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THE PICTURE OF THE PILGRIM'S GUIDE.

mount ZION; and I was told by the man that stands at the gate at the head of this way, that if I called here you would show me excellent things, such as would be a help to me in my journey.

Then said the INTERPRETER, Come in; I will show thee that which will be profitable to thee. So he commanded his man to light a candle, and bid CHRISTIAN follow him: so he had him into a private room, and bid his man open a door; the which when he had done, CHRISTIAN saw the picture of a very grave person hang up against the wall; and this was the fashion of it: it had eyes lifted up to heaven, the best of books in its hand, the law of truth was written upon its lips, the world was behind its back; it stood as if it pleaded with men, and a crown of gold did hang over its head.'

Then said CHRISTIAN, What meaneth this?

INTERP. The man whose picture this is, is one of a thousand; he can beget children', travail in birth with children, and nurse them himself when they are born. And whereas thou seest him with his eyes lifted up to heaven, the best of books in his hand, and the law of truth written on his lips; it is to show thee that his work is to know and unfold dark things to sinners; even as also thou seest him stand as if he pleaded with men: and whereas thou seest the world as cast behind him, and that a crown hangs over his head; that is to show thee, that slighting and despising the things that are present, for the love that he hath to his Master's service, he is sure in the world that comes next to have

1 Cor. iv. 15. 2 Gal. iv. 19.

THE DUSTY PARLOUR SPRINKLED AND CLEANSED.

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glory for his reward. Now, said the INTERPRETER, I have showed thee this picture first, because the man whose picture this is, is the only man whom the Lord of the place whither thou art going hath authorized to be thy guide, in all difficult places thou mayest meet with in the way: wherefore, take good heed to what I have showed thee, and bear well in thy mind what thou hast seen; lest in thy journey thou meet with some that pretend to lead thee right, but their way goes down to death.

Then he took him by the hand and led him into a very large parlour that was full of dust, because never swept; the which, after he had reviewed a little while, the INTERPRETER called for a man to sweep. Now when he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly to fly about, that CHRISTIAN had almost therewith been choked. Then said the INTERPRETER to a damsel that stood by, Bring hither water and sprinkle the room; the which when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with pleasure.

Then said CHRISTIAN, What means this?

The INTERPRETER answered, This parlour is the heart of a man that was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the gospel: the dust is his original sin and inward corruptions that have defiled the whole man. He that began to sweep at first, is the law; but she that brought water and did sprinkle it, is the gospel. Now whereas thou sawest that, so soon as the first began to sweep, the dust did so fly about that the room by him could not be cleansed, but that thou wast almost choked therewith; this is to show thee, that the law,

THE EMBLEM EXPLAINED.

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Then said CHRISTIAN to the INTERPRETER, Expound this matter more fully to me.

So he said, These two lads are figures: PASSION of the men of this world, and PATIENCE of the men of that which is to come. For as here thou seest PASSION will have all now this year, that is to say, in this world; so are the men of this world: they must have all their good things now, they cannot stay till next year, that is, until the next world, for their portion of good. That proverb, A bird in the hand is worth two in the 'bush,' is of more authority with them than are all the divine testimonies of the good of the world to come. But as thou sawest that he had quickly lavished all away and had presently left him nothing but rags; so will it be with all such men at the end of this world.

Then said CHRISTIAN, Now I see that PATIENCE has the best wisdom, and that upon many accounts :because he stays for the best things :—and also because he will have the glory of his, when the other has nothing but rags.

INTERP. Nay, you may add another, to wit,-the glory of the next world will never wear out: but these are suddenly gone. Therefore PASSION had not so much reason to laugh at PATIENCE, because he had his good things first, as PATIENCE will have to laugh at PASSION, because he had his best things last; for first must give place to last, because last must have its time to come; but last gives place to nothing for there is not another to succeed: he, therefore, that hath his portion first must needs have a time to spend it; but he that has his portion last must have it lastingly:

30 THE FIRE SECRETLY KEPT FROM BEING QUENCHED.

therefore it is said of Dives, " In thy life-time thou "receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus "evil things; but now he is comforted and thou art "tormented'.'

CHR. Then I perceive it is not best to covet things that are now, but to wait for things to come.

INTERP. You say truth: "For the things that are seen are temporal; but the things that are not seen are "eternal":" but, though this be so, yet, since things present and our fleshly appetite are such near neighbours one to another; and again, because things to come and carnal sense are such strangers one to another; therefore it is that the first of these so suddenly fall into amity, and that distance is so continually between the second.

Then I saw in my dream that the INTERPRETER took CHRISTIAN by the hand, and led him into a place where was a fire burning against a wall, and one standing by it always casting much water upon it to quench it; yet did the fire burn higher and hotter.

Then said CHRISTIAN, What means this?

The INTERPRETER answered, This fire is the work of grace that is wrought in the heart; he that casts water upon it to extinguish and put it out, is the Devil: but in that thou seest the fire notwithstanding burn higher and hotter, thou shalt also see the reason of that. So he had him about to the backside of the wall, where he saw a man with a vessel of oil in his hand, of which he did also continually cast, but secretly, into the fire.