The Pilgrims approach the land of Beulah.

Now I saw in my dreau, that by this time the pilgrims were got over the Enchanted ground, and entering into the country of Beulah, whose air was very sweet and pleasant, the way lying directly through it, they solaced there for a season. Yea, here they heard continually the singing of birds, and saw every day the flowers appear in the earth, and heard the voice of the turtle in the land. In this country the sun shineth night and day; wherefore it 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. (y) 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 bridegroom was renewed; yea, here "as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so did their God rejoice over them,"* Here they had no want of corn and wine; for in this place they met abundance of what they had sought for in all their pilgrimage. 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!" Here all the inhabitants of the country called them, "The holy people, the redeemed of the Lord, sought out," &c.

*Isa. lxii. 4.

† ver. 8. ‡ ver. 11.

§ ver. 12.

(y) O, what a blessed state! what a glorious frame of soul is this! Job speaks of it as the candle of the Lord shining upon his head, ch. xxix. 3. The church in a rapture, cries out, "Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; break forth into singing, O mountains for the Lord hath comforted his people," Isa. xlix 13. Paul calls this," the fulness of the gospel of peace," Rom. xv. 29.

The Pilgrims are taken sick.

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 nearer to the city, they had yet a more perfect view thereof; it was built 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 awhile, crying out, because of their pangs, "If you see my Beloved, tell him I am sick of love." (z)

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 a 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 dainties; he also shewed them there the King's walks and arbours, where he delighted to be: and here they tarried and slept.

Now I beheld in my dream, that they talked

Deut. xxiii. 24.

O rest not short of enjoying the full blaze of gospel peace and spiritual joy.

(z) See what it is to long for the full fruition of Jesus in glory. Some have been so overpowered hereby, that their earthen vessels were ready to burst: their frail bodies have been so overcome, that they have cried, Lord, hold thine hand, I faint, I sink, I die, with a full sense of thy precious, precious love. Covet earnestly this best gift, Love. Lord, shed it more abundantly abroad in these cold hearts of ours.

They meet two men in bright raiment.

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 those vineyards to go down so sweetly, as to cause the lips of them that are asleep to speak.

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) was so extremely glorious, that they could not as yet with open face behold it, but through an instrument made for that purpose. 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. +

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 more difficulties to meet with, and then you are in the city." (a)

Christian and his companion then 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 1 farther saw, that betwixt them and the gate was a river, but there was no bridge to go over,

(a) What are these two difficulties? Are they not death without, and unbelief within? It is through the latter,that the former is at all distressing to us. O for a strong, world-conquering, sin-subduing, death-overcoming faith, in life and death! Jesus, Master, speak the word, unbelief shall flee, our faith shall not fail, and our hope shall be steady.

They arrive at the river.

and the river was very deep. At the sight therefore of this river, the pilgrims were much stunned; but the men that went with them said, You must go through, or you cannot come at the gate. (b)

The pilgrims then began to enquire, 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 in their minds, and looked this way, and that; but no way could be found by them which they might escape the river. Then they asked the men if the waters were all of a 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. (c)

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

(b) Well, now the pilgrims must meet with, and encounter, their last enemy-Death. When he stares them in the face, their fears arise. Through the river they must go. What have they to look at ? What they are in themselves, or what they have done and been! No. Only the same Jesus who conquered death for us, and can overcome the fear of death in us.

(c) Faith builds a bridge across the gulph of death;
Death's terror is the mountain faith removes.
'Tis faith disarms destruction, and absolves

From every clamorous charge the guiltless tomb.

For faith views, trusts in, and relies upon, the work of Christ for salvation, and the victory of Christ over sin, death, and hell. Therefore in every thing, we shall always prove the truth of our Lord's words, "According to your faith be it unto you," Matt. ix. 29. O what support in death, to have Jesus our triumphant conqueror to look unto, who has disarmed death of its sting, and swallowed up death in his victory.

The Pilgrims enter the river.

deep waters; the billows go over my head, all thy 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 sorrows of death hath compassed me about, I shall not see the land that flows with milk and honey. And with that a great darkness and horror fell upon Christian, so that he could not see before him. (d) ·

Also here in a great measure he lost his senses, so that he could neither remember nor orderly talk of any of those sweet refreshments that he had met with in the way of his pilgrimage. But all the words that he spake 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 that stood by perceived, he was much in the troublesome thoughts of the sins that he had committed, both since and before he began to be a pilgrim. It was also observed, that he was troubled with apparitions of hobgoblins and evil spirits; for ever and anon, he would intimate so much by words. (e) Hopeful, therefore here, had

(d) What! after all the past blessed experience that Christian had enjoyed of his Lord's peace, love, joy, and presence with him, his holy transports, and heavenly consolations, is all come to this at the last! You know, "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death," 1 Cor. xv. 26. In some sort he is an enemy, even to saints themselves, as he puts an end to their present existence, and destroys their body. But their souls fall asleep in Jesus, are delivered from the burden of the flesh, and enter into Christ's presence, to be for ever with him. Thus he is a blessed messenger of joy, and a sweet friend to the regenerate soul.

(e) Satan is suffered to be very busy with God's people in their last moments; but he too, like death, is a conquered enemy by our Jesus; therefore amidst all his attacks they are safe. He cannot destroy them whom Jesus hath redeemed. For he is faithful to them, and almighty to save them.