preter's house, now recur to poor Christian's mind: "I cannot get out, O now I cannot! I left off to watch, and am shut up in this iron cage, nor can all the men in the world let me out." Christian's answer to the despairing pilgrim now soon broke upon his memory, "The Son of the Blessed is very pitiful." Ed.

Note 124, p. 150.—This key was Heb. ii. 14, 15. [12†, No. 116]

Note 125, p. 150.-All at once, by a new revelation, which none but the Saviour could make, Christian finds the promises. Christ had been watching over his erring disciples, and kept back the hand of Despair. Cheever.

Note 126, p. 151.-Bunyan was a plain-spoken man, and feared not to offend delicate ears when the truth required plain dealing. [Ed.] He says, "And, therefore, my brethren, seeing God, our Father, hath sent us, damnable traitors, a pardon from heaven, even all the promises of the gospel, and truth also, sealed to the certainty of it with the heart-blood of his dear Son, let us not be daunted." [4] Many texts are looked over, or laid by, as those whose key doth go too hard." [50 and 12+, 261--3]

66

Note 127, p. 151.-See the Holy War. "An army of terrible doubters," very graphically described.

Note 128, p. 152.—

"The weary pilgrim oft doth ask to know
How far he's come, how far he has to go;
His way is tedious, and his way opprest,

All his desire is to be at rest."-Quarles' Emblems.

Note 129, p. 153.-There is in this laconic description of the homely dreamer a richness of beauty which no efforts of the artist can adequately portray; and in the concise dialogue of the speakers, a simple sublimity of eloquence which any commentary could only weaken. B. Barton.

Note 130, p. 154.-"Eve dilating delightfully before the devil of the worthy privileges God had given her, lost the dread of God's command off her heart, and fell.” [45]

Note 131, p. 155.-Oh, the unthought-of imaginations, frights, fears, and terrors that are effected by a thorough application of guilt, yielding to desperation! This is the man that hath his dwelling among the tombs with the dead, that is always crying out, and cutting himself with stones. Mark v. 3. [12†, 185]

Note 132, p. 156.-"Some retain the name of Christ, and the notion of him as a Saviour, but cast him off in the very things wherein the essential parts of his sacrifice, merits, and priesthood consist. In this lies the mystery of their iniquity. They dare not altogether deny that Christ doth save his people, as a priest; but then their art is to confound his offices, until they jostle out of doors the merit of his blood and the perfection of his justifying righteousness. Such draw away the people from the cross (put out their eyes), and lead them among the infidels." Ed. [50]

Note 133, p. 157.-It reflects the highest credit on Bunyan's genius, so rich in its inventions, so aspiring in its imaginative flights, that, after such an exordium, he should have made no effort to describe what was in its own splendour or glory indescribable. Nothing can be more admirable than this indistinct report of the perspective glass; it cannot offend the most fastidious taste, yet leaves scope for the exercise of the most ardent and aspiring imagination. B. Barton.

Note 134, p. 157.-"Such mountains round about this house do stand

As one from thence may see the Holy Land." [40]

Note 135, p. 157.-What a gallery of solemn REALITIES is here, what a system of divine truth, commending itself to all men's consciences! It is not so much the richness of imagination, nor the tenderness of feeling here exhibited, nor the sweetness and beauty of the imagery with which this book is filled, as it is the presence of these REALITIES that constitutes the secret of its unbounded power over the soul. In this light the walls of this gallery seem moving with celestial figures speaking to the soul. They are acting the drama of a life which is the reality; it is the spectators only who are walking in a vain show.

Note 136, p. 157.-" Because I would have thee think of my directions how to run to the Kingdom, take all in short in this little bit of paper:-1. Get into the way. 2. Stay on it. 3. Strip and lay aside every weight that would hinder. 4. Beware of by-paths. 5. Do not stare much about thee, but ponder the path of thy feet. 6. Do not stop for those who call after thee. 7. Be not daunted with discouragements. 8. Take heed of stumbling at crosses. 9. Cry hard to God; and God give thee a prosperous journey. Yet let me give thee a pair of spurs to urge on thy lumpish heart in this rich journey: if thou winnest, then heaven, God, Christ, glory eternal is thine; if thou lose, thou procurest eternal death." [57]

Note 137, p. 160.—“ Oh, what a shaking, startling, timorous evil conscience is, a sinful and

guilty conscience; it could run its head into every hole.

