, look well to your fpirit, temper, and coududl towards the men of this world, who keep vanity fair all the year. f It is a<51ing in the fpirit and temper of Chrift that will gain adverfaries over to him ; w hereas a contrary fpirit is a dilbonour to Chrift, a reproach to his caufe, never did good to others, nor left t^he fouyn the fohd poflcffion of the peace of CJod, THEIR INDICTMENT. l6l that they concluded the death of thefe two men. Wherefore they threatened, that neither cage nor irons fhould ferve their turn, but that they fhould die for the abufe they had done, and for deluding the men of the fair. Then were they remanded to the cage again, until further order fhould be taken with them. ' So they put them in, and made their feet fall in the ftocks. Here, therefore, they called again to mind, what they had heard from their faithful friend Evange- list, and were the more confirmed in their ways and fufferings by what he told them would happen to them. They alfo now comforted each other, that whofe lot it was to fuffer, even he fhould have the befl of it ; therefore each man fecretiy wifhed that he might have that preferment : but committing themfelves to the all-wife difpofal of Him that ruleth all things, v/ith much content they abode in the con- dition in which they were, until they Ihould be other wife difpofed of. Then a convenient time being appointed, they brought them forth to their trial, in order to their condemnation. When the time was come, they were brought before their enemies, and arraigned. The judge's name was Lord Hate-good : their in- dictment was one and the fame in fub;l:ance, though fomewhat varying m form ; the contents whereof was this : *' That they were enemies to, and diflurbers of, " their trade : that they had made commotions and " divifions in the town, and had won a party to their '' own moll dangerous opinions, in contempt of the " law of their prince."* X Then • You fee your calling, brethren. Has no fuch indictment been ever brought againft you ? Then it is to be feared, what Pharaoh laid to {.he Ifraelites may be faid to you : Ye are idle, ye are idle, in the ways of the Lord; ye want love to his name, fervency for his truth, and zeal for hit glory and the good of precious fouls. 1 62 THE EVIDENCE OF ENVY, 1 hen Faithful began to anfwer, that he had only fet himfelf againft that which had fet itfelf againft Him that is higher than the higheft. And, faid he, as for difturbance, I make none, being my- felf a man of peace : the parties that were won to us, were won by beholding our truth and inno- cence, and they are only turned from the worfe to the better. And as to the king you talk of, fmce he is Beelzebub, the enemy of our Lord, I defy him and all his angels. Then proclamation was made, that they that had aught to fay for their lord the king, againft the prifoner at the bar, fhould forthwith appear and give in their evidence. So there came in three wit- neffes, to wit, Envy, Superstition, and Pick- thank : they were then alked, if they knew the prifoner at the bar ; and what they had to fay for their lord the king againft him ? Then ftood forth Envy, and faid to this efFeft: My Lord, I have known this man a long time, and will atteft upon my oath before this honourable bench, that he is Judge. Hold,' give him his oath. So they fware him. — Then he faid. My Lord, this man, notwithftanding his plaufible name, is one of the vileft men in our country ; he neither regardeth prince nor people, law nor cuftom ; but doeth all that he can to pofTefs all men*with certain of his difloyal notions, which he in the general calls ^ prin- * ciples of faith and holijiefs.* And, in particular, I heard him once myfelf affirm, that chriftianity and the culloms of our town of Vanity were diame- trically oppofite, and could not be reconciled. By ■which faying, my lord, he doth at once not only condemn all our laudable doings, but us in the do- ing of them. Then did the judge fay unto him, Haft thou any more to fay ? Envy. SUPERSTITION, AND PICKTHANK. 1 63 Envy. My Lord, I could fay much more, only I would not be tedious to the court. Yet if need be, when the other gentlemen have given in their evi- dence, rather than any thing fhall be wanting that will difpatch him, I will enlarge my tedimony againft him. — .^o he was bid to ftand by.* Then they called Superstition, and bid him look upon the prifoner ; they alfo alked, what he could fay for their lord the king againft him ? Theni they fware him ; fo he began : My lord, I have no great acquaintance with this man, nor do I defire to have further knowledge of him ; however, this I know, that he is a very pefti- lent fellow, from fome difcourfe that the other day I had with him in this town ; for then, talking with him, I heard him fay that our religion was naught, and fuch by v,hich a man could by no means pioafe God. Which faying of his, my lord, your iord!hip very well knows what necelTariiy thence will follow, to wit, that we lill do worfhip in vain, are yet in our fins, and finally fhall be damned ; and iMs is that which I have to fay.f Then was PicKTHANK fworn, and bid fay what he knew in the behalf of their lord the king, againlt the prifoner at the bar. My lord, and you gentlemen all, this fellow I have known of a long time, and have heard him ^ X 2 fpeak • The fpirJt of wifdom aflcs, " Who is able to ftand before envy ?" Prov. Xxvii. 4. Envy is the very temper of the devil, ft is natural to lis ail. But why Ihould the children of this worla envy God's children ? for thev are grangers to the fpiritual good things they enjoy. They neither feek thtui, nor care for them, but laugh and deride them. Herein the very f-.vrir. of fatan is manifelk. He envied Chrift, being the fon of God : he Ibrrcd up Judas to betray him, and the Jews for envy delivered him. Matt, xxvii. 18, and the fame fpirit works in all xhs children of iatan againft the riiiU dren of God. f Siiperflition or falfe devotion, is a moft bitter enemy to Chrift's truths and to his followers. This fellow's evidence is very true -, for as the Iav?yers faid of Chrhl's d.>clrine, " Mailer, thus faying, thou repioachcft iis alfo," Luke xi. 4j. fo falfe worfliippers, who re'i in forms and rites and fliadows, are Hung to the quick at thofe who worlhip God in the fpirit, rejoice in Chrift Jefus, and have no confidence in the flcfti. Such a conduct pours the utmoft conteaipt upon all the dodrines and fuperftitions of carnal men. 164 FAITHFUL REPLIES TO THE V/ITNESSES. fpeak things that ought not to be fpoke ; for he hath railed on our noble prince Beelzebub, and hath fpoken contemptibly of his honourable friends, whofe names are the Lord Old-man, the Lord Carnal-delight, the Lord Luxurious, the Lord Desire-of-vain-glory, my old Lord Lechery, Sir Having Greedy, with all the reft of oar no- bility : and he hath faid, moreover, that if ail men vere of his mind, if poflible there is not one of thefe noblemen fhould have any longer a being in this town. Befides, he hath not been afraid to rail on you, my lord, who are now appointed to be his judge, calling you an ungodly villain, with many other fuch-like vilifying terms, with which he hath befpattered moft of the gentry of our town.* When this Pickthank had told his tale, the judge direded his fpeech to the prifoner at the bar, faying. Thou renegade, heretic, and traitor, haft thou heard what thefe honeft gentlemen have wit- nefled againft thee ? Faith. May I fpeak a few words in my own de- fence ? \ Judge. Sirrah, firrah, thou deferveft to live no longer, but to be flain immediately upon the place ; yet that all men may fee our gentlenefs towards thee, let us hear what thou vile renegade haft to fay. Faith. I fay then, in anfwer to what Mr. Envy • hath fpoken, I never faid aught but this, that what rule, or laws, or cuftom, or people, were flat againft the word of God, are diametrically oppofite to chriftianity. If I have faid amifs in this, convince me of my error, and I am ready here before you to make my recantation. As to the fecond, to wit, Mr. Superstition, and his charge againft me, I faid only this, that in the ♦ As foon as the poor finner fays, " O Lord our God, other lord? hefides *• thee have had the dominion over me ; but by thee alone will I make mcn- •' tion of thy name," Ifa. xxvi. 13. Your officious Pickthanks are always ready to hare teftimony againfl him : and a bleffed telliniony this is, it is yrell worth living to gain, and dying in the caufe of. If wc are real difc^- ples of Chrift, the world will hate us for his fake, John vii, 7. LORD HATE-GOOD*S CHARGE TO THE JURY. 165 the worfhip of God there is required a divine faith ; but there can be no divine faith without a divine revelation of the will of God. Therefore, whatever is thrufl into the worfhip of God, that is not agree- able to divine revelation, cannot be done but by an human faith, which faith will not be profitable to eternal life. As to what Mr. Pickthank hath faid, I fay (avoiding terms, as that I am faid to rail, and the like), that the prince of this town, with all the rab- blement, his attendants, by this gentleman named, are more fit for being in hell than in this town and country ;' and fo the Lord have mercy upon me.* Then the judge called to the jury (who all this while flood by to hear and obferve), Gentlemen of the jury, you fee this man, about whom fo great an uproar hath been made in this town j you have alfo heard, what thofe worthy gentlemen have witneffed againfl him ; alfo you have heard his reply and con- feffion ; it lieth now in your breafls to hang him, or fave his life ; but yet I think meet to inflrud you in our law. There was an aft made in the days of Pharaoh the great, fervant to our prince, that, left thofe of a contrary religion fhould multiply and grow too flrong for him, their males fhould be thrown into the river. — There was an atl: alfo made in the days of Nebuchadnezzar the great, another of his fervants, that whoever would not fall down and worfhip his golden image, ihould be thrown into the fiery furnace.^ — There was alfo an ad made in the days of Darius, that whofo for fome time called upon any God but him fhould be cafl into the lions' den.3 Now the fubflance of thefe laws this rebel * This is the chriftian's plea and his glory : While he knows, the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel, Prov. xii. ro j yet he alfo knows that the merciful kindnefs of the Lord is great, and the truth of the Lord endureth ior ever, Pfalm cxvii, a. I Exod. i. ' Dan. ili. 3 ipan. vi. i66 faithful's condemnation, rebel has broken, not only in thought (which is not to be borne), but alfo in word and deed ; which muft therefore needs be intolerable. For that of Pharaoh ; — his law was made upon fufpicion to prevent mifchief, no crime yet being apparent ; but here is a crime apparent. For the fecond and third ; — you fee he difputeth againft our religion ; and for the treafon, he hath confeffed he deferveth to die the death. Then went the jury out, whofe names were Mr. Blindman, Mr. No-good, Mr. Malice, Mr. LovE-LusT, Mr. Live-loose, Mr. Heady, Mr. High-mind, Mr. Enmity, Mr. Liar, Mr. Cru- elty, Mr. Hate-light, and Mr. Implacable j who every one gave in his private verdidl againft him among themfelves, and afterwards unanimoufly concluded to bring him in guilty before the judge. And firft among themfelves, — Pvir. Blindman, the foreman, faid, ' I fee clearly, that this man is an * heretic* Then faid Mr. No-good, ' Away with ' fuch a fellow from the earth.' * Ay,* faid Mr, Malice, ' for I hate the very looks of him.' Then faid Mr. Lqve-lust, ' I could never endure him,* * Nor I,* faid Mr. Live-loose, ' for he would always * be condemning my way.* ' Hang him, hang him,' faid Mr. Heady. « A forry fcrub,* faid Mr. High- mind. * My heart rifeth againft him,* faid Mr. Enmity. * He is a rogue,* faid Mr. Liar. ' Hang- * ing is too good for him,* fajd Mr. Cruelty. ' Let us * diipatch him out qf the way,* faid Mr. Hate- light. Then faid Mr. Implacable, ' Might I * have all the world given me, I could not be recon- * ciled to him : therefore let us forthwith bring him ' in guilty of death.'* And fo they did ; therefore he • a bleffcd verdiiil ! well worthy of every pilgrim to obtain. Reader, do you protcfs to be one ? See then that you ftudy to a(5k fo as to gain fuch a vcrdicS from fuch a jury ! and then be fure that Chrift will pronounce, ^ Well done, thou good and fiUhfuI fervaiu, enter thou iiuo the joy of thy ** Lord." Matt. xsv. 2i. AND MARTYRDOM. I^"^ he was prefently condemned to be had from the place where he was, to the place from whence he came, and there to be put to the moft cruel death that could be invented. They therefore brought him out, to do with him according to their law ; and firft they fcourged him, then they buffeted him, then they lanced his flelh with knives : after that they ftoned him with Hones, then pricked him with their fwords ; and lad of all they burned him to afties at the flake. Thus came Faithful to his end. Now I faw that there flood behind the multitude a chariot and a couple of horfes waiting for Faith- ful, who, fo foon as his adverfaries had difpatched him, was taken up into it, and flraightway was car- ried up through the clouds, with found of trumpet, the nearefl way to the Celeflial gate. But as for Christian, he had fome refpite, and was remanded back to prifon ; fo he there remained for a fpace : but He that over-rules all things, having the power of their rage in his own hand, fo brought it about, that Christian for that time efcaped them, and went his way. And as he went he fang, faying : « Well, Faithful, thou haft faithfully profefl Unto thy Lord, of whom thou fhalt be bleft : Wht^nfailh/efs ones, with all their vain delights. Are crying out under their helliih plights : Sing Faithful, fing, and let thy name furvlvej For though they kill'd thee, thou art yet alive.* CHAP. l68 CHRISTIAN" AND HOPEFUL MEET BY-EKDS. C H A P. XIV. CHRISTIAN MEETS WITH ANOTHER EXCELLENT COM- PANION IN FAITHFUL DIALOGUES BETWEEN THEMj BY-ENDSj MONEY-LOVE, AND DEMAS. N. OW I faw in my dream, that Christian went not forth alone ; for there vcas one whofe name was Hopeful (being fo made by the beholding of Christian and Faithful, in their words and be- haviour in their fufferings at the fair), who joined himfelf unto him ; and, entering into a brotherly covenant, told him that he would be his companion. Thus one died to bear teftimony to the truth, and another rifes out of his afhes to be a companion with Christian in his pilgrimage.* This Hoepful alfo told Christian, that there were many more of the men in the fair, that would take their time and follow after. So I faw that quickly after they were got out of the fair, they overtook one that was going before them, whofe name was By-ends : fo they faid to him. What countryman. Sir? and how far go you this way ? He told them that he. came from the town of Fair-speech, and he was going to the Celeftial City, but told them not his name. From Fair-speech! faid Christian: is there any good that lives there ?^ Yes, faid By-ends, I hope. Pray, Sir, what may I call you ? faid Christian. By-e. I am a flranger to you, and you to me : if you be going this way, I (hall be glad of your com- pany : if not, I mud be content. r^, . * I have often recorded it with thankfulnefs, (obferves the Revd. Mr. Mafon) that though in the dreary day of my pilgrimage, the Lord hath taken away a dear and faithful chriftian friend, yet he has always raifcd up another. A very great blefiirg this, for which chriilian* can never be thaiMul enough. « Prov, xxvi. J J. CHRISTIAN INQUIRES INTO HIS PRINCIPLES. 1 69 This town of Fair-speech, faid Christian, I have heard of, and, as I remember, they fay it is a wealthy place. By-e. Yes, I will aflure you that it is ; and I have very many rich kindred there. Chr. Pray who are your kindred there, if a man may be fo bold ? By-e, A-lmoft the whole town ; and, in particular, my Lord Turn-about, my Lord Time-server, my Lord Fair -speech, from whofe ancelliors that town firft took its name.: alfo Mr. Smooth-man, Mr. Facing-both-ways, Mr. Any-thing ; and the parfon of our parifh, Mr. Two-tongues, was my mother's own brother by father's fide : and, to tell you the truth, I am become a gentleman of good quality, yet my great grandfather was but a waterman, looking one way and rowing another, Sind I got mod of my eftate by the fame occupation. Chr. Are you a married man ? By-e. Yes, and my wife is a very virtuous woman, the daughter of a virtuous woman ; fhe was my Lady Feigning's daughter, therefore fhe came of a very honourable family, and is arrived to Aach a pitch of breeding, that fhe knows how to carry it to all, even to prince and peafant. It is true we fomewhat differ in religion from thofe of the flrider Jbrt, yet but in two fmall points : Firft, we never ftrive againfl wind and tide : — Secondly, we are always moft zealous when Religion goes in his filver flippers ; we love much to walk with him in the ftreet, if the fun fhines, and the people applaud him.* Then Christian ftepped a little afide to his fel- low Hopeful, faying. It runs in my mind, that this Y is • Is not this too much the cafe with profcflors of this day? The Spirit of truth fays, " All who live godly in Chrill Jefus, fhall fufFer perfecution," 1 Tim. iii z. But how many adl as if they had found the art of making the Spirit of truth a liar? for they can fo trim and ihape their condudt, as they vainly think, to follow Chrift, and yet to keep in with the world which i> at enmity againft him. A motl fatiil, foul deceiving error ! 170 THEY DISAGREE ABOUT THEIR RELIGIvOK. Is one By-ends of Fair-speech; and if it be he, ■we have as very a knave in our company as dwelleth in all thefe parts. Then faid Hopefll, Afk him; methinks he fhould not be afliamed of his name. So Christian came up with him aojain, and faid. Sir, you talk as if you knew fomething more than all the world doth ; and, if I take not my mark amifs, I deem I have half a guefs of you : is not your name Mr. By-ends, of Fair-speech? By-e. This is not my name; but indeed it is a nick- name that is given me, by fome that cannot abide me, and I mud be content to bear it as a reproach, as other good men have borne their's before me. Chr. But did you never give an occafion to men to call you by this name ? By-e. Never,never ! the word that ever I did to give them an occafion to give me this name was, that I had always the luck to jump in my judgment with the prefent way of the times, whatever it was ; and my chance was to get thereby. But if things are thus caft upon me, let me count them a blefling ; but let not the malicious load me therefore with reproach.* Chr. I thought Indeed that you were the man that I heard of; and, to tell you what I think, I fear this name belongs to you more properly than you are \villing we fhould think it doth. By-e. Well, if you wall thus Imagine, I cannot help it : you will find me a fair company -keeper, if you will ftill admit me your alTociate. Chr. If you will go with us, you mufl: go againft wind and tide ; the which, I perceive, is againft your opinion : you muft alfo own Religion in his rags as well as when in his filver flippers ; and fland by him too when bound in irons as well as when he walketh the ftreets with applaufe. -n • Kow artful, how delufive, are the reafonings of fuch men. O beware pf this fpirit. In oppofition to this, watch and pray earneftly, that ye nia.y Ijpt be double minded, but fincere until the day of Chrift. CHRISTIAN AND HOPEFUL WITHDR AW FROM HIM. I7I By-e. You muft not impofe, nor lord it over my faith ; leave me to my liberty, and let me go with you. Chr. Not a ftep farther, unlefs you will do in what I propound as we. Then faid By-ends, I Ihall never defert my old principles, fmce they are harmlefs and profitable. If I may not go with you, I mufl do as I did before you overtook me ; even go by myfelf, until fome overtake me that will be glad of my company.* Then 1 faw in my dream, that Christian and Hopeful forfook him, and kept their diftance be- fore him ; but one of them looldng back, fav/ three men following Mr. By-ends, and, behold, as they came up with him, he made them a very low congee; and they alfo gave him a compliment. The men's names' were, Mr. Hold-the-world, Mr. Money- love, and Mr. Save-all ; men that Mr. By-ends had formerly been acquainted with ; for in their minority they were fchool-fellows, and were taught by one Mr. Gripeman, a fchool-mafter in Love- gain, which is a market-tov/n in the county of Co- veting, in the north. This fchool-mafter taught them the art of getting, either by violence, cozenage, flattery, lying, or by putting on a guife of religion ; and thefe four gentlemen had attained much of the art of their mafter, fo that they could each of them have kept fuch a fchool themfelves. Well, when they had, as I faid, thus faluted each other, Mr. Money-love faid to Mr. By-ends, Who are they upon the road before us ? for Chris- tian and Hopeful were yet within view. By-e. They are a couple of far countrymen, that: after their mode are going on pilgrimage. Y 2 MONEY- * Mind how warily thefe pilgrims aifled towards this deceitful profcfibr. They did not too rafhiy take up an ill opinion againll him : but when ther had lull proof of what hi; was, they did not hcfitate one moment, but deaic faithfully with him, and confcientioufly withdrew from him. Love ihouid always move fiowly in receiving a report, but ev.;r deal faithfully whtn it 43 plain the men arc not what they pryftfe to be. • 172 DISCOURSE WITH BV-ENDS ABOUT THE PILGRIMS. IMoNEV. Alas ! why did they not flay, that we might have had their good company ? for they, and we, and you, Sir, I hope, are going on pilgrimage. By-e. We are fo indeed : but the men before us are fo rigid, and love fo much their own notions, and do alfo fo lightly efteem the opinion of others, that let a man be never fo godly, yet if he jumps not with them in all things, they thruft: him quite out of their company. Save. That's bad: but we read of fome that are righteous over-much, and fuch men's rigidnefs pre- vails with them to judge and condemn all but them- felves ; but I pray what and how many were the things wherein you differed ? By-e. Why they, after their headflrong manner, conclude, that it is their duty to ruih on their jour- ney ail weathers ; and I am for waiting for wind and tide. They are for hazarding all for God at a clap, and I am for taking all advantages to fecure my life and eftate. They are for holding their no- tions, though all other men be againft them ; but I am for Religion in what, and fo far as, the times and my fafety will bear it. They are for Religion when in rags and contempt ; but I am for him when he walks in his golden flippers, in the fun-fhine, and with applaufe,* Hold. Ay, and hold you there ftill, good Mr. By-ends : for my part, 1 can count him but a fool, that having the liberty to keep what he has, fhall be fo unwife as to lofe it. Let us be wife as ferpents ; it is befl to make hay while the fun fliines ; you fee how tlie bee lieth ftill in winter, and beltirs her only v.hen file can have profit with pleafure. God fends fometimes rain and fometimes fun-fhine : if they be fuch fools to go through the firit, yet let us be con- tent • Notwiihdanvlinn: By-ends couUl be refcrved and upon his guard with faithful pilgrims, yet he can fptak out boldly to thofe of his own fpirit and charailer. ^ O ihe treachery of the defperate wicktd heart ! Who can know it? No one, but the heart-fesrchiiig God, BY-ENDS PROPOSES A QUESTION. 173 tent to take fair weather along with us. For my part, I like that religion beft, that will Hand with the fecurity of God's good bleflings unto us : for who can imagine, that is ruled by his reafon, fince God has beftowed upon us the good things of this life, but that he would have us keep them for his fake ? Abraham and Solomon grew rich in religion. And Job fays, that a good man " (hall lay up gold as duft." But he mud not be fuch as the men before us, if they be as you have defcribed them. Save. I think that we are all agreed in this mat- ter, and therefore there needs no more words about it. Money. No, there needs no more words about this matter indeed ; for he that believes neither fcrip- ture nor reafon (and you fee we have both on our fide), neither knows his own liberty, nor feeks his own fafety. By-e. My brethren, we are, as you fee, going all on pilgrimage, and for our better diverfion from things that are bad, give me leave to propound unto you this queftion : Suppofe a 'man, a minifler or a tradefman, &c. Ihould have an advantage lie before him to get the good blefiings of this life, yet fo as that he can by no means come by them except, in appearance at lead, he becomes extraordinary zealous in fome points of religion that he meddled not with before, —may he not ufe this means to attain his end, and yet be a right honed man? Money. 1 fee the bottom of your qucdion ; and, with thefe gentlemen's good leave, I will endeavour to diape you an anfwer. And fird, to fpeak to your quedion, as it concerns a rnini/ier himfelf. Suppofe a minider, a worthy man, poffeiled but of a very fmall benefice, and has in his eye a greater, more fat and plump by far : he has alfo now an opportunity of getting it, yet fo as by being more dudious, by preaching more frequently and zealoufly, and, be- caufe 174 MONEY-LOVE S A}^SWER. caufe the temper of the people requires it, by alter- ing of fome of his principles : for my part, 1 fee no reafon but a man may do this, provided he has a call, ay, and more a great deal befidcs^ and yet be an ho- ned man. For why ? 1 . His defire of a greater benefice is lawful ; this cannot be contrad idled, fnice it is let before him by Providence ; fo then he may get it if he can, making no queftion for confcience' fake. 2. Befides, his defire after that benefice makes him more ftudious, a more zealous preacher, &c. and fo makes him a better man, yea, makes him better improve his parts; which is according to the mind of God, 3. Now, as for the complying with the temper of his people by deferting, to ferve them, fome of his principles, this argueth that he is of a felf-denying temper, of a fweet and winning deportment j and fo more fit for the minifterial function. 4. 1 conclude, then, that a minifter that changes a Imall for a great fhould not, for fo doing, be judged as covetous; but rather, fince he is improved in his parts and induftry thereby, be counted as one that purfues his call, and the opportunity put into his hand to do good. And now to the fecond part of the queftion, which concerns the trade/man you mentioned : fuppofe fuch an one to have but a poor employ in the world ; but by becoming religious he may mend his market, perhaps get a rich wife, or more and far better cuf- tomers to his fhop. For my part, I fee no reafon but this may be lawfully done. For why ? 1. To become religious is a virtue, by what means foever a man becomes fo. 2. Nor is it unlawful to get a rich wife, or more cuftom to my ihop. 3. Befides, the man that gets thefe by becoming religious, gets that which is good, of them that are good. THEY PROPOSE THE QUESTION TO THE PILGRIMS. 175 good, by becoming good himfelf; fo then here is a good wife, and good cullomers, and good gain, and all thefe by becoming religious, which is good : therefore, to become religious to get all thefe is a good and profitable defign.* This anfwer, thus made by this Mr. Money-love to Mr. By-ends 's queftion, was highly applauded by them all; wherefore they concluded upon the whole that it was moft wholefome and advantageous. And becaufe, as they thought, no man was able to con- tradict it, and becaufe Christian and Hopeful were yet within call, they jointly agreed to aflault them with this queftion as foon as they overtook them ; and the rather, becaufe they had oppofed Mr. By-ends before. So they called after them, and they flopped, and flood ftill till they came up to them : but they concluded, as they went, that not Mr. By-ends, but old Mr. Hold-the-world, fhould propound the queflion to them ; becaufe, as they fuppofed, their anfwer to him would be with- out the remainder of that heat that was kindled be- tween Mr. By-ends and them at their parting a lit- tle before. So they came up to each other, and, after a fhort falutation, Mr. Hold-the-world propounded the queflion to Christian and his fellow, and bid them, to anfwer it if they CQuld. Then faid Christian, Even a babe in religion may anfwer ten thoufand fuch queflions. For if it be unlawful to follow Christ for loaves, as it is John, vl. how much more is it abominable to make of him and religion a ftalking horfe, to get and en- joy • Here is worldly wifdom, infernal logic, and the fophiftry of fatan. We hear this language daily from money-loving profeflbrs, who are defti- tute of the power of faith, and the reafoning of godlinefs. But in oppo- fition to all this, the Holy Ghoft teftifies, " the love of money is the root of all evil," 1 Tim. vi. 10. and a covetous man is an idolater, Col. iii. 5, Hear this and tremble, ye avaricious profefTors. Pemember ye followers of the Lamb, ye are called to let your converfation be without covetoufnefs, Heb. xiii.5. Your Lord teftifies, ye cannot fcrveGod and mammon, Luke xvi. 13. 176 CHRISTIAN ANSWERS IT SCRIPTUR ALLY. joy the world ? Nor do we find any other than hea- thens, hypocrites, devils, and witches, that are of this opinion. Heathens : for whom Hamor and Shechem had a mind to the daughter and cattle of Jacob, and faw that there were no ways for them to come at them, but by becoming circumcifed ; they fay to their companions, " If every male of us be circumcifed, *' as they are circumcifed, fhall not their cattle, and *' their fubftance, and every bead of theirs, be ours?" Their daughters and their cattle were that which they fought to obtain, and their religion the flalking-horfe they made ufe of to come at them. Read the whole ftory, Genefis xxiv. 20 — 24. The hypocritical Pharifees were alfo of this reli- gion : long prayers were their pretence ; but to get widows' houfes v^^as their intent, and greater damna- tion was from God their judgment.' Judas the devil was alfo of this religion : he was religious for the bag, that he might be pofTefled of what was therein ; but he was loft, a cafl-away, and the very fon of perdition. Simon the witch was of this religion too ; for he would have had the Holy Ghost, that he might have got money therewith ; and his fentence from Peter's mouth was accordingly.* Neither will it go out of niy mind, but that that man, that takes up religion for the world, will throw away religion for the world ; for fo furely as Judas defigned the world in becoming religious, fo furely did he alfo fell religion and his Mafler for the fame. — To anfwer the queftion therefore affirmatively, ^s I perceive you have done, and to accept of, as au- thentic, fuch anfwer, is both heathenifh, hypocri- tical, and devilifh ; and your reward will be accord- ing to your v/orks. — Then they flood flaring one upon another, but had not wherewith to anfwer Christian. Hopeful alfo approved of the found- nefs ' Luic XX. 46, 47. * Ads viii, 1 8— 23- THE HILL lucre; A SILVER MIN'E; AND DEMA3. I77 neft of Christian's anfwer ; fo there was a great filence among them. Mr. By-ends and his com- pany iilfo llaggered and kept behind, that Chris- tian and Hopeful might outgo them. Then faid CHkisTiAN to his fellow, If thefe men cannot (land h'eior6 the fentence of men, what will they do with the fentence of God ? And, if they are mute when dealt with by veflels of clay, what will they do when they fliall be rebuked by the flames of a devouring fire r* Then Christian and Hopeful outwent them again, and went till they came to a delicate plain, called Ease ; where they went with much content : but that plain was but narrow, fo they were quickly got over it. Now at the further fide of that plain was a little hill, called Lucre, and in that hill a filver mine, which fome of them that had formerly gone that way, becaufe of the rarity of it, had turn- ed afide to fee ; but going too near the brim of the pit, the ground, being deceitful under them, broke, and they were flain : fome alfo had been maimed there, and could not, to their dying day, be their own men again. Then I faw in my dream, that a little ofi' the road, over-againfl the filver mine, Itood Drmas (gentle- !liaii-like) to call paiTengers to come and fee ; who fald to Christian and his fellow, Ho! turn afide hither, and I will fliow you a thing. Chr. What thing fo deferving as to turn us out of the way to fee it? Demas. Here is a filver-mine, and fome digging in it for treafure ; if you will come, with a little pains you may richlv provide for yourfelves. Then faid Hopeful, Let us go fee. Z Not * Here fee the bleflednefs of being mighty in the fcripture, and til* reed of that exhortation, " Let the word of Chrid dwell in yon richly," Col. jii, 16. For the word of God is quick and powerful, and Ibarper than a two-edged fword, it pierce'^^ throujfh all the fubtlc devices of fatan, and th< cunning craftinefs of carnal profelTors, and divideth afunder tlie carnal rca» fonings of the Qtih, and the fpiricual wiluom which conieth from above- 17^^ DEMAJ-; TRIES TO KNSNARE TH£ PILGRIMS. .Not I, faid Christian; I have heard of this place before now, and how many have been llain there ; and befides, that treafure is a fnare to thofe that feek it ; for it hindereth them in their pilgrimage.* Then Christian called to Demas, faying. Is not the place dangerous ? hath it not hindered many in their pilgrimage? Demas. Not very dangerous, except to thofe that are carelds. — But withal he bluflied as he fpake. Then faid Christian to Hopeful, Let us not flir a ilep, but (till keep/- on our way. Hope. I will warrant you, when By-ends comes up, if he hath the fame invitation as we, he will turn in thither to fee. Chr.* No doubt thereof, for his principles lead him that way, and a hundred to one but he dies there. Then Demas called again, faying. But will you not come over and fee .'' Then Christian roundly anfwered, faying, De- mas, thou art an enemy to the right ways of the Lord of this way, and haft been already condemned, for thine own turning afide, by one of his Majefly's judges :^ and why feekeft thou to bring us into the like condemnation .'' Befides, if we at all turn afide, our Lord the King will certainly hear thereof, and will there put us to Ihame, where we fliould fland with boldnefs before him. Demas cried again, That he alfo was one of their fraternity; and that if they would tarry a little, he alfo himfelf would walk with them. Then faid Christian, What is thy name? Is it not the fame by the which I have called thee ? Demas. Yes, my name is Demas; I am thefon of Abraham, Chr. • See the value of a faithful friend. But how few ad fo faithfully? How few profefTors will bear it? What! hold a man hack from getting money ? O how few are aware that covctoufncfs is idolatry ? and attend to our Lord's double cnutioii, *' Take hctd, and beware of covctoufuefs," Luke xii. 15. i a Tim. jv, 10, THE monument; or lot s wife. 179 Chr. I know you: Gehazi was your great grand- father, and Judas your father, and you have trod in their Heps ; it is but a devilifh prank that thou ufefl: : thy father was hanged for a traitor, and thou deferveftno bef^er reward.^ AiTure thyfelf, that when we come to the King, we will tell him of this thy be- haviour. Thus they went their way. By this time By-ends and his companions weje come again within fight, and they at the firlt beck went over to Demas. Now, whether they fell into the pit by looking over the brink thereof, or whe- ther they went down to dig, or whether they were fmothered in the bottom, by the damps that com- monly arife, of thefe things I am not certain ; but this I obferved, that they never were feen again in the way.*« — Then fang Christian : * By-e^'dh and filver Demas did agree ; One calls, the other runs, that he may be A fharer in his lucre ; fo thefe do Take up in this world, and no further go.* Now I faw that, jufl: on the other fide of this plain, the pilgrims came to a place where flood an old monument, hard by the highway fide, at the fight of which they were both concerned, becaufe of the ftrangenefs of the form thereof, for it feemed to them as if it had been a woman transformed into the fhape of a pillar. Here therefore they ftood looking, and looking upon it ; but could not for a time tell what they Ihould make thereof: at lad Hopeful fpied written upon the head thereof, a writing in an unufual hand ; but he, being no fcholar, called to Christian (for he was learned) to fee if he could Z 2 pick * Here you fee the end of double-minded men, who vainly attempt to unite the love of money with the love of Chrift. They go on with their art for a feafon, but the end makes it manifell what they wore. Take Da- vid's advice, " Fret not thyfelf becaufe of evil doers;" Pfam xxxvii. i. '• Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, and the glory of his houfe is increafed," xlix. 16. But go thou into the fanduary of thy God, read his word, and underftand the end of thefe men. ' 2 Kings V. 20—17. Matt. xxvi. 14, 15. xxvii. 2—5' l8o THE pilgrim's DISCOURSE ABOUT HER. pick out the meaning : fo he came, and after a little laying of the letters together, he found the fame to be this, "• Remember Lot*s wife.'' So he read it to his fellow ; after which they both concluded, that this was the pillar of fait into which Lot's wife was turned, for looking back with a covetous heart, when {lie was going from Sodom for fafety.' Which fudden and amazing fight gave them occafion of this difcourfe. Chr. Ah, my brother ! this is a feafonable fight: it came opportunely to us after the invitation which Demas gave us to come over to view the hill Lucre; and had we gone over, as he defired us, and as thou wafl: inclined to do, my brother, we had, for aught I know, been made like this woman, a fpedacle for thofe that fhali come after to behold. Hope. I am forry that 1 was fo foolifh, and am made to wonder that I am not now as Lot's wife ; for wherein was the difference betwixt her fm and mine? flie only looked back, and I had a defire to go fee : let grace be adored, and let me be afhamed that ever fuch a thing fhould be in mine heart.* Chr. Let us take notice of what we fee here for our help for time to come : this woman efcaped one judgment ; for fhe fell not by the deflruftion of So- dom, yet file was deftroyed by another, as we fee, fhe is turned into a pillar of fait. Hope. True, and fhe may be to us both caution and example; caution, that we fhould fhun her fm; or a fign of what judgment will overtake fuch as fliall not be prevented by fuch caution : fo Corah, Dathan, and Aeiram, with the two hundred and fifty men that perifhed in their fin, did alfo become a fign * Such is the effeS: of the grace of God in the heart of a pilgrim ; while on the one hand he fees many propenCties of his evil nature to every fin wiiich has been committed by otners, and is grieved, he alfo confciTvis, that by no povs'er of his own, he is preferved, but ever gives all the glory to the God of all grace, by whofe power alone he is kept from falling. " Thou fland^ft by faith, be not high-minded hut fear," Rom. xi. ao. I Gen. xix. 26, FURTHER DISCOURSE ABOUT LOT*S WIFE. l8l a fign or example to beware. ' But above all, I mufe at one thing, to wit, how Demas and his fellows can (land fo confidently yonder to look for that trea- fure, which this woman, but for looking behind her after (for we read not that (he (lept one foot out of the way), was turned into a pillar of fait ; efpecially fmce the judgment which overtook her, did make her an example within fight of where they are : for they cannot but choofe to fee her, did they but lift, up their eyes. Chr. It is a thing to be wondered at, and it ar- gueth that their hearts are grown defperate in tha^ cafe ; and I cannot tell whom to compare them tq fo fitly, as to them that pick pockets in the prefence of the judge, or that will cut purfes under the gal-> lows. It is faid of the men of Sodom, that " thej^ " were finners exceedingly," becaufe they werefia- ners " before the Lord," that is, in his eye-fight, and notv/ithftanding the kindnefs that he had Ihow- ed them ; for the land of Sodqm was now like the garden of Eden heretofore.* This therefore pra* voked him the more to jealoufy, and made their plague as hot as the fire of the Lord out of heavea could make it. And it is mofl rationally to ba concluded, that fuch, even fuch as thefe are, who fhall fin in the fight, yea, and that too in defpite, of fuch examples as are fet continually before them, to. caution them to the contrary, muft be partakers q£ the fevered judgment. Hope. Doubtlefs thou haft, faid the. truth; but: what a mercy is it, that neither thou, but efpecially. I, am not made myfelf this example ! This minifier- elh occafion to us to thank God, to fear before him, and always to " remember Lot*s wife." » Numb. xxvl. 9, lo. > Gen. xiii. lo.- 1 3, CHAP. l82 THE RIVER OF THE WATER OF LITE. CHAP. XV. CHRISTIAN AND HOPEFUL MISTAKE THEIR V/AY, AND FALL INTO THE HANDS OF GIANT DESPAIR. SAW then, that they went on their way to a plea- lant river, which David the king called " the river *' of God ;'* but John, " the river of the water of " life."*^ Now their way lay jufl upon the bank of the river : here therefore Christian and his com- panion walked with great delight : they drank alfo of the water of the river, which was pleafant, and enliv- ening to their weary fpirits. Befides, on the banks of this river, on either fide, were green trees, for all manner of fruit ; and the leaves they ate to prevent furfeits, and other difeafes that are incident to thofe that heat their blood by travels. On either fide of the river was alfo a meadow, curioufly beautified with lilies ; and it was green all the year long. In this meadow they lay down and flept : for here they might lie down fafely.* When they awoke, they gathered again of the fruits of the trees, and drank again of the water of the river, and then lay down again * By this river, which is called " a pure river of water of life, clear as cryftal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb," Rev. xxii. i. we may underftand, the clear and comfortable views with which they were favoured of God's love and grace. This river of God, this water of life,- was dear as cryftal : They could fee in it, God's glory fhining in the face of Jefns Clirift, and view their own faces in it to their inexpreflible joy. This is the river, " the ftreams whereof make glad the city of God." Pfal xlvi. 4. The flreams which flow from this river of love, arc juftification by faith in Chrift, fanftification, and all joy and peace in believing, from the Spirit of Chriil. Ail this thel'e pilgrims now enjoyed, and all this every fellow-citizen of the faints are called to enjoy, in their pilgrimage to Zion. This river of life proceedeth out of the throne of God and the Lamb. For God hath cliolen thofe (who have fied for refuge) in Chrift, and blefled us with all fpi- ritual bldlTings in him ; and they are all freely communicated to us out of Chrifl's fuhiefs. O how happy, peaceful, and joyful are pilgrims, when the Spirit takes of the things of Chrift, fhows them to us, and bleffes us with a conftant fenfe of, and intereft in the love of God, and falvation of Jefus! ' Pi. Ixv. 9, Ezek. xlvii, i. Rev. xxii. i. ? Pf. sxiii. Ifa. xiv, 30. ROUGH ROAD. BY-PATK MEADOW. 1 83 a^ain to fleep. Thus they did feveial days and nights. Then they fang : « Behold ye how tRofe cryftal dreams do glide. To comfort pilgrims by the highway fide. The meadows green, befides the fragrant fmell. Yield dainties for them : And he that can tell What plcalant fruit, yea leaves, theie trees do yield. Will foon fell all, that he may buy this field.' So when they were difpofed to go on (for they were not as yet at their journey's end), they ate, and drank, and departed. Now I beheld in my dream, that they had not journeyed far but the river and the way for a time parted ; at which they were not a little forry, yet they durfl: not go out of the way. Now the way from the river was rough, and their feet tender by reafon of their travels : fo the fouls of the pilgrims were much difcouraged becaufe of the way.^ Where- fore Hill as they went on, they wiflied for better way.* Now a little before them, there was on the left hand of the road a meadow, and a llile to go over into it ; and that meadow is CalledBY-PATH-MEADow.f Then faid Christian to his fellow, If this meadow lieth along by our way-fide let us [to over into it. Then he went to the llile to fee, and, behold, a path' lay along by the way on the other fide of the fence. 'Tis according to my wifli, faid Christian j here is the * Pilgrims, have their difcouragements as well as their joys ; yet thcT fhould take their way as they find it, fomecimes rv. V. i2. 