The Pilgrims prepare to leave

In the morning they rose with the sun, and prepared themselves for their departure: but the Interpreter would have them tarry a while; "For," said he, "you must orderly go from hence." Then said he to the damsel that first opened unto them, "Take them and have them into the garden to the bath, and there wash them, and make them clean from the soil which they have gathered by travelling." Then Innocent the damsel took them and led them into the garden, and brought them to the bath; so she told them, that there they must wash and be clean, for so her Master would have the women do, that called at his house as they were going on pilgrimage. Then they went in and washed, yea, they and the boys and all; and they came out of that bath, not only sweet and clean, but also much enlivened, and strengthened in their joints. So when they came in, they looked fairer a deal than when they went out to the washing.

with the requisition, by relating "what it was that at first did move her thus to betake herself to a pilgrim's life." But Mercy, a young inexperienced damsel, when a similar question was proposed to her, "blushed and trembled, and for a while continued silent." Their profession before the church of " repentance and faith," accompanied with "holiness of life," was approved; and the readiness of the church to receive them is expressed by the warmest wishes for their spiritual prosperity.-By the pilgrims retiring to rest, and sleeping in separate apartments, may be intimated, that personal religion is required for church-membership. "The boys" were not received because of their relationship to Christiana, but upon their own profession.-The joy felt by Mercy in reflecting upon the transactions which had taken place, intimates the internal peace and happiness which flow from making a public profession of christianity in the presence of men and angels.

The bath of sanctification.

eIt has been already noticed that Mr. Bunyan was a Baptist : many of the members of the church at Bedford were also of that denomination. They, however, differed from most of the Baptist churches in one particular: they were of opinion that Baptism, or the immersion of believers on a profession of faith, was not a term of communion; and therefore the church was composed from its commencement, and still is so, both of Baptists and Pædobaptists. The title of a work of Mr. Bunyan's on this subject is," Differences of Opinion respecting Water Baptism no Bar to Commu

the House of the Interpreter.

When they were returned out of the garden from the bath, the Interpreter took them, and looked upon them, and said unto them, "Fair as the moon." Then he called for the seal, wherewith they used to be sealed that were washed in his bath. So the seal was brought, and he set his mark upon them, that they might be known in the places whither they were yet to go. Now the seal was the contents and sum of the passover which the children of Israel did eat, (Exod. xiii. 8, 9, 10.) when they came out of the land of Egypt; and the mark was set between their eyes. This seal greatly added to their beauty, for it was an ornament to their faces. It also added to their gravity, and made their countenance more like that of angels.'

nion." He was notwithstanding very firm in maintaining, that for Christians to be baptized by immersion was according to the will of Christ, and that infant sprinkling was not Christian baptism. When, therefore, the Interpreter said to the pilgrims, who were in a frame of mind to make haste and delay not to do God's commandments, "You must orderly go from hence," is it not intimated, that for Christians to be immersed in water at the commencement of their profession was "after the due order," 1 Chron. xv. 13. according to the authority of Christ, and apostolic precept and precedent? Accordingly the "damsel Innocent," the emblem of primitive simplicity, is employed, under the direction of the Interpreter, to "lead them into the garden to the bath." The "garden" is the church, and the "bath" an ordinance of the church. Does not the latter then denote baptism?" So she told them, that there they must wash and be clean, for so her Master would have the women do, that called at his house on pilgrimage." This is similar to the direction given by Ananias to Saul, who was to "tell him what he must do ;-And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord," Acts ix. 6. and xxii. 16.-Mr. Bunyan calls it in a note the "Bath of Sanctification." This is not contrary to the exposition given above; for the baptismal immersion is the outward emblem of the inward purification of the heart; "the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost," Tit. iii. 5.

"Do we not know the solemn word, That we are buried with the Lord;

Baptized into his death, and then
Put off the body of our sin !" Watts.

f The two ordinances of the church of Christ, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, answer to the common definition of the word sacrament: they are outward and visible signs of an inward and spiritual grace. One of these outward and visible signs had been already put upon them in their baptism; and now they are marked

The Pilgrims clothed in white raiment,

Then said the Interpreter again to the damsel that waited upon the women, " Go into the vestry, and fetch vut garments for these people." So she went and fetched out white raiment, and laid it down before him, and he commanded them to put it on: it was fine linen, clean and white: When the women were thus adorned, they seemed to be a terror one to the other; for that they could not see that glory each one in herself, which they could see in each other. Now with the other-the Lord's Supper. This representation accords with the usual manner in which the ordinances were at that time described. An eminent minister of that period says, "The two sacraments of the New Testament, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, I receive and own as signs and seals of the covenant of grace the former instituted by our Lord Jesus, as a sign and seal of our engrafting into him; the other to show forth his death, and to seal the benefits purchased thereby to his church and people.': "Life of Philip Henry."