Why did Adam hide himself when he had on his apron? Oh! the approach of God consumed and burnt off his apron." [45]

Note 138, p. 161.-"The fly in the spider's net is the emblem of the soul in such a condition. If the soul struggleth, Satan laboureth to hold it down. If it makes a noise, he bites it with blasphemous mouth; insomuch that it must needs die at last in the net, if the Lord Jesus help not. Believing is sure sweating work. Only strong faith can make Satan flee. Oh, the toil of a gracious heart in this combat, if faith be weak! The man can get no higher than his knees, till an arm from heaven help him up." [10+]

Note 139, p. 161.-Determined at all hazards not to be a traitor to his God, Bunyan anticipated being hung; and was anxious, in such a cause, to meet death with firmness. When his fears prevailed, he dreaded lest he should make but a scrabbling shift to clamber up the ladder. Ed. [12+, 334]

Note 149, p. 162.—“We are saved by Christ; brought to glory by Christ; and all our works are no otherwise made acceptable to God, but by the person and excellences of Christ. Therefore whatever the jewels are, and the bracelets and the pearls that thou shalt be adorned with, as a reward of service done to God in this world, for them thou must thank Christ, and, before all, confess that he was the meritorious cause thereof." [53]

Note 141, p. 162.--Hope, love, humility, meekness, patience, longsuffering, compassion, and mercy are gracious dispositions wrought in the heart by the Holy Ghost. These are the believer's jewels; and it is his duty to keep them clean, that their beauty and lustre may be apparent. Andronicus.

Note 142, p. 163.-" Little-faith cannot come all the way without crying. So long as its holy boldness lasts, so long it can come with peace, but it will go the rest of the way with crying." [26]

Note 143, p. 164.-Bunyan shows the difference between "his spending-money," or that treasure which the Christian carries in his earthen vessel, and his jewels [12+, 232]:-"It was glorious to me to see his [Christ's] exaltation. Now I could look from myself to him, and should reckon that all those graces of God that now were green in me, were yet but like those cracked groats and fourpence-halfpennies,* that rich men carry in their purses, when their GOLD is in their trunks at home. Oh, I saw that the gold was in my trunk at home, in Christ my Lord and Saviour! Now, Christ was all: all my wisdom, all my righteousness, all my sanctification, and all my redemption." [12†, 232]

Note 144, p. 165.-Hopeful was not the first pilgrim who has been "almost made angry" while holding a friendly debate upon that highly-important subject, the doctrine of the saints' final perseverance. Pilgrims ought to debate upon those subjects without anger. Ed.

Note 145, p. 165.-Hopeful here expresses himself as if he had read Bunyan on Christ's love:-"But to fear man is to forget God. He taketh part with them that fear HIM; so that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.' Heb. xiii. 6. Would it not be amazing to see a man encompassed with chariots, and horses, and weapons of defence, yet afraid of being sparrow-blasted, or overrun by a grasshopper?" [52] Note 146, p. 165.-" I count the persecutor of God's people but the devil's scarecrow; the old one himself lies quat. Yet some will as soon venture to run the hazard of hell-fire as to be engaged by these enemies." [50]

Note 147, p. 166.-Who can stand in the evil day of temptation, when beset with Faintheart, Mistrust, and Guilt, backed by the power of their master, Satan? No one, unless armed with the whole armour of God; and even then, the Lord must fight for us.

Mason.

Note 148, p. 167.-"I have cried day and night before thee." Psa. lxxxviii. Note 149, p. 169.—The way of self-righteousness, into which the flatterer enticed the pilgrims, out of the Scripture highway to heaven, which is in the righteousness of Christ. Mason.

Note 150, p. 169.-Luther was wont to caution against the white devil as much as the black one; for Satan transforms himself into an angel of light, and his ministers as ministers of righteousness. 2 Cor. xi. 14, 15. By flattery, leading poor sinners into a notion of some righteous character they have in themselves. Mason.