202 CHRISTIAN TLLLS OF LI TTLE-F AITh's ROBBERY. and Guilt, three brothers ; and they efpying Lit- tle-faith where he was, came galloping up with fpeed. Now the good man was juft awaked from his fleep, and was getting up to go on his journey. So they caaie up all to him, and with threatening language bid him fland. At this Little-faith looked as white as a clout, and had neither power to fight nor flee. Then faid Faint-heart, ' De- ' liver thy purfe ;* but he making no hafte to do it (for he was loth to loofe his money). Mistrust ran up to him, and thruiling his hand into his pocket, pulled out thence a bag of filver. Then he cried out' Thieves! thieves! With that Guilt, with a great club that was in his hand, ftruck Little-> paith on the head, and with that blow felled him flat to the ground j where he lay bleeding, as one that would bleed to death. All this while the thieves flood by. But at laft, they hearing that fome were upon the road, and fearing left it fhould be one Great-grace, that dwells in the city of GooD-coNFiDENCE, they betook themfelves to their heels, and left this good man to fhift for himfelf ; who, getting up, made fhift to fcramble on his way. — This was the ftory.* Hope. But did they take from him all that ever he had ? Chr. No : the place where his jewels were, they never ranfacked : fo thofe he kept ft ill. But, as I was told, the good man was much afftided for his lofs ; for the thieves got moft of his fpending mo- ney. That which they got not, as I faid, were jew- els ; alfo he had a little odd money left, but fcarce enough to bring him to his journey's end j' nay, if I was * Where there is a faint heart in God's caufe, and miflruft of God's truths, there will be guilt in the confcience, and a dead faith in the heart j and thefe rogues will prevail over, and rob fuch fouls of the comforts of God's love and of Chrift's falvation. O how many are overtaken by thefe, in flcepy fits and carelefs fiames, and plundered! Learn lo be wife frcm the things others have fuffered. » J Pet. iv. 1 8. HE SAVES HIS CERTIFICATE. 203 I was not mi (informed, he was forced to beg as he went, to keep himfelf alive (for his jewels* he might not fell). But beg and do what he could, ' he went,* as we fay, ' with many a hungry belly,' the moft part of the reft of the way. Hope. But is it not a wonder they got not from him his certificate, by which he was to receive his admittance at the Celeftial gate ? Chr. It is a wonder : but they got not that ; though they miffed it not through any good cun- ning of his ; for he, being difmayed with their coming upon him, had neither power nor ikill to hide any thing, fo it was more by good providence than by his endeavour, that they miffed of that ^ood thing.f* Hope. But it muft needs be a comfort to him, that they got not his jewels from him. Chr. It might have been great comfort to him, had he ufed it as he fhould : but they who told me the ftory, faid, that he made but little ufe of it at all the reft of the way ; and that, becaufe of the dif- may that he had in the taking away his money. In- deed he forgot it a great part of the reft of his jour- ney; and befides, when at any time it came into his mind, and he began to be comforted therewith, then would frefh thoughts of his lofs come again upon him, and thofe thoughts would fwallow up all. C c 2 Hope. *, By his jewels, we may undcrftand thofe imparted graces of the Spirit* Faith, Hope, and Love. By his fpending money, underftand the fealing and earneft of the fpirit in his heart, z Cor. i. 22. Of this divine aflur- ahce and the fenfe of the peace and joy of the Holy Ghoft, he was robbed, fo, that though he l^ill went on in the ways of the I-ord, yet '.je dragged oa but lieavily and uncontfortably ; and was not happy in himfelf. O how much evil and ciiftr?;fs are brought upon us by negle<5iing to watch and pray ! f What was this good thing ? His faith ; whofe author, finiflier, and objetSt is Jefus. And where he gives this gift of faith, though it be but little, even as a grain of muflard-feed, if exercifed by the pofl'efTor, cot all the powers of earth and hell can rob the heart of it, ^ z Tim, i, 14. 2 l\-X. ii, 9, 204 L!TTLE-FAITa S AFFLICTION. Hope. Alas, poor man! this could not but be a. great grief unto him ! Chr. Grief! ay, a grief indeed. Would it not have been fo to any of us, had we been ufed as he, to be robbed and wounded too, and that in a flrange place, as he was ? It is a wonder he did not die with grief, poor heart : I was told he fcattered almofl: all the reft of the way, with nothing but doleful and bitter complaints : telling alfo to all who overtook him, or that he overtook in the way as he went, where he was robbed, and how ; who they were that did it, and what he loft ; how he was wounded, and that he hardly efcaped with his life.* Hope. But it is a wonder that his neceffity did not put him upon felling or pawning fome of his jewels, that he might have wherewith to relieve himfelf in his journey. Chr. Thou talkeft like one, upon whofe head is the fhell to this very day : for what fhould he pawa them ? or to whom fliould he fell them ? In all that country where he was robbed, his jewels were not accounted of; nor did he want that relief which could from thence be adminiftered to him. Befides, had his jewels been mifling at the gate of the Celef- tial city, he had (and that he knew well enough) been excluded from an inheritance there, and that would have been worfe to him than the appearance and villainy of ten thoufand thieves. Hope. Why art thou fo tart, my brother ? Esau fold his birth-right, and that for a mefs of pottage; ' and that birthright was his greateft jewel : and, if he, why might not Little-faith do fo too ? Chr. • Here is a difcovery of true, tho' it be but little faith. It mourns its ]»fs of God's prefence, and the comforts of his Spirit, and laments its folly for fkeping, when it fhould have been watching and praying. He that pines under the fenfe of the lofs of Chrifl's love, has faith in his heart, and a meafure of love to Chrifl in his foul j tho' he goes on his way weeping, yet he fhall find joy in the end. Soul, be on thy watch cower, left thou fleep, the fleep of ecernal death. » Heb. sii. 16. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIM AND ESAU. 205 Chr. Esau did fell his birth-right indeed, and fo do many befides, and by fo doing, exclude them- felves from the chief blefiing ; as alfo that caitiff did : but you muft put a difference betwixt Esau and Li TTLE-FAiTH, and alfo betwixt their eftates. Esau's birth-right was typical, but Little-faith's jewels were not fo. Esau's belly was his god, but Little-faith's belly was not fo. Esau's want lay in his flefhly appetite. Little-faith's did not fo. Befides Esau could fee no further than to the falfilling of his luft : " For I am at the point *' to die," faid he, " and what good will this birth- *' right dp mer"' But Little-faith, though il was his lot to have but a little faith, was by his little faith kept from fuch extravagancies, and made to fee and prize his jewels more, than to fell them as Esau did his birth-right. You read not any where that Esau had faith, no, not fo much as a little; therefore no marvel, if where the flefh only bears fway (as it will in that man where no faith is, to refift), if he fells his birth -right and his foul and all, and that to the devil of hell : for it is with fuch as it is with the afs, " who in her occalions cannot be " turned away :"^ when their minds are fet upon their lufts, they will have them, whatever they coft. But Little-faith was of another temper, his mind was on things divine ; his livelihood was upon things that were fpiritual and from above ; therefore, to what end fhould he that is of fuch a temper fell his jewels (had there been any that would have bought them), to fill his mind with empty things ? Will a man give a penny to fill his belly with hay ? or can you perfuade the turtle-dove to live upon carrion like the crow^ ? Though faithlefs ones can, for carnal lulls, pawn, or mortgage, or fell what they have, and themfelves outright to boot, yet they that » Gen. XXV 19—34 * J*"'"- '•• *4. 206 HOPEFUL BLAMES LITTLE-FAITH. that have faith, faving faith, though but little of it, cannot do fo. Here, therefore, my brother, is thy iniftake. Hope. I acknowledge it ; but yet your fevere re- flexion had almoft made me angry. Chr. Why! I did but compare thee to fome of the birds that are of the brifker fort, who will run to and fro in untrodden paths, with the fhell upon their heads : — but pafs by that, and confider the matter under debate, and- all fhall be well betwixt thee and me. Hope. But, Christian, thefe three fellows, I am perfuaded in my heart, are but a company of cowards : would they have run elfe, think you, as they did, at the noife of one that was coming on the road? Why did not Little-faith pluck up a greater heart ? he might, methinks, have flood one brufh with them, and have yielded, when there had been no remedy. Chr. That they are cowards, many have faid, but few have found, it fo in the time of trial. As for a great heart. Little-faith had none ; and I perceive by thee, my brother, hadft thou been the man concerned, thou art but for a brufh, and then to yield. And verily, fmce this is the height of thy ftomach, now they arc at a diftance from us, fhould they appear to thee, as they did to him, they might put thee to fecond thoughts.* . But confider again, they are but journeymen thieves, they ferve under the king of the bottom- kfs pit ; who, if need be, will come to their aid himfelf, and his voice is as the roaring of a lion. ' I myfelf have been engaged as this Little-faith was ; "* Ah ! how eafy is it to talk when enemies are out of fight ! We too often wax valiant in our own elleem, when we have condaiu need to hum- ble ourfelves under the mighty haini of God, knowing what mere nothings we are of ourfelves. It makes a Chriftian fpeak tartly, when one fees fclf- cxaltiiigs in another. Paul freqiiently fpeaks thus, frnai warm Zeul for Chrift'« glorv, and {Irong love to the truth, as it is in Jtlus. « I Pet. V. 8. GREAT-GRACE, THE KING S CHAMPION. 20/ was ; and I found it a terrible thing. Thefe three villains fet upon me, and I beginning like a chrif- tian to refilt, they gave out a call, and in came their mafter : I would, as the faying is, have given my life for a penny ; but that, as God would have it, I was clothed with armour of proof. Ay, and yet, though I was fo harnefled, I found it hard work to quit myfelf like a man : no man can tell vvhat in that combat attends us, but he that hath been in the battle himfelf.* JHfopE. Well, but they ran, you fee, when they did but fuppofe that one Great-grace was in the way. Ckr. True, they have often fled, both they and their ma/ler, when Great-grace hath appeared ; and no marvel, for he is the King's champion : but, I trow, you will put fome difference between Lit- tle-faith and the King's champion. All the King's fubjeds are not his champions ; nor can they, when tried, do fuch feats of war as he. Is it meet to think that a little child fhould handle Go- liath as David did? or that there fhould be the ftrength of an ox in a wren ? Some are ftrong, fome are weak ; fome have great faith, fome have little ; this man was one of the v/eak, and therefore he went to the wall. I Hope. • Who can ftand in the evil day of temptation, when befet with Faint- heart, Miftruft, and Guilt, backed by the power of their mafter Satan ? No one, unlefs armed with the whole armour of God ; even then the power of fuch infernal foes makes it a hard fight to the chriftian. But this is our glory, the Lord fliall fight for us, and we fiiall hold onr peace ; we fliall be lilent as to afcribing any glory to oiirfclves, knowing our very enemies arc part of ourfelves, and that we are more than conquerors over all thefe (only) through HIM who loved us, Rom. viii. 27. f Fray mind this, ye lambs of the flock, whofe knowledge is fmall, and whofe faith is weak ! O never think the God ye believe in, the Saviour you follow, is an aullere mafter, who expe^^s more from you than ye are able. When he calls for your fervice, look to him for ftrength ; expecSt all power and ftrength for every good work out of the fuilneis of Chrift ; the more you receive from him, the more you will grow up in him, and be devoted to him. 2o8 INFLUENCE OF FAINT-HiART AND MISTRUST. Hope. I would it had been Great-crace, for his fake. Chr* If it had been he, he might have had his hands full : for I mufl tell you, that though Great- grace is excellent good at his weapon, and has, and can, fo long as he keeps them at fword's point, do well enough with them, yet if they get withiii him, even Faint-heart, Mistrust, or the otherj it will go hard, but that they will throw up his heels : and when a man is down, you know, what can he do ? Whofo looks well upon Great-grace's face, fhall fee thofe fears and cuts there, that flrall eafily give demonflration of what 1 fay. Yea, once 1 heard that he fhould fay (and that when he was in the combat), " We defpaired even of life."* How did thefe fturdy rogues and their fellows make David groan, mourn, and roar? Yea, Heman and Heze- KiAH too, though champions in their days, were forced to beflir them, when by thefe aflaulted ; and yet, notwithftanding, they had their coa^s foundly brufhed by them. Peter, upon a time, would go try what he could do ; but, though fome do fay of him, that he is the prince of the apoftles, they han- dled him fo, that they made him at laft afraid of a forry girl. Befides, their king is at their whiftle ; he is ne- ver out of hearing ; and if at any time they be put to the worft, he, if polTible, comes in to help them : and of him it is faid, " the fword of him that lay- " eth at him cannot hold ; the fpear, the dart, nor *' the habergeon j he efteemeth iron as draw, and " brafs • Now here you Cse what is meant by Great-grace, who is fo often men- tioned in this book, and by whom (<> many valiant things were done. We read, " With great power the apodles witnelTed of the refurreition of Je- fus." Why was it ? Becaufe — " Great-grace was upon them all," Ads iv. 33. So you fee all is of grace, from firll to lull, in falvaiion. If we d« prcat things for Chrift, yet, not unto us, but unto the Great-grace of ouf Lord, be all the glory. JOE S HORSE DESCRIBED. 209 • ' - — ... t - ** brafs as rotten wood : the arrow cannot make him '* flee, fling flones are turned, with him into ilub- *' ble ; darts are counted as ftubble ; he laugheth at *' the fliaking of a fpear.'*' What can a man do in this cafe ? it is true, if a man could at every turn have J'>B*s horfe, and had flcill and courage to ride him, he might do notable things ; for " his neck " is clothed with thunder ; he will not be afraid as " a grafs-hopper ; the glory of his nodrils is terri- " ble ; he paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his " fl:rength, he goeth on to meet the armed men : " he mocketh at fear, and is not aftVighted, neither *' turneth he back from the Iword : the quiver rat- " tleth againfl; him, the glittering fpear and the " fliield : he fwalloweth the ground with fiercenefs " and rage, neither believeth he that it is the found " of the trumpet. He faith among the trumpets, " Ha, ha ; and he fmelleth the battle afar off*, the " thunder of the captains and the flioutlngs."^ But for fuch footmen as thee and I are, let us never defire to meet with an enemy, nor vaunt as if we could do better, when we hear of others that they have been foiled ; nor be tickled at the thought of our own manhood, for fuch commonly come by the word when tried. Peter, of whom I made mention before, he would fv/agger, ay, he would ; he would, as his vain mind prompted him to fay, do better, and ftand more for his mailer than all men : but who fo foiled and run down by thofe vil- lains as he ?* When therefore we hear that fuch robberies are done on the king's highway, tv\^o things become us D d to • From this fweet and edityin^ ccnverfation, learn not to think more highly of yourfelf than you ought to think; but to think fo; erly, accord- ing to the meafure of faith which God hath dealt to you, Rom xii. 3. Nof G(>d, but that he fliouid depart fioni them : l)ut a day will come, which will burn as an oven, ^^'hen fuch profeffors, if they repent not, lliali become fiiibble, and be conlumed by the fire of God. I Ki'h. vi. l6. * Exod. xxxiii. 15. -5 Pf, iii. 5—8. xxvii. I — 5. Ifa. x. 4. THE PILGRIMS SEDUCED BY THE FLATTERER. 211 they faw a way put itfelf into their way,* and feem- ed withal to lie as Ilraight as the way which they fhould go ; and here they knew nbt which of the two to take, for both feemed ftraight before them : therefore here they flood ftill to confider. And as they were thinking about the way, behold, a man of black flefh, but covered with a very light robe, came to them, and alked them, why they flood there ? They anfwered, They were a going to the Celeflial city, but knew not which of thefe ways to take. * Follow me,* fays the man, ' it is thither * that I am going.* So they followed him in the way that but now came into the road, which by degrees turned, and turned them fo from the city that they defired to go to, that in a little time their faces were turned away from it : — yet they followed him. But by and by, before they were aware, he led them both within the compafs of a net, in which they were both fo entangled, that they knew not what to do ; and with that, the white robe fell off the black man's back : — I'hey then faw where they were. Wherefore there they lay crying fome lime, for they could not get themfelves out.f Then faid Christian to his fellow. Now do I fee myfelf in an error. Did not the fhepherds bid us beware of the flatterers ? As is the faying of the wife man, fo have we found it this day, " A man " that flattereth his neighbour, fpreadeth a net for " his feet.'*' D d 2 Hope. • By this way and a way, it is plain the author means the way of felf- righteonfnefs, and the way of the imparted righteoufnels of Chrift. Whenever we turn afide to the former, we get out of the way to the city ; yea, we fee by degrees the pilgrims faces were turned away from it, and they were entangled in the net of pride and folly. f lluther was wont to caution againft the white devil, as much as the Hack one ; for Satan transforms himfelf into an angel of light, and his mi- nifters as minifters of righteoufnefs, a Cor. xi 14, 15. And how do they ruin fouls ? By flattery, deceiving the ignorant, and beguiling the unflabl»» ' Tbefe are black men clodded in white. » Piov, xxix. s- 21 i THLY ARE DELIVERED, Hope. They alfo gave us a note of directions about the wry, for our more fure finding thereof ; but herein we have alfo forgotten to read, and have not kept ourfelves from the " paths of the deftroyer.'* Here David was wifer than we ; for faith he, " con- " cerning the works of men, by the word of ihy *' lips, I have kept me from the paths of the de- " flroyer."' Thus they lay bewailing themfelves in the net. At lafl they fpied a fliining one* coming towards them, with a whip of fmall cord in his hand. When he was come to the place where they were, he afked them, whence they came, and what they did there ? They told him, that they were poor pil- grims going to ZiON, but were led out of their way by a black man clothed in white, who bid us, faid they, follow him, for he was going thither too. Then faid he wi^h the whip, it is a flatterer, " a " falfe apoflle, that hath transformed himfelf into " an angel of light."* So he rent the net, and let the men out. Then faid he to them, Follow me, that 1 may fet you in the way again : — fo he led them back to the way which they had left to follow • the flatterer. Then he aflied them, faying, Where did you lie the lafl night? They faid. With the fhepherds upon the Delectable Mountains. He aflted them then, if they had not a note of direclion for the way ? They anfwered, Yes. But did you, faid he, when you were at a ftand, pluck out and read your note? They anfwered. No, He aflced them. Why ? They faid, they forgot. He aflied moreover. If the fliepherds did not bid them beware of the flatterer ? They anfwered. Yes ; but we did not imagine faid they, that this fine fpoken man had been he.3 Then • By this (hining one, underftand the Holy Ghoft, the leader and giilde of all who believe. When they err and ftray from Jefus the way, and are drawn « Pfal. xvil. 4. * a Cor. xi. 13, 14. Dan. xi, 32. 3 Rom. xvi. 17, 18. ANb SORELY CHASTISED* 21 J Then I faw in my dream, that he commanded them to lie down;^ which when they did, he chaf- tifed them fore, to teach them the good way wh^ein they fhould walk:* and, as he chaftifed them, he ^ faid, " As many as I love, I rebuke and chaften ; ^M^v *' be zealous, therefore, and repent. "3 " 'Ihis done, ^i^^ he bid them go on their way, and take good heed to the other diredlions of the fhepherds. So they thanked him for all his kindnefs, and went foftiy along the right way, finging— ^ * Come hither, you that walk along the way, See how the pilgrims fare that go allray ; They catched are in an entangling net, 'Caufe they good counfel lightly did forget t 'Tis true, they refcu'd were ; but yet, you fee, They're fcourg'd to boot : — let this your caution be.* drawn from him as the Truth, the fpirit comes with his rod of convidlion and chaftifement, to whip them for their felf-rightcoufnefR and folly, back to Chrift, to truft wholly in him, to rely only on him, and to walk in fel- lowlhip with him. So he adted by the Galatian church, who was flattered into a notion of felf-righteoufnefs and felf-juftification. David alfo, when he found himfelf near loft, cries out — " HE reftoreth my foul, he leadcth me in paths of righteoufnefs for his name fake ' Pfal. xxiii. 3. The following lines are very expreflive of the Aate of mind of any who, by giving place to unbelief, may have turned afide from the narrow way. Often thus, thro' fins' deceit, Grief, and Ihame, and lofs I meet ; Like a fifh, my foul miftook. Saw che bait, but not the hook ; Made, by paft experience, wife. Let me learn thy word to prize ; Taught by what I've felt before, •Satan's flattery to abhor. BURDF.R. » Deut. xxix. 2. * a Chron, vl. 26, »;. 3 Rev, iij, i^^ CHAP. ^ 214 A MAN WITH HIS BACK TO ZION CHAP. XVIII. THE PILGRIMS MEET WITH ATHEIST^ AND PASS OVER THE ENCHANTED GROUND. N< OW after a while, they perceived afar off, one coming foftly, alone, all along the highway, to meet tKem. Then faid Christian to his fellow. Yonder is a man with his back towards Zion, and he h coming to meet us. Hope. I fee him ; let us take heed to ourfelves now, left he fhould prove a flatterer alfo. So he drew nearer and nearer, and at laft came up to them. His name was Atheist; and he afl^ed them whither they were going ? Chr. We are going to mount Zion. Then Atheist fell into a very great laughter? Chr. What is the meaning of your laughter ? Ath. 1 laugh to fee what ignorant perfons you are, to take upon you fo ridiculous a journey ; and yet arc like to have nothing but your travel for your pains. Chr. Why, man, do you think we fhall not be received ? Ath. Received ! there is no fuch place as you dream of in all this world. Chr. But there is in the world to come. Ath. When I was at home, in mine own coun- try, I heard as you now affirm, and from that hear^ ing went out to fee, and have been feeking this city twenty years, but find no more of it than I did the firft day I fet out.^ Chr . We have both heard and believe that there is fuch a place to be found. Ath. Had not I, when at home, believed, I had not come thus far to feek ; but finding none (and yet I ihould, had there been fuch a place to be fgund, i Cccl. ;t. 15. Jer, xTii. J^. HIS VAIN REASONINGS DISRrGARDED. 215 found, for I have gone to feek it further than you), 1 am going back again, and will feek to refrefh my- felf with the things that I then cafl: away for hopes of that which I now fee is not. Then faid Christian to Hopeful his compa- nion, Is it true which this man hath faid ? Hope. Take heed, he is one of the flatterers : remember what it hath coft us once already, for our hearkening to fuch kind of fellows. What! no mount ZioN? Did we not fee from the Delectable Mountains the gate of the city ? Alfo, are we not now to walk by faith ?' Let us go on, faid Hopeful, left the man with the whip overtake us again.* You fhould have taught me that leifon, which I will round in the ears withal : " Ceafe, my fon, to hear " the inftrudion that caufeth to err from the words *' of knowledge;"* I fay, my brother, ceafe to hear him, and let us believe to the faving of the foul. Chr. My brother, I did not put the queftion to thee, for that I doubted of the truth of your belief myfelf, but to prove thee, and to fetch from thee a fruit of the honefty of thy heart. As for this man, I know that he is blinded by the god of this world. Let thee and I go on, knowing that we have belief of the truth ; and " no lie is of the truth. "3 Hope. Now I do rejoice in hope of the glory of God. — So they turned away from the man, and he, laughing at them, went his way. I faw then in my dream, that they went till they came into a certain country, whofe air naturally tend- ed to make one drowfy, if he came a ftranger into it. And here Hopeful began to be very dull and heavy of ^ See how we are furroiinded with different enemies. No fooner have they efcaped the felf-righteous flatterer, but they meet with the openly pro- fane and licentious mocker. Ay, and he fet out, and went far too, yea, farther than they; but behold, he has turned his back upon all, and though he had been twenty years a feeker, yet now he proves, he has neither faith nor hope, but ridicules all as delufion. Awful to think of! O what a fpe- cial mercy to be kept believing and perfevering, not regarding the ridicule «t apoftates! « I Cot, V, 7. ' Prov. xix. 47. Heb. x. 39. 3 i John ii ai. 3l6 HOPEFUL BECOMES DROWSY. of fleep: wherefore he faid unto Christian, I now begin to grow fo drowfy, that I can fcarcely hold up mine eyes ; let us lie down here, and take one nap. By no means, faid the other j left, fleeping, wc never wake more. Hope. Why, my brother ? ileep is fweet to the labouring man j we may be refrefhed if we take a nap. Chr. Do you not remember that one of the Ihep- herds bid us beware of the Enchanted Ground? He meant by that, that we Should beware of fleep- ing ; " wherefore let us not fleep, as do others, but *' let us waich, and be fober."* ' Hope. I acknowledge myfelf in a fault ; and, had I been here alone, I had by fleeping run the danger of death. I fee it is true that the wife man faith, " Two are better than one.*'* Hitherto hath thy company been my mercy ; and thou flialt " have a " good reward for thy labour." Now then, faid Christian, to prevent drowfinefs in this place, let us fall into good difcourfe. "With all my heart, faid the other. Chb. Where fliall we begin? Hope. Where God began with us : — ^but do you begin, if you pleafe. Chr. I will fmg you firft this fong — When faints do fleepy grow, let them come hither, And hear how thefe two pilgrims talk together: Yea, let them learn of them in any wife 'Thus to keep ope their drowfy flunib'ring eyes. Saints' fellowlhip, if it be manag'd well, Keeps them awake, and that in I'pite of hell.'f Then • O chriftian beware of fleeping on this enchanted ground ! When all things go eafy, fmooth, and well, we are prone to go drowfy in foul. How toaiiy are the calls in the word, againft fpiritiial flumber! and yet how ma- ny profeflors, thro' the enchanting air of this world, are fallen into the deep fleep of formality ! Be warned by them to cry to thy Lord to keep thee awake to righteoufnefs, and be vigorous in the ways of thy Lord. ^ bbfcrvation fully evinces this truth, and when the foul flumbcrs, tlie tongue » Th^ff, V. 6. 2 Ecti, iv. 9, HOPEFULS PAST LIFE, AND FIRST CONVICTIONF. 2iy Then Christian began, and faid, I will alk you a queflion : How came you to think at firit of doing what you do now ? Hope. Do you mean, how came I at firfl to look, after the good of my foul ? Chr. Yes, that is my meaning. Hope. I continued a great while in the delight of ihofe things which were feen and fold at our fair ; things which I believe now would have, had I con- tinued in them ftill, drowned me in perdition and deftruclion. Chr. What things are they ? Hope. All the treafures and riches of the world. Alfo I delighted much in rioting, revelling, drink- ing, fwearing, lying, uncleannefs, fabbath-breaking, and what not, that tended to deflroy the foul. But I found, at laft, by hearing and considering of things that are divine, which indeed I heard of you, as alfo of beloved Faithful, who was put to death for his faith and good living *n Vanity-fair, that " the end of thefe things is death ;" and that " for '* thefe things' fake, the wrath of God cometh upon " the children of difobedience.'** Chr. And did you prefently fall under the power of this convidion ? Hope. No ; I was not willing prefently to know the evil of fin, nor the damnation that follows upon the commiflion of it j but endeavoured, when my mind at firfl began to be fhaken with the word, to Ihut mine eyes againft the light thereof. Chr. But what was the caufe of your carrying of it thus to the firft workings of Gcrt)*s bleffed Spirit upon you ? E e Hope. tongue Is mute to fpiritual converfe, and the truths of Jefus freeze on the lips, while the man is all ear to hear, and^ll tcngue to talk of vain, world- ly, and trifling things. Beware of fuch fleepy profeflors. You are in dan- ger of catching the infedion : you are fure to get no fpiritual edification from them ; but be fure to be faithful in reproving them, and prize the com- pany of lively chriftians. ' Rom. vi. 21 — 2j. Eph. v. 6. 2l8 AMENDMENT FAILS TO QUIET HIS CONSCIENCE. . Hope. The caufes were — i. I was ignorant that this was the work of God upon me. I never thought that by awakenings for fin God at firfh begins the converfion of a finner. 2, Sin was yet very fweet to my flefh, and I was loth to leave it. 3. I could not tell how to part with my old companions, their prefence and adions were fo defirable unto me. 4. The hours in which convictions were upon me, were fuch troublefome and fuch heart-affrighting hours, that I could not bear, no, not fo much as the remembrance of them upon my heart,* Chr. Then, it feems, fometimes you got relief of your trouble ? Hope. Yes, verily, but it would come into my mind again, and then I would be as bad, nay, worfe than I was before. Chr. Why, what was it that brought your fms to mind again ? Hope. Many things : as, if I did but meet a good man in the ftreet ; or if I have heard any read in the Bible ; or if mine head did begin to ache j or if 1 were told that fome of my neighbours were fick ; or if I heard the bell toll for fome that were dead ; or if 1 thought of dying myfelf ; or if 1 heard that fudden death happened to others : — but efpecially when I thought of myfelf, that I muft quickly come to judgment. Chr. And could you at any time, with eafe, get off the guilt of fin, when by any of thefe ways it came upon you ? Hope. * Here you fee, as our Lord fays, " Ft is the Spirit who quickeneth, the flefh profiteth nothing," John vi. 63. The flefli, or our carnal nature, fo far from profiting in the worlc of converfion to Chrift, that it is in enmity againft him, and countera(5ls and oppofes the Spirit's worlc in (hewing us our want of him, and bringing us to him. Man's nature and God's grace arc two dire6l oppofites. Nature oppofes, but grace fubdues nature, and bring* it to fubmiflion and fubjedlion. Are we truly convinced of fin, and con- verted to Chrift? This is a certain and fure evidence of it, — we (hall fay from our hearts, Not unto us, not unto any yieldings and compliances of our nature, free-wiU, and power only, but uuto thy name, O Lord, be all the glory. HIS WAY OF ACCOUNTING FOR THIS. 219 Hope. No, not I ; for then they got fafter hold of my confcience : and then, if I did but think of going back to fin (though my mind was turned againft it), it would be double torment to me. Chr. And how did you do then ? Hope. I thought I muft endeavour to mend my life ; for elfe, thought I, I am fure to be damned. Chr. And did you endeavour to amend? Hope. Yes ; and fled from, not only my fins, but fmful company too, and betook me to religious du- ties, as praying, reading, weeping for fin, fpeaking truth to my neighbours, &c. Thefe things did I, with many other, too much here to relate. Chr. And did you think yourfelf well then ? Hope. Yes ; for a while ; but at the lafl my trou- ble came tumbling upon me again, and that over the neck of all my reformation. Chr. How came that about, fince you were now reformed ? Hope. There were feveral things brought it upon me ; efpecially fuch fayings as thefe — " All our *' righteoufnefs are as filthy rags :" — " By the *' works of the law no man fhall be juflified :" — *' When ye have done all thefe things, fay. We are '* unprofitable :''^ with many more fuch like. From whence I began to reafon with myfelf thus : — if all my righteoufnefs are filthy rags ; if by the deeds of the law no man can be juflified ; and if, when we have done all, we are unprofitable — then it is but a folly to think of heaven by the law. I further thought thus — if a man runs a hundred pounds into the fiiop-keeper's debt, and after that fhall pay for all that he fhall felch-^yer, if this old debt Hands flill in the book uncroiTed, for that the fhopkceper may fue him, and caft him into prifon till he fliall pay the debt. Chu. Well, and how did you apply this to yourfelf? E e 2 Hops. i Ifftiah hi?. 6, Luke svii, lo. Gal. ii. 1 6. 220 KOV/ HE LEARNED THE WAY OF JUSTIFICATION *, Hope. Why, I thought thus wifh myfelf^ I have by my fins run a great way into God's book, and that my now reforming will not pay off that fcore ; therefore I Ihould think flill, under all my prefent amend- ments, ' But how fhall 1 be freed from that damna- ' tion that I brought myfelf in danger of by my * former tranfgreflions r* Ckr. a very good application : — but pray go on. Hope. Another thing that bath troubled me, even fince my late amendments, is, thar, if I look narrowly into the bed of what I do now, I dill fee fin, new fm, mixing itfelf with the bell of that I do : fo that now I am forced to conclude that, notwithftanding my former fond conceits of myfelf and duties, I have committed fm enough in one duty to fend me to hell, though my former life had been faultlefs,* Chr. And what did you do then ? Hope. Do! I could not tell what to do, till I broke my mind to Faithful; for he and I were well acquainted: and he told me, that unlefs I could obtain the righteoufnefs of a man that never had finned, neither my own, nor all the righteoufr nefs of the world, could fave me.f Chr. And did you think he fpake true ? Hope. Had he told me fo, when I was pleafed and fatisfied with mine own amendment, I had called him fool for his pains ; but now, fmce I fee mine own infirmity, ■ Thus you fee in converfion, the Lord does not aft upon us by force and compulfion, as though we were inanimate flocks or ftones, or irrational ani- mals, or mere machines. No. We have underftanding. He enlightens it. Then we come fo a found mind ■, we think right, and reafon juftiy. We have wills ; what the underflanding judges beft, the will approves, and then the affeiftions follow after; and thus we chufe Chrift for our Saviour, and glory only in his mercy and falvation. When the heavenly light of truth makes manifeft what we are, and the danger we are in, then we Ihould flee from the wrath to come, to Chritt the refuge fet before us. f Here is the touchftcne> to try whether conviction and converfion are from the Spirit of truth, or not. Many talk of convi<9ion and converfion, who are yet unchanged in heart, and ftrong in confidence of a righteoufnefs of their own, or of being made righteous in themfelve«, indead of looking folely to, and trufting wholly in, the infinite mercy and blood of Chrift Jefun, and defirip.g to he found in him. All conviiftion and converfion, fliort of this, leaves the foul Ihort of Chrill's righteoufnefs, of hope, and of heaven. AND TO PLEAD THE PROMISES IN PRAYER. 221 infirmity, and the fin which cleaves to my bed per- formance, I have been forced to be of his opinion. Chr. But did you think, when at firft he fuggefted it to you, that there was fuch a man to be found, of whom it might juftly be faid, that he never com- mitted fm ? HoFE. I mufl confefs the words at firft founded flrangely ; but, after a little more talk and company with him, I had full convidion about it. Chr. And did you afk him what man this was, and how you mufl be juflified by him ?' Hope. Yes, and he told me it was the Lord Jesus, that dwelleih on the right hand of the Mofl High : And thus, faid he, you muft be juflified by him — even by trufling to what he hath done by himfelf in the days of his flefh, and fuffered when he did hang on the tree. I afked him, further, how that man*s righteoufnefs could be of that efficacy to juflify an- other before God ? And he told me. He was the Mighty God, and did what he did, and died the death alfo, not for himfelf, but for me, to whom his doings and the worthinefs of them fhould be imputed, if I believed on him. Chr. And what did you do then ? Hope. I made my objedions againfl my believing, for that I thought he was not willing tp fave me. Chr. And what faid Faithful to you then ? Hope. He bid me go to him and fee. Then I faid it was prefumption. He faid, No, for I was invited to come.* — Then he gave me a book, of Jesijs's inditing, to encourage me the more freely to come : and he faid, concerning that book, that every jot and tittle thereof flood firmer than heaven and earth. 3 Then I afked him, what I mufl do when I came ? And he told me, I mufl entreat upon my knees ;4 with all my heart and foul, the Father to reveal I Rom, iv. Col, J Heh. x. 1 Ve' • . ^ Mat. vi. 28. 3 Matt, xxiv, 3f. * Plal, xcv. 6. Jer. xxix. U, 13. Dan. vi. t he firft begins to if-ck the Lord. But he has Chrift's feithful word of proniUV, " Seek and ye liall find," &c. Luke xi. 9, * Exod. ixv. 2,2. Lev. xvi. 2. Hcb. iv, 16. HOW CHRIST V/AS REVKALED TO HIM. ilj been told me, to wit, that without the righteoufnefs of this Christ, all the world could not fave me : and therefore, thought I with myfelf, if I leave oft I die, and I can but die at the throne of grace. And withal this came into my mind, " If it tarry, " wait for it ; becaufe it will furely come, and will " not tarry. "^ So I continued, until the Father fliowed me his Son.* Chr. And how was he revenled unto you ? Hope. I did not fee him with my bodily eyes, but with the eyes of my underflanding,* and thus it was : — one day I was very fad, I think fadder than at any one time of my life ; and this fadnefs was through a freih fight of the greatnefs and vilenefs of my fms. And as I was then looking for nothing but hell, and the everlailing damnation of my foul, fuddenly, as 1 thought, I faw the Lord Jesus look down from heaven upon me, and faying. " Believe on the Lord " Jesus Christ, and thou flialt be faved."3 But I replied, ' Lord, 1 am a great, a very great ' finner :' and he anfwered, " My grace is fufficient " for thee.'* Then I iaid, * But, Lord, what is be- ' lieving ?' And then I faw from that faying, " He *' that Cometh to me fliali never hunger, and he that " believeth on me fliall never thirfl:,"-^ that believing and coming was all one ; and that he that came, that is, ran out in his heart and affeclion after falvation by Christ, he indeed believed in Christ. Thea the water flood in mine eyes, and 1 afked further, ' But, Lord, may fuch a great finner as I am, be in- * deed accepted of thee, and be faved by thee ?* And I heard him fay, " And him that cometh to me, I *' will in no wife call out. "-J Then I faid, ' But how, ' Lord, * The true nature of faith is, to believe and reft upon the word of truth, and wait with humble fervency of foul for the promifcd comfort. That fai:h which is the gift of God, leads the foul to wait upon and cry to God, and not to reft till it has fome blefled teflimony from God, of Intereft in the love and favour of God in Chrift Jefus. But O how rnany profefibrs reft fliort of this ! » Hab. ii, 3. * Eph. i. 18, 19. 5 Acls svi. 50, 3 1. * John vi, jf. 5 John vi. 37. 224 Hiri INCREASE OF HUMCLITY AND LOVE. ' Lord, mufl: I confider of thee in my coining to thee, ' that my faith may be placed aright upon thee ?* Then he faid^ " Christ came into the world to fave ** fmners :" " he is the end of the law of righteouf- " nefs to every one that believes :'* " he died for our " fins, and rofe again for our juflification :" " he ** loved us, and wafhed us from our fms in his own " blood :" " he is Mediator betwixt God and us :'* *' he ever liveth to make interceffion for us.*'' From all which I gathered, that 1 mufl look for righteouf- nefs in his perfon,* and for fatisfa£lion for my fms by his blood ; that which he did in obedience to his Father's law, and in fubmitting to the penalty there- of, was not for himfelf, but for him that will accept it for his falvation, and be thankful. And now was my heart full of joy, mine eyes full of tears, and mine afFedions running over with love to the name, people, and ways of Jesus Christ. Chr. This was a revelation of Christ to your foul indeed : but tell me particularly what effeft this had upon your fpirit. Hope. It made me fee that all the world, notwith- ftanding all the righteoufnefs thereof, is in a ftate of condemnation : it made me fee that God the Father, though he be juft, can juftly juflify the coming fin- ner : it made me greatly afhamed of the vilenefs of my former life, and confounded me with the fenfeof mine own ignorance ; for there never came a thought into my heart, before now, that fhowed me fo the beauty of Jesus Christ : it made me love a holy life, and long to do fomething for the honour and glory of the Lord Jesus ; yea, I thought that, had I now a thoufand gallons of blood in my body, I could fpill it all for the fake of the Lord Jesus. • Reader, never think that you are fully convinced of the whole truth ; nor believe fully on Chrift according to the fcriptures, unlefs you have fcen as much need of Chrift's glorious righteoufnefs to juflify, as of his precious blood to pardon you. Both are revealed in thegofpel: both are the objedls of faith; by both is the confcience pacified, the heart purified, the foul julli- fied, and Jcfus glorified in the heart, lip, and life. » I Tim, i. 15. Rom. x, 4. Hcb. vii. 24, 25. CHAP. THE PILGRIMS STOP, AND IGNORANCE COMES UP. 2 25 CHAP. XIX. THE PILGRIMS HAVE ANOTHER CONFERENCE W-ITH IGNORANCE. I SAW then in my dream, that Hopeful looked back and faw Ignorance, whom they had left be- hind, coming after: Look, faid he to Christian, how far yonder youngfter loitereth behind. Chr. Ay, ay, I fee him : he careth not for our company. Hope. But I trow it would not have hurt him, had he kept pace with us hitherto. Chr. That is true ; but I'll warrant you he think- eth otherwife. Hope. That I think he doth : but, however let us tarry for him. So they did. Then Christian faid to him. Come away, man; why do you ftay fo behind ? Ignor. I take my pleafure in walking alone ; even more a great deal than in company j unlefs I like it better. Then faid Christian to Hopeful (but foftly). Did not I tell you he cared not for our company ? But, however, faid he, come up, and let us talk away the time in this folitary place. Then, dired- ing his fpeech to Ignorance, he faid, Come, how do you .? how ftands it between God and your foul now.** Ignor. I hope well ; for I am always full of good motions, that come into my mind to comfort me as I walk.* F f Chr. * Many fincerc fouls are often put to a {land, while they find and feel the working of corruptions in their nature ; and when they hear othera talk fo highly of themfelves, without any complainings of the plague of their hearts. But all this is from the ignorance of their own hearts ; and pride and felf-righteoufnefs harden them againft feeling its defperate wickednefs. But divine teaching caufe» a cJirtllian to fee, know, mnd (cfil the word of Jbimfelf, 226 ignorance's hope, heart, and thoughts. Chr. What good motions ? pray tell us. Ignor. Why, I think of God and heaven. Chr. So do the devils and damned fouls. Ignor. But I think of them and defire them. Chr. So do many that are never like to come there. *' The foul of the fluggard defires, and haih " nothing."' Ignor. But I think of them, and leave all for them. Chr. That I doubt : for leaving of all is an hard matter ; yea, a harder matter than many are aware of. But why, or by what, art thou perfuaded that thou haft left all for God and heaven .'* Ignor. My heart tells me fo. Chr. The wife man fays, " He that trufls his " own heart is a fool.*'* Ignor. This is fpoken of an evil heart ; but mine is a good one. Chr. But how doft thou prove that? Ignor. It comforts me in hopes of heaven. Chr. That may be through its deceitfulnefs ; for a man's heart may minifter comfort to him in the hopes of that thing for which he has yet no ground to hope. Ignor. But my heart and life agree together ; and therefore my hope is well grounded. Chr. Who told thee that thy heart and life agree together .? Ignor. My heart tells me. Chr. ' AJk my fellow if 1 he a thief: Thy heart tells thee fo ! Except the word of God beareth witnefs in this matter, other teftimony is of no value. Ignor. himfelf, that he may glory of nothing in or of himfelf, but that all his glo- rying fhould be of what precious Chrift is to him, and what he is in Chrifl. See the contrary of nil this exemplified in Ignorance, in whom we behold, as in a mirror, many profeffors who are ftrangers to their own hearts ; hence are deceived into vain fe!f-confidence. ' Prov. xiii. 4. * Prov. xxviii. a6. WHAT ARE GOOD THOUGHTS. 