"Then he called for the seal, wherewith they used to be sealed that were washed in his bath." Does not this denote the Lord's Supper, of which they use to participate that have been baptized ?

-"So the seal was brought, and he set his mark upon them, that they might be known in the places whither they were yet to go." Does not this signify the privilege hereby conferred upon them of transient communion with other churches ? "Now the seal was the contents and sum of the passover." Does not this denote, that the Lord's Supper under the Christian dispensation, corresponds to the Passover under the Mosaic?-"This seal greatly added to their beauty, for it was an ornament to their faces. It also added to their gravity, and made their countenance more like that of angels." Does not this intend that members of Christian churches should constantly recollect their being so? and that it should be a perpetual memento to them to "walk in wisdom toward them that are without," Col. iv. 5.; to "walk circumspectly not as fools, but as wise," Eph. v. 15.? And although Christian cheerfulness (like what we shall soon see at the table of Gaius) is highly commendable, and moroseness ought to be studiously avoided, yet does not our author here reprehend a light and frothy behaviour, like that which the apostle reproves, when he says, "Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient; but rather giving of thanks," Eph. v. 4.? And does he not intimate that the "speech" of members of Christian churches ought to be "always with grace, seasoned with salt, that they may know how they ought to answer every man," Col. iv. 6. ? and that the conversation of Christians ought to be such as to render their countenance as far as possible like that of angels?

Great-Heart conducts them on their Way.

therefore they began to esteem each other better than themselves. For, "You are fairer than I am," said one; and, "You are more comely than I am," said another. The children also stood amazed, to see into what fashion they were brought."

The Interpreter then called for a man-servant of his, one Great-heart, and bid him take sword, and helmet, and shield; and "take these my daughters," said he, "and conduct them to the house called Beautiful, at which place they will rest next." So he took his weapons, and went before them; and the Interpreter said, "God speed." They also that belonged to the

& True humility.

h This denotes the necessity, that they who make a public profession of being his disciples, should" put on the Lord Jesus Christ," Rom. xiii. 14;-that they should "put on the new man, which after God (that is, after the divine image. Gen. i. 27.) is created in righteousness and true holiness," Eph. iv. 24. Col. iii, 10;-that they should "put on as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave them," Col. iii. 12, 13;-" and above all these things that they should put on charity, or love, which is the bond of perfectness," ("the cement and centre of all happy society," HENRY); -that the "peace of God should rule in their hearts ;"-and, finally, that they should be "thankful," ver. 15. The effects of regeneration will be visible in the life and conduct; "in lowliness of mind each will esteem others better than themselves," Phil. ii. 3. " in honour preferring one another," Rom. xii. 10. They will be surprised at the change which has taken place in their own hearts, and at the company into which they are introduced. The sentiments and feelings of persons who have joined a christian church, are thus expressed by the apostle: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life," Rom. vi. 1—5. "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ," Gal. iii. 27.

i Under the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit, weak bejevers plaee themselves under the care and guidance of those miisters of the gospel, who are "armed themselves with panoply

Great-Heart conducts them on their Way,

family, sent them away with many a good wish. So they went on their way, and sang:

This place has been our second stage:
Here we have heard and seen

Those good things, which from age to age
To others hid have been.

The dunghill-raker, spider, hen,

The chicken, too, to me

Have taught a lesson: let me then
Conformed to it be.

The butcher, garden, and the field,
The robin and his bait,

Also the rotten tree, do yield
Me argument of weight; .
To move me for to watch and pray,
To strive to be sincere :

To take my cross up day by day,

And serve the Lord with fear,k

complete of heavenly temper;" with "the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God; who have for a helmet the hope of salvation,” 1 Thess. v. 8. and who, “above all, take the shield of faith, wherewith they are able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked," Eph. vi. 16. The directions which ministers have received, respecting those who have believed, and have been baptized, is, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you," Matt. xxviii. 20. Hence they lead them forward to unite with other saints, like-minded with themselves, in church fellowship. The apostle says, The Macedonians "first gave their ownselves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God."—Greatheart, the pilgrims' guide, represents an intrepid, fearless minister of the gospel, who, unmindful of the opposition which may be made to him on account of his peculiar sentiments, is determined to know no man after the flesh, knowing that if he were to please men, he could not be the servant of Christ. At the period to which Mr. Bunyan refers, none but such a man was fit to be intrusted with the care of timid women and children. It required ardent zeal for the honour of his Lord and Master, and strong affection for the welfare of his hearers. The sentiments of the following lines exhibit the character portrayed in Great-heart;

"Is there a lamb in all thy flock

I would disdain to feed ?

Is there a foe, before whose face'
I fear thy cause to plead ?"

Toplady.

* The "first stage" of Christian experience is, for an awakened sinner to trust in the merits of Christ only for salvation. The "second stage" is, to seek to know his Lord's will through the eaching of the Holy Spirit, by the New Testament; and, when he knows it, to run in the way of his commandments with er