He to whom thou was sent for ease, being by name Legality, is 'the son of the bondwoman, which now is, and is in bondage with her children' (Gal. iv. 21--27 ;) and is, in a mystery, this mount Sinai, which thou has feared will fall on thy head. Now if she with her children are in bondage, how canst thou expect by them to be made free? This Legality, therefore, is not able to set thee free from thy burthen. No man was as yet ever rid of his burthen by him; no, nor ever is like to be. 'Ye cannot be justified by the works of the law; for by deeds of the law no man living' can be rid of his burthen: therefore, Mr. Worldly-Wiseman is an alien, and Mr. Legality a cheat; and for his son Civility, notwithstanding his simpering looks, he is

He to whom'-When Christ had finished his work on earth, the Sinai covenant with Israel was abrogated. The Jews, therefore, by cleaving to the Mosaic law as a complex covenant of works, were left in bondage and under condemnation; and all professed Christians, who thus depend on notions, sacraments, religious duties, and morality, to the neglect of Christ and the new covenant in his blood, are entangled in the same fatal error. Legality can only lead a man to a false peace; it can never deliver a sinner from guilt, or quiet the conscience of one who is really humbled and enlightened. The Scriptures adduced by Evangelist are so pertinent and conclusive against the fashionable religion, which has at present almost superseded the Gospel, that they can never be fairly answered: nay, the more any man considers them as the testimony of God, the greater must be his alarm (even as if he heard the voice from mount Sinai out of the midst of the fire ;) unless he be conscious of having renounced every other confidence, to flee for refuge to lay hold on the hope set before us' in the Gospel. Such alarms prepare men to attend to the counsel of those who preach salvation by faith in Christ alone, provided there may yet be hope; of which there is no reason to doubt.

but a hypocrite, and cannot help thee. Believe me, there is nothing in all this noise that thou hast heard of those sottish men, but a design to beguile thee of thy salvation, by turning thee from the way in which I had set thee. After this Evangelist called aloud to the heavens for confirmation of what he had said; and with that, there came words and fire out of the mountain under which poor Christian stood, that made the hair of his flesh stand up. The words were thus pronounced: As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them' (Gal. iii. 10.)

Now Christian looked for nothing but death, and began to cry out lamentably, even cursing the time in which he met with Mr. Worldly-Wiseman; still calling himself a thousand fools for hearkening to his counsel. He also was greatly ashamed to think that this gentleman's arguments, flowing only from the flesh, should have the prevalency with him as to cause him to forsake the right way. This done, he applied himself again to Evangelist, in words and sense as follows:-

Sir, what think you? Is there hope? May I now go back, and go up to the wicket-gate? Shall I not be abandoned for this, and sent back from thence ashamed? I am sorry I have harkened to this man's counsel; but may my sin be forgiven?

Then said Evangelist, to him, thy sin is very great, for by it thou hast committed two evils; thou hast forsaken the way that is good, to tread in forbidden paths yet will the man at the gate receive thee, for he has good will for men; only, said he, take heed that thou turn not aside again, lest thou perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little' (Psal. ii. 12.) Then did Christian address himself to go back; and Evangelist, after he had kissed him, gave him one smile, and bid him God speed. So he went on with haste, neither spake he to any man by the way; nor if any asked him would he vouchsafe them any answer. He went like one that was all the while treading on forbidden ground, and could by no means think himself safe till again he was got into the way which he left to follow Mr. Worldly-Wiseman's counsel. So in process of time Christian got up to the gate.

Thy sin'-In attempting to encourage those who despond, we should by no means persuade them that their sins are few or trivial, or even that they judge too hardly of their own conduct; nay, we should endeavour to convince them, that their guilt is even far greater than they suppose; though not too great to be pardoned by the infinite mercy of God in Christ Jesus: for this tends to take them off more speedily from every vain attempt to justify themselves, and renders them more unreserved in relying on Christ for acceptance. In the midst of the most affectionate encouragements, the faithful minister must also solemnly warn young converts not to turn aside; nor can the humble ever find confidence or comfort, till they are conscious of having regained the way they had forsaken.

