The Monument.

deservest no better reward. Assure thyself, that when we come to the king, we will tell him of this thy behaviour. Thus they went their way.

By this time By-ends and his companions were come again within sight, and they at the first beck went over to Demas. Now, whether they fell into the pit by looking over the brink thereof, or whether they went down to dig, or whether they were smothered in the bottom by the damps that commonly arise, of these things I am not certain; but this I observed, that they never were seen again in the way. (0) Then sang Christian:

"By-ends and silver Demas both agree:

"One calls, the other runs, that he may be
"A sharer in his lucre: so these do

"Take up in this world, and no farther go."

Now I saw that, just on the other side of this plain, the pilgrims came to a plain where stood an old Monument hard by the high-way side, at the sight of which they were both concerned, because of the strangeness of the form thereof, for it seemed to them as if it had been a woman transformed into the shape of a pillar; here therefore they stood looking, and looking upon it; but could not for a time tell what they should make thereof, at last Hopeful, espied written upon the head thereof, a writing in an unusual hand; but he, being no scholar, called to Christian (for he was learned) to see if he could pick out the meaning: so he came, and after a lit

(0) Here you see the end of double-minded men, who vainly attempt to temper the love of money with the love of Christ. They go on with their heart for a season, but the end makes it manifest what they were. Take David's advice, "Fret not thyself because of evil doers;" Psa. xxxvii. 1. "Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, and the glory of his house increased," xlix. 16. But go thou into the sanctuary of thy God, read his word, and understand the end of these men.

P

Pilgrims discourse about the Monument.

tle laying the letters together, he found the same to be this, " Remember Lot's wife." So he read it to his fellow after which they both concluded that that was the pillar of salt, into which Lot's wife was turned, for looking back with a covetous heart, when she was going from Sodom for safety. Which sudden and amazing sight gave them occasion for this discourse.

Chr. Ah! my brother! this is a seasonable sight: it came opportunely to us after the invitation which Demas gave us to come over to view the hill Lucre; and had we gone over, as he desired us, and as thou wast inclined to do (my brother,) we had, for ought I know, been made like this woman, a spectacle for those that shall come after to behold.

Hope. I am sorry that I was so foolish, and am made to wonder that I am not now as Lot's wife; for wherein was the difference between her sin and mine? She only looked back, and I had a desire to go see; let grace be adored, and let me be ashamed, that ever such a thing should be in my heart. (p)

Chr. Let us take notice of what we see here, for our help for time to come; this woman escaped one judgment, for she fell not by the destruction of Sodom: yet she was destroyed by another; as we see, she is turned into a pillar of salt.

Hope. True; and she may be to us both caution and example: caution, that we should shun her sin;

*Gen. xix. 26.

(p) Such is the effect of the grace of God in the heart of a pilgrim; while on one hand he sees the propensity of his evil nature to every sin which has been committed by others, and is humbled, he also confesses, that, by no power of his own, he is preserved, but ever gives all the glory to the God of all grace, by whose power alone he is kept from falling. "Thou standest by faith, be not highminded, but fear." Rom. xi. 20.

Sinners reject the most awful warning.

or a sign of what judgment will overtake such as shall not be prevented by this caution: so Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, with the two hundred and fifty men that perished in their sin, did also become *a sign or example to beware. But above all, I muse at one thing, to wit, how Demas and his fellows can stand so confidently yonder to look for that treasure, which this woman, but for looking behind her after (for we read not that she stepped one foot out of the way) was turned into a pillar of salt: especially since the judgment which overtook her did make her an example, within sight of where they are: for they cannot choose but see her, did they but lift up their eyes.

Chr. It is a thing to be wondered at, and it argueth that their hearts are grown desperate in the case; and I cannot tell who to compare them to so fitly, as to them that pick pockets in the presence of the judge, or that will cut purses under the gallows. It is said of the men of Sodom, that they were sinners exceedingly, because they were sinners before the Lord, that is, in his eyesight, and notwithstanding the kindness that he had shewed them for the land of Sodom was now like the garden of Eden heretofore. This, therefore, provoked him the more to jealousy, and made their plague as hot as the fire of the Lord out of Heaven could make it. And it is most rationally to be concluded, that such, even such as these are, that shall sin in the sight, yea, and too in despite of such examples that are set continually before them to caution them to the contrary, must be partakers of the severest judgments.

