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4#- v : 
 
 POETIC SKETCHES 
 
 FROM 
 
 BUNYAN. 
 
 
POETIC SKETCHES 
 
 FROM 
 
 BUNYAN: 
 
 COMPRISING SOME OF THE LEADING INCIDENTS 
 IN 
 
 THE FIRST PART 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Dilgrfm'* tfrogrc**: 
 
 BY 
 
 J. B. DRAYTON. 
 
 WITH A BRIEF MEMOIR OF JOHN BUNYAN, AND NOTES,^ 
 SELECTED AND ABRIDGED FROM THE REV. T. SCOTT, 
 
 Rector of Aston Sandford, Bucks; 
 And late Chaplain to the Lock Hospital, London. 
 
 CHELTENHAM : 
 
 PRINTED BY TURNER AND HADLEY, 
 AND SOLD BY S. BETTISON, AND G. A. WILLIAMS. 
 
 1821. 
 
TK^ 
 
 
 -at.©' 
 
 
 7j 
 
 3u b% H °\ 
 'O % 
 
 •• *♦• • • *•• •«• 
 
 • ••• •••••• 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 The design of this Volume, is to present 
 to that class of readers who may favour 
 the attempt, a selection from such inci- 
 dents in the First Part of the Pilgrim's 
 Progress as appeared most susceptible of 
 poetic embellishment, or otherwise parti- 
 cularly interesting ; and to induce those 
 yo ng persons of cultivated mind who have 
 been accustomed to slight the original as 
 a coarse and illiterate production, to give 
 
VI 
 
 it a diligent perusal. Such a perusal will 
 amply repay their attention, and they will 
 find, that whatever may be its defects in a 
 few minor points, its general merits are 
 of the highest order. — It is a rude but 
 luxuriant wilderness, where every variety 
 of useful and ornamental production is 
 indigenous: and a chief object in the 
 present undertaking has been, to prune a 
 few redundancies, and, by genial culture, 
 to call forth each native beauty into more 
 attractive and vivid expansion . The scale 
 of character is somewhat raised, but the 
 identity, it is hoped, will be found suffici- 
 ently preserved. The Notes (which the 
 name of the author cannot fail to recom- 
 mend,) are added as a useful appendage to 
 
 i 
 
Vll 
 
 the Allegory, that the young reader may 
 .not " scan the work but slip the lesson by ." 
 
 The following Testimonies of eminent 
 men to the Pilgrim's Progress, will 
 exhibit their opinion of its general merit, 
 and of its adaptation to poetic embellish- 
 ment. 
 
 a The Pilgrim's Progress ranks high among the works of 
 original genius : it is among the very few books indeed, of 
 which the reader when he comes to the conclusion, wishes they 
 had been longer ; and has the best evidence of its merit, in the 
 general and continued approbation of mankind." 
 
 Dr. Johnson. 
 
 " The Allegories in the Pilgrim's Progress are well con- 
 ceived, and prove the Author to have possessed powers of in- 
 vention which, if they had been refined by learning, might 
 have produced something very noble." 
 
 Dr. Beattie. 
 
Vlll 
 
 " Bunyan, who has heen mentioned among the least and 
 
 lowest of our writers, and even ridiculed as a driveller by those 
 
 who have never read him, deserves a much higher rank than is 
 
 commonly imagined. — The Allegory is admirably carried on, 
 
 and the characters justly drawn and uniformly supported. 
 
 The Author's original and poetic genius shines through the 
 
 coarseness and vulgarity of his language, and intimates that if 
 
 he had been a master of numbers, he might have composed a 
 
 poem worthy of Spenser himself." 
 
 Rev. J. Grainger. 
 
 " Bunyan's invention is like that of Homer ." 
 
 Merrick. 
 
 " I have been better entertained and more informed by 
 a few pages in the Pilgrim's Progress, than by a long dis- 
 course upon the will, and the intellect, and simple and complex 
 
 ideas." 
 
 Dean Swift. 
 
 w It would not perhaps be difficult to prove, that the Pil- 
 grim's Progress is as really an original production of vigorous 
 native genius, as any of those works, in prose or verse, which 
 have excited the admiration of mankind, through successive 
 ages, and in different nations." 
 
 Rev. T. Scott. 
 
 a O thou, whom, borne on fancy's eager wing 
 Back to the season of life's happy spring, 
 
IX 
 
 I pleas'd remember, and while mem'ry yet 
 
 Holds fast her office here, can ne'er forget 5 
 
 Ingenious dreamer, in whose well told tale 
 
 Sweet fiction and sweet truth alike prevail; 
 
 Whose bum'rous vein, strong sense, and simple style, 
 
 May teach the gayest, make the gravest smile y 
 
 Witty, and well employ'd, and, like thy Lord, 
 
 Speaking in parables his slighted word; 
 
 I name thee not, lest so despis'd a name 
 
 Should move a sneer at thy deserved fame; 
 
 Yet, ev'n in transitory life's late day 
 
 That mingles all my brown with sober grey, 
 
 Revere the man, whose Pilgrim marks the road, 
 
 And guides the Progress of the soul to God," 
 
 Cowper. 
 
MEMOIR 
 
 JOHN BUNYAN. 
 
 The celebrated author of the Pilgrim's Progress was born t 
 A.D. 1628, at Elstow, a small village near Bedford. His fa* 
 ther earned his bread by the low occupation of a tinker ; but 
 he bore a fair character, and took care that his son, whom he 
 brought up to the same business, should be taught to read and 
 write. We are told indeed, that he quickly forgot all he had 
 Jearned, through his extreme profligacy : yet it is probable, 
 that he retained so much as enabled him to recover the rest, 
 
Xll 
 
 when his mind became better disposed; and that it was very 
 useful to him in the subsequent part of his life. 
 
 In early youth he was twice preserved from the most im- 
 minent danger of drowning : a*jjd being a soldier in the par- 
 liament's army at the seige of Leicester, A.D. 1645, he was 
 drawn out to stand centinel ; but one of his comrades, having 
 by his own desire taken his place, was shot through th'e head 
 on his post j and thus Bunyan was reserved by the all-dis- 
 posing hand of God for better purposes. He seems, however, 
 to have made progressive advances in wickedness, and to 
 have become a ring-leader in every kind of profaneness and 
 excess. 
 
 H is career of vice at length received a considerable check, in 
 consequence of his marriage with the daughter of a person who 
 had been very religious in his way, and remarkably bold in re- 
 proving vice, but who was then dead. His wife's discourse to 
 him concerning her father's piety excited him to go regularly 
 to church; and as she brought him, for her whole portion, The 
 Practice of Piety , and The plain Man's Path-ivay to Heaven p 
 he employed himself frequently in reading these books. 
 
Xlll 
 
 This new attention to religion was, however, ineffectual to 
 the reformation of his conduct : and while he was proceeding 
 in his wretched course of sin, a woman of very bad character 
 reproved him with great severity for profane swearing;- de- 
 claring in the strongest expressions, that he exceeded in it all 
 men she had ever heard. This made him greatly ashamed, 
 when he reflected that he was too vile even for such a had 
 woman to endure : so that from that time he began to break off 
 that odious custom. 
 
 He was, however, reluctant to part with his irreligious asso* 
 ciates and vain pleasures 3 till the conversation of a poor man, 
 who came in his way, induced him to read the Bible, especially 
 the preceptive and historical parts of it: and this put him 
 upon an entire reformation of his conduct ; so that his neigh- 
 bours were greatly astonished at the change. In this manner 
 he went on for about a year; at sometimes satisfied with him- 
 self, and at others distressed with fears and consciousness of 
 guilt. Indeed he seems ever after to have considered all these 
 convictions-and desires as wholly originating from natural prin- 
 ciples; but in this perhaps some persons will venture to dis- 
 sent from him. A self-righteous dependence accompanied with 
 
X1T 
 
 self-complacency, and furnishing incentives to pride, is indeed 
 a full proof of uuregeneracy : but conscientiousness connected 
 with disquietudes, humiliation for sin, and a disposition to wait 
 for divine teaching, is an effect and evidence of spiritual life, 
 though the mind be yet darkened with ignorance, error, and 
 prejudice. And he that hath given life, will give it more 
 abundantly: for, u The path of the just is as the shiniug light, 
 " that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." 
 
 After various fluctuations in his religious course, Mr. 
 Bunyan became acquainted with Mr. Gifford, an Antipaedo- 
 baptist minister at Bedford, whose conversation was very use- 
 ful to him : yet he was in some respects more discouraged than 
 ever, by fuller discoveries of those evils in his hear! , which he 
 had not before noticed ; and by doubts concerning the truth of 
 the scriptures, which his entire ignorance of the evidences by 
 which they are most completely authenticated, rendered durably 
 perplexing to him. He was, however, at length relieved by a 
 sermon he heard on the love of Christ; though the grounds on 
 which he derived satisfaction and encouragement from it, are 
 not very accurately stated. — Soon after this he was admitted, 
 by adult baptism, a member of Mr. GifFoyd's church, A.D. 
 
XV 
 
 1655, being then twenty-seven years of age; and after a little 
 time, he was earnestly desired by the congregation to expound 
 or preach, in a manner which is customary among the Dissen- 
 ters, as a preparation to the ministry. For a while he resisted 
 their importunity, under a deep sense of his incompetency; 
 but at length he was prevailed upon to speak in a small com- 
 pany, which he did greatly to their satisfaction and edification. 
 Having been thus proved for a considerable time, he was at 
 length called forth, and set apart by fasting and prayer to the 
 ministerial office, which he executed with faithfulness and suc- 
 cess during a long course of years; though frequently with the 
 greatest trepidation and inward disquietude. 
 
 As he was baptized in 1655, and imprisoned in 1660, he 
 could not have been long engaged in the work when the latter 
 event took place : and it does not appear whether he obtained 
 a stated employment as a minister; or whether he only preached 
 occasionally, and continued to work at his trade; as many 
 Dissenters very laudably do, when called to minister among 
 poor people, that they a may not be burdensome to them."— 
 Previously however to the restoration of Charles II . when the 
 churches were principally filled by those, who have since been 
 
XVI 
 
 distinguished as non-conformists 5 he was expected to preach 
 in a church near Cambridge; and a student of that university, 
 not remarkable for sobriety, observing a concourse of people, 
 was induced by curiosity to hear c the tinker prate g but the 
 discourse ratide an unexpected impression on his mind, he em- 
 braced every future opportunity of hearing Mr. Bunyan^ and 
 at length became an eminent preacher in Cambridgeshire. 
 
 When the restoration took place $ and, contrary to equity, 
 engagements, and sound policy, the laws were framed and exe- 
 cuted with a severity evidently intended to exclude every man, 
 who scrupled the least tittle of the doctrine, liturgy, discipline, 
 or government of the established church, Mr. Bunyan was one 
 of the first that suffered by them : for being courageous and 
 unreserved, he went on iu his ministerial work without any 
 disguise ; and Nov. 12, 1660, he was apprehended by a warrant 
 from Justice Wingate, at Harlington, near Bedford, with sixty 
 other persons, and committed to the county jail. Security wa3 
 offered for his appearance at the sessions ; but it was refused, 
 as his sureties would not consent that he should be restricted 
 from preaching. He was accordingly confined till the quarter- 
 sessions, when his indictment stated, * That John Bunyan, of 
 
XV11 
 
 * the town of Bedford, labourer, had devilishly and perniciously 
 1 abstained from coming to church to hear divine service 5 and 
 ' was a common upholder of several unlawful meetings and 
 c conventicles, to the great disturbance and distraction of the 
 i good subjects of this kingdom, contrary to the laws of our 
 
 * sovereign Lord the King.' The facts charged upon him in 
 this absurd indictment were never proved 5 as no witnesses 
 were produced. He had confessed in conversation with the 
 magistrates, that he was a dissenter, and had preached ; these 
 words being considered as equivalent to conviction were re- 
 corded against him} and as he refused to conform, he was sen- 
 tenced to perpetual banishment. This sentence indeed was not 
 executed : but he was confined in Bedford jail more than 
 twelve years, notwithstanding several attempts were made to 
 obtain his deliverance. 
 
 During this tedious imprisonment, or at least part of it, 
 he had no books, except a Bible and Fox's M artyrology 5 yet 
 thus circumstanced, he penned the Pilgrim's Progress, and 
 many other treatises ! He was only thirty-two years of age 
 when he was imprisoned; he had spent his youth in the most 
 disadvantageous manner imaginable 5 and he had been no more 
 C 
 
XVI II 
 
 than five years a member of the church at Bedford, and less 
 time a preacher of the gospel : yet in this admired allegory 
 he appears to have been most intimately acquainted with all 
 the variety of characters, which ministers, long employed in 
 the sacred service, and eminent for judgment and sagacity, 
 have observed among professors or opposers of evangelical 
 truth ! 
 
 In the last year of his imprisonment, (A.D. 1671,) he was 
 chosen pastor of the dissenting church at Bedford 5 though it 
 does not appear what opportunity he could have of exercising 
 his pastoral office, except within the precincts of the jail. He 
 was however liberated soon after, through the good offices of 
 Dr. Barlow, Bishop of Lincoln, after many fruitless attempts 
 had been made for that purpose. Thus terminated his tedious, 
 severe, and even illegal imprisonment, which had given him 
 abundant opportunity for the exercise of patience and meek- 
 ness; and which seems to have been over-ruled both for his 
 own spiritual improvement, and the furtherance of the gospel 5 
 by leading him to study, and to form habits of close reflection, 
 and accurate investigation of various subjects, in order to pen 
 his several treatises: when probably he would neither have 
 
XIX 
 
 thought so deeply, nor written so well, had he been more at 
 ease and at liberty. 
 
 A short time after his enlargement, he built a meeting 
 house at Bedford, by the voluntary contributions of his friends ; 
 and here he statedly preached to large auditories, till his death, 
 without meeting with any remarkable molestation. — He used 
 to come up to London every year, where he preached among 
 the nonconformists with great acceptance; and it is said that 
 Dr. Owen frequently attended on these occasions, and ex- 
 pressed his approbation in very decided language. He like- 
 wise made stated circuits into other parts of England; and 
 animated his brethren to bear the cross patiently, to obey God 
 rather than man, and to leave all consequences with him. He 
 was at the same time peculiarly attentive to the temporal wants 
 of those who suffered for conscience-sake, and of the sick or 
 afflicted : and he employed his influence very successfully, in 
 reconciling differences among professors of the gospel, and thus 
 preventing disgraceful and burdensome litigations. — He was 
 very exact in family-religion, and the instruction of his children: 
 being principally concerned for their spiritual interests, and 
 comparatively indifferent about their temporal prosperity. He 
 
XX 
 
 therefore declined the liberal proposal of a wealthy citizen of 
 London, to take his son as an apprentice without any premium, 
 saying, c God did not send me to advance my family but to 
 ' preach the gospel j' — probably disliking the business or situa- 
 tion, as unfavourable to piety. 
 
 In the year 1688, he took a journey in very bad weather 
 from London to Reading, Berks, to make up a breach between 
 a father and his son, with whom he had some acquaintance ; and 
 having happily effected his last work and labour of love, he re- 
 turned to his lodgings on Snow-hill apparently in good health, 
 but very wet with the heavy rain that was then falling: and 
 soon after he was seized with a fever, which in ten days termi- 
 nated his useful life. He bore his malady with great patience 
 and composure, and died in a very comfortable and triumphant 
 manner, Aug. 31, 1688, aged sixty years j after having exer- 
 cised his ministry about thirty-two. He lies buried in Bunhill 
 Fields; where a tomb-stone to his memory may still be seen.— 
 He was twice married : by his first wife, he had four children, 
 one of which, a daughter named Mary who was blind, died 
 before him. He was married to his second wife A.D. 1658, 
 two years before his imprisonment, by whom he seems not to 
 
XXI 
 
 have had any children. She survived him about four years. 
 Concerning the other branches of his family we have not been 
 able to gain any information. 
 
 Mr. Bunyan was tall and broad set, though not corpulent : 
 he had a ruddy complexion, with sparkling eyes, and hair in- 
 clining to red, but in his old age sprinkled with grey. His 
 whole appearance was plain, and his dress always simple and 
 unaffected. — He published sixty tracts, which equalled the 
 number of years he lived. The Pilgrim's Progress had passed 
 through more than fifty editions in 1784. 
 
 His character seems to have been uniformly good, from the 
 time when he was brought acquainted with the blessed gospel 
 of Christ : and though his countenance was rather stern and 
 his manner rough 5 yet he was very mild, modest, and affable, 
 in his behaviour. He was backward to speak much, except on 
 particular occasions, and remarkably averse to boasting; ready 
 to submit to the judgment of others, and disposed to forgive 
 injuries, to follow peace with all men, and to employ himself 
 as a peace-maker : yet he was steady to his principles, and bold 
 in reproving sin without respect of persons.— Many slanders 
 
xxu 
 
 were spread concerning him during the course of his ministry, 
 some of which he refuted 5 they have however all died away; 
 and no one now pretends to say any thing to his disadvantage, 
 except as a firm attachment to his religious creed and practice 
 has been called bigotry 3 and as the account given of his own 
 experience has been misunderstood or misrepresented. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 The Pilgrim described 3 
 
 Christian's discourse with Pliant. — The Slough of De- 
 spond 11 
 
 Christian seduced by Worldly-wise, &c 27 
 
 instructed by Interpreter • • • . 59 
 
 arrives at the Cross, and drops his Burden. . . . 81 
 
 Christian's conflict with Apollyon in the Valley of Humi- 
 liation 87 
 
 Faithful relates to Christian his escape from Wanton, and 
 
 Adam the First 109 
 
 Faithful's first discourse with Talkative 119 
 
 Description of Vanity-Fair ♦ 131 
 
XXIV 
 
 Page 
 The captivity of Christian and Hopeful in Doubting- 
 Castle 141 
 
 Christian's second discourse with Ignorance . . . • fc 169 
 
 Christian and Hopeful arrive at the Land of Beulah, and 
 
 pass through the River of Death ••••••••• t •• ... . 185 
 
POETIC SKETCHES, &c. 
 
POETIC SKETCHES 
 
 BUNYAN. 
 
 The pilgrim described. 
 
 Outcast on earth's bewilder'd waste, 
 A Den* my way-worn steps had traced— 
 Stern shelter! — There, toil-spent, I laid 
 My limbs beneath the savage shade : 
 
 * Bedford Jail 5 in which the Author was confined about 
 
A vision'd slumber seal'd mine eyes, 
 When, lo! before me seem'd to rise 
 All pale, and pensive, and deprest, 
 A man in vile and tatter'd vest. 
 On bis near home he shunn'd to look ; 
 His right hand grasp'd an ancient book ; 
 While his bow'd back a sordid pest, 
 A strange, a pond'rous load, opprest. 1 
 Piteous I gazed. — I marked him wide 
 Unclose the record. — Deep he sigh'd : — 
 He read — and trembled as he read ; 
 And many a bitter tear he shed; 
 
 1 Isa. lxiv. 6. Luke xiv. 33. Ps. xxxviii. 4. Hab. ii. 2. 
 
 twelve years, for exercising his ministry contrary to the sta- 
 tutes then in force. 
 
Till stern despondent agony 
 
 Wrung from his heart this doleful cry, 
 
 ' Lost ! lost ! undone ! for ever lost !'* 
 
 Thus into tempest inly tost, 
 He bent him home, silent and slow, 
 And hush'd awhile his secret woe. 
 Frail effort ! — Swift the torrent-tide 
 Of anguish ev'ry art defied, 
 And, groaning, thus aloud he cried : 
 
 * The man clothed in rags, implies that all men are sin- 
 ners, in their dispositions and conduct ; that their supposed 
 virtues are radically defective, and worthless in the sight of 
 God 5 and that the Pilgrim has discovered his own righ- 
 teousness to be insufficient for justification, even as sordid 
 rags would be unsuitable raiment for those who stand before 
 
6 
 
 4 O my loved wife, my children ! ye behold 
 * Your friend , your father, wretched and undone : 
 6 Sore press'd beneath this constant load, and 
 
 6 doom'd 
 ' To tenfold weight of still-increasing 1 woe ! — 
 
 kings. — His face turned from his own house, represents the 
 sinner convinced that it is absolutely necessary to subor- 
 dinate all other concerns to the care of his immortal soul, 
 and to renounce every thing which interferes with that grand 
 object : and this makes him lose his former relish for the 
 pleasures of sin, and even for the most lawful temporal sa- 
 tisfactions, while he trembles at the thought of impending 
 destruction. 1 — The book in his hand in which he read, im- 
 plies, that sinners discover their real state and character by 
 reading and believing the Scriptures ; that their first atten- 
 tion is often directed to the denunciations of the wrath to 
 come 5 and that in this case they cannot but continue to 
 
 1 Heb. xi. 8, 24— 27. 
 
* Nor I alone : — Tis verily foretold, 
 
 < That soon a fiery deluge shall be rain'd 
 
 * On this devoted city ; yea, that thou, 
 
 6 And these sweet babes, in that dire overthrow, 
 1 Shall sink, with me, to miserable ruin ; 
 
 search the Word of God, though their grief and alarm is 
 increased by every perusal. — The burden on his back repre- 
 sents that distressing sense of guilt and fear of wrath, which 
 deeply convinced sinners cannot shake off ; 'the remem- 
 
 * brance of their sins is grievous to them, the burden of 
 
 * them is intolerable ;' their consciences are oppressed with 
 guilt, even on account of those actions in which their neigh- 
 bours perceive no harm $ and their hearts tremble at the 
 prospect of dangers of which others have no apprehension.— 
 The circumstances of these humiliating convictions exceed- 
 ingly vary, but the life of faith and grace always begins with 
 them 5 and they who are wholly strangers to this experi- 
 ence, are christians only in name and form. 
 
8 
 
 1 Save (tho* as yet unhoped) all-gracious Heav'n 
 4 Send timely rescue.' 
 
 All amaze, 
 His friends upon each other gaze : — 
 Unwitting the dire cause, they deem 
 His dread report a wild day-dream ; 
 His panic seem'd a frenzied fright 
 Would yield, perchance, to sober night. — 
 Night came, but each slow hour was fraught 
 With sighs, and tears, and sleepless thought ; 
 Till morn, returned with hateful glow, 
 Brought them a tale of deeper woe. 
 With kindly counsel once again 
 He sought their credence to obtain, 
 Their fears to move; — but all in vain ! 
 