.

Got up to'--The gate, at which Christian desired ad mission, represents Christ himself, as received by the penitent sinner in all his offices, and for all the purposes of salvation, according to the measure of his explicit knowledge; by which

Now over the gate there was written, Knock, and it shall be opened unto you' (Matt. vii. 7, 8.)

he actually enters into a state of acceptance with God. The Scriptures referred to were spoken by our Lord himself, previous to the full revelation of his character and re lemption; and may be very properly explained of a man's finally and decidedly recouncing his worldly and sinful pursuits, and engaging with diligence and self-denial in a life of devotedness to God. The broad road leads to destruction;' the gate by which men enter into it is wide; for we are all born in sin and the children of wrath,' and turn every one to his own way' of folly and transgression: but a strait gate opens into the narrow way that leadeth unto life;' and at this the penitent finds admission with difficulty and conflict. As it is strait (or, in the language of the allegory, a wicket, or a little gate,) the convert cannot carry along with him any of his sinful practices, ungodly companions, worldly idols, or carnal confidences, when he strives to enter in at it; nor can he effectually contend with those enemies that obstruct his passage, unless he wrestle continually with God in prayer, for his gra cious assistance. But, while we advert to these things, we must not forget, that the sinner returns to God by faith in Christ: genuine repentance comes from him and leads to him; and the true believer not only trusts in the Lord for salvation, but also seeks his liberty and happiness in his service. To enter in this manner, by Christ the door, is so contrary to man's pride and lusts, to the course of the world, and to the temptations of the devil, that striving or wrestling is more necessary in this than it can be conceived to be in any other kind of conversion. Various things commonly precede this unreserved acceptance of Christ, in the experi ence of those who are born of God; but they are not easily distinguishable from many temporary convictions, impressions, and starts of devotion, which evidently vanish and come to nothing. Yet even this is judiciously distinguished by our author from that view of the cross by which Christian was de livered from his burthen, for reasons which will speedily be stated. The following lines are here inserted, under an engraving:

He that would enter in, must first without
Stand knocking at the gate, nor need he doubt,
That is a knocker, but to enter in;

For God can love him, and forgive ais sin.'

He knocked therefore more than once or twice, saying

May I now enter here? Will he within
Open to sorry me, though I have been
An undeserving rebel? Then shall I

Not fail to sing his lasting praise on high

At last there came a grave person to the gate, named Goodwill,* who asked who was there? and whence he came ? and what he would have?

Chr. Here is a poor burthened sinner. I come from the city of Destruction, but am going to mount Zion, that I may be delivered from the wrath to come. I would, therefore, Sir, since I am informed that by this gate is the way thither, know if you are willing to

let me in.

*Goodwill-Goodwill seems to be an allegorical person, the emblem of the compassionate love of God to sinness, in and through Jesus Christ (Luke ii. 14.) He came from heaven to do the will of him that sent him,' and he will in no wise cast out any that come to him,' either on account of their former sins, or their present mistakes, infirmities, evil propensities and habits, or peculiar temptations. He waits to be gracious,' till sinners apply by earnest persevering prayer for his salvation; and even the preparation of heart which leads to this is not requisite to induce the Lord to reNumceive them, but to make them willing to apply to him. bers give themselves no concern about their souls; others, after convictions, turn back with Pliable, or finally cleave to the counsels of worldly wisdom: but all, who come to Christ with a real desire of his whole salvation, are cordially wel comed; over them angels rejoice, and in them the Redeemer 'sees of the travail of his soul and is satisfied.' So that inquirers are greatly mistaken when they fear lest Christ should reject them; since they need only dread being tempted to re ject him, or being partial and hypocritical in their application to him.