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Prudence instructs Christiana's Sons.

PRUD. To show, that unless

upon the

grace kindle heart, there will be no true light of life in us. MATT. Why are the wick, and the tallow, and all spent, to maintain the light of the candle?

PRUD. To show, that body and soul, and all should be at the service of, and spend themselves to maintain in good conditiou that grace of God which is in us. MATT. Why doth the pelican pierce her own breast with her bill?

PRUD. To nourish her young ones with her blood, and thereby to show that Christ the blessed so loveth his young, (his people,) as to save them from death by his blood.

MATT. What may one learn by hearing the cock crow?

PRUD. To remember Peter's sin, and Peter's repentance. The cock's crowing shows also, that day is coming on let then the crowing of the cock put thee in mind of that last and terrible day of judgment.'

This conversation contains subjects proper for the meditation of a restored penitent backslider;-the bitterness of repentance; the purifying operation of the word of God, when it effectually works in the believing heart; the strong desires which such persons express for divine forgiveness: the readiness of the Saviour to receive the returning prodigal; the caution which ministers should employ in suggesting no consolation but what is immediately derived from the word of God; the cause of the restoration of backsliders, namely, the covenant mercies of God through Christ to all who believe in his name; the blessing of pardon and salvation flowing to sinners through the merits of Christ; their being so free and distinguishing, that sinners of all ranks share in the divine mercy; recovery from the dominion of sin through a supply of the Spirit of Christ; the duty of those especially who have been recovered from a state of backsliding to consecrate themselves entirely, spirit and soul and body, to the service of God, remembering that "they are not their own, but bought with a price," 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. and cherishing a remembrannce of the danger of sin, and the sorrow of repentance, and, lastly a constant realizing prospect of the future judgment. Evangelical truth prescribes the most power

The Pilgrims prepare to leave the House Beautiful.

Now about this time their month was out; wherefore they signified to those of the house, that it was convenient for them to rise and be going. Then said Joseph to his mother, It is convenient that you forget not to send to the house of Mr. Interpreter, to pray him to grant that Mr. Great-heart should be sent unto us, that he may be our conductor the rest of Good boy, said she, I had almost forgot. So she drew up a petition, and prayed Mr. Watchful the porter to send it by some fit man to her good friend Mr. Interpreter; who, when it was come, and he had seen the contents of the petition, said to the messenger, "Go, tell them that I will send him.”in

our way.

When the family where Christiana was, saw that they had a purpose to go forward, they called the whole house together, to give thanks to their King

ful antidotes both to presumption and despair: "My little chil. dren, these things write I unto you THAT YE SIN NOT; and if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS; and not for ours only [who are Jews,] but also for the sins of the whole world," [both Jews and Gentiles], 1 John ii. 1, 2.

:

"The note of Mr. Scott upon this part is so judicious, that I with pleasure transcribe it. "This may be applied to the case of versons who are unavoidably removed from those places where they first made an open profession of faith. The vigilant pastor, who can no longer watch for their souls, will earnestly recommend them to the care of some other minister, and join with them in prayer, that the same faithful services, or better, may be rendered them by other servants of our common Lord." It would be well if Christians always felt the necessity of praying for divine direction in the choice of their ministers. Young Christians may, and often do, feel more correctly upon that subject than older Christians. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much," James v. 16. and they who seek to the Holy Spirit for the blessing of an evangelical guide and protector will not be refused; "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given him," James i. 5.

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The Pilgrims prepare to leave the House Beautiful.

for sending them such profitable guests as these " Which done, they said unto Christiana, "And shall w not show thee something according as our custom is to pilgrims, on which thou mayst meditate when thou art on the way?" So they took Christiana, her chil dren, and Mercy, into the closet, and showed them one of the apples which Eve eat of, and which she also gave to her husband, and for the eating of which they were both turned out of paradise, and asked her what she thought that was. Christiana answered, “ It is food or poison, I know not which." So they opened the matter to her, and she held up her hands and and wondered. Gen. iii. 6. Rom. vii. 24.o P

Then they had her to a place where they showed her Jacob's ladder. Now at that time there were some angels ascending upon it. So Christiana looked and looked to see the angels go up, and so did the rest of the company. They were then going to another place, to show them something else; but James said to his mother, Pray bid them stay a little longer, for this is a curious sight. So they turned again,

» The weak may sometimes call the strong to prayer.
• A sight of sin is amazing.