227 Ignor. But is It not a good heart that has good thoughts ? and is not that a good life that is accord- ing to God's commandments ? Chr. Yes, that is a good heart that hath good thoughts, and that is a good life that is according to God's commandments ; but it is one thing indeed to have thefe, and another thing only to think fo. Ignor. Pray, what count you good thoughts, and a life according to God's commandments ? Chr. There are good thoughts of divers kinds ; — fome refpeding ourfelves, fome — God, fome — Christ, and fome — other things. Ignor. What be good thoughts refpecling our- felves ? Chr. Such as agree with the word of God. Ignor. When do our thoughts of ourfelves agree with the word of God ? Chr. When we pafs the fame judgment upon our- felves, which the word pafles. — To explain myfelf : the word of God faith of perfons in a natural con- dition, " There is none righteous, there is none " that doeth good." It faith alfo, that " every " imagination of the heart of a man is only evil, " and that continually."' And again, " The ima- " gination of man's heart is evil from his youth." Now then, when we think thus of ourfelves, having fenfe thereof, then are our thoughts good ones, be- caufe according to the word of God. Ignor. I will never believe that my heart is thus bad.* Chr. Therefore thou never hadfl one good thought concerning thyfelf in thy life. — But let me go on. As the word pafl'eth a judgment upon our heart, fo F f 2 it * No; no man naturally can. But this is a fiire fign that the light fi'om heaven hath not yet fhined into the heart, and made it manifeft, how fuper- lativcly wicked the heart is, and confequently, how it deceives ignorant pro- fcffors with a notion of being good in theniftlves, and keeps them from wholly relying upon Chrift's atonement for pardon, and juftification imto life. « Gen. vi. c. Rom. iii. 228 ignorance's faith: christian it paffeth a judgment upon our ways ; and when the thoughts of our hearts and ways agree with the judg- ment which the word giveth of both, then are both good, becaufe agreeing thereto. Ignor. Make out your meaning. Chr. Why the word of God faith, that man's ways are crooked ways, not good, but perverfe : it faith, they are naturally out of the good way, that they have not known it." Now when a man thus thinketh of his ways ; I fay, when he doth fenfibly, and with heart-humiliation, thus think, then hath he good thoughts of his own ways, becaufe his thoughts now agree with the judgment of the word of God. Ignor. "What are good thoughts concerning God ? Chr, Even, as I have faid concerning ourfelves, when our thoughts of God do agree with what the word faith of him ; and that is, when we think of his being and attributes as the word hath taught ; of which I cannot now difcourfe at large. But to fpeak of him in reference to us ; then we have right thoughts of God, when we think that he knows us better than we know ourfelves, and can fee fin in us, when and where we can fge none in ourfelves : when we think he knows our inmoft thoughts, and that our heart, with all its depths, is always open unto his eyes : alfo when we think that all our righteouf- nefs flinks in his noftrils, and that therefore he can- not abide to fee us fland before him in any confi- dence, even in all our befl: performances. Ignor. Do you think that I am fuch a fool as to think God can fee no further than I? or that I would come to God in the bed of my perform- ances ? Chr. Why, how dofl thou think in this matter ?. Ignor. Why, to be fhort, I think I mufl believe in Christ for juflification. Chr. How? think thou mufl believe in Christ, when thou feefl not thy need of him ! Thou neither feefl » Pf. cxxv, 5, ProT. ii. 15, CONTRASTS IT WITH JUSTIFICATION. 229 feeft thy original nor adlual infirmities ; but hafl fuch an opinion of thyfelf, and of what thou doeft, as plainly renders thee to be one that did never fee a neceflity of Christ's perfonal righteoufnefs to juftify thee before God.* How then dofl thou fay, I believe in Christ ? Ignor. I believe well enough for all that. Chr. How dofl thou believe ? Ignor. I believe that Christ died for finners ; and that I fhall be juflified before God from the curfe, through his gracious acceptance of my obe- dience to his laws. Or thus, Christ makes my duties, that are religious, acceptable to his Father by virtue of his merits, and fo ftiall I be juftified.| Chr. Let us give an anfwer to this confeflion of thy faith. 1. Thou believed with a fantaftical faith ; for this faith is no where defcribed in the word. 2. Thou believeft with a falfe faith ; becaufe thou takefl j unification from the perfonal righteoufnefs of Christ, and appliefl: it to thy own. 3. This faith maketh not Christ a juftifier of thy perfon, but of thy a£lions ; and of thy perfoii for thy anions' fake, which is falfe. 4. Therefore this faith is deceitfpl, even fuch as will leave thee under wrath in the day of God Almighty : for true juflifying faith puts the foul, as fenfible of its loft condition by the law, upon flee- ing for refuge unto Christ's righteoufnefs ; (which righteoufnefs of his is not an a£t of grace, by which he maketh for juftification, thy obedience accepted of • Here we fee how naturally the notion of man's righteoufnefs blinds his eyes to, and keeps his heart from believing, that Chrift alone juftifies a finner in the fight of God; and yet fuch talk of believing, but their faith is only fancy. They do not believe unto righteoufnefs, but imagine they have now, or fhall get righteoufnefs of their own, fome how or other. Awful delufion ! ■{■ Here is the very effence of that delufion which works by a lie, and fo much prevail!--, and keeps up an unfcriptural hope in the hearts of fo niany profefTors. Do, Reader, ftudy this point well ; for here feems to be a Ihow of fcriptural truth, while the rankeft poifon lie* concealed in it. For it i« sitterly fubvcrfive of, and contrary to the faidi anj hope ,of the gofpcl. 230 IGNORANCE ANSWERS WITH REPROACHfS, of God, but his perfonal obedience to the law, in doing and fufferlng for us what that required at our hands :) this righteoufnefs, 1 fay, true faith accept- eth ; under the lliirt of which the foul being fhrouded, and by it prefented as apoflles before God, it is ac- cepted, and acquits from condemnation.* Ignor. What! would you have us truft to what Christ in his own peifon hath done without us ? This conceit would loofeii the reins of our luft, and tolerate us to live as we lift : for what matter how we live, if we may be juftified by Christ's perfonal righteoufnefs from all, when we beheve it?f Chr. Ignorance is thy name; and as thy name is, fo art thou ; even this thy anfwer demonflrateth what I fay. Ignorojit thou art of what juftifying righteoufnefs is, and as ignorant how to fecure thy foul, through the faith of it, from the heavy wrath of God. Yea, thou alfo art ignorant of the true effect of faving faith in this righteoufnefs of Christ, which is to bow and win over the heart to God in Christ, to love his name, his word, ways and peo- ple, and not as thou ignorantly imagined. Hope. Alk him if ever he had Christ revealed to him from heaven .•* J Ignor. * Under thefe four heads, we have a moft excellent detei^lion of a pre- fumptive and moft dangerous error which now greatly prevails; as well as a fL-riptiiral view of the nature of true faith, and the objeil it fixes on wholly and folely for juftification before God, and acceptance with God. Reader, for thy foul's fake look to thy foundation. See that you build upon nothing in felf, but all upon that fure foundation which God hath laid, even his be- loved Son. f No fooner can you propofe to an ignorant profeflbr, Chrifl's righteouf- refs alone for juftification, but he inftantly dilplays his ignorance of the power of the truth, and the influence of faith, by crying out, " Antino- niianifm J O you are for dcftroying holinefs at the root, and for bringing hi licentioiifiiefs like a flood." Thus pride works by a lie, and is fupported by felf-riglueoi;fiiel'», in oppofifion to God's grace, and fulmiflioD to Chrift's righteoufnefs. This is a Ipreading hcrefy of the flefti, which moft. dread- fully prevails at this day. Be not deceived. :} This, by natural men. is deemed the very height of enth.ufiafm; but a fpiritual man knows the bleflednefs, and rejoices in the comfort of this. It is a clofe qucftiun ; what may we underfland by it .' Doubtlefs, what Paul means, when he fays, '• It pleafed God to reveal his Son in me," Gal i. i6. that AND BREAKS OFF THE CONVERSATION. 23I Ignor. What ! you are a man for revelations ! I do believe that what both you and all the reft of you fay about that matter, is but the fruit of diftraded brains. Hope. Why, man! Christ is fo hid in God from the natural apprehenfions of the fiefh, that he can- not by any man be favingly known, unlefs God the Father reveals him to them. Ignor. That is your faith, but not mine: yet mine, I doubt not, is as good as yours, though I have not in my head fo many whimfies as you. Chr. Give me leave to put in a word : — you ought not to fpeak fo flightly of this matter : for this I boldly affirm (even as my good companion hath donej, that no man can know Jesus Christ but by the revelation of the Father ; yea, and faith too, by which the foul layeth hold upon Christ (if it be right), muft be wrought by the exceeding greatnefs of his mighty power;* the working of which faith, I perceive, poor Ignorance, thou art ignorant of. Be awakened then, fee thine own wretchednefs, and flee to the Lord Jesus ; and by his righteouf- nefs, which is the righteoufnefs of God (for he him- felf is God), thou fhalt be delivered from condemna- tion.* Ignor, that is, he had fuch an internal, fpiritual, experimental fight and knowledge o( Chrift, and of falvation by him, that his heart embraced him, his foul cleaved to him, his fpirit rejoiced in him ; his whole man was fwallowed up with the love of him, fo that he cried out in the joy of his foul. This is my beloved aod my friend — my Saviour, my God, and my falvation. He is the chief of ten thoufand, and altogether lovely. We know nothing of Chrift favingly, comfortably, and experimentally, till he is pleafed thus to reveal himfelf to us. Matt. xi. 27. This fpiritual revelation of Chrift to the heart, is a blefling and comfort agreeable to, and confequent upon, believing on Chrift, as revealed outwardly in the word. Therefore every fincere foul {hould wait and look, and long, and pray for it. Beware you do not defpife it ; if you do, you will betray your ignorance of fpiritual things, as Igno- rance did. * That finncr is not thoroughly awakened, who does not fee his need of Chrift's righteoufnefs to be imparted to him. Nor is he quickened, who his not fled to Chrift as the end di the law for righteoufnefs to every one v/ho believes, Rom. x. 4. ^ Matt, xi, 27. 1 Cor. jtii, 3. Eph, i. 18, 19. 232 Christian commiserates ignoranxe. Ignor. You go fo fafl, I cannot keep pace with you : do you go on before : I mull (lay awhile be- hind.* Then they faid — * Well, Ignorance, wilt thou yet foolifh be To flight good counfel, ten times given thee ? And if thou yet refufe it, thou fhalt know, ILre long, the evil of thy doing fo. Remember, man, in time : ftop, do not fear : Good counfel taken well faves ; therefore hear: But if thou yet flialt flight it, thou wilt be The lofer, Ignorance, I'll warrant thee." Then Christian addrefled himfelf thus to his fellow : Chr. Well, come, my good Hopeful, I perceive that thou and I mull walk by ourfelves again. So I faw in my dream, that they went on apace before, and Ignorance, he came hobbling after. Then faid Christian to his companion. It pities me much for this poor man : it will certainly go ill with him at lafl. Hope. Alas ! there are abundance in our town in this condition, whole families, yea, whole flreets, and that of pilgrims too ; and if there be fo many in our parts, how many, think you, mufl there be in the place where he was born .'' f Chr. Indeed the word faith, " He hath blinded ** their eyes, left they Ihould fee," &c. But, now we are by ourfelves, what do you think of fuch men ? have they at no time, think you, con- vidions of fm, and fo confequently fear that their ftate is dangerous ? Hope. • Ignorant profeffors cannot keep pace with fpiritual pilgrims, nor can they relifli the dofirine of Chrift being all in all, in the matter of juflifica> tion and falvation, f Ignorance had juft the fame natural notions of falvation which he wa» born with, only he had been taught to drefs thtm up by the art of fophidry. Hence it is they fo much abounded among profeffors in every age. O what a mercy to be delivered fruA them, to be fpiritually eiiligbccncd and taught the truth as it is ia Jefus ! THE NATURE AND ADVANTAGE OF RIGHT FEAR. 27,^ HoFE. Nay, do you anfwer that queftion yourfelf, for you are the elder man. Chr. Then I fay, fometlmes (as I think) they may ; but they, being naturally ignorant, under- (land not that fuch convidions tend to their good ; and therefore they do defperately feek to (lifle them, and prefumptuoufly continue to flatter themfelves in the way of their own hearts. Hope. I do believe, as you fay, that fear tends much to men's good, and to make them right at their beginning to go on pilgrimage. Chr. Without all doubt it doth, if it he right : for fo fays the word, " The fear of the Lord is the ^' beginning of wifdom."^ Hope. How will you defcribe right fear ? Chr. True or right fear is difcovered by three things : i. By its rife : it is caufed by faving convic- tions for fin. — 2. It driveth the foul to lay fail hold of Christ for falvation. — 3. It begetteth and conti- nueth in the foul a great reverence of God, his word, and ways, keeping it tender, and making it afraid to turn from them, to the right hand or to the left, to any thing that may diflionour God, break its peace, grieve the Spirit, or caufe the enemy to fpeak re- proachfully. Hope. Well faid ; I believe you have faid the truth. — Are we now almofl got pad the Enchanted GROUND Chr. Why ,? art thou weary of this difcourfe ? Hope, No verily, but that I would know where we are. Chr. We have not now above two miles further to go thereon. — But let us return to our matter. — Now the ignorant know not that fuch convidions, that tend to put them in fear, are for their good, and therefore they feek to ffcifle them. Hope. How do they feek to ftifle them ? G g Chr, ' Job XTviii. 28, Pf. cxi. lO. Prov. i. 7. iic. JO. 234 DISCOURSE CONCERNING TEMPORARY. Chr. I. They think that thofe fears are wrought by the devil (though indeed they are wrought by God) ; and, thinking fo, they refifl them, as things that dire6tly tend to their overthrow. 2. They alfo think that thefe fears tend to the fpoiling of their faith ; when, alas for them, poor men that they are, they have none at all ! — and therefore they harden their hearts a^^ainft rhem. 3. They prelume they ou^^fxt not to fear, ai:d therefore in.delpiteof theni wax prefumptuoufly confident. 4. They fee that thofe fears tend to -ake away from them their pitiful old felf-holinefs,* and therefore they refill them with all their might Hope, i Lacw fomething of this myfelf: before I knew myfelf it was fo with me. f Chr. Well, we will leave, at this time, our neigh- bour Ignopance by himfelf, and fall upon another profitable queftion. Hope. With all my heart : but you fhall (lill begin. Chr. Well then, did you know, about ten years ago, one Temporary in your parts, who was a for- ward man in religion then } Hope. Know him ! yes ; he dwelt in Graceless, a town about two miles off of Honesty, and he dwelt next door to one Turnback. Chr. Right ; he dwelt under the fame roof with him. Well, that man was much awakened once ; I believe that then he had fome fight of his fins, and of the wages that were due thereto. Hope. * Fli'iful old fe'.f holimfs . R4jnJ this plirafe. Far was it from the heart bF good Mr. Buiiyan to decry real holinefs. I fuppofe he was never charged with it ; if he was, it mud he by fuch who flrive to exalt their own holi- nefs, more than Chrift's righteoufnefs ; if fo, it is pitiful indeed. It is no- thing hntfclf-bolincfsy or the holinefs of the old nan of fin -, for true holinefs fprings from the belief of, and love to the truth. All befide this, only tends to fcli-confidcnce and fclf-applaufe. f It is profitable to call to mind one's own ignorance, and natural depra- vity when in our unrenewed eftate, to excite humility of heart, and thankful- refs to God, who made us to differ, and to excite pity towards thofe who are walking in nature's pride, felf-righteoufncfs, and felf- confidence. hopeful's account of apostacy of such men. 2r^^ Hope. I am of your mind, for (my houfe not be- ing above three miles from him; he \Vould oft-times come to me, and that with many tears. Truly I pitied the man, and was not altogether without hope of him : but one may fee, it is not every one that cries Lord, Lord. Chr. He told me once that he was refolved to go on pilgrimage, as we go now; but all of a lud- den he grew acquainted with one Saveself,* and then he became a itranger to me. Hope. Now, fmce we are talking about him, let us a little inquire into the reafon of the fudden back- Aiding of him and fuch others. Chr. It may be very profitable; but do you begin. Hope. Well then, there are in my judgment four reafons for it. I. Thoug^h the confciences of fuch men are awak- ened, yet their minds are not changed : tnerefore, when the power of guilt weareth away, that which provoketh them to be religious ceafeth : wherefore they naturally return to their old courfe again ; even as we fee the dog that is fick of v/hat he hath eaten, fo long as his ficknefs prevails he vomits and cafts up all : not that he doeth this of free mind (if we may fay a dog has a mind), but becaufe it troubleth his ftomach : but now, wihen his ficknefs is over, and fo his ftomach eafed, his defires being not at all alienated from his vomit, he turns him about, and licks up all ; and fo it is true which is written, " The " dog is turned to his own vomit again." ^ Thus, I fay, being hot for heaven, by virtue only of the fenfe and fear of the torments of hell, as their fenfc G g 2 of * Sa-ucfAf. This generation greatly abounds among us. Thofe who are wnder this fpirir, are (lr^ng;;rs to themfclves, to the trutli- of God's law, and the promii'es of his gofnel, and fo confequcntly are, llrangcrs to thofe who know thtnifclves to be totally loft ; are de.id to every hjpc of faviug theniftlves, and look only to, and glory only in falvation by Jefiii. " Two cd'iinot walk together except they be agreed," Amos iii j. ' J Pet. ii. 21. 2^6 THE FFFECTS OF AN UNRENEWED HEARt. of hell, and fear of damnation, chills and cools, fo their defires for heaven and faivation cool alfo. So then it comes to pafs that, when their guilt and fear is gone, their defires for her.ven and happinefs die, and they return to their courie again.* 2. Another reafon is, they have flavifh fears that do overmafter them : — I fpeak now of the fears that they have of men : " for the fear of man bringeth a " fnare."' So then, though they feem to be hot for heaven fo long as the flames of hell are about their ears, yet, when that terror is a little over, they betake themfelves to fecond thoughts, namely, that it is good to be wife, and not to run (for they know not what) the hazard of lofmg all, or at leaft of bringing themfelves into unavoidable and unnecef- fary troubles ; and fo they fall in with the world again. 3. The (hame that attends religion lies alfo as a block in their way : they are proud and haughty, and religion in their eye is low and contemptible : therefore, when they have loft their fenfe of hell and wrath to come, they return again to their former courfe. 4. Guilt, and to meditate terror, are grievous to them ; they like not to fee their mifery before they come into it ; though perhaps the fight of it firft, if they loved that fight, might make them flee whither the righteous flee and are fafe ; but becaufe they do as I hinted before, even fliun the thoughts of guilt and terror, therefore, when once they are rid of their awakenings about the terrors and wrath of God, they harden their hearts gladly, and choofe fuch ways as will harden them more and more. Chr. You are pretty near the bufinefs ; for the bottom of all is, for want of a change in their mind and will. And therefore they are but like the felon that ftandeth before the judge ; he quakes and trem- bles, and feeras to repent mpft heartily : but the bottom * A true defcription of the ftate of too many profeffors. Here fee the ifafon why fo mainy faints, as they are called, fall away. » Prov. xsi*. 2j. CHRISTIAN SHOWS HOW THKY DRAW BACK. 2^7 bottom of all is, the fear of the halter ; not that he hath any deteftation of the offences ; as it is evident, becaufe, let but this man have his liberty, and he will be a thief, and fo a rogue ft ill ; whereas, if his mind was changed, he would be otherwife. Hope. Now 1 have fliowed you the reafon of their going back, do you fhow me the manner thereof. Chr. So I will willingly. — They draw oft their thoughts, all that they may, from the remembrance of God, death, and judgment to come : — then they caft off by degrees private duties and clofet-prayer, curbing their lufts, w^atching, forrow for fm, &c. : then they fhun the company of lively and warm chrif^ians : — after that they grow cold to public duty : as hearing, reading, godly conference, and the like ; — then they begin to pick holes, as we fay, in the coats of fome of the godly, and that devilifhly, that they may have a feeming colour to throw religion (for the fake of fome infirmities they have 'fpied in them) behind their backs : — then they begin to ad- here to, and affociate themfelves with, carnal, loofe, and wanton men : — then they give way to carnal and wanton difcourfes in fecret ; and glad are they if they can fee fuch things in any that are counted ho- nefl, that they may the more boldly do it through their example. — After this, they begin to plav with little fms openly : — and then, being hardened, they (how themfelves as they are. Thus, being launched again into the gulf of mifery, unlefs a miracle of grace prevent it, they everlaftingly perifli in their own deceivings.* ♦ See how gradually, ftep by flep, apoftates go back. It begins in the \inbelicf of the heart, and ends in open fins in the life. Why is the love of this woild fo forbidden ? why is covetoufiiefs called idolatry ? Becaufe, what- ever draws away the heart from God, and prevents enjoying clofe fcllowdiip^ with him, naturally tends to apollacy from him. Look well to your hearts and a£re(!;l:ions. Daily learn to obey that command, " Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the iffues of life," Prov. iv. 23, If you ne- gleAto watch, you will be fure to fmart ; under the fenfe of fin on earth, or its curfe in hell. " See tiien that ye walk circumfpcdly, not as fools, but as wife, redeeming the time, becaufe th» davs are evil," Eph. v. n, 16. CHAP. 238 THEY ARRIVE AT THE COUNTRY OF BEULAH. CHAP. XX. THE PILGRIMS TRAVEL THE PLEASANT COUNTRY OF BEULAH. SAFELY PASS THE RIVER OF DEATH, AND ARE ADMITTED INTO THE GLORIOUS CITY OF GOD. N< OW I faw in my dream, that by this time the pilgrims were got over the Enchanted ground, and entering into the country of Beulah,' whcfe air was very fweet and pleafant, the way lying diredly through it, they folaced themfelves there for a feafon. Yea, here they heard continually the fmging of birds, and faw every day the flowers appear in the earth, and heard the voice of the turtle in the land. — In this country the fun fhineth night and day : wherefore this was beyond the val- ley of the Shadow of death, and alfo out of the reach of Giant Despair ; neither could they from this place fo much as fee Doubting Castle.* Here they v/ere within fight of the city they were going to : alfo here met them fome of the inhabitants thereof; for in this land the fliining ones commonly walked, becaufe it was upon the borders of heaven. In this land alfo the contract between the bride and the bridegroom was renewed : yea, here, " as the " bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, fo did their " God rejoice over them." Here they had no want of corn and wine ; for in this place they met abun- dance of what they had fought for in all their pil- grimage. Here they heard voices from out of the city, • O what a bleffed ft ate ! what a glorious frame of the foul is this! J(jI) fjieaks of it as the camile of the Lord ftiiiiiiij; upon his head, chT xxix. J. 'I'he church, in a rapture cries oist, " Siny; O htaveiis and be joyful, O ^-arth break forth into ringing, O mountains, for the J^ord huth comforted 5. is people," Ifa. xxix. i :;. Paul calls rliis, " the fiillnefs of the blcfiing of the gofpel of peace," Rom. xv, 29. O reft not Shun of cn}-WILL LEADS MERCY IN. Good- WILL. Did Ihe defire thee to come with her to this place ? Mer. Yes ; and, as my Lord fees, I am come t and, if there is any grace and forgivenefs of fms to fpare, I befeech that thy poor handmaid may be partaker thereof. Then he took her again by the hand, and led her gently in, and faid, ' I pray for all them that be- ' lieve on me, by what means foever they come un- * to me.' Then faid he to thofe that flood by, * Fetch fomething, and give it Mercy to fmell on, ' thereby to (lay her faintings.* So they fetched her a bundle of myrrh. A while after fhe was re- vived. And now was Christiana, and her boys, and Mercy, received of the Lord at the head of the way, and fpoke kindly unto by him. Then faid they yet further unto him, ' We are forry for our * fins, and beg of our Lord his pardoTi, and further ' information what we muft do.* I grant pardon, faid he, by word and deed ; by word, in the promife of forgivenefs ; by deed, in the way I obtained it. Take the firfl from my lips with a kifs, and the other as it fhall be revealed.' Now I faw in my dream, that he fpake many good words unto them, whereby they were greatly gladdened. He alfo had them up to the top of the gate, and fliowed them by what deed they were fav- ed ; and told them withal, that that fight they would have again as they went along in the way, to their comfort. So he left them awhile in a fummer parlour below, where they entered into talk by themfelves : and thus Christiana began : ' O Lord, how glad am I * that we are got in hither !* Mer. So you well may : but I of all have caufe to leap for joy. Chr. I thought one time as I flood at the gate (becaufe « Sol. Song i. 2. John xx. 19. The pilgrims converse together 281 (becaufe I had knocked and none did anfwer), that all our labour had been lolt, efpecially when that u^Iy cur made fuch a heavy barking at us.* Mer. But my worft fear was, after I faw that you was taken into his favour, and that I was left behind. Now, thought 1, it is fulfilled which is written, " Two women fhail be grinding together, " the one fhall be taken, and the other left."' I had much ado to forbear crying out. Undone! And afraid 1 was to knock any more : but, when I looked up to what was written over the gate,* I took courage. I alfo thought, that I muft either knock again or die :| fo 1 knocked, but I cannot tell how ; for my fpirit now (Iruggled between life and death. Chr. Can you not tell how you knocked .? I am fure your knocks were fo earned, that the very found made me ftart : I thought I never heard fuch knocking in all my life ; I thought you would come in by a violent hand, or take the kingdom by ftorm..3 Mer. Alas, to be in my cafe ! who that fo was, could but have done fo ? You faw that the door was fhut upon me, and that there was a mod cruel dog thereabout. Who, I fay, that was fo faint-hearted as I, would not have knocked with all their might ? — But pray, what faid my Lord unto my rudenefs ? Was he not angry with me ? Chr. When he heard your lumbering noife, he gave a wonderful innocent fmile : 1 believe what you did pleafed him well, for he fhowed no fign to the contrary. But I marvel in my heart why he keeps fuch a dog : had I known that before, I fhould not have had heart enough to have ventured myfelf in this N n manner. • The devil often barks moft at us, and brings his heavleft accufations agaiud us, when mercy, peace, comfort, and falvation ate nearcft to us. " Prefs on, nor fear to win the day, " Tho' earth and hell obftru<5l the way." f Here is a blefTed example of deep humility; and of holy boldnefS) excited by the divine word. Go thou ruined Onner, and do likewifc. « Matth. xxiv. 41. 2 part I. p. 71. 3 Matt. xL. 12. 282 MERCY ASKS GOOD-WILL ABOUT THE DOG. manner. But now we are in, we are in, and I am glad with all my heart. Mer. I will afk, if you pleafc, next time he comes down, why he keeps fuch a filthy cur in his yard : I hope he will not take it amifs. Do fo, faid the children, and perfuade him to hang him ; for we are afraid he v/ill bite us when we go hence. So at laft he came down to them again, and Mercy fell to the ground on her face, before him, and worfhipped, and faid, ' Let my Lord accept the * facrifice of praife which I now offer unto him with * the calves of my lips/ So he faid unto her, ' Peace be to thee; (land up.* But {he continued upon her face, and faid, " Righ- " teous art thou, O Lord, when 1 plead with thee, " yet, let me talk with thee of thy judgments ;"' wherefore doft thou keep fo cruel a dog in thy yard, at the fight of which, fuch women and children, as we, are ready to flee from the gate for fear ? He anfwered and faid. That dog has another owner : he is alfo kept clofe in another man's ground, only my pilgrims hear his barking : he belongs to the caille which you fee there at a diilance,^ but can come up to the walls of this place. He has frighted many an honed pilgrim from worfe to better, by the great voice of his roaring. Indeed, he that owneth him doth not keep him out of any good-will to me or mine, but with intent to keep the pilgrims from coming to me, and that they may be afraid to come and knock at this gate for entrance. Some- times alfo he has broken out, and has worried fome that I loved ; but I take all at prefent patiently. I alfo give my pilgrims timely help, fo that they are not delivered up to his power, to do to them what his doggifh nature would prompt him to. But what ! my purchafed one, I trow, hadft thou known never fo Jer. xii. i, %. » Part I, p. ;r. THEY GO ON THEIR WAY REJOICING. 283 fo much before-hand, thou wouldeft not have been afraid of a dog. The beggars that go from door to door, will, rather than they will lofe a fuppofed alms, run the hazard of the bawling, barking, and biting too of a dog : and fhall a dog in another man's yard ; a dog whofe barking I turn to the profit of pilgrims, keep any from coming to me ? I deliver them from the lions, and, " my darling from the power of the «' dog." Then faid Mercy, I confefs my ignorance : I fpeak what I underfland not : I acknowledge that thou doeft all things well. Then Christiana began to talk of their journey, and to inquire after the way.^ So he fed them and waftied their feet, and fet them in the way of his* fteps, according as he had dealt with her hufband before. So I faw in my dream, that they went on their way ; and the weather was comfortable to them. Then Christiana began to fmg, faying, * Blefs'd be the day that I began A pilgrim for to be ; And blefled alfo be that man That thereunto mov'd me. 'lis true, 'twas long ere I begaix To feek to live for ever : J But now I run faft as I can ; 'Tis better late than never. Our tears to joy, our fears to faiths Are turned, as we fee •, That our beginning (as one faith) Shows what our end will be.' « Part I, p. 74- ' Matt. xx. 16. N n 2 C H A P. 284 THE CHILDREN EAT THE ENEMY's FRUIT. CHAP. III. THE PILGRIMS ARE ASSAULTED, BUT RELIEVED. - ARE ENTERTAINED AT THE INTERPRETER'S HOUSE. N< OW there was on the other fide of the wall, that fenced in the way up which Christiana and her companions were to go, a garden^ and that be- longed to him, whofe was that barlving dog, of whom mention was made before. And fome of the fruit-trees that grew in the garden, ffiot their branches over the wall ; and being mellow, they that found them did gather them up, and eat of them to their hurt. So Christiana's boys (as boys "are apt to doj, being pleafed with the trees, and with the fruit that did hang thereon, did pluck them, and began to eat. Their mother did alfo chide them for fo doing, but ftill the boys went on.* ' Well,' faid fhe, ' my fons, you tranfgrefs ; for * that fruit is none of ours :' but (he did not know that they did belong to the enemy : I'll warrant you, if fhe had, fhe would have been ready to die for fear. But that pafled, and they went on their way. — Now, by that they were gone about two bow's-fhot from the place that led them into the way, they efpied two very ill-favoured ones coming down apace to meet them.-j- With that Christiana and Mercy her friend covered themfelves with their veils, and kept alfo on their journey : the children alfo went on before : fo that at laft they met together. Then they that came down to meet them, came juft up to, the * What is this garden, but the world? What is the fruit they here found ? The luft of the flefh, the lufl; of the eye, nnd the pride of life, J John ii. 16. f What are thefe ill-favoured ones ? Such as you will be fure to meet with in your pilgrimage j fome vile lulls, or curfed corruptions, which are Cjited to your carnal nature. Thefe will attack you, drive to prevail againft you, and overcome you. Mind how thefe pilgrims afted, and follow their example. THE WOME>: ARE ASSAULTED BY TWQ MEK. ^85 the women, as if they would embrace them : but Christiana faid, ' Stand back, or go peaceably as « you ihould.' Yet thefe two, as men that are deaf, regarded not Christiana's words, but began to lay hands upon them : at that Christiana waxed very wroth, and fpurned ai them with her feet, Mercy alfo, as well as (he could, did what fhe could to fhift them. Christiana again faid to them,. Stand * back, and be gone, for we have no money to lofe, ' being pilgrims as you fee, and fuch too as live up- * on the charity of our friends.* Then faid one of the two men. We make no af- fauk upon your money, but are come out to tell you, that if you will but grant one fmall requeft which we (hall afk, we will make women cf you for ever. Now Christiana, imagining what they fhould mean, made anfwer again, ' We will neither hear ' nor regard, nor yield to what you fhall afk. We * are in hafte, and cannot flay : our bufmefs is of * life and death,' So again (he and her companions made a frefh effay to go pafl them ; but they letted them in their way. And they faid, we intend no hurt to your lives j 'tis another thing we would have. ' Ay,' quoth Christiana, * you would have us * body and foul, for I know 'tis for that you are ' come ; but we will die rather upon the fpot, than ' to fuffer ourfelves to be brought into fuch fnares ' as fhall hazard our well-being hereafter,' And with that they both fhrieked out, and cried. Mur- der ! Murder I and fo put themfelves under thofe lav/s that are provided for the proteftlon of women. • But the men flill made their approach upon them, with defign to prevail againfl them. They there- fore cried out again.* Now * Here we fee th^t the moft violent temptation to the greatefl evil ]■« not fin, if refilled and not complied with. Our Lord himfcif was tempted in all thing* * Deut. xxii. 23 — 27. 2S5 THEY ARE RESCUED FROM THE RUFFIA?TS. Now they being, as I faid, not far from the gate, in at which they came, their voice was heard from where they were thither : wherefore fome of the houfe came out, and knowing that it was Chris- TiANA^s tongue, they made hafle to her relief. But by that they were got within fight of them, the wo- men were in a very great fcuffle : the children alfo ftood crying by. Then did he that came in for their relief call out to the ruffians, faying, ' What is that *■ thing you do ? Would yo.u make my Lord*s peo- ple to tranfgrefs ?* He alfo attempted to take them ; but they did make their efcape over the wall into the garden of the man to whom the great dog be- longed : fo the dog became their protedtor. This Reliever then came up to the women, and afked them how they did. So they anfwered, ' We thank ' thy Prince, pretty well ; only we have been fome- ' what affrighted : we thank thee alfo, that thou * earned in to our help, for otherwife we had been ' overcome.' So after a few more words, this, Reliever faid as foliovveth : I marvelled much, when you were en- tertained at the gate above, feeing ye know, that ye were but weak women, that "you petitioned not the Lord for a conductor : then might you have avoid- ed thefe troubles and dangers : he would have grant- ed you one.* Alas 1 faid Christiana, we were fo taken with our prefent blefling, (hat dangers to come were for- gotten by us : befide, who could have thought, that fo near the king's palace, there fhould have lurked fuch naughty ones ? Indeed it had been well for us, had things like as we are, yet without {Tn. Ti-.erefore, ye followers of him, tfon'c be dejcdcd and call down, though yon lh!;uld be exerciled with tenip- ta:ions to the blackell crimes, and the molt hciiious fins. Chriit is laithtul, and he will not I'uftcr us to be tempted above that we are able; I ut will, with the temptation alfo, make a way to escape, that we may be able to bare it, i Cor. x. i.^. • I>jt this convince us of our backwardnefs to prayer, and make us at- tend to that fcripture, •' Ye have i,ot, becaufc ye afis: not." James m, %. ? I L-G R I M S S HOII LD A S K FOR EVERYTHING NEEDFU L. 2 Sj had we aiked our Lord for one ; but, fince our Lord knew it would be for our profit, I wonder he fent not one along with us.* Rel. It is not alv;ays necefTary to grant things not aiked for, left by fo doing they become of little ei- teem : but, when the want of a thing is fek, it then comes under, in the eyes of him that feels it, that eflimate that properly is its due ; and fo confequently v/ill be hereafter ufed. Had my Lord granted you a conduclor, you would not, neither, fo have bewail- ed that overfight of yours in not afeing for one, as now you have occafion to do. So all things work for good, and tend to make you more wary.f Chr. Shall we go back again to my Lord, and confefs our folly, and afk one ? Rel. Your confeilion of your folly I will prefent him with : to go back again, you need not ; for in all places where you fhali come you will find no want at all ; for at every of my Lord's lodgings, which he has prepared for the reception of his pilgrims, there is fufficient to furnifli them againft all attempts whatfoever. But as I faid, " he will be inquired of " by them, to do it for them."' And it is a poor thing that is not worth aiking for. — When he had thus faid, he went back to his place, and the pil- grims went on their way. Then faid Mercy, What a fudden blank is here! I made account we had been pad all danger, and that we fliould never forrow more. Thy innocency, my fifter, faid Christiana to Mercy, may excufe thee much; but as for me, my * It is well to value prefent 'lefTings, to be joyful in them, and thankful for them; but it is wrong to forget our danger?, and grow fecure. f What loving, what .precious reafoning is this ! With what tender af- fediion does our I^ord reprove. Sec how kindly it works upon a pilgrim's foul. Poor Chrirtiana was for ^oing back to cofi!"efs her folly, and make her requtft to her Lord. Eut fhe is forbidden, and encouraged and com- forted to go on. O how doe- our Lord bear, and what pains does he take with us, poor aukward creatures, who are ever prone to adt amifo. Let ui> ever think moft lowly of outfclves, and mvl highly of Him. ' Ezek. xxxvJ. 37. 288 THEY APPROACH THE INTERPRETER'S HOUSE. my fault is fo much the greater, for that I faw this danger before I came out of the doors, and yet did not provide for it where provifion might have been had. I am much to be blamed.* Then faid Mercy, how knew you this before you came from home? Pray open to me this riddle. Chr. Why, I will tell you. — Before I fet foot out of doors, one nighf, as I lay in my bed, I had a dream about this : for methougbt I faw two men, as like thefe as ever the world they could look, fland at my bed's feet, plotting how they might prevent my falvation. I will tell you their very words : they faid, (it was when I was in my troubles), ' What ' ihall we do with this woman ? for fhe cries out ' waking and ileeping for forgivenefs : if fhe be fuf- ' fered to go on as flie begins, we fliall lofe her as ' we have lofl her hufband.* This you know might have made me take heed, and have provided when provifion might have been had. Well, faid Mercy, as by this neglect we have an occafion miniftered unto us to behold our imperfec- tions, fo our Lord has taken occafion thereby to make manifeft the riches of his grace ; for he, as we fee, has followed us with unafked kindnefs, and has delivered us from their hands that were ftronger than we, of his mere good pleafure. Thus now, when they had talked away a little more time, they drew near to an houfe that flood in the way ; which houfe was built for the relief of pil- grims ; as you will find more fully related in the firil part of the records of the Pilgrim's Pro- gress.^ So they drew on towards the houfe (the houfe of the Interpreter) ; and, when they came to the door, they heard a great talk in the houfe : then they gave ear, and heard, as they thought, Christiana mentioned by name. For you mufl know, * Here is the difplay of a truly chriftian fpirlt, in that open and ingenu- ous confefTion of her fault, taking all the blame upon herfelf, exaggerating it, and excufing Mercy. » Part I, p. 76—87. THE DOOR IS OPENED TO THEM. 289 know, that there went along, even before her, a talk of her and her children going on pilgrimage. And this was the more pleafing to them, becaufe they had heard that Ihe was Christian's wife, that woman who was fome time ago fo unwilling to hear of going on pilgrimage. Thus, therefore, they flood ftill, and heard the good people within com- mending her, who they little thought flood at the door. — At lafl Christiana knocked; as fhe had done at the gate before. Now, when fhe had knock- ed, there came to the door a young damfel, named Innocent, and opened the door, and looked, and, behold, two women were there. Then faid the damfel to them, * With whom * would you fpeak in this place ?' Christiana anfwered. We underftand that this is a privileged place for thofe that are become pil- grims, and we now at this door are fuch : wherefore we pray that we may be partakers of that for which we at this time are come ; for the day, as thou feeft, is very far fpent, and we are loth to night to go any further. Dam. Pray what may I call your name, that I may tell it to my Lord within ? Chr. My name is Christiana ; I was the wife of that pilgrim that fome years ago did travel this way ; and thefe be his four children. This maiden is alfo my companion, and is going on pilgrimage too. Then ran Innocent in (for that was her name), and faid to thofe within, ' Can you think who is at ' the door ? there is Christiana and her children, *- and her companion, all waiting for entertainment * here !' Then they leaped for joy, and went and told their mafler. So he came to the door, and, looking upon her, he f^iid, ' Art thou that Chris- * tiana whom Christian tlve good man left behind * him, when he betook himfelf to a pilgrim's life r' O o ' Chr. 290 THEY ARE WELCOMED TO THE HOUSE. Chp. I am that woman that was fo hard-hearted as to flight my hufband's troubles, and that left him to go on his journey alone ; and thefe are his four children ; but now 1 alfo am come, for I am convinc- ed that no way is right but this.* Inter. Then is fulfilled that which is written of the man that faid to his fon, " Go work tc^day in *' my vineyard ; and he faid to his father, I will not; " but afterwards repented and went.*** Then faid Christiana, So be it: Amen. God make it a true faying upon me, and grant that I may be found at the lafl ^^ of him in peace, without " fpot, and blamelefs 1'* Inter. But why ftandeffc thou at the door ? Come in, thou daughter of Abraham : we were talking of thee but now, for tidings have come to us be- fore, how thou art become a pilgrim. Come, chil- dren, come in : come maiden, come. — So. he had them alt into the houfe. So, when they were within, they were bidden to fit down and reft them ; the which when they had done, thofe that attended upon the pilgrims in the houfe came into the room to fee them. And one fmiled, and another fmiled, and another fmiled, and they all fmiled, for joy that Christiana was be- come a pilgrim : they alfo looked upon the boys ; they ftroked them over their faces with their hands, in token of their kind reception of them : they alfo carried • Hers fee hovr the experience of true grace works in the heart : by keeping the fuhjecfls of it low in their own eyes, and cutting off of all felf-ex- altings. " I am that hard-hearted woman," &c. This ever dwelt upper- moft in ChrilHana's heart. Oh foul, if thou truly knoweft thyfelf, thou •wilt ever be finking into nothing:, becaufe a Cnner before the Lord, and confeffing thy vilenefs unto him, acknowledge if he had left thee to thy- fclf, deftrudiion mufl have been thy inevitable doom. And fee how confi- dent divine teaching makes us. Under its power and influence, we can fay ■with Chriftiana, ' 1 am convinced that no way is right but this,' even to be a pilgrim of the Lord, and fojourner upon the earth. - ' Matt. xxi. a8, 29. TH1L >IU"CK H^KE. . I'n^/{.f7i^// by ./: ,rf'nrf.J^Vs^J>7-i'tfe Sfrt-^'t J'l/^/in THE MAN WITH THE MUCK-RAKE. ZQI carried it lovingly to Mercy, and bid them all wel- come into their Mafler's houfe.