9 
 
 His warnings flash'd on hearts of steel ; 
 And, for his watchful love, they deal 
 
 Harsh chiding, scoff, and cruel taunt. 
 And cold neglect. — Repulsed, and pain'd, 
 All further effort he refrain'd ; 
 
 And, pensive, in his lonely haunt 
 The secret chamber, or the field, 
 His soul to silent grief would yield ; 
 And midst his complicated care, 
 Pour for his friends a pitying prayer. 
 Then, into hallow'd musings wrought, 
 Celestial solace thence he sought; 
 Or from that sacred book, his dear 
 His dread companion ! — but no cheer, 
 No glimpse of hope, 'twas his to know :—*■ 
 Heav'n seem'd to frown his mortal foe; 
 
10 
 
 And that portentous Word, that erst 
 On his reft heart like thunder burst, 
 Still spoke swift vengeance from on high, 
 And still wrung forth that doleful cry, 
 * Woe ! woe is me I 1 
 < Where shall I flee ?— 
 4 I loathe to live, I dread to die V* 
 
 1 Isa. vi. 5* 
 
 * The contempt or indignation, which worldly people express 
 towards those who are distressed in conscience, commonly in- 
 duces them to conceal their inquietude as long as they can, even 
 from their relatives $ but this soon becomes impracticable. Na- 
 tural affection also, connected with a view of the extreme danger 
 to which a man sees the objects of his most tender attachment 
 exposed, but of which they have no apprehensions, will extort 
 earnest representations, warnings, and intreaties. — They who are 
 
(EfyviHtim'tl discourse with ^Uattt*— 
 
 The ^lougfi of 3&t$poxii}* 
 
 Chr. Welcome! heroic neighbour : Much I joy 
 To have won thee my companion : Had yon churl,* 
 So proudly steel'd, once felt, as I, the charms 
 
 ignorant of the Scriptures, and unaccustomed to compare their 
 own conduct with the divine law, will be amazed at such dis- 
 course j and, instead of duly regarding the warnings given them, 
 will commonly ascribe them to enthusiasm or insanity : and, as 
 
 * Obstinate. 
 
12 
 
 And potent terrors of the world unseen, 
 He had not lightly, thus, giv'n us the back, 
 
 Pli. True to a jot : — And, since no captious ear 
 Audits our converse, be thy steady theme 
 Our destined bliss, and how to be enjoy'd. 
 
 prophets, apostles, and the Son of God himself, were looked upon 
 as visionaries or beside themselves by their contemporaries ; we 
 may be sure that no prudence, excellence, or benevolence, cau 
 exempt the consistent believer from the same trial. Near rela- 
 tions will generally be the first to form this opinion of his case 5 
 and will devise various expedients to quiet his mind: diversions, 
 company, feasting, absence from serious friends or books, will be 
 prescribed j and by these means a false peace often succeeds a 
 transient alarm. But when any one has received a genuine hu- 
 miliating discovery of the evil and desert of sin, such expedients 
 will not alleviate but increase the anguish 5 and will be followed 
 
13 
 
 Chr. The glorious vision that enwraps my soul, 
 And cheers my hope, no mortal speech can paint ; 
 Yet, would'st thou some blest antepast, attend ; 
 While from these radiant pages I unfold 
 Their bright display, 
 
 Pli. But canst thou vouch them true ? 
 
 by still greater earnestness about his own salvation and that of 
 others. This commonly strengthens prejudice, and induces ob- 
 duracy : and contemptuous pity gives place to resentment, ill- 
 usage, derision, or neglect. The disconsolate believer is then 
 driven into retirement, and endeavours to relieve his burdened 
 mind by reading the Scriptures, and meditating on his doleful 
 case, with compassionate prayers for his despisers : and thus he 
 sows in tears that seed from which the harvest of his future joy 
 will surely be produced. 
 
14 
 
 Chr. Yea, truth itself; — 
 
 Their Author cannot lie. 1 
 
 Pli. Well said : — Proceed. — 
 
 Chr. A boundless kingdom shall be ours, and life 
 Eternal, to command its unknown joys. 2 
 
 Pli. Glad news ! — What then ? 
 
 Chr. There crowns of glory wait us ; 
 
 Yea, robes of light, effulgent as the sun 
 In heavVs pure firmament. 3 
 
 1 Tit. i. 2. * Isa. xlv. 17. John x. 27—29. 3 2 Tim. iv. 8. 
 Rev. iii. 4. Matt. xiii. 43, 
 
15 
 
 Pli. 'Tis bravely spoke : — 
 
 Say on. — 
 
 Chr. There, crying and grief shall be no more * 
 For He who reigns supreme, shall from our eyes 
 Wipe ev'ry tear. 1 
 
 Pli. But say — our company ? 
 
 Chr. High Seraphs, dazzling-bright, and Che- 
 rub choirs 
 Beaming mild lustre, shall salute us there; 2 
 There we shall meet th' emancipate from earth ; 
 A countless multitude ; not one malign, 
 
 1 Isa. xxv. 8. Rev. vii. 16, 17. xxi. 4. * Isa. vi. 2, 
 1 Thess. iv.16, 17. 
 
16 
 
 But banded sweet in holy brotherhood; 
 Each, in his happy sphere, serving approved 
 The will of the Great Sovereign, or advanced 
 With full acceptance near his glorious throne ; 
 There, from his presence, drinking endless joy. 
 —In that blest region we shall hail, compeer'd, 
 Elders with crowns of gold ; l — with golden harps 
 Immaculate virgins : 2 — There, th' empyreal host 
 Earth-born, but driv'n anon untimely thence 
 To their high home, by thousand hideous deaths- 
 Fierce fire and sword, or raging beasts, or seas: — 
 These, joyous they endured, for love supreme 
 Of their liege Lord ; and now they rest, secure, 
 And clothed with immortality, 3 
 
 1 Rev. iv. 4. 2 Rev. xiv. 1— 5. 3 Johnxii.25. 
 2 Cor. v. 2—5. 
 
17 
 
 Pli. O, bliss !— 
 
 O tidings heav'nly sweet ! — The very sound 
 Is music, ev'n to ravishment ! — -But say, 
 Is ours the sure possession ? 
 
 Chr. Yea, most sure :— 
 
 The Lord of that blest region thus decrees; — 
 ' The heritage ye seek, I freely grant. 91 
 
 Pli. Each rapt'rous Word of Promise keens my 
 thirst 
 For swift enjoyment. — Let us urge the goal. 
 
 1 Alas! my friend,' sigh'd Christian, < this dire load 
 
 i Isa. lv. 1—3. John vi. 37. vii. 37. Rev. xxi. 6. xxii. 17. 
 G 
 
IS 
 
 1 Clogs ev'ry active spring : — I cannot speed 
 * As else I would/* 
 
 Thus flowed their pleasant talk * 
 Nor eye nor ear had they for earthly thing : 
 When, at one heedless bound, sudden they plunge, 
 Precipitous, the Slough of black Despond ! — « 
 
 * The conversation between Christian and Pliant, marks 
 the difference in their characters, as well as the measure of the 
 new convert's attainments. — The want of a due apprehension of 
 things unseen and eternal, is evidently the primary defect of all 
 who oppose or neglect religion. The men represented by Pliant, 
 inquire eagerly about the good things to be enjoyed ; but not in 
 any due proportion about the way of salvation, the difficulties to 
 be encountered, or the danger of coming short 5 and new con- 
 verts, being zealous, sanguine, and unsuspecting, are naturally 
 led to enlarge on the descriptions of heavenly felicity given in 
 
19 
 
 — Here wallow'd both awhile, in perilous plight : 
 But Christian, chief : — Whelm'd in the rank morass 
 To middle depth, hope, courage, vigour, fail'd ; 
 While, feebly struggling, sank his burden'd frame. 
 
 4 Where art thou now?' cried Pliant flound'rin^ 
 
 back 
 Through the near shallow, 
 
 Scripture. These are generally figurative or negative 3 so that 
 unregenerate persons annexing carnal ideas to them, are greatly 
 delighted 3 and not being retarded by any distressing remorse and 
 terror, or feeling the opposition of corrupt nature, (which is gra- 
 tified in some respects, though thwarted in others,) they are 
 often more zealous, and seem to proceed faster in external duties 
 than true converts. They take it for granted that all the pri- 
 vileges of the gospel belong to them 3 and being very confident, 
 zealous, and joyful, they often censure those who are really fight- 
 ing the good fight of faith, as deficient in zeal and alacrity. 
 
20 
 
 Chr. Miserably plunged 
 
 I know not where! 
 
 1 And is it come to this?' 
 Raged the false friend ; * Is this the rapture, pledged 
 
 * In that fond, artful, smoothly-lengthen'd prate 
 1 That lured me hither ? Woe to the hardy fool 
 
 * Who meditates a blissful goal, when such 
 ' His ill-condition'd outset ! Let me 'scape 
 
 ' E'en with my life, be thine the brave reward/— 
 
 This vented, at one despVate leap he sprang 
 To the firm sod, and hurried home, well prankt 
 For many a bitter taunt;* — while Christian, nerved 
 
 * The Slough of Despond represents those discouraging fears 
 which often harass new converts. These must be carefully dis- 
 
21 
 
 To strenuous effort by extreme distress, 
 Waded the Slough, with resolute resolve 
 
 tinguished from those doubts and discouragements which assault 
 the established christian : for these are generally the consequence 
 of negligence or yielding to temptation : whereas new converts 
 fall into their despondings, when most diligent according to the 
 light they have received : and, if some conscientious persons seem 
 to meet with this Slough in every part of their pilgrimage, it 
 arises from an immature judgment, erroneous sentiments, or pe- 
 culiar temptations. When the diligent student of the Scriptures 
 obtains such an acquaintance with the perfect holiness of God, 
 the spirituality of his law, the inexpressible evil of sin, and his 
 own obligations and transgressions, as greatly exceeds the mea- 
 sure in which he discerns the free and full salvation of the gos- 
 pel, his humiliation will of course verge nearer and nearer to des- 
 pondency. This, however, is not essential to repentance, but 
 arises from misapprehension ; though few in proportion wholly 
 escape it. — The mire of the Slough represents that idea which 
 desponding persons entertain of themselves and their situation, as 
 
22 
 
 To win the Gate,* or perish. — Thus he groped, 
 Till, found 'ring near the shore, his cruel load 
 There fix'd him,powerless,as with tenfold weight !- 
 There had he sunk, perchance, beyond retrieve, 
 
 altogether vile and loathsome ; and their confessions and self- 
 abasing complaints, which render them contemptible in the opi- 
 nion of others. As every attempt to rescue themselves discovers 
 to them more of the latent evil of their hearts, they seem to grow 
 worse and worse ; and, for want of a clear understanding of the 
 gospel, they have no firm ground to tread on, and know neither 
 where they are, nor what they must do. — On the other hand, su- 
 perficial professors, expecting the promised happiness without 
 trouble or suffering, are often very angry at those who were the 
 means of leading them to think of religion ; as if they had de- 
 ceived them : and, being destitute of true faith, their only object 
 is, at any rate to get rid of their uneasiness. 
 
 * The Wicket-Gate 5 to which Christian had been directed. 
 
23 
 
 When lo! a gen'rous stranger, (Help his name,) 
 With outstretch'd hand betokening timely aid, 
 Ask'd, whence his dire disaster ? 
 
 * Sir,' replied 
 Th' exhausted Pilgrim, ' As I bent my way 
 
 * For yonder Gate, — sped by a warning voice 
 
 * To that blest refuge from the wrath to come,— 
 ' Sudden to the deep drench of this dire Slough 
 
 * My heedless foot betray'd me' I 
 
 Help. But why thus? 
 
 How couldst thou pass unnoted, the firm steps 
 That cross this dang'rous fen ? 
 
 Chiu Fear follow'd hard :— 
 
24 
 
 Right onward with improvident haste I fled, 
 And thus fell in* 
 
 Touched at his artless moan, 
 Instant his trembling hand the Stranger grasp'd, 
 On solid bearing fix'd him once again, 
 And bade a kind farewell. 
 
 Now midst my dream, 
 Glowing with zeal for after-pilgrims' fate, 
 The courteous man I questioned, Wherefore thus 
 In foul neglect remain'd that hideous swamp — 
 That treacherous barrier 'twixt impending wrath 
 And their appointed refuge ? 
 
 < Know/ said he, 
 
25 
 
 * Nor human art, nor labour, can retrieve 
 
 1 This loathsome sink. — Here, thro' innum'rous 
 
 ' drains, 
 1 Descends incessant a polluted ooze 
 1 From dregs of conscious guilt. Here, too, distils 
 1 A baneful dew, by louring doubts and fears 
 < Shower'd on the dismal marsh ; thence named 
 
 1 Despond. 1 
 1 —Yet not our gracious Sov'reign wills it thus 
 
 * Remediless: Much toil, through many an age, 
 
 ' Hath harass'd his sent servants — but in vain ! — 
 
 * Yea, in my brief remembrance, heaps immense 
 ' Of soundest discipline have here been sunk : — 
 
 1 Yet nought avails. — " The Slough of black Des- 
 " pond" 
 
 1 Ps. xl. 2. Is. xxxt. 3, 4. 
 D 
 
26 
 
 1 'Tis noted still; and ever must remain. — 
 
 4 Firm steps, indeed, the cautious foot, throughout, 
 
 1 Secure may trace; save when intemp'rate skies 
 
 * Unsettle the deep slime; — then, utmost care 
 
 ' Is baffled; and the dizzy brain betrays 
 
 1 The hapless Pilgrim down to sudden fate.'* 
 
 * The author, in a marginal note, explains the steps to mean, 
 i the promises of forgiveness and acceptance to life by faith in 
 c Christ ;' these include the general invitations, and the various 
 encouragements given in Scripture to all who seek the salvation 
 of the Lord, and diligently use the appointed means. 
 
©frrtetfatt seduced by WlOXW£=bii$t 
 
 to Mount Sbitl&L — He arrives 
 
 at the WiitfLtUl&aU. 
 
 Now, cheer'd with hope 
 
 Of speedy rest, the lonely Pilgrim spied, 
 (Winding a path that cross'd his own strict line,) 
 A hasty traveler. — From the neighb'ring town 
 Of Carnal-Policy he came, and, mused 
 By Christian's heavy toil, his sighs, his groans, 
 Deem'd him that luckless Wanderer, so noised 
 
28 
 
 For ideot enterprise. Anon, they met ; 
 
 When Worldly-wise, (the civil stranger's name,) 
 
 Bent on familiar converse, thus began.* 
 
 1 How now, my honest friend? Whither away 
 ' Thus freighted?' 
 
 ' A tremendous load indeed,' 
 (The Pilgrim sigh'd) ' as ever mortal bore ! 
 
 * The wise men of this world carefully notice those who begin 
 to turn their thoughts to religion, and attempt to counteract their 
 convictions before the case becomes desperate : from their des- 
 ponding fears they take occasion to insinuate that they are de- 
 luded or disordered in their minds ; that they make too much ado 
 about religion 5 and that a decent regard to it is all that is re- 
 quisite, which consists with the enjoyments of this life, and even 
 
29 
 
 * And, for my drift, yon Wicket I would reach ; — 
 1 That blest retreat, where kind instruction waits 
 
 1 me, 
 i How this sore-laden frame may quickly find 
 6 Safe riddance.' 
 
 conduces to secular advantage. — Worldly-wise, therefore, is 
 a person of consequence, whose superiority gives him influence 
 over poor Pilgrims : he is a reputable and successful man ; pru- 
 dent, sagacious, and acquainted with mankind; moral, and re- 
 ligious in bis way, and qualified to give the very best counsel to 
 those who wish to serve both God and Mammon : but he is 
 decided in his judgment against all kinds and degrees of religion, 
 which interfere with a man's worldly interest, disquiet his mind, 
 or spoil his relish for outward enjoyments. — He resides in Car- 
 nal-Policy, a great town near the city of Destruction : for 
 worldly prudence, modelling a man's religion, is as ruinous as 
 open vice and impiety; though it be very prevalent among 
 decent and virtuous people. 
 
30 
 
 Wor. Owns thy heart, then v no tranquil home ? 
 No wife, no children ? 
 
 Chr. Yea, — my solace once, 
 
 But this dire burden mars my ev'ry joy ; 
 And now, methinks, through the wide world I rove 
 As one bereft. 1 
 
 Wor. But say, — wilt thou abide 
 
 My counsel ? 
 
 Chr. Gladly, if thou prove my friend ; — 
 
 My need is urgent. 
 
 Wor. Be it then, thy first, 
 
 1 1 Cor. vii. 29. 
 
31 
 
 Thy special care, to rid without delay 
 That weary cumbrance : — Never, till that hour 
 Shall settled peace be thine, nor the pure taste 
 Of HeavVs unsparing bounty. 
 
 1 O, 'tis for that' 
 (Said Christian, fervently,) * that blest release 
 ' Long promised, still del ay 'd, I toil, I groan : 
 * Vain is my evVy effort '—friendly aid, 
 ' As yet, proves pow'rless ; and in trembling hope 
 ' I speed, impatient, to my last resource !' 
 
 Wor. Who urged thee hitherward, to seek re- 
 lief? 
 
 Chr. A venerable Sage, of saintly mien, 
 
32 
 
 Pointed my way,— his name, Evangelist. 
 
 < Beshrew your sapient Monitor;' exclaim'd 
 The wily sophist: ' Such dread ruin crowds 
 4 That hideous way, might daunt a heart of steel ; 
 1 As thou, thus madly bent, too soon shalt know. 
 ' Already the deep dregs of yon vile Slough 
 « Mark thee the prey of sorrows but begun : l 
 1 Then trust my riper skill ; — be timely warn'd, 
 ' Or take thy portion: — Weariness uncheer'd, 
 * Soul-racking pain, fierce hunger ne'er appeased, 
 ' Sword, peril, nakedness ; the prowling rage 
 1 Of lions, the fell dragon's fiery breath, 
 ' Darkness, — yea, thousand horrors yet unthoughf, 
 1 And Death, half welcome in his loathliest form ! 
 
 1 Matt. xxiv. 8. 
 
33 
 
 * — Such the faint shadow of a pilgrim } s fare :— 
 4 Then rouse thee from thy perilous trance ! nor 
 
 6 stake 
 6 On weak credulities, thy life, thy all.' 
 
 4 Alas!' said Christian, ' this intolerant load, 
 * This bulk of woe, all other ills outweighs: 
 4 Yea, cheerful would I brave their dread array, 
 4 To rid that single pest.' 
 
 Won. But say, my friend, 
 
 How came that grievance thine? 
 
 Chr. Most strange to tell : — » 
 
 This wondrous book unwitting as I scann'd, 
 The faithful semblance of mine inmost self, 
 
34 
 
 As in a glass, presented. Terror-struck 
 
 To view my dark deformity, I dared 
 
 No second glance ; but ever-conscious guilt 
 
 Press'd heavy on my soul ; when lo ! anon, 
 
 Fruit of mine inward burden, sprang this load; 
 
 This type, this sum, of all my misery! 
 
 Won. Ev'n so I deem'd. — So fares, (a just re- 
 ward,) 
 Th' intruder on high mysteries. — Tis thus 
 Full many a visionary dupe is driven 
 To wild distractions ; till, unmann'd as thou, 
 The driv'lling dotards traverse land and sea, 
 Desp'rate, on airy schemes. 
 
 Chr. No airy scheme, 
 
35 
 
 No desp'rate stake is mine : 'tis rest / seek, 
 Ease from this ruthless burden. 
 
 4 What!' exclaim'd 
 The dark dissembler, 4 Dream'st thou still of ease, 
 4 Of ease, in this thy dreary pilgrimage? — 
 * Nay, tempt not stubborn fate ; but lend ev'n note 
 4 A patient ear; confide my proffer'd aid ; 
 4 And briefly thou shalt win thy heart's desire 
 4 Unharm'd : yea, sweetly reap, in blest exchange 
 4 For toils and dangers, safety, friendship, peace,'* 
 
 * There is great beauty in this dialogue, arising from the 
 exact regard to character preserved throughout. Indeed this 
 forms one of our author's peculiar excellencies; as it is a very 
 difficult attainment, and always manifests a superiority of ge- 
 
36 
 
 Chr. O, grant me, then, the secret clue! 
 
 Wor. Attend- 
 
 In yon fair Village, from its founder named 
 Morality, a worthy Casuist dwells; 
 Wise, virtuous, friendly ; yea, of noted skill 
 The heavy-laden Pilgrim to release, 
 
 nius. — The arguments of Worldly-wise are very specious. 
 Re does not say, that Evangelist had not pointed out the way 
 of salvation, or that wicked men are not in danger of future 
 misery: but he urges, that so much concern about sin and the 
 eternal world takes men off from a proper regard to their secular 
 concerns, and injures their families: that it prevents their en- 
 joying comfort in domestic life, or in other providential blessings ; 
 that it leads them iuto perilous and distressing situations, of 
 which their first terrors and despondings are only an earnest j 
 th'dt a troubled conscience may be quieted in a more expeditious 
 
37 
 
 And tame his wilder'd reason. Haste — enquire 
 
 The learned Sage, (Legality his name,) 
 
 Or, missing him, consult his hopeful Son 
 
 Civility; — renown'd for equal skill. — 
 
 Anon disburden'd, shouldst thou then prefer 
 
 That tranquil refuge to thy native home, 
 
 As well thou may'st; (for all that heart can wish 
 
 and easy manner; and that they may obtain credit, comfort, and 
 manifold advantages, by following prudent counsel. — On the 
 other hand, Christian speaks in the character of a young con- 
 vert. He makes no secret of his distress and terrors, and declares 
 without reserve the method in which he sought relief. He owns 
 he has lost his relish for every earthly comfort, and desires to 
 receive good counsel : but while he is prepared to withstand all 
 persuasions to return home, he is not upon his guard against 
 the insidious advice of his adversary. 
 
38 
 
 Shall there be thine ;) call thy half-widow'd spouse 
 And infant charge, thy happy lot to share.* 
 
 Here Christian paused, in tremulous debate 
 Of hopes and fears : — but, M sure relief at hand' 9 
 Soon fix'd his choice ; and, with importunate zeal 
 And blithely-beating pulse, he craved the way. 
 
