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grimage; infomuch that he was forced to go on his progrefs without them, for he durft not run the danger of that deftruction, which he feared would come upon him, by staying with them in the city of Destruction. Wherefore, as I then shewed he you, left them and departed.

Now it hath fo happened, through the multiplicity of bufinefs, that I have been much hindered and kept back from my wonted travels into those parts where he went, and so could not, till now, obtain an opportunity to make further enquiry after thofe whom he left behind, that I might give an account of them. But, having had fome concerns that way of late, I went down thither again;

at one time seemed to be fo ftrong in the Lord that nothing could move him, at another time difcovers the greatest figns of cowardice.

As the exercifes of every experienced foul differ fo much one from another; nay, as they differ fɔ much even in the fame perfon, who at one time may be exercifed in one way, at another time in another way; how impoffible muft it be to lay down any certain rules, or to fix any certain ftandard by which faith may be reduced to a fyftem! Yet I would make this one remark, that all thofe different exercifes of foul, which the Chriftian experiences at different times, if they proceed from the operation of the Spirit, have a certain tendency, on one hand, to make it fee its own finfulness and mifery, and, on the other hand, to make it fee the exceeding riches of God's grace, in his kindness towards us by Jefus Chrift. A broken and a contrite heart, from a fight and fenfe of our fin and mifery, and of God's rich grace and free mercy extended towards us, is fo far a touchftone of true obedience, that where this is wanting there can be no true work of grace,

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and having taken up my lodgings in a wood, about a mile off the place, as I flept, I dreamed again. And, as I was in my dream, behold an aged gentleman came by where I lay; and, because he was to go fome part of the way that I was travelling, methought I got up and went with him. It feemed as if we walked together, and, as travellers ufually do, that we fell into a difcourfe. Our talk happened to be about Chriftian and his travels; for thus I began with the old man.

Sir, faid I, what town is that there below, which lieth on the left hand of our way?

Then faid Mr. Sagacity, for that was his name, It is the city of Deftruction, a populous place, but poffeffed with a very ill-conditioned and idle fort of people.

I thought it was that city, quoth I: I went once myself through that town; and therefore I know that the report you give of it is true.

Sag. Too true; I wish I could speak the truth in fpeaking better of them who dwell therein.

Well, Sir, quoth I, then I perceive that you are a well-meaning man, and one who takes pleasure in hearing and telling of that which is good. Pray, did you never hear what happened fome time ago in this town to a man whofe name was Chriftian, who went on a pilgrimage towards the higher regions?

Sag. Hear of him! Ay; and I alfo heard of the moleftations, troubles, wars, captivities, cries, groans,

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groans, frights, and fears, which he met with and experienced in his journey; befides, I must tell you, all our country rings of him; there are but few houses who have heard of him and his doings, buť have fought after, and got the records of his pilgrimage; yea, I think I may fay, that this hazardous journey has got many well-wishers to his ways: for though when he was here he was fool in every man's mouth, yet now he is gone, he is highly commended of all. For, it is faid, he lives bravely where he is; fo that many who are refolved never to run his hazards, yet have their mouths water at his gains.

They may well think, quoth I, if they think any thing that is true, that he liveth well where he is; for he now lives at and in the fountain of life; and has what he has without labour and forrow, for there is no grief mixed therewith. But pray, what talk have the people about him?

Sag. Talk! The people talk ftrangely about him: fome fay, that he now walks in white; that

That thofe, who in their life-time were perfecuted, should, after their death, be highly commended, is not uncommon. Thus our Lord told the Pharifee, " Ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the fepulchres of the righteous." This is the cafe with John Bunyan himself, who, as appears by his writings, was much opposed in his day, but is now highly commended, even by those who are ftrangers to his principles, and to that power which he invariably infifted upon, as neceffary to conviction and converfion, and to the life and walk of faith.

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he has a chain of gold about his neck; that he has a crown of gold, befet with pearls, upon his head; others fay, that the fhining ones, who fometimes fhewed themselves to him in his journey, are become his companions; that he is as familiar with them, in the place where he is, as one neighbour here is with another: befides, it is confidently affirmed concerning him, that the King of the place where he is, has bestowed upon him already a very rich and pleafant dwelling at court; that every day he eateth and drinketh, and' walketh and talketh with him; and that he receiveth there the fmiles and favours of him who is judge of all. Moreover, it is expected of fome, that this Prince, the Lord of that country, will fhortly come into thefe parts, and will know the reafon, if they can give any, why his neighbours fet fo little by him, and had him fo much in derifion, when they perceived that he would be a pilgrim. They fay, that now he is fo much in the affections of his Prince, that his fovereign is fo much concerned about the indignities caft upon Chriftian, when he became a pilgrim, that he will look upon all as done to himself; and no marvel,

What a thunderbolt is this! Art thou engaged in oppofition to the principles of any man, or fet of men? How careful fhouldest thou be! What proof, evidence, and conviction, oughtest thou to have in thine own foul, that thou art right and they are wrong! If thou shouldeft be wrong, and they fhould be right,-remember, He will look upon all as done

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marvel, because it was for the love which he had to his prince, that he ventured as he dida.

I dare fay, quoth I, that all this is true, and I am glad of it: I am glad for the poor man's fake, for he now refts from his labours, and reaps the benefits of his tears with joy; he has now got beyond gun-fhot of his enemies, and is out of the reach of those who hate him. I am glad alfo that a rumour of thefe things is noifed abroad in this country; who can tell but it may have fome good effect on fome of thofe who are left behind? But, pray, Sir, let me afk, while it is fresh in my mind, do you hear any thing of his wife and children! Poor hearts, I wonder in my mind how they do!

Sag. Who? Chriftiana and her fons? They are like to do as well as Chriftian himself; for though they all played the fool at first, and would by no

to him." The Lord of Hofts hath faid, that whofo toucheth a child of his, toucheth the apple of his eye. Read this, and tremble, ye who speak evil of thofe things which ye know not. One thing we may depend upon, that a fpirit of perfecution is not the spirit of the gospel; and though we are to contend earnestly for the faith, once delivered to the faints, yet the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual.

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d Love is the only principle of all true obedience. works love in the heart, and then works by love as the motive. Love is ftrong as death. What great things will men do or fuffer for those whom they love! What great things have Chriflians done and fuffered for the love of Chrift! What cruel and painful deaths have they not fuffered, and that cheerfully, for the love of Chrift, and for his truth's fake!

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