* After a while, becaufe fupper was not ready, the Interpreter took them into his fignificant rooms, and fhowed them what Christian, Christiana's hufband, had feen fome time before. Here there- fore, tlfey faw the man in the cage, the man and his dream, the man that cut his way through his enemies, and the pidlure of the biggeft of all ; to- gether with the refl of thofe things that were then \o profitable to Christian. This done, and, after thofe things had been fomewhat digefted by Christiana and her com- pany, the Interpreter takes them apart again, and has them firfl into a room, where was a man that could look no way but downwards, with a muck- rake in his hand : there ftocd alfo one over his head with a Celeftial crown in his hand, and profifered him that crown for his muck-rake ; but the man did neither look up nor regard, but raked to himfelf the ftraws, the fmall flicks, and dull of the floor. Then faid Christiana, I perfuade myfelf, that I know fomewhat the meaning of this ; for this is the figure of a man in this world : is it not,' good Sir? Thou haft faid right, faid he, and his muck-rake doth fliow his carnal mind. And, whereas thou feeft him rather give heed to rake up ftraws and fticks, and the dull of the floor, than do what he fays that calls to him from above, with the Celeftial crown in his hand ; it is to ihow, that heaven is but as a fable to fome, and that things here are counted the only things fubftantial. Now, where- O o 2 as * Here is joy indeed, which ftrangers to the love of Chrift intermeddle not with. Believer, did you never partake of this pleafing, this dchghtful fenfation, on feeing other poor finners hke thyfelf, called to know Jefus and follow him ? Surely this is the joy of heaven ; and if thou haft this joy, thou haft the love that reigns in heaven. O for a fpread and increafc of this fpirit aaiong chriftians of all deuominatiQns, 2g2 THE SPIDER ON THE WALL*. as it was alfo {howed thee, that the man could look no way but downwards, it is to let thee know, that earthly things, when they are with power upon men's minds, quite carry their hearts away from God. Then faid Christiana, O ! deliver me from this muck-rake. « That prayer, faid the Interpreter, has lain by till it is almofl rufty : " Give me not riches," is fcarce the prayer of one of ten thoufand.' Straws and flicks, and dufl, with mod are the great things now looked after. With that Mercy and Christiana wept, and faid, ' It is, alas ! too true.** When the Interpreter had Ihowed them this, he had them into the very belt room in the houfe (a very brave room it was) : fo he bid them look round about, and fee if they could find any thing profitable there. Then they looked round and round ; for there was nothing to be feen but a very great fpider on the wall : and that they overlooked. Then faid Mkrcy, Sir, I fee nothing : but Chris- tiana held her peace. But, faid the Interpreter, ' Look again:' fhe therefore looked again, and faid, ' Here is not any ' thing but an ugly fpider, who hangs by her hands ' upon the wall.' ' Then,' faid he, ' is there but * one fpider in all this fpacious room ?* Then the water • The emblematical inftru6lion at the Interpreter's houfe, in the former part, was fo important and comprehenfive, that no other felecSlion equally iiiterefting could be expeded, fome valuable hints, however, are here ad- duced. The firft: emblem is very plain, and fo appofite, that it is a wonder any perfon Ihould read it, without liking up a prayer lo the Lord, and fay- ing, ' Oh ! deliver me from this Muck-rake.' Yet alas, it is to be feared, fuch prayers are ftill little ufed, even by profcflbrs of the Gofpel ; at leaft they are contradided by the habitual condudl of numbers among them, and this (hould very properly lead us to weep over others, ^nd tremble over ourfelves. Reader, didft thou, like thefe pious pilgrims, never ftied a ge- nerous tear, for thy bafe and difingenuous condudi towards thy Lord, in preferring the ilicks and ftraws of this world, to the unfcarchable riche» of Chrift, and the falvation of thy immortal foul. » Prov. XXX. 8. THE RIDDLE THEREOF EXPLAINED. ig^ water flood in Christiana's eyes, for fhe was a woman quick of apprehenfion : and fhe faid, ' Yes, ' Lord, there is more here than one : yea, and ' fpiders whofe venom is far more deftrudlive than ' that which is in her.* The Interpreter then looked pleafantly on her, and faid, ' Thou haft faid ' the truth.' This made Mercy blufh, and the boys to cover their faces ; for they all began now to un- derftand the riddle.* Then faid the Interpreter again, *' The fpider '* taketh hold with her hands (as you fee), and is in " king's palaces." And wherefore is this recorded, but to fhovv you, that how full of the venom of fin foever you be, yet you may, by the hand of faiih, lay hold of, and dwell in, thebefl room that belongs to the king's houfe above ? I thought, faid Christiana, of fomething of this ; but I could not imagine it all. I thought, that we were like fpiders, and that we looked like ugly creatures, in what fine rooms foever we were ; but that by this fpider, this venomous and ill-favoured creature, we were to learn how to ad faith, that came not into my thoughts ; that fhe worketh with hands ; and, as I fee, dwells in the beft room in the houfe. — God has made nothing in vain. Then they feemed all to be glad ; but the water flood in their eyes : yet they looked one upon ano- ther, and alfo bowed before the Interpreter. He had them then into another room, where was a hen and chickens, and bid them obferve a while. So • The author did not mean by the emblem of the fpider, that the Cnner might confidently alTure himfelf of falvation, by the blood of Christ, while he continued full of the poifon of fin, without experiencing and evi- dencing any change ; but only, that no confcioufnefs of adual guilt, and inward pollution need difcourage any one from applying to Christ, and flee- ing for refuge, " to lay hold on the hope fet before them," that thus the fincere foul may be delivered from condemnation, cleanfed fully from pol- lution, and fo made meet for thofe blcffed manCon*, into which no unclean thing can find admiflion, 294 THE HEN AND CHICKENS. So one of the chickens went to the trough lo drink, iind every time (he drank ihe lifted up her head and her eyes towards heaven. ' See/ faid he, ' what * this little chick doeth, and learn of her to ac- ' knowledge whence your mercies come, by receiv- ' ing them with looking up. — Yet again,' faid he, ' obferve and look ;' fo they gave heed, and per- ceived that the hen did walk in a fourfold method towards her chickens, i. She had a conunon call^ and that Ihe had all the day long. 2. She had a fpecial call^ and that llie had but fometimes. 3. She liTid 'A brooding note. And, 4. She had an out-cry.'' Now, faid he, compare this hen to your King, and thefe chickens to his obedient ones. For, an- fwerable to her, himfelf has his methods, which he walketh in towards his people : by his common call he gives nothing ; by his fpecial call he always has fomething to give ; he has alfo a brooding voice for them that are under his wing ; and he has an out- cry, to give the alarm when he feeth the enemy come. 1 choofe, my darlings, to lead you into the room where fuch things are, becaufe you are wo- men, and they are eafy for you.* And, • OurLordhath.in immefife condefcenfion employed this emblem, to reprc. fent his tender love to fintiers, for whom he hare the ftorm of wrath himfelf, that by flying to him, they might be fafe and happy under the fliadow of hi#- wing. Mat. xiii. 37. — The common call fignifies the general invitations of the gofpel, which (hould be addreffed without reftridion to every creature within the found thereof," preach this my gofpel to every creature :" "as many as. ye find bid to the marriage." In proportion as finners obey what Mr. Bunyan termed a commea coll, fo fhall they feel what he ftyles d. fpecial tall; when God beftows the grace, peace, and pardon of the gofpel of Chritl upon thofe who believe with an heart unto rightcoufnefs. The brooding note is, when he gathers them under his wings, warms their hearts with the comforts of his love, nouriflies their fouls with clofe fellowfhip with him- AJf, and refrefhcs their fpirits with the over-flowings of joy in the Holy Ghoft. " In the (hadow of thy wings will I rejoice," fays David, Pf. Ixii 7. « I fat under his fhadow with great delight, and his fruit was fweet unto my rafte,,' Song ii. 3. O for more of thefe precious brooding notes, to be ga- thered under the wings of our Immanucl ! But be our frames and cxperi- d's glory, and our foul's comfort. ' Ru:h ii. II, 1 J, CHAP. ;02 THE PILGRIMS FUEPARE TO DEPART. CHAP. IV. THE PILGRIMS, CONDUCTED BY GREAT-HEART, PRO- CEED ON THEIR JOURNEY. I .N the morning they arofe with the fun, and pre- pared themfelves for dieir departure ; but the Inter- preter would have them tarry awhile ; ' for,* faid he, ' you mufl orderly go from hence.* Then faid he to the damfel that firfl opened unto them, * Take ' them and have them into the garden to the Bath, * and there wafli them and make them clean from ' the foil, which they have gathered by travelling.* Then Innocent the damfel took them, and led them into the garden, and brought them to the Bath ; fo Ihe told them, that there they muft walh and be clean, for fo her Mafter would have the women to do, that called at his houfe as they v/ere going on pilgrimage. Then they went in and waflied, yea, they and the boys and all ; and they came out of that Bath not only fweet and clean, but alfo much enlivened and ftrengthened in their joints. So when they came in, they looked fairer a deal than when they went out to the walhing.* When they were returned out of the garden from the Bath, the Interpreter took them, and looked upon them, and faid unto them, " Fair as the *' moon." Then he called for the Seal, wherewith they ufed to be fealed that were wafhed in his Bath. So the Seal was brought, and he fet his mark upon them, that they might be known in the places whi- ther they were yet to go. Now the Seal was the contents * There are no pilgrim;, bur daily need to have recoiirfe to this bath. What may we unucrftand by it ? The blood of Jefus, which cleanfts u* fiom all fin, I John i. 7. Chrill is the fountain opened for fin, and for vnck.innefs, Zech. xiii. i. Chrill is the foul's oi)ly bath. The Huly Spi- rit, the San6lificr, leads us to the blood of the Lamb. The Spirit beers witnefs to this blood, and purifies and comfort? by the application ol tl it kloeid only. THE SEAL AND V/HITE RAIMENT. 303 contents and fum of the pafTover which the children of Israel did eat when they came out of the land of Egypt ;^ and the mark was fet between their eyes. This Seal greatly added to their beauty, for it was an ornament to their faces. It alfo added to their gravity, and made their countenances more like them of angels.* Then faid the Interpreter again to the damfel that waited upon the women, * Go into the veflry, ' and fetch out garments for thefe people.' So fhe went and fetched out white raiment, and laid it down before him : fo he commanded them to put it on :| it was " fine linen, white and clean,'* When the women were thus adorned, they feemed to be a ter- ror one to the other ; for that they could not fee that glory each one in herfelf, which they could fee in each other. Now therefore they began to efteem each other better than themfelves. ' For you are ' fairer than I am,* faid one ; and, ' You are more ' comely than I am,* faid another. The children alfo flood amazed, to fee into what fafhion they were brought. The Interpreter then called for a man-fervant of his, one Great-heart, J and bid him take a fword, and helmet, and fhield ; ' and take thcfe my ' daughters,* * This means the fealing of the Spirit, Eph. iv. -o. O this is bkfled fealing? None know the comfort and joy of it, but thofe wlio have expe- rienced it. It confirms our faith, etVablifties our hope, and inflames our af- fedions to God the Father for his love, to God the Son for his gracious atonement, and righteoufnefs, and to God the Spirit for his enlightening mercy, regenerating grace, quickening, fantftifying, teflifying, and affiiring influences, whereby we know that we are the children of God, for " the Spirit itfelf beareth witnefs with our fpirits, that we are the children of God," Rom. viii. 16. Therefore grieve not the Holy Spirit. I Mind, they are commanded to put it on. Though God imparts the righteoufnefs of his beloved Son to Cnners, yet it is received and put on by faith. Hence it is called the righteoufnefs of God, z Cor. v. % i . and the righteoufnefs of faith, Rom. x. 6. \ Great-heart, may reprefent the dated pafloral care of a vigilant Minifter, who is ftrong in the faith, and courageous in the caufe of God. How thankful fliould we be for a pure miniflry, and carefuUj- improve all the blelfings confequent thereupon. I Eiod. xill. 8 — '10. 304 GREAT-HEART GUIDES THE PILGRIMS. ' daughters/ faid he, ' conduft them to the houfe * called Br.AUTiFUL, at which place they will refl: * next.' So he took his weapons, and went before them; and the Interpreter faid^ ' God fpeed.* I'hofe alfo that belonged to the family fent them away with many a good wifh. So they went on their Way, and fang — * This place has been our fcconc! It.ige, Here we have heard and leen Thofe good things, that from age to age To others hid have been. The dunghill raker, fpider, hen. The thicken too, to me Hath taught a lefTon ; let me then Conformed to it be. The butcher, garden, and the fields The robin and his bait, Alfo the rotten tree doth yield Me argument of weight ; To move me for to watch and pray, To ftrive to be fincere : To take my crofs u[> day by day, And ferve the Lord with fear.' Now I faw in my dream, that thofe Went on, and Great-heart before them ; fo they went and came to the place where Christian's burden fell off his back, and tumbled into a ffepulchre.' Here then they made a paufe ; here alfo they bleffed God. Now, faid Christiana, it comes to my mind what was faid to us at the gate, to wit, that we fhould have pardon by ivord and deed ; by word, that is, by the promife ; by deed, to wit, in the way it was obtained. What the promife is, of that I know fomething: but what it is to have pardon by deed^ or in the way that it was obtained, Mr. Great- heart, I fuppofe you know; which, if you pleafe, let us hear your difcourfe thereof. Gr.-h. Pardon by the deed done, is pardon ob- tained by fome one, for another that hath need thereof: » Part I. p. 85. THE EFFICACY OF CHRIST S R IGHTF.OUSNE.SS. 3C5 thereof: not by the perfon pardoned, but in ' the * wav,' faith another, * In which I have obtained it.' ^ — So then fto fpeak to the queftion more at large), the pardon that you, and Mercy, and thefe boys have attained by another ; to wit, by him that let you in at that gate: and he hath obtained it in this double way : he hath performed righteoufnefs to co- ver you, and fpilt blood to wafh you in.* Chr» But if he parts with his righteoufnefs to us, "whiit will he have for himfelf ? Gr.-h. He has more righteoufnefs than you have need of, or than he needeth himfelf. Chr. Pray make that appear. Gr.-h. With all my heart: but firft: I muft pre- hilfe, that he, of whom we are now about to fpeak, is one that has not his fellow. He has two natures in one perfon, plain to be diflinguifhed, impofiible to be divided. Unto each of thefe natures a ri^h- teoufnefs belongeth, and each righ'eoufnefs is effen- tial to that nature. So that one may as eafily caufe the natures to be extinct, as to feparate its juflice or righteoufnefs from it. Of thefe righteoufneifes, therefore, we are not made partakers, fo that they, or any of them, fhould be put upon us, that we might be made juft, and live thereby. Befides thefe, there is a righteoufnefs which this Perfon has, as thefe two natures are joined in one. And this is not the righteoufnefs of the Godhead, as diftinguifh- ed from the manhood ; nor the righteoufnefs of the manhood, as diftinguifhed from the Godhead; but a righteoufnefs which flandeth in the union of both natures, and may properly be called the righteouf- nefs that is effential to his being prepared of God to the capacity of the mediatory office, which he was entrufted with. If he parts with his firfl righteouf- Q^ q nefs, • This, this is the comfort, joy, and glorying of a pilgrim's heart. Hath Jcfus performed righteoufnefs to cover us, and fpilt blood to wafh ut .' Have faith in him ? O how ought we to love him, glory of him, rejoice in binr>, and iludy to glorify him in every Hep of our pilgrimage I 306 CHRIST*3 RIGHTEOUSNESS nefs, he parts with his Godhead : if he par-ts with his fecond righteoufnefs, he parts with the purity of his manhood : if he parts with his third, he parts with that perfedion which capacitates him to the ofSce of mediation. He has therefore another righ- teoufnefs, which ftandeth in performance, or obedi- ence to a revealed will : and that is what he puts upon fmners, and that by which their fins are co- veredi Wherefore he faih, " As by one man's dif- '* obedience, many were made finners : fo by the " obedience of one, fhall many be made righ- " teous.'**^ Chr. But are the other righteoufnefles of no ufc to us ? Gr.-h. Yes : for though they are eflential to his natures and office, and cannot be communicated unto another, yet it is by virtue of them that the righ- teoufnefs that juftifies is for that purpofe efficacious. The righteoufnefs of his Godhead gives virtue to his obedience ; the righteoufnefs of his manhood giveth capability to his obedience to juftify ; and the righ- teoufnefs that ftandeth in the union of thefe two na- tures to his office, giveth authority to that righ- teoufnefs to do the work for which it was ordained. So then here is a righteoufnefs that Christ, as God, has no need of; for he is God without it: here is a righteoufnefs that Christ, as man, has no need of to make him fo, for he is perfed man with- out it: again, here is a righteoufnefs that Christ, as GoD-MAN, has no need of, for he is perfectly fo without it. Here then is a righteoufnefs that Christ, as GoD, and as God-man, has no need of, with re- ference "^ Here Mr. Banyan gives a very clear and diAindl account of that righ- teoufnefs of Chrift, as mediator which he wrought out hy his perfcA obe- dience to the law of God, for, and in behalf of all believers : and which righteoufnefs is imparted to them by God the Father, through faith, and in this righteoufnefs, behevers in Chrift are made perfecflly righteous before God. Of this righteoufnefs, therefore, they glory, and their fouls make their boaft of it, faying. In the Lord Jehovah Jefus, have I righteoufnefs ; )fa. xlv, 84. * Rom. V. 19. FURTHER EXPLAINED. 307 ference to himfelf, and therefore he can fpare it ; a juftifying righteoufnefs, that he for himfelf wanteth not, and therefore giveth it away. Hence it is called *' the gift of righteoufnefs.'*^ — This righteoufnefs, fince Christ Jesus the Lord has made himfelf un- der the law, mud be given away ; for the law doth not only bind him that is under it, to do juftly, but to ufe charity. Wherefore he mufl, or ought by the law, if he hath two coats, to give one to him that has none. Now our Lord indeed hath two coats, one for himfelf, and one to fpare : wherefore he freely beftows one upon . thofe that have none. And thus, Christiana and Mercy, and the reft of you that are here, doth your pardon come by deed, or by the work of another man ? Your Lord Christ is he that worked, and hath given away what he wrought for, to the next poor beggar he meets. But again, in order to pardon by deed, there muft fomething be paid to God as a price, as well as fomething prepared to cover us withal. Sin has delivered us up to the juft courfe of a righ'eous law : now from this courfe we mufl: be jufl:ified by way of redemption, a price being paid for the harms we have done ; and this is by the blood of your Lord, who came and fl:ood in your place and fl:ead, and died your death for your tranfgrefTions. Thus has he ranfomed you from your tranfgreflions, by blood, and covered your polluted and deformed fouls with righteoufnefs;' for the fake of which, God pafTeth by you, and will not hurt you, when he comes to judge the world,* Q^q 2 Chr. • Thus wo fee what God hath joined together, the life and death, the atonement and righteoufnefs of his beloved St>n, for the falvation of our fouls. Both enter into the effence of the fairh of the gofpcl. Let us he- ware never t(i feparate them in our views. We want both hi# blood to atone for our fins, and his righteoufnefs to be imparted to our ibuU. ' Rom. 5. 17. * Rom. viii, J4. Gsl i'i. I3, <$ o8 THE BLESSED KFFECTS Op Chr. This is brave: now I fee that there was fomething to be learned by our being pardoned by ivord and deed. Good Mkrcy, let us labour to keep this in mind ; and my children, do you remembej; it alfo. — But, 8ir, was not this it that made my good Chr.istian*s burden fall from off his flioulder, and that made him give three leaps for joy ? Gr.-h. Yes, it w^s the belief of this that cut off thofe firings, that could not be cut by other means ; and it was to give him a proof of the virtue of this, that he was fuffered to carry his burden to the crofs. Chr. I thought fo ; for though ray heart was lightful and joyous before, yet it is ten times more lightfome and joyous now. And I am perfuaded by what I have felt (though I have felt but little as yet), that if the moll burdened man in the world was here, and did fee and believe as I now do, it would make hi^ heart the more merry and blithe. Gr.-h. There is not oniy one comfort, and the eafe of a burden brought to us, by the fight and confideration of thefe, but an endeared affedlion be- got in us by it : for who can (if he does but once think that pardon comes not only by promife, but thus), but be affefted with the way and means of redemption, and fo with the man that hath wrought it for him ?* Chr. True: metbinks it makes my heart bleed to think, that he fhould bleed for me. Oh ! thou loving One ! Oh ! thou blefled One ! Thou deferveft to have me ; thou hafl bought me ; thou deferveft to have me all ; thou haft paid for me ten thoufand- times more than 1 am worth ! — No marvel that this made the water (land in my hufband's eyes, and that it made him trudge fo nimbly on ; I am perfuaded he * Come hither, ye fons of the forceref«, who make fport of holy raptures, and heavenly ecdafy, begotten in the loul by the knoviltdge of redemption in the blood of Chrift, the lorgivenefs of our fins. Laugh on till yc howl i^ deftrudion, for defpifing falvation by the blood of the Lamb. LOOKING AT THE CROSS. 309 he wifhed me with him ; but, vile wretch that I was ! I let him come all alone. O Mercy, that thy father and mother were here ; yea, and Mrs. Ti- morous alfo : nay, I wifh now with all my heart, that here was madam Wanton too. Surely, furely, their hearts would be afFefted ; nor could the fear of the one, nor the powerful lufts of the other, pre- vail with them to go home again, and refufe to be- come good pilgrims.* Gr.-h. You fpeak now in the ".v^armth of your af- feftlons : will it, think you, be always thus with you ^ Befides, that is not communicated to every one, nor to every one that did fee your Jesus bleed. There were that flood by, and that faw the blood run from the heart to the ground, and yet were fo far oft' this, that, inftead of lamenting, they laughed at him ; and, inftead of becoming his difciples, did harden their hearts againft him. So that all that you have, my daughters, you have by peculiar im- preffion, made by a divine contemplating upon what I have fpoken to you. Remember that it was told you, that the hen, by her common call, gives no meat to her chickens. This you have therefore by a fpecial grace, f Now 1 faw ftill in my dream, that they went on Vintil they were come to the place that Simple, and Sloth, * O brave Chriftians ! See what it is to have one's heart inflamed with a fenfe of the love of Chrift. Here obferve two things, ift. That when the affedions are thus powerfully carried our, it is no uncommon thing to be- lieve, that all may thus come to a faving knowledge of the truth! 2ndly, Beware of thinking ilightly of having the affedlions thus divinely inflamed. Many poor, dry, formal profcflbrs are content with the cold light of the moon, without the genial warmth of the fun ; with clear notions of truth in their heads, without their hearts being warmed, and their afledions car- ried out by the powerful influences of the love of Jcfus, who fays, " Alk, and you fhall receive, that your joy may be full," John xvi 24. + Mind how tenderly Great-heart deals vi'ith ChrifHana. He does not attempt to damp her joy, and throw cold water upon the fire of her aifec- tions, but gently infinuates, tft. The peculiar frame of mind flie fpeaks from, indly. By a gentle hint, fuggefls, that her indulgences were of a peculiar nature, bellowed upon the faithful in Chrift only. And that therefore, amidfl all her joyful feelings, (he fliould know to whom fhe was indebted for them, and give all the glory to the God of all grace. 310 SIMPLE, SLOTH, AND TRESUMPTION t Sloth, and Presumption, lay and flept in, when Christian went by on pilgrimage: and, behold they were hanged up in irons a little way off on the other fide. Then faid Mercy to him that was their guide and condu£tor, ' What are thefe three men? and for ' what are they hanged there ?* Gr.-h. Thefe three men were men of bad quali- ties ; they had no mind to be pilgrims themfelves, and whomfoever they could they hindered : they were for floth and folly themfelves, and whomfoever they could perfuade, they made fo too ; and withal taught them to prefume that they fhould do well at lafl:. They were alleep when Christian went by j and now you go by they are hanged.* Mer. But could they perfuade any one to be of their opinion ? Gr.-h. Yes, they turned feveral out of the way. There was Slow-pace, they perfuaded to do as they. They alfo prevailed with one Short- wind, with one No-heart, with one Linger-after-lust, and with one Sleepy-head, and with a young wo- man, her name was Dull, to turn out of the way and become as they. Befides, they brought up an ill report of your Lord, perfuading others that he was a hard tafk-mafler. They alfo brought up an evil report of the good land, faying it was not half fo good as fome pretended it was. They alfo began to vilify his fervants, and to count the befl of them meddlefome, troublefome bufy-bodles : further, they would call the bread of God, hufks ; the comforts of his children, fancies ; the travail and labour of pil- grims, things to no purpofe.* Nay, • God, as it were, gibbets fome proftflbrs ; and caufes their names and characters to be publicly exhibited, as a terror to others. •}• Let us confider the charaders of thefe three profeflbrs : ift, Here is Simple, who, as Solomon fays, believeth every word, Prov. xiv. 15. a foolifh credulous profeflor, who is eafily led away and beguiled by fmooth words and fair pretences ol others ^ cv(»r learning, but never coming to the knowledgfc THEIR CRIMES ENGRAVEN ON A PILLAR. 3II Nay, faid Christiana, if they were fuch, they fliould never be bewailed by me : they have but what they deferve ; and 1 think it well that they fland fo near the highway, that others may fee and take warning. But had it not been well if their crimes had been engraven on fome pillar of iron or brafs, and left here where they did their mifchiefs, for a caution to other bad men ? Gr.-h. So it is, as you may well perceive, if you will go a little to the wall. Mer. No, no ; let them hang, and their names rot, and their crimes live for ever againfl them : I think it is a high favour that they are hanged before we came hither ; who knows elfe what they might have done to fuch poor women as' we are ? — Then file turned it into a fong, faying — • Now then you three hang there, and be a fign To all that fhall againft the truth combine. And let him that comes after fear this end. If unto pilgrims he is not a friend. And thou, my foul, of all fuch men beware, That unto holinels oppofcrs are.* knowledge of the truth, fo as to believe it, love it, and be eftabliOied on it ; hence liable to be carried away by every wind of doArine- 2d, Sloib, a quiet, eaXy profeffor, who never difturbs any one by his diligence in the word of God, nor his zeal for the trutJxs and glory of God Hence all men fpeak vfcll of him ; but Chrift denounces a woe sgaiaft all fuch, Luke vi. 6. 3dly, Prefumpticn, one who prcfumes to find favour with God, in a way which his word does cot promife, or expeSs falvation at the end, without the means prefcribed by God for attaining it. O beware of thefe three fort* of prof flbrs, for they turn many afide. Real chriflians are in danger of f^ing feduecd by them, if not of total deftrudiion through their means. CHAP. 312 THE SPRING, AT THE UlLL DIFFICULTY. CHAP. V. THE PILGRIMS ASCEND THE HILL DIFFICULTY^ PASS THE LIONS, AND ARRIVE AT THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL. JL HUS they went on, till they came at the foot of the hill DffpicuLTY, where again their good friend Mr. Great-heart took an occafion to tell them what happened there when Christian hiin- felf went by.^ So he had them firfl to the fpring : Lo, faith he, this is the fpring that Christian drank of before he went up this hill ; and then it was clear and good, but now it is dirty with the feet of fome, that are not defirous that pilgrims here fhould quench their third.* Thereat Mercy faid. And why fo envious, trow ? But faid the guide. It will do, if taken up and put into a veffel that is fweet and good ; for then the dirt will fink to the bottom, and the water come out by itfelf more clear. Thus therefore Christiana and her companions were compelled to do. They took it up, and put it into an earthen pot, and fo let it Hand till the dirt was gone to the bottom, and then thev drank thereof. | * Next he fhowed them the two by-ways that were at the foot of the hill, where Formality and Hy- pocrisy loft themfelves. And, faid he, thefe are dangerous paths : two were here caft away when Christian came by. And although you fee thefe ways are fince ftopped up with chains, pofts, and a ditch, I This rcprefcnfs to us, that fome preachers, as the prophet fays, foul the water with their feet, Ezek. xxxiv. i8. that is, though they preach fome- what ahout Chrift, anfl falvation by him ; yet they fo clog, mire, and poW lute the ftream of free grace, with pre-rcquifites, that a poor, thirfty foul cannot drink the water, nor allay his thirft with it ; but is forced to Ici it Hand, till thefe grofs dregs fink to the bottom. • Part I. p. 93 — 99. * Ezek. xxxiv. 18. THE REASONS WHY M!^N CHOOSE CYE-V.'AYS. 3I3 a ditch, yet they are they that will choofe to ad- venture here, rather than take the pains to go up this hill. Cmr. " The way of tranf^reiTors is hard :"^ it is a wonder that they can get into thofe ways without danger of breaking their necks. Gii.-H. They will venture; yea, if at any time anv of the king's fervants do happen to fee them, and doth call upon them, and tell them, that they are in the wrong ways, and do bid them beware of the danger, then they railingly return them anfwer, and hy, " As for the word that thou haft: fpokeii " unto us* in the name of the King, we will not " hearken unto thee ; but we will certainly do " whatfoever thing goeth out of our mouths."- Nay, if you look a little further, you (hall fee that thefe ways are made cautionary enough, not only by thefe polts, and ditch, and chain, but alfo by being hedg- ed up ; yet they will choofe to go there.* Chr. They are idle ; they love not to take pains ; up-hill way is unpleafant to them. So it is fulfilled unto them as it is written, — " The way of the lloth- " ful man is as un hedge of thorns. **i Yea, they will rather choofe ro walk upon a fnare, than to go up this hill, and the reft of this way to the city. Then they fet forward, and began to go up the hill, and up the hill they went ; but before they got up to the top, Christiana began to pant, and faid, I dare fay this is a breathing hill ; no marvel if they that love their eafe more than their fouls, choofe to themfelves a fmoother way. Then faid Mercy, I muft: fit down ; alfo the leaft: of the children be- gan to cry : Come, come, faid Great-heart, fit not down here, for a little above is the Prince's ar- R r bour. * Examine, which do you like befb, felf-foothing or fouUfearching doc- trine ? FormaHfts and hypocrites love the former, and hate the latter. But the fincere and upright are difcovercd by defirin^ to have their hearts fearch- cj to the quick, and their ways tried to the uttermoft. » Prov. xiii. ij. * Jer. xliv. 16, 17, 3 Prov. xv. 19. 314 GREAT-HEART UNCCURAGES THE BOYS. hour. Then he took the little boy by the hand, and led him thereto.* When they were come to the arbour, they were very willing to fit down, for they were all in a pelt- ing heat. Then faid Mercy, How fweet is reft to them that labour !3 And how good is the Prince of pilgrim's, to provide fuch refting-places for them ! Of this arbour I have heard much ; but I never faw it before. But here let us beware of lleeping : for, as I have heard, for that it cod poor Christian dear. Then faid Mr. Great-heart to the little ones, Come, my pretty boys, how do you do .'' What think you now of going on pilgrimage ,'' Sir, faid the leaft, I was almoft beat out of heart : but I thank you for lending me a hand at my need. And I remember now what my mother hath told me, namely, that the way to heaven is as a ladder, and the way to hell is as down a hill. But I had rather go up the ladder to life, than down the hill to death. Then fiiid Mercy, But the proverb is. To go ■down the bill is eafy : but James faid (for that was his name), The day is coming, when, in my opini- on, going down the hill will be the hardeft of all. *Tis . a good boy, faid his mafler ; thou haft given her a right anfwer. Then Mercy fmiled, but the little boy did blufti.f Come, faid Christiana, will you eat a bit, to fweeteen your mouths, while you fit here to reft your legs ? For I have here a piece of pomegranate, which Mr. Interpreter put into my hand juft when I came • He who is a fl ranger to the felf-denial, know^ not what this hill Diffi- cul'y means ; for the nearer to the arbour of Jcfiis's reft, the more dilBcuN tie' in the way; but the fweeter it is when attained. I This is right; when we are praifcd, to have a confcious hlufh, well knowing how much we have to be afhamed of. O cry to the Lord conti- nually againfl fpiritual pride, and for an humble heart, knowing thyfclf rn be a poor finner. I Matt, xi 28. BEING REFRESHED THEY SET lORVVARD. 315 I came out of his doors ; he gave me alfo a piece of an honey-comb, and a little bottle of fpirits. ' I ' thought he gave you fomething,' faid Mercy, ' be- * caufe he called you afide.* ' Yes, fo he did,* faid the other. ' But,* faid Christiana, ' it fhall * be ftill as I faid it fhould, when at firfl we came ' from home ; thou (halt be a fharer in all the good ' that I have, becaufe thou fo willingly didft become * my companion/ Then fhe gave to them, and they did eat, both Mercy and the boys. And faid Chris- tiana to Mr. Great-heart, ' Sir, will you do * as we ?* But he anfwered, ' You are going on * pilgrimage, and prefently I fhall return : much * good may what you have do to you. At home I ' eat the fame every day.' Now when they had eaten and drank, and had chatted a little longer, their guide faid to them, ' The day wears away ; if you *' think good, let us prepare to be going.' So they got up to go, and the little boys went before : but Christiana forgot to take her bottle of fpirits with her ; fo fhe fent her little boy back to fetch it. Then faid Mercy, ' I think this is a lofmg place. Here ' Christian loft his roll; and here Christiana ' left her bottle behind her ; Sir, what is the caufe * of this ?* So their guide made anfwer, and faid, ' The caufe is deep or forgetfulnefs : fome ileep ' when they fhould keep awake ; and fome forget ' when they fhould remember ; and this is the very * caufe, why often at the refting-p laces fome pilgrims '' in fome things come off lolers. Pilgrims fhould ' watch and rqmeniber what they have already re- * ceived under their greatefl enjoyments ; but for *• want of doing fo^, oftentimes their rejoicing ends '> in tears, and their fun-fliine in a cloud : — v/itnefs 'the ftory of Christian at this place.'* When they were come to the place where Mis- trust and Timorous met Christian to perfuade R r 2 him * Reader, mind this well :. remember it often ; and it will do thee J> 16 Ti-irv com:: IN' sight of the lioks. him to go back for fear of the lions, they perceived as it were a flage, and before it, towards the road, a broad plate, wi;h a copy of verfes written thereon, and underneath, the reafon of raifing up of that flage in that place rendered. The verfes were — • Let him that fees that llage, take heed Upon his heart and tongue : Left if he do not, here he fpeed As fome have long agone.' The words underneath the verfes were, ' This * ftage was built to punifh fuch upon, who, through ' timoroufnefs or jr.ijiri/ji, Ihall be afraid to go further *■ on pilgrimage : alfo on this ftage both Mistrust ' and Timorous were burnt through the tongue ' with a hot iron, for endeavouring to hinder * Christian on his journey.'* Then faid Mercy, This is much like to the fay- ing of the Beloved, *' What fhall be given unto " thee ; or what fhall be done nnto thee, thou falfe " tongue ? fharp arrows of the mighty, with coals " of the juniper."' So they went on, till they came within fight of the lions.* Now Mr. Great-heart was a ftrong man, fo he was not afraid of a lion : but yet when they were come up to the place where the lions were, the boys that went before were glad to cringe behind, for they were afraid of the lions ; fo they ffept back and went behind. At this their guide fmiled, and faid, ' How now, my boys ; do you ' love to go before when no danger doth approach, •^ and love to come behind fo foon as the lions ap- ' pear ?' Now as they went on, Mr. Great-heart drew his • Chriftians, take heed to your tongues. O beware, beware, left in anywil'e you make a falfe report of the good land, through fear or niiflruft ! I'he Lord notes what you boldly fpeak for his ways, and to his glory ; and he marks your words which in anywife have a contrary tendency. Thi- tongue is an unruly evil. » Pf. cxx. 3, 4. * Part I. p. ICO. THE LIONS BACKED EY GIANT GRIM. 317 Jiis fword, with Intent to make a v/ay for the pil- grims in fpite of the lions. Then there appeared one, that it feems had taken upon him to back the lions ; and he faid to the pilgrim's guide, * What ' is the caufe of you coming hither r' Now the name of that man was Grim, or Bloody-man, be- caufe of his flaying of pilgrims j and he was of the race of the giants.* Then faid the pilgrims' guide, Thefe women and children are going on pilgrimage ; and this is the way they mufl go, and go it they fhall, in fpite of thee and the lions. Grim. This is not their way, neither fhall they go therein. I am come forth to withftand them, and to that end will back the lions. Now, to fay the truth, by reafon of the fiercenefs of the lions, and of the grim carriage of him that did back them, this way had of late lain much un- occupied, and was almoft all grown over with grafs. Then faid Christiana, Though the highways have been unoccupied heretofore, and though the travellers have been made in times pad to walk through by-paths, ^it mufl not be fo now I am rifen ; " Now I am rifen a mother in Ifrael."' Then he fwore by the lions, but it fliould : and therefore bid them turn afide, for they fhould not have paffage there. But their guide made firfl his approach unto Grim, and laid fo heavily on him with his fword, that he forced him to retreat. Then faid he that attempted to back the lions, * Will you flay me upon mine own ground r' Gr.-h. It is the King's highway that we are in, and * Who is this giant Grim, who hacks the lions, and terrifies the hearts of pilgrims with a fenfe of danger in the right way to the kingdom ? It it an evil heart of unbelief. This Great-heart will fight with, and conquer. O how does unbelief multiply dangers, and magnify difhculcics : call up fear, and deje6t our hearts! unbelief makes every danger wear a grim and terrible afpeA. The only weapon to flay this enemy, is the fword of the Spirit, which is the v.'«rd of God, Eph. vi. 17. ' Judg. V. 6, 7, ^iS GREAT-HEART SLAYS GRIM. and in this way it is thac thou haft: placed the lions ; but thefe women and thefe children, though weak, ihall hold on their way in fpite of the lions. — And with that he gave him again a downright blow, and brought him upon his knees. With this blow he alfo broke his helmet, and with the next cut off an arm. Then did the giant roar fo hideoufly, that his voice frighted the women ; and yet they were glad to fee him lie fprawling upon the ground. Now the lions were chained, and fo of themfelves could do nothing.* Wherefore, when old Grim, that in- tended to back them, was dead, Great-heart faid to the pilgrims, ' Come now, and follow me, and ' no hurt fhall happen to you from the lions.* They therefore went on, but the women trembled as they paffed by them ; the boys alfo looked as if they would die, but they all got by v/ithout further hurt. Now, when they were within fight of the por- ter*s lodge, they foon came up unto it ; but they made the more haftie after this to go thither, hq- caufe it is dangerous travelling there in the night. So when they were come to the gate, the guide knocked, and the porter cried, * Who is there ?' But as foon as the guide had faid, * It is I,' he knew his voice, and came down (for the guide had oft before that come thither as a conductor of pil- grims). When he was come down, he opened the gate, and, feeing the guide ft;anding juft: before it (for he faw not the women, for they were behind him), he faid unto him. How now, Mr. Great- heart, what is your bufinefs here fo late at night.'' ' 1 have brought,' faid he, ' fome pilgrims hither, ' where, • How often, after we have fought with the courage of faith, and the refolution of hope, and have overcome a giini enemy, have we fccii the fiercell of our eiieniies chained by the power of God, fo as not to have the kaft power to hurt us? O pilgrim ! it is fweet to reflet^, that every lion- like foe is under the controul of thy God, and cannot eomq one link of ihcir chain Dearer to tlice thiji thy Lord will pcrnjit. THE PILGRIMS COMMITTED TO V. ATCKFUL. 319 ' where, by my Lord's commandment, they mud * lodge: 1 had been here fome time ago, had I not * been oppofed by the giant that ufed to back the * lions. But I, after a long and tedious combat * with him, have cut him off, and have brought the * pilgrims hither infafety.'* PoR. Will not you go in, and flay till morning ? Gr.-h. No. I will return to my Lord to-night. Chr. Oh, Sir, I know not how to be willing you fliould leave us in our pilgrimage : you have been i'o faithful and fo loving to us, you have fought fo ftoutly for us, you have been fo hearty in counfcl- Hng of us, that I fliall never forget your favour to- wards us. Then faid Mercy, Oh that we might have thy company to our journey's end ! How can fuch poor women as we hold out in a way fo full of troubles as this way is, without a friend or defender? Then faid James, the youngedof the boys. Pray, Sir, be perfuaded to go with us, and help us, be- caufe we are fo weak, and the way fo dangerous as it is. Gr.-h. I am at my Lord's commandment : if he fliall allot me to be your guide quite through, I will willingly wait upon you. But here you failed at firfl ; for when he bid me come thus tar with you, then you fhould have begged me of him to have gone quite through with you, and he would have granted your requefi:. However, at prefent I mufl withdraw; and fo good Christiana, Mercy, and my brave children, adieu. Then the porter, Mr. Watchful, afKed Chris- tiana of her country, and of her kindred : and flie faid, ' I came from the city of Destruction ; I * am * How mindful is our I,orJ of us! How g^racioug is he to us! What blefled provifions doth he make for us ! If pilj/rims are attacked by Gian: Cirim, and terrified with the fight of lions, they may be fure, that it is only a prelude to fomt fweet enjoyment of the Lorfi's love, and that they are prar to fomc fweet aJylum, fome fanv^uary of reft, i^eace and cymforr. 