 * The village Morality represents that large company, who, 
 in nations favoured with revelation, abstain from scandalous vices, 
 and practise reputable duties, without any genuine fear or love 
 of God, or regard, to his authority or glory- This decency of 
 conduct aims principally at the acquisition of reputation, or tem- 
 poral advantages, with only a subordinate respect even to the 
 interests of eternity. It is entirely different from humble, cheer- 
 ful, unreserved obedience j it leaves the heart in the possession 
 of some worldly idol, and never constitutes a spiritual worshipper, 
 or renders a man meet for the pleasures of heaven. — The most 
 
39 
 
 Wor. Beneath yon lofty hill, winds a smooth 
 track 
 Well travelFd ; — thither bend thy steady course, 
 And mark the first fair dome that crowns the vale :— •■ 
 There dwells thy kind deliverer. 
 
 noted inhabitant of this village derives his name, Legality, 
 not from making the law of God his rule and standard, (for 
 " by the law is the knowledge of sin," which tends to increase the 
 convinced sinner's distress ;) but from his teaching men to depend 
 on a defective obedience to a small part of the law, falsely ex- 
 plained, according to the method of the scribes and pharisees. 
 These teachers, however, are admired by the wise men of this 
 world, and are deemed very skilful in relieving troubled con- 
 sciences, and recovering men from religious distractions! — Civi- 
 lity represents those who persuade themselves and others, that 
 a decent, benevolent, and obliging behaviour, will secure men 
 from all future punishment, and insure an inheritance in heaven, 
 if indeed there be any such place ! 
 
40 
 
 At the word, 
 With panting speed impatient of delay, 
 Veer'd the deluded Pilgrim, till he gaiVd 
 The mount's broad bound. — There, all aghast he 
 
 stood : — 
 For, lo! that mystic height that smiled afar, 
 Now sternly frown 'd him thence ! The horrid steep, 
 Loose piled, and grim with many a yawning cleft, 
 Rose to mid heav'n. A pond'rous crag thatridg'd 
 The dizzy brow, hung dark, in perilous poise, 
 Sheer o'er the crumbling base; threat' ningswift fate 
 On his devoted head : While sudden flame 
 Flash'd like a fiery sword, wrathful and keen, 
 Warding the gloomy pass I 1 The Pilgrim gazed 
 Astound, and palsied with petrific fear. 
 
 1 Exod. xix. 16— 18. Heb. xii. 21. 
 
41 
 
 Nor ever pressM more merciless than now 
 His galling load : nor penitent remorse 
 Rankled at heart more painfully. So stood 
 The wretched recreant; when, behold, that friend, 
 Once welcomed as an anoel form, drew niofh ! — 
 Severe rebuke frown'd on his alter' d brow, 
 And deep suffused the wanderer's pallid cheek 
 With guilty crimson ; whilst in solemn tone 
 Of temper d wrath, Evangelist thus began. 
 
 4 What dost thou here? — Say,artnotthoutheman 
 6 Whom late I found wailing without the walls 
 4 Of yon devoted City?'*f 
 
 * The City of Destruction, [see page 7, line 3.] 
 f Christian must go past mount Sinai to the village Mo- 
 rality: not that such men, as depend on their own reforma- 
 
 F 
 
42 
 
 A dead pause 
 Stifled th' unwilling truth, but yielded soon 
 To full and frank confession. 
 
 Ev. Urged I not 
 
 Thy flight, undevious, tow'rd the Wicket-Gate ? 
 Then why so suddenly revolted thus 
 From that good way ? 
 
 tion and good works, pay a due regard to the holy law of God, 
 for they are w alive without the law 3" but they substitute their 
 own scanty obedience in the place of the righteousness and atone- 
 ment of Christ. They who are not humbled in true repentance, 
 perceiving little danger, pass on securely 5 but the true penitent 
 finds every attempt*' to establish his own right coyness" entirely 
 abortive 3 the more he compares his conduct and character with 
 the divine law, the greater is his alarm 5 and he sometimes trembles 
 lest its curses should immediately fall upon him, with vengeance 
 
43 
 
 Chr. My cruel hap it was, 
 
 While faint with many a deep and despVate plunge 
 Through yonder Slough, to meet, in social mood, 
 A courtly stranger: — Much he questioned me 
 Of my dire load, and dang'rous pilgrimage; — 
 I freely told him all; when, prompt, and kind, 
 As one who laid at heart my keen distress, 
 He proffer'd me, unask'd, a blest release : — 
 Too soon beguiled, my treach'rous heart he gain'd, 
 And hitherward, in sure belief, I stray'd ; — 
 
 more tremendous than the most awful thunder. Then the counsels 
 of worldly wisdom appear in their true light, and the sinner is 
 prepared to welcome free salvation: and should the minister, 
 whose instructions he had forsaken, meet him, conscious shame 
 would be added to his terror; and he would even be tempted to 
 shun his faithful friend, through fear of merited reproof. 
 
44 
 
 When,lo! this mount, threat' ning with instant death 
 The next rash step, thus forced me to a pause. 
 
 Ev. Mark, then, with trembling awe, this so- 
 lemn Word : — 
 " See that ye spurn not Him who speaks to man 
 " In Oracles Divine : For, if to scorn 
 " His sacred mandate by a mortal tongue, 
 " Provoke his vengeance, how shall we escape, 
 " If Him we set at nought who speaks from 
 
 "heav'n!" 1 
 — Hear yet again : — " The just shall live by faith : 
 " But whoso swerves to unbelief, in him 
 H My soul shall have no pleasure." 2 — Such thy 
 guilt: — 
 
 1 Heb. xii. 25. 2 Heb. x. 38. 
 
45 
 
 The Word of the Most High thou hast contemn'd ; 
 His counsel shunn'd ; his covenant disdain'd ; 
 Till from the way of peace thy foot hath stray'd, 
 Ev'n to Perdition's brink ! 
 
 At that dire word, 
 The Pilgrim, smitten as with a thunder-stroke, 
 Fell at his feet as dead ! — Compassion touch'd 
 The missioned Sage : — Heseized his clay-cold hand, 
 And breathed into his soul this vital balm : — 
 " — All sin, all blasphemy, shall be forgiv'n 
 " Toman: 1 — Then be not faithless,but believe/'* — 
 
 1 Matt. xii. 31. Mark iii. 28, 29. 
 
 * It appears from this passage, that the author judged it right, 
 in dealing with persons under great terror of conscience, but who 
 
46 
 
 -That word of life 
 
 Won back his fainting spirit: — He revived — 
 To trembling hope revived, and meekly wail'd 
 In silent sufferance his dread revolt. — 
 
 may not be duly sensible of the heinousness and aggravations of 
 their guilt, to aim at preparing them for solid peace by further 
 instructions, rather than hastily giving them comfort. — A com- 
 passionate, but injudicious method, of proposing consolatory 
 topics indiscriminately to all under trouble of conscience, lulls 
 many into a fatal sleep, and gives others a transient peace which 
 soon terminates in deeper despondency: as a wound, hastily 
 skinned over by an ignorant practitioner, instead of being effec- 
 tually cured by the patient attention of a skilful surgeon, will 
 soon become worse than before. — The communication of more 
 knowledge may indeed augment a man's terror and distress : but 
 if it produce a deeper humiliation, it will effectually warn him 
 against carnal counsellors and false dependences. — c Turning 
 1 aside' from the gospel implies a direct refusal to hearken to 
 
47 
 
 Then thus Evangelist: — < Give earnest heed, 
 * Whilst briefly I unmask that wily knave, 
 4 Thy base betrayer: He (Worldly-wise well named) 
 4 Savours alone of worldly policy. 1 — 
 4 In sanctimonious form he oft frequents 
 6 Morality's proud temple :* — Much he hates 
 
 1 1 John, iv. 5. 
 
 Christ 5 and all who do thus, run into misery and leave the 
 way of peace, to the hazard of their souls. 1 These denunciations 
 are despised by the stout-hearted, but the contrite in spirit, when 
 consciously guilty, if thus addressed, would fall into despair, did 
 not the ministers of Christ encourage them by the grace of the 
 gospel. 
 
 * Worldly-wise goes to church at the town of Morality : 
 for the persons here represented, in great measure support their 
 confidence and reputation for religion by attending on those 
 preachers, who substitute a proud scanty morality in the place 
 
 1 Gal. v. 4. 
 
48 
 
 6 And shims the cross :* therefore that only way 
 
 ' To bliss divine he glories to pervert. — 
 
 i — Now mark me : — Thou must utterly abhor 
 
 i Three prime delusions of thy wary foe, 
 
 1 That lured and thrall'd thee like a triple snare. 
 
 6 See thou detest his winning thee to shun 
 4 The heav'n-appointedWay : — ThyLord proclaims, 
 " Strait is the way of Life — by few discern'd : 
 " Strive thou to enter in" 2 
 
 1 Gal. vi. 12. * Matt.vii. 13, 14. Luke xiii. 24. 
 
 of the gospel. This both flatters their self-preference, and coin- 
 cides with their carnal pursuits : and they verily think they have 
 found out the secret of reconciling the friendship of the world 
 with the favour of God ; and set up for teachers of the same 
 convenient system. 
 
49 
 
 ' Nor less abhor 
 
 * His crafty zeal to scandalize the cross : — 
 
 * The cross, thy pledge of glory, thy prime boast, 
 1 Thy richest treasure: 1 — Hear thy Lord again. — 
 " Who shuns the cross to save his life, shall lose 
 
 "it:"— 
 1 Yea — " Whoso follows me, and for my sake 
 " Hates not each fond usurper of his love, 
 " Parent, or Wife, or Children ; or accounts 
 u His own life dear, cannot be my disciple." 2 
 
 4 But, chiefly, Ihou must execrate the guile 
 
 * That lured thee here: — 'Twas thy sworn foe's 
 
 6 fond hope 
 
 1 Heb. xi. 25, 26. » Matt. x. 37—39. Mark viii. 34, 35. 
 
 Luke xiv. 26, 27. John xii. 25. 
 
 G 
 
50 
 
 * To minister thy bane at this dread mount — 
 
 4 Sinai, the mount of death : — or, 'scaping hence, 
 6 To shackle thee for life the menial drudge 
 ' Of stern Legality ; (a bondmaid's son,) 1 
 
 * The very prince of slaves.* — One timely pause 
 
 * Had warn'd thee from the snare : for well thou 
 
 ' know'st 
 
 * No vaunted legalist can e'er appease 
 
 4 The troubled conscience, or avail to rid 
 4 Thy penal burden.' 2 — 
 
 1 Gal. iv. 21—27. « Rom. iii. 20. Gal. ii. 16. 
 
 * The Author in some rude verses subjoined to this incident, 
 observes, that " Worldly-wise can only shew a saint the way 
 6< to bondage and misery." 
 
51 
 
 Here Evangelist raised 
 His arm, terrific; and with hallow'd zeal 
 Call'd on the frowning heaven to confirm 
 His monitory charge; — nor calFd in vain:— 
 — Thund'ring majestic from the mount of wrath, 
 A dread voice sounded : — fiercer flame shot forth : — * 
 Aghast the Pilgrim shrunk,— and this the Word.— 
 4 Whoso abides the Law, sustains the Curse; 
 * As it is written—" Cursed is the man 
 " Who keeps not, sinless, all its just commands." 1 * 
 
 i Gal. iii. 10. 
 
 * All professed christians, who depend on notions, sacraments, 
 religious duties, and morality, and neglect Christ and the new 
 covenant in his blood, are entangled in a fatal error. They seek 
 the blessing " not by faith, but as it were by the works of the 
 
52 
 
 Not ev'n Perdition's gulph rent at his feet, 
 Had Christian more appalPd : — Instant he waits 
 A fiery death-stroke ! moaning many a curse 
 On his base folly, and that fatal hour 
 That snared him to the foe. — Yet still he breathes! — 
 He wins new fervor from the blest reprieve, 
 And, with impassion'd speech this suit prefers. — 
 
 " law ; M u for they stumble at that stumbling stone." — The Scrip- 
 tures adduced by Evangelist are so pertinent and conclusive 
 against this species of religion, that they can never be fairly an- 
 swered : nay, the more any man considers them, as the testimony 
 of God himself, the greater must be his alarm, (even as if he 
 heard the voice from Mount Sinai out of the midst of the fire ;) 
 unless he be conscious of having renounced every other confi- 
 dence, to " flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us" 
 in the gospel. 
 
53 
 
 * Oh tell me, thou best friend ! — Say, is there 
 4 hope ? 
 i May I yet reach the Gaje, nor thence be spurn'd? 
 4 May my remorseful anguish be assuaged ? 
 
 * My sin forgiv'n?' 
 
 * Truly thy guilt is great,' 
 Replied Evangelist, ' yea, of crimson dye ; — 
 
 * But Mercy follows thee : — Take courage, then, 
 
 * Nor doubt of smiling welcome at the Gate, 
 
 1 Nor liberal fare within : — With wide-spread arms 
 
 * There stands a Guardian-Herald, and proclaims 
 " Good will to Man!" — ' But see thou stray no more ; 
 € Lest, (thy Lord's wrath new-kindled,) from the 
 
 * way 
 
54 
 
 6 Thou perish utterly/ 1 
 
 Thus cheer'd, thus warn'd, 
 Th' indulgent Monitor one smile benign, 
 One parting kiss, vouchsafed ; bade him God speed, 
 And urged him on his way. 
 
 As one who plies 
 Vent'rous an adverse stream midst rocks and shoals ; 
 With perilous hardihood o'erspent, steers back, 
 And dreads the subtle tide he braved before; 
 So Christian sped: — Still on forbidden ground, 
 Each foot, each voice, alarm'd him! Dumb he 
 pass'd 
 
 1 Psa.ii. 12. 
 
55 
 
 All courtesy — to all enquiry deaf; — - 
 Nor lax'd his jealous heed, nor deem'd him safe, 
 Till, once again, his treacherous foot retrieved 
 The long-deserted way, — The Gate in view, 
 A joyous tear dimmM his first glance. — Anon, 
 He wins the lowly portal, on whose front 
 This record beam'd : — ' Knock, and it shall be 
 ' open'd.' 1 * 
 
 1 Matt, vii, 7, 8. 
 
 * This Gate represents Christ himself, as received by the 
 penitent sinner for all the purposes of salvation. — By him every 
 true penitent enters into the narrow way to life, though with dif- 
 ficulty and conflict, as through a " strait Gate:" 1 for the cou- 
 vert cannot carry along with him any of his sinful practices, un- 
 godly companions, worldly idols, or false confidences, when he 
 
 * Matt. vii. 13, 14. 
 
56 
 
 Bold he approach'd, and with importunate zeal 
 Knock'd thrice. — Nor less alert the vigilant Ward, 
 (Good-will his name,) answer'd the hasty call, 
 With narrow scrutiny, and brief demand. 
 
 * Behold aburden'dsinner!' (Christian sigh'd;)— 
 i — Late from the City of Destruction warn'd, 
 
 enters in : nor can he effectually contend with those enemies that 
 obstruct his passage, unless he wrestle continually with God in 
 prayer for his gracious assistance. — And therefore our Lord has 
 said a Strive to enter in at the strait gate." 1 Nor must we for- 
 get that the sinner returns to God by faith in Christ; that ge- 
 nuine repentance comes from him and leads to him; and that 
 the true believer not only trusts in the Lord for salvation, but 
 also seeks his liberty and happiness in his service. 
 
 1 Luke xiii. 24. 
 
57 
 
 4 I flee the wrath to come; and here would pass, 
 * A Pilgrim to Mount Zion. — Such my plea; 
 ' O, say, wilt thou receive me V 
 
 ' Readily, 
 1 With all my heart;' replied the generousFriend.* — 
 — Back flew the Gate: — The Pilgrim press'd — 
 
 O bliss! 
 The sacred threshold. — The kind Guardian seized 
 
 * Good-will seems to be emblematick of the compassionate 
 love of God to sinners through Jesus Christ. 1 — He " came 
 u from heaven to do the will of him that sent him," and " he will 
 " in no wise cast out any that come to him," either on acount of 
 former sins, or present mistakes, infirmities, evil habits, or pecu- 
 liar temptations. For " he waits to be gracious," till sinners 
 seek him by earnest persevering- prayer. 
 
 1 Luke ii. 14. 
 H 
 
58 
 
 His welcome Charge, and forced him safe within ! — 
 i — One moment's pause,' he cried, ' and here, ev'n 
 
 * here, 
 i What peril had been thine ! — for lo ! hard by, 
 ' An ancient Castle stands; gloomy and strong ; 
 4 The savage hold of Beelzebub; Thence, oft, 
 1 He with his host of myrmidons assails 
 i By fiery darts, the feeble and the faint 
 i Who here seek entrance ; hopeful to transfix 
 i His weary mark, ev'n at the very goal!'* 
 
 i Thus safe', said Christian, ' 'mid such peril saved, 
 * (All thanks to thee) with trembling I rejoice.' 1 
 
 1 Psa.ii. 11. 
 
 * As sinners become more decided in counting all but loss 
 for Christ, and assiduous in the means of grace, Satan, if per- 
 
©ftttetfatt instructed by $VAtX$XtttX* 
 
 ******* ***** 
 
 An ancient hall, ungarnish'd, dark, and drear, 
 Received them. The still dust of many a year 
 Spread the wide pavement in a sordid heap : — 
 The Sage commands a gloomy slave to sweep ; 
 
 mitted, will be more vehement in his endeavours to discourage 
 them : that, if possible, he may induce them to desist, and so 
 come short of the prize. — The powers of darkness will attempt 
 to disturb all those who earnestly cry for mercy, by various sug- 
 
60 
 
 And, instant seized with suffocating pain, 
 Gasp'd the pale Pilgrim. — He commands again ; 
 When, meekly graceful, from a crystal rill 
 A smiling Damsel shower'd, and all was still, 
 And by the sullen menial cleansed at will. — 
 That peril psst, the Pilgrim breathed again, 
 And sought, with lowly rev'rence, to obtain 
 The secret import. 
 
 * This neglected room, 5 
 (Replied the kind Instructor,) i shadows forth 
 
 gestions to which they were wholly strangers while satisfied with 
 a form of godliness : and the christian's grand conflict to the end 
 of his course, consists in surmounting the hindrances and oppo- 
 sition he meets with, in keeping near to the throne of grace, hy 
 fervent, importunate, and persevering prayer. 
 
61 
 
 ' Man's graceless heart : The dust, his inward taint, 
 6 Deep — universal — of original sin: — 
 ' The Slave who swept the nuisance, is the Law; 
 ' The Damsel, meek, the Gospel, Now,asthousaw'st 
 ' How he who first essay'd roused the dire plague 
 1 To wider mischief, but, to cleanse or quell 
 
 * Baffled his skill ; be wisely taught from hence, 
 1 That ev'n the Law, misused to vanquish sin, 
 
 1 Tho' sternly it forbid, and keen detect, 
 
 * Can but revive, and aggravate, and spread 
 
 1 That subtle bane. 1 * Yet, as thou didst perceive 
 
 1 Rom. vii. 6. 1 Cor. xv. 56. Rom. v. 20. 
 
 * [So Milton. — 
 
 " The Law was given them to evince 
 
 " Their natural pravity, by stirring up 
 
62 
 
 ' The ferment quick subdued by Her who pour'd 
 ' The kindly shower, so, when the Gospel sheds 
 
 * A sweet ablution from the Fount of Grace, 
 
 4 Sin, vanquish'd first, then, readily expelPd, 
 
 * The vilest heart presents a pure abode, 
 
 * Meet for the King of Glory/ l * 
 
 1 John xv. 3. Acts xt. 9. Rom. xvi. 25, 26. Eph. v. 26. 
 
 ' Sin against law to fight :- 
 
 u Law can discover sin, but not remove .** 
 
 Par. Lost. B. xii. I. 286—290.] 
 * When the law of God is brought with energy to the con- 
 science, its strictness, spirituality, and severity, awaken the latent 
 enmity of the heart : the absolute self-denial it demands even in 
 the most plausible claims of self love, and its express prohibition 
 of the darling sin, with the experienced impracticability of ade- 
 quate obedience to its spiritual precepts, and the awful sentence 
 it denounces against every transgressor, concur in exciting oppo- 
 sition to it, and even to Him who gave it and is determined to 
 
63 
 
 The sacred Monitor his wondering* guest 
 Led to a scanty room. Two Youths, imprest 
 With varied lineaments, in silence sate ; — 
 Passion and Patience named : The one, sedate, 
 
 magnify and establish it in honour. The discovery also in the 
 heart of evils which before lay dormant, the consciousness of 
 coveting things prohibited, and the conviction that this concupi- 
 cence is sinful, induce the awakened sinner to conclude that he 
 is viler than ever : and indeed a clearer knowledge of the divine 
 law must aggravate the guilt of every sin. Thus being deeply 
 humbled, and taken off from self-confidence, he is prepared to un- 
 derstand and welcome the free salvation of the gospel. Then the 
 law appears to him disarmed of its curse, as the rule and stand- 
 ard of holiness : encouraged by the truths and promises of the 
 gospel, and animated to exertion by its motives, he delights in 
 "cleansing himself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, and per- 
 " fecting holiness in the fear of God," that he mav be " an habita- 
 (( tion of God through the Spirit." 
 
64 
 
 And calm, and meek, with eye of heav'nly blue ; 
 And life's pure morning-rose of loveliest hue 
 Wreathed with his cherub smile. The other, blent 
 Of sickly cares and sullen discontent. — 
 — In sudden transport of unquelFd desire 
 Frenzied he foams, and darts malignant fire: 
 His angry cheek with fitful crimson burns, 
 While his pale lip, gnaw'd and convulsed by turns, 
 Vents many a stubborn sigh : — Sight so depraved, 
 Grieved Christian's parent-heart, who, pensive 
 
 craved 
 The melancholy cause. 
 
 ' Know,' said the Sage, 
 6 The prudent Guardian of yon tender charge, 
 ' Wills each for his inheritance should wait 
 
65 
 
 ; The coming year: — Passion demands all now; 
 6 But Patience yields him to the wise delay.' — 
 
 While yet he spake, behold th' expected prize 
 At Passion's feet pour'd forth:— He feasts his eyes ; — 
 Intoxicate he grasps the glittering toy, 
 And sneers and laughs to scorn the patient boy, 
 Unmoved spectator of his frantic joy. — 
 — Anon, a graceless prodigal contest, 
 He squanders all: — Yea, strips his very vest; 
 Till nought remains his own, but empty bags, 
 And pining penury, and starveling rags! 
 
