either side with a wall, and that wall was called Salvation (Isa. xxvi. 1). Up this way therefore did burthened Christian run, but I ot without great difficulty, because of the load on his back. He ran thus till he came at a place somewhat ascending, and upon that place stood a cross, and a little below, in the bottom, a sepulchre. So I saw in my dream, that just as Christian came up with the cross, his burthen loosed from off his shoulders, and fell the motive and efficacy of his intense sufferings; the glory of the Divine perfections harmoniously displayed in this surprising expedient for saving the lost; the honour of the Divine law and government, and the evil and desert of sin, most energetically proclaimed in this way of pardoning transgressors and reconciling enemies; and the perfect freeness and sufficiency of this salvation; then his conscience is purged from dead works to serve the living God,' by a simple reliance on the atoning blood of Emmanuel. This deliverance from the burthen of guilt is in some respects final, as to the well-instructed and consistent believer; his former sins are buried, no more to be his terror and distress. He will indeed be deeply humbled under a sense of his guilt, and sometimes he may question his acceptance; but his distress, before he understood the way of deliverance, was habitual, except in a few transient seasons of relief, and often oppressed him when most diligent and watchful; but now he is only burthened when he has been betrayed into sin, or when struggling with peculiar temptations; and he constantly finds relief by looking to the cross. Many indeed never attain to this habitual peace: this is the effect of remaining ignorance, error, or negligence, which scriptural instuctions are the proper means of obviating. But it was not probable that our author should, so to speak, draw the character of his hero from the lowest order of hopeful professors; it may rather call for our admiration, that, in an allegory (which is the peculiar effort of a vigorous imagination) he was preserved, by uncommon strength of mind and depth of judgment, from stating Christian's experience above the general attain ments of consistent believers, under solid instructions. from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre, where it fell in, and I saw it no more. Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said with a merry heart, 'He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his death.' Then he stood a while to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him, that the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his burthen. He looked,* therefore, and looked *He looked'-Christian's tears, amidst his gladness, intimate that deliverance from guilt, by faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ, tends to increase humiliation, sorrow for sin, and abhorrence of it; though it mingles even those af fections with a sweet and solid pleasure. By the three shining ones,' the author might allude to the ministration of angels as conducive to the comfort of the heirs of salvation; but he could not mean to ascribe Christian's confidence to any impressions, or suggestions of texts to him by a voice, or in a dream; any more than he intended, by his views of the cross, to sanction the account that persons of heated im agination have given, of their having seen one hang on a cross, covered with blood, who told them their sins were pardoned; while it has been evident, that they never understood the spiritual glory, or the sanctifying tendency of the doctrine of a crucified Saviour. Such things are the mere delusions of enthusiasm, from which our author was remarkably free but the nature of an allegory led him to this method of describing the happy change that takes place in the pilgrim's experience, when he obtains peace and joy in believing. His uniform doctrine sufficiently shews that be considered spiritual apprehensions of the nature of the atonement as the only source of genuine peace and comfort. And, as the mark in the forehead' plainly signifies the renewal of the soul to holiness, so that the mind of Christ may appear in the outward conduct, connected with an open profession of faith, while the roll with a seal upon it' denotes such an assurance of acceptance, as appears most clear and satisfactory, when the believer most attentively compares his views experiences desires, and purposes, with the Holy : again, even till the springs that were in his head sent the water down his cheeks (Zech xii. 10). Now, as he stood looking and weeping, behold three shining ones came to him, and saluted him with Peace be to thee.' So the first said to him, 'Thy sins be forgiven thee' (Mark ii. 5); the second stripped him of his rags, and clothed him with change of raiment; the third also set a mark on his forehead, and gave him a roll with a seal upon it (Zech. iii. 4; Eph. i 13), which he bid him look on as he ran, and that he should give it in at the celestial