320 THEY ARE WELCOMED AND ENTERTAINED. ' am a widow woman, and my hufband is dead ; his * name was Christian, the pilgrim.' ' How 1' faid the porter, ' was he your hufband ?' ' Yes,' faid fhe, ' and thefe his children ; and this' fpointing to Mergy) * is one of my towafvvomen.' Then the porter rang his bell, as at fuch time he is wont, and there came to the door one of the damfels, v/hofe name was Humble-mind. And to her the porter faid, ' Go tell it within, that Christiana, the ' wife of Christian, and her children, are come * hither on pilgrimage.' She went in, therefore, and told it. But, oh, what noife for gladnefs was therein, when the damfel did but drop that out of her mouth ! So they came with hade to the porter, for Chris- tiana flood (till at the door. Then fome of the mofl: grave faid unto her, ' Come in, Christiana, ' come in, thou wife of that good man ; come in, ' thou blefled woman, come in, with all that are ^ with thee.* So (he went in, and they followed her that were her children and her companions. Now when they were gone in, they were had into a large room, and bid to fit down : fo they fat down, and the chief of the houfe were called to fee and welcome the guefts. Then they came in, and, underflanding who they were, did falute each other with a kifs, and faid, * Welcome, ye veifels of the ' grace of God, welcome unto us who are your ' faithful friends.'* Now, becaufe it was fomewhat late, and becaufe the pilgrims were weary with their journey, and alfo made faint with the fight of the nght, and the terrible lions, they defired, as foon as might ble, to prepare • Here i* a blefled marli of being veffels of the grace of God, when wc delljrht in the fight of, falute and welcome others in the way to Zion, and mutually have our hearts and afF^-dions drawn out to each other in love. O how fweet is the fellowfliip of pilgrims helow ! what muft it be above I Infinitely ahove conception. Lord, fire our fouh with the thought of ever beinsr with thee and each other in thy kingdom. CHRISTIANA AND MERCY*S DISCOURSE. 32I prepare to go to reft. ' Nay,' faid thofe of the fa- mily, ' refrefh yourfelves with a morfel of meat :' for they had prepared for them a lamb, with the accuftomed fauce thereto.*' For the porter had heard before of their coming, and had told it to them within. So when they had flipped, and ended their prayer with a pfalm, they defired they might go to reft. ' But let us,' faid Christiana, ' if ' we may be fo bold as to choofe, be in that cham- * ber that was my hufoand's, when he was here.' So they had them up thither, and they all lay in a room.* When they were at reft, Christiana and Mercy entered into difcourfe about things that were convenient. Chr. Little did I think once, when my huftDand went on pilgrimage, that I fhould ever have followed him. Mer. And you as little thought of lying in his bed, and in his chamber to reft, as you do now.f Chr. And much lefs did I ever think of feeing his face with comfort, and of worftilpping the Lord the King with him ; and yet now I believe I fliall ! Mer. Hark, don't you hear a noife .? Chr. Yes, 'tis, as I believe, a noife of mufic, for joy that we are here. Mer. Wonderful ! Mufic In the houfe, mufic In the heart, and mufic alfo in heaven, for joy that we are here !| 8 s Thus * The Lamb is the fond of pilgrims, and the end of their converfation . Reader, can you feed upon Chrift by faith ? Is the Lamb the nourifhment of thy foul, and the portion of thy heart ? Canft thou fay from fweet and bleflei experience, his flefh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed ? Is it thy delight to think of him, hear of him, fpeak of him, abide in him, and live upon him ? O blefs him, and praife him for his mercy. f Pray, mind the above fweet note, " Chrift's bofom is for all pilgrims." It is there the weary find reft, and the burdened foul eafe. O for more re- clinings of foul upon the precious bofom of our dear Lord ! We can be truly happy no where elfe. I O what precious harmony ir. this ! how joyful to he the fubje<5Is of if, and to join in it ! The free fovereign grace of God, is the delightful theme ; and glory ti) God in the higheft, the univerfal chorus. It is the wonder and joy of finnerson earth, and of angels in heaven. ■ Exod. xii. 3. * John i. 19. 322 MERCY TELLS CHRISTIANA HER DREAM. Thus they talked awhile, and then betook them- felves to fleep. So in the morning when they were awaked, Christiana faid to Mercy, ' What was ' the matter that you did laugh in your fleep to- ' night ? 1 fuppofe you was in a dream.* Mer. So I was, and a fweet dream it was ; but are you fure I laughed ? Chr. Yes ; you laughed heartily : but pr'ythee, Mercy, tell me thy dream. Mer. I was a dreaminn^ that I fat all alone in a folitary place, and was bemoaning of the hardnefs of my heart. Now I had not fat there long, but methought many were gathered about me to fee me, and to hear what it was that I faid. So they heark- ened, and I went on bemoaning the hardnefs of my heart. At this, fome of them laughed at me, fome called me fool, and fome began to thruft: me about. With that, methought I looked up, and faw one coming with wings towards me. So he came direftly to me, and faid, ' Mercy, what aileth ' thee ^' Now when he had heard me make my com- plaint, he faid, * Peace be to thee :* he alfo wiped mine eyes with his handkerchief, and clad me in fhlver and gold. He put a chain upon my neck, and ear-rings in mine ears, and a beautiful crown upon my head.* Then he took me by the hand, and faid, 'Mercy, come after me.* So he went up, and I, followed, till we came at a golden gate. Then he knocked: and, when they within had opened, the man went in, and I followed him up to a throne, upon which one fat, and he faid to me. Welcome, * daughter.' The place looked bright and twink- ling, like the (tars, or rather like the fun, and I thought that I faw your hufband there. So I awoke from my dream. But did I laugh ?* Chr. • Pray obfervc this dream : it is a mofl: precious one indeed. W'e find it true in the broad day of fwcet experience ; lor then it is we get ihe moft blelTcd * Ezek, xvi. 8 — 13. Christiana's remark upon it. 323 Chr. Laugh! ay, and well you might, to fee yourfelf fo well. For you mud give me leave to tell you, that it was a good dream ; and that as you have begun to find the Ivrd part true, fj you fhall find the fecond at lafl. " God fpeaks once, yea " twice, yet man perceiveth it not ; in a dream, in *' a vifion of the night, when deep fleep falleth " upon men, in {lumbering upon the bed.'*' We need not, when a-bed, to lie awake to talk with God ; he can vifit us w^hile we fleep, and caufe us then to hear his voice. Oar heart oft-times v/akes when we Heep ; and God can fpeak to that, either by words, by proverbs, by figns and fnnilitudes, as well as if one was awake.* Mer. Well, I am glad of my dream, for 1 hope, ere long, to fee it fulfilled, to the making me laugh again, Chr. I think it is now high time to rife, and to know what we mull do. Mer. Pray, if they advife us to fiay awhile, let us willingly accept of the proffer. I am the wil- iinger to Itay a while here, to. grow better acquaint- ed with thefe maids; methinks Prudenc!', Piety, and Charity, have very comely and fober counte- nances. Ct^R. We (hall fee what they will do. — So when they were up and ready, they carrte down, and they afKed one another of their relt, and if it was com- fortable or not. Very good, fiiid Mercy ; it was one of the bell nio-ht's lod^^ings that ever I had in my life. b s 2 1 hen yeffed vifits from cur Lord, w'nen \vs get by ourfelves and bemoan the deadnefs of our poor hearts. True, we may be laughed at, called fools, and defpifed by the profane and felf-righteoui, who do not feel the hardnel's of their hearts, nor bemoan themfelves for it ; yet the loving, compaffion- ate, tender-hearted Saviour, isever near to us, he feels for us» fympatiuzes with us, will manifefl himfelf to us, and revive us with the fenle of peace, the joy of hope, and the comforts of love. ' O how i-ilcffed are they who are watching and waiting continually, to hear the fmall Hill voice of the Spirit, fpeaking rell and peace to their fo>.iIs by the blood of th.e Lamb ! O how condefcending is our Lord, thus to viiit u-=, and conveifs with us in the way to his kingdom ! « T'-.b xx.\iii. 14 — 1^> 324 PRUDENCE CA-n-:CHISES JAMES, ♦Then faid Prudence and Piety, If you will be perfuaded to flay here a while, you fhall have ivhat the houie will afford. Ay, and that with a very good will, faid Cha- RiTY. — So they confented, and ftaid there about a month or above, and became very profitable one to another. And, becaufe Prudence would fee how Christiana had brought up her children, ihe afked leave of her to catechife them: fo (he gave her free confent. Then fhe began with the youngeft, whofe name was James. And fhe faid, ' Come, James, canfl thou tell me who made thee ?* Jam. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghoft Prud. Good boy. And canfl thou tell who faved thee ? Jam. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghoft. Prud. Good boy flill. But how doth God the Father fave thee .'* Jam. By his grace. Prud. How doth God the Son fave thee ? Jam. By his righteoufnefs, and blood, and death, and life. Prud. And how doth God the Holy Ghoft fave thee ? Jam. By his illumination, by his renovation, and by his prefervation. Then faid Prudence to Christiana, You are to be commended for thus bringing up your chil- dren. I fuppofe I need not afk the reft thefe quef- tions, fince the youngefl of them can anfwer them fo well. I will therefore now apply myfelf to the next youngefl. Then fhe faid. Come, Joseph (for his name was Joseph), will you let me catechife you ? Jos. With all my heart. Prud. What is man ? Jos. A reafonable creature, made fo by God, a^ zny brother faid. Prud. JOSEPH, AND MATTHEW. 325 Prud. What is fuppofed by this word, faved? Jos. That man by fin has brought himfelf into a, flate of captivity and mifery. Prud. What is fuppofed by his being faved by the Tiinity ? Jos. I'hat fm is fo great and mighty a tyrant, that none can pull us out of its clutches, but God ; and that God isfo good and loving to man, as to pull hiru indeed out of this raiferable (late. Prud. What is God's defign in faving poor man? Jos. The glorifying of his name, of his grace, and juftice, &c. ; and the everlafting happinefs of his creature. Prud. Who are they that mufl be faved ? Jos. Thofe that accept of his falvation. Prud. Good boy, Joseph; thy mother hath taught thee well, and thou haft hearkened to what ftie has faid unto thee. Then faid Prudence to Samuel (who vv-as the eldeft fon but one), Come, Samuel, are you willing that I Ihould catechife you alfo ? Sam. Yes, forfooth, if you pleafe. Prud. What is heaven ? Sam. a place and ftate moft bleffed, becaufe God dwelleth there. Prud. What is hell? Sam. a place and ftate moft woeful, becaufe it is the dwelling-place of fm, the devil, and death. Prud. Why wouldeft thou go to heaven ? Sam. That I may fee God, and ferve him with- out wearinefs; that I may fee Christ, and love him everlaftingly ; that I may have that fulnefs of the Holy Spirit in me, that 1 can by no means here enjoy. Prud. A very good boy, and one that has learned well. — Then flie addreffed herfeif to the eldeft, whofe name was Matthew; and fne faid to him, Come, Matthew, fliall I alfo catechife you ? Mat. With a very good will. Prud 326 PRUDENCE GIVES THE BOYS GOOD COUNSEL. Prud. I aflc, then, if there was ever any thing that had a being antecedent to, or before God ? Mat. No; for God iseternal> nor is there any thing, excepting himfelf, that had a being until the begin- ning of the firft day : " For in fix days the Lord made " heaven and earth, the fea, and all that in them is." Prud. What do you think of the Bible ? Mat. It is the holy word of God. Prud. Is there nothing written therein but what you underftand ? Mat. Yes, a great deal. Prud. What do you do when you meet with, places therein that you do not underftand f Mat. I think God is wifer than I. I pray alfo that he will pleafe to let me kuow all therein, that he knows will be for my good.* Prud. How believe you, as touching the refurrec- tion of the dead ? Mat. I believe they fliall rife, the fame that was buried ; the fame in nature, though not in corrup- tion. And I believe this upon a double account : — Firft, becaufe God has promifed it : — fecondly, be- caufe he is able to perform it.| Then faid Prudence to the boys, You muft ftill hearken to your mother, for Ihe cun learn you more. You muft alfo diiir^ently give ear to what good talk you ftiall hear from others : for your fakes do they Ipeak good things. Obferve alfo, and that with carefulnefs, what the heavens and the earth do teach you ; but efpecially be much in the medita- tion of that book, that was the caufe of your fa- ther's becoming a pilgrim. I, for my part, my children will teach you what I can while you are. here, and ftiall be glad if you will alk me queftions that tend to godly edifying. * Though this is anfwered v/iih the (implicJty of a child ; yet it is, and ever will he, the language of every father in Cariit. Happy thofe whofe fpirits are call into this humble hlcffcd mould! O that this fpirit may accompany us in all our refearches, in all our ways, and through all our days. f Here is the foundation of faith, and the triumph of hope, God's faithfuhiofs to his promife, and his power to perform. Having thcle to look to, what fiiould dagger our faith, or dcjeCl our hope ? We may, we ought to fmilc at ail carnal objedions, and trample upon ail corrupt reafonings. CHAP. MERCY S SUITOR : HER CONDUCT TO HIM. 327 CHAP. VI. MR. BRISK PAYS HIS ADDRESSES TO MERCY MAT- THEW TAKEN ILL, BUT RECOVERS, &C. i\ OW by that thefe pilgrims had been at this place a week, Mercy had a vifitor that pretended fome good will unto her, and his name was Mr. Brisk, a man of fome breeding, and that pretended to religion ; but a man that ftuck very clofe to the world. So he came once or twice, or more, to Mercy, and offered love unto her. — Now Mercy was of a fair countenance, and therefore the more alluring. Her mind alfo was, to be always bufying of herfelf in doing ; for when (he had nothing to do for herfelf, fhe would be making of hofe and gar- ments for others, and would bellow them upon them' that had need. And Mr. Brisk, not knowing where or how file difpofed of what fhe made, feemed to be greatly taken, for that he found her never idle. ' I ' will warrant her a good houfewife,* quoth he to himfelf. Mercy then revealed the bufinefs to the maidens that were of the houfe, and inquired of them con- cerning him ; S^r they did know him better than file. So they told her, that he was a very bufy young man, and one that pretended to religion ; but was, as they feared, a flranger to the power of that which is good. Nay then, faid Mercy, I will look no more on him ; for 1 purpofe never to have a clog to my foul.* Prudence then replied, that there needed no great matter of difcouragement to be given to him j for ♦ Mofl blefled refolution ! Ah, pilgrims, if ye were more wary, how many treubles would ye efcape, and how much more happy would ye be in your pilgrimage ! It is for waut of this wifdom, that many bring evil upon thcmCeh'ct. 328 HE FORSAKES HER. HER REMARKS UPON IT. for continuing fo, as fhe had begun, to do for the poor, would quickly cool his courage. So the next time he comes, he finds her at her old work, a-making of things for the poor. Then faid he, ' What, always at it ?' ' Yes,' faid (he, ' either * for myfelf or for others.' ' And what canft thou * earn a day, quoth he.* ' I do theft things,' faid file, " that I may be rich in good works, laying a " good foundation againft the time to come, that i * may lay hold of eternal life."^ ' Why pr'ythee, * what doft thou do with them ?' faid he. ' Clothe ' the naked,* faid fhe. With that his countenance fell. So he forbore to come at her again. And when he was afked the reafon why, he faid, that Mercy was a pretty iafs, but troubled with ill con- ditions.* When he had left her, Prudence faid. Did I not tell thee, that Mr. Brisk would foon forfake thee ? yea, he will raife up an ill report of thee : for, not- withftanding his pretence to religion, and his feem- ing love to inercy, yet mercy and he are of tempers fo different, that I believe they will never come to- gether. Mer. I might have had hufbands before now, though I fpoke not of it to any ; but they were fuch as did not like my conditions, though never did any of them find fault with my perfon. So they and I could not agree. Prud. Mercy in our days is little fet by, any fur- ther than as to its name : the practice, which is fet forth by the conditions, there are but few that can abide. Well, faid Mercy, if nobody will have me, I will die a maid, or my conditions fhall be to me as a hufband : • How eafily are the beft of charaAcrs traduced, and falfe conftrucftions put upon the beft of adlions? Reader, is this your lot alfo ? Mind your duty. Look to your Lord. Perfevere in his works and ways; and leave your cha- rader with him, to whom you can truft your foul. For if God be for us, who fliall be againft us } What fliall harm us, if we be followers of that ^vhich is good i ' I Tim. vi. 17 — 19. MATTHHW SICK. THE PHYSI CIAN S OPI NION. 329 a hufband : for I cannot change my nature ; and to have one that lies crofs to me in this, that I purpofe never to admit of as long as 1 live. I had a fifter, named Bouxtifxjl, married to one of thefe churls : but he and (he could never agree ; but, becaufe my filter was refolved to do as (he had begun, that is, to {hovv^ kindnefs to the poor, therefore her hulband tirit cried her down at the crofs, and then turned her out of his doors. Prud. And yet he was a profelTor, I warrant you ! MhR. Yes, fuch a one as he was, and of fuch as the world is now full : but I am for none of them all.* Now Matthew, the eldefl fon of Christiana, fell fick, and his ficknefs was fore upon him, for he was much pained in his bowels, fo that he was with it, at times, pulled, as it were, both ends together.f There dwelt alfo not far from thence, one Mr. Skill, an ancient and well-approved phyfician. So Chris- tiana defired it, and they fent for him, and he came : when he was entered the room, and had a little obferved the boy, he concluded that he was fick of the gripes. Then he faid to his mother, ' What diet has Matthew of late fed upon ?* * Diet!' faid Christiana; nothing but what is ' wholefome.* The phyfician anfwered, ' This boy ' has been tampering with fomething that lies in his ' maw undigelied, and that will not away without * means. And I tell you he muft be purged, or elfe * he will die.* T t Then * Though we are to beware of a cenforious fpirit in regard to profeflbrs, yet when they give evidence by their walk, that they are not what they profefs to be, holy followers of the I^amb, we are by no means to be de- ceived by them. For we have an unerring rule laid down by our Lord, to judge of them, " ye (hall know them by their fruits," Matt. vii. i6. yea, and we ought to be faithful to them too, by reproving them in the fpirit of humility and love. •f Sec the cffeils of fin. It will pinch and gripe the confcienccj and make tKe heart fick. 330 CHRISTIANA S CONCERN FOR MATTHEW. Then faid Samuel, Mother, what was that which my brother did gather and eat, fo foon as we were come from the gate that is at the head of this way ? You know that there was an orchard on the left hand, on the other fide of the wall, and fome of the trees hung over the wall, and my brother did pluck and did eat.* True, my child, faid Christiana, he did take thereof, and did eat ; naughty boy as he was, I chid him, and yet he would eat thereof. Skill. I knew he had eaten fomething that was not wholefome food ; and that food, to wit, that fruit, is even the mofl hurtful of ail. It is the fruit of Beelzebub's orchard, t do marvel that none did warn you of it ; many have died thereof.f Then Christiana began to cry ; and (he faid, * O naughty boy ! and O carelefs mother ! what < fliall t do for my fon ?' Skill. Come, do not be too dejefled ; the boy may do well again, but he mufl purge and vomit. Chr. Pray, Sir, try the utmoil of your fkill with him, whatever it cods. Skill. Nay, I hope I fhall be reafonable. — So he made him a purge, but it was too v/eak ; it was faid, it was made of the blood of a goat, the aihes of a heifer, and with fome of the juice of hyflbp. &c. ' When Mr. Skill had feeii that that purge was too weak, he made him one to the purpofe ; it was made ex came et f anguine Chrijli ;|^ (you know, phy- ficians * Obferve how ufcfiil pilgrim; are to each otiicr, in faithfully reminding of their conduft. Though this fin was committed fome time paft, and nei- ther Matthew nor his mother thought of it ; yet it mud be brought to h'glit, and repented of. f Here is convlflion for the mother, in not warning of fin, and chiding for it. She takes it home, falls under the fenfe of it, and is grieved for it. A tender confcicnce is a bleflcd fign of a gracious heart. Ye parents, wlio know the love of Chrift, watch over jour children ; fee to it, led ye fmart h^x their fins, in not warning and teaching them, that the fear of the Lord is to depart from all evil ; yea, to ahftain from the veiy appearance of it. ^ Mr. Bunyan's great modefly and humility are truly admirable ; though )ie quotes Latin, yet as he did not uuderftand it, he tells us in the margin, "the » Heb. ix. 13. 19. X. 1—4. * J"l»n vl. 54— J7- Heb. ii. 14. BY MEANS OF PILLS, MATTHEW RECOVERS. 33 1 ficians give flrange medicines to their patients :) and it was made up into pills, with a promife or two, and a proportionable quantity of fait. ^ Now he was to take them three at a time, fading, in half a quar- ter of a pint of the tears of repentance.^ When this portion was prepared, and brought to the boy, he was loath to take it, though torn with the gripes, as if he ihould be pulled in pieces. ' Come, come,* faid the phyfician, ' you muff take it.* ' It goes ' againft my flomach,' faid the boy. ' I mud: have * you t^ke it,' faid his mother. I fhall vomit it up ' again,' faid the boy. ' Pray, Sir,' faid Christiana to Mr. Skill, ' how does it tafle ?' ' It has no ill * tafte,' faid the do6lor ; and with that fhe touched one of the pills with the tip of her tongue. ' Oh, * Matthew,' faid fhe, ' this portion is fweeter than ' honey. If thou lovefl thy mother, if thou lovefl ' thy brothers, if thou loveit Mercy, if thou lovefl * thy life, take it.' So with much ado, after a fliort prayer for the blefling of God upon it, he took it, and it wrought kindly with him. It caufed him to purge, to fleep, and to reft quietly ; it put him into a fine heat and breathing fweat, and rid him of his gripes.* 'So in a little time he got up, and walked about with a ftafF, and would go from room to room, and talk with Prudence, Piety, and Charity of his diftemper, and how he was healed. So when the boy was healed, Christiana afked Mr. Skill, faying, ' Sir, what will content you for T t 2 * your " the Latin I borrow." The Englilh is, " Of the flelh and of the blood of Chrid." T.his is the only portion for fin fick fouls. Ftcdingf upon Chrift's flefh and blood I'y faith, keeps us from finniDg, and when fick of fin, thefi", and nothing hut tliefe, can heal and reftore us. Yet there is in our nature an unaccountable reluctance to receive thefe, tiirougli the unbelief wliich work's in us. So Matthew found it. ' See the blefled effcils of receiving Chrift, when under the fenfe of fin, aud diilrefs for fin. O what a precious Saviour is Jefus! what efficacy is there in his blcfTed flelb, and precious blooii, t() purge the coiWciencc from guile. It is this fenfc of Chritl's love and grace, Avhich heuls, rclb^res, and niakes our hearts happy and j^iyful in God ! ' Mark is, 49. ^ Zech. xii. 10. 33^ EFFICACY OF THESE PILLS. * your pains and care to me, and of my child ?* And he faid, ' You mufl pay the Mailer of the College ' of Phyncians, according to rules made in that cafe, ' and provided.'' But, Sir, faid (lie, what is this pill good for elfe? Skill. It is an univerfal pill ; it is good againi't all difeafes that pilgrims are incident to ; and, when it is well prepared, will keep good time out of mind. Chr. Pray, Sir, make me up twelve boxes of them : for, if I can get thefe, I will never tal^e other phyfic. Skill. Thefe pills are good to prevent difeafes, as well as to cure when one is fick.* Yea, I dare fay it, and ftand to it, that if a man will but ufe this phyfic as he fhould, it will make him live for ever. ^ But good Christiana, thou muft give thefe pills no other way, but as I have prefcribed : for if you dp, they will do no good. So he gave unto Chris- tiana phyfic for herfelf, and her boys, and for Mercy ; and bid Matthew take heed how he eat any more green plums j and kiifed him, and went his way. It was told you before, that Prudence bid the boys, that if at any time they would, they fhould :afk her fome queflions that might be profitable, and fae would fay fomething to them. Then Matthew, who had been fick, aiked her. Why, for the moft part, phyfic fliould be bitter to our palates ? pRVD. To fhow how unwelcome the word of -God, and the efteds thereof, are to a carnal heart. Mat. Why does phyfic, if it does good, purge, and caufe to vomit ? Prud. * O pilgrims, let not a day pafs without having recourfe to the life and death of the Son of God, and live by faith upon him, who Ihed his blood to fave us, and gives his fiefh to nourifh us, and who fays, " My fldh is ftieat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed." » Heb. liii, n — ij. * John vl. 58. PRUDENCE ANSWERS MATTHEW S QUESTIONS. 333 Prud. To fhovv, that the word, when it works efFedually, cleanfeth the heart aad mind. For, look, what the one doeth to the body, the other doeih to the foul. TvIat. What fhould we learn by feeing the flame of our fire go upwards ? and by feeing the beams and fweet influences of the fun ftrike downwards ? Prud. By the going up of the fire, we are taught to afcend to heaven, by fervent and hot defires. And by the fun fending his heat, beams, and fweet influences downwards, we are taught that the Saviour of the world, though high, reaches down with his grace and love to us below. Mat. Where have the clouds their water ? Prud. Out of the fea. Mat. What may we learn from that? Prud. I'hat minifl:ers fliould fetch their dodrine from God. Mat. Why do they empty themfelves upon the earth ? Prud. To Ihow that miniflers fliould give out what they know of God to the world. Mat. "Why is the rainbow caufed by the fun ? Prud. To fliow, that the covenant of God*s grace is confirmed to us in Christ. Mat. Why do the fprings come from the fea to us through the earth ? Prud. To fliow, that the grace of God comes to us through the body of Christ. Mat. Why do fome of the fprings rife out of the top of high hills .'' Prud. To fliow, that the Spirit of grace fliall fpring up in fome that are great and mighty, as well as in many that are poor and low. Mat. Why doth the fire faflien upon the candle- wick ^ Prud. To fliow, that, unlefs grace doth kindle upon the heart, there will be no true light of life in us. Mat* 334 THEIR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS CONTINUED. Mat. Why is the wick, and tallow, and all, fpent, to maintain the light of the candle ? Prud. To (how, that body and foul, and all, fhould be at the fervice of, ^nd fpend themfelves to maintain in good condition, that grace of God that ia in us. Mat. Why doth the pelican pierce her own breaft with her bill ? Prud. To nourilh her young ones with her blood, and thereby to fhow that Christ the blelTed, fo lov- eth his young, his people, as to fave them from death by his blood. Mat. What may one learn by hearing of the cock crow ? Prud. Learn to remember Peter's fm and Pe- ter's repentance. The cock's crowing fhows alfo, that day is coming on ; let then the crowing of the cock put thee in mind of that laft and terrible day of judgment. Now about this time their month was out ; where- fore they fignified to thofe of the houfe, that it was convenient for them to up and be going. Then faid Joseph to his mother, ' It is convenient that you * forget not to fend to the houfe of Mr. Inter pRp- ' ter, to pray him to grant that Mr. Great-heart ' fhould be fent unto us, that he may be our con- * du£tor, the reft of our way.' ' Good boy,' faid fhe, ' I had almoft forgot.' So (he drev/ up a peti- tion, and prayed Mr. Watchful the porter, to fend it by fome fit man, to her good friend Mr. In- terpreter ; who, when it was come, and he had feen the contents of the petition, faid to the meffen- ger, * Go tell them that 1 will fend him.' ' When the family, where Christiana was, faw that they had a purpofe to go forward, they called the whole houfe together, to give thanks to their King, for fending of them fuch profitable guefls as thefe. Which done, they faid unto Christiana, ' And fhall we not fhow thee fomething, according ' as EVK*s APPLE. Jacob's ladder, Sec. OJ) * as our cuftom is to do to pilgrims, on which thou ' Riayefl meditate when thou art on tlie way r' So they took Christiana, her children, and Mercy, into the clofet, and fliowed them one of the apples that Eve ate of, and that (lie alfo did give to her hufband, and that for the eating of which, they w^ere both turned out of Paradife ; and afked her, ' What ' file thought that was?' Then Christiana faid, ' It is food or poifon, I know not which.' So they opened the matter to her, and flie held up her hands and wondered.*^ Then they had her to a place, and fiiowed her Jacob's ladder. Now at that time there were foine angels afcending upon it So Christiana looked, and looked to fee the angels go up; fo did the reft of the company.^ Then they were going into an- other place, to (how them fomething elfe : but James faid to his mother, ' Pray bid them ftay a little ' longer, for this is a curious fight.' So they turned again, and. ftood feeding their eyes on this fo plea- fant a profpecl. — After this, they had them into a place, where there did hang up a golden anchor : fo they bid Christiana take it down; for, faid they, vou fliall have it with you, for it is of abfolute iie- cefTity that you fliould, that you may lay hold of that Vv^ithin the veil, and ftand fledfafi: in cafe yu iliould meet wath turbulent weather: — fo they wereglad ihereof.fs — Then they took them, and had them to * It is not enough that the Holy Spirit convinces us of fin, previous to our fiift fetting out on pilgrimage, and makes us fenfi- le of our want of Chrill:; hut he alio keeps up a fight and fenfc of the evil of fin, in its original na- ture, as well as our aiflual traiifgreffions This often makes us wonder at fin, at ourfclves, and at the love of Chrift in becoming a facrilice for our fins. \ This is the anchor of hope. This keeps the foul fafe, and fteady to Je^'us, who is the alone ohjeifl of our hope. Hope furings from faith. It is an cxpeiSation of the fulfilment of thofe things that arc promife 1 in the wcril of truth, by the God of all grace Fairh receives them, trufts in them, relies upon them, and hope waits for the full accomplifhment and enjoyment of them. ' Gen. iii. I — 6. Rom. vii. 24. ^ G«n. xxviii. 12. •3 Joel iii. 16. Heb. vi. 19. 330 GREAT-HEART ARIUVl?vG, THEY GO FORWARD. to the mount upon which Abraham our father had offered up Isaac his fon, and fliowed them the altar, the wood, the fire, and the knife ; for they remain to be feen to this very day. ^Vhen they had fcen it, they held up their hands, and blefled themfelves, and faid, ' Oh what a man for love to his Mafter, ' and for denial to himfelf, was Abraham'.* After they had fhowed them all thefe things, Prudence took them into a dining-room, where flood a pair of excellent virginals ; fo fhe played upon them, and turned what (he had fhowed them into this excellent fong, faying, * Eve's apple we have fljowed you; Of that be you aware ; You have feen Jacob's ladder too. Upon which angels are : An anchor you received have ; But let not this fuffice, Until with Abra'am you have gave Your beft of facrifice.' Now about this time one knocked at the door ; fo the porter opened, and, behold, Mr. Great- heart was there! But when he was come in, what joy was there ! for it came now frefh again into their mii\ds, how but a wliile ago he had llain old Grim Bloody-man the giant, and had delivered them from the lions. Then faid Mr. Great-heart to Christiana and to Mercy, My Lord has fent each of you a bottle of wine, and alfo feme parched corn, toge- ther with a couple of pomegranates j he alfo fent the boys fome figs and raifins ; to refrefh you in your way.* Then they addreffed themfelves to their journey j and Prudence and Piety went along with them. When * O how reviving and refreniing are thofc love-tokens from our Lord ! Great-heart never comes empty-handed. He always infpires with courage and confidence. TKEY TAKE LEAVE OF WATCHFUL. 33^ \v hen they came at the gate, Christiana aiked the porter, if any of late went by. He faid. No, only one, fome time fmce, who alfo told me, that of late there had been a great robbery committed on the King's highv/ay, as you go : but, faid he, the thieves are taken, and will fhortly be tried for their lives. Then Christiana and Mercy were afraid; but Matthew faid. Mother, fear nothing, as long as Mr. Great-heart is to go with us, and to be our conductor. Then faid Christiana to the porter, Sir, I am much obliged to you for all the kindnefles that you have fliowed to me fmce I came hither ; and alfo that you have been fo loving and kind to my chil- dren ; I know not how to gratify your kindnefs : ■wherefore, pray, as a token of my refpefts to you> accept of this fmall mite. — So fhe put a gold angel* in his hand ; and he made her a low obeifance, and f[aid, ' Let thy garments be always white, and let ' thy head want no ointment. Let Mercy live and * not die, and let not her works be few.* And to the boys he faid, ' Do you flee youthful lulls, and ' follow after godlinefs with them that are grave and * wife ; fo fhall you put gladnefs into your mother*s * heart, and obtain praife of all that are fober-mind- * ed.*— So they thanked the porter, and departed. * No wonder that the pilgrims were thankful for their kind entertain- ment, or that they teftified their efteem of the gofpel, and its glorious Au- thor, by the prefent they made to the porter ; for fays St. Paul, in behalf of the miniilers of the word, •' If we have fown unto you fpiritual things, ^s, it 4 great thing if we fhall reap your carnal things V U u CHAP. ;38 CHRISTIANA HEARS CURIOUS NOTES. CHAP. vir. THE PILGRIMS PURSUE THEIR JOURNEY, AND PASS THROUGH THE VALLEY OF HUMILIATION, AND OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. N. OW I faw in my dream, that they went forward until they were come to the brow of the hill, where Piety, bethinking herfelf, cried out, Alas ! 1. have forgot what I intended to beftow upon Christiana and her companions ; I will go back and fetch it. So fhe ran and fetched it. When flie was gone, Christiana thought flie heard in a grove, a little way off on the right hand, a mod curious melodious note, with words much like thefe : * Through all my life thy favour is So frankly fhow'd to me, That in thy houfe for evermore My dwelling-place Ihall be.' And liftening ftill fhe thought (lie heard another anfwer it, faying, * For why ? The Lord our God is good, His mercy is for ever fure : His truih at all times firmly flood, And fhall from age to age endure.' So Christiana afked Prudence what it was that made thofe curious notes. They are, faid fhe, our country birds : they fing thefe notes but feldom, ex- cept it be at the fpring, when the flowers appear, and the fuia^fliines warm, and then you may hear them all the day long. 1 often, faid flie, go to hear them ; we alfo oft-times keep them tame in our houfe. They are very fine company for us when we are me- lancholy ; alfo they make the woods and groves, and folitary places, places defirous to be in.*' By * You fee, thefe joyful notes fpring from a fenfe of nearncfs to the Lord, aad a fimi confidence in hib divine truth and everlafting mercy. O when the » Sol. Song ii. ii la. GREAT-HEART ENCOURAGES THE PILGRIMS. 339 By this time Piety was come again ; fo flie faid to Christiana, Look here, I have brought thee a fcheme of all thofe things that thou haft feen at our houfe, upon which thou mayeft look when thou findeft thyfelf forgetful, and call thofe things again to remembrance, for thy edification and comfort. Now they began to go down the hill to the valley of Humiliation. It was a fteep hill, and the way was flippery ; but they were very careful ; fo they got down pretty well. When they were down in the valley,* Piety faid to Christiana, This is the place where your hufband met with the foul fiend Apollyon, and where they had the great fight that they had : I know you cannot but have heard there- of. But be of good courage ; as long as you have \|iere Mr. Great-heart to be your guide and con- ductor, we hope you will fare the better. — So when thefe two had committed the pilgrims unto the con- duct of their guide, he went forward, and they went after. Then faid Mr. Great-heart, We need not be fo afraid of this valley, for here is nothing to hurt us, unlefs we procure it ourfelves. It is true. Chris- tian did meet here with Apollyom, with whom he had alfo a fore combat ; but that fray was the fruit of thofe flips that he got in his going down the hill : for they that get flips there, mult look for combats here.^ And hence it is that this valley has got io hard a name. For the comTnon people, when they hear that fome frightful thing has befallen fuch an Qne, in fuch a place, are of opinion that th^E>place U u 2 is the Svin of rig-hteoufuefs lliines warmly on the foul, and gives us clearly to i'ee ih-l'e, it mikes the pilgrims fiiig moft fweedy, and fhojt m:)ll juyt'ully indic'.l. Thefe foiigs approach very nearly to the heavenly malic in the realm of gii'ry. * After heinii^ thtis highly favoured with fenfible comforts in the views of fairh, the comforts of jiope, and the joys of love ; fee the next fi.ep tliefe pil- griais are to take ; it i, down the liill Difficulty, into the valley o( Humility. Wtiat doth this place iignify ! A deep and al>iding fight and lenle of our- Ji.'lves ; of our ruined Hate, loft condicion, and defpcrate circumllatices, as fjlicn fnmcrs. * Part I. p. r 14 — 1 19. 340 JAMES PERCEIVES THE PILLAR, is haunted with feme foul fiend, or evil fpirit ; when, alas ! it is for the fruit of their doing, that fuch things do befal them there.* This valley of Humiliation is of itfelf as fruitful a place as any the crow flies over j and I am per- fuaded, if we could hit upon it, we might find fomewhere hereabout fomething that might give us an account, why Christian was fo hardly befet in this place. Then James faid to his mother, * L'o, yonder ^ (lands a pillar, and it looks as if fomething was '* written thereon ; let us go and fee what it is.' So they went, and found there vt'-ritten, ' Let Chris- * tian's flips, before he came hither, and the bur- * den that he met with in this place, be a warning * to thofe that come after.* ' Lo,' faid their guide, * did I not tell you that there was fomething here- * abouts, that would give intimation of the reafon * why Christian was fo hard befet in this place ?' Then, turning to Christiana, he faid. No difpa- ragement to Christian, more than to many others whofe hap and lot it was. For it is eafier going up than down this hill, and that can be faid but of few hills in all thefe parts of the world. But we will leave the good man, he is at refl:, he alfo had a brave victory over his enemy : let Him grant that dwelleth above, that we fare no worfe, when we come to be tried, than he ! But we will come again to this valley of Humili- ATioN.-^It is the befl: and mofl: fruitful piece of ground in all thefe parts. It is a fat ground ; and, as you fee, confifl:eth much in meadows j and if a man * What a great bleffing is it to have Great-heart in the Valley of Humi- lity! How fad is it for pUgrims to procure evils to themfelves by their fin and folly ! How joyful is it to know, that " like as a father pitieth'his chil- dren, fo the Lord pitieth them who fear him !" Pf ciii. 13. Yet if we flip, we fhall he fure to fmart. If we do not hold faft faith, hope, love, and obe- dience, fatan will attack, diftrefs us in fome fort, and prevail againft us, and then we fhall bring up an evil report of the fafe and fruitful valley of Humi- liation, THE SHEPHERD S I50Y. 34I man was to come here in the fummer-time, as we do now, if he knew not any thing before thereof, and if he alfo delighted himfelf in the fight of his eyes, he might fee that which would be delightful to him. Behold, how green this valley is ; alfo how beautiful with lilies.* I have alfo known many la- bouring men that have got good eftates in this valley of Humiliation; (for " God refifteth the proud, " but giveth more grace to the humble ;") for in- deed it is a very fruitful foil, and doth bring forth by handfuls. Some alfo have wifhed, that the next -way to their Father's houfe were here, that they might be troubled no more with either hills or mountains to go over : but the way is the way, and there is an end.* Now as they v/ere going along, and talking, they efpied a boy feeding his father's fheep. The boy was in very mean clothes, but of a frefh and well-favoured countenance ; and as he fat by himfelf he fung. Hark, faid Mr. Great-heart, to vvhat the fhep- herd's boy faith : — fo they hearkened, and he faid, * He that is down, needs fear no'fall : He that is low, no pride : He that is humble ever fhall Have God to be his guide. I am content with what I have, Little be it or much : And, Lord, contentment ftill I crave, Becaufe thou favert fuch. Fulnefs to fuch a burden is That go on pilgrimage : Here little, and hereafter blifs, Is beft from age to age.' Then * Though this valley of Humih'ation may be very terrl/ying to pilgrims, ifter they have been favoured with peace and joy, and comforted by the views of fa'rh and hope; yet it is a very fafe place, and though at firft en- tering into it, and feeing more of themfclves than was ever before fhowed ihem, they may fear and tremble; yet, after fome time continuing here, they are more reconciled and contented : for here they find the viOts of their Lord; and, in the depths of their humility, they behold the heights of his love, and the depths of hi« mercy, cry out. Though I am emptied of all, yet I have an inexhauflible fulnefs in Jefus, to fupply me with all I yraat and all 1 hope. I Sol Song ij. I. James iv. 6. i Peter v. j, 2 Hcb, iiii, V. 342 CHRIST LOVED TO DWELL IN THE VALLEY. Then faid the guide, Do you hear him ? I will dare to fay, this boy lives a merrier life, and wears more of the herb called heart' s-eafe in his bofom, than he that is clad in filk and velvet. But we will proceed in our difcouife. In this valley our Lord formerly had his country houfe, he Iqved much to be here : he loved alfo to walk in thefe meadows, and he found the air was pleafant. Befides, here a man ftiall be free from the noife, and from the hurryings of this life : all ftates are full of noife and confufion, only the valley of Humiliation is that empty and folitary place. Here a man (hall not be let and hindered in his contern- plation, as in other places he is apt to be. This is a valley that nobody walks in, but thofe that love a pilgrim's life. And though Christian had the hard hap to meet with Apollyon, and to enter with him a briik encounter ; yet I muft tell you, that in former times men have met with angels here, have found pearls here, and have in this place found the words of life.*^ Did I f^y. Our Lord had here in former days his country houfe, and that he loved here to walk ? I will add, in this place, and to the people that live and trace thefe grounds, he has left a yearly reve- nue, to be faithfully paid them at certain feafons for their maintenance by the way, and fpr their further encouragement to go on their pilgrimage. Now, as they went on, Samuel faid to Mr. Great-heart; ' Sir, I perceive that in this valley ' my father and Apollyon had their battle ; but ' whereabout was the fight ? for I perceive this val- * ley is large.' Gr.-h. * Ever remember the wi rd of our "rracioiis Lord, " It is enouv. ly. ' H.,f. ii. 4, J. FORGETFUL GREEN. 343 Gr.-h. Your father had the battle with Apol- LYON, at a phice yonder before us, in a narrow paf- fage, jufl beyond Forgetful Green. And indeed that place is the nioft dangerous place in all thefe parts : for if at any time pilgrims meet with any brunt, it is when they forget what favours they have received, and how unworthy they are of them.