 * Lo!' said the Seer, ' in allegoric type 
 1 Man's just epitome. — Wild Passion, marks 
 ' The slaves of this vain world; whose all of bliss 
 
66 
 
 Time's shallow NOW contains! — Patience, the 
 
 * heirs 
 
 * Of that blest world to come; whose sacred joys 
 
 * Through heavVs interminable year shall flow, 
 
 1 Pure, fathomless, unbounded! — Now as thou saw'st 
 1 How Passion's wealth soon squandered, sunk to 
 
 * rags, 
 
 4 Such the poor worldling's fate when Time shall 
 1 end'. * 
 
 ************ 
 
 * In this instructive emblem, Passion represents the preva- 
 lence of the carnal affections over reason and religion. Whatever 
 be the object, this dominion of the passions produces fretfulness 
 and childish perverseness, when the imagined temporal good is 
 withheld. This impatience of delay or disappointment is how- 
 
67 
 
 -Now, a deep dungeon's drear abyss 
 
 They venture down : but nought save horrid gloom 
 And clammy death-damp, seem'd to linger there ! — 
 Anon, by one dim crevice-gleam, they glance 
 A haggard form, in rugged iron caged, 
 Pale as a midnight spectre ! Prone, and stark, 
 And plunged in the dense void, sunk his wild gaze ! 
 His skeleton hands, bone within bone fell clasp'd ! 
 
 ever succeeded by pride, insolence, and inordinate though transi- 
 ent joy, when the man is indulged with the possession of his idol 5 
 yet he soon grows dissatisfied with success, and often speedily 
 lavishes away his coveted advantages. — On the other hand, Pati- 
 ence is the emblem of those who quietly aud meekly wait for 
 future happiness, renouncing present things for the sake of it. 
 True riches, honours, and pleasures, are intended for them, but 
 not here j and, as young children well governed, they simply wait 
 for them till the appointed season, in the way of patient obedi- 
 
68 
 
 While from his breaking heart, heaved the drawn 
 
 sigh 
 Of uttermost despair ! 
 
 The Pilgrim mused 
 In mournful sympathy; and questional brief 
 The captive's dolorous tale. 
 
 i Ah me!' replied 
 The miserable man? ' I was not once as now V 
 
 ence. — The life faith is the reign of reason over passion ; while 
 unbelief makes way for the triumph of passion over reason. Nor 
 can any thing be more essential to practical religion than an 
 abiding conviction, that it is the only true wisdom, uniformly and 
 cheerfully to part with every temporal good, whenever it inter- 
 feres with the grand concerns of eternity. 
 
69 
 Chr. Speak — speak thy bitter change, 
 
 6 In brighter days/ 
 Sigh'd the desponding' Shade, ' (Oh, falsely bright !) 
 4 In high profession of Eternal Truth 
 * I flourished fair: — fair in mine own conceit, 
 ' And boast of all around : yea, fond I pressed 
 4 In confidence of pride, my self-plann'd way 
 i To endless bliss, and panted for the prize 
 6 With unfeign'd ardor.' 1 
 
 * But what art thou nowV 
 Said Christian, shuddering as he bent his ear 
 To the dread answer. 
 
 y Luke viii. 13. 
 
70 
 
 ' Victim of Despair!' 
 (Groan'd out the hollow-thund'ring voice;) ' Shut 
 
 4 up — 
 6 My lost — lost soul in vengeful woe shut up, 
 * As in this cage my body! — Never more 
 ' To pass that gulph ! — 0, never! — ' 
 
 Chr« But how sunk 
 
 Thy tow'ring hope to nethermost despair? 
 
 Prisoner. I banish'd sober watchfulness: — My 
 lusts 
 Grown headstrong, on their stubborn neck I laid 
 The feeble reins: — I sinn'd against the light 
 Of God's own Word: — His goodness I abused: — 
 His Holy Spirit, grieved, forsook my soul : — 
 
71 
 
 I lured the Tempter, and he enter'd there : — 
 The God I spurn'd rebellious, mocks my cry: 1 — 
 So hard my heart, I cannot now repent: — 
 Oh — now I cannot! 
 
 Chr. But may no beam of hope 
 
 Yet break this double midnight of thy soul? 
 
 Pr. None none Oh none! 
 
 Chr. Yet sure, that gracious Friend, 
 The Son of the Blessed, will not cast thee off 
 For ever! — Still, Compassion is his Name, 
 His Nature, Love. 
 
 1 Prov. i. 24—26. 
 
72 
 
 Pr. Him I have crucified 
 
 Afresh : l — Despised his Person : 2 — Set at nought 
 His saving Righteousness: — His precious blood 
 Deem'd an unholy thing: — Yea, done despite 
 To his good Spirit! 3 — Thus have I shut out 
 From HeavVs free Promises my wretched soul, 
 And nought remains my everlasting due, 
 
 But Threats: tremendous, righteous, faithful 
 
 threats 
 Of fiery vengeance, hast'ning to devour 
 Me as an adversary. 
 
 Chr. But for what 
 
 Could'st thou thus barter HeavVs peculiar Grace? 
 
 1 Heb. vi. 4—6. * Luke xix. 14. 3 Heb. x. 28, 29. 
 
73 
 
 Pr. Forsordidlusts,vilepleasures,worldlygain:- 
 Each promised full delight: — But now, Oh now, 
 They haunt and sting me like a burning worm! 
 
 Chr. Yet wherefore may'st thou not repent and 
 turn? 
 
 Pr. Repentance God witholds me : — His sworn 
 Word 
 Forbids me to believe : Yea, his own hand 
 Hath in this iron bondage barr'd me down 
 
 Thus hopeless! O Eternity! Eternity! 
 
 How shall I grapple with the pangs that wait 
 My soul through vast Eternity!* 
 
 * Christian's discourse with the man in the iron cage, suf- 
 K 
 
74 
 
 — — And now 
 
 They enter a lorn chamber, drear and dim 
 With early twilight. From his restless couch 
 Sprang, shuddering, an emaciate form, as one 
 Haunted by haggard Fantasies. — 
 
 ficiently explains the author's meaning : but it has often been 
 observed, that the man's opinion of his own case does not prove 
 that it was indeed desperate. Doubtless such fears prevail in 
 some cases of deep despondency, when there is every reason to 
 conclude them groundless 5 and we should always propose the 
 free grace of the gospel to those that have sinned in the most 
 aggravated manner, especially when they become sensible of their 
 guilt and danger. Yet it is an awful fact, that some are thus 
 'shut up under despair,' beyond relief: and " it is impossible to 
 u renew them to repentance" So that no true penitent can be in 
 
75 
 
 Chr. What ails 
 
 That lonely trembler? 
 
 Interp. Hear his own sad plaint. 
 
 6 This night/ falter'd the sufFrer, « midst mydream 
 1 Methought the heav'ns grew black: while thro* 
 
 6 the void 
 < Raged wrathful thunder-crash, and bolted flame. 
 
 * In agony of guilt I gazed around. — 
 
 * The clouds rack'd horribly : — The trump of doom 
 
 this case : and we are commanded (( in meekness to instruct those 
 " that oppose themselves, if perad venture God will give them re* 
 (C pentance." But wc should leave the doom of apparent apos- 
 tates to God 5 and improve their example, as a warning to our- 
 
76 
 
 * PeaPd from on high: — The Judge tremendous, 
 
 ' throned 
 
 * On a bright cloud, in glorious pomp came down: 
 ' His myriad hosts, weapon'd with vengeful fire, 
 
 i To the dread advent throng'd: when,lo! a voice — 
 1 A voice from the mid heav'n — " Arise, ye dead, 
 " And come to judgment /"—Pale from sepulchral 
 ' rock, 
 
 * Rent grave, and yawning flood, the dead came 
 
 1 forth. 1 
 
 » John v. 28, 29. 1 Cor. xv. 51—58. 2 Thess. i. 7—10. 
 Jude. 14,15. Rev. xx. 11—15. 
 
 selves and others, not to venture one step in so dangerous a 
 path. — This our author has judiciously attempted in a most strik- 
 ing manner, and God forbid that I should in the least coun- 
 teract his obvious intention. 
 
77 
 
 ( Some, changing 1 bright from earthly to divine, 
 
 * With hopeful joy gazed upward. Others, laps'd 
 ( To foul satanic semblance, craved aloud 
 
 1 'Neath the crash'd mountains an eternal tomb! 1 
 
 * Anon, the Judge his fateful Book unclosed, 
 
 ' (Nowsumm'd compleat) and bade the world draw 
 
 ' near. 
 4 Buoyant on surging vapour, rose at once 
 6 The congregated Universe ! — thus borne, 
 
 * Till, on the verge of uncreated light, 
 
 1 All — all stood poised ! all ranged infallible, 
 4 As each, self-doom'd, in conscious hope or fear 
 1 Waited his just award! 2 Then, sounded forth — 
 1 ( — O still it harrows my tormented soul,) 
 
 1 Ps. 1. 1—3, 22. Isa. xxvi. 20, 21. Mic. vii. 16, 17. 
 * Dan. vii. 9, 10. Mai. iii. 2, 3. 
 
78 
 
 ' Th' irrevocable mandate. " Gather first 
 
 " The tares, the chaff, the stubble, to the lake 
 " Qf.fi re unquenchable /" — ' That instant, yawn'd 
 * Ev'n at my feet, th' unfathomable gulph! — 
 1 Down, down to central fire, th' ejected crew 
 6 Rush'd headlong! whilst, by torrid whirlwinds 
 
 * driv'n, 
 ' The billowy sulphur whelm'd them as theyplunged 
 < Hell's throng'd abyss! — Excruciate in suspense, 
 ' Alone I stood ; when thus again the Judge, 
 ' Ineffably benign : — " Gather my wheat 
 " To the celestial garner" 1 — The blest charge 
 i Sped each bright angel for some kindred saint, 
 e Nor one returned unsocial: 2 — But, for me — 
 
 1 Mai. iv. 1,2. Matt. iii. 12. xiii. 30. Luke iu. 17, 
 2 1 Thess. iv. 13—18. 
 
79 
 
 * O, horror! — no kind angel stoop'd for me! — 
 
 fi I sought swift refuge from th* all-piercing Eye 
 4 That menaced me. — Vain hope! — Still, still it 
 
 6 probed 
 6 Mine inmost soul; by conscious guilt prejudged 
 
 * To merciless perdition I 1 — Welt'ring thus 
 
 * In pangs of uttermost despair, I woke. — ' 
 
 ************ 
 
 1 Rom. ii. 14, 15. 
 
©firtaStiatt arrives at the <&V0$& 
 
 and drops his Burden. 
 
 — A safe well-travell'd course before him lay, 
 
 On either hand with high munition skreen'd 
 
 Of strong Salvation, 1 Here, with laboring speed, 
 
 The zealous Pilgrim journey'd, till he gain'd 
 
 A smooth-sloped hill, crown'd with a gory Cross ! — 
 
 Deep in a rock that fenced that sacred height, 
 
 1 Isaiah xxvi. 1. 
 
82 
 
 Was sunk, unportal'd, a sepulchral cave: 
 When, lo! as near the Cross rev'rent he paused, 
 Down dropt his pond'rous load! and, self-impell'd 
 Roll'd on; till, swift within the cavern plunged, 
 It vanish'd, and he saw that pest no more!* 
 
 As one who through a long, a restless night, 
 Heaved, panted, groan'd, beneath the giant weight 
 Of torpid Incubus, with sudden start 
 
 * Nothing can release the believer from his burden except 
 the clear discovery of the nature and glory of redemption.— When 
 in this divine light the soul contemplates the Redeemer's cross, 
 and discerns more clearly his love to lost sinners in dying for 
 them ; the motive and efficacy of his intense sufferings ; the glory 
 of the divine perfections harmoniously displayed in this surpris- 
 
83 
 
 Breaks joyous from the spell, he knows not how; 
 So Christian reft of his dread cumbrance, breathes 
 New liberty, new life; nor scarce can deem 
 The blest reverse substantial: till, again 
 As on the bleeding Cross intense he gazed, 
 The dizzy torrent of tumultuous joy 
 Sunk to a holy calm, — Full well he knew 
 To read that sacred symbol ; and, of Him, 
 
 ing expedient for saying the lost 3 the honour of the divine law 
 and government, and the evil and desert of sin most energetically 
 proclaimed, even in pardoning transgressors and reconciling ene- 
 mies 5 and the perfect freentss and sufficiency of this salvation ; — 
 then " his conscience is purged from dead works to serve the 
 " living God", by a simple reliance on the atoning blood of Em- 
 manuel. This deliverance from the burden of guilt is in some 
 
84 
 The Victim there once oiTer'd, thus brake forth. — 
 
 6 His bitter ivoes have bought my peace, 
 
 6 His painful toils my rest ; 
 6 His death my life when time shall cease f 
 
 6 On high among the blest. 9 
 
 Thus sang the Pilgrim; and again revolved 
 In hallow'd silence his mysterious change 
 
 At sight of that dear Cross. There, still he 
 
 gazed, 
 Till from hb eyes a mingled flood roll'd down 
 
 respects final, as to the well-instructed arid consistent believer : 
 his former sins are buried, no more to be his terror and distress. 
 
85 
 
 Of blissful wonder, gratitude, and love : l 
 
 When lo! three Shining Ones all heav'nly bright, 
 
 Breathing ethereal fragrance, tended him, 
 
 And bade him 'Peace!' — Then, with a beamy 
 
 smile 
 That sunn'd the soul, the first, their godlike prince, 
 Imperative announced his sins forgiv'n : 2 
 Another, for his abject weeds supplied 
 Celestial change of raiment; 3 whilst the third, 
 A sacred token on his forehead press'd 
 Indelible: and, with deeply-solemn charge, 
 Presented a seal'd Roll, 4 thenceforth ordain'd 
 His solace, and at the celestial Gate 
 His heav'n-appointed passport. Thus fulfilPd 
 Their faithful embassage, on viewless wing 
 
 1 Zech. xii. 10. 2 Mark ii. 5. 3 Zech. iii. 4. 4 Eph. i. 13. 
 
86 
 
 They vanished: while with merry heart, light step, 
 And grateful song, Christian pursued his way.* 
 
 * Christian's tears, amidst his gladness, intimate, that deli- 
 verance from guilt, by faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ, 
 tends to increase sorrow for sin, and abhorrence of it ; though 
 it mingles even those affections with a sweet and solid plea- 
 sure. — By the 6 three shining ones' the author alludes to the mi- 
 nistration of angels, as in some way subservient to the comfort 
 of the heirs of salvation. — The mark in the forehead evidently 
 signifies the renewal of the soul to holiness 5 while the roll with 
 the seal upon it, denotes such an assurance of acceptance, as ap- 
 pears most clear and satisfactory, when the believer most atten- 
 tively compares himself with the holy Scriptures. — It could not 
 possibly be intended to ascribe these effects to any other agent 
 than the Holy Spirit, for he alone as the Spirit of adoption en- 
 ables a man to exercise in a lively manner all filial affections 
 towards God $ and thus bears witness with his conscience, that 
 his sins are pardoned, that he is justified by faith in the righteous- 
 ness of Emmanuel, a child of God, and an heir of heaven. 
 
®2)rf*tiam'0 conflict with ^pollgott, 
 in the Valley of ^ttlttilfatiOtt* 
 
 ************ 
 
 -His anxious eye 
 
 The shadowy vale's dim vista keenly ranged ; 
 When, fierce as sulph'rous flame from the black 
 south, 
 
 They who have experienced this happy change, will readily un- 
 derstand the language in which it is described 5 and the abiding 
 effects of their joy in the Lord, upon their temper and conduct, 
 
88 
 
 Burst thro' the gloom a foul-distorted fiend, — 
 Apollyon, prince of hell ! — The grisly Pest 
 Came tow'ring on : — Aback the Pilgrim shrunk 
 Half resolute for flight : — but, arni'd alone 
 To breast and brave the foe — (fenceless behind) — 
 To fly were instant fate! — That thought new 
 
 manned him, — 
 Firm as the rooted flint that chafed his foot, 
 
 (like the impression of the seal after the wax is cooled,) com- 
 pletely distinguish it from the confidence and comfort of hypo- 
 crites and enthusiasts. It must, however, continue to be " the 
 u secret of the Lord, with them that fear him j w u hidden manna," 
 and u a white stone, having in it a new name written, which no 
 " man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." l 
 
 1 Psa. xxv. 14. 
 
89 
 
 TV intrepid Champion stood. — His sword, high 
 
 poised, 
 Flash'd like an angry meteor: — His broad shield, 
 Heav'n-wrought,and embleufd with a radiant Cross, 
 Potent he grasp'd, and the proud demon dared.* 
 
 Now, front to front awhile, in hostile pause, 
 Like two mute thunder-clouds they frown'd ! — 
 Aloft, 
 
 * Evil spirits seem to have peculiar access to the imagination, 
 and are able to paint before that illusive faculty the most alluring 
 or terrifying representations, as if they were realities. — Apol- 
 LYON signifies the destroyer : x and in carrying on the work of 
 destruction, fallen angels endeavour, by various devices, to deter 
 men from prayer, and to render them afraid of those things with- 
 
 1 Rev. ix. 11. 
 M 
 
90 
 
 Brooding infernal vengeance, the grim fiend 
 Rear'd his embattled bulk, with scaly brass 
 Fenced fearfully. — A dragon's talon'd wings 
 Coped his huge shoulders like a sable shield :- 
 His quiver like a raging furnace blazed ; 
 Surcharged with fiery darts new-forged in hell: 
 Each shaggy limb a bear's keen terrors arm'd: 
 
 out which the life of faith cannot be maintained ; in order that, 
 after convictions, they may be led to give up religion, as the only 
 method of recovering their composure. Many, " having no root 
 <c in themselves," thus gradually fall away 3 and others are greatly 
 retarded : but the well-instructed believer sees no safety except 
 in facing his enemy. If it appear dangerous to persevere, to de- 
 sist is inevitable ruin, (for Christian had no armour for his 
 back.) So that fear itself will in that case induce a man to stand 
 his ground 5 and the more resolutely he resists temptation, the 
 sooner will he regain his tranquillity 5 for, when the suggestions 
 
91 
 
 While, jagg'd with a gaunt lion's hungry fangs, 
 His hideous jaws, wide-yawning, foam'd for prey. — 
 So stood the wary combatants ; when thus 
 The monster-demon with disdainful brow, 
 And burst of torrent rage, fierce parle began. 
 
 ' Whence and what art thou? What malignant 
 * chance 
 * Hath cast thee here, and whither dost thou roam?' 
 
 of Satan excite us to pray more fervently, and to be more di- 
 ligent in every duty, that enemy will soon " flee from us." 
 Perhaps some may remember a time when they were harassed 
 to that degree as almost to despair of relief 5 who have since been 
 so entirely delivered, that, were it not for the recollection of their 
 own past experience, they would be ready to ascribe these dis- 
 tresses to disease or enthusiasm, notwithstanding all that the 
 Scripture contains on the subject. 
 
92 
 
 Chr. I come from that detested sink of sin, 
 The City of Destruction; and here pass 
 A Pilgrim to Mount Zion. 
 
 Apol. Thine own lips, 
 
 Ev'n to the very proof attest thee mine, 
 And brand thee traitor to my cause. — Yea, there, 
 In that wide bound'ry thou hast madly broke, 
 I reign, sole God and King. — And but I look 
 For service to atone thy base revolt, 
 Ev'n now this lifted arm with one dread stroke 
 Had felPd thee to the ground. 
 
 Chr. True — O most true, 
 
 In thy dominions 'twas my bitter fate 
 My natal breath to draw : But soon I shared 
 
93 
 
 Gross bondage, niggard fare, and starveling hire ; 
 Forewarned the while that " sin's sure dole is 
 
 " death." 1 — 
 Thus abject, and now grown to manly prime, 
 I sought blest riddance from thy galling yoke. — 
 
 Apol. Where's the duped Sovereign that would 
 lightly lose 
 His lawful vassals? — No such dupe am J. — 
 But since, forsooth, scant wages are thy plaint, 
 (The rebel's idle plea) now, now return 
 My duteous charge; and, trust me, thou shalt 
 
 share 
 In full content, a princely-liberal boon. 
 
 1 Rom. vi. 23. 
 
94 
 
 Chr. Return I dare not : — The great King of 
 Kings 
 Hath bought me for his own, — 
 
 Apol. The proverb's taunt, 
 
 " From bad to worse /" such folly well derides.— 
 Yet many a slave (best taught by bitter proof,) 
 Hath brook'd awhile his service, and, anon, 
 Spurn'd his tyrannic sway. — Be thou thus wise, 
 And all shall yet be well. 
 
 Chr. But I am His, 
 
 By sworn allegiance, and eternal right: 
 How then shall I contract such foul default, 
 Nor meet the traitor's doom? 
 
95 
 
 Apol. Thy faith to me 
 
 First sworn, first due, perfidious thou hast broke : 
 Yet of my princely clemency / spare 
 Thy forfeit life, so thou return to me. — 
 
 Chr. What then I pledged, my nonage may 
 excuse : 
 Yea, the great King beneath whose banner here 
 I stand enrolPd, will pardon and absolve 
 My traitor-league to thee: — But, more than all, 
 Remorseless Ravager ! tho' Hell withstand, 
 His service, wages, subjects, I prefer — 
 His governance, society, domain, 
 Beyond compare, to thine ; — Know then, thy lures 
 Thou spread'st in vain : — His loyal Bond am I, 
 Him, Him alone to serve. 
 
96 
 
 Apol. Nay, ponder well 
 
 In cool-collected thought thy rash resolve, 
 Or e'er this headlong torrent of thy blood 
 Dash thee to ruin ! — What ! need'st thou yet be 
 
 taught 
 How this loved Prince to bonds and death consigns 
 His slaves usurp'd from me? Whence then this 
 
 fond 
 This scornful preference of his yoke to minel 
 — Think yet again — When stoop'd he from his 
 
 throne 
 To save one friend from my contested pow'r 
 Still held in poise with his? — Not thus I leave 
 My faithful subjects when enslaved by him: 
 Yea, many a time, by stratagem or force 
 I've won them back ; and fain would rescue thee. 
 
97 
 
 Chr, Thy sland'rous spleen my gracious Lord 
 belies: — 
 If yet complete deliv'rance he forbear, 
 'Tis wise delay — his servants' love to prove, 
 And fealty, to the end. — And, for the close, 
 The fatal close of this their firm career, 
 Death in His qause is triumph ; and, ere long, 
 When comes their Prince with his angelic host 
 To gather his elect, the Martyr's Cross 
 Shall then exalt them to the fadeless Crown 
 Of Everlasting Glory !* 
 
 * As all have been overcome by the temptations of the devil ; 
 and M of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought 
 11 into bondage:" so, by usurpation, he is become the god and 
 prince of this world, and we have all been his slaves. But be- 
 lievers, having been redeemed by the blood of Christ, are " made 
 
 N 
 
98 
 
 Apol. Look'st thou, indeed, 
 
 For such reward ? Thou ! who so oft hast swerved 
 Apostate ev'n from Him ? 
 
