The Rarities of the House Beautiful.

things, with which Christian was much delighted This done they went to their rest again.

Then I saw in my dream, that on the morrow he got up to go forwards, but they desired him to stay till the next day also; and then, said they, we will, if the day be clear, show you the Delectable Mountains; which, they said, would yet further add to his comfort, because they were nearer the desired haven than the place where at present he was; so he consented and staid. When the morning was up, they had him to the top of the house, and bid him look south: so he did; and behold, at a great distance, he saw a most pleasant mountainous country, beautified with woods, vineyards, fruits of all sorts, flowers also, with springs and fountains, very delectable to behold. Isa. xxxiii. 16, 17. Then he asked the name of the country. They said, it was Immanuel's land; "and it is as common," said they, "as this hill is, to and for all the pilgrims. And when thou comest thither, from thence thou mayst see to the gate of the celestial city, as the shepherds that live there will make appear."

d

This view of the Delectable Mountains is to be understood from the text upon which it is founded, "Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off, Isa. xxxiii. 17. The meaning seems to be, that though Christian had enjoyed great pleasure already in communion with the church, and especially in commemorating the death of Christ, he might yet anticipate much higher degrees of gratification and delight than he had then experienced. He had now been meditating upon the pardoning mercy of God towards him through the blood of the cross; but when his knowledge, and faith, and hope, and love should be increased by a constant attendance upon the word and ordinances, the divinely appointed means for that purpose, he would be enabled to meditate not merely on the sufferings of Christ, but on the glory that had followed, even th eglories to which Christ is exalted in heaven, as the pledge of the blessedness which shall be possessed by his followers in another and better world. The heavenly delights which may be experienced by christians, even in the present state, in communion with the church of Christ, while beholding "the King in his beauty," are described as "joy unspeakable and full of glory." Such pleasures and employments may be well called

Christian is armed for his Journey.

Now he bethought himself of setting forward, and they were willing he should. "But first," said they, "let us go again into the armoury." So they did; and when he was come thither, they harnessed him from head to foot with what was of proof, lest perhaps he should meet with assaults in the way. He being therefore thus accoutred, walked out with his friends to the gate; and there he asked the Porter, if he had seen any pilgrim pass by. Then the Porter answered, "Yes."

CHR. Pray, said he, did you know him?

PORT. I asked his name, and he told me it was Faithful.

CHR. O, said Christian, I know him; he is my townsman, my near neighbour; he comes from the place where I was born. How far do you think he may be before?

PORT. He is got by this time below the hill.'

CHR. Well said Christian, good Porter, the Lord be with thee, and add to all thy blessings much increase for the kindness thou hast showed me."

"Immanuel's land," inasmuch as they are the best specimen of the felicity of heaven: and these are often experienced through the faithful preaching of the gospel.

The sweet singer of our Israe. seems to have alluded to Bunyan's description of the Delectable Mountains, in the following lines.

It is not sufficient for the christian to know that armour is provided for his use, but he must "put on the whole armour of God, that he may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done al, to stand," Eph. vi. 11-13. A constant and humble dependence upon Christ, as the Captain of salvation, is essential to the safety of the believer in all his spiritual conflicts.

Faithful does not appear at present to have joined a church of Christ. This he afterwards ascribes to his youth-to his having "so much of the day before him." It was not, however, an adequate reason. Christian, therefore, in reply, wished that he "had called at the house."

The grateful expressions of esteem from Christian to the Por

In the Valley of Humiliation

Then he began to go forward: but Discretion, Piety, Charity, and Prudence, would accompany him down to the foot of the hill. So they went on together, reiterating their former discourses, till they came to go down the hill. Then said Christian, "As it was difficult coming up, so, so far as I can see, it is dangerous going down." "Yes," said Prudence, "so it is; for it is a hard matter for a man to go down into e valley of Humiliation, as thou art now, and to ch no slip by the way;" "therefore," said they, "are come out to accompany thee down the hill." So began to go down, but very warily; yet he caught a slip or two.