Hope. Doubtless thou hast said the truth; but what a mercy is it, that neither thou, but especially

*Numb. xxvi. 9, 10. †Gen. iii. 13. ‡ Ver. 10.

The River of the Water of Life.

I, am not made myself this example? This ministreth occasion to us to thank God, to fear before him, and always to remember Lot's wife.

I say then, that they went on their way to a pleasant river; which David the king called the river of God; but John, the river of the water of life. (q) Now their way lay just upon the bank of this river; here, therefore, Christian and his companion walked with great delight; they drank also of the water of the river, which was pleasant and enlivening to their weary spirits; besides, on the banks of this river, on either side, were green trees, for all manner of fruit and the leaves they ate to prevent surfeits, and other diseases that are incident to those that heat their blood by travels. On either side of the river was a meadow, curiously beautified with lilies; and it was green all the year long. In this

*Ps. lxv. 9. Rev. xxii. 1. Ezek. xlvii.

(q) By this river, which is called "a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb," Rev. xxii. 1. we may understand the clear and comfortable views which they were favoured with, of God's everlasting love and electing grace. This river of God, this water of life, was clear as crystal: They could see in it God's glory shining in the face of Jesus Christ, and view their own faces in it, to their inexpressible joy. This is the river" the streams whereof make glad the city of God." Psalm lxvi. 4. The streams which flow from this river of his electing love, are vocation to Christ, justification by Christ, sanctification in Christ, perseverance through Christ, glorification with Christ, and all joy and peace in believing on Christ from the Spirit of Christ. All this these pilgrims now enjoyed, and all this every fellow-citizen of the saints are called to enjoy, in their pilgrimage to Zion. These are under precious privileges. This river of life proceeded out of the throne of God and the Lamb. For God hath chosen us in Christ, and blessed us with all spiritual blessings in him and they are all freely communicated from electing love to us, out of Christ's fulness. O how happy, peaceful, and joyful are pilgrims, when the Spirit takes of the things of Christ, shews them to us, and blesseth us with a sense of interest in all the love of God, and finished salvation of Jesus.

Christian and Hopeful come to By-path Meadow.

meadow they lay down and slept; for here they might lie down safely. When they awoke they gathered again of the fruit of the trees, and drank again of the water of the river, and then lay down again to sleep. Thus they did several days and nights. Then they sang;

"Behold ye, how these crystal streams do glide,

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To comfort pilgrims by the high-way side.

"The meadows green, besides their fragrant smell,
"Yield dainties for them; and he that can tell

"What pleasing fruit, yea, leaves, these trees do yield,!

Will soon sell all, that he may buy this field.

So when they were disposed to go on (for they were not as yet at their journey's end) they ate and drank and departed.

Now I beheld in my dream, that they had not journeyed far, but the river and the way for a time parted, at which they were not a little sorry, yet they durst not go out of the way. Now the way from the river was rough, and their feet tender by reason of their travels: "so the souls of the pilgrims were much discouraged because of the way." Wherefore, still as they went on, they wished for a better way. (r) Now a little before them, there was, on the left hand of the road, a meadow, and a stile to go over into it, and that meadow is called Bypath Meadow. (s) Then said Christian to his fel

* Psa. xxiii. Isa. xiv. 30. † xxi. 4.

(r) Pilgrims have their discouragements as well as their joys; they cannot help complaining as well as rejoicing, yet they take their way as they find it, sometimes rough, at others smooth; though they may at times be sorry to part with their comforts, and wish the way was smoother; so they did here. Lo! their wishes were answered; but mark the consequences. Lord lead me in the way everlasting!

(s) Beware of this By-path Meadow ;-it is on the left handOh! how many are walking securely, confidently, and comfortably int, while every step they take endangers their destruction. The transition into it is easy, for it lies close to the right way, only you