 Chr. Say — when — wherein, 
 
 O base Apollyon? 
 
 Apol. Hast thou then forgot? — 
 
 Didst thou not faint and murmur 5 mid the gulph 
 
 a free from sin and become the servants of God :" and the 
 abiding conviction, that all the subjects of sin and Satan must 
 perish, concurs with their experience that it is a hard bondage, 
 in fortifying them against every temptation to return. Sensible 
 of their obligations to God as their Creator and Governor, they 
 have deeply repented of past rebellions 5 and, having obtained 
 mercy, feel themselves bound by gratitude and the most solemn 
 
99 
 
 Of black Despond ? Didst thou not groan, and 
 
 chafe, 
 And pine, rebellious, 'neath thy penal load, 
 Then, lawless seek release, tho* charged to wait 
 Deliverance from thy Lord? Didst thou not lose, 
 Deep-slumb'ring on the watch, thy sacred Roll ? — 
 —Yea, the grim lions, tho' controuPd and chain'd, 
 
 engagements to cleave to him and his service. Their difficulties 
 and discouragements cannot induce them to believe that they 
 have changed i from bad to worse 5' nor will they be influenced 
 by the numbers who apostatize, from love to the world and dread 
 of the cross : for they are u rooted and grounded in love," and not 
 merely moved by fears and hopes. They are sure that the Lord 
 is able to deliver them from their enemies : and, should the 
 wicked be permitted to prosper in their malicious devices against 
 them, they know enough of his plan, to rely on his wisdom, truth, 
 and love, in the midst of sufferings. Thus they have answers 
 ready for every suggestion, 
 
 - 
 
100 
 
 Palsied each nerve, and well nigh scared thee back 
 To coward flight ! Yet when thy tongue sounds 
 
 forth 
 Each wild adventure, (thy perpetual theme ;) 
 Thy heart, vain-glorious, bloats with high conceit, 
 And secret self-applause ! 
 
 Chr. Alas ! thy taunt 
 
 Spares half my guilt : yet my forgiving Lord 
 Forbears me still : — But mark ! — these ills I trace 
 To thee — all, all to thee. — With my first breath 
 Of thy polluted clime, I suck'd them in: — 
 My torment noiv, and by my Prince forgiv'n.* 
 
 * If the suggestions before described be rejected, Satan will 
 perhaps assault the believer, by representing to his mind, with 
 
101 
 
 Apol. Thy Prince I hate : — his subjects, man- 
 dates, laws : — 
 Therefore I here withstand thee, 
 
 Chr. Dar'st thou, proud Fiend ! 
 
 Such desp'rate outrage on the King's highway, — 
 The way of holiness? — Avaunt! or learn 
 His wrath, too late, to dread. — 
 
 every possible aggravation, the several instances of his miscon- 
 duct siuce he professed the gospel; in order to heighten his 
 apprehensions of being found at last a hypocrite: for when the 
 soul is discouraged and gloomy, he will be as assiduous in re- 
 presenting every false step to be a horrid crime inconsistent with 
 the hope of salvation ; as he is at other times in persuading men, 
 that the most flagrant violations of the divine law are mere 
 trifles. — In repelling such suggestions, the well-instructed be- 
 liever will neither deny the charge, nor extenuate his guilt : but 
 
102 
 
 As when, abrupt, 
 Some fiery-cavem'd mountain's wrath, long pent, 
 Breaks into tenfold rage; with clamouring shock 
 Convulsing heav'n and earth ; So raged the Pest. — 
 At one gigantic stride, his brazen bulk, 
 Rear'd like a huge volcano, barr'd the pass. — 
 His foamy jaws, with many a thund'ring curse, 
 Bolted fierce flame : — With deadlier fury glared 
 His baleful eye : While all around him, glow'd 
 A torrid atmosphere, of potent bane 
 To wither up the spirit.- 
 
 he will flee for refuge to the free grace of the gospel, and take 
 comfort from the consciousness that he now hates and groans 
 under the remains of those evils, which once he wholly lived in 
 without remorse 3 thence inferring, that " his sins, though many, 
 " are forgiven." 
 
103 
 
 6 Prat'st thou to me/ 
 Raved then the monster-fiend, ' of dastard fear ? — 
 * Thine rather, traitor ! be the dread : — This hour 
 6 Thou diest ; — for, by th' infernal den I swear, 
 6 Here will I spill thy soul/ 
 
 Prompt at the word, 
 A flaming shaft full at the pilgrim's front 
 He launch'd.—Harmless against th' effulgent shield 
 It flash'd — it fell. — Alert, his ready sword 
 That thirsted vengeful for the coming foe, 
 Christian with iron grasp brandished aloft, 
 Defiant. — With dire yell the demon closed 
 Firm foot to foot ; and one tremendous storm 
 Of fiery-fated darts, like vollied hail, 
 Drove deadlydown!~Then,first,thePiIgrim reeFd:-- 
 
104 > 
 
 His head, hand, foot, full many a barb had stung 
 To raging agony ! — The wary foe 
 Following amain the doubtful strife, rush'd on : 
 While Christian, valorous, many a long long hour 
 Warded each furious charge: till, faint— half spent — 
 Deep sighs and groans gave sign of drear dismay, 
 And pale-departing courage blanch'd his brow.* 
 
 * The preceding part of Christian's contest with Apol- 
 LYON is instructive to every experienced believer 5 but this is far 
 more difficult: yet if we duly reflect upon the Lord's permis- 
 sion to Satan, in respect of Job, with the efforts and effects that 
 followed, and compare it with the tempter's desire of sifting 
 Peter and the apostles as wheat 3 we shall not be greatly at a 
 loss about the author's meaning. This enemy is sometimes gra- 
 tified by an arrangement of outward dispensations exactly suited 
 to favour his assaults : so that the believer's path seems wholly 
 obstructed. The Lord himself appears to have forsaken him. 
 
105 
 
 The wily fiend seizing the welcome chance, 
 (Void his red quiver, and his shafts all quench'd,) 
 Bore down precipitous, like a falling mount, 
 Full on his well-tried foe. The horrid shock 
 Crush'd him to earth : and, from his faithless grasp 
 Dash'd his life's guardian— his dishonour' d swords- 
 Grappling he fell. With savage joy the Pest 
 
 or even to fight against him 3 and his appointments are thought 
 contrary to his promises ! This gives Satan an opportunity of 
 suggesting hard thoughts of God and his ways, doubts about 
 the truth of the Scriptures, and desponding fears of a fatal event. 
 
 Many such " fiery darts" may be repelled and quenched by the 
 
 1 
 
 shield of faith : but there are seasons (as some of us well know,) 
 when they are poured in so incessautly, and receive such plausi- 
 bility from facts ; and when they so interrupt a man while pray- 
 ing, reading, or meditating, that he is tempted to intermit reli- 
 gious duties, that he may avoid these most distressing attendants 
 
 O 
 
106 
 
 (As the pounced Vulture fangs the wounded fawn) 
 Clutch'd his prone victim, and his arm high poised 
 For one last deadly blow ! That moment flash'd 
 
 on them. The evils of the heart, which seemed before subdued, 
 are so excited by means of the imagination, that they apparently 
 prevail more than ever 5 rendering every service an abomination, 
 as well as a burden 3 so that the harassed soul, alarmed, baffled, 
 denied, self-detested, and thinking that God and bis servants 
 unite in abhorring him, is ready to give up all hope, to doubt all 
 his former principles, to seek refuge in some heretical or anti- 
 nomian system, or to attempt the dissipating of his melancholy 
 gloom, by joining again in the vanities of the world. Thus the 
 enemy ' wounds him in his understanding, faith, and conversa- 
 c tion', (according to the author's marginal interpretation of his 
 meaning :) yet he caunot in this way find relief ; but is inwardly 
 constrained, with renewed efforts, to return to the conflict. When 
 such temptations however are long continued, resistance will 
 gradually become more feeble, and the distressed believer will be 
 ready to give up every thing. 
 
107 
 
 Keen o'er the Pilgrim's thought his sacred Cause! — 
 New life, new vigour, nerved him ! Swift he caught 
 TV all-conq'ring sword, and, firm, thus charged it 
 
 home. — 
 ' — Vaunt not against me, O mine enemy; 
 * I fall to rise again ! n — Deep at the word 
 He dealt a ghastly wound. — Then, first, a smile 
 Graced his wan cheek: — The felon fiend gave 
 
 back : — 
 Up sprang the Pilgrim, and, with sudden glance 
 To heav'n, at this prompt Word the charge re- 
 
 new'd. — 
 < In all these straits we more than conq'rors prove 
 4 Through Him who lov'd us\ 2 — Fierce the flaming 
 
 steel 
 
 1 Mic. viii. 8. 2 Rom. viii. 37 — 39. Jam. iv. 7. 
 
108 
 
 Drove on the foe, and drank his heart's black gore. 
 He gnash'd, he foam'd: — In mad contortions writhed 
 His scaly bulk : — Pale glared his haggard eye : 
 While pride, rage, pain,wrung forth one bitter groan, 
 Rebellowing through the Vale. — Then, all astound 
 With foul defeat, his dragon wings he spread, 
 And hied him back to hell.* 
 
 * If the believer in his further conflict with Satan, should 
 be plied closely with infidel suggestions, he may be thrown 
 down, and " his sword fly out of his hand." so that for a 
 time he may be unable to give any credit to the truth of Scrip- 
 ture, (which is called " the sword of the Spirit,") by which alone 
 he was before enabled to repel the tempter. This is a dreadful 
 case : but the Advocate above a prays" for his disciples " that 
 " their faith should not fail :" 1 so that, though Peter fell with 
 Judas, he was not left to perish with him. The christian, there- 
 1 Luke xxii. 31, 32. 
 
dfaitftful relates to G^rtetiatt 
 
 his escape from $2JfUttOtt, 
 
 and atfam ifie dFir&t. 
 
 Chr. Return thee now 
 
 To thine own chequer'd history: — full fraught 
 I ween with peril, or 'twere justly writ 
 A solitary wonder. 
 
 fore, though ' almost pressed to death/ and ready * to despair of 
 ' life,' will, by the special grace of God, be helped again to seize 
 his sword, and to use it with more effect than ever. The Holy 
 Spirit will bring to his mind, with the most convincing energy, 
 
110 
 
 Fatth. Thou hast deem'd 
 
 Most true. — I 'scaped, indeed, the dismal Slough, 
 (Thy prime mischance,) but, ere I reach'd the Gate, 
 
 the evidences of the divine inspiration of the Scriptures, and en- 
 able him to rely on the promises: and thus at length the enemy 
 will be put to flight, by testimonies of holy writ pertinently ad- 
 duced, and more clearly understood than before. — Experience will 
 teach some readers to understand these things, and they will know 
 how to compassionate and make allowances for the mistakes of 
 the tempted : and others, who have been graciously exempted 
 from perhaps the deepest anguish known on earth, (though, com- 
 monly not of long duration,) should learn from the testimony of 
 their brethren, to allow the reality of these distresses, and sym- 
 pathize with the sufferers ; and not (like Job's friends) to join 
 with Satan in aggravating their sorrows. — They who in ordi- 
 nary cases are satisfied with general convictions and comfortable 
 feelings, without being able to give a reason for their hope, may 
 be driven to the most tremendous extremities, should God permit 
 them to be thus assaulted : for they have no fixed principles to 
 
Ill 
 
 On my lone path an artful Syren stole — 
 Wanton her name — and, with bewitching' smile 
 And honied eloquence, hail'd me. The bright bloom 
 That mask'd her cheek, vied with the virgin rose : 
 Her winning glances, with sweet vernal beams: 
 Her sighs doled forth, bland as the innocent breeze 
 That waved her floating tresses. — Soft she chid, 
 In flattVing sympathy, my cheerless toil, 
 And, pointing a deep grove, with smooth caress 
 
 which they may resort in such an emergency 5 and perhaps some 
 degree of mistake always gives Satan his principal advantage on 
 these occasions. Yet men of the most sober mind and sound 
 judgment, when in a better state of bodily health than usual, and 
 in all other respects most rational, have experienced such dis- 
 tressing temptations of this kind, as ihey could scarcely have be- 
 lieved on the report of others 5 and, when delivered, they cannot 
 look back on the past without the greatest coustcrnation. 
 
112 
 
 And pledge of sweet content her guile she plied ; 
 But prompt and stern I shunn'd her. — 
 
 Chr. Joy to thee ; 
 
 All joy, my friend, to thee ; all thanks to heav'n ! — 
 Like Joseph's thine the peril and escape. 1 
 
 Faith. Nay, pure escape I boast not. — 
 
 Chr. What ! wast thou snared 
 
 By her accurs'd deceit ? 
 
 Faith. To no base deed ; — 
 
 That warning word — " Her steps take hold on hell/' 2 
 Withstood me: — but my heart, my treach'rous heart, 
 1 Gen.xxxix. 11— 13. * Prov. v, 5. Jobxxxi. 1. 
 
113 
 
 The quick contagion of her glance had pierced, — 
 I took th' alarm ; and, with averted eye, 
 And firm disdain, repulsed her. — Then, O then, 
 JBrakeforth the latent demon. — That smooth tongue 
 Peal'd torrent curses, and vindictive rage, 
 And lewd and loathsome ribaldry ; nor ceased, 
 Till voice and venom fail'd.* 
 
 Chr. O blest escape ! — 
 
 In her deep ditch th' abhorred of the Lord 
 Alone shall perish. 1 But what next befel ? 
 
 1 Prov. xxii. 14. 
 
 * Some men are preserved from desponding fears, by receiving 
 more distinct views of the truths of the gospel, and thus they 
 proceed with less hesitation and interruption, in seeking to 
 
 P 
 
114 
 
 Faith. Just as the verge I press'd of that wild 
 steep, 
 The Mount of Difficulty ; wreck'd with age, 
 A venerable Form saluted me. — 
 With strict and garrulous inquest, first he learn'd 
 My name, my drift, my destiny : then, smiled 
 Benign, and profFer'd me secure abode 
 Beneath his roof, with ever-new delights 
 
 Christ for salvation : yet, perhaps, their temperature, turn of 
 mind, habits of life, and peculiar situation, render them more ac- 
 cessible to temptations of another sort 5 and they are more in 
 danger from the fascinations of fleshly lusts. Thus in different 
 ways the Lord makes his people sensible of their depravity, weak- 
 ness, and exposed situation 3 while he so moderates the tempta- 
 tion, or interposes for their deliverance, that they are preserved, 
 and taught to ascribe all the glory to his name. 
 
115 
 
 For my select employ, and dainty cheer, 
 And final heirship to his wide domains.— 
 Earnest I craved my benefactor's name, 
 His fair abode, his household ? — ' Lo ! my Son,' 
 (Falter'd the hoary Sage,) < before thee stands 
 
 * Adam the First : — In famed Deceit I dwell : 
 1 My very menials boast descent from me : 
 
 1 While three prime daughters, Libertine Desire, 
 
 * Eye-lust, and Pride of Life, 1 crown all my joys, 
 4 And shall be freely thine.' 
 
 Chr. But say — how closed 
 
 This golden prospect ? 
 
 Faith. First, the dazzling bait 
 
 » Uohnii. 16. 
 
.116 
 
 Half won me ; till, all wistful as I mused, 
 Sudden, as by some radiant finger traced, 
 On his deep forehead blush' d this timely charge — 
 " Put off the 5 Old Man, with his deceitful lusts." 1 
 Keen as the glance of lightning, on my soul 
 Flash'd full disclosure of his curs'd design :— 
 Slav'ry my abject doom! — Abrupt I spurn'd 
 The snaky sycophant. With furious scowl 
 He flouted me askance ; and rail'd, and foam'd, 
 And swore my further pilgrimage to plague 
 With some relentless foe : then, as I turn'd 
 Indignant, to depart, savage he sprang 
 And pluck'd me back : — So deadly was the shock, 
 All rack'd and dislocate, yea, asunder torn, 
 
 i Eph, iv. 22. 
 
117 
 
 Seem'd ev'ry joint! — In raging agony 
 
 I writhed, I groan'd aloud, " wretched man !"* 
 
 And burst from his vile grasp. * 
 
 * Those christians; who by strong faith or assured hope, en- 
 dure hardships more cheerfully than their brethren, may some- 
 times be exposed to greater danger from the allurements of out- 
 ward objects. Deep humiliation and great anxiety about the 
 event, in many instances, tend to repress the lusts of the heart, 
 by supplying a continual succession of other thoughts and cares : 
 whilst constant encouragement, readily attained, too often leaves 
 a man to experience them more forcibly. Nay, the same persons, 
 who under pressing solicitude seem to be entirely delivered from 
 some peculiar corruptions, find them revive and become very im- 
 portunate when they have obtained more confidence about their 
 salvation. The Old Adam, the corrupt nature, proves a constant 
 snare to many believers, by its thirsting after the pleasures, riches, 
 honours, and pride of the world : nor can the victory be secured 
 without great difficulty and trouble, and strong faith and fervent 
 prayer. 
 
&&itf)fuV&Jirst discourse with Calftatibt** 
 
 ********** 
 
 -Such high theme 
 
 Pursuing, Faithful spied, in lonely mood 
 A ruddy Pilgrim, (Talkative his name,) 
 And thus saluted him. — ' Whither away? — 
 * If ours thy destined course, freely partake 
 ' Our company. 9 — 
 
 * The character here introduced, under a most expressive 
 name, is an admirable portrait, drawn by a masterly hand from 
 
120 
 
 Talk. Most willingly : — In hope 
 
 Of better chance, I tow'rd the heavenly land 
 Thus far have sped unsocial ; and I joy 
 Your kindly-tender'd intercourse to share. 
 
 Faith. The like to thee : — and be our chosen 
 theme 
 What best becomes our sacred destiny. 
 
 some striking original, but exactly resembling numbers in every 
 age and place, where the truths of the gospel are generally known. — 
 Talkative is not so called merely from his loquacity ; but also 
 from the peculiarity of his religious profession, which gives scope 
 to his natural propensity, by furnishing him with a copious sub- 
 ject, and enabling him to display his talents, or seek credit among 
 pious persons, without the trouble and expense of practical god- 
 liness. Such vain-talkers especially appear when religious pro- 
 fession is safe, and reputable, and even in many cases conducive 
 
121 
 
 Talk. Well turn'd, my friend: — To talk on 
 themes divine 
 Is ever my delight; — too rare, indeed, 
 Such lofty scope in these degenerate days, 
 But thence to me more grateful* 
 
 Faith. Thy just plaint 
 
 I zealously accord : — for, what more sweet 
 In earthly converse, than to raise the soul 
 Anticipant of heav'n ? 
 
 to secular advantage. They may, therefore, be expected in our 
 age and nation, particularly in populous places, where the preach- 
 ing: or profession of any doctrine excites little attention or sur- 
 prise, but ensures regard and favour from a numerous body who 
 hold the same opinions. 
 
 Q 
 
122 
 
 Talk. Well said : — well said : — 
 
 Such heav nly talk is sweetly profitable, 
 And profitably sweet. — Is any charm 
 In things historic, mystic, lofty, deep ? 
 Do wonders, tokens, miracles, delight? 
 Whence shall the tongue such varied store provide 
 As from the Sacred Records ? 
 
 Faith. True — but see 
 
 Thou reap not husks for fruit : — Profit alone 
 Should be our drift. 
 
 Talk. My echo, friend, again !— 
 
 5 Tis that same point i* press. — Such prime dis- 
 course 
 Grows to sound knowledge;— knowledge general, 
 
123 
 
 Of the stark vanity of earthly things, 
 The sov'reign excellence of things above : — 
 And knowledge special, of man's total need 
 Of new and heav'nly birth : — the nothingness 
 Of Works, till stampt with Righteousness Divine : — 
 The nature of true penitence, faith, prayer : — 
 The consolations, promises, (how rich !) 
 SealM to the heirs of grace: — Knowledge, in 
 
 brief, 
 That nerves to steady valiance for The Truth, 
 And makes ev'n folly's self supremely wise. 
 
 Faith. Granted: — but mark — knowledge to 
 fruit matured, 
 Is heavVs own gift ; nor diligence, nor talk, 
 (Celestial aid withheld,) one grace can yield. 
 
124 
 
 Talk. Nay — trust me, friend, these trite, these 
 obvious truths, 
 I have not now to learn : — full well I know- 
 Man's ev'ry talent is a gift from heav'n : — 
 That grace, not works, commends him. — Proof on 
 
 proof, 
 Scripture on scripture, endless, I could cite, 
 But spare your patience. 
 
 Faith. Say then, what single theme 
 
 Shall fix our conference ? 
 
 Talk. E'en what you will. — 
 
 Alike to me things earthly, things divine ; — 
 Moral, or evangelic : — Sacred things, 
 Or things profane:— Things past,or things to come: — 
 
125 
 
 Things foreign, things at home : — Essential things, 
 Things circumstantial ; — All alike to me 
 That aims our profit. 
 
 Glowing with surprize, 
 Apart in Christian's ear Faithful pour'd forth 
 A lavish greeting, on their happy chance 
 To join that wondrous Youth.* — With modest smile 
 
 * Zealous christians, who are not well established in judgment 
 and experience, are often greatly taken with the discourse of per- 
 sons, who speak fluently and plausibly on various subjects, with 
 a semblance of truth and piety : yet they sometimes feel, as it 
 were, a defect in their harangues, which makes them hesitate, 
 though they are easily satisfied with specious explanations. — 
 Talkative's discourse is copied, with surprising exactness, from 
 that of numbers who' learn doctrinally to discuss even experi- 
 mental subjects, of which they never felt the energy and efficacy 
 
126 
 
 The wary Pilgrim heard ; and thus ungloss'd 
 The smooth imposture.- — 
 
 1 Truly, my friend, that tongue, 
 1 That babbling fount of folly at full play, 
 
 * Charms most, who least have known him : but, 
 
 ' to me, 
 
 * Each genuine feature more correctly shows, 
 € Than to his own vain self. 9 
 
 in their own souls. Men of this stamp can take up any point 
 in religion with great ease, and speak on it in an ostentatious 
 manner: but the humble believer forgets himself, while from 
 his heart he expatiates on topicks which he longs to recommend 
 to those whom he addresses. Humility and charity, however, 
 dispose men to make the best of others, and to distrust them- 
 selves : so that, unless connected with proportionable depth of 
 judgment and acuteness of discernment, they put them off' their 
 
127 
 
 Faith. Who, then ? — What knave 
 
 Hath dealt me thus deceitful ? 
 
