Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

The Hill Difficulty.

since I have his coat upon my back; a coat that he gave me freely in the day that be stripped me of my rags. I have, moreover, a mark in my forehead, of which, perhaps, you have taken no notice, which one of my Lord's most intimate associates fixed there in the day that my burden fell off my shoulders. I will tell you, moreover, that I had then given me a roll, sealed, to comfort me by reading, as I go on the way; I was also bid to give it in at the Celestial Gate, in token of my certain going in after it; all which things I doubt you want, and want them, because you came not in at the gate. (i)

To these things they gave him no answer; only they looked upon each other, and laughed. (k)— Then I saw that they went on all, save that Christian kept before, who had no more talk but with himself, and that sometimes sighingly, (1) and sometimes comfortably; also he would be often reading in the roll (m) that one of the Shining Ones gave him, by which he was refreshed.

I beheld then that they all went on till they came to the foot of the hill (n) Difficulty, at the bottom of which was a spring. There were also, in the same place, two other ways, besides that which

(i) Where there is the witness of the Spirit, and the seal of the Spirit, that soul will also glory in the righteousness of Christ; for this is the joy of faith, that Christ is the Lord our righteousness, Jer. xxxiii. 6. In vain do men talk of inward comforts, who reject the clothing of Christ's righteousness.

(k) Vain-glorious fools laugh at Christ's humble pilgrims.

(1) What! sighing already, and just pardoned? One should expect that he was all joy, nothing but joy. O these are sighs of love, which strangers to spiritual joy know nothing of.

(m) This means the assurance which he had from the Spirit, of the free love, free grace, free pardon, free justification, of Christ to his soul.

(n) He came to the hill Difficulty; a way unpleasing to flesh and blood, which proves and tries the sincerity of our faith, and the carnestness of our souls, in our pilgrimage.

Danger and Destruction on each side of the Right way.

came straight from the gate; one turned to the lefthand, and the other to the right, at the bottom of the hill; but the narrow way lay right up the hill, and the name of the going up the side of the hill is called Difficulty. Christian now went to the spring, and drank thereof to refresh himself, and then began to go up the hill, saying:

"The hill, though high, I covet to ascend,
"The difficulty will not me offend;

"For, I perceive the way to life lies here:

"Come, płock up heart, let's neither faint nor fear!

"Better though difficult, the right way to go,

"Then wrong, though easy, where the end is woe. (0)

The other two also came to the foot of the hill; but when they saw that the hill was steep and high, and that there were two other ways to go; and supposing also that these two ways might meet again with that up which Christian went, on the other side of the hill; therefore they were resolved to go in those ways. Now the name of one of those ways was Danger, and the name of the other Destruction. So the one took the way which is called Danger, which led him into a great wood; and the other took directly up the way to Destruction, which led him into a wide field, full of dark mountains, where he stumbled and fell, and rose no more. (p)

I looked then after Christian, to see him go up the hill, where I perceived he fell from running to going, and from going to clambering upon his hands

*Isa. xlix. 12.

(0) Depend upon it, Pilgrim, some great blessing is at hand, when thou hast some difficulty to grapple with and overcome.

(p) Formalists and hypocrites, as they come easy into the way of profession, without any convictions of sin to cause them to flee to Christ the wicket gate, so they find the easiest path to flesh and blood, and perish in the end.

Mistrust and Timorous, meet Christian.

and knees, because of the steepness of the place. Now about the midway to the top of the hill, was a pleasant arbour, made by the Lord of the hill, for the refreshment of weary travellers; thither, therefore, Christian got, where he also sat down to rest him then he pulled his roll out of his bosom, and read therein to his comfort; he also now began afresh to take a review of the coat or garment that was given him as he stood by the cross. Thus, pleasing himself awhile, he at last fell into a slumber, and thence into a fast sleep, which detained him in that place until it was almost night; and in his sleep, his roll fell out of his hand. (q.) Now, as he was sleeping, there came one to him, and awaked him, saying, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise:" and with that, Christian suddenly started up, and sped on his way, and went apace, till he came to the top of the hill. (r.)

Now when he was got to the top of the hill, there came two men running to meet him amain: the name of the one was (s) Timorous, and the name of the other, Mistrust. To whom Christian

Prov. vi. 6.