gate; so they went their way. Then Christian gave three leaps for joy, and went on singing- Scriptures; so he could not possibly intend to ascribe such effects to any other agent than the Holy Spirit; who by enabling a man to exercise all filial affections towards God in an enlarged degree, as the Spirit of adoption bears witness' with his conscience, that God is reconciled to him, having pardoned all his sins; that he is justified by faith in the righteousness of Emmanuel; and that he is a child of God, and an heir of heaven. These things are clear and intelligible to those who have experienced this happy change; and the abiding effects of their joy in the Lord, upon their dispo sitions and conduct (like the impression of the seal after the wax is cooled) distinguish it from the confidence and comfort of hypocrites and enthusiasts. It must, however, continue to be the secret of the Lord, with them that fear him,' 'hidden manna,' and a white stone, having in it a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it' (Psalm xv. 14; Rev. ii. 17.) Here again we meet with an engraving, and the following lines: ་ Who's this? The Pilgrim. How! 'Tis very true: Thus far did I come laden with my sin, I saw then in my dream that he went on thus even until he came at the bottom, where he saw, a little out of the way, three men fast asleep, with fetters upon their heels. The name of the one was Simple, another Sloth, and the third Presumption. Christian then seeing them lie in this case went to them, if peradventure he might awake I saw'-We were before informed, that other ways butted down upon' the strait way; and the connexion of the allegory required the introduction of various characters, besides that of the true believer. Many may outwardly walk in the ways of religion, and seem to be pilgrims, who are destitute of those things which accompany salvation.' The three allegorical persons next introduced are nearly related; they appear to be pilgrims, but are a little out of the way, asleep, and fettered. Many of this description are found, where the truth is preached, as well as elsewhere: they hear and learn to talk about the Gospel; have transient convictions, which are soon quieted; cleave to the world, and rest more securely in the bondage of sin and Satan, by means of their profession of religion. They reject or pervert all instruction, hate all trouble, yet are confident that every thing is and will be well with them, while teachers, after their own hearts, lull them with a syren's song, by confounding the form with the power of godliness; and if any one attempt, in the most affectionate manner to warn them of their danger, they answer (according to the tenor of the words here used,) Mind your own business; we see no danger ; you shall not disturb our composure, or induce us to make so much ado about religion: see to yourselves, and leave us to ourselves.' Thus they sleep on till death and judgment awake them. ་ them; and cried, You are like them t at sleep on the top of a mast (Prov. xxiii. 34), for the dead sca is under you, a gulph that hath no bottom: awake, therefore, and come away; be willing also, and I will help you off with your irons. He also told them, If he that goeth about like a roaring lion comes by, you will certainly become a prey to his teeth (1 Pet. v. 8). With that they looked upon him, and began to reply in this sort: Simple said, 'I see no danger;' Sloth said, 'Yet a little more sleep ;' and Presumption said, 'Every vat must stand upon its own bottom. And so they laid down to sleep again, and Christian went on his way. Yet* was he troubled to think, that men in that danger should so little esteem the kind *Yet'-The true Christian will always be troubled when he thinks of the vain confidence of many professors: but he is more surprised by it at first than afterwards; for he sets out with the idea, that all apparently religious people sincerely seek the salvation of God: but at length experience draws his attention to those parts of Scriptures which mention tares among the wheat, and foolish virgins among the wise. For malist and Hypocrisy soon come in this way; these near relations represent such as by notions and external observances deceive themselves, and those who more grossly attempt to impose upon others. They are both actuated by vain glory, and seek the applause of men in their religious profession and most zealous performances; while the credit thus acquired subserves also their temporal interest: but repentance, conversion, and the life of faith, would not only cost them too mich labour, but destroy the very principle by which they are actuated. By a much shorter cut,' they become a part of the visible church, are satisfied with a form of godliness, and kept in countenance by great numbers among every des cription of professing Christians, and the example of multitudes in every age. Their confidence, however, will not bear the light of Scripture; they therefore shrink from inves |