 Chr. His true name 
 
 Is Talkative ; — ambitious, he would shine 
 Our idle town's prime Oracle ! — His father, 
 
 guard, in respect of rain-glorious talkers. It would be conceited 
 and uncandid, they think, to suspect a man, who says so many 
 good things, with great confidence and zeal $ their dissatisfaction 
 with the conversation they suppose was their own fault 5 if they 
 disagreed with the speaker, probably they were in an error 5 if 
 a doubt arose in their minds about his spirit or motives, it might 
 be imputed to their own pride and envy. — Thus they are seduced 
 to sanction what they ought to protest against, and to admire 
 those whom they should avoid j and that even by means of the 
 most amiable dispositions! What follows is peculiarly calcu- 
 lated to rectify such mistakes, and to expose the consequences of 
 this ill-judged candour. 
 
128 
 
 High-minded Say-well, vaunts him for a sage : 
 But, stript of his fine prate and borrow'd plume, 
 He fades a sorry cheat! — Oui*town is wide, 
 Or, doubtless, thou hadst known him well. 
 
 Faith. Tis hard 
 
 To think such knavery in such fair disguise, 
 
 Chr. Nay, brother, far more difficult to doubt. — 
 No taint of scandal, spleen, or rancorous gall, 
 Venoms my tongue : — Believe me, friend, he shews 
 Like some gross daub ; most distant, most ap- 
 proved: — 
 Saint tho' he shine abroad, at home he storms 
 A churl, a pest, a devil : — Each meek child 
 Smit with a trembling conscience, he disowns : — 
 
129 
 
 His house, his heart, his converse, spice no more 
 Of grace, than of pure balm the desert-blast. 
 Ev'n the dumb brute shames this ungodly Brag, 
 And better serves his Maker. — His vile tongue 
 Chimes to the popular tone, whate'er the theme : — 
 Tavern and temple, profligate and pure, 
 Boast equal charms for him : — Yea, most he teems 
 With gospel tattle > when his maudlin brain 
 Reels o'er the thrice-drain'd bowl ! 
 
 Faith. Alas ! how strange, 
 
 How scandalous the cheat ! — 
 
 Chr. Most strange : Yet thus 
 
 Speaks the sure Word of Truth : — " They say, and 
 " do not. — 
 
130 
 
 " But grace divine stands not in word, but power." 1 
 — This man is pure religion's foulest blot; 
 Its bitterest reproach ; its deadliest foe. — 2 
 At this proudstone of stumbling, crowds on crowds 
 Have perish'd in their guilt. — Fraud is his trade : 
 His sport, the sufferer's plaint : Slander, his food : 
 His music, Misery. — Ev'n his prime friends 
 Once falFn dependant, curse their easy faith : — 
 Wife, children, servants ; — all, in turn, all prove 
 His tenderest mercies cruel. 
 
 *********** 
 
 1 Matt, xxiii. 3. 1 Cor. iv. 20. * Rom. ii. 23,24. 
 
Description of ^attttg=i?atr/ 
 
 ************ 
 
 The Pilgrims now in downcast mood 
 Paced the gay Town. A savage brood 
 With hubbub hoarse, and deaf ning din, 
 And gaping wonder wide a-grin, 
 
 * Vanity-Fair, represents the wretched state of things, in 
 those populous places especially where true religion is neglected 
 and persecuted ; and indeed of " the whole world lying in wicked- 
 u ness," as distinguished from the church of redeemed sinners. 
 This continues the same (in respect of the general principles, 
 
132 
 
 The pensive strangers throng'd around. 
 Their solemn port and pilgrim vest 
 They banter for a standing jest: — 
 
 ' Barbarians! bedlams! fools!' 1 resound 
 From ev'ry quarter : whilst the tone 
 Of Canaan's language, all unknown, 
 
 1 1 Cor. iv. 9, 10. 
 
 conduct, and pursuits of mankind,) through all ages and nations : 
 but christians are called to mix more with it, at some times than 
 at others : and Satan, the god and prince of it, is permitted to 
 excite fierce persecution in some places and on some occasions, 
 while at other times he is restrained. Mr. Bunyan, living in 
 the country, had frequent opportunities of witnessing those fairs, 
 which are held first in one town and then in another 3 and of 
 observing the pernicious effects produced on the principles, mo- 
 rals, health, and circumstances of young persons especially, by 
 thus drawing together a multitude, from motives of interest, dis- 
 sipation, and excess. 
 
133 
 
 Grates on their ears in accents crude ; — 
 A babbling jargon gross and rude. 
 
 Thus through the mart with mournful gaze 
 They pass, 'midst scenes could only raise 
 Disrust, and scorn, and grieved amaze. — 
 On either band, for instant trade, 
 With tinsel gaudery were displayed 
 In sign or substance — Houses, lands ; 
 Pensions and bribes for courtly bands ; 
 
 Preferments, titles, sceptres, thrones, 
 Countries and kingdoms. There, a-row, 
 Seductive trick'd,in sordid show, 
 Bawds, panders, harlots, servants, slaves, 
 
 Souls, bodies. — While each scaffold groans 
 With silver, gold, and costly stones — 
 
134 
 
 Yea, all the sickly fancy craves; — 
 The bane of fools, the thrift of knaves. 
 
 In a wide area, choak'd with keen 
 And constant votaries, might be seen, 
 (Quitted of cost,) Games, fooleries, cheats ; 
 Deep jugglers at their wizard feats; 
 Plays, apes, and rogues in large supply ; 
 Rapes, murders, — crimes for ev'ry eye, 
 And foul false-swearers of a blood-red dye. 
 — Here too, full many a thriving mart 
 Each several nation holds apart, 
 With vanities in motley pride 
 From ev'ry distant clime supplied. 1 
 
 1 Eccks. i. 2, 14. ii. 11, 17. xi. 8. Isa. xl. 17. 
 
135 
 
 But- chief, proud Rome her tinsel ware 
 Vociferous vaunts beyond compare : — 
 Her gewgaws, nostrums, mummeries, shrines, 
 Her foisted miracles and signs, 
 
 Once prized thro' half the globe : but now, 
 Full many a nation, wiser taught 
 By sound experience dearly bought, 
 
 Spurns the stale trash for empty show.* 
 
 * Worldly men covet, pursue, grasp at, and contend for, the 
 things of time and sense, with eagerness and violence; so that 
 their conduct aptly resembles the bustle, selfishness, artifice, dis- 
 sipation, riot, and tumult of a large crowded fair. The profits, 
 pleasures, honours, possessions, and distinctions of the world, are 
 as transient and frivolous as the events of the fair day; with 
 which children are delighted, but which every man of sense con- 
 temns. Solomon, after a complete experiment, pronounced the 
 whole to be " vanity of vanities ;" the veriest vanity imaginable, 
 
136 
 
 Thus through besotted crowds, and vile 
 And ribald scenes, the Pilgrims toil: — 
 
 a complex vanity, an accumulation of cyphers, a lottery consist- 
 ing entirely of blanks 3 every earthly object being unsuitable to 
 the wants of a rational soul, unsubstantial- unsatisfactory, dis- 
 appointing and perishing. — The carnal mind always hankers 
 after one trifle or other, and longs c for change of follies, and re- 
 ' lays of joy;' while objects suited to its feverish thirst are al- 
 ways at hand to allure it, deriving their efficacy from continually 
 
 pressing, as it were, on the senses. When our first parents 
 
 were fatally prevailed on to join Satan's apostacy, they a forsook 
 " the Fountain of living waters, to hew out for themselves broken 
 cisterns j" and the idolatry, of seeking happiness from the crea- 
 ture instead of the Creator, has been universal among all their 
 posterity. No crime has ever been committed on earth, or con- 
 ceived in the heart of man, which did not arise from this universal 
 apostacy and idolatry; from the excess, to which the insufficiency 
 of the object to answer the proposed end, gives risej and from 
 the vile passions which the jarring interests or inclinations of 
 numberless competitors for honour, ^power, wealth, and pleasure, 
 
137 
 
 Nor wandVing wish for gilded bane, 
 Nor ev'n one curious glance they deign. 
 Tempted to traffic, they reply 
 4 The Truth — The sacred Truth we buy/ 1 
 Still urged, they stop their ears, and sigh, 
 And breathe to Heav'n the fervent prayer, 
 (With looks that speak their treasure there) 2 
 ' turn mine eyes from Vanity !' 3 
 
 1 Prov. xxiii. 23. * Matt. vi. 20, 21. Phil. iii. 20, 21. 
 3 Psa. cxix. 37. 
 
 cannot fail to excite. As the streams of impiety and vice, which 
 flow from this source, are varied, according to men's constitu- 
 tions, education, habits, and situations : so different worldly pur- 
 suits predominate in divers nations, or stages of civilization.— 
 
 S 
 
138 
 
 —Bandied abroad from tongue to tongue, 
 The solemn Word incessant rung 
 Through the base rout, with hideous yell. 
 Whilst, madly fraught with rage from hell, 
 Riot, and rack, and wild affray, 
 Clamour, and clang, triumphant bray 
 From frantic myriads high and low ; 
 Till signs of instant overthrow 
 
 The merchandize of Rome, which suited a rude and ignorant age, 
 has now given place to the more plausible wares of sceptical phi- 
 losophers, which are more agreeable to the pride of learning and 
 human reasoning. — Even things lawful in themselves, when 
 sought, or possessed in a manner which is not consistent with 
 «' seeking first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness," 
 become allurements of Satan, to draw sinners into his fatal 
 snare. 
 
139 
 
 Menaced the Fair.* — Swift tidings brought 
 To their liege lord, with slander fraught, 
 
 * The presence of real christians in those places, where a large 
 concourse of worldly men is collected for sinful purposes, must 
 produce a disturbance and effervescence : and the smaller the 
 number is of those, who by their actions, words, or silence protest 
 against vice and impiety, the fiercer the opposition that will be 
 excited. — A pious clergyman, on board a vessel, where he was 
 a single exception to the general ungodliness that prevailed, gave 
 great offence by constantly but silently withdrawing, when oaths 
 or unseemly discourse made his situation uneasy ; and he was 
 called to account for so assuming a singularity ! — The consistent 
 believer is always deemed precise and uncouth, insane or out- 
 landish, in the judgment of those who " walk according to the 
 a course of this world." His discourse, seasoned with piety, hu- 
 mility, and spirituality, so differs from " the filthy conversation 
 ¥ of the wicked," and the polite simulation of the courtly, that 
 they can have no intercourse with him, or he with them : and 
 when he speaks of the love of Christ, and the satisfaction of 
 
140 
 
 He, jealous, with a trusty few, 
 Spake order, and the Pilgrims drew 
 
 (Brutely exultant o'er his prey,) 
 To stand before a venal crew, 
 
 For the wild uproar of that day. 
 
 communion with him, while they a blaspheme the worthy name 
 " by which he is called 5" they must seem barbarians each to 
 the other. But above all, the believer's contempt of worldly 
 things, when they interfere with the will and glory of God, forms 
 such a testimony against all the pursuits and conduct of carnal 
 men, who " think it strange that he will not run with them to 
 u the same excess of riot," as must excite their greatest astonish- 
 ment and indignation. " These men" (it is alleged,) " who turn 
 " the world upside down are come hither also 5" u they exceed- 
 u ingly trouble the city," town, or village by their uncharitable 
 discourse and example ! — Thus Satan takes occasion to excite 
 persecution, when he fears lest the servants of God should suc- 
 cessfully disseminate their principles : and persecuting princes 
 
The Captivity of (S^dsftfatt and pipeful 
 
 in Houfctittg^agtle* 
 
 Thus musing, they approachM the shady verge 
 Of a pure stream, writ in the Pilgrim's chart 
 « /Zwer of Goz>,' and < Of *Ae TFater of Life: 1 
 
 1 Psa. lxv. 9. Ezek. xlvii. Rev. xxii. 1. 
 
 and magistrates, his most trusty friends, are deputed by him to 
 molest and punish their peaceable subjects, for conscientiously 
 refusing conformity to the world, or for dissenting from doctrines 
 
142 
 
 On either side, waved in perennial green 
 
 The trees of Paradise : Perennial fruits 
 
 Of vital savour, pended from each bough 
 
 In full nectareous prime : The leaves were balm : 
 
 While the smooth sod beneath, spontaneous teem'd 
 
 With lilied fragrance. — Here their blissful path 
 
 and modes of worship which they deem unscriptural. Thus, the 
 most valuable members of the community are banished, im- 
 prisoned, or murdered 5 multitudes are tempted to hypocrisy 5 
 encouragement is given to time-servers to seek secular advan- 
 tages by acting contrary to their consciences 3 the principles of 
 sincerity and integrity are generally weakened or destroyed, by 
 multiplied prevarications and false professions ; and numerous 
 instruments of cruelty and oppression are involved in this com- 
 plication of atrocious crimes. In Fox's Martyrs we meet with 
 
 authenticated facts that fully equal this allegorical representa- 
 tion : nay, ' The Acts of the Apostles 1 gives us the very same 
 view of subject. '*, 
 
143 
 
 Winded : In silent ecstacy they gaze, 
 And drink new vigour at the living flood, 
 And feast unsparing on the gen'rous fruits, 
 And balmy foliage. Then, to safe repose 
 They lay them down ; while soft oblivion steak 
 All sense of past affliction, toil, and care. 1 
 — Thus, (O too brief!) three happy nights and days 
 They linger'd : and full many a grateful song 
 To their Good Shepherd raised, who led them forth 
 To those fair pastures, and that crystal stream.* 
 
 1 Psa. xxiii. Isa. xiv. 30. 
 
 * The Holy Spirit, the inexhaustible source of life, light, ho- 
 liness, and joy, is represented by " the River of God j* even that 
 " River of the water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the 
 " throne of God, and of the Lamb." 1 All believers partake of 
 
 1 Rev. xxii, 1. 
 
144 
 
 Now, with the fourth fair dawn, alert they rose, 
 And hasted to depart. Sweet solace cheer'd 
 Their outset, till, anon, their destined way 
 
 his sacred influences, which prepare the soul for heavenly felicity, 
 and are earnests and pledges of it : hut there are seasons when he 
 communicates his holy comforts in larger measure 5 when the 
 christian sees such glory in the salvation of Christ ; so clearly 
 ascertains his interest in it ; and realizes his obligations and pri- 
 vileges, with such lively exercises of adoring love, gratitude, and 
 joy, that he is raised above his darkness and difficulties ; enjoys 
 sweet communion with God 5 forgets, for the moment, the pain 
 of former conflicts and the prospect of future trials; finds his 
 in-bred corruptions reduced to a state of subjection, and his 
 maladies healed by lively exercises of faith in the divine Saviour - 9 
 and anticipates with unspeakable delight the glory that shall be 
 revealed. Then communion with humble believers, (the lilies 
 that adorn the banks of the river,) is very pleasant; and the 
 soul's rest and satisfaction in God and his service are safe, and 
 his calm confidence is well grounded ; being widely different from 
 every species of carnal security. 
 
145 
 
 Warp'd from the stream, and, rough with rugged 
 
 clods, 
 Chafed each slow footstep, and their souls cast down 
 Sudden, to deep despondence. 1 Thus they toil'd, 
 1 Faint, yet pursuing,' till meridian day : 
 When, to the left, a verdant mead they spied, 
 That seem'd a pleasant By-path following close 
 The strict highway. — Here, Hopeful, warn'd so 
 
 late, 
 Falter'd awhile ; till Christian, self-secure, 
 Leap'd the low fence, and fearless led the way** 
 
 1 Numb. xxi. 4. 
 
 * Believers, even when in the path of duty, walking by faith, 
 and supported by the sanctifying influences of the Spirit, may be 
 abridged of those holy consolations which they have experienced : 
 
 T 
 
146 
 
 — Joyous they bounded o'er the level green, 
 And soon a portly stranger within call, 
 (Vain-confidence his name,)confirni'd their choice 
 Of that smooth track. Him for their steady guide 
 They followed; till, abrupt, the night-gloom fell 
 From grey to pitchy dark ; and left them, lorn, 
 
 and Satan may have a special advantage in tempting them to 
 discontent and distrust. The path of duty being rough, a by- 
 path is discovered which seems to lead the same way : — a devia- 
 tion from the exact strictness of the commands of Goi>, which 
 mark out the path of holiness and safety, may sometimes be 
 plausible, and circumstances may seem to invite to it. Men 
 imagine some providential interposition, giving ease to the 
 weary; and they think that the precept may be interpreted with 
 some latitude, that prudence should be exercised, and that scru- 
 pulousness about little things is a mark of legality or supersti- 
 tion. Thus by " leaning to their own understandings" and 
 " trusting in their own hearts, 1 ' instead of asking counsel of the 
 
147 
 
 Alarm'd, bewilder'd, friendless, all alone 
 
 To grope their desp'rate course. — Aloud they calPd 
 
 On their false guide ; when, to their startled ear, 
 
 A sudden plunge, and one expiring groan 
 
 As from some neighb'ring pitfall, gave sure sign 
 
 Of his tremendous doom I 1 * — That instant, roar'd 
 
 1 Isa. ix. 16. 
 
 Lord, they hearken to the tempter. Nor is it uncommon for 
 christians of deeper experience, and more established reputation, 
 to mislead their juniors, by turning aside from the direct line 
 of obedience. For the Lord leaves them to themselves, to repress 
 their self-confidence, and keep them entirely dependent on him ; 
 and thus teaches young converts to follow no man further than 
 he follows Christ. 
 
 * This circumstance may represent' the salutary effects, which 
 are sometimes produced on offending believers, by the awful 
 
148 
 
 A threatening thunder-peal:— The night-blastraved: 
 Fierce fire,and hail,and torrent flood, drove down: — 
 Till, with one hideous crash, the total storm 
 Raged in full wrath on their defenceless head; 
 While swift around them rose a gather'd sea 
 Of whelming waters !* 
 
 death of some vain-glorious hypocrite, to whom they have given 
 too much attention. The Lord, however, will in one way or other ■ 
 deliver his servants from the temporary prevalence of vain-con- 
 fidence; while presumptuous transgressors perish in the pit of 
 darkness and despair. 
 
 * The holy law condemns every transgression : when the chris- 
 tian, therefore, has fallen into wilful sin, he is often led to fear 
 that his faith is dead, that he is still under the law, and that his 
 person as well as his conduct is liable to its righteous condemna- 
 tion. Thus he is brought back again, as it were, to the tempest, 
 thunder, and lightning of mount Sinai. 
 
149 
 
 i Wretch, wretch that I am !' 
 Groan'd Hopeful, 4 Oh that I had kept the 
 4 way!' 
 
 4 Alas V said Christian, tremulous, in tone 
 Of half-choked utterance ; * What mere human 
 
 ' * skill— 
 4 What foresight could have warn'd V 
 
 Hope. 'Twas my deep dread 
 
 To venture, when that cautious word I dropt: — 
 I had spoke plainer, but thy riper age, 
 And tried experience, swayM me. 
 
 Chr. O, my brother, 
 
 Be not offended : — Deeply shamed, I own 
 
150 
 
 My well-meant error, and with heart-felt grief 
 Beseech thy frank forgiveness. 
 
 Hope. Be comforted — 
 
 Frail as thyself, I readily forgive, 
 Nor doubt this peril shall be ruled for good. 
 
 Chr. Thy gen'rous friendship cheers me. — But, 
 why thus 
 Brave we this horrible tempest? — Let us seek 
 Our long-deserted way. 
 
 Hope. And let me lead. 
 
 Chr. Nay, brother ; — mine the fault, be mine 
 the task 
 
151 
 
 (Tho* death betide,) to pilot our return. 
 
 Hope. Not so : lest that your troubled mind again 
 Mislead your sounder judgment. — * 
 
 Thus resolved, 
 He pass'd before : when, midst th' abated storm 
 A voice divine thus cheer'd them.- — ' Let thine 
 i heart 
 
 * This dialogue is very natural and instructive, and exhibits 
 that spirit of mutual tenderness, forbearance, and sympathy, 
 which becomes christians in such perplexing circumstances. 
 They, who have misled others into sin, should not only ask for- 
 giveness of God, but of them also; and they who have been 
 drawn aside by the example and persuasion of their brethren, 
 should be careful not to upbraid or discourage them, when they 
 become sensible of their fault. 
 
152 
 
 * Be stedfast, till thou reach the long-lost ivay.' 1 
 — Hush'd were the raging skies ; but the swoln tide 
 Still rose amain, in sullen wave on wave; 
 And many a plunge they shared, that menaced them 
 With the grim terrors of a wat'ry tomb !* 
 
 1 Jer. xxxi. 21. 
 
 * It might be thought, that an experienced believer, when 
 convinced of any sin, would find little difficulty in returning to 
 his duty, and recovering his peace. But a deliberate transgres- 
 sion, however trivial it might seem at the moment, appears upon 
 the retrospect to be an act of most ungrateful and aggravated re- 
 bellion; so that it brings such darkness upon the soul, and guilt 
 on the conscience, as frequently causes a man to suspect that all 
 his religion has been a delusion. And. when he would attempt 
 to set out anew, it occurs to him, that if all his past endeavours 
 and expectations, for many years, have been frustrated, he can 
 entertain little hope of better success hereafter; as he knows 
 
153 
 
 — Thus deeply wading, they at length descried 
 Amid the weltering waste, a gentle mound, 
 Safe from the rolling flood. Thither they climb'd, 
 And on the well-skreen'd summit sat them down 
 To wakeful rest, waiting the dawn ; but sleep 
 All-potent, ev'ry languid sense beguiled, 
 And held them, listless, till return of day. 
 
 not how to use other means, or greater earnestness, than he has 
 already employed as he fears to no purpose. Nor will Satan ever 
 fail, in these circumstances, to pour in such suggestions, as may 
 overwhelm the soul with an apprehension that the case is hopeless, 
 and God inexorable. The believer will not, indeed, be prevailed 
 upou by these discouragements wholly to neglect all attempts to 
 recover his ground : but he often resembles a man who is groping 
 in the dark and cannot find his way ; or who is passing through 
 a deep and rapid stream, and struggling hard to keep his head 
 above water. 
 
 U 
 
154 
 
 Hard by, within th' enclosure where they slept, 
 Stands Doubting-Castle; strong-hold of De- 
 spair. — 
 — That monster-fiend on his accustom'd range 
 Now prowling forth, spied them; and, with a peal 
 Of thundering rage, their heavy slumbers broke: — 
 Then, sternly raved * What maddens ye, to dare 
 ' This lawless trespass on my fenced domain V 
 
 Chr. Unhappy Pilgrims from afar, we pass'd 
 Unwitting through these grounds, and lost our way. 
 
 Despair. Villains ! no more: — Your very plea 
 proclaims 
 The trespass, and provokes my fell revenge. 
 So saying, with one giant grasp he seized 
 
155 
 
 The shuddering captives; and, at headlong speed, 
 Drove them before. Thus through a hideous maze 
 Of deathlike gloom, the Castle's dreary fence, 
 He drove them; till, the huge portcullis pass'd, 
 Down rush'd the pond'rous iron, with the din 
 Of deaf ning thunder-crash, and earthquake shock: 
 Nor paused th* affrighted victims, till, deep thrust 
 Within a noisome dungeon, down they sunk 
 'Mid the stern terrors of their hopeless fate !* 
 
 * Believers, who have brought themselves, by transgression, 
 into great terror and anguish of conscience, often endeavour to 
 quiet themselves by general notions of the mercy of God through 
 Jesus Christ, and the security of the new covenant; and the 
 storm in their consciences subsiding, they find a little shelter, 
 and wait for a more convenient opportunity of recovering their 
 spiritual life and vigour. But growing more and more heartless 
 in religion, and insensible in a most perilous situation, they are 
 
156 
 
 Thus four dark clays of anguish and remorse, 
 Unvisited, unfed, the Pilgrims moan'd. 
 — Meanwhile the ruthless Tyrant, with his wife, 
 An artful fury, (Diffidence her name,) 
 Doom'd them to merciless vengeance. First, he 
 dealt 
 
 led habitually to infer that they are hypocrites; that the en- 
 couragements of Scripture belong not to them; that prayer 
 itself will be of no use to them : and, when they are at length 
 brought to reflection, Despair, like a tremendous giant, will 
 seize on them, and for a season they will find it impossible to 
 rise superior to prevailing gloomy doubts, or to obtain the least 
 comfortable hope of deliverance, or encouragement to use the 
 proper means of seeking it. — The believer may be brought by 
 wilful sin to such a condition that, to his own apprehension, de- 
 struction is inevitable, Even a true christian may sink so low as 
 to have no light or comfort from the Scriptures and the Holy 
 Spirit ; nothing to sustain his almost expiring faith and hope; 
 
157 
 
 Fierce blows on blows unsparing, till he left 
 His wretched thralls half dead.- — Next morn, (ad- 
 vised 
 By his grim Consort,) he, with savage vaunt 
 Of stern compassion, urged them to resolve 
 Precipitate self-murder! — The base thought 
 They spurn'd abhorrent; and, with dolorous cries, 
 
 no help or pity from his brethren, but severe censures or more 
 painful suspicions; the horrors of an accusing conscience, the 
 dread of God as an enemy, connected with sharp and multiplied 
 corrections in his outward circumstances 5 and all this as the 
 price of ease or indulgence obtained by some wilful transgression ! 
 Now who that really believes this, will take encouragement to 
 sin from the doctrine of final perseverance? Would a man, for 
 a trivial gain, leap down a precipice, even if he could be sure 
 that he should escape with his life ? No, the dread of the anguish 
 of broken bones, and of being made a cripple to the end of his 
 days, would effectually secure him from such a madness. 
 
158 
 
 Craved their full freedom.—Roused to frenzied rage, 
 Forward he rush'd, and, at one deadly blow 
 Had fell'd them, breathless; but a sudden cramp 
 Palsied his arm, and baffled his dire aim. — 
 
 As when the gaunt Hyena, couch'd for blood # 
 Stuug by a venom'd shaft his victim yields 
 With many a frantic yell ; so raved the Pest, 
 As from his destined prey writhing he reel'd 
 In helpless anguish. — Respite thus obtained, 
 Small joy was theirs : the momentary dread 
 Of surer vengeance, or a lingering fate 
 In that foul den, still haunted them, and wrung 
 From Christian this curst thought, so late abhorr'd. 
 
 ' Brother, our desp'rate fate from day to day 
 
159 
 
 4 More hopeless lours ! In misery's extreme 
 
 * Slow pining-, my desponding soul would count 
 
 * Ev'n strangling a blest refuge from this thrall : l 
 
 * Say — shall the Tyrant's tender be our choice?'* 
 
 1 Our hideous doom,' sigh'd Hopeful, ' ne'er re- 
 4 versed, 
 
 * Death were our friend indeed : but Heav'n's high 
 
 6 Law 
 4 Proclaims " Do thou no murder" Shall we, then, 
 
 1 Job vii. 15. 
 
 * Desponding fears, when they so prevail as to keep men from 
 prayer, make way for temptations to suicide, as the only relief 
 from misery : but when there is any true faith, however it may 
 •eem wholly out of exercise, the temptation will be eventually 
 
160 
 
 * Wreak on ourselves that execrable deed 
 
 4 We dare not on another 1 — Who thus ends 
 ' His fellow, murders but the mortal part: 
 4 Who slays himself, destroys both body and soul ! 
 4 And, for thy hope of ease in the still grave, 
 
 * Hast thou forgot the hell beyond, that waits 
 4 The victim of self-murder? — Think again; 
 
 * All law is not our Tyrant's : Many a drear 
 
 4 And desp'rate captive hath escaped these walls ; 
 4 And cannot He who made the world, ordain 
 4 The monster's speedy death ? or, that he miss 
 
 overcome, provided actual insanity do not intervene ; and this is 
 a very uncommon case among religious people, whatever slanders 
 their enemies may circulate, in order to prej udice men's minds 
 against the truth. 
 
161 
 
 ' To bar our hideous hold ? or, seized again 
 
 * With palsied impotence, torment no more, 
 
 * Or fall our easy prey ? — Then cheer thee, brother ! 
 ' Patience and hope are ours: the rest is Heav'rCs? 
 
 Such kindly counsel buoy'd awhile — scarce 
 
 buoy'd 
 His hapless friend, half wreck'd : But the wild 
 
 wave 
 Still whelm'd him, and again the felon deed 
 Familiar to his thought, poignant he press'd ; 
 Whilst Hopeful thus his steady plea renewed. 
 
 4 My brother, must I mourn all solace vain? 
 * Where is thy wonted valour? — That fierce fiend, 
 
 ' Apollyon, could not crush thee, nor the host 
 
 x 
 
162 
 
 6 Of terrors that beset thy ev'ry step 
 4 Through Death's darkVALE:— Nor could the cage, 
 < the chain, 
 
 * With Faithful shared, nor ev'n his fiery doom, 
 
 * Daunt thy firm soul; and art thou now all fear? — 
 ' Am not /weak, yea, feebler far than thou? 
 
 ' Deals not the Tyrant equal dole to me, 
 i Famine 9 and wounds^and darkness? — Courage 
 * then, 
 
 * My honour'd Brother ! Let us play the man ; 
 
 6 Nor scandalize our Cause by one base deed\* 
 
 * Hopeful's arguments against self-murder are conclusive : 
 doubtless men in general venture on that awful crime, either 
 disbelieving or forgetting the doctrine of Scripture concerning 
 a future and eternal state of retribution. — It is greatly to be 
 
163 
 
 Scarce had he spoke, when the gigantic stride 
 Of their dread foe appalPd them, — Fierce he seized 
 And dragg'd them forth without the Castle-wall, 
 'Mid skulls, and bones, and skeletons half bare, 
 (Once warm with hopeful enterprise and zeal,) 
 High piled or scattered round. — ' Behold!' ex- 
 claim'd 
 
 wished, that all serious persons would avoid speaking of self- 
 murderers, as having put an end to their existence ; which cer- 
 tainly tends to mislead the mind of the tempted, into very erro- 
 neous apprehensions on this most important subject. — This dis- 
 course aptly represents the fluctuation of men's minds under 
 great despondency \ their struggles against despair, with purposes 
 at some future opportunity to seek deliverance : their present 
 irresolution; and the way in which feeble hopes, and strong fears 
 of future wrath, keep them from yielding to the suggestions of 
 the enemy. — Serious recollection of past conflicts, dangers, and 
 
164 
 
 Th' exulting Ravager ; — ' See my fell revenge 
 ' For lawless trespass! — Pilgrims, once, were these : 
 * And, ere to-morrow's dawn, I swear to hurl 
 ' Your felon bones with theirs. — Back to your 
 
 ■ den!'— 
 — Instant his pond'rous mace followed the word, 
 And drove them, staggering, down to their deep 
 
 hold. 
 There, yielding all for lost, abject they sunk 
 In speechless horror; till the midnight toll 
 
 deliverances, is peculiarly useful to encourage confidence in the 
 power and mercy of God, and patient waiting for him in the 
 most difficult and perilous situations : and conference with our 
 brethren, even if they too are under similar trials, is a very im- 
 portant mean of resisting the devil, when he would tempt us to 
 renounce our hope, and have recourse to desperate measures. 
 
165 
 
 Of their last hour, roused them to passionate prayer.* 
 — As thus they wrestled, Christian into strains 
 Ecstatic brake : and, from his bosom pluck'd 
 The key of Promise, 'midst his cares and woes 
 Unthought till that bright moment. 
 
 * Brother, we live! — 
 6 This key, heav'n's special boon, till now forgot, 
 * Is our sure ransom P — 
 
 Wing'd with hope, they sprang 
 Tothe blest proof: — The jealous bolt gave back! — 
 
 * Nothing will be effectual for the recovering of the fallen, 
 till they begin to pray with fervency, importunity, and perseve- 
 rance. Yet such is our nature and situation, that in proportion 
 as we have special need for earnestness in these devout exercises, 
 
166 
 
 Next, the huge bar that wards the Castle-court, 
 Sullen recoil'd. — Thence, to the last grim keep 
 They rush'd. — Each stubborn spring won with 
 
 slow toil, 
 Harsh on corroded hinges creak'd and groan 'd 
 The pond'rous portal. — Instant from his lair 
 Sprang the roused Monster: but each treacherous 
 
 limb 
 
 our hearts are averse to them. The child while obedient, anti- 
 cipates the pleasure of meeting his affectionate parent 5 but, 
 when conscious of having offended, he from shame, fear, and 
 pride, hides himself and keeps at a distance. But when stout- 
 ness of spirit is broken down, and a contrite believing frame of 
 mind succeeds; the offender begins to cry fervently to God for 
 mercy, with humiliating confessions, renewed application to the 
 blood of Christ, and perseverance amidst delays and discourage- 
 ments: and then it will not be very long ere he obtain complete 
 deliverance. 
 
167 
 
 Smit with a rigid palsy, mock'd his rage ; 
 Whilst the blithe Pilgrims found them once again 
 Safe on the King's highway ! — Spontaneous praise 
 Burst from each heart. — With gen'rous zeal they 
 
 rear'd 
 Beside the fatal fence a warning stone, 
 And hasted, joyous, on their blest careen* 
 
 * The promise of eternal life, to every one without exception 
 who believeth in Christ, is especially intended by the Key 3 but 
 without excluding any other of the " exceeding great and pre- 
 <c cious promises" of the gospel. The believer, being enabled to 
 recollect such as peculiarly suit his case, and, conscious of cor- 
 dially desiring the promised blessings, has the Key in his bosom, 
 which will open any lock in Doubting-Castle : and while he 
 pleads the promises in faith, depending on the merits and atone- 
 ment of Emmanuel, as " coming to God through him 5" he gra- 
 dually resumes his confidence, and begins to wonder at his past 
 
168 
 
 despondency. Yet remains of unbelief, recollection of his aggra- 
 vated guilt, and fear lest he should presume, often render it 
 difficult for him entirely to dismiss discouraging doubts. — But 
 let it especially be noted that the faith, which delivered the Pil- 
 grims from Giant Despair's castle, induced them without delay 
 to return to the highway of obedience, and to walk in it with 
 more circumspection than before, no more complaining of its 
 roughness \ and to devise every method of cautioning others 
 against passing over into By-path meadow. 
 
©DttStiatt'jS second discourse with 
 
 Sfgnoratttt** 
 
 Chr. How now, my friend? How stands the 
 grand account 
 Between thy soul and heav'n ? 
 
 * In the following dialogue Ignorance speaks exactly in cha- 
 racter j and the answers of Christian are conclusive against 
 such absurd and unscriptural grounds of confidence, as are con- 
 tinually maintained by many who would be thought pious chris- 
 tians. 
 
 Y 
 
170 
 
 Ign. Why — well, I hope : — 
 
 My lonely thought is comfortably stored 
 With profitable musings. 
 
 Chr. What are they ? 
 
 Ign. I think on God and heav'n. 
 
 Chr. Fiends and lost souls 
 
 Think much on these. 
 
 Ign. But I desire them too.* 
 
 * The desire of heavenly felicity, when the real nature of it is 
 not understood, the proper means of obtaining it are neglected, 
 other objects are preferred to it, or sloth and procrastination in- 
 
171 
 
 Ch-r. So thousands crave, who never shall ob- 
 tain : 
 The sluggard soul desireth, and hath nothing. 1 
 
 Ion. But I for the fair Prize have left my all. 
 
 1 Prov. xiii. 4. 
 
 tervene, is no proof that a man will be saved. — In like manner 
 this expression^ the desire of grace is grace, must be owned to 
 be very fallacious and ambiguous. Men may be notionally con- 
 vinced that without grace they must perish, and mere selfishness 
 may excite some feeble desires after it ; though worldly affections 
 predominate, and the real value of the spiritual good is not per- 
 ceived. But to hunger and thirst for God and his righteous- 
 ness, his favour, image, and service, as the supreme good 5 so 
 that no other object can satisfy the earnest desire of the heart, 
 and every thing is renounced that interferes with the pursuit of 
 it , is grace indeed, and shall be completed in glory . 
 
172 
 
 Chr. Nay — there I doubt: — Such self-denying 
 zeal 
 Is hard to brook, tho' easy to conceit. — 
 But what persuades thee thus ? 
 
 Ign. My heart assures me. 
 
 Chr. Hear what the wise man saith : — * Who 
 " trusts his heart," 
 (That deep, that bosom traitor,) " is a fool." 1 
 
 Ign. This holds, I grant ye, of an evil heart, 
 But mine is good. 
 
 Chr. By what sound proof? 
 
 1 Pror. xviii. 26. 
 
173 
 
 Ign. It soothes 
 
 And comforts me in stedfast hope of heav'n. 
 
 Chr. Thy heart may play the traitor. Many 
 build 
 High comfort on but slender ground of hope.* 
 
 Ign. But mine is solid ground.— My heart and 
 life 
 In holy proof agree. 
 
 Chr. Who tells thee so? 
 
 * It is exceedingly dangerous to make comfort a ground of 
 confidence 5 unless the nature, source, and effects of that comfort 
 be considered: for it may result entirely from ignorance and self- 
 flattery, in a variety of ways. 
 
174 
 Ign. My heart. 
 
 Chr. How! — dost thou take me for a thief? — 
 Thy heart ? — 1 warn thee, if the Word of Truth 
 Bear not full witness, other proof is vain. 
 
 Ign. Yet, sure, that heart is good whose thoughts 
 are good : 
 That life must needs be pure, whose ev'ry act 
 Squares with the Rule Divine. 
 
 Chr. Granted — but mark — 
 
 To pride the fancy with these high conceits 
 Proves not possession. 
 
 Ign. Prithee then, declare 
 
175 
 
 Thy notion of good thoughts, and a pure life 
 Squared right with God's commands. 
 
 Chr. Good thoughts respect 
 
 Ourselves, and God, and Christ; and what beside 
 May best accord with these. 
 
 Ign. First, of ourselves. 
 
 Chr. When strictly they agree (like face to face 
 In some pure glass,) with God's unerring Word, 
 Our thoughts are «food.* 
 
 * u That which is born of the flesh is flesh $" " The carnal 
 " mind is enmity against God 5 for it is not subject to the law 
 a of God , neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the 
 u flesh cannot please Godj" for " They are by nature the chil- 
 
176 
 Ign. • When thus do they agree ? 
 
 Chr. That Word declares " There's none by 
 " nature pure, 
 " None righteous, no, not one." — That " Ev'ry 
 
 " thought, 
 " And purpose, and device, of man's base heart, 
 " Is evil — constant evil from his youth," - 1 
 
 Ign, I never will believe my heart thus vile. 
 
 1 Gen. vi. 5. Rom. iii. 
 
 * { dren of wrath." This is man's natural condition : but of the 
 regenerate it is said," Ye are not iu the flesh, but in the spirit $" 
 u for that which is born of the Spirit is spirit)" and to such per- 
 soos the texts adduced do not apply. 
 
177 
 
 Chr. And therefore one good thought of thine 
 
 own self 
 Thou never hadst. — Bat further — That pure Word 
 Denotes man's ways all " crooked," all " perverse," 
 " Far from the way of peace." 1 — Now, when we 
 
 judge 
 And mourn our ways thus vile, our thoughts are 
 
 good. 
 
 Ign. When think we right of God? 
 
 Chr. When we revere 
 
 His glorious nature, as his Word reveals : 
 When humbly we account us better known 
 To Him, than to ourselves : That, to His view, 
 
 1 Psa. cxxv. 5. Prov. ii. 15. 
 Z 
 
178 
 
 Our inmost thoughts ; — our hearts with all their 
 
 depth 
 Of secret evil, are exposed and bare : 
 That He detects close-lurking sin, where we 
 Least think it in ourselves : And, That our best, 
 Our holiest duties, arrogantly brought 
 As claimants to his throne, he spurns and loathes. 
 
 Ign. Dost think me, then, a fool ? that J should 
 deem 
 The all-seeing God short-sighted as myself? 
 Or with my best performances approach 
 His holy throne ?* 
 
 * The external services, performed by unregenerate persons 
 from selfish motives, being scanty and partial, and made the 
 
179 
 
 Chr. Why, what is then thy creed ? 
 
 Tgn. In brief, I must believe on Christ our Lord 
 For justifying grace. 
 
 Chr. Believe on Him 
 
 Of whom thou seest no need? — How ! — boast thy- 
 self 
 So pure, so righteous, yet believe on Him? 
 
 ground of self-complacency, and self-righteous pride, i( are abo- 
 a mination in the sight of God," however " highly esteemed 
 li among men." " For men look at the outward appearance, 
 " but the Lord looketh at the heart." Even the obedience of a 
 true believer, though it springs from right principles, and has 
 some spiritual excellency in it, is yet so defective and defiled by 
 sin j that if it were not accepted as the fruit of the Spirit through 
 
180 
 Ign. I say my faith is firmly fix'd on Him. 
 
 Chr. But how? 
 
 Ign. I hold he died for sinners. Yea, 
 
 That through his boundless merit, he shall make 
 My just obedience to his Father's law 
 Accepted, and acquit me from the curse. 
 
 Chr. Hear then my honest answer.— This strange 
 creed 
 
 the mediation of Christ, it must be condemned by the holy 
 law, and rejected with abhorrence by a God of infinite purity. 
 Men may allow this in words, and yet not know what it is to 
 come as condemned sinners, for a free justification and salvation, 
 by faith in Christ. 
 
181 
 
 Is idle and fantastic : false and vain. — 
 
 It stands not on God's Word : It takes the work 
 
 Of justifying grace from its true source, 
 
 The righteousness of Christ ; and sets thy works 
 
 Presumptuous in its stead. Yea, this fond faith 
 
 Still trusted, shall deceive thy towering hopes, 
 
 And leave thee under wrath. True saving faith 
 
 Boasts in the righteousness of Christ alone : 
 
 That spotless robe, shrouded beneath whose skirt, 
 
 The soul is counted faultless before God, 
 
 And quit from condemnation.* 
 
 * The way of being justified by faith, for which Ignorance 
 pleads, may well be called c fantastical? as well as l false f for it 
 is no where laid down in Scripture : and it not only changes the 
 way of acceptance, but it takes away the rule and standard of 
 righteousness, and substitutes a vague notion called sincerity in 
 its place, which never was, or can be, denned with precision. 
 
182 
 
 Ign. What! shall we trust 
 
 The righteousness of Christ wrought in our stead, 
 And hold our best obedience vain and void? 
 Truly this rare conceit may well content 
 The vilest : Licensed thus, he may lay loose 
 The reins of ev'ry lust, and fearless live 
 As best may like him. 
 
 Chr. Ignorance is thy name, 
 
 And such thy nature. — Ignorant thou art 
 Of justifying grace, and how thy soul 
 May trust it, and escape the wrath to come. 
 Yea, ignorant of the fruits of saving faith 
 In Christ's all-perfect righteousness; nor know'st 
 It bows and wins the grateful heart to God ; 
 And works by love to his most holy name, 
 
183 
 
 His word, his ways, his people. 
 
 Hopeful to Chr. Ask, if e'er 
 
 The Saviour was reveaFd from heav'n to him. 
 
 ^IGN• What! you're a man, forsooth, for wonders, 
 signs, 
 sions, and revelations ! — Hark ye, then, 
 I say these mystic dreams are the wild fruit 
 Of a distracted brain. 
 
 : 
 
 Chr, How ! dost thou scoff? 
 
 tell thee, Christ is savingly made known 
 y teaching/rom above.* Yea, ev'n that faith 
 
 * Pride, unbelief, and carnal prejudices or affections, so close 
 
184 
 
 Which makes the Saviour ours, is wrought alone 
 By the great pow'r of God. 1 O then, be wise : 
 Awake thee to thy wretchedness and guilt: 
 Flee to the Friend of Sinners: cleave to Him : 
 And, in His righteousness Divine thy soul 
 Firm trusting, shall escape the wrath to come. 
 
 Ign. Your hurried pace outbreathes me: — Pass 
 you on, 
 
 And leave me to my own. So saying, again 
 
 Droning he dropt behind. — 
 
 i Matt. xi. 27. 1 Cor. xii. 3. Eph. i. 18, 19. 
 
 the mind of a sinner against the spiritual glory of the Person 
 and redemption of Christ, that nothing, but the illumination 
 of the Spirit removing this veil, can enable him to understand 
 and receive the revelation of the sacred Oracles on these im- 
 portant subjects. 
 
©firfettatt and ^Ojpeful arrive at the 
 Land q/3$tttlaj)>* and pass through 
 
 the &iber of mmf>> 
 
 Now BeulahV happy clime before them spread 
 Serenely bright : — A never-setting sun 
 Ranged the blest region : Flow'rs of every bloom 
 Glow'd all around : Melodious birds tuned forth 
 
 1 Sol. Sons: ii. 10—12. Isa. lxii. 4—12. 
 
 * The word Beulah signifies married ; and the prophet, 
 in the passage whence it is quoted, predicted a very flourishing 
 2 A 
 
186 
 
 Their vernal descant of connubial love, 
 
 And the meek turtle from each tranquil shade 
 
 Pour'd the soft tribute of her soothing strain, 
 
 — Here too, (now bord'ring their eternal home,) 
 
 They view'd the heav'nly City at full gaze, 
 
 Reared on a blissful mount : and oft they met 
 
 Celestial visitants, excursive here 
 
 For hallow'd pastime; or, intently throng'd 
 
 To greet them safe: while with accordant shouts 
 
 Of rapt'rous joy, they haiPd them on their way, 
 
 * The holy people: — Eansom'd of the Lord : — 
 
 " BelovM: Sought out." In this perennial land 
 
 state of religion, which is yet in futurity : but the author ac- 
 commodates it to the sweet peace and confidence which tried be- 
 lievers commonly experience towards the close of their lives. 
 
187 
 
 Of pure delights, the Bridegroom and the Bride — 
 The Great Messias and his own elect, 
 Renew their plighted covenant: Yea, as joys 
 The happy bridegroom o'er his faithful spouse, 
 Their Lord exulted over them for good. 
 — Here, sacred corn and wine, a boundless store, 
 With healthful change of pleasures unalloy'd 
 Sought through their weary pilgrimage, were dealt 
 Spontaneous at their need : And oft, from out 
 The Holy City, the Seraphic Choirs 
 SwelPd the loud anthem, and proclaim'd abroad, 
 " Daughter of Zion ! lo ! thy Lord appears ! 
 " Thy full Salvation comes! Behold, He comes; 
 " And crowns thy waiting with a blest reward!"* 
 
 * The communion of saints in prayer, praises, and thanks- 
 
188 
 
 Such was the happy land, awhile ordain'd 
 The Pilgrims' rest: And now at nearer ken 
 They hail'd the sacred City. — Pile on pile 
 Effulgent in full blaze of pearls and gems, 
 It rose : The street's wide range was paved with 
 gold : l 
 
 1 Rev. xxi. 18. 2 Cor. iii. 18. 
 
 givings, with liberty and ardour, and hearts united in cordial 
 love; the beauties of holiness, and the consolations of the Holy 
 Spirit ; the healing beams of the Sun of righteousness, shining 
 by the sweet light of diviue truth upon the soul; exemption 
 from darkening temptations and harassing doubts ; lively earnests 
 and near prospects of heavenly felicity; a cheering sense of 
 communion with the heavenly host, in their fervent adorations, 
 and a realiziug apprehension of their ministering care over the 
 heirs of salvation ; a comfortable renewal of the acceptance of 
 Christ, sealed with the tokens, pledges, and assurances of his 
 
189 
 
 While the reflected sun's meridian beam 
 
 Gave double day. Faint with intense desire 
 
 To win the blissful portal, and behold 
 
 Him, sought so long deep-sorrowing, they droop'd 
 
 In languishment of love; and, midst their pangs, 
 
 (As ever and anon th' impassioned pulse 
 
 Of rapturous thought beat high,) aloud they cried, 
 
 love : gratitude, submission, coufidence in God ; hope, and the 
 sweet exercise of tenderness, sympathy, meekness, and humility, 
 but little interrupted by the working of contrary evils: — these 
 things seem to constitute the happy state here represented. — It 
 is remarkable that the Psalms (which were intended, among other 
 uses, to regulate the devotions and experiences of believers,) 
 abound at first with confessions, complaints, fears, and earnest 
 cries of distress or danger; but towards the close become more 
 and more the language of confidence, gratitude, and joy, and 
 conclude with unmingled praises and thanksgivings. 
 
190 
 
 4 If Him, my Lord, my best Belov'd, ye meet, 
 4 1 charge ye, tell him I am sick of love.'* 
 
 Thus tranced, awhile they linger'd on their way ; 
 Till, strength divine vouchsafed them, they repaired 
 With angel convoy, to a blissful range 
 Of orchards, gardens, vineyards, in full prime 
 
 * In the immediate view of heavenly felicity, Paul a desired 
 " to depart hence and be with Christ," as " far better" than 
 life; and David u fainted for God's salvation." In the lively 
 exercise of holy affections, the believer grows weary of this sinful 
 world 5 and longs to have his faith changed for sight, his hope 
 swallowed up in enjoyment, and his love perfected, and secured 
 from all interruption and abatement. Were this frame of mind 
 habitual, it might unfit men for the common concerns of life, 
 which appear very trifling to the soul when employed in delight- 
 ful admiring contemplation of heavenly glory. 
 
191 
 
 Of lavish luxury, and plann'd with walks 
 
 All bloom, and arbors of delicious shade. 
 
 — These for his own delight, and the kind cheer 
 
 Of Pilgrims waiting their eternal rest, 
 
 The Great King planted. Here intent they paused ; 
 
 And, by the Guardian of that blest retreat 
 
 Welcomed, on the pure dainties freely fared ;* 
 
 Till those celestial viands, and the balm 
 
 Of lightsome breezes, lulFd them to repose. 
 
 Now midst my dream, I marvell'd to perceive 
 The Pilgrims, in their happy slumbers, fraught 
 With speech more eloquent on themes divine 
 Than e'er till that blest hour : and, as I mused 
 On the strange cause, the Warder of those bowers 
 
 1 Dent, xxiii. 24. 
 
192 
 
 Thus solved my wonder. * Wherefore dost thou 
 
 * muse 
 6 On these heav'n-gifted Pilgrims thus inspired 
 1 Midst their pure slumbers ? 'Tis the sacred boast 
 * Of this fair vintage, to distil so sweet 
 1 Its vital essence, that amid the lapse 
 1 Of sleep, it wakes the lips to speech divine.'* 
 
 Now, from their hallow'd trance alert they rose, 
 
 * Attendance on the public ordinances is always the believer's 
 duty and privilege 5 yet he cannot at all times delight in them : 
 but, when holy affections are in lively exercise, he sweetly rests 
 in these earnests of heavenly joy 5 and speaks freely and fervently 
 of the love of Christ and the blessings of salvation, to the edi- 
 fication of those around him 5 who often wonder at witnessing 
 such a change, from reserve and diffidence to boldness and 
 earnestness, in urging others to mind the one thing needful. 
 
193 
 
 And ZioN-ward address'd them ; firmly bent 
 
 For their blest home. But, as intense they gazed 
 
 At nearer view on the resplendent walls, 
 
 A shadowy glass they plied, that veii'd and sooth'd 
 
 (With open face too glorious to behold,) 
 
 The wide-effulgent blaze. 
 
 As thus they fared, 
 
 Two heralds vestured as in burning g:old, 
 
 With faces beaming of celestial day, 
 
 Saluted them; and, with seraphic smile, 
 
 Besought in kind accordance, Where had lodged 
 
 Their weary feet? — What perils, conflicts, foes, — 
 
 What scenes of sacred solace and delight, 
 
 Had chanced and cheer'd them in their past career? 
 
 — These brief recounted, the celestial Pair 
 2 B 
 
191 
 
 Thus timely wam'd them. — * Well have ye approved 
 6 Your love, your zeal, your patience. — Hold yet 
 
 6 firm : — 
 4 Two short, two final difficulties braved 
 1 With faith unwav'ring, — then, (O blest reward !) 
 * In holy triumph, to go out no more, 
 6 Ye win the sacred City!'* 
 
 Thus forewarn 'd, 
 With trembling diffidence the Pilgrims craved 
 Their tendance ; and with pensive step fared on, 
 Till the bright towers right opposite arose, 
 And in full view the dazzling portal beam'd. 
 
 * The only remaining difficulties that awaited the Pilgrims^ 
 were Death, and admission into the City. 
 
195 
 
 Descending now, they reach that sable shore 
 The bourne of mortal pilgrimage. — A stream 
 Of fearful depth, by no safe bridge relieved, 
 Roll'd its dark waters in a sullen tide, 
 Turbid, and cold. — The Pilgrims gazed appall'd ; 
 And, pausing, of their heav'nly Guides enquired 
 Some safer pass. 
 
 i One only,' (they replied,) 
 
 * Eludes this river: but no child of earth 
 4 Save Enoch and Elijah, ever trod 
 
 * That favoured path, nor e'er again shall tread, 
 
 6 ('Tis heavVs high mandate,) till the trump of 
 4 doom.' 
 
 The Pilgrims thus admonish'd, sudden sunk 
 
195 
 
 To deep despondence; and around them cast 
 
 A melancholy gaze of drear dismay : — 
 
 But Christian, chief: — ' And is it thus?' — (he cried) 
 
 6 Across this fatal barrier must we pass 
 
 ' To yon fair City? — May no friendly ford 
 
 * Bear our frail footing through the whelming tide 
 
 * Safe from the lowest deep V 
 
 6 Some surer ground' 
 (Replied the angelic Pair,) < the foot may trace 
 
 * 'Mid these wild waters ; — but no aid is ours : — 
 c To point that safer pass, or steer your course 
 
 4 'Thwart the dread gulph, we may not. — Tis by 
 
 < faith 
 6 In Zion's King ye must abide this flood ; 
 ' So shall ye prove the peril scant or deep, 
 
197 
 
 1 As faith is firm or wav'ring.' 
 
 Thus prepared, 
 Shuddering they scann'd, then, plunged the deadly 
 
 tide : — 
 They plunged : and Christian suddenly borne down 
 By one tremendous surge, began to sink. — 
 t — Woe, woe is me !' (he cried, and, gasping, 
 
 clung 
 To his tried friend,) ' I sink in the deep mire ! 
 1 All, all his waves, — the billows of his wrath, 
 6 Roll o'er my head for ever V 
 
 ( Cheer! — good cheer! 
 1 Bear up with me V said Hopeful : — < On firm 
 ' ground, 
 
198 
 
 4 On solid rock, /rest. — Take courage, then, 
 4 My brother: — Be not faithless, but believe. 5 
 
 * Alas V sigh'd Christian ; < the fierce pangs of 
 4 death, 
 4 The bitter pains of hell, seize on my soul : — 
 4 O never shall I see the happy land 
 4 That flows with milk and honey !' 
 
 Wailing thus, 
 A swoon of deadly horror — a deep cloud 
 Of mortal darkness, on his eyelids fell, 
 And, from his wilder'd reason blotted blank 
 All sweet remembrance of those blissful days 
 That cheer'd his toilsome pilgrimage : While sins, 
 Oblivious deem'd, all roused in dread array 
 
199 
 
 From youth's frail dawn to that distressful hour, 
 Menaced the gulph of merciless despair!* 
 — Nor less the pow'rs of hell — fierce-banded fiends, 
 And fiery phantoms, haunted him ; and wreak'd, 
 Desp'rate, their last worst rage. 
 
 * Death is aptly represented by a deep River without a Bridge^ 
 Separating the believer from his heavenly inheritance, as Jordan 
 flowed between Israel and the promised land. From this River 
 nature shrinks back, even when faith, hope, and love are in lively 
 exercise; but, when these decline, alarm and consternation may 
 unite with reluctance at the thoughts of crossing it. The dreaded 
 pangs that precede the awful separation of those intimate asso- 
 ciates, the soul and body ; the painful parting with dear friends 
 and every earthly object ; the gloomy ideas of the dark, cold, and 
 noisome grave; and the solemn thought of launching into an 
 unseen eternity, render Death the king of terrors. — But faith 
 in a crucified, buried, risen, and ascended Saviour ; experience 
 of his faithfulness and love in times past ; hope of an immediate. 
 
200 
 
 Thus hard beset, 
 Scarce could his anxious friend bear his droop'd 
 
 head 
 Above the whelming" flood. Yea, oft he sunk 
 'Neath the wild surge, then, ghastly, rose half dead! 
 
 entrance into his presence, where temptation, conflict, sin, and 
 suffering, will find no admission; and the desire of perfect know- 
 ledge, holiness, and felicity, will reconcile the mind to the ine- 
 vitable stroke, and sometimes give a complete victory over every 
 fear. Yet if faith and hope be weakened, through the recollection 
 of any peculiar misconduct, the withholding of divine light and 
 consolation, or some violent assault of the tempter ; even the be- 
 liever will be peculiarly liable to alarm and distress. His re- 
 flecting mind, having long been accustomed to consider the sub- 
 ject in its important nature and consequences, has very different 
 apprehensions of God, of eternity, of judgment, of sin, and of 
 himself, than other men have. Sometimes experienced saints 
 we more desponding in these circumstances than their junior 
 
201 
 
 Amid these bitter woes, Hopeful, still safe, 
 Assay'd to solace him. — ' Brother,' he cried, 
 
 brethren: constitution has considerable effect upon the mind: 
 and some men (like Christian,) are in every stage of their pro- 
 fession, more exposed to temptations of a discouraging nature, 
 than to ambition, avarice, or fleshly lusts. — A conscientious life 
 indeed is commonly favoured with a peaceful close, even when 
 forebodings to the contrary have troubled men during their whole 
 lives : and this is so far general, that they best provide for a 
 comfortable death, who most diligently attend to the duties* of 
 their station and the improvement of their talents, from evan- 
 gelical principles ; whereas they who live negligently, and yield 
 to temptation, make, as it were, an assignation with terror to 
 meet them on their death-bed, a season when comfort is more 
 desirable than at any other. The Lord, however, is no man's 
 debtor : none can claim consolation as their due : and, though a 
 believer's experience and the testimony of his conscience may 
 evidence the sincerity of his faith and love ; yet he must disclaim 
 to the last every other dependence than the righteousness and 
 blood of Christ, and the free mercy of God in him. 
 
 2 c 
 
202 
 
 ' Take courage. — I behold the dazzling Gate 
 ' Wide open for our welcome ; and the hosts 
 < Of yon bright City throng'd with outspread arms, 
 « To hail our triumph.' — 
 
 Chr. Ah! my friend! for you — 
 
 For you alone they wait. Your stedfast hope 
 Hath baffled ev'ry storm: and note it holds 
 Fast anchor in the skies. 
 
 Hope. And such is thine; 
 
 Tho' fainting flesh dismay thee. 
 
 Chr. Nay, my brother, 
 
 If all were well within, my Lord would rise 
 To my swift aid. But oh ! for my curst sins 
 
203 
 He shuns, and leaves me in the snares of hell. 
 
 Hope. O yield not thus, my friend, to hell's 
 
 deep fraud : — 
 Remember — of heav'n's outcast foes 'tis writ, 
 " They have no bands in death : Their strength is 
 
 " firm : 
 " Nor are they proved or plagued like other men :" 
 — Thy darkness and distress speak not thy soul 
 From God cast off; or, that he frowns thy foe. 
 But thus he proves thee, that thy faith may plead 
 His mercies past, and trust him to the end. 
 
 At these all-cheering words, Christian revived: — 
 A settling peace o'ercalnrd him: In deep thought 
 He mused awhile; then, into sudden strains, 
 
204 
 
 With outstretch'd arms, and fix'd seraphic gaze, 
 
 Brake forth, all extacy :— < 'Tis He !— 'tis He ! 
 
 * My gracious Lord ! — I see him once again !— 
 
 ' He smiles : — he speaks : — " Tho' through the 
 
 " floods thou pass, 
 
 "They shall not overwhelm thee: — Yea, though 
 plunged 
 
 " In the dread deep, lo! I am with thee there/' 1 
 
 — Thus nerved anew, they breasted the grim wave 
 
 Fearless and firm: for now, on solid ground 
 
 O'er the safe shallow, Christian held his way; 
 
 While ev'ry raging foe, without, within, 
 
 Still as a stone, assail'd his peace no more. 
 
 All, all was cloudless rapture; till, the last 
 
 Dull clod of perishable clay cast off, 
 
 i Isa. xliii, 2. 
 

 205 
 
 They sprang, immortal, to the realms of bliss,* 
 
 — So two bright stars, sunk to the wat'ry west 
 'Midst clouds and storms,at their dim settingplunge 
 The raging flood all cheerless ; till, anon, 
 To fairer climes they mount, and beam abroad, 
 And add new glories to a brighter sphere. 
 
 * The temporary distresses of dying believers often arise from 
 bodily disease, which interrupts the free exercise of their intel- 
 lectual powers. Of this Satan will be sure to take advantage, 
 as far as he is permitted 5 and will suggest gloomy imaginations, 
 not only to distress them, but to dishearten others by their ex- 
 ample. — What may in this state be painted before the fancy we 
 cannot tell : but it is generally observed, that such painful con- 
 flicts terminate in renewed hope and comfort, frequently by 
 means of the conversation and prayers of christians and ministers; 
 so that they, who for a time have been most distressed, have at 
 length died triumphantly. 
 
SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 
 Adams, Mrs. S. Camberwell, 6 copies. 
 Armitage, Mrs. Edward, Charlton Kings. 
 
 Barber, Captain R. N. Cheltenham. 
 
 Barnard, Mr. William, Frampton on Severn. 
 
 Bean, Major, Cheltenham. 
 
 Bean, Mrs. Ditto. 
 
 Bellamy, John,Esq. John Street, Bedford Ro\r. 
 
 Boisragon, Henry, M. D. Cheltenham. 
 
208 
 
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 Broad, Charles,Esq. Hornsey New Road. 
 Bromfield, Henry,Esq. Cheltenham, 3 copies. 
 Brown, Rev. John, Ditto, 2 copies. 
 
 Capel, Mrs. Rtissel Square. 
 
 Chadwick, Mrs. B. High Street, Mary-le-bone. 
 
 Clemens, T. Esq. Cheltenham. 
 
 Clifford, Mrs. Ditto. 
 
 Coley, R. W. M. D. Ditto. 
 
 Collingwood, S. Esq. Oxford. 
 
209 
 
 Collyer, W. B. D. D. F. S. A. &c. Camberwell. 
 
 Cooke, Miss, Camden Town. 
 Cooke, Miss K. Stroud. 
 Cooke, Samuel, Esq. Hammersmith. 
 Cooke, Benjamin, Esq. Ditto. 
 
 Draper, Miss, Westbury. 
 
 Drayton, Mrs. Stroud. 
 
 Drayton, Miss, Ditto. 
 
 Drayton, Mr. George, Glocester. 
 
 Drayton, Mr. Samuel, London. 
 
 Douglas, Mrs. Hillfield House, Clifton, 
 
 
 Frost, Peter, Esq. Cheltenham. 
 Fyffe, Henry, Esq. Pentonville. 
 
 2 D 
 
210 
 
 Fyffe, Mr. Edward, New Cavendish Street. 
 
 Gibbs, Captain Fredrick, Rotterdam. 
 Gyde, Mr. William, Cheltenham, 3 copies. 
 
 Haines, Mr. Thomas, Cheltenham, 
 Hale, Mr. C. Ditto. 
 Haslock, Rev. John, Kentish Town. 
 Henney, Mr. T. Cheltenham. 
 Hinton, Rev. J. Oxford. 
 Hinton, Mr. Isaac, Ditto. 
 
 Hough, Stephen, Esq. Tavistock Street, Bedford 
 Square, 6 copies. 
 
 Jenner, Edward, 3VJ. D. F. R. S. &c. Berkeley. 
 

 211 
 
 Jenner, Miss, Berkeley. 
 
 Jenner, E. F. Esq, Ditto. 
 
 Jones, John, Esq. Withington House. 
 
 Jones, Miss, Ditto. 
 
 Jones, Gilbert, Esq. Cheltenham. 
 
 Kelly, Mr. J. D. Cheltenham. 
 Klyne, W. H. Esq. Camden Town. 
 
 Laming*, Mr. Pearson, High Street, Mary-lfe* 
 
 bone. 
 Langdon, Mr. J. Bath, 3 copies. 
 Lea, R. Esq. Beckenham, Kent* 
 Lightburne, Mrs. Cheltenham. 
 Lovelock, Miss, Ditto. 
 
212 
 
 Meacher, Mr, J. Serjeant's Inn, Chancery Lane. 
 M'Geachy, Mrs. Hillfield House, Clifton. 
 Morris, William, Esq. Sevenhampton. 
 Murley, S. H. Esq. Cheltenham. 
 Murley, Mrs. S. Ditto. 
 
 Newbury, Mrs. Cheltenham. 
 
 Oldham, J. Oldham, Esq. Montague Place, Bed- 
 ford Square. 
 Oldham, Mrs. Ditto. 
 Oldham, A. Esq. Blackfriar's Road. 
 Oxford Teacher's Reading Society. 
 
 Paul Mr. R. Cheltenham. 
 
213 
 
 Phillips, Captain, Cheltenham. 
 
 Porteus, Mrs. Ditto. 
 
 Protheroe, Miss, Bristol, 2 copies. 
 
 Reece, William, Esq. Cheltenham. 
 Reed, Rev. A. Cannon Street. 
 Richardson, Rev. W. Framptonon Severn. 
 Riddel], Alexander, Esq. Queen Street, Cheapside, 
 
 3 copies. 
 Risdon, Benjamin, Esq. Pershore. 
 
 Shepherd, John, Esq. Admiralty. 
 
 Smith, Thomas, Esq. Frampton on Severn. 
 
 Smith, Miss, R. Camberwell. 
 
214 
 
 Storks, Robert L. Esq. Lawrence Lane, Cheap- 
 side, 6 copies 
 Tatlow, A. Esq. Cheltenham, 
 Taylor, Mrs. Camberwell. 
 Taylor, Miss Eliza, Cheltenham. 
 Thomas, Rev. J. Oxford. 
 Thompson, Mrs. H. Cheltenham. 
 Trail, Rev. Robert, Withington. 
 
 Wathen, O. P. Esq. Woodchester. 
 
 Watson, Mrs. Liverpool. 
 
 Watts, Mr. 0. Cheltenham. 
 
 Wells, Mrs. Ditto. 
 
 Wells, J. Esq. Camden Town, 6 copies* 
 
 Wells, Mrs. B. London. 
 
. 
 
 215 
 
 ells, Miss, Peterborough. 
 Weston, Mrs. Ditto, 4 copies. 
 Williams, Rev. H. H. Cheltenham. 
 Wintle, Mrs. Somerton, Oxfordshire. 
 Winter, Rev. Dr. Sidmouth Street, Mecklenburg 
 
 Square. 
 Wood, William, Esq. Cheltenham. 
 Wray, Miss, Worcester. 
 

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