come thus far to seek; but finding none (and yet I should had there been such a place to be found, for I have gone to seek it farther than you,) I am going back again, and will seek to refresh myself with the things that I then cast away, for tropes of that which I now see is not.

CHR. Then said Christian to Hopeful his companion, Is it true which this man hath said?

HOPE. Take heed, he is one of the flatterers. Remember what it hath cost us once already for hearkening to such kind of fellows. What! no Mount Zion? Did we not see from the Delectable Mountains the gate of the city? Also, are we not now to walk by faith? 2 Cor. v. 7. Let us go on, sest the man with the whip overtake us again. You should have taught me that lesson, which I will round you in the ears withal: "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge," Prov. xix. 27. I say, my brother, cease to hear him, and let us believe to the saving of the soul, Heb. x. 39.

CHR. My brother, I did not put the question to thee, for that I doubted of the truth of our belief myself, but to prove thee, and to fetch from thee a fruit of the honesty of thy heart. As for this man, I know that he is blinded by the god of this world. Let thee and me go on, knowing that we have beliet of the truth, and no lie is of the truth, 1 John ii. 21.

HOPE. Now do I rejoice in hope of the glory of God. So they turned away from the man, and he, laughing at them, went his

way.

I then saw in my dream, that they went on until they came into a certain country, whose air naturally tended to make one drowsy if he came a stranger into it. And here Hopeful began to be very dull, and heavy to sleep; wherefore he said unto Christian, I do now begin to grow so drowsy, that I can scarcely hold open mine eyes; let us lie down here, and take one nap. CH. By no means, said the other, lest sleeping we never awake more.

27

CHR. And did you presently fall under the power of this conviction?

Hork. No, I was not willing presently to know the evil of sin, nor the damnation that follows upon the commission of it; but endeavoured, when my mind at first began to be shaken with the word, to shut mine eyes against the light thereof. CHR. But what was the cause of your carrying of it thus to the first workings of God's blessed Spirit upon you?

HOPE. The causes were, 1. I was ignorant that this was the work of God upon me. I never thought that by awakenings for sin, God at first begins the conversion of a sinner. 2. Sin was yet very sweet to my flesh, and I was loath to leave it. 3. I could not tell how to rart with mine old companions, their presence and actions were so desirable unto me. 4. The hours in which convictions were upon me, were such troublesome and such heart-affrighting hours, that I could not bear, no, not so much as the veinembrance of them upon my heart. CuR. Then, as it seems, sometimes you got rid of your trouble?

Hore. Yes, verily, but it would come into my mind again and then I should be as bad, nay, worse, than I was before. CHR. Why, what was it that brought your sins to mindagain?

HOPE. Many things; as,

1. II did but meet a good man in the streets; or, 2. If I have heard any read in the Bible; or,

3. If mine head did begin to ache: or,

4. If I were told that some of my neighbours were sick; or,

5. If I heard the bell toll for some that were dead; or, 6. If I thought of dying myself; or,

7. If I heard that sudden death happened to others. 8. But especially when I thought of myself, that I must quickly come to judgment.

CHR. And could you at any time with ease get off the guilt of sin, when by any of these ways it came upon you?

HOPE. No, not 1: for then they got faster hold of my conscience: and then, if I did but think of going back to sin, (though my mind was turned against it,) it would be double torment to me.

CHR. And how did you then?

HOPE. I thought I must endeavour to mend my life; or else, thought i, I am sure to be damned.

CHR. And did you endeavour to mend?

HOPE. Yes, and fled from not only my sins, but sinful company too, and betook me to religious duties; as praying, reading, weeping for sin, speaking truth to my neighbours, etc. These things did I, with many others, too much here to relate. CHR. And did you think yourself well then?

HOPE. Yes, for a while; but at the last my trouble came tumbling upon me again, and that over the neck of all my reformations.

CHR. How came that about, since you were now reformed? HOPE. There were several things brought it upon me, espe. cially such sayings as these: "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags," Isa. Ixiv. 6. "By the works of the law shall no flesh be justified," Gal. ii. 16. "When ye have done all those things, say, We are unprofitable," Luke xvii. 10; with many more such like. From whence I began to reason with myself thus: If all my righteousnesses are filthy rags, if by the deeds of the law no man can be justified, and if, when we have done all, we are yet un

I further thought thus: La man runs a hundred pounds into the shopkeeper's debt, and after that shall pay for all that he shall fetch; yet if his old debt stand still in the book uncrossed, the shopkeeper may sue him for it, and cast him into prison till he shall pay the debt.

CHR. Well, and how did you apply this to yourself? HOPE. Why, I thought thus with myself: I have by my sins run a great way into God's book, and my now reforming will not pay off that score. Therefore I should think still, under all my present amendments, But how shall I be freed from that damnation that I brought myself in danger of by my former trans. gressions?

CHR. A very good application; but pray go on.

Hors. Another thing that hath troubled me ever since my late amendment is, that if I look narrowly into the best of what I do now, I still see sin, new sin, mixing itself with the best of that I do; so that now I am forