The Country of Beulah.

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saw every day the flowers appear in the earth, and heard the voice of the turtle in the land. (Cant. ii. 12.) In this country, the sun shineth night and day; wherefore this was beyond the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and also out of the reach of Giant Despair: neither could they from this place so much as see Doubting-castle. Here they were within sight of the City they were going to; also here met them some of the inhabitants thereof; for in this land the Shining Ones commonly walked, because it was upon the borders of heaven. In this land also the contract between the Bride and the Bridegroom was renewed; yea, here, "as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so doth their God rejoice over them." (Isaiah Ixii. 5.) Here they had no want of corn and wine; for in this place they met with abundance of what they had sought for in all their pilgrimage. (Isaiah lxii. 8, 9.) Here they heard voices from out of the City; loud voices, saying, "Say ye to the daughter of Zion, behold thy salvation cometh! Behold, his reward is with him!" (Isaiah Ixii. 11, 12.) Here all the inhabitants of the country called them "The holy people, the redeemed of the Lord; sought out," &c.

Now, as they walked in this land, they had more rejoicing than in parts more remote from the kingdom to which they were bound; and drawing near to the City, they had yet a more perfect view thereof: It was builded of pearls and precious stones, also the streets thereof were paved with gold; so that, by reason of the natural glory of the City, and the reflection of the sun-beams upon it, Christian with desire fell sick. Hopeful also had a fit or two of the same disease; wherefore here they lay by it a while, crying out, because of their pangs, "If you see my beloved, tell him that I am sick of

love."

But being a little strengthened, and better able to bear their sickness, they walked on their way, and came yet nearer and nearer, where were orchards, vineyards, and gardens, and their gates opened into the highway. Now, as they came up to these places, behold the gardener stood in the way; to whom the pilgrims said, Whose goodly vineyards, and gardens are these? He answered, They are the King's, and are planted here for his own delight, and also for the solace of pilgrims! So the gardener had them into the vineyards, and bid them refresh themselves with the dainties; (Deut. xxiii. 24.) he also

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They come to the Riber of Death.

showed them there the King's walks and the arbours, where he delighted to be; and here they tarried and slept.

Now I beheld in my dream that they talked more in their sleep at this time, than ever they did in all their journey; and being in a muse thereabout, the gardener said even to me, Wherefore musest thou at the matter? It is the nature of the fruit of the grapes of these vineyards "to go down so sweetly, as to cause the lips of them that are asleep to speak." (Cant. vii. 9.)

So I saw that, when they awoke, they addressed themselves to go up to the City. But, as I said, the reflection of the sun upon the City, (for the City was pure gold,) (Rev. xxi. 18.) was so extremely glorious, that they could not, as yet, with open face, behold it, but through an instrument made for that purpose. (2 Cor. iii. 18.) So I saw that, as they went on, there met them two men in raiment that shone like gold, also their faces shone as the light.1

These men asked the pilgrims whence they came? and they told them. They also asked them where they had lodged, what difficulties and dangers, what comforts and pleasures, they had met with in the way? and they told them. Then said the men that met them, You have but two difficulties more to meet with, and then you are in the City.

Christian then, and his companion, asked the men to go along with them so they told them that they would: But, said they, you must obtain it by your own faith. So I saw in my dream that they went on together, till they came in sight of the Gate.

Now, I further saw, that between them and the Gate was a river, but there was no bridge to go over, and the river was very deep.3 At the sight, therefore, of this river, the pilgrims were much stunned;*

1 Perhaps the author here alluded to those pre-intimations of death, that some persons seem to receive: and he appears to have ascribed them to guardian angels, watching over every believer.

"Death and admission into the city, were the only difficulties that awaited the pilgrims. 3 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 and, when these decline, alarm and consternation may unite with reluctance at the thoughts of crossing it.

Their feelings on crossing the River.

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but the men that went with them said, You must go through, or you cannot come at the Gate.

The pilgrims then began to inquire, if there was no other way to the Gate? to which they answered, Yes; but there hath not any, save two, to wit, Enoch and Elijah, been permitted to tread that path, since the foundation of the world, nor shall until the last trumpet shall sound. The pilgrims then, especially Christian, began to despond, and looked this way and that, but could find no way by which to escape the river. Then they asked the men, if the waters were all of the same depth? They said, No: yet they could not help them in that case: For, said they, you shall find it deeper or shallower, as you believe in the King of the place.❜

Then they addressed themselves to the water, and, entering, Christian began to sink; and crying out to his good friend Hopeful, he said, "I sink in deep waters; the billows go over my head; all the waves go over me. Selah."

Then said the other, Be of good cheer, my brother, I feel the bottom, and it is good. Then said Christian, Ah! my friend, "the sorrow of death hath compassed me about:" I shall not see the land that floweth with milk and honey! and with that a great darkness and horror fell upon Christian, so that he could not see before him. Also here he, in a great measure, lost his senses, so that he could neither remember nor orderly talk of any of these sweet refreshments that he had met with in the way of his pilgrimage. But all the words that he spoke still tended to discover that he had horror of mind, and heart-fears, that he should die in that river, and never obtain entrance in at the Gate. Here, also, as they who stood by perceived, he was

3

1 The dreaded pangs that precede the awful separation of those intimate associates, 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."

2 Faith in a crucified, buried, risen, and ascended Saviour; experience of his faithfulness and love in times past; hope of an immediate entrance in his presence, and the desire of perfect knowledge, holiness, and felicity; will reconcile the mind to the inevitable stroke, and sometimes give a complete victory over every fear.

3 Sometimes experienced saints are more desponding in these circumstances than their junior brethren: constitution has considerable effect upon the mind: and some men (like Christian) are, in every stage of their profession, more exposed to temptations of a discouraging nature, than to ambition, avarice, or fleshly lusts.

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They pass the River of Death.

much in the troublesome thoughts of the sins he had committed, both since and before he began to be a pilgrim.' 'Twas also observed, that he was troubled with apparitions of hobgoblins and evil spirits; for ever and anon he would intimate so much by words. Hopeful, therefore, here had much ado to keep his brother's head above water, yea, sometimes he would be quite gone down, and then, ere a while, he would rise up again half dead. Hopeful did also endeavour to comfort him, saying, Brother, I see the Gate, and men standing by to receive us: But Christian would answer, 'Tis you, 'tis you they wait for: you have been hopeful ever since I knew you: And so have you, said he to Christian. Ah! brother, said he, surely if I were right, He would now arise to help me; but, for my sins, He hath brought me into the snare, and hath left me. Then said Hopeful, My brother, you have quite forgot the text, where it is said of the wicked, "There are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm; they are not troubled as other men, neither are they plagued like other men." (Psalm lxxiii. 4.) These troubles and distresses that you go through are no sign that God hath forsaken you, but are sent to try you, whether you will call to mind that which heretofore you have received of his goodness, and live upon him in your distresses. *

Then I saw in my dream that Christian was in a muse a while; to whom also Hopeful added these words-"Be of good cheer, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole:" and, with that, Christian brake out with a loud voice, "Oh! I see Him again! and he tells me, When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee." (Isaiah xliii. 2.) Then they both took courage, and the enemy was, after that, as still as a stone,

1 It has before been suggested, that the author probably meant to describe the peculiarities of his own experience, in the character of Christian; and he may perhaps here have intimated his apprehension, lest he should not meet death with becoming fortitude.

2 A conscientious life indeed is commonly favoured with a peaceful close, even when forebodings to the contrary have troubled men during their whole course: 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 improvements of their talents, from evangelical principles.

8 The Lord 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.