Then I saw in my dream, that these good companions, when Christian was got down to the bottom of the hill, gave him a loaf of bread, a bottle of wine, and a cluster of raisins: and then he went on his way. i k

ter, show the manner in which watchful pastors ought to be treated. Such ministers should share in the prayers and best wishes of those who have received the benefit of their labours.

h The christian is now to appear under circumstances different from any in which we have yet beheld him. As our divine Lord was led by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil, so are his followers. The design of God in suffering them to be exposed to the fiery darts of Satan, is to promote their dependence upon himself, and to show them that they are indebted for their safety to the protection of their heavenly Father. Going down the hill into 66 humiliating" circumstances is attended with "danger." And with all the discretion, piety, charity, and prudence that a christian can exercise in very trying and humbling circumstances, it is most likely he will, in some way or other, sin against God, and thus furnish matter for lamentation to himself, and exultation to his enemies.

i Below the picture of Christian departing from the House Beautiful :

Whilst Christian is among his godly friends,
Their golden mouths make him sufficient 'mends
For all his griefs; and when they let him go,
He's clad with northern steel from top to toe.

It has often been remarked, that seasons of peculiar temptation and affliction have been preceded by a state of mind peculiarly happy, arising from the supporting, animating, and cheering influ

Christian meets with Apollyon.

But now, in this valley of Humiliation, poor Christian was hard put to it; for he had gone but a little way before he espied a foul fiend coming over the field to meet him: his name was Apollyon. Then did Christian begin to be afraid, and to cast in his mind whether to go back, or to stand his ground. But he considered again that he had no armour for his back, and therefore thought that to turn the back to him might give him greater advantage with ease to pierce him with his darts; therefore he resolved to venture, and stand his ground; for, thought he, had I no more in my eye than the saving of my life, it would be the best way to stand.'

So he went on, and Apollyon met him. Now the monster was hideous to behold: he was clothed with scales like a fish, and they are his pride; he had wings like a dragon, and feet like a bear; out of his belly came fire and smoke; and his mouth was as the mouth of a lion. When he was come up to Christian he beheld him with a disdainful countenance, and thus began to question with him."

ence of the precious promises of the gospel. Immediately before our Lord was tempted by the devil, he heard the voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," Matt. iii. 17.

The devil seizes appropriate occasions for tempting christians to give up their hope, and to return again to the vices or follies of the world. One of these occasions is, where persons are brought into a very humiliating condition; such as being reduced in worldly circumstances, or being removed from situations of reputation and usefulness. To be assaulted with fierce temptations when the mind is in such a perturbed state, agitated by fear and hesitation, is exceedingly painful. But when the christian considers the promises of divine help to them who hold on their way, and the threatenings . against them who draw back through cowardice, he concludes that to resist the devil stedfast in the faith is the way of safety, as it is that only in which he can expect divine assistance and protection.

m When Satan intends to allure and deceive christians, and thus to draw them away from their allegiance to Christ, he puts on the form of a serpent, even as when he " beguiled Eve," 2 Cor. xi. 3. But in the representation which is here given, he bears the name of APOLLYON," the destroyer," and is clothed with every terrific appearance, to intimate that he sometimes employs terror of mind,

Apollyon tempts Christian..

APOLLYON. Whence come you, and whither are you bound?

CHR. I am come from the city of Destruction, which is the place of all evil, and am going to the city of Zion.

APOL. By this I perceive thou art one of my subjects; for all that country is mine, and I am the prince and god of it. How is it then that thou hast run away from thy king? Were it not that I hope thou mayest do me more service, I would strike thee now at one blow to the ground.

CHR. I was born indeed in your dominions, but your service was hard, and your wages such as a man could not live on; for the wages of sin is death: (Rom. vi. 23.) therefore when I was come to years, I did, as other considerate persons do, look out, if perhaps I might mend myself.

APOL. There is no prince that will thus lightly lose bis subjects, neither will I as yet lose thee: but since thou complainest of thy service and wages, be content to go back, and what our country will afford, I do here promise to give thee.

CHR. But I have let myself to another, even to the King of princes; and how can I with fairness go back with thee?

APOL. Thou hast done in this according to the proverb, "Change a bad for a worse:" but it is ordinary for those who have professed themselves his servants, after a while to give him the slip, and return again to Do thou so too, and all shall be well.

me.

CHR. I have given him my faith, and sworn my allegiance to him: how then can I go back from this, and not be hanged as a traitor?

APOL. Thou didst the same to me, and yet I am

for the purpose of affrighting christians, when outward circumstances, uniting with inward trials, would seem to suggest that deliverance is impossible, and destruction sure. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, waiketh about, seeking whom he may devour," 1 Pet. v. 8,