P The history of the fall of man, and of the nieans by which sin entered into the world, is a profitable subject for meditation. The origin of evil is too deep for human comprehension, and it is wise not to attempt an explanation of it. It is enough for us to know that God has overruled the craft of Satan in beguiling Eve, and converted the "poison" which was meant to destroy mankind, into "food" for the nourishment of believers. Standing on the shore of that unfathomable abyss, we may survey the mighty ocean of eternal love, and exclaim, "O the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out," Rom. xi. 33. It is proper to lead the minds of believers to this subject, that they may be upon their guard against the devices of the devil; "For I am jealous over you (said the apostle) with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent Dcguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ," 2 Cor. xi. 2, 3.

The Pilgrims prepare to leave the House Beautiful.

and stood feeding their eyes with this so pleasant a prospect. Gen. xxviii. 12. John i. 51. mn

After this they had them into a place where did hang up a golden anchor. They bid Christiana take it down; for said they, "you shall have it with you;" it is of absolute necessity that you should, that you may lay hold of that within the veil, (Heb. vi. 19.) and stand steadfast in case you should meet with turbulent weather: (Joel iii. 16.) so they were glad

thereof."

Then they took them, and had them to the mount upon which Abraham our father offered up Isaac his son, and showed them the altar, the wood, the fire, and the knife, for they remain to be seen to this very day. (Gen. xxii. 9.) When they had seen them, they held up their hands, and said Oh! what a man for love to his Master, and for denial to himself, was Abraham."p

m A sight of Christ is taking.

" The ministry of angels is an animating theme to believers and is well adapted to promote their confidence in the care and protection of God. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Heb. i. 14. By the mediation of the Lord Jesus, heaven and earth are as it were brought together; and through faith in him the prayers of believers ascend to God, and bring down blessings from above. The church on earth is a Bethel; "the house of God, and the gate of heaven," from which believers may look into heaven, standing even on the threshold of their Father's house, and "feed their eyes with this so pleasant a prospect."

The hope laid up for christians in heaven is so secure, that the firm expectation of it through faith in the intercession of the Redeemer, who is the refuge of his people, is as "an anchor of the soul, Both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the teil, whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus,” Heb. vi. 19, 20. A good hope through grace produces everlasting consolation amidst the storms and tempests of life.

"My anchor, hope, shall firm abide,

And I each boist'rons storm outride."--Toplady.

P The Christian traveller may expect to have his faith severely tried by the dispensations of providence, and may be called to part with those things on which all his hopes of elicity in this world are founded. "He that loveth father or mother more than me is

Great-heart arrives to conduct the Pilgrims

After they had showed them all these things, Prudence took them into a dining-room, where stood a pair of excellent virginals; so she played upon them, and turned what she had showed them into an excellent song, saying,

Eve's apple we have show'd to you;

Of that be you aware:

You have seen Jacob's ladder too,
Upon which angels are.

An anchor you received have;
But let not this suffice,

Until with Abra'm you have gave

Your best of sacrifice.

Now about this time one knocked at the door So the Porter opened it, and behold, Mr. Great-heart was there but when he was come in, what joy was there! For it came now afresh again to their minds, how but a while ago he had slain old Grim Bloodyman, the giant, and had delivered them from the lious.

not worthy of me," Matt. x. 37. They who are enabled to imitate the faith of Abraham, may expect

"Just in the last distressing hour
The Lord displays delivering power:

a

similar deliverance.

The mount of danger is the place
Where we shall see surprising grace."

Walts.

It should seem from this that Mr. Bunyan saw no impropriety in the prudent use of instrumental music in the public worship of God. This is a subject which has of late years been much controverted amongst Dissenters. The late excellent Abraham Booth, in his admirable "Essay on the Kingdom of Christ," has delivered some pointed and severe remarks upon this practice, as being contrary to the spirituality and simplicity of the gospel dispensation. The late eminent Andrew Fuller was so averse to it, that be resolved rather to relinquish his pastoral office in the church at Kettering, than agree to the introduction of a violencello into the singer's pew. The practice begins to prevail among the Baptist churches. It becomes those pastors who approve of it, to take good heed lest it should supersede that "melody of heart unto the Lord," without which the delightful duty of singing to the praise and glory of God will degenerate into a carnal ordinance. The writer, without giving any opinion as to its propriety or impropriety, would seriously recommend, if "virginals*" accompany the

• "Virginal. A musical instrument, so called because generally used by young ladies."-John "A stringed and keyed instrument, resembling a spinet, formerly in great estemin, but pow entirely out of use."--Busby's Dictionary in Music.

pon.

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