Christian sleeps in the Arbour.

I looked then after Christian, to see him go up the hill, where I perceived he fell from running to going, and from going to clambering upon his hands and knees, because of the steepness of the place. Now about the midway to the top of the hill was a pleasant Arbour', made by the Lord of the hill for the refreshing of weary travellers. Thither therefore

Christian got, where also he sat down to rest him: then he pulled his roll out of his bosom, and read therein to his comfort; he also now began afresh to take a review of the coat or garment that was given im as he stood by the cross. Thus pleasing himself awhile, he at last fell into a slumber, and thence into a fast sleep, which detained him in that place until it was almost night; and in his sleep" his roll fell out of his hand. Now as he was sleeping, there came one to him, and awaked him, saying, "Go to the ant thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise." (Prov. vi. 6.) And with that Christian suddenly started up, and sped him on his way, and went apace till he came o the top of the hill".

will press forward, though difficulties and trials lie in his way. To enable him to surmount them, he drinks of the spring at the bottom of the hill, which represents the refreshment believers derive from the clear and evangelical preaching of the gospel. They that wait upon the Lord renew their strength; but formalists and hypocrites, who trust to their own strength, soon fall into sin and ruin. To avoid difficulties in the path of duty, they prefer running into danger and destruction. They endure but for a while; in time of temptation they fall away, and are no more heard of among the people of God.

A word of grace.

m He that sleeps is a loser.

" This is a very instructive scene to tried and afflicted christians. The promises of the gospel are designed to support and refresh those whose souls are discouraged because of the way; and whilst depending upon the promises, they ought to admire the exceeding riches of grace which God has shown towards them. But It is very affecting when christians, instead of being encouraged by these considerations to persevere notwithstanding their difficulties, from a mistaken view of their distinguishing privileges, use their liberty as an occasion to the flesh," Gadi. 13 and thus lose the

Meets with Timorous and Mistrast.

Now when he was got up to the top of the hill, there came two men running to meet him amain; the name of the one was Timorous, and of the other Mistrust to whom Christian said, "Sirs, what is the matter that you run the wrong way?" Timorous answered, that they were going to the city of Zion, and had got up that difficult place: "but," said be," the farther we go, the more danger we meet with; wherefore we turned, and are going back again."

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Yes," said Mistrust," for just before us lie a couple of lions in the way, whether sleeping or waking we know not; and we could not think, if we came within reach, but they would presently pull us in pieces."

CHR. Then said Christian, You make me afraid; but whither shall I flee to be safe? If I go back to my own country, that is prepared for fire and brimstone, and I shall certainly perish there; if I can get to the celestial city, I am sure to be in safety there: I must venture. To go back is nothing but death: to go forward is fear of death, and life everlasting beyond it: I will yet go forward. So Mistrust and Timorous ran down the hill, and Christian went on his way. But thinking again of what he had heard from the men, he felt in his bosom for his roll, that

opportunites which they ought to have improved. Divine assis tance can only be expected in the proper use of means. Indolence will produce in the minds of those who are fully awake to their character and duty, most cutting self-reproaches and bitter remorse.

• Here two allegorical persons are introduced, for the purpose of showing the perturbed state of the christian's mind, when, though he holds on his way, he has lost his confidence in God, and is under the impression of mistrust and fear. While in prospect of difficulties the mind is under the influence of fear, there will be always "a lion in the way, a lion in the streets;" and though the christian's better judgment may prevent his giving encouragement to such unbelieving suggestions, they will very much tend to destrov both his fortitude and his courage,