Note 151, p. 169.-By this shining one we may understand the Holy Ghost, the leader and guide of Christ's people. When they err and stray from Jesus the way, "He restoreth my soul. he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Mason.

* Irish sixpences, which, in the dearth of silver coin in England, were made current at fourpence-halfpenny.

Note 152, p. 170.-The devil, in his attempts after our destruction, maketh use of the most suitable means. The serpent, Adam knew, was subtle, therefore Satan useth him, thereby to catch this goodly creature, man. Hereby the devil least appeared [this fine-spoken man], and least appearing, the temptation soonest took the tinder.” [45]

Note 153, p. 171.-The original from which this dangerous character is drawn, appears in Grace Abounding, No. 44:-"When I laboured to rebuke him he would laugh the more: abominating these cursed principles, I became to him as great a stranger as I had been before a familiar." See the death of the Atheist in the history of Badman.

Note 154, p. 172.-"Turn again, fool, says the devil. I wonder what frenzy it was that drove thee to thy heels, and that made thee leave so much good behind thee as other men find in the lusts of the flesh and the good of the world. As for the law, and death, and the day of judgment, they are but mere scarecrows, set up by politic heads, to keep the ignorant in subjec tion. Well, he goes back, fool as he is, conscience sleeps, and flesh is sweet; but, behold, he again sees his own nakedness-he sees the law whetting his axe-the world is a bubble. He also smells the brimstone which begins to burn within him. Oh! saith he, I am deluded! Have mercy upon me, O God!'" [53]

Note 155, p. 172.-"A wicked man, though he may hector it at times with his proud heart, as though he feared neither God nor hell; yet again, at times, his soul is even drowned with terrors. If one knew the wicked, when they are under warm convictions, then the bed shakes on which they lie; then the proud tongue doth falter in their mouth, and their knees knock one against another. Then their conscience stares, and roars, and tears, and arraigns them. Oh, none can imagine what fearful plights a wicked man is in at times!" [51] "This man wearieth himself with vanity, for he knoweth not the way to the City of God." [12†, 19]

Note 156, p. 172.-" Maister Bland answered flatly and roundly." Fox's Martyrs. [Ed.] Note 157, p. 173.-Ah, these short naps for pilgrims! The sleep of death, in the enchanted air of this world, usually begins with one of these short naps. Cheever.

Note 158, p. 177.-In modern editions, this has been altered to "sin enough in one day.” But in any period of time, selecting that duty in the discharge of which we have felt the most pure, there has been a mixture of sin. "For there is not a day, nor a duty; not a day that thou livest, not a duty that thou dost, but will need that mercy should come after to take away thy iniquity." [52] These are solemn and humbling reflections. Ed.

Note 159, p. 181.-" As I thought my case most sad and fearful, these words did with great power suddenly break in upon me,My grace is sufficient for thee,' three times together. Oh, methought every word was a mighty word for me; as my, and grace, and sufficient, and for thee; they were then, and sometimes are still, far bigger than others be!" [12†, 206]

Note 160, p. 182.-The Lord's dealings with his children are various, but all lead to the same end; some are shaken with terror, while others are more gently drawn, as with cords of love. Believers should not make their experiences standards one for another; there is a similarity in their being brought to the same point of rejecting both sinful and righteous self, and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ as their complete salvation. Andronicus. Note 161, p. 182.-"Since the dear hour that brought me to Thy foot,

And cut up all my follies by the root,

I never trusted in an arm but Thine,

Nor hoped, but in Thy righteousness Divine.
My prayers and alms, imperfect and defiled,
but the feeble efforts of a child.

Were
Howe'er perform'd, it was their brightest part
That they proceeded from a grateful heart.
Cleans'd in Thine own all-purifying blood,
Forgive their evil, and accept their good.
I cast them at Thy feet-my only plea

Is what it was, DEPENDENCE UPON THEE!"-(Cowper.)