(q) Happy for Christian that he did not fall into the dream of his own sinless perfection, so as to take up with a fool's paradise, nor get into Antinomian notions, so as to sleep in a false security, without his roll. The best of blessings, even spiritual comforts, from the God of grace, are, through the infection of our nature, liable to be abused, so as to cause us to sleep, when we should be active and diligent, in running the heavenly race, looking unto Jesus.

(r) The Lord loves his people too well, to let them sleep the sleep of death, though he may suffer them to sleep to the loss of their comfort; this is great grief and distrust to their souls.

(s) Timorous and Mistrust, are great enemies to the Christian's faith, and bring up an evil report of his way. Listen not to them, but look to God's truth and faithfulness: Rely on his precious promises, and have your feet shod with the gospel of peace. Who or what shall harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

H

Christian misses his Roll, and returns back to seek it.

said, Sirs, what is the matter? You run the wrong way. Timorous answered, That they were going to the City of Zion, and bad got up that difficult place; but said he, the further we go, the more danger we meet with; wherefore we turned, and are going back again.

Yes, said Mistrust; for just before us, lie a couple of lions in the way, (whether sleeping or waking we know not;) and we could not think, if we came within reach, but they would presently, pull us in pieces.

Chr. Then said Christian, you make me afraid : but whither shall 1 flee to be safe? If I go back to my own country, that is prepared with fire and brimstone, and I shall certainly perish there: If I can get to the Celestial City, I am sure to be in safety there (t) I must venture; to go back, is nothing but death: to go forward is fear of death, and life everlasting beyond it: I will yet go forward. So Mistrust and Timorous ran down the hill, and Christian went on his way. But thinking again of what he had heard from the men, he felt in his bosom for his roll, that he might read therein, and be comforted; but he felt, and found it not.Then was Christian in great distress, and knew not what to do; for he wanted that which used to relieve him, and that which should have been his pass into the Celestial City. Here, therefore, he began to be much (u) perplexed, and knew not what

(t) Christian shakes off fear by sound spiritual reasoning; even the reasouing of faith, against the fear of the flesh, and mistrust or unbelief We have always a sure word of prophecy, whereunto we shall do well to take heed. When dangers beset, and fears assault, remember whose ye are, and whom ye serve: look to the way you are in, and the end of your faith, even the salvation of your soul. Study the word of God, and obey it.

(u) He is perplexed for his roll; this is right. If we suffer spiritual loss, and are easy and unconcerned about it, it is a sad sign that we indulge carnal security and vain confidences. Many go on

Christian bitterly repents.-Finds his roll.

to do; at last, he bethought himself, that he had slept in the arbour at the side of the hill; and falling down upon his knees, he asked God forgiveness for that his foolish act, and then went back to look for his roll. But all the way he went back, who can sufficiently set forth the sorrow of Christian's heart? Sometimes he sighed, sometimes he wept, and oftentimes he chid himself for being so foolish to fall asleep in that place which was erected only for a little refreshment for his weariness. Thus, therefore, he went back, carefully looking on this side and on that, all the way as he went, if happily he might find the roll that had been his comfort so many times in his journey. He went on till he came again in sight of the arbour where he sat and slept; but that sight renewed his sorrow the more, by bringing again, even afresh, his evil of sleeping into his mind. (x) Thus, Therefore he now went on bewailing his sinful sleep, saying, "O wretched man that I am!" that I should sleep in the day time! that I should sleep in the midst of difficulty! that I should so indulge the flesh, as to use that rest for ease to my flesh, which the Lord of the hill hath erected only for the relief of the spirits of pilgrims! How many steps have I taken in vain! (thus it happened to Israel, for their sin they were sent back again by the way of the Red Sea.) and I am made to tread those steps with sorrow,

46

so, till they sink into a downright Antinomian spirit. O beware of this; for many who abhor the name, yet have drank into the spirit of it, and hence live and walk without spiritual communion with God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, and rest contented, without the witness of the Spirit with their spirits, that they are the children of God.

(x) Look to your spirits, Christians. See, if you have not after-sorrow for former indulgences. But it is far better to be crying, "O wretched man that I am," than to be alive to carnal condences, and dead to the spiritual comforts.

« ForrigeFortsett »