Christian loses his Roll

he might read therein, and be comforted; but he felt, and found it not. Then was Christian in great distress, and knew not what to do; for he wanted that which used to relieve him, and which should have been his pass into the celestial city. Here therefore he began to be much perplexed, and knew not what to do. At last he bethought himself that he had slept in the harbour that is on the side of the hill; and falling down upon his knees, he asked God forgiveness for that his foolish act, and then went back to look for his roll. But all the way he went back, who can sufficiently set forth the sorrow of Christian's heart? Sometimes he sighed, sometimes he wept, and oftentimes he chid himself for being so foolish as to fall asleep in that place, which was erected only for a little refreshment for his weariness. Thus therefore he went back, carefully looking on this side and on that, all the way as he went, if happily he might find the roll that had been his comfort so many times in his journey. He went thus till he came again in sight of the harbour where he had sat and slept; but that sight renewed his sorrow the more, by bringing again even afresh, his evil of sleeping into his mind. (Rev. ii. 4. Thes. v. 6—8.) Thus therefore he now wept on, bewailing his sinful sleep, saying, O wretched man that I am, that I should sleep in the day-time! that I should sleep in the midst of difficulty! that I should so indulge the flesh, as to use that rest for ease to my flesh, which the Lord of the hill hath erected only for the relief of the spirits of pilgrims! How many steps have I taken in vain! Thus it happened to Israel; for their sin they were sent back again by the way of the Red Sea; and I am made to tread those steps with sorrow, which I might have trod with delight, had it not been for this sinful sleep. How far might I have been on my way by this time! I am made to tread those steps thrice over, which I needed to have trod but once: yea,

but finds it again in the Arbour.

now also I am like to be benighted, for the day is almost spent. O that I had not slept P!

Now by this time he was come to the arbour again, where for a while he sat down and wept; but at last (as Providence would have it) looking sorrowfully down under the settle, there he espied his roll, the which he with trembling and haste, catched up, and put into his bosom. But who can tell how joyful this man was when he had gotten his roll again? For this roll was the assurance of his life, and of his acceptance at the desired haven. Therefore he laid it up in his bosom, gave thanks to God for directing his eye to the place where it lay, and with joy and tears betook himself again to his journey. But O how nimbly now did he go up the rest of the hill! Yet, before he got up, the sun went down upon Christian; and this made him again recal the vanity of his sleeping to his remembrance; and thus he began to condole with himself: O thou sinful sleep! how for thy sake am I like to be benighted in my journey! I must walk without the sun, darkness must cover the path of my feet, and I must hear the noise of doleful creatures, because of my sinful sleep! Now also he remembered the story that Mistrust and Timorous had told him, of their being frighted with the sight of the lions. Then said Christian to himself again, These beasts range in the night for their prey, and if they should meet with me in the dark, how should I shift them? how should I escape being by them torn in pieces?

The want of a comfortable assurance of being in the favour, and under the protection of God, is well described by Christian's losing his roll. The consciousness of this state of mind having been produced by our sin and folly, should lead us to deep repentance, and to humble prayer to God for his forgiving mercy. Unreserved confession of sin will be attended by self-condemnation. The only way for us under darkness and distress of soul is, carefully to retrace our steps, till we can again find comfort from a simple reliance upon the promises of God.

Christian arrives

Thus he went on his way. But while he was thus bewailing his unhappy miscarriage, he lift up his eyes, and behold there was a very stately palace before him, the name of which was Beautiful, and it stood just by the highway-side ".

So I saw in my dream, that he made haste, and went forward, that if possible he might get lodging there. Now before he had gone far, he entered into a very narrow passage, which was about a furlong off the Porter's lodge; and looking very narrowly before him as he went, he espied two lions in the way. Now, thought he, I see the danger that Mistrust and Timorous were driven back by. (The lions were chained, but he saw not the chains.) Then he was afraid, and thought also himself to go back after them; for he thought nothing but death was before him. But the Porter at the lodge, whose name was Watchful, perceiving that Christian made a halt, as if he would go back, cried unto him, saying, "Is thy strength so small? (Mark iv. 40.) Fear not the lions, for they are chained, and are placed there for trial of faith where it is, and for discovery of those that have none: keep in the midst of the path, and no hurt shall come unto thee."

Finding comfort in some gracious promise suited to his case, the christian weeps for joy; and thus, through the pardoning mercy of God, the joys of God's salvation are restored to his afflicted mind. With renewed diligence, and increased carefulness, he again applies to the blood of Christ, and his "conscience is thus purged from dead works, that he may serve the living God," Heb. ix. 14. Notwithtstanding, however, he again exercises a good hope through grace, he cannot acquit himself of sin and folly; and the recollec tion of such ingratitude fills his mind with alarming fears of expected dangers. Happy for christians that God has provided means of grace, in the public ordinances of his house, for strengthening their minds, and comforting their hearts. In the estimation of godly persons, a christian church, wherever it may assemble, though it may be "by the highway-side," is " BEAUTIFUL for situa tion, the joy of the whole earth," Psalm xlviii. 2