Note 162, p. 184.-This important distinction is illustrated in Bunyan's Catechism: "Keep thine eyes upon thy heart and also upon God's word; and thou shalt see the desperate wickedness in thine heart." "Believe that God hath pitched his eyes upon thy heart also, that He pondereth all thy goings, and that the judgment as to thy faithfulness or unfaithfulness must proceed out of the mouth of God." [20]

Note 163, p. 184.-"I saw that it was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor yet my bad frame that made my righteousness worse; for my righteousness was Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." Heb. xiii. 8. [12+, 229]

Note 164, p. 186.-"Justification before God comes, not by imitating Christ as exemplary in morals, but through faith in His precious blood. To feed on Jesus is by respecting him as made of God a curse for our sin. I have been pleased with observing that none of the signs and wonders in Egypt could deliver the children of Israel thence, until the Lamb was slain." [13+]

Note 165, p. 186.-"It pleased God to reveal his Son in me," that is, he had such an internal, spiritual, experimental sight and knowledge of Christ, and of salvation by him, that his heart embraced him, his soul cleaved to him, his spirit rejoiced in him; his whole man was swallowed up with the love of him, so that he cried out in the joy of his soul, This is my beloved and my friend-my Saviour, my God, and my salvation. Mason.

Note 166, p. 187.-Many of these revelations appear in the Grace Abounding, as "that scripture fastened on my heart," No. 201; "that sentence darted in upon me," No. 204; "these words did with great power break in upon me," No. 206; "suddenly this sentence fell upon my soul," 299; and many others. Ed.

Note 167, p. 188.-"Take heed of hardening thy heart at any time, against convictions or judgments. I bid you before, to beware of a hard heart; now I bid you beware of hardening your soft heart. The fear of the Lord is the pulse of the soul. Pulses that beat best are the best signs of life; but the worst show that life is present. Intermitting pulses are dangerous. David and Peter had an intermitting pulse, in reference to this fear." [24]

Note 168, p. 188.—Mark well Christian's definition of "fear." It is one of those precious passages in which our author gives us the subject-matter of a whole treatise in a few short and plain sentences. Treasure it up in your heart, and often ponder it there. Andronicus.

Note 169, p. 190.-In Hoffman's poetical version of the " Pilgrim," this sentence is, " And nature will return, like Pope, to pork;" alluding to one of the Popes, who used daily to have a dish of pork; but, being sick, his physicians forbade it, when the Pope, in a rage, cried out, "Give me my pork, in spite of God." Ed.

Note 170, p. 191.-"Three young fellows, Mr. Tradition, Mr. Human-wisdom, and Mr. Man's-invention, proffered their services to Shaddai. The captains told them not to be rash ; but, at their entreaty, they were listed into Boanerges' company, and away they went to the war. Being in the rear, they were taken prisoners. Then Diabolus asked them if they were willing to serve against Shaddai. They told him, that as they did not so much live by religion as by the fates of fortune, they would serve him. So he made two of them sergeants; but he made Mr. Man's-invention his ancient-bearer [standard-bearer]." [27 Holy War.]

Note 171, p. 192.-During the last days of that eminent man of God, Dr. Payson, he once said, "When I formerly read Bunyan's description of the Land of Beulah, where the sun shines and the birds sing day and night, I used to doubt whether there was such a place; but now my own experience has convinced me of it, and it infinitely transcends all my previous conceptions. Were I to adopt the figurative language of Bunyan, I might date this letter from the Land Beulah, of which I have been for some weeks a happy inhabitant. The Celestial City is full in my view. Its glories have been upon me, its breezes fan me, its odours are wafted to me, its sounds strike upon my ears, and its spirit is breathed into my heart. Nothing separates me from it but the River of Death, which now appears but as an insignificant rill, that may be crossed at a single step, whenever God shall give permission." Cheever.

Note 172, p. 193.-No other language than that of Bunyan himself, perused in the pages of his own sweet book, could be successful in portraying this beauty and glory; for now he gives up himself without restraint so entirely to the sea of bliss that surrounds him, and to the gales of heaven that are wafting him on, and to the sounds of melody that float in the whole air around him, that nothing in the English language can be compared with this whole closing part of the "Pilgrim's Progress," for its entrancing splendour, yet serene and simple loveliness. The colouring is that of heaven in the soul; and Bunyan has poured his own heaven-entranced soul into it. With all its depth and power, there is nothing exaggerated, and it is made up of the simplest and most scriptural materials and images. We seem to stand in a flood of light, poured on us from the open gates of paradise. Cheever.