* This is the pb.ce alfo, where others have been hard put to it. — But more of the place when we are come to it; for I perfuade myfelf, that to this day there re- mains either fome fign ot the battle, or fome monu- ment to teftify that fuch a battle there was fought. Then faid Mercy, I think I am as well in this valley as 1 have been any where elfe in all our jour- ney : the place, methlfiks, fuits with my fpirit. I love to be in fuch places where there is no rattling with coaches, nor rumbling with wheels : methinks, here one may, without much moleftation, be think- ing what he is, whence he came, what he has done, and to what the King has called him : here one may think, and break at heart, and melt in one's fpi- rit, until one's eyes become " as the iifli-pools of " Heshbon." They that go rightly through this " valley of Backa, make it a well ; the rain," that God fends down from heaven upon them that are here, " alfo filleth the pools," This valley is that from whence alfo the King will give to them their vineyards ;' and they that go through it fhall fmg as Christian did, for all he met whh Apollyon. It is true, faid their guide, I have gone through this valley many a time, and never was better than when here. 1 have alio been a condudor to feveral pilgrims, and thev have confefled the fame. " To " this man will 1 look" (faith the King), " even to " him • O pilgrims, attend to tlii-.? Pride a:id ingratitude go hand In hand. Study, ever ftudy the favours of your Loid : how freely they are bellowed upon you ; and how utterly unworthy you arc of the bell of th£ai. Btwara of Forgelful Green. > Sol. Song V. ii. 4. Pf. l^^ssiv. ;; — -, Hof. ii. f j, 344 MLMORIALS or CIIRISTIAN'S VICTORY* " him that is poor, and of a contrite fpirit, and *' that trembleth at my word." Now they were come to the place where the afore- mentioned battle was fought. Then faid the guide to Christiana, her children, and Mercy, This is the place: on this ground Christian flood, and up there came Apollyon againfl him : and, look, did not I tell you, here is iome of your hufband'* blood upon thefe (tones to this day : behold, alfo, how here and there are yet to be feen upon the place fome of the fhivers of Apollyon's broken darts : fee alfo, how they did beat the ground with their feet as they fought, to make good their places againft each other ; how alfo, with their by-blows, they did fplit the very (tones in pieces ;' verily Christian did here play the man, and fhowed himfelf as (tout as Hercules could, had he been there, even he him- felf. When Apollyon was beat, he made his re- treat to the next valley, that is called the valley of the Shadow of Death, unto which we (hall come anon.* Lo, yonder alfo ftands a monument, on which is engraven this battle, and Christian's vic- tory, to his fame throughout all ages. So becaufe it (lood juft on the way-fide before them, they ftepped to it, and read the writing, which word for word was this : * Hard by here was a battle foughr, Moft (Grange, and yet molt true ; , Christian and Apollyon fought Each other to fubdue. The man fo bravely play'd the man, He made the fiend to fly ; Of which a monument 1 ftand. The fame to teftify.'f When • If fatan be driven back from one attacki prepire for another. Blefs God for your armour. Never put it off. f Monuments of vidlory over fatan, are to God's glory, and are very animating and encouraging to thofe who come after. Proclaim, O chrif- tians, your mercies with thankfulnefs, and your vicflories with Ihouts of hu- mility, to the honour of the Captain of your falvation. THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOV/ OF DEATH. 345 When they had pafled by this place, they came upon the borders of the Shadow of Death, and this valley was longer than the other; a place alfo nioft ftrongly ha.iinted v/ith evil things, as many are able to teflify : but thefe women and children went ihe better through it, becaufe they had day-light, and becaufe Mr. Great-heart was their conduc- tor. When they were entered upon this valley, they thought that they heard a groaning, as of dead men ; a very great groaning. They thought alfo that they did hear v/ords of lamentation, fpoken as of fome in extreme torment. Thefe things made the boys to quake, the women alfo looked pale and wan ; but their guide bid them be of good comfort. So they went on a little further, and they thought that they felt the ground begin to fhake under them, as if fome hollow place was there ; they heard alfo a kind of hiffing, as of ferpents, but nothing as yet appeared. Then faid the boys, ' Are we not yet at ' the end of this doleful place ?' But the guide alfo bid ihem be of good courage, and look well to their feet, lefl haply, faid he, you be taken in fome fnare;* Now James began to be Tick, but I think the caufe thereof was fear ; fo his mother gave him fome of that glafs of fpirits that flie had given her at the Interpreter's houfe, and three of the pills that Mr. Skill had prepared ; and the boy began to revive. Thus they went on, till they came to about the middle of the valley ; and then Christiana faid, * Methinks, I fee fomething yonder upon the * road before us ; a thing of a fhape fuch as I have * not feen.* Then faid Joseph, ' Mother, what is X X « it ?* * None know flie dinrefs, anguifli, and fear, tliat haunt pilgrims In thU valley, but thofe who have been in it. The hiffings, revilings, and injec- tions of that old ferpent, with his infernal malice, feem to be let loofe upon pilgrims in this valley. Afaph feenis to be walking in this valley, when he fays. " As for me, my feet were almoft gone ; my fteps had well nigk flipt," Pf. Ixxiii. 7. 34^ THEY ARE GREATLY ALARMED; ' it ?* * An ugly thing, child ; an ugly thing,' faid fhe. ' But, mother, what is it like ?' faid he. ' *Tis ' like, I cannot tell what,' faid fhe. * And now it ' is but a little way oftV Then faid fhe, ' It is ' nigh.' * Well,' faid Mr. Great-heart, < let them that * are mod afraid, keep clofe to me.' So the fiend came on, and the conductor met it ; but when it was juft: come to him, it vanifhed to all their fights : then remembered they what had been faid fome time ago ; " Refifl the devil, and he will flee from " you."* They went therefore on, as being a little refrefh- ed ; but they had not gone far, before Mercy, look- ing behind her, faw, as (he thought, fomething al- moft like a lion, and it came a great padding pace after ; and it had a hollow voice of roaring ; and at every roar that it gave, it made the valley echo, and all their hearts to ake, fave the heart of him that was their guide. So it came up ; and Mr. Great- heart went behind, and put the pilgrims all before him. The lion alfo came on apace, and Mr, Gr^at- heart addreffed himfelf to give him battle. But when he faw that it was determined that refiflance fhould be made, he alfo drew back and came no further.f Then they went on again, and their conduftor did go before them, till they came at a place where was caft up a pit the whole breadth of the way ; and, before they could.be prepared to go over that, a great mift and a darknefs fell upon them, fo that they could not fee. Then faid the pilgrims, ' Alas ! ' now * Let fatan appear in what fliape he will, we ought ever to put on great heart and good courage. For the faith of what Jefus is to us, will infpire with thcfe. Let us ever look to Chrift our conqueror, and ever relift our advcrfary. f Satan is often moft dreadful at a diftance, and courageoufly refilled when advanced nearer. This advice is ever needful : " Be fober; be vigi- lant." Thefe pilgrims did keep up their watch, fatan did not come upon them unawares, they heard his approach, they were prepared for his attack, lo, fatan drew back. I I Pet. V. 8. BUT TAKE ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THEIR GUIDE. 347 ' now what fhall we do ?' But their guide made an- fwer, ' Fear not, ftand flill, and fee what an end ' will be put to this alfo.' So they ftaid there, be- caufe their path was marred. They then alfo thought they did hear more apparently the noife and rufhing of the enemies ; the fire alfo, and fmoke of the pit was much eafier to be difcerned.* Then faid Chr is- TiANA to Mercy, Now I fee what my poor hufband went through ; I have heard much of this place, but I never was here before now : Poor man ! he went here, all alone, in the night ; he had night almod quite through the way : alfo thefe fiends were bufy about him, as if they would have torn him in pieces. Many have fpoke of it, but none can tell what the val- ley of the Shadow of Death fhould mean until they come in themfelves. " The heart knows its own ** bitternefs ; a ftranger intermeddleth not with its '^ joy." To be here is a fearful thing. f Great-heart. This is like doing bufinefs in great waters, or like going down into the deep ; this is like being in the heart of the fea, and like going down to the bottoms of the mountains : now it feems as if the earth with its bars, were about us for ever. '* But let them that walk in darknefs, and have no " light, trull in the name of the Lsdrd, and flay " upon thei/ God."]; For my part, as I have told you already, I have gone often through this valley, and have been much harder put to it than now I am ; and yet you fee I am alive. I would not boafl, for that I am not my own fuviour : but 1 trufl we (hall have a good deliverance. Come, pray for light X X 2 to * Awful walking, wirh a pit before us, darlvncf> amiind, and hell feem- in^ to move from bcucath to meet us ! O what an uiilj:t.al:al)le mercy, in Uich a diflrefling feafon, to have an aimio^hty Saviour to look to, and call upon for f;ifety and falvatian ! For he will hear our cry and fave us," Fl'al. cxiv. 19. j- To hear of the foul diflreffes of others, is one thing : to experience rhcm onrfelves, i.s very diffeiciic. \ 'I'his precious ttxt, Ifa. 1. lo. has been a flitct-anchor to many a foul uiivkr darkiiefs and diilrels. Study it deeply. 34^ THEY AF£ TROUBLED WITH SNARL.". to him that can lighten our dapknefs, and can re- buke not only thefe, bat all the Satans in hell. So they cried and prayed, and God fent light and deliverance ; for there was now no let in their v/ay ; no not there, where but now they Were flopt with a pit. Yet they were not got through the valley ; (o, they went on ftill, and, behold, great itinks and loath-, fome fmells, to the great annoyance of them. Then faid Mercy to Christiana, There is not fuch plea- fant being here as at the gate, or at the Interpre- ter's, or at the houfe where we lay laft. O but (faid one of the boys) it is not fo bad to go, through here, as it is to abide here always ; and for ought I know, one reafon why we mud: go this way to the houfe prepared for us, is, that our home might; be made the fweeter to us.* Well faid Samuel, quoth the gui^e ; thou haft- iiow fpoke like a man. Why, if ever I get out here again, faid the boy, 1 think I {hall prize light and good way better than ever I did in my life. Thea faid the guide. We fhall be out by and by. So on they went, and Jofeph faid. Cannot we fee to the end of this valley as yet ? Then faid the guide, Look to your feet, for we fhall prefently be among fnares. So they looked to their feet and went on ; but they were troubled much with the fnares. Now ■when they were come among the fnares, they efpied a man call into the ditch on the left hand, with his iiefli all rent and torn. Then faid the guide. That is one Heedless, that was going this way ; he has lain there a great v/hile :f There was one Takehebd with him when he was taken and flain j but he ef- caped * Precious thought ! undf.r the word and moft dirtreirinj!; circumftances. Think of this. Their continuance is fhort. Their appointhjcnt love. And their end (hall be crowned wiih glory. f Heedlefs proielTors be warned. The docSlrines of grace were never intended to lull any afleep in carnal fecurity. If they do fo by you, it is a fure fign, that what fliould have 'jeeii for your health, proves an occaCon of your falling. GIANT MAUL AND GREAT-HEART. 349 caped their hands. You cannot imagine how many are killed hereabouts, and yet men are fo foolifhly venturous, as to fet out lightly on pilgrimage, and to come without a guide. Poor Christian ! it was a wonder that he here efcaped •, but he was beloved of his God : alfo he had a good heart of his own, or elfe he could never have done it. Now they drew towards the end of their way, and jud there where Christian^ had feen the cave when he went by,' out thence came forth Maul, a giant. This Maul did ufe to fpoil young pilgrims with fophiftry, and he called Great-heart by his name, and [aid unto him, How manv times have you been forbidden to do thefe things? Then faid Mr. Great-heart, What things f What things ! quoth the giant ; you know what things ; but I will put an end to your trade.* But, pray, faid Mr. Great-heart, before we fail to it, let us underftand wherefore we muft fight. (Now the women and children ftood trem- bling, and knew not what to do.)— Quorh the gi- ant. You rob the country, and rob it with the worll of thieves. Thefe are but generals, faid Mr. Great- heart; come to particulars, man. Then faid the giant. Thou pradifeft the craft of a kidnapper, thou gathered up women and children, and carried them into a drange country, to the weakening of my Mader's kingdom. But now Great-heart replied, I am a fervant of the God of heaven ; my bufmefs is to perfuade finners to re- pentance : I am commanded to do my endeavour to turn men, women, and children, from darknefs to lieht, and from the power of Satan to God ; and if ••^. ' this • How many fuch giants have we in the prefent day, who deceive and beguile precious fouls into a falie and fatal fecurity, by their finooth l'=^i'-« on morality, and their avowed oppofitioiis co the gofpel of Chnft, and the ■ivay to his kingdom. ' Pan I. p. iz'. 35^ great-heart's combat this be indeed the ground of thy quarrel, let us fall to it as foon as thou wilt.* Then the giant came up, and Mr. Great-heart went to meet him; and as he went, he drew his fword, but the giant had a club. So without more ado they fell to it, and at the firft blow the giant flruck Mr, Great-heart down upon one of his knees ; with that the women and children cried : fo Mr. Great-heart recovering hirafelf, laid about him in full lufty manner, and gave the giant a wound m his arm ; that he fought for the fpace of an hour, to that height of heat, that the breath came out of the giant's noftrils, as the heat doth out of a boilin? cauldron. Then they fat down to reft them, but Mr. Great- heart betook himfelf to prayer; atfo the women and children did nothing but figh and cry all the time that the battle did laft.f When they had refted them, and taken breath, they both fell to it again, and Mr. Great-heart with a full blow, fetched the giant down to the ground : Nay, hold, let me recover, quoth he. So Mr. Great-heart let him fairly get up: fo to it they went again, and the giant miffed but a little of breaking Mr. Great-heart's fkull with his club. Mr. Great-heart feeing that, runs to him in the full heat of his fpirit, and pierced him under the f.fth rib ; with that the giant began to faint, and could hold up his club no longer, 'i hen Mr. Great- heart feconded his blow, and fmote the head of the giant from his flioulders. Ihen the women and children • To awaken our fouls, and lead them to Chrift for life and falvation, is the blcITtd work of faithful minillcrs. In the Ipirit of love and meeknefs, rhey will contend for the faiih, however they may be ill-treated lor their work. t The greatell heart cannot imderfland without prayer, nor con- quer without the almighty power of God. The belief of this will extiie jifayer. AND VICTORY OF GIANT MAUL. T^^l children rejoiced, and Mr. Great-heart alfo praif- ed God, for the deliverance he had wrought.* When this was done, they among themfelves erefted a pillar, and faftened the giant's head there- on, and wrote under it, in letters that paflengers might read, He that did wear this head, was one Th at pilgrims did mifufe ; He ftopt their way, he fpared none, But did them all abufe ; Until that 1 Great-heart arofe, The pilgrims guide to be ; Until that I did him oppofe, That was their enemy. * Many fuch a battle has been fought, and many fuch a viiflory obtained, fmce the Reformation, over the enemies of our moft holy faith. The furious attack made by Maul the giant on the condudor, is to fhew us, that lively and aftive minifters of the gofpel, who are zealous to win fouls, muft <;xpe6l the oppofition of fatan and his emiffaries. But mufl they therefore defift ? God forbid ! The Lord is on their fide. Let them be ac- counted " kidnappers," and treated as enthufiafts : the Mafler whom they ferve will fucceed their endeavours ; hear the prayers of his people ; and make them more than conquerors. Thus were the pilgrims brought out of the valley; while danger and darknefs rendered returning light, and the thought* of heaven, the fweeter ; and many thankfgivings redounded to the glory of God. By glimmVing hopes, and gloomy fears, We trace the facred road ; Thro' difmal deeps, and dang'rous fnares. We make our way to God. Long nights and darknefs dwell below, With fcarce a twinkling ray j But the bright world to which we go. Is everlafting day. CHAP. ^^2 THE PILGRIM S ARE RFFRESHED. C H A P. VIIL THE PILGRIMS OVERTAKE MR. ffONEST, WHO RE- LATES HIS OWN EXPERIENCE, AND THAT OF MR. FEARING. N. OW I faw that they went to the afcent that was a little way off, cad up to be a profpeft for pilgrims (that was the place from whence Christian had the firft fight of Faithful his brother.)' Wherefore here they fat down, and refted, they alfo here did eat and drink, and made merry ; for that they had gotten deliverance from this fo dangerous an ene- my. As they fat thus and did eat, Christiana afked the guide. If he had caught no hurt in the battle? then faid Mr. Great-heart, No, fave a little oh my flefh ; yet that alfo fhall be fo far from being to my detriment, that it is at prefent a proof of my love to my mafter and you, and fhall be a means, by grace, to increafe my reward at laft. But was you not afraid, good Sir, when you faw liim come wiih his club?* It is my duty faid he, to miftrufi: my own ability, that I may have reliance on him that is ftronger than all. But what did you think, when he fetched you down to the ground at the firft blow ? Why, I thought, quoth he, that fo my mafter himfelf was ferved, and yet he it was that conquered at laft.* Matt. When you all have thought what you pleafe, I think God has been wonderful good unto us, both in bringing us out of this valley, and de- livering us out of the hand of this enemy ; for my part, I fee no reafon v/hy we (hould diftruft our God any more, fmce he has now, and in fuch a place • This club we may fuppofe to mean human power, under which many- godly minilltrs in the laft century fullered greatly. BlcU'ed be God we have nothing of this to fear in our day. ' Part I. p. 129. ^ a Cor. iv. TIlEY OVERTAKE MR. HONEST. 353 place as this, given us fuch teftimony of his love as this. Then they got up, and went forward : now a little before them itocd an oak, and under it, when they came to it, they found an old pilgrim fall afleep : tliey knew that he was a pilgrim by his clothes, and his ilaff, and his girdle. So the guide, Mr. Great-heArt, awaked him ; and the old gentleman, as he lift up his eyes, cried out, What's the matter ? Who are you ? And what is your bufmefs here ?* Great-heart. Come, man, be not fo hot, here is none but friends : yet the old man gets up, and ftands upon his guard, and will know of them what they were. Then faid the guide, My name is Great-heart, I am a guide of thefe pilgrims, which are going to the Celeftial country. Honest. Then faid Mr. Honest, I cry you mer- cy ; I feared that you had been of the company of thofe that fome time ago did rob Little-faith of his money, but now 1 look better about me, I per* ceive you are honefter people. Great-heaRT. Why, what would, or c^uld you have done, or have helped yourfelf, if we indeed had been of that company ? Hon. Done ! Why, I would have fought as long as breath had been in me ; and had I fo done, I am fure you could never have given me the word on*t; for a chriftian can never be overcome unlefs he fhould yield of himfelf.f Great-heart. Well faid, father Honest, quoth the guide ; for by this I know that thou art a cock of the right kind, for thou haft faid the truth. Y y Hon. • A bicffed fign of a watcliful heart, ever alarmed at the fear of danger. Tho' he was found fleeping, yet he could fay with the church, " My heart waketh," Song v. z. t Mind this. A chriftian can never be overcome, unlefs he yields of him- felf. Then be raoft jealous over yourfelf, and moft watchful againft giving way to carnal rcafonings, natural feari, and fleihly lulls. 554GREAT-HEART AND HONEST CONVERSE TOGETHER. Hon. And by this alfo I know that thou knowefl what true pilgrimage is ; for all others do think that we are the foonell overcome of any. Great-heart. Well, now we are happily met, pray let me crave your name, and the name of the place you came from ? Hon. My name I cannot, but I came from the town of Stupidity ; it lieth about four degrees be- yond the city of Deftrudion. Great-heart. Oh! are you that countryman? then I deem I have half a guefs of you, your nameis old Honest, is it not ? So the old gentleman blufh- ed, and faid, not honed in the abflradt,* but Ho- nest is my name, and 1 wifn that my nature may agree to what I am called. Hon. But, Sir, faid the old gentleman, how could you guefs that I am fuch a man, fmce 1 came from fuch a place ? Great-heart. I had heard of you before, by my mailer ; for he knows all things that are done cri the earth : But I have often wondered that any fliould come from your place, for your town is ' worfe than is the city of Deftrudion itfelf. Hon. Yea, we lie more off from the fun, and fo are more cold and fenfelefs ; but was a man in a mountain of ice, yet if the fun of righteoufnefs will arife upon him, his frozen heart fhall feel a thaw ; and thus it has been with me.f Great-heart. I believe it, father Honest, I believe it ; for 1 know the thing is true. Then the old gentleman faluted all the pilgrims with * Every chriftian is the fubje<9: of honefty or jufticc, uprightnefs and fin- cerity ; yet when we come to defcribe thefe virtues in the abJiraSi, or what they really are in their ftri6t purity, and titmoft perfedtion, where is the chriftian but muft wear tlie confcientious blufli as Honefty did, under a fenfe of his imperfecftions ? I This is the confefTion of an honeft heart. It is never afraid of afcrib- jng too much to the fovereignty of grace, nor of giving all the glory to the Sun of Righteoufnefs, for fliining upon, and melting down its hard, frozca foul. Here is no trimming between grace and nature. HONEST PRONOUNCES BLESSINGS ON THE EOYS. T^SS with a holy kifs of charity, and afked them of their nanic:s, and how they had fared fmce they fet out on their pilgrimage. Chr. Then faid Christiana, My name, I fap- pofe, you have heard of; good Christian was my hufband, and thefe four were his children. But can you think how the old gentleman was taken, when (he told him who flie was ! He fldpped, he fmiled, and blefled them with a thoufand good wifhes," faying : Hon. I have heard much of your hufband, and of his travels and wars, which he underwen: in his days. Be it fpoken to your comfort, the name of your hufband rings all over thefe parts of the world ; his faith, his courage, his enduring, and his fmce- rity under ' all, has made his namt: famous. Then he turned to the boys, and afked them of their names, which they told him: and then faid he unto them, Matthew, be thou like Matthew the pub- lican, not in vice, but In virtue.^ Samuel, faith he, be thou like Samuel the prophet, a man of faith and prayer.^ Joseph, faith he, be thou like Joseph in Potipher's houfe, chafte, and one that flees from temptation. And Jamcs, be thou like James the Just, and like James the brother of our Lord.-' Then they told him of Mercy, and how fhe had left her town and her kindrei to come along with Christian a, 4 and with her fons. At that the old honed man faid, Mercy Is thy name : by ?}ie/cy {halt thou be fuftained, and carried through all thofe difficulties that fliall affault thee in thy way, till thou fhalt come thither, where thou fhalt look the fountain of mercy in the face with comfort. All this while the guide, Mr. Great-heart, was very well pleafed, and fmiled upon his compa- nions. Y y 2 Now, ' Matt. X. 3. » Pf. xcix. 6. 5 Gen. xxxir. 4 Adls i. 13, 14. 35^ CHARACTER OF MR. FEARING : Now, as they walked together, the guide afked the old gentleman if he did not know one Mr., Fearing, that came on pilgrimage out of his parts ? Hon. Yes, very well, faid he. He was a man that had the root of the matter in him ; but he was one of the moft troubtefome pilgrims that I ever met with in all my days.* Gr.-h. I perceive you knew him ; for you have given a very right charader of him. Hon. Knew him ! I was a great companion of his :• I was with him moft an end ; v/hen he firft began to think of what would come upon us hereafter, I was. with him. Gr.-h. I was his guide from my mafter's houfa to the gate of the Celeftial city. Hon. Then you knew him to be a troublefomc one. Gr.-h. I did fo ; but I could very well bear it ; for men of my calling are oftentimes entrufted with the conduct of fuch as he was. Hon. Well then, pray let us hear a little of him, and how he managed himfelf under your con- dua. Gr.-h. Why, he was always afraid that he fhould. come fhort whither he had a defire to go. Every thing frighted him that he heard any body fpeak of, that had but the leaft appearance of oppofition in it. 1 hear that he lay roaring at the flough of Des- pond, for above a month together ; nor durft he, for all he faw feveral go over before him, venture, though they, many of them offered to lend him their hand. He would not go back again neither. The Celeftial city ! he faid, he fhould die if he came not > to ■**, * Hearing pilgrims, though perplexed in themfelves, and troublefomc to •thcrs, are yet to be chrfrifhed and encouraged, as they have the root of th^ jnattcr iu them; faith in Jefus, hope towards God^ fear of ofFendjpg him, and a defire to walk in his ways, and pleafe him. We muft bear the bur- dens of fuch, and fo ful£l the law of C}iri(l, Gal. vi. s. H^3 BEHAVIOUR AT THE PLACES HE CAME TO. ^^T to It ; and yet was dejeded at every difficulty, and {tumbled at every ftraw that any body caft in his v?ay. — Well, after he had lain at the fiough of Despond a great while, as I have told you, one fun-fhine morning, 1 don't know how, he ventured, and fo got over ; but when he was over he would fcarce believe it. He had, I think, a Jlougb of defpond in his mind, a flough that he carried every where with him, or elfe he could never have been as he was. So be came up to the gate (you know what I mean) that ftands at the head of this way ; and there alfo he flood a good while, be- fore he would venture to knock. When the gate was opened, he would give back, and give place to others, and fay, that he was not worthy : for all he got before fome to the gate, yet many of them went fn before him. There the poor man would ftand fhaking and (hrinking j I dare fay it would have pitied one's heart to have feen him : — nor would he go back again. At lalt he took the hammer that hanged at the gate in his hand, and gave a fmall rap or two ; then one opened to him, but he fhrunk back as before. He that opened, ftepped out after him, and faid, ' Thou trenbling one, what want- * eft thou ?' With that he fell to the ground. He that fpake to him, wondered to fee him fo faint. He faid to him, ' Peace to thee ; up, for I have fet open • the door to thee ; come in, for thou art bleffed.* With that he got up, and went in trembling ; and when that he was in, he was aftiamed to (how his face. Well, after he had been entertained there awhile (as you know how the manner is), he was bid to go on his way, and alfo told the way he fhould take. So he went till he came to our houfe : but as he behaved himfelf at the gate, fo he did at my mafter the Interpreter's door. He lay therea- bout in the cold a good while, before he would Xenture to call ; yet he would not go back : and the 35^ IS ENXQURAGF.D AT THE INTERPRETER'S ; the nights were long and cold then. Nay, he had a note of neceffity in his bofom to my mafter, to re- ceive him, and grant him the comfort of his houfe, and alfo to allow him a (lout and valiant conductor, be- caufe he was himfelf fo chicken-hearted a man ; and yet, for ail that, he was afraid to call at the door. So he lay up and down thereabouts, till, poor man ! he was almoil (larved : yea, fo great was his dejec- tion, that, though he faw feveral others for knock- ing got in, yet he was afraid to venture. At lad, I think, I looked out of the window, and, perceiv- ing a man to be up and down about the door, I went out to him, and alked what he was ; but, poor man! the water ilood in his eyes : fo I perceived what he wanted. I went therefore in, and told it in the houfe, and we fhowed the things to our Lord : fo he fent me oui again to intreat him to come in ; but, I dare fay, I had hard work to do it. At lad, he came in ; and, I will fay that for my Lord, he car- ried it wonderful loving to him. There were but a few good bits at the table, but fome of it was laid upon his trencher. Then he prefeuted the note ; and my Lord looked thereon, and faid his defire fhould be granted. So when he had been there a good while, he feemed to get fome heart, and to be a li tie more comforted. For my mafter, you mult know, is one of very tender bowels, efpecially to them that are afraid : wherefore he carried it fo to- wards him, as might tend mod to his encourage- ment. Well, v/hen he had a fight of the things of the place, and was ready to take his journey to go to the city, my Lord, as he did to Christian be- fore, gave him a bottle of fpirits, and fome com- fortable things to eat. Thus we fet forward, and I went before him ; but the man was but of few words, only he would figh aloud. When we were come to where the three fellows were hanged, he faid, that he doubted that that would AND GLAD AT BFHOLDING THE CROSS. 359 would be his end alfo. Only he feemed glad when he law the Crofs and the Sepulchre. 'Ihere I con- feis he defired to flay a little to look, and he feem- ed for a while after to be a little comforted. When we came at the hill Difficulty, he made no flick at that, nor did he much fear the lions : for you mull know, that his trouble was not about fuch things as thefe j his fear was about his acceptance at lad.* ; I got him in at the houfe Bf.autiful, I think, before he was willing; alfo when he was in, I brought him acquainted with the damfels that were of the place, but he was afhamed to make himfelf much for company : he defired much to be alone, yet he always loved good talk, and often would get behind the fcreen to hear it : he alfo loved much to fee ancient things, and to be pondering them in his mind. He told me afterward, that he loved to be in thofe two houfes from which he came lafl, to wit, at the gate, and that of the Interpreter, but that he duril not be fo bold as to afk. When he went alfo fromthe houfe Beautiful, down the hill, into the valley of Humiliation, he went down as well as ever I faw a man in my life; for he cared not how mean he was, fo he might be happy at lad. Yea, I think there was a kind of fympathy betwixt that valley and him ; for I never faw him better in all his pilgrimage, than he was in that valley. I Here he would lie down, embrace the ground, and kifs the very flowers that grew in this val- ley.' He would now be up every morning by break * See all thro' this characfter, what a conflifft there was between fear, and the influence of grace. Though it may not he the mofl; comfortable, yet the end of Mr. Fearing was very joyful. O what a godly jealoul'y dif- played itfelf, all through his life ! Better this, than proud vain-glorioui confidence. f The valley of Humiliation fuits well with fearing hearts. • Lam. iii. 27 — 2.9. ^6o HE i'S AL/^llMED AT bftAtH ; break of day, tracing and walking to and fro in the valley.* But when he was come to the entrance of the valley of the Shadow of Death, I thought I {hould have loil my man t not foi- that he had inclination to go back (that he always abhorred), but he wa» ready to die for fear. ' Oh, the hobgoblins will ' have me> the hobgoblins will have me !' cried he ; and I could not beat him out on*t. He made fuch a noife, and fuch an outcry here, that had they but heard him, it was enough to encourage them to cortie and fall upon us. But this I took very great notice of, that this valley was as quiet when we went through it, as ever I knew it before or lince. I fuppofe thofe here had now a fpecial check from our Lord, and a command not to meddle un- til Mr. Fearing was paffed over it. It would be too tedious to tell you of all ; we will therefore only mention a pafTage or two more* When he was come to Vanity Fair, I thought he would have fought with all the men in the fair : I feared there we fhould both have been knocked on the head, fo hot was he againft their fooleries.f Upon the enchanted ground, he alfo was very wake- ful. But, when he was come at the river where was no bridge, there again he was in a heavy cafe : * Now, now,* he faid, ' he fhould be drowned for * ever, and fo never fee that face with comfort, that * he had come fo many miles to behold.' And here alfo I took notice of what was very remarkable — the water of that river was lower at this time, than ever I faw it in all my life : fo he went over at laft, not much above wet-lhod.{ When he was going up to • Fearing fonls dwell much, early and late, in the valley of Meditation. f Here is a glorious difplay of a fearing heart. Full of courage againft evil, and fired with zeal for God's glory. ^ O how glorious is our Lord ! as thy day is, O pilgrims, fo (hall thy ilrength be. Even the river of death, though there be no bridge to go over, yet faith makes one : and the Lord of faith makes the waters low, to fuit tb« ftate of his b4l|ved ooes. YfiT DIES TRIUMPHANT. 36 1 to the gate, Mr. Great-heart began totake his leave of him, and to wifh him a good reception above ; fo he faid, ' I fhall, I fliall :' then parted we afunder, and I faw him no more. Hon. Then, it feems, he was well at laft ? Gr.-h. Yes, yes, I never had doubt about him ; lie was a man of a choice fpirit : only he was always kept very low, and that made his life fo burdenfom.e to himfclf, and fo very troublefome to others.^ He was, above many, tender of fm ; he was fo afraid of doing injuries to others, that he would often deny himfelf of that which was lawful, becaufe he would not offend.*- Hon. But what fliould be the reafon that fuch a G;ood man fhould be all his davs fo much in the dark .? Gr.-h. There are two forts of reafons for it ; one is, The wife God will have it fo ; fome mufl pipe, and fome mu(t vv^eep :3 now Mr. Fearing was on© that played upon the bafs. He and his fellows found thefackbut, whofe notes are more doleful than notes of other mufic are : though indeed, fome fay, the bafs is the ground of mufic. And, for my part, I care not at all for that profeiTion, that begins not in heavinefs of mind. The fird firing that the mufician ufually touches, is the bafs, when he intends to put all in tune : God alfo plays upon this ftring firfl, when he fets the foul in tune for himfelf. Only there was the imperfection of Mr. Fearing, he could play upon no other mufic but this, till towards his latter end. [I make bold to talk thus metaphorically, for the ripening of the wits of young readers ; and becaufe, in the book of Revelations, the faved are com- pared to a company of muficians, that play upon Z z their • O this is a blefied fpirit ! Ye who are ftrong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, Oucly to excel herein. » Pf. Ixxxviii. ' Rom. xiv. ir, i Cor. viii. 13. 3 Mat. xi. 16—18. ^GZ REMARKS ON FEARING's CHARACTER. their trumpets and harps, and fing their fongs be- fore the throne. 3' Hon. He was a very zealous man, as one may fee by what relation you have given of him. Diffi- culties, lions, or Vanity Fair, he feared not at all: it was only fin, death, and hell, that were to him a terror ; becaufe he had fome doubts about his in- tereft in that Celeftial country.* Gr.-h. You fay right ; thofe were the things that were his troubles ; and they, as you have well ob- ferved, arofe from the v/eaknefs of his mind there- about, not from weaknefs of fpirit, as to the prac- tical part of a pilgrim's life. I dare believe, that, as the proverb is, ' He could have bit a fire-brand, ' had it (tood in his way :' but thofe things, with which he v.'as opprelfed, no man ever yet could fhake off with eafe. Then faid Christiana, This relation of Mr. Fearing has done me good : 1 thought nobody had been like me; but I fee there was fome femblance betwixt this good man and I : only we differ in two things : his troubles were fo great, that they brake out ; but mine i kept within. His alfo lay fo hard upon him, they made him that he could not knock at the houfes provided for entertainment ; but my troubles were always fuch, as made me knock the louder. Mer. If I might alfo fpeak my mind, I muff fay, that fomething of him has alfo dwelt in me ; for I have ever been more afraid of the lake, and the lofs of a place in paradife, than I have been at the lofs of other things. O thought I, may I have the hap- pinefs • Here is a very flrikirg kfTon for profcflors. Talk not of your great knowledge, rich e>perieiice, comfortable frames and joyliil feelings; all arc vain and delufive, it' the gofpcl has not a holy inCiicncc vyon your ]ira-A and her children, and Mercy, and another for Mr. Great-heart and the old gentleman Then faid Mr. Great-heart, Good Gaius, what haft thou for fupper ? for thefe pilgrims have come far to-day, and are v/eary. It is late, faid Gaius, fo we cannot conveniently go out to feek food, but fiich as I have you fliall be welcome to, if that will content you. Gr.-h. We will be content with what thou hafl in the houfe ; forafmuch as I have proved thee, thou art never deltitute of that which is conve- nient. Then he went down and fpake to the cook, whofe iiame was Taste-that-which-is-gooi), to get ready fupper for fo many pilgrims. — This done, he comes up again, faying, Come, my good friends, you are welcome to me, and I am glad that I have a houfe to entertain you ; and while fupper is making ready, if you pleafe, let us entertain one another with fome good difcourfe : fo they all faid. Content.* • Then faid Gaius, Whofe wife is this aged ma- tron ? and whofe daughter is this young damfel ? Gr.-h. The woman is the wife of one Chris- tian, a pilgrim in former times; and thefe are his four children. The maid is one of her acquaint- ance ; one that fhe hath perfuaded to come with her on pilgrimage. The boys take all after their father, and covet to tread in his fteps : yea, if they do but fee any place where the old pilgrim hath lain, or any print of his foot, it miniftereth joy to their hearts, and they covet to lie or tread in the fame. Then faid Gaius, Is this Christian's wife, and are thefe Christian's children? I knew your haf- band's father, yea, alfo his father's father. Many have been good of this flock j their anceftors firft 3 A dwelt • How does this reprove many profeflbrs of this day, who freqiientlv meet together, and that about every trifle, but have not one word ta fpeak for precious Chrift, Uis glorious truths, and holy ways! . ;;7'^GAIUS rNtfMERATES CHRtSTfAN's PROGENITORS; dwelt at Antioch.' Chpistian*s progenitors (I fuppofe you have heard your hufband talk of them) were very worthy men. They have, above any that I know, fliowed themfelves men of great virtue and courage, for the Lord of 'he pilgrims, his ways, and them that loved him. I have heard of many of your hufband's rebtions, that have flood all trials for the fake of the truth. Stephen, that was one of the firfl of the family from whence your hufband fprang, was knocked on the head with flones.* James, ano- ther of this generation, was flain with the edge of the fword.3 To fay nothing of Paul and Peter, men anciently of the family from whence your huf- band came, there was Ignatius, who was caft to the lions ; Romanus, whofe flefh was cut by pieces from his bones j and Polycarp, that played the man in the fire. There was he "hat was hanged up in a bafeet in the fun, for the wafps to eat ; and he whom they put into a fack, and caft him into the fea to be drowned. It would be impofTible utterly to count up all that family, that have fufFered injuries and death for the love of a pilgrim's life. Nor can 1 but be glad, to fee that thy hufband has left behind him four fuch boys as thefe. I hope they will bear up their father's name, and tread in their father's fteps, and come to their father's end. Gr.-h. Indeed, Sir, they are likely lads : they feem to choole heartily their father's ways. Gai. That is what I faid ; wherefore Chris- tian's family is like ftill to fpread abroad upon the face of the ground, and yet to be numerous upon the face of the earth: wherefore let Christiana look out fome damfeis for her fons, to whom they may be betrothed, Sec. that the name of their father and ihe houfe of his progenitors may never be for- gotten in the world. Hon. > A&i xi, 26. * Ads vii. 59, 60. » Ads xii. a. AND CONVERSES WITH HIS GUESTS. 37: Hon. It is pity his family fhould fall and be ex- tind. Gai. Fall it cannot, but be diminidied it may: but let Christiana take my advice, and that's the way to uphold it. And, Christiana, faid this inn-keeper, I am glad to fee thee and thy friend Mercy together here, a lovely couple. And mav I advife. Take Mercy into a nearer relation to thee: if (he will, let her be given o Matthew, thy eldeft: fon : it is the way to preferve a pofterity in the earth. — So this match was concluded, and in procefs of time they were married : but more of that hereafter. Gaius alfo proceeded, and faid, I will now fpeak on the behalf of women, to take away their reproach. For as death and the curfe came into the world by a woman, fo alfo did life and health: " God fent ." forth his Son, made of a woman."* Yea, to fhow how much thofe that came after did abhor the act ot the mother, ihis fex in the Old Teflament coveted children, if happily this or that woman might be the mother of the Saviour of the world. I will fay again, that when the Saviour was come, women re- joiced in him, before either man or angel. * I read not, ever man did give unto Christ fo much as one groat : but the women followed him, and miniftered to him of their fubltance. It was a woman that waflied his feet with tears, and a woman tiiat anoint- ed his body to the burial. They were women that wept, when he was going to the crofs ; and women that followed him from the crofs, and that fat by his fepulchre when he was buried. They were women that were firft with him at his refurreclion morn; and women that brought tidings firft to his difciples, that he was rifen from the dead. 3 Women therefore are highly favoured, and Ihow by thefe things, that they are fliarers with us in the grace of life. 3 A 2 Now ' Gen. iii. Giii. iv. 4. 2 Luke ii. 3 Luke vii. 37 — ^o. viii. i> 3. xxiii. 27. xxiv, 22, ij. John ii. 5. xi. ?.. Mait, Xi-'ii. J5, 56 — 61. 37"2 THE PILGRIMS SIT DOWN TO SUPrRR. Now the cook fent up to fignify that fupper was almoft ready : and fent one to lay the cloth, and the trenchers, and to fet the fait and bread in order. Then faid Matthew, The iight of this cloth, and of this fore-runner of the fupper, begetteth in me a greater appetite to my food than 1 had before. Gai. So let all miniftering dodrines to thee, in this life, begei in thee a greater defire to ijt at the fupper of the great King in his kingdom ; for all preaching, books, and ordinances here, are but as the laying of the trencher?, and as fetting of fait upon the board, when compared with the feaft that our Lord will make us when we come to his houfe. So fupper came up ; and firft a heave-Jhoulder and a ivave-breaji were fet on the table before them ; to fhow that they muft begin the meal with prayer and praife to God." The heave-fhoulder, David lifted his heart up to God with; and with the wave-breaff, where his heart lay, with that he ufed to lean upon his harp, when he played. — Thefe two difhes were very frelh and good, and they all eat heartily thereof. The next they brought up was a bottle of wine, as red as blood. So Gaius faid to them. Drink freely, this is the true juice of the vine, that makes glad the heart of God and man. So they drank and were merry. ^ — The next was a difli of milk well crum- bled : but Gaius faid. Let the boys have that, that they may " grow thereby/' * — Then they brought up in courfe a difh of butter and honey. Then faid Gaius, Eat freely of this, for this is good to cheer up and ftrengthen your judgments and underfland- ings. This was our Lord's difh when he was a child : " Butter and honey fliall he eat, that he " may know to refufe the evil, and choofe the " good."" — Then they brought him up a difli of apples, and they were very good tailed fruit. Then faid 1 Lev. vii. 32 — .■;4. x. 14, 15. Pf. xxv. i. Heb. xiii. 15. - Dcut. xxxii. 14. Judg. ix. 13. John xv. 5, 3 i Pet. ii. i, a. < Ifaiah vii. 15. THEIR CONVERSATION AT SUPPER. '373 faid Mai'thew, ' May we eat apples, fmce they ' were fuch, by and with which the ferpent beguiled ' our tirll mother ?' Then faid Gaius, < Anples were they with which we were beguil'd ; Yttjin, not apples, hath our fouLs defil'd : Apples forbid, if eat, corrupt the blood ; To eat fuch, when commanded, does us good : D'-ink of his flaj>ons, then, thou church his dove, And eat his apples, who are iick of love.' Then faid Matthew, I made the fcruple, _ be- caufe, awhile fmce, I was fick with eating of fruit, Gai. Forbidden fruit will make you fick, but not what our Lord has tolerated. While they were thus talking, they were prefented with another difn, and it was a diili of nuts.