hangs over his head; that is to shew thee, that slighting and despising the things that are present, for the love that he hath to his Master's service, he is sure in the world that comes next to have glory for his reward. Now, said the Interpreter, I have shewed thee this picture first, because the man, whose picture this is, is the only man whom the Lord of the place whither thou art going hath authorized to be thy guide, in all difficult places thou mayest meet with in the way: wherefore, take good heed to what I have shewed thee, and bear well in thy mind what thou hast seen; lest in thy journey thou meet with some that pretend to lead thee right, but their way goes down to death.

Then he took him by the hand, and led him into a very large parlour that was full of

* He took'-All true believers desire sanctification, of which the moral law is the standard: yet every attempt to produce conformity in heart and life to that standard, by regarding the precepts, apart from the truths and promises, of Scripture, excites and discovers the evils which before lay dormant in the heart; according to the significant emblem here adduced. Mere moral preaching, indeed, has no such effect: because, in the place of the divine law, it substitutes another rule, which is so vague, that self-flattery will enable almost any man, who is not scandalously vicions, to deem himself justified according to it go that, instead of enmity being excited in the heart, be allows the rule by which he is approv ed; and loves his idea of God, because it accords so well with his own character. But, when the holy law is brought with energy to the conscience, its strictness, spirituality, and severity, awaken the latent enmity of the heart: the absolute self-denial it demands, even in the most plausible claims of self-love, its express prohibition of the darling sin, with the experienced inpractibility of adequate obedience, and the awful sentence it denounces against every transgressor, concar in exciting opposition to it, and even to him who gave it

dust, because never swept; the which, after he had reviewed a little while, the Interpreter called for a man to sweep. Now when he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly to fly about, that Christian had almost therewith been choked. Then said the Interpreter to a damsel that stood by, Bring hither water and sprinkle the room; the which when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with pleasure.

Then said Christian, What means this?

The Interpreter answered, This parlour is the heart of a man, that was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the Gospel the dust is his original sin and inward corruptions, that have defiled the whole man. He, that began to sweep at first, is the Law; but she, that brought that water and did sprinkle it, is the Gospel. Now whereas thou sawest, that so soon as the first began to sweep, the dust

Moreover, the consciousness of a hankering after things prohibited, and a conviction of the evil of such concupiscence, induce a man to conclude that he is viler than ever; and, indeed, clearer knowledge must aggravate the guilt of every sin. A little discouragement of this kind prevails with numbers to ccase from all endeavours, at least for a season; supposing that at present it is impossible for them to serve God; but others, being more deeply humbled, and taken off from ali self-confidence, are thus prepared to understand and welcome the fice salvation of the Gospel. The law then appears disarmed of its curse, as the rule and standard of holiness; while righteousness and strength are sought by faith in Jesus Christ: the believer is encouraged by the truths and promises of the Gospel, excited by its motives, and inclined by the Holy Spirit, to desire advancing sanctification: while by the prevalence of hope and love his inward enmity is subdued, and he delights in cleansing himself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, and perfecting holiness in the fear of God.'

did so fly about that the room by him could not be cleansed, but that thou wast almost choked therewith; this is to shew thee, that the law instead of cleansing the heart, by its working, from sin, doth revive, put strength into, and increase it in the soul, even as it doth discover and forbid it; for it doth not give power to subdue it (Rom. v. 20; vii. 7 -11; 1 Cor. xv. 56.)

Again as thou sawest the damsel sprinkle the room with water, upon which it was cleansed with pleasure; this is to shew thee, that when the Gospel comes in the sweet and precious influences thereof to the heart, then, I say, even as thou sawest the damsel lay the dust by sprinkling the floor with water, so is sin vanquished and subdued, and the soul made clean through faith of it, and consequently fit for the King of glory to inhabit (John xiv. 21-23; xv. 3; Acts xv. 9; Rom. xvi. 25, 26; Eph. v. 26.)

I saw, moreover, in my dream, that the Interpreter took him by the hand, and had him in a little room where sat two little children,* each

*Two children'-In this instructive emblem, Passion represents the prevalence of the carnal affections over reason and religion. Whatever be the object, this dominion of the passions produces fretfulness and childish perverseness, when a man cannot obtain the imagined good his heart is set upon, which wholly relates to the present life. But this impatience of delay or disappointment is succeeded by pride, insolence, contempt of others, and inordinate momentary delight, if he be indulged with the possession of his idol. Such men may scorn believers as foolish and wretched: but they soon grow dissatisfied with success, and speedily lavish away their good things. On the other hand, Patience is the emblem of those who quietly and meekly wait for future happiness, renounce

one in his chair.

The name of the eldest was Passion, and the name of the other Patience. Passion seemed to be much discontented, but Patience was very quiet. Then Christian asked, what is the reason of the discontent of Passion? The Interpreter answered, The governor of them would have him stay for his best things till the beginning of the next year; but he will have all now. But Patience is willing to wait.

Then I saw that one came to Passion and brought him a bag of treasure, and poured it down at his feet: the which he took up and rejoiced therein, and withall laughed Patience to scorn. But I beheld but a while, and he had lavished all away, and had nothing left him but rags.

Then said Christian to the Interpreter, Expound this matter more fully to me.

So he said, These two lads are figures: Passion of the men of this world, and Patience of the men of that which is to come. For as here thou seest Passion will have all now this

ing present things for the sake of it. True riches, honours, and pleasures are intended for them, but not here; and as well educated little children, they simply wait for them till the appointed season, in the way of patience and obedience. Reason determines, that a greater and more permanent good hereafter is preferable to a less and fleeting enjoyinent at present: faith realizes, as attainable, a felicity infinitely more valuable than all which this world can possibly propose to us; so that in this respect the life of faith is the reign of reason over passicn, while unbelief makes way for the triumph of passion over reason. Nor can any thing be more essential to praotice religion than an abiding conviction, that it is the only true wisdom, uniformly and cheerfully to part with every ten poral good, whenever it interferes with the graud concern of eternity.

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year, that is to say in this world; so are the men of this world they must have all their good things now, they cannot stay till next year, that is, until the next world, for their portion of good. That proverb, A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,' is of more authority with them than are all the divine testinionies of the good world to come. as thou sawest that he had quickly lavished all away, and had presently left him nothing but rags; so will it be with all such men at the end of this world.

But

Then said Christian, Now I see that Patience has the best wisdom, and that upon many accounts: because he stays for the best things and also because he will have the glory of his, when the other has nothing but

rags.

Interp. Nay, you may add another, to wit, the glory of the next world will never wear out; but these are suddenly gone. Therefore Passion had not so much reason to laugh at Patience, because he had his good things first, as Patience will have to laugh at Passion because he had his best things last for first must give place to last, because last must have its time to come; but last gives place to nothing, for there is not another to succeed he, therefore, that hath his portion first must needs have a time to spend it; but he that has his portion last must have it lastingly therefore it is said of Dives, 'In thy lifetime thou receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is com