"The strings of music here are tuned
For heavenly harmony,

And every spirit here perfumed
With perfect sanctity.

Here run the crystal streams of life,
Quite thorow all our veins;
And here by love we do unite

With glory's golden chains." [7+]

Note 174, p. 194.-Mr. Flavel, being on a journey, set himself to improve the time by meditation; when his mind grew intent, till at length he had such ravishing tastes of heavenly joys, and such full assurance of his interest therein, that he utterly lost the sight and sense of this world and all its concerns, so that for hours he knew not where he was. At last, perceiving himself faint, he alighted from his horse and sat down at a spring, where he refreshed himself, earnestly desiring, if it were the will of God, that he might there leave the world. His spirit reviving, he finished his journey in the same delightful frame; and all that night passed without sleep, the joy of the Lord still overflowing him, so that he seemed an inhabitant of the other world. (Pneumatologia, 4to, 2d edit. p. 210.) Ed.

Note 175, p. 194.-Who are these ministering spirits, that the author calls "men"? Are they the glorified inhabitants of the Celestial City Moses and Elias appeared at the transfiguration; so the spirit who spake with John, Rev. xx. 10, was his fellow-servant. Are these "spirits of just men made perfect "the angel-administering spirits which are sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? Heb. i. 14; xii. 22, 23. Ed.

Note 176, p. 194.-What are these two difficulties? Are they not death without, and unbelief within? Mason,

Evodias could not join in the petition of the Liturgy—“ From sudden death, good Lord, deliver us." He had his wish; and expired suddenly on a Lord's-day morning, while thousands were assembling to hear him preach. Andronicus.

Note 178, p. 195.-Bunyan died in perfect peace, though it is probable that he expected darkness in the trying hour. "Aye, this will make thee cry, though thou be as good as David. Wherefore learn by his sorrows to serve thy generation, by the will of God, before falling asleep. God can pardon thy sins, and yet make them a bitter thing and a burden at death. It is easy to HIM to pardon, and yet break all thy bones; or show himself in such dreadful majesty, that heaven and earth shall tremble at his presence. Let the thoughts of this prevail with thee to manage thy time and work in wisdom, while thou art well." [47]

Note 179, p. 196.-"Suppose the poor Christian upon a sick-bed, with ten thousand sick-bed fears, begotten by a review of his profession, by dreadful suggestions of the devil-the sight of death and the grave: fears begotten by the withdrawing of God and Christ, and it may be, by the appearing of the devil himself. These made David cry out of the sorrows of death, and the pains of hell. But out of all these the Lord will save his people." [21]

Note 180, p. 196.-The temporary distresses of dying believers often arise from bodily disease, which interrupts the free exercise of their intellectual powers. Scott.

Note 181, p. 197.-Bunyan thus describes the feelings of the pilgrim, while clothed with mortality, looking up to the heights of heaven: "Christ could mount up-Elijah had a chariot of fire-Enoch was taken by God. But I, poor I, how shall I get thither? How often are considering thoughts wanting in professors!" [54] The question is happily solved in Christian's and Hopeful's experience; they left all their mortal garments and burdens behind them in the river, and their free spirits for the first time felt the sweets of liberty in their perfection. Ed.

Note 182, p. 197.-" I know that all who go to paradise are conducted thither by these holy ones; but yet, for all that, such as die under the cloud, for unchristian walking with God, may meet with darkness on that day, and go heavily hence. But as for those who have been faithful to their God, they shall see before them, or from earth see glory." [47]

Note 183, p. 200.-Bunyan has, with great beauty and probability, brought in the ministry of angels, in the regions of the air, to be passed through in their company, rising, and still rising, higher and higher, before they come to that mighty mount on which he has placed the gates of the Celestial City. The angels receive his pilgrims as they come up from the River of Death, and form for them a bright, seraphic convoy, whose conversation prepares them gradually