^ Then foid fome at the table, ' Nuts fpoil tender teeth, * efpecially the teeth of the children.' Which when Gaius heard, he faid, < Hard texts are nuts (I will not call them cheaters), Whofe Ihells do keep the kernels from the eaters : Ooen then the fhells, and you Ihall have the meat ; They here are brought for you to crack and eat.' Then they were very m.erry, and fat at the table a long time, talking of many things. Then faid the old gentleman. My good landlord, while ye are cracking your nuts,' if you pleafe, do you open this riddle:* « A man there was (though fome did count him mad). The more he caft away, the more he had.' Then they all gave good heed, wondering what good Gaius would fay; fo he fat flill awhile, and then thus replied : « He who thus beftows his goods upon the poor. Shall have as much again, and ten times more.' Then • Obferve here, the feaft of vlljrims wa? attended with joy. Chriaians n'av they ough:, vea, they have the greaieft realon to rejoi.cj but thtn it ' •" ' ' mould J Sol. Song vl. 1 1. 374 MATTHEW AND MERCY ARE MARRIED. Then faid Joseph, I dare fay, Sir, I did not think you could have found it out. Oh ! faid Gaius, I have been trained up in this way a great while ; nothing teaches like experience : I have learned of my Lord to be kind ; and have found by^ experience, that I have gained thereby. " There is that fcattereth, yet increafeth ; and there " is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it " tendeth to poverty:'* " There is that maketh '• himfelf rich, yet hath nothing: there is that " maketh hi;nfelf poor, yet hath great riches/' ^ Then Samuel whifpered to Christiana, his mother, and faid. Mother, this is a very good man's houfe; let us ftay here a good while, and let my brother Matthew be married here to Mercy, be- fore we go any further.* The which Gaius the hofl overhearing, faid. With a very good will, my child. So they ftaid here more than a month ; and Mercy was given to Matthew to wife. While they llaid here, Mercy, as her cuflom was, would be making coats and garments to give to the poor, by which Ihe brought up a very good report upon pilgrims. fhould he fpiritual joy, which fprings from fpiritual views, and fplritual converfation. Let our fpeech be thus kafoned, and our feafts thus tempered and we fhall find cncreafing joy and giadnefs of heart in the Lord. * • u^-" '*.^ genuine d.icovciy of a gracious heart; when it is'deli.rhted With fpintuai company and converfation, and longs for its, coiuinuancc" U n. Itt with you Reader ? ' Prov. xi. 24. xjii. 7. CHAP. A OUESTION PROr'OSED AND ANSWERED. 375 CHAP. XI. THE PILGRIMS CONTINUE AT THE HOUSE OF GAIUS ^ FROM WHENCE THEY SALLY OUT, AND DESTROY GIANT SLAY-GOOD, A CANNIBAL J AND RESCUE MR. FEEB-LE-MIND- JDUT to return again to our (lory. After fupper, the lads defired a bed, for they were weary with travellino- : then Gaius called, to Ihew them their chamber: but faid Mercy, I will have them to bed. — So (he had them to bed, and they (lept well : but the reft fat up all night: for Gaius and they were fuch fuitable company, that they could not tell how to part. Then after much talk of their Lord, themfelves, and their journey, old Mr. Ho- nest Che that put forth the riddle to Gaius) began to nod. Then faid Great-heart, what Sir, you begin to be drowfy ! come, rub up, now here is a riddle for you.* Then faid Mr. Honest, Let us hear it. Then faid Mr. Great-heart, * He that will kill, muft firft be overcome : Who live abroad would, firft mult die at home.' Hal faid Mr. Honest, it is a hard one, hard to expound, and harder to praclife. But come, land- lord, faid he, 1 will, if you pleafe, leave my part to you ; do you expound it, and I will hear what you fay. No, faid Gaius, it was put to you, and it is ex- pelled you (hould anfwer it. Then faid the old gentleman, < He * Mind this : When one pilgrim ohferves, that a brother is inclined to be drowfy, it is his duty, and (hould be his practice, to endeavour to awaken, quicken, enliven, and flir up fuch, by fpiritual hints, O that this wa» more pra^ifcd ! Many bleffings would be confcqueut upon it. J7^ ANOTllr.R (^JESTION PUOFdijED. * He firft by grace muft conquerM be, That iin would mortify : Who, that h^ lives, would convince me. Unto hinifclf muft die.'* it Is right, faid Gaius ; good do£liine and expe- rience teaches this. For, until grace difplays itfelf, and overcomes the foul with its glory, it is altoge- ther without heart to oppofe (in : befides, if fin is Satan's cords, by which the foul lies bound, how ihoulu it make refillance, before it is loofed from that infirmity ? — Nor will any, that knows either reafon or grace, believe that fuch a man can be a living monument of grace, that is a Have to his own corruption. — And now it comes in my mind, I will tell you a (lory worth the hearing. — There were two men that went on pilgrimage, the one began when he was young, the other when he was old ; the young man had ftrong corruptions to grapple with, the old man's were weak with the decays of nature : the young man trode his fleps as even as did the old one, and was every way as light as he : who now, or v/hich of them, had their graces fhin- ing cleared, fince both feemed to be alike ? Hon. The young man's, doubtlefs. For that which heads it againil the greateft oppofition gives befl demonftration that it is ftrongell ; efpecially when it alfo holdeth pace with that that meets not with half fo much ; as to be fure old age does not. — Befides, I have obfervedj that old men have bleffed themfelves with this miftake ; namely, tak- ing the decays of nature for a gracious conquefl over corruptions, and fo have been apt to beguile themfelves. Indeed, old men, that are gracious, are bed able to give advice to them that are young, becaufe • O this dying to felf, to felf righteous pride, vain confidence, felf-Iove, and fclf-complacency, is hard work to the old man ; yea, it is both im- pradicable and impofllble to him. It is only grace yielded to that can con- quer and fubdue him. And where grace reigns, thi;; work is carried or tidy by day. ANOTHER (:!jJEST[ON RESOLVED. 377 becaufe they have feen mod of the emptinefs of tl.-ngs : but yet, for an old and a young man to fet oat both to;^ether, the young one has the advantage of the falreit difcovery of a work of grace within him, though the old man's corruptions are naturally the weakell. I'hus they fat talking till break of day. Now Y/hen the family was up, Christiana bid her fon James that he ihould read a chapter ; fo he read the fifty-third of Isaiah When lie had done, Mr. Hv'NEST afked, why it was faid, rhat the baviour is faid to come *' out of a dry ground ;" and alfo that he had *•' no form or comeiinefs in him ?" Then faid ]\Ir. Great-heart, To the firfl:, I an- fwer, becaufe the church of the Jews, of wh'ch Christ came, had then loft almoft all the fap and fpirit of religion. To the fecond, I fay, the words are fpoken in the perfon of the unbeliever, who, be- caufe they want the eye that can fee into our Prince's heart, therefore they judge of him by the mean- nefs of his outfide. — Juft like thofe that know not that precious ftones are covered over with a homely cruft ; who, when they have found one, becaufe they know not what they have found, caft it again away, as men do a common ftone. Well, faid Gaius, now you are here, and fincCj as I know Mr. Great-heart is good at his wea- pons, if you pleafe, after we have refrefiied our- ielves, we will walk into the fields, to fee if we can do any good. About a mile from hence, there is one Slay-good, a giant, that does much annoy the king's highway in thefe parts : and I know where- about his haunt is : he is mafter of a number of thieves : it would be well if we could clear thefe parts of hinik* 3 B So * After feeding, pilgrims are to prepare for fighting. They are not to eat, in order to pamper their lufts, but to ftrengrhen their bodies and fouL-, that they may he ftronger in the Loid, and in the power of i^is m^gh:, t© fight and con<]uer every enemy. 3/8 THEY ASSAULT GIANT SLAY-GOOD. So they confented, and went, Mr. Great-heart with his fword, hehnet, and fhield, and the reft with fpears and flaves. When they came to the place where he was, they found him with one Feeble-mind in his hand, whom his fervaiits had brought unto him, having taken him in the way : now the giant was rifling him, with a purpofe, after that, to pick his bones ; for he was of the nature of flefli-eaters. Weli, fo foon as he faw Mr. Great-heart and his friends at the mouth of his cave, with their weapons, he demanded what they wanted. Gr.-h. We want thee, for we are come to re- venge the quarrels of the many that thou haft flain of the pilgrims, when thou haft dragged them out of the king's highway 5 wherefore come out of thy cave. — So he armed himfelf and came out ; and to the battle they went, and fought for above an hour, and then Hood ftill to take wind. Then faid the giant. Why are you here on my ground ? Gr.-h, To revenge the blood of pilgrims, as I alfo told thee before. — So they went to it again, and the giant made Mr. Great-heart give back ; but he came up again, and in the greatnefs of his mind he let fly with fuch ftoutnefs at the giant's head and Tides, that he made him let his weipon fall out of his hand ; fo he fmote and flew him, and cut off his-head, and brought it away to the inn. He alfo took Feeble-mind the pilgrim, and brought him with him to his lodgings. When they were come home, they (howed his head to the family, and fet it up, as they had done others before, for a ter- ror to thofe that fhall attempt to do as he, hereaf- ter. Then they adied Mr. Feeble-mind, how he fell into his hands ? Then faid the poor man, I am a fickly man, as you FEEBLE-M ind's account of himself. 379 voa fee, and becaufe death did ufually once a day Inock t my door, I thought 1 Should never be weU at home: fol betook myfelf to a p.lgr.m s hfe and have travelled hither from the town of Uncertain where I and my father were born. I am a man of no ftrength at all of body, nor yet of mind ; but would Tf I could, though I can but crawl, fpend my iff; in a pilgrim's way.'-When I came at the Z that is at^he head of the way, *eLordof tha place did entertain me freely ; neither obieded he aeainll my weakly looks, nor agamft my feeble S bJt gave me fuch things that were neceffary for my journey, and bid me hope to the end.- When^^came to the houfe of 'he iKTERPaETEK received much kindnefs there ; and becaufe the hil of Difficulty was judged too hard for me, 1 was carried up that bj one of his fervants^Indeed I have found much rilief from pilgrims, though none was willing to go foftly as I am forced to uo . yet ftill as they cam! on, they bid me be of gooj/heej, and raid, that it was the will of their Lord th« " comfort" ftiould be given to " the feeble-minded , and fo went on their^wn pace.-When I was come to AssAULT-L/vNE, then this giant met «th 'ne and bid me prepare for an encounter ; but, alu Lble one that I was ! 1 had more need of a cord.a f'he came up and took me. I conceived he Inould not kill me : alfo when he had got me into his den fince I went not with him willing y, I beheved iliould come out alive again ; for I nave heard ha not any pilgrim, that is taken captive by violent hands, if he keeps heart-whole towards his maaer h by the laws of providence, to die by the hand « AU pllg,™ are „.. .lit. vigorou., »™5' ,'»" 'o",™ ■.e,^."™ i "" Aeak, crip-an,! cr...l on |„ ,hc -PJ J -,,1 ft ot, o'L-, UMi » Wl.olhJlbc.suiuIlus; _ ,r>,dt. .. 14. 380 FEEBtE.MINO CONTINUES HI3 NARHATIVr. of the enemy, fobbed I. looked to be, and robbed to be fure I am ; but 1 am, as you iee, efcapcd with hie, for the which I thank my King as author, and you as the means. Other brunts I alfo look ior, but this I have refolved on, to wit, to run when I can, to go when I cannot run, and to creep when I cannot ^o. As to the main, I rhank him that loved me, I am fixed; my way is before me, my mind is beyond the river that has no bridge; though I am as you fee, but of a feeble mind.* ' ' Ho>r. Then faid old Mr. Honest, Have not you fome time ago been acquainted with one Mr. Flaring, a pilgrim ? Fkeble. Acquainted with him ! yes : he camg from the town of Stupidity, which lies four de- grees northward of the city of Destruction, and as many off of where I was born ; yet we were' well acquainted, for indeed he was my uncle, my father's brother ; he and I have been much of a temper : he was a little fliorter than I, but yet we were much of a complexion. Hon. I perceive you know him ; and I am apt to believe alfo, that you were related one to another for you have his whitely look, a caft like his with your eye, and your fpeech is much alike. Fekbl. Moil have faia fo, that have known us both ; and, befides, what I have read in him, I- have for the moft part found in myfelf. Come, Sir, faid good Gaius, be of good cheer; you are welcome to me; and to my houfe ; and what thou haft a mind to, call for freelv ; and what thou wouldeft have my fervants do for thee, they will do with a ready mind. Then faid Mr. Feeble-mind, This is an unex- pedted, tn.ndedchnfhan ? Poor foul, weak as he was, yet his Lord provided aeainft his danger He fent fome ftrong ones to his deliverance, and to llay his enemy^ Mind his belief, even in his utmoft extremity. JLearn fomewhat from this feeble-mind. NOT-IIIGHT STRUCK DEAD. 3 8i peded favour, and us the fun-fhining out of a very dark doud Dia giant Slay-good intend me this favour when he ftopt me, and refolved to let me go no further ? Did he intend, that after he had rifled my pocket, I ihould go to " Gaius mine hoft ?" Ye"" io it is.* Now juft as Mr. Fev.ble-mind and Gaius were thus in talk, there comes one running, and called at the door, and told, that about a mile and a half off there was one Mr. N -t-right a pilgrim, flruck dead upon the place where he was, with a thunder- bolt. Alas ! faid Mr. Feeble-mind, is he flain ? He over- took me fome days before I came fo far as hither, and would be my company-keeper : he alfo was with me when Slay-good the giant took me, but he was nimble of his heels, and efcaped : but, it feems, he efcaped to die, and I was took to Mve.f « What, one would think, doth {"cck to flay outright., C^fc times delivers from the fadded plight. That very providence, whofe face is death, Do:h oft-times, to the lowly, life bequeath, I t 'ken wa5, he did efcape and flee : Hands crofs'd, give death to him, and life to me.' JJow about this time Matthew and Mercy were mairied :J alfo Gaius gave his daughter Phebe to James, Matthew's brother, to wife. After which * O how fvveet to reflect, the mod gigantic enemy Giall be conquered, and their molt malicious defigns (hall be over- ruled lor our good : yea, what they intend T-r our ruin, (hall he made to work for our health and profpcrity. + See the various dealings of God, and more and more adore him in all his ways of providence and grace : " Know, all the ways of God to tren are juft ; " And, where you can't unriddle, learn to trull." \ The reader may remember that Mercy had fome time before refufed the addreffes of Mr Brilk, allcdging that (he was determined not to have a clog to her foul: but now the Lord provides an help-meet ior her in Mat- thew, a fincere young pilgrim. Happy is the match which is made ia the Lord, and the partners who are uniied in eternal bunJi! 382 THE HOSPITALITY OF GAIUS. which time they ftaid about ten days at Gaius*s houfe ; fpending their time, and the feafons, like as pilgrims ufed to do. When they were to depart, Gaius made them to a feaft, and they did eat and drink, and were merry. Now the hour was come that they muft be gone ; wherefore Mr. Great-heart called for a reckon- ing. But Gaius told him, that at his houfe it was not the cuftom of pilgrims to pay for their enter- tainment. He boarded them by the year, but look- ed for his pay from the Good Samaritan, who had promifed him, at his return, whatfoever charge he was at with them, faithfully to repay him.^ Thenfaid Mr. Great-heart to him, — " Beloved, thou doefl: " faithfully, whatfoever thou doefl to the brethren *> and to ftrangers, which have borne witnefs of thy " charity before the church, whom if thou yet bring *' forward on their journey, after a godly fort, thou " Ihalt do well."* Then Gaius took his leave of them all, and his children, and particularly of Mr. Feeble-mind : he alfo gave him fomething to drink by the way. « Luke X. 34, 3S' * 3 lo^'^ 5. 6. CHAP. THE PILGRIMS LEAVE THE HOUSE OF GAIUS. 383 CHAP. XII. THE PILGRIMS ARE JOINED BY MR. READY-TO-HALT, ANP PROCEED TO THE TOWN OF VANITY, WHERE THEY ARE AGREEABLY LODGED BY MR. MNASON ; AND MEET WITH AGREEABLE COMPANY. THEY ENCOUNTER A FORMIDABLE MONSTER. N. OW Mr. Feeble-mind, when they were going out at the door, made as if he intended to linger. The which when Mr. Great-heart elpied, he faid, ' Come, Mr. Feeble-mind, pray do you go alonsc * with us, I will be your condu houfe of Gaius our friend.' ' I promife you,' faid he, ' you have gone a good ditch ; you may well be ' weary ; fit down.' So they fat down. Then faid their guide, Come, what cheer, good Sirs ? I dare fay you are welcome to my friend. 1 alfo, faid Mr. Mnason, do bid you welcome ; and whatever you want, do but fay, and. we will do what we can to get it for you. Hon. Our great want, a while fince, was har- bour and good company ; and now I hope we have both.f . . t, r Mnas. For harbour, you fee what it is ; but lor good company, that will appear in the triaL ■ Well, faid Mr. Great-heart, will you have the pilgrims, into their lodf;ing ? I will, faid Mr. Mnason. — ^^So he k>.d them to their refpeftive places ; and alfo {howed them a very fair dining-room, where they might be, and lap together, until time was come to go to relt. '^. C 2 Now • How happy to find a houfe in Vanity-Fair, whofe mafter will receive and entertain piljrrim,-. Blcffed be God for the prdfiit icvival of rc^.-rion in our day; and ior the many houfes that are open to the friends ot the Lamb The hearts of the mafters of which he opens. t- Under ail our wants, may we not lay, wish oiir f.uhcr Abrahum ? God will provide, Gcii. x.xii. 8. ^SSrtiLY ARE V15ITED BY MNASOn's FRlENiDS, Now when they were fet in their places, and were a little cheery after their journey, Mr. Honest afked his landlord, if there were any (lore of good people in the town ? Mnas. We have a few; for indeed they are but a few, when compared with them on the other fide. Hon. But how fhall we do to fee fome of them ? for the fight of good men, to them that are going on pilgrimage, is like to the appearing of the moon and flars to them that are going a journey.* Then Mr. Mnason damped with his foot, and his daughter Grace came up: fo he faid unto her, Grace, go you, tell my friends, Mr. Contrite, Mr. Holyman, Mn Love-satnts, Mr. Dare-not- LiE, and Mr. Penitent, that I have a friend or two at my houfe, that have a mind this evening to fee them. So Grace went to call them, and they came; and, after falutation made, they fat down together at the table. Then faid Mr. Mnason, their landlord, My neighbours, I have, as you fee, a company of ftran- gers come to my houfe : they are pilgrims : they come from afar, and are going to Mount Sion. But who, quoth he, do you think this is ? (pointing his fingers at Christiana.; It is Christiana, the wife of Christian, that famous pilgrim, who with. Faithful his brother, were fo fliamefully handled in our town. — At that they flood amazed, faying. We little thought to fee Christiana, when Grace came to call us : wherefore this is a very comfort- able furprife. Then they aflced her about her wel- fare, and if thefe young men were her hufband's fon's. And when flie had told them they were, they faid, ' The King, whom you love and ferve, make ' you * The enquiry of difciples after fuitable company, difcovers that they, with David, love t' e 1-ord's faints, and in the excellent of the earth, is all their delight, Pf. xvi. 3. A genuine difcovery thii. of a gracious heart. WHO SHOW THE STATE OF THE TOWN OF VA^TITY. 389 ' you as your father, and bring you where he is in * peace 1'* Then Mr. Honest, when they were all fat down, afl^ied Mr. Contpite, and the rell, in what poilurc their town was at prefent. CoNTi?-- You may be fure we are full of hurry in fair-time. It is hard keeping our hearts and fpi- rits, in good order, when we are in a cumbered con- dition. He that lives in fuch a place as this, and that has to do with fuch as we have, has need of an item^ to caution him to take heed every moment of the day.f Hon. But how are your neighbours now for qui- etnefs ? Contr. They are much more moderate now than formerly. You know how Christian and Faith- ful were ufed at our town : but of late, I fay, they have been far more moderate. I think the blood of Faithful lieth with load upon them till now; for fmce they burned him, they have been afhamed to burn any more : in thofe days we were afraid to walk the flreets, but now we can fhow our heads. Then the name of a profeflbr was odious ; now, efpecially in feme parts of our town (for you know our town is large), religion is counted honourable.^ Then faid Mr. Contrite to them, Pray how far- eth it with you in your pilgrimage ? How (bands the country atfeded towards you ? Hon. It happens to us, as it happeneth to way- faring men : fometimes our way is clean, fometimes foul, fometimes up hill, fometimes down hill ; wc are feldom at a certainty : the wind is not always on our backs, nor is every one a friend that we meet with • A precious prayer for the beft of blefTings. f Mind this hint. May it kindle a feni'e of danger, and excite cau- tion. \ It is a mercy, when open perfecution for the word abates, and religion is more refpedled ; but how do proteffors in futh tin-.es get cold and dead, grow formal and worldly ! The fniiles of the town of Vanity, often prove more iniurious than its frowns. Be on your guard, O pilgrim*. 390 GREAT-HEART RELATES THEIR ADVENTURES. with in the way. We have met with fome notable rubs already : and what are yet behind we know not ; but, for the mod part, we find it true that has been talked of old,—* A good man muft fuflfer ' trouble.* CoNTR. You talk of rubs : — what rubs have you met withal ? Hon. Nay, a{k Mr. Great-heart, our guide > for he can give the bed account of that. Gr.-h. We have been befet three or four times already. Firft, Christiana and her children were befet with two ruffians, that they feared would take away their lives. We were befet with giant Bloody-man, giant Maul, and giant Slay-good. Indeed, we did rather befet the laft, than were befet of him. And thus it was : after we had been fome time at the houfe of Gaius, " mine hofl, and of " the whole church," we were minded upon a time to take our weapons with us, and fo go fee if we could light upon any of thofe that were enemies to pilgrims ; for we heard that there was a notable one thereabouts. Now Gaius knew his haunt better than I, becaufe he dwelt thereabout ; fo we looked and looked, till at laft we difcerned the mouth of his cave ; then were we glad, and plucked up our fpirits. So we approached up to his den ; and, lo, when we came there, he had dragged, by mere force into his net, this poor man, Mr. Feeble- mind, and was about to bring him to his end. But when he faw us, fuppofing, as we thought, he had another prey ; he left the poor man in his houfe, and came out. So we fell to it full fore, and he luftily md about him; but in conclufion, he was brought down to the ground, and his head cut off, and fet up by the way-fide, for a terror to fuch as fhould after pratlice fuch ungodlinefs. That I tell you the truth, here is the man himfelf to affirm it, who was as a lamb taken out of the mouth of the lion. Then THEIR FURTHER CONVfeRS ATI ON. 701 Then faid Mr. Feeble-mind, I found this true, to my coft and comfort ; to my coft, when he threatened to pick my bones every moment ; and to my comfort, when I faw Mr. Great-heart and his friends, with their weapons, approach fo near for my deliverance. Then faid Mr. Holyman, There are two things that they have need to be pofleffed of, that go on pilgrimage ; courage, and an unfpotted life. If they have not courage, they can never hold on their way ; and, if their lives be loofe, they will make the very name of a pilgrim (link.* Then faid Mr. Love-saint, I hope this caution is not needful among you : but truly there are many that go upon the road, that rather declare themfelves ftrangers to pilgrimage, than ftrangers and pilgrims in the earth. Then faid Mr. Dare-not-liEj It is true, they neither have the pilgrim's weed, nor the pilgrim's courage : they go not uprightly, but all awry with their feet : one flioe goeth inward, another outward, and their hofen out behind ; here a rag, and there a rent, to the difparagement of their Lord.j- Thefe things, faid Mr. Penitent, they ought td be troubled for ; nor are the pilgrims like to have that grace upon them, and their pilgrim's progrefs as they defire, until the way is cleared of fuch fpots and blemifhes. Thus they fat talking and fpending the time until fupper was fet upon the table. Upon which they went, and refrefhed their weary bodies ; fo they went to reft. Now they flayed in the fair a great while at the houfe of Mr. Mnason, who, in pro- cefs of time, gave his daughter Grace unto Sa- muel, * This is a found fpeech. Lord, grant that we, who profefs the holy name, may take good heed to this. It is a word of convidlion to naany. f An excellent obfervation, and a jufl reproof. Iklay it carry convidion to the h^art of thofe it fuiu. 3"92 THEY HEAR OF A MON.STER IN THOSE PARTS. MUEL, Christiana's fon, and his daughter Mar- tha to Joseph. The time, as I faid, that they lay here was long : for it was not now as in former tiines. Wherefore the pilgrims grew acquainted with many of the good people of the town, and did them what fer- vice they could. Mercy, as flie was wont, labour- ed much for the poor ; wherefore their bellies and backs bleffed her, and fhe was there an ornament to her profelTion. And, to fay the truth for Grace, Phebe, and Martha, they were all of a very good nature, and did much good in their places. They were alfo all of them very fruitful ; fo that Chris- tian's name, as was faid before, was like to live in the world. While they lay here, there came a monfter out of the woods, and flew many of the people of the town It would alfo carry away their children, and teach them to fuck its v/helps. Now no man in the town durfl fo much as face this monfter ; but all men fled when they heard of the noife of his com- ing. The monfl:er was like unto no one beafl: upon the earth : its body was " like a dragon, and it had " feven heads and ten horns."' It made great ha- voc of childrenj and yet it was governed by a wo- man. This monflier propounded conditions to men ; and fuch men as loved their lives more than their fouls accepted of thofe conditions. Now Mr. Great-heart, together with thefe, who came to vifit the pilgrims at Mr. Mnason's houfe, entered into a covenant to go and engage this beafl:, if perhaps they might deliver the people of this town from the paws and mouth of this fo de- vouring a ferpent. Then did Mr. Great-heart, Mr. Contrite, Mr. Holyman, Mr. Dare-not-lie, and Mr. Pe- nitent, with their weapons, go forth to meet him. Now I Rev. xii 3. THEY ATTACK THE MONSTER AND WOUND HIM. 393 Now the monfler, at firfl, was very rampant, and looked upon thefe enemies with great difdain ; but they fo belaboured him, being flurdy men at arms, that they made him make a retreat : fo they came home to Mr. Mnason's houfe again. The monfter,* you mufl know, had his certain feafons to come out in, and to make his attempts upon the children of the people of the town : alfo thefe feafons did thefe valiant worthies watch him in, and did continually aflault him ; infomuch, that in procefs of time he became not only wounded, but lame ; alfo he had not made the havock of the townfmen's children as formerly he had done. And it is verily believed by fome, that this bead will certainly die of his wounds. This therefore made Mr. Great-heart and his fellows of grtat fame in this town ; fo J^hat many of the people, that wanted their tafte of things, yet had a reverent elleem and refpe6t for them. Upon this account therefore it was, that thefe pilgrims got not much hurt here. True, there were fopie of the bafer fort, that could fee no more than a mole, nor under- ftand no more than a bead ; thefe had no rever- ence for thefe men, nor took they notice of their valour and adventures. *, This refers (obferves the Rev. Mr. Scott) to the prevalence of popery for fome time before the revolution in 1688; by which many nominal pro- teftants were drawn afide, and numbers of children educated in the princi- ples of darknefs and fuperflition. The favor or frown of the prince and his party operated fo powerfully, that worldly men in general yielded to the jmpofition : but feveral perfons among the non- con form ifts, as well as in the cftahliflied church, did eminent fervice at that criCs, by their preaching and writings, in expoCng the delufions and abominations of the adherents to the papal fee : and thefe endeavours were eventually the means of overturning the plan formed for the re-eflablifliment of popery in Britain. D CHAP, 394 TKEY DEPART FROM THE HOUSE OF MNASON. CHAP. XIII. THE PILGRIMS KILL GIANT DESPAIR, AND HIS WIFEJ AND TOTALLY DEMOLISH HIS CASTLE, — ^THEY PRO- CEED TO THE DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS. VV ELL, the time drew on that the pilgrims muft go on their way ; therefore they prepared for their journey. They fent for their friends ; they confer- red with them; they had fome time fet apart there- in, to commit each other to the protedlion of their Prince. There were again that brought them of fuch things as they had, that were fit for the weak and the ftrong, for the women and the men, and fo laded them with fuch things as were neceifary.^ Then they fet forward on their way ; and their friends accompanying them fo far as was convenient, they again committed each other to the protedion of their King, and departed. 1 hey, therefore, that were of the pilgrims' com- pany, went on, and Mr. Great-heart went before them ) now the women and children being weakly, they weie forced to go as they could bear ; by this means Mr. Ready-to-halt and Mr. Feeble-mind had more to fympathize with their condition. When they were gone from the townfmen, and when their friends had bid them farewel, they quickly came to the place where Faithful was put to death : therefore they made a ftand, and thanked Him that had enabled him to bear his crofs fo well; and the rather, becaufe they now found that they had a benefit by fuch a man's fufferings as he was. They went on, therefore, after this a good way fur- ther, talking of Christian and Faithful; and how Hopeful joined himfelf to Christian, after that Faithful was dead.* Now « Adls xxviii. lo, * Part I. p. 1 68, THEY ARRIVE AT THE WATER OF LIFE. 2>95 Now they were come up with the hill Lucre, where the filver mine was, which took Demas off from his pilgrimage, and into which, as fome think. By-ends fell and perilhed : wherefore they confi- dered that. But when they were come to the old monument that flood over againft the hill Lucre, to wit, to the pillar of fait, that flood alfo within view of Sodom and its flinking lake,' they mar- velled, as did Christian before, that men of that knowledge and ripenefs of wit, as they were, ihould be fo blind as to turn afide here. Only they con- fidered again, that nature is not afFctled with the harms that others have met with, efpecially if that thing, upon which they look, has an attrafting virtue upon the fooliih eye. I faw now that they went on till they came to the river that was on this fide of the Delectable Mountains* — to the river where" the fine trees grow on both fides ; and whofe leaves, if taken in- wardly, are good againft farfc;its,^ where fhe mea- dows are green all the year long, and where they might lie down fafely. By this river fide, in the meadows, there were cotes and folds for flieep, a houfe built for the nourifhing and bringing up of thofe lambs, the babes of thofe women that go on pilgrimage. Alfo there was here one that was entrufted with them, who could have compaflion, and that could gather thefe lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bofom, and that could gently lead thofe that were ^vith young.4 Now to the care of this man Chris- tiana admonifhed her four daughters to commit their little ones, that by thefe waters they might be houfed, harboured, fuccoured, and nounihed, and that none of them might be lacking in time to come. i his man, if any of them go aftray, or be loft, he 3 D 2 will » Part I. p. 177. « Part I. p. 182. ^ PI", sxiii. 4 Heb. v. %. lia. liiii. 39^ AN HOSPITAL, FOR YOUNG CHILDREN. will bring them again ; he will alio bind up that which was broken, and will ftrengthen them that are fick.' Here they will never want meat, drink, and clothing ; here they will be kept from thieves and robbers; for this man will die before one of thofe committed to his truft (hall be loft. Befides, here they Ihall be fure to have good nurture and admoni- tion; and fhall be taught to vyalk in right paths ; and that, you know, is a favour of no fmall account. Alfo here, as you fee, are delicate waters, pleafant meadows, dainty flowers, variety of trees, and fuch as bear wholefome fruit : fruit not like that which Matthew eat of, that fell over the wall, out of Beelzebub's garden; but fruit that procureth health where there is none, and that continueth and in-, creafeth where it is.* So they were content to commit their little ones to him ; and that which was alfo an encouragement to them fo to do, was, for that all this was to be at the charge of the King ; and fo was an hofpital to young children and orphans. Now they went on ; and when they were come to. By-path meadow, to the ftile over which Chris- tian went with his fellow Hopeful, when thev were taken by giant Despair, and put into Doubting Castle ; they fat down, and confulted what was beft to be done ; to wit, now they were fo ftrong, and had got fuch a man as Mr, Great-heart for their conductor, whether they had not beft to make an attempt upon the giant, demolifti his caftle, and, if there were any pilgrims in it, to fet them at li- berty, before they went any further/ So one faid one thing, and another faid to the contrary. — One queftioned if it was lawful to go upon unconfecrated ground; • Here we frequently find our author fpeaking of our Lord and Saviour, as Man. He excels in this. It were to be wiflied, that authors and preach- ers wrote and fpake more frequently of the manhood of Jefus, who was a perfeA Man, like unto us in all things except fin. s Jer. xxiii. 4. Ezck. xxiiv. ii — 16. * Part I. p. 186—192. THEY DETERMINE TO ATTACK GIANT DESPAIR. 39-7 ground ; another faid they might, provided their end was good. But Mr. Great-heart faid, Though that affertion offered lad cannot be univerfally true, yet I have a commandment to refifl: fm, to overcome evil, to fight the good fight of faith : and, I pray, with whom (hould 1 fight this good fight, if not with giant Despair ? I will therefore attempt the taking away of his life, and the demolilhing of Doubting Castle. Then, faid he, ' Who will go with me?* Then faid old Honest, ' /will.' ' And fo "jue will too,' faid Christiana's four fons, Matthew, Samuel, James, and Joseph : for they were young men and ftrong.' So they left the women on the road, and with them Mr. Feep,le-mind and Mr. Ready-to-halt, with his crutches, to be their guard, until they came back ; for in that place, though giant Despair dwelt fo near, they keeping in the road, " a little child might lead them."* So Mr, Great-heart, old Honest, and the four young men, went to go. up to Doubting Castle, to look for gian- Despair. When they came at the caflle gate, they knocked for entrance with an unufual noife. With that the old giant comes to the gate, and Diffidence his wife fol- lows. Then faid he, ' Who and what is he that is '.. fo hardy, as after this manner to moleft the giant ' Despair?' Mr. Great-heart replied, ' It is I, ' Great-heart, one of the King of the celellial ' country's conductors of pilgrims to their place : ' and I demand of thee, that thou open thy gates ' for my entrance ; prepare thyfelf alfo to fight, for ' I am come to take away thy head, and to demolifii ' Doubting Castle.* Now giant Despair, becaufe he was a giant, thought no man could overcome him ; and again, thought he, ' Since heretofore I have made a con- ' queit > I John ii. I J, 14. « Ifaiah si. 6, ^gB THEY KILL THE GIANT. * queft of angels, fhall Great-heart make me * afraid ?' So he harneffed himfelf, and went out : he had a cap of fteel upon his head, a breaft-plate of fire girded to him, and he came out in iron ihoes with a great club in his hand. Then thefe fix men niade up to him, and befet him behind and before: alfo when Diffidence, the giantefs, came up to help him, old Mr. Honest cut her down at one blow. Then they fought for their lives, and giant Despair was brought down to the ground, but was very loth to die : he ftruggled hard, and had, as they fay, as many lives as a cat ; butGREAT-HEART was his death ; for he left him not till he had fevered his head from his fhoulders.* Then they fell to demolifhing Doubting Cas- tle ; and that, you know, might with eafe be done, fince giant Despair was dead. They were feven days in deftroying of that : and in it, of pilgrims, vhey found one Mr. Despondency, almoil ftarved to death, and one Much-afraid, his daughter; thefe two they faved alive. But it would have made you wonder, to have feen the dead bodies that lay here and there in the caflle-yard, and how full of dead men's bones the dungeon was. When Mr. Great-heart and his companions had performed this exploit, they took Mr. Despon- dency, and his daughter Much- afraid, into their protection ; for they were honelf people, though they were prifoners in Doubting Castle, to that giant Despair. They therefore, I fay, took with them the head of the giant (for his body they had buried under a heap of ilones) ; and down to the road and to their companions they came, and (howed tliem what they had done. Now when I'eeble-mind and * What cannot Great-heart do .' What feats not perform ? What vidlovies eoc gai" ? Who can ftand before Great-heart.? Diffidence fliall fall, and giant Dcfpair be fiain, by the powv- of Great-heart, with the fword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, Eph vi. 17. even Defpondency, thoiiv;h iinwil ftarved. fiiall be delivered, and his daughter Much-afraid (hail be rcfcued. O for more of Gicat-hi.art'j. compiny ! THE PILGRIMS JOY ON TKEIR VICTORY, 399 and Ready-to-halt faw that it was the head of giant Despair indeed, they were very jocund and merry. Nov/ Christiana, if need was, could play upon the viol, and her daughter Mercy upon the lute : fo fince they were fo merry difpofed, fhe played them a lefibn, and Ready-tc-halt would dance. So he took Despondency's daughter, named MucH-AFRAiDj by the hand, and to dancing they went, in the road. True, he could not dance with- out one crutch in his hand ; but I promife you, he footed it well : alfo the girl was to be commended;, for {lie anfwered the mufic handfomely. As for Mr. Despondency, the mufic v/as not much to him : he was for feeding rather than dancing, for that he was alnioft flarved. So Christiana gave him fome of her bottle of fplrits, for prefent relief, and then prepared him fomething to eat ; and in a little time the old gentleman came to himfelf, and began to be finely revived. Now I faw in my dream, when all thefe things were finifhed, Mr. Great-heart took the head of giant Despair, and fet it upon a pole by the high- way-fide, right over againd a pillar that Christian eieded for a caution to pilgrims that came after, to take heed of entering into his grounds. Then he writ under it, upon a marble (lone, thefe verfes following : < This is the head of him, whofe name only, In former time, did pilgrims terrify. His caflle's down,* and Diffidence, his wife^ Brave mafter Great-H"art has bereft of life. Despondency, his daughter Much-afraid, Great-heart for them alfo the man has play'd. Who * The following lines contain an important truth, and deferve particular regard. Though Doubting- Caftle be demolilhed. And the giant Defpair hath loft his head. Sin can rebuild the caftle, make't remain. And make Defpair the giant live again. 5 § Excellent remark ! pray mind iti- 400TKF.Y ARRIVE AT THJE DELECTABLE MOUNTAIKSi Who hereof doubts, if he'il but catl his eye Up hither, may his fcruples fatisfy. This head alfo, when doubting cripples dance, Doth {how from fears they have dehverance.' When thofe men had thus bravely (bowed them- felves againft Doubting Castle, and had flain giant Despair, they w^ent forward, and^ent on till they came to the Delectable Mountains, where Christian and Hopeful refreflied themfelves with the varieties of the place. They alfo acquainted themfelves with the fhepherds there, who welcomed them, as they had done Christian before, unto the Delectable Mountains. Now the (hepherds feeing fo great a train follow Mr. Great-heart (for with l\im they were well acquainted), they faid unto him, ' Good fir, you ' have got a goodly company here j pray where did ' you find all thefe ?' Gr.-h. * Firft, here is Christiana and her train, Her fons, and her fons' wives, who, like the wain> Keep by the pole, and do by compafs fteer From lin to grace, elfe they had not been herCi Next, here's old Honest come on pilgrimage; Ready-to-halt too, who, I dare engage, True hearted is, and fo is Feeble-mind, Who willing was not to be left behind. Despondency, good man is coming after. And fo alfo is Much-afraid his daughter. May we have entertainment here, or mufl We further go ? Let's know whereon to truft.' Then faid the fhepherds, This is a comfortable company ; you are welcome to us, for we have for the feeble, as for the ffrong : our Prince has an eye to what is done to the leaft of thefe :» therefore in- firmity mufl not be a block to our entertainment — So they had them to the palace doors, and then faid unto them, ' Come in, Mr. Feeble-mind; come in, •Mr. Ready-to-halt; come in,Mr. Despondency, * and > Matt. zrv. 40. MOUNT MARVEL. 4OI " and Mrs. Much-afraid his daughter.* ' Thefe, ' Mr. Great-heart/ faid the fhepherds to the guide, * we call in by name, for that they are moft fubje£t * to draw back ; but as for you, and the reft that '^ are ftrong, we leave you to your wonted liberty/ Then faid Mr. Great-heart, ' This day I fee, that " grace doth fhine in your faces, and that you are ' my Lord*s (hepherds indeed ; for that you have not ^ pufhed thefe difeafed neither with fide nor (houlder, ' but have rather ftrewed their way into the pakce * with flowers as you fhould.*' So the feeble and weak went in, and Mr. Great- heart and the reft did follow. When they were alfo fee down, the ftiepherds faid to thofe of the weaker fort. What is that you would have ? For, faid they, all things muft be manag'ed here to the fupporting of the weak, as well as the warning of the unruly. So they made them a feaft of things eafy of di- geftion, and that were pleafant to the palate and nourifhing : the which when they had received, they went to their reft, each one refpedively unto his proper place. When morning was come, becaufe the mountains were high, and the day clear ; and becaufe it was the cuftom of the ftiepherds to ihow the pilgrims, before their departure, fome rarities ; therefore^ after they v/ere ready^ and had refreft^ed themfelves, the fhepherds took thenl out into the fieldsj and fhowed them firft what they had fhowed to Christiai^: before. - Then they had them to fome new places. The firft: was mount Marvel, where they looked, and be- held a man at a diftance, that tuu.bled the hills about with wordsi Then they afked the ftiepherds, what that ftiould mean ? So they told him, that that man was the fon of one Mr. Great-grace [of whom you read in the firft part of the records of 3 E the > Fzci, xxsiv. 21. * Part I. p. 194 — 19S. .402 MOUNT INNOCENCE AND MOUNT CHAR ITY. the Pilgrim's Progrefs .-] and he is fet there to teach pilgrims how to believe down, or to tumble out of their ways, what difficulties they fhould meet with, by faith.' Then faid Mr. Great-heart, ' I know him ; he is a man above many.' Then they had them to another place, called mount Innocence : and there they faw a man clothed all in white ; and two men, Prejudice and Ill-will, continually cafting dirt upon him. Now, behold, the dirt, whatfoever they cafl at him, would in a little time fall off again, and his "garment would look as clear as if no dirt had been cafl: thereat. Then faid the pilgrims. What means this .? The fhep- herds anfwered. This man is named Gcdly-man, and the garment is to fhew the innocency of his life. Now thofe that throw dirt at him, are fuch as hate his well-doing ; but as you fee the dirt will not flick upon his clothes, fo it fhall be with him that lives truly innocently in the world. Whoever they be that would make fuch men dirty, they labour all in vain; for God, by that a little time is fpent, will caufe that their innocence fliall break forth as the light, and their righteoufnefs as the noon- day. Then they took them, and had them to mount Charity, where they ftiowed them a man that had a bundle of cloth lying before him, out of which he cut coats and garments for the poor that flood about him ; yet his bundle, or roll' of cloth was ne- ver the lefs. Then faid they. What fliould this be .? This is, faid the fliepherds, to fliow you, that he that has a heart to give of his labour to the poor, fliall never want wherewithal. *' He that watereth, *' fliall be watered himfelf.'* And the cake, that the widow gave to the prophet, did not caufe that fhe had ever the lefs in her barrel. 1 hey had them alfo to the place, where they faw one Fool, and one Want-wit, wafliing of an Ethiopian, with an intention to make him white ; but » Mark xi. 23, 24. THE LOOKING-GLASS OF GOD S WORD. 403 but the more they wafhed him, the blacker he was. Then they afked the fliepherds, what that fhould mean ? So they told them, faying. Thus (hall it be with the vile perfon ; all means ufed to get fuch a one a good name, fliall in conclufion tend but to make him more abominable. Thus it was with the Pharifees, and fo it fhall be with all hypocrites. Then faid Mercy, the wife of Matthew, to Christiana her mother, I would, if it might be, fee the hole in the hill, or that commonly called the By-way to hell. So her mother brake her mind to the fhepherds.' Then they went to the door (it was on the fide of an hill) ; and they opened it, and bid Mercy hearken awhile. So (he hearkened, and heard one faying, ' Curfed be my father, for hold- ' iiig of my feet back from the way of peace and ' life :' And another faid, ' O that I had been torn ' in pieces, before I had, to fave my life, loft my ' foul !* And another faid, ' If I were to live again, ' how would I deny myfelf, rather than come to this ' place 1' Then there was as if the very earth groan- ed and quaked under the feet of this young woman for fear ; fo fhe looked white, and came trembling away, faying, ' BleflTed be he and fhe that is deliver- ' ed from this place.' Now when the fhepherds had fnown them all thefe things, then they had them back to the pa- lace, and entertained them with what the houfe would afford : but Mercy being a young and breed- ing woman, longed for fomething that fhe law there, l?ut was afhamed to afk. Her mother-in-law then afked her what fhe ailed, for fhe looked as one not well. Then faid Mercy, There is a looking-glafs hangs up in the dining-room, off" which I cannot take my mind ; it* therefore I have it not, I think I fhall mifcarry. Then faid her mother, I will mention thy wants to the fhepherds, and they will not deny it thee. But flie faid, 1 am afhamed than 3 E 2 thefe * Part I, p. 197. 4^4 THE SHEFHERDS GIVT, PRESENTS TO THE MLGRIMft.^ thefe men (hould know that I longed. IS[ay, my daughter, faid (he, it is no fliame, 'but a virtue, to long for fuch a thing as that. So Mercy faid. Then, mother, if you pleafe, aik the fhepherds if they are willing to fell it. Now the glafs was one of a thoufand. It would prefent a man, one way, with his own features ex- aftly ; and turn it but an,or.her way, and it wouW fhow one the very face and fimilitude of the Prince of the pilgrims hirafetf. Yes, I have talked with them that can tell, and they have faid, that they have feen the very crown of thorns upon his head, by looking in that glafs ; they have therein alfo feen the holes in his hands, in his feet, and his fide. Tea, fuch an excellency is there in that glafs, that it will (how him to one where they have a mind to fee him ; whether living or dead, whether in earth or in heaven; whether in a (late of humiliation, or in his exultation ; whether coming to fuiier, or coming to reign.*' Christiana therefore went to the (hepherds apart (now the names of the (hepherds were Knowledge, Experience, Watchfll, and SincereJ,* and faid unto them. There is one of my daughters, a breed- ing woman, that, I think, doth long for fomething that fhe hath feen in this houfe, and (he thinks (he ihall mifcarry, if (he (hould by you be denied. ExPER. Call her, call her : (he (hall a(ruredly have what we can help her to. So they called her, and faid to her, Mercy, What is that thing thou wouldefl: have.? Then (he blu(hed, and faid. The great glafs that hangs up in thp dining-room. So Sincere ran and fetched it, and with a joyful con- fent it was given her. Then (he bowed her head, and • O what a blelTed thing it Is to long for the word of God, fo as not to be fatisfied Without it, and to prize it above and beyond all other things! Love to the word, excites the foul to fay with David, " Ihave longed for thy faU ■eation, O Lord," Pfal cxix. i 74. This is a fpecial mark of a gracious fouL » James i, 23—15. i Cor. xiii. ij. 2 Cor, iii. ig. a Part I. p. 195. WHO LEAVE TIiEM, AND GO OM THEIR JOURNEY. 405 and gave thanks, and faid, By this I know that I have obtained favour in your eyes. They alfo gave to the other young women fach things as they defired, and to their huibands great commendations, for that they had joined with Mr. Gkeat-heart, to the flaying of giant Despair, and the demolifhing of IDoubting Castle.* — « About Christiana's neck the fliepherds put a bracelet, and fo they did about the necks of her four daughters ; alfo they put ear-rings in their ears, and jewels on their foreheads. When they were minded to go hence, they let them go in peace, but gave not to them thofe cer- tain cautions which before were given to Christian", and; his companions. The reafon was, for that thefe had Great-heart to be their guide, who was one that was well acquainted with things, and fo could give them their cautions more feaibnable ; to wit, even then when the danger was nigh the approach- ing. What cautions Christian and his companion had received of the fhepherds,^ they had alfo lofl by that the time was come that they had need to put them in pra£lice. Wherefore, here was the advan- tage that this company had over the other. Fro;n, hence they went en finging, and they faid, * Behold, how fitly are the ftables fet For their relief that pilgrims are become, And how they us receive without one let, That make the other life tlie mark and home. What novelties they have, to u^ they give, That we, though pilgrims, jo-yful lives may live. They do upon u?, too, fuch things beftow, That fhow we pilgrims are, where'er we 00.' • No good thing, done in the name and to the glory of. Chrift, fliall be forgotten of him, nor go unrewarded by him. » Part I, p. J 98. CHAP. 4o6 THEV OVERTAKE VALIANT FOR TRUTH, CHAP. XIV. THE COMPANY JOINED T-Y MR. VALIANT AND MR. StAND-FAST. THEY PASS OVER THE ENCHANTED GROUND. A DESCRIPTION OF MADAM BUBBLE., w HEN they were gone from the fhepherds, they quickly came to the place where Christian met with one Turn-away, that dweh in the town of Apostacy.^ Wherefore of him Mr. Great- heart, their guide, did now put them in mind, faying. This is the place where Christian met with one Turn-away, who carried with him the character of his rebellion at his back. And this I have to fay concerning this man ; — he would heark- en to no counfel, but, once a-falling, perfuafion could not ftop him. When he came to the place v/here the crofs and the fepulchre was, he did meet with one that did bid him look there, but he gnafhed with his teeth, and (lamped, and faid, he was re- folved to go back to his own town. Before he came to the gate, he met with Evangelist, who offered to lay hands on him to turn him into the way again. But this Turn-away refilled him, and having done much defpite unto him, he got away over the wall, and fo efcaped his hand. Then they went on: and, jufl at the place where Little-faith formerly was robbed, there flood a man v/ith his fword drawn, and his face all bloody. Then faid Mr. Gr£at-heart, What art thou ? The man made anfwer, faying, I am one whofe name is Valiant-for-truth ; I am a pilgrim, and am go- ing to the Celeilial city. Now, as I was in my way, there w.-^re three men that did befet me, and pro- pounded unto me thefe three things :• — Whether I would become one of them ; — or go back from whence I Part I. p. aoi. WHP OVERCOMES THREE DARING ASSAILANTS. 407 whence I came ; — or die upon the place ? To the firfl I anfwered, I had been a true man a long fea- fon, and therefore it could not be expedled that I now fliould caft in my lot with thieves.^ Then they demanded what I would fay to the fecond. So I told them the place from whence I came, had I not found in commodity there, I had not'forfaken it at ail ; but fmding it altogether unfuitable to me, and very unprofitable for me, 1 forfook it for this way. Then they afked me what I faid to the third ? And I told them, My life coft more dear far, than that I fhould lightly give it away ; Befides, you have no- thing to do to put things to my choice ; wherefore at your peril be it if you meddle. Then thefe three, to wit, WiLDHEAD, INCONSIDERATE, and PrAG- MATic, drew upon me, and I alfo drew upon them. So we fell to it, one againft three, for the fpace of three hours. They have left upon me, as you fee, fome of the marks of their valour, and have alfo carried away with them fome of mine. They arc but juft now gone : 1 fuppofe they might, as the faying is, hear your horfe dafli, and fo they betook themfelves to flight. Gr.-h. But here v/as great odds, three agalnfl: one. Val. 'Tis true ; but little or more are nothing to him that has the truth on his fide : " Though an " hofl fliould encamp againfl me,*' faid one, " my " heart fhall not fear : though war fhall rife againft *' me, in this will I be confident," &c. Befides, faid he, I have read in fome records, that one man has fought an armiy : and how many did Sampson flay with the jaw-bone of an afs ?* Then faid the guide, why did you not cry out, that feme might have come in for your fuccour ? Val. * Truth will malce a man valiant ; and valour for tru'li vrill make a pilgrim fight with wild-headed, inconfiderate, and pragmatic oppofers. The blood he loofes in fuch a battle is his honour ; the fears he gets are hi« glory, » Prov. j, ro — 19. 40$GREAT.HEARTEN(VUIRESC0NG^.RNING THE FIGHT* Val. So I did to my King, who I knew could hear me, and afford invifible help, and that was enough for me.* Then faid Great-heart to Mr, Valiant-for- TRUTH, Thou hafl worthily behaved thyfelf ; let me fee thy fword ; — fo he fhowed it him. When he had taken it into his hand, and looked thereon a while, he faid, Ha ! it is a right Jerusalem blade. Val. It is fo. Let a man have one of thcftf blades, with a hand to wield it, and (kill to ufe it, and he may venture upon an angel with it. He need not fear its holding, if he can but tell how to lay on. Its edge will never blunt. It will cut flefh and bones, and foul and fpirit and all. Gr.-h. But you fought a great while ; I wonder you was not weary. Val. I fought till my fword did cleave to ftiy hand, and then they were joined together, as if a fword grew oiit of my arm ; and when the blood run through my fingers, then I fought with mofl courage. f Gr.-h. Thoii hafl: done well ; thou hafl: " refift- *' ed unto blood, fl:riving againfl: fm ;" thou flialt abide by us, come in and go out with us, for we are thy companions. Then they took him, and wafiled his wounds, and gave him of what they had to refrefli him ; and fo they went together. Now as they went on, be-^ caufe Mr. Great-heart was delighted in him (for he loved one greatly that he found to be a man of his hands) ; and becaufe there were in company them that were feeble and weak, therefore he ques- tioned with them about many things ; as firft, what countryman he was? Val. • Enough indeed. He who is engaged for God's truth, fiiall never want God's help. f Bieflcd fighting, when hand and heart are engaged, and the f .\ ord grows united to both ! O ye trimmers, and lukewarm profcffors, who will tamely give up, or meanly compound for peace, by the barter of truth j let titii Ihame and confound you i HE INFORMS THEM HE C AME FROM DARK-LAND. 409 Val. 1 am of Dark-land, for there I was born, and there my father and mother are lliU. Dark-lakd 1 faid the guide : doth not that he on the fame coall with the city of Destruction ? Val Yes, it doth. Now that which ciufed me to come on pilgrimage, was this: ^e Jiad Mr. Teil-true came into our parts, and he tola it abour what Christian had done, that went from the city of Destruction ; namely, how he had forfaken his wife and children, and had betaken himfelf to a pilgrim's life. It was alfo confidently reported, how he had killed a ferpent, that did come out to refia him in his journey ; and how he got through to whither he intended. It was alfo told what welcome he had to all his Lord's lodgings, efj pecially when he came to the gates of the Celeitial city ; for there, faid the man, he was received with found of trumpet, by a company of {hming ones. He told it alfo, how all the bells in the city did ring for joy at his reception, and what golden garments he was clothed with ; with many other things that now I (hall forbear to relate. In a word, that man fo told the ftory of Christian and his travels, that my heart fell into a burning heat to be gone after him : nor could father or mother (tay me. So I got from them, and am come thus far on my way. Gr.-h. You came in at the gate, did you not ? Val Yes, yes ; for the fame man alfo told us, that all would be nothing, if we did not begin to en- ter this way at the gate.* Look you, faid the guide to Christiana, the 3 F pilgrimage • The reafon why fo many profeffors who fet o.it, go on for a feafon, but fall alay 7n7comel no.hinVat laft is, ^^^^^^t^^^y/^^ ^^^J^ pilirrim's path, by Chrift, who h the gate. 1 hey do not lee hemlelves quftcbO. ruined, hopelefs, and wretched : their hearts are not broken for r ther fore th;y do not 'begin by receiving Chrifl as 'he only .avjour o fuch milerable f.nners. But they fct out .n nature's "-"f;^;.,\"ta7on of aeivine nor living BPon Chrift, they foon fall away. Tn.b is the realon ot Su en^quiry. Did yL come in at the gate ? A q.cftioa we aught to put to ottrfelves, and be fully fatisfied about. 4^*0 VAL7ANT-FOR. TRUTH REJOICES AT CHRISTIANA. pilgrimage of your hufband, and what he has gotten thereby, is Ipread abroad far and near. . Val. Why, is this Christian's wife? Gr.-h. Yes, that it is; and thefe are alfo her four fons. Val. What ! and going on pilgrimage too ? Gr.-h. Yes, verily, they are following after. Val. It glads me at heart ; good man, how joy- ful will he be, when he fhall fee them, that would nor go with him, to enter before him at the gates into the Celedial city ! Gr.-h. Without .doabt it will be a comfort to him ; for, next to the joy of feeing himfelf there, it will be a joy to meet there his wife and children. Val. But, now you are upon that, pray let me hear your opinion about it. Some make a queiHon, whether we Ihall know one another when we aie there. Gr.-h. Do they think they fliall know themfelves then, or that they fliall rejoice to fee themfelves in that blifs ? and if they think they fliall know and do thefe, why not know others, and rejoice in their welfare alfo ? Again, fince relations are our fecond felf, though that flate will be diffolved, yet why may it not be rationally concluded that we fliall be more glad to fee them there, than to fee they are wanting ? Val. Well, I perceive whereabouts you are as to this. Have you any more things to aflv me about my beginning to come on pilgrimage .?* Gr.-h Yes : was your father and mother willing that you fl:iould become a pilgrim .? Val. C^h 1 no ; they ufed all means imaginable to perfuade me to (lay at home. Gr.-h. What could they fay agalnfl it ? Val. They faid, it was an idle life; and, if I myfelf • A found chriflian is not afraid to be examined, and Cfted to the bot- tom. For he cah give a reafon of the hope that is in him. He knows whjr aaJ whcrerore he commenced a pilgrim. CARNAL OBJECTIONS TO GOING ON PILGRIMAGE. 4I I myfelf were not inclined to floth and lazinefs, I would never countenance a pilgrim's conaition. Gr.-h. And whar did they fay elfe ? Val. Why they told me that it was a dangerous way : Yea, the moft dangerous way in the world, fay they, is that which the pilgrims go. Gr.-h. Did they fhow you wherein this way is dangerous ? Val. Yes *, and that in many particulars. Gr.-h. Name fome of them. Val. They told me of the Hough of Despond, wherein Christian was well nigh fmothered. They told me, that there were archers (landing ready in Beelzebub Castle, to ftioot them who fhould knock at the Wicket-gate for entrance. ^ They told me alfo of the wood and dark mountains, of the hill Difficulty, of the lions : and alfo of the three giants Bloody-man, Maul, and Slay- good: they faid, moreover, that, there was a foul fiend haunted the valley of Humiliation; and that Christian was by him almoft bereft of life. Befldes, faid they, you muft go over the valley of the Shadow of Death, where the hobgoblins are, where the light is darknefs, where the way is full of ihares, pits, traps, and gins. — They told me alfo of giant Despair, of Doubting Castlf, and of the ruin the pilgrims met with there. Further, they faid, 1 mufl go over the Enchanted Ground, which was dangerous. And that after all this I (hould find a river over which I fhould find no bridge ; and that that river did lie betwixt me and the Celeftial country. Gr.-h. And was this all .'' Val. No : they alfo told me, that this way was full of deceivers; and of perfons that lay in wait there, to turn good men out of their path. Gr.-h. But how did they make that out ?" Val. They told me that. Mr. Worldly-wi^k- man did lie there in wait to deceive. They alfo faid, that there was ForPvIality and Hypocrsy 2 F 2 continually 412 FITRTHKR OBJECTIONS. continually on the road. They faid alfo, that By- ends, Talkative, or Demas, would go near to gather me up : that the Flatterer would catch me in his net ; or that, with green-headed Ignorance, I would prefume to go on to the gate, from whence he was fent back to the hole, that was in the fide of the hill, and made to go the by-way to hell. Gr.-h. 1 promife you, this was enough to dif- eourage thee. But did they make an end there ? Val. No, flay. They told me alfo of mgjny that tried that way of old, and that had gone a great way therein, to fee if they could find fomething of the glory then, that fo many had fo much talked of from time to time ; and how th^y came back again, and befooled themfelyes for fetting a foot out of doors in that path, — to the fatisfaftion of the coun- try. And they named feveral that did fo, as Obsti- nate and Pliable, Mistrust and Timorous, Turn-away and old Atheist, with feveral more; who, they faid, had fome of them gone far to fee what they could find ; but not one of them found fo much advantage by going, as amounted to the weight of a feather. Gr.-h. Said they any thing more to difcourage you ? Val. Yes; they told me of one Mr. Fearing, who was a pilgrim ; and how he found his way fo folitary, that he never had a comfortable hour therein : alfo that Mr. Despondency had like to Jiave been ftarved therein, yea, and alfo (which i had almofl forgot), Christian himfelf, about whom there has been fuch a noife, after all his ventures for a celeflial crown, was certainly drowned in the black river, and never went a foot further, however it was fmothered up. Gr.-h. And did none of thefe things difcourage you ? Val. No ; they feemed as fo many nothings to me. Gr.'H. FAITH ANSWERS AND- OVERCOMES THEM ALL. 4I3 Gr.-h. How came that about? Val. Why, I ftill believed what Mr. Tell-true had faid, and that carried me beyond them all. Gr.-h. Then this was your vidory, even your faith? , , r Val It was fo : I believed, and therefore came out, got into the way, fought all that fet themfeives againlt me, and, by believing, am come to this place ?* < Who would true valour fee. Let him come hiiher ; One here will conftant be, Come wind, come weather ; There's no diicouragemcnt 1 Shall make him once relent V \L\s firft avow'd intent } To be a pilgrim. Whofo befet him round With diimal ftories. Do bpt thcaifelves confound. His ftrength the more is. No lion can him fright, ") He'll with a giant fight, > But he will have a right J To be a pilgrim. Hobgoblin nor foul fiend Can daunt his fpirit ; He knows, he at the end. Shall life inherit. Then fancies fly away, 1 He'll not fear what men fay, >• He'll labour night and day j To be a pilgrim.' By this time they were got to the Enchantee^ Ground, where the air naturally tended to make one drowfy :^ and that place was all grown over with briers and thorns, excepting here and there, where • Here we fee, that valiant foldiers of Chrift afcrlbe all to the excrcife of faith They fet out with faith, and they hold on and hold out by be- lieving. ' Thus they gi^ve all the glory to Chrift, who is the objcft, author. zai finiflier of faith, ' » Parti, p. 215 — »3»^ 4-J4 THK EN-CHANTED GROUND DESCRIBED : where was an enchanted arbour, upon which if a man fits, or in which if a man ileeps, 'tis a queftion fay feme, whether ever he fliall rife or wake again m this world. Over this foreft therefore thty went, both one and another; and Mr. Great-heart went before, for that he was the guide, and Mr. Valiant-ior.tr UTH Came behind, being rear^ guard ; for fear left peradventure fome fiend, or dragon, or giant, or thief, ihould fall upon their rear, and fo do mifchief. They went on here, each man with his fword drawn in his hand, for they knew it was a dangerous place. Aifo they cheered up one another, as well as they could ; Feeele-mind, Mr. Great-heart commanded, fxiould come up after him, aad Mr. Despondency was. under the eye of Mr. Valiant.* Now thev had not gone far, but a great mift and darknefs lell upon them all; fo that they could fcarce, for a great while, one fee the other ; w.here- fore they were forced, for fome time, tQ. feel for one another I y words, for they walked not by light. f But any one muft think, that here was bu^ i-rry going for the beft of them all ; but how much the worfe was it for the women and chil- dren, who both of feet and heart alio were but tender! Yet neverthelefs fo it was, that through the encouraging words of him that led in";he front, and of him that brought them up behind, they made a prerty good fi.iu to wag along. _ The way was alfo here very wearifome, through dirt and llabbinefs. Nor was there, on all this ground, fo much as one inn or vidualling-houfe, ther(^B,to refreih the feebler fort. Here therefore was Oid pilgrims, ye who have fet out well, and ?o on well for a long fea- lon, coufidcr, )e ;,re yet in the world, which i^ erdianled orou:;d. Know your danger ol fecking reft here, or flcepiiig in any of its enchancinjr ar- hours. I o > e. t Though feelings may he loft, light feem to fail, and cnmforrs forfakc US. yet la.th n,all fupply the waiU ol all. Like iVtolc., we Ihali endure. ieemgHiM who isinviliWc, Hct) xi, ^7. THE PILGRIMS ARRIVE AT THE LAND OF BEULAH. 42^ C H A P. XV. THE PILGRIMS ARRIVE AT THE LAND OF BEULAH ; WHERE THEY WAIT FOR THE SUMMONS OF THEIR KING. CHRISTIANA AND SEVERAL OF HER COM- PANIONS PASS THE RIVER, AND ARE ADMITTED INTO THE CITY OF GOD. x\fTER this, T beheld, until they were come unto the land o£ Bfulah, where the fun Iliineth night and day.' Here, becaufe they v/ere weary, they betook theinfelves a while to reft : and becaufe this country was common for pilgrims, and becaufe thefe orchards and vineyards that were here, belonged to the king of the Celeftial country, therefore they were licenfed to make bold with any of his things. Eut a little while foon refreflied them here ; for the bells did fo ring, and the trumpets continually found- ing fo melodiouily, that they could not fleep ; and yet they received as much refrefhing, as if they fiept their fleep never fo foundly.- Here alfo all the noife of them that walked in the ftreets, was, ' More piU * grims are come to town.* And another would an- fwer, faying, ' And fo many went over the water ' and were let in at the golden gates to-day.' They would cry again, ' There is nov\^ a legion of fhining ' ones juil come to town: by which we know that ' there are more pilgrims upon the road ; for here ' they come to wait for them, and comfort them af- * ter their forrow.' Then the pilgrims got up, and walked to and fro : but how were their eyes now filled with celeftial vifions ! In this land, they heard nothing, faw nothing, felt nothing, fmelt nothing, tafted nothing that was oflenfive to their fto- mach or mind ; only, when they tafted of the wa- ter of the river, over which they were to go, they thought that tafted a little bitterlfh to the palate, but it proved "fvveet v.hen it was down. » Pdit I. p. 195. In 424 CHRISTIANA SUM>JONED TO PA?,S THE RIVE!?. ' ' - r In this place there was a record kept of the names of them that had been pilgrims of old, and a hif- tory of all the famous acls that they had done. It was here alfo much difcourfed, how the river tofome has its flowings, and what ebbings it has had while others have gone over. It has been in a manrner dry for fome, while it has overflowed its banks for others. In this place, the children of the town would go into the King's gardens, and gather nofegays for the pilgrims, and bring them to them with affeclion. Here alfo grew camphire, and fpikenard, fatFron, calamus, and cinnamon, with all the trees of fran- kincenfe, myrrh, and aloes, with all chief fpices. With thefe the pilgrims' chambers were perfumed while they ftaid here ; and with thefe were their bodies anointed, to prepare them to go over tihe river, when the time appointed was come. Now while they. lay here, and waited for the good hour, there was a noife in the town, that there was a poii come from the celedial city, with matters of great importance to one Christiana, the wife of Christian, the pilgrim. So enquiry was made for her, and the houfe was found out where fiie was ;. fo the pofl prefented her with a letter : the contents were : ' Hail, good woman ! I bring thee tidingS, ' that the Mailer calleth for theQj and expefteth that * thou fliouldefl ftand in his prefence in cloaths of ' immortality, within thefe ten days.' When he had read this letter to her, he gave her therewith a fure token that he was a true melTenger, and was come to bid her make hafte to be gone. The token was — An arrow fharpened with love, let eafily into her heart, which, by degrees, wrought fo effedually with her, that .at the time appointed Ihe muft be gone. When Christiana faw that her time was come, and that (he was the firfl of this company that was to THE PILGRIMS CAUTIONED BY THEIR EXAMPLE. 4I7 ths quide fliook his head. ' I will fight fo long as * I can hold my fvvord in my hand/ faid the oiher. At that, xme of the children laughed. Then faid Christiana, What is the meaning of this ? Then the guide faid, They talk in their deep ; if you do ftrike them, or beat them, or whatever elfe you do unto them, they will anfwer you after this fafnion ; or, as one of. them faid in old time, when the waves of the fea did beat upon him, and he flept as one upon the mad of a fhip, " When I do awake, I will feek it yet again. "^ You know, when men talk in their fleep, they fay any thia ; ; but their words are not governed either by faith or reafon. There is an incoherency in their words now ; even as there was before, betwixt their going on pilgrimage and their fitting down here. This then is the mifchief on't, when heedlefs ones go on pilgrimage ; twenty to one but they are ferved thus. For this Enchanted Ground is one of the lad re- fuges that the enemy to pilgrims has ; wherefore it is, as you fee, placed almoft at the end of the way, and fo it ftandeth againft us with the more advan- tage. For when, thinks the enemy, will thefe fools be fo defirous to fit down, as when they are weary ? ., And at what time fo likdy for to be weary, as when they are almoft at their journey's end ? Therefore it is, I fay, that the Enchanted Ground is placed fo nigh to the land Beulah, and fo near the end of their race. Wherefore let pilgrims look to them- felves, led it happens to thern as it has done to thefe, that, "as you fee, are fallen afleep, and none can awake them.* Then the pilgrims defired, with trembling, to go forward ; only they prayed their guide to ftrike a light, that they might go the reft of their way by ■3 G the • What a found fleep of infatuation hath this enchanting world caftmany a profeffor inro ! They are proof againft all warnings, and dead as to any means of aroufiag them. » Prov. xjill. 34, 35, 4l8 THEY FIND STANDFAST ON HIS "kNEES : the help of the light of a lantern. So he flruck a light, and they went by the help of that, through the reft of this way, though the darknefs was very great. *^ But the children began to be forely weary ; and they cried out unto Him that loveth pilgrims, to make their way more comfortable. So by that they had gone a little further, a wind arofe, that drove away the fog ; fo the air became more clear. Yet they were not off, by much, of the Enchanted Ground, but only now they could fee one another better, and alfo the way wherein they fhould \\»alk. Now when they were almoft at the end cf this ground, they perceived, that a little before them Mas a folemn noife of one that was much concern- ed. So they went on, and looked before them : and, behold, they faw, as they thought, a man upon his knees, with hands and eyes lifted up, and fpeak- ing, as they thought, earneftly to one that was above. They drew nigh, but could not tell what he faid ; fo they went foftly till he had done. When he had done, he got up, and began to run towards the Celeftial city. Then Mr. Great-heart called after him, faying, ' Soho, friend, let us have your ' company, if you go, as I fuppofe you do, to the Celeftial city.' So the man ftopped,, and they came up to him : but fo foon as Mr. Honest faw him, he faid, ' I know this man.' Then faid Mr. Valiant- roR-TRUTH, ' Pr'ythee, who Is it?' * Tis one,* faid he, ' that comes from whereabouts I dwelt : his ' name Is Stai^dfast ; he Is certainly a right good ' pilgrim.' So they came up to one another ; and prefently Standfast faid to old Honest, ' Ho ! father Ho- ' nest, * The woriof God is the only light to diredl our fteps. He who ne- • {rle6ts this is a fool. He who lets up, and looks for, any other light to dircdl him, 13 mad, and knows not what he does. * 2 Pet. i. 19. Gr.EAT-rf>EA^T's ACCOUNT OF HER. 4^1 i Hon. Doth fhe not fpeak very fmoothly and give you a fmile at the end of every fentence ? Stand. You fall right upon it again, for thele are her anions. ,, , , Hon. Doth fhe not wear a great purfe by her f,de ? 'and is not her hand often in it fingering her money, as if that was her heart'* »dehght^ StInd 'Tis juft fo: had (he. ilood by all this ^vhile, you could not more ai?iply have fet her forth • befor^ me, and have better defcnbed her features. Hon Then he that drew her pifture was a good limner, and he that wrote of her faid true.^ ^ Gr -h. This woman is a witch ; and it is by vir- tue of hei^forceries, that this ground is enchanted : xvhoever doth lay,,their 'head down in her lap, had as good lay it down upon that block over which the axe doth hang;, and whoever lays their eyes upon her beauty, are counted the enemies of Cod ' This iS' fhe that maintaineth in their Iplen- dour'all thofe that are the enemies of pilgrims. Yea, this is fhe that hath brought off many a man from a piUmm's life. She is a great goffipper ; fhe is a - ways'! both fhe and her daughters, at one pilgrim s heels or another, now commending, and then pre- ferring the excellencies of this life. She is a bold and impudent flut ; fhe will talk with any man. She always laughed poor pilgrims to fccrn ; but highly commends the rich. If there be one cunning to get money in a place, fhe will fpeak well of him from houfe to houfe ; fhe loveth banquetting and fealling nidiily well v fhe is always at one full table or ano^^ Mz 'bhe has given it out in fome places that fhe is a eoddik and therefore fome do worfhip her. She has her^me and open places of cheating; and fhe will fay, and avow it, that none can fliow a good comparable to her's. She promifeth to dvyell with chil- • dren's children, if they would but love .and make much of her. She will caft out of her purfe gold like - duit, » James iv. 4. i John ii. 14, >i- 422 HE CONTINUES HIS ACCOUNT OP MADAM EUSBLE. dull, In fome places, and to Tome perfons. She loves to be fought after, fpoken well of, and to lie jn the bofoms of men. She is never weary of com- mending her commodities, and flie loves them mod that think bed of her. She will promife crowns and kingdoms, if they v^ but take her advice : yet many hatR file broughtJb the halter, and ten thoufand times more to hetlT » Oh ! faid Standfast, what a mercy it is that I did refift her! for whither might fhe have drawn me?* Gr.-h. Whither! nay, none but God knows. But, in general, to be fure (lie would have drawn thee^ into " many fooiifii and hurtful lufts, which " drown men in deflruftion and perdition.'*' It was file that fet Absalom agaii^ft his father, and Jere- BOAM againfl his mafler. It was fhe that perfuaded Judas to fell his Lord, and that prevailed with De- mas to forfake the godly pilgrims life : none can tell of the mifchief that fhe doth. She makes variance betwixt rulers and fubjeds, betvvixt parents and children, betwixt neighbour and neighbour, betwixt a man and his wife, between a man and him- felf, betwixt the flefh and the fpirit. — Wherefore good mailer Standfast, be as your name is ; and " when you have doiie all, fland." At this difcourfe there was, among the pilgrims, a mixture of joy and trembling j but at length they brake out, and fang — < What danger is the pilgrim in ? How many are his foes ? How many ways there are to fin, No living mortal knows. ^ome in tlie ditch fpoil'd are, yea can » Lie tumbhng in the mire : Some, though they fhun the frying pan, Do leap into' the ilre.' , .l J" fl^e e::perience of tJus moft excellent man, we fee verified God's fa.thfulaels in upholdinn;, and brinying: off more tlia.i conquerors ail -vho •' call upon Him hi the day of trouWe !" O! for an encn-afe of irccbMS f::uh, to overcome die world, and to paf, through it, in purfuir of a i,ol,l^r poition, as itranijers and pi'grims ! ' I Tim. vi, 9. c n A p. SHE EJIHORTS HCR CHILDREN AMD COMPANIONS. 425 to go over, (he called for Mr. Great-heart, her euide, and told him how matters were. So he told her, he was heartily glad of the news, and could have been glad had the pod come for him. Then (lie bid that he fliould give advice how all things fhould be -prepared for her journey. So he told her, fay- ing, Thus and thus it mull be ; and we that furvive, will accompany you to the river fide. Then fne called for her children, and gave them her bleffing ; and told them that ihe had read with comfort the mark that was fet in their foreheads, and was glad to fee them with her there, and' that they had kept their garments fo white. Laflly, ihs be-» queathed to the poor that little fhe had, and com- manded her fons and daughters to be ready againft the meffenger fhould corne for them. .. When fhe had fpoken thefe words to ber guide and to her children^ (lie called for IVIr. Valiant- for-truth, and faid iinto him, * Sir, you have in ' all places fhowed yourfelf true-hearted ; be faithful * unto death, and my King will give you a crown of ' life. I would alfo- entreat you to have an eye to my * children ; and if at any time you fee them faint, ' fpeak comfortably to them. For my daughters, my * fons* wives, they have been fa'ichful,' and a fulfilling ' of the promife upon them will be their end.'— But fhe gave Mr. Stand-fast a ring. Then fne called for old Mr. Honest, and faid of him, " Behold an Ifraelite indeed, in whom is no " guile." Then faid he, ' I wifh you a fair day, * when you fet out for mount Zion, and fhall be ' glad to fee that you go over the river dry-fhod.* But fhe anfwered, ' Come wet, come dry, I long to ' be gone, for, however the weather is in my jour- * ney, I fhall have time enough, when I come there, ' to fit down and reit me, and dry me.' Then came in that good man Mr. Ready-to- halt, to fee her.' So fhe faid to him, ' Thy travel 3 H hiiiiertQ 4^6 SHE PAS3ES THE RIVER TRIUMPHANTLY. * hitherto has been with difficulty; but that will make ' thy red the fweeter. But watch and be ready ; * for at an hour when you think not, the meflengcr ' may Come.* After him came in Mr. Despondency, and his daughter, Much-afraio ; to whom fhe faid, * You ' ought, with thankfuliiefs, for ever to remember ' your deliverance from the hand of giant Despair, * and out of D ubting Castle. The effed of ' that mercy is, that you are brought with fafety " hither. Be yet watchful, and cad away fear ; be ' fober, and hope to the end/ Then fhe faid to Mr. Feeble-mind, * Thou wafl * delivered from the m.cuth of giant Slay-good, ' that thou mightefl: live in the lisfht of the livinjr for ' ever, and fee the King with comfort : only I advife thee to repent thee of thy aptnefs to fear, and doubt * of his goodnefs, before he fends for thee ; left: thou ' (houldfi:, when he comes, be forced to ftand before ' him, for that fault, with blufhing.' Now the day drew on, that Christiana muft be gene. So the road was full of people, to fee her take her jouiney. But, behold, all the banks beyond the river were full of horfes and chariots, which were come down from above to accompany her to the city gate. So fiie came forth, and entered the river, with a beckon of farewel to thofe that followed her to the river fide. The laft: words that flie was heard to fay, were, ' I come. Lord, to be with thee, and ' blefs thee.' So her children and friends returned to their place, for that thofe that waited for Christiana had carried her out of their fight. So fhe went and called, and entered in at the gate, with all the cere- monies of joy that her huiband Christian had en- tered with before her. At her departure the children wept. But Mr. Great-heart and Mr. Valiant played upon the well- standfast's speech in the river. 431 ' of my meffage ; for here is a token of the truth thereof, — " Thy wheel is broken at the cillern.'* Then he called to him Mr. Great-heart, who was their guide, and laid unto him, ' Sir, although it was not my hap to be much in your good company in the days of my pilgrimage, yet,fmce the time I knew you, you have been profitable to me. When I came from home, 1 left behind me a wife and five fmall children ; let me entreat you, at your return (for I know that you go and return to your Mailer's houfe, in hopes that you may be a cor> duclor to more of his holy pilgrims), that you fend to my family, and let them be acquainted wi;h all that hath and fhall happen unto me. Tell them, moreover, of my happy arrival at this place, and of the prefent and late blefi'ed condition that I am in. Tell them alfo of Christian and Christiana his wife, and how (he and her children came after her hufband. Tell them aifo of what a hap- py end (lie made, and whither flie is gone. — I have little or nothing to fend to my family, except it be my prayers and tears for them : of which it will fuffice if you acquaint them, if peradventure they may prevail.* When Mr. Standfast had thiis fet things in or- der, and the time being come for him to hafte him away, he alfo went down to the river. Now there was a great calm at that time in the river ; where- fore Mr. Standfast, when he was about half way in, flood awhile and talked to his companions that had waited upon him thither : and he faid, ' This ' river has been a terror to many : yea, the thoughts ' of it alfo have often frightened me : now, methinks, * I (land eafy ; my foot is fixed upon that on which ' the feet of the priefts that bare the ark of the ' covenant ftood, while Israel went over this Jor- * DAN.* The waters, indeed, are to the palate bit- ' ter, ' JoITi iii. 17. 43^ ^^^ SPEECH CONTf.VUED. * ter, and to the ftomach cold; yet the thoughts of * what I am going to, and of ihe conduct that waits ' for me on the other fide, doth lie as a glowing coa^ * at my heart. I fee myfelf now at the end of my * journey; my toilfome days are ended. lam going * to fee that head that v/as crowned with thorns, ' and that face that was fpit upon for me.* I have * formerly lived by hearfay and faith ; but now I go ' where I fliall live by fight, and fhall be with him ' in whofe company I delight myfelf. I have loved *^ to hear my Lord fpokeri of; and wherever I have ' feen the print of his fhoe in the earth, there I have * coveted to fet my foot too.f His name has been to * me as a civet box ; yea, fweeter than all perfumes. * His voice to me has been moft fweet; and his coun- * tenance I have more defired than they that have * mofl defired the light of the fun. His Words I did ' ufe to gather for my food, and for antidotes againft: * my faintings. He has held me, and hath kept me * from mine iniquities ; yea, my fteps have been * (trengthened in his way.' Now, while he was thus in difcourfe, his counte- nance changed ; his " flrong man bowed under him:"* and, after he had faid, ' Take me, for I come unto thee,' he ceafed to be feen of them. But glorious it was to fee, how the open region was filled with horfes and chariots, with trumpeters and pipers, with fingers and players on ftringed xnflruments, to welcome the pilgrims as they went up, • O! the bleflcdnefs, and. Jly of faith J How does it bring near, and realize a view of Chrift in glory : Do we indeed fee Chrift by the eye of faith? Is he the one, chief objeA of our fouls? Is he precious to us? Verily » then W€ (hall count our days on earth toilfome ones, and long for the full fruition of him in glory. It will be our great glory to fee him. whofc bleffed head was crowned with thorns, and whofe lovely tace was fpit ^pon, for us; till then, let us live by faith in him, conftautly crying, " Come, Lord Jefus, come quickly." I Can you fay this ? Do you love to hear of the precious name of JefuS ? Do you covet to follow him, and to tread in his fkcps ? O what has grace wrought! Bs humble before Jefus. Be joyful in him, and thaiikfi^ 10 him. THE PILGRIMS ENTER THE CITY TRIUMPHANTLY. 433 up, and followed one another in at the beautiful gate of the city. As for Christiana's children, the four boys that Christiana brought, with their wives and chil- dren, I did not (lay where I was till they were gone over. Alfo fince I came away, I heard one fay, they were yet alive, and fo would be for the increafe 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 thofe that delire it, an account of what I here am filent about ; mean time, 1 bid my reader Farewell. Who can read this chapter, (ohfervcs the Rev. Mr. Burder) without ex- claiming, in words once received from heaven, *' Bleffed are the dead which " die in the Lord : yea, faith the Spirit, that they may reft from their la- " hours!" In the important article of death, the privileges of believers ap- pear diftinguifhing indeed. To human nature, unaflifted by grace, Death, the awful punifhment of fin, is " The King of Terrors." Bitter indeed, and infupportably painful, are the thoughts of death, to men who have "their *' portion in this life," and who are at cafe in their pofTeflions. How horri- ble, to be torn away from all they love, and plunged at once into the unut- terable miferies of the damned! How enviable, even to fuch, is the calm and fcrene frame of a dying faint ! Here the nionfter feems to have loft his fting, having left it in the bleeding body of Jefus. Death has changed its hature and its name. Call it no more death ; it is the fweet fleep of the^body, de- pofited in its earthly bed, under the eye of the Redeemer, till the morning of the refurredlion. At the clofe of this excellent book, (fays the excellent Mr. Mafon) let me addrefsone word, reader, to your foul and mine. What think we of a pilgrim's life, and a pilgrim's death .' His life begins with the knowledge of Chrift, and ends by dying in him, and eternally enjoying of him. And all through life, the pilgrim looks to, and lives upon Chrift. BlefTed begin- ning ! comfortable living ! joyful dying ! Now, have we part and lot in this matter ? Is Chrift our life ! the life of our fouls ? If he is, we (hall live by faith upon him, rely on his atonement, glory in his righceoufnefs, rejoice in his falvation, have done with all fin, and be dead to all felf-righteous confidence ; and in heart, lip, and life, ftudy to glorify him, by devoting ourl.lves to him, looking, longing, and waiting for his coming to receive us to Himfelf, that where he is, there we may be alfo. As many as live by this faith, and walk according to this rule, peace be OB them, from the holy, blefTed, and gloriouj Trinity. Amen. END OF THE PILGRIM*S PROGRESS. 4 .^i Dircaions to the Binder for placing the Plates, PART I. Portrait, to face the Title-page. Evangelifl and Chriltian iffider Mount Sinai, to face - - Page bf Chriflian, Hopeful, and the Shepherds, on Mount Clear, ■- - 198 The Pilgrims, havihg pafled the River, are received by the Miniftering Spirits, 243 PART II. Chrifliana prevails with her Children, &c. (the Subje6l taken from Page 268), to face the Title-page, ^luck Race, to face - - 291 The Binder will be careful not to place the Plates, till -the Work is firft beat ; and to fix Silver Paper before each Engraving. The following BOOKS, with many others, are fold by John Jones, 90, Bride-ftreet. Brown's Di£lonary of the Bible, a Vols, boundj^ i y \cd This Work may be had by {ingle Numbers once a Week, or Fortnight, or as the Purchafer may pleafe, at is. id. each, making 18 Numbers. Seleft Beauties of Bifhop Hall, bound - 077 Bunyan's Grace abounding to the Chief of Sinners, bound Bofton's Fourfould State, bound BloiToms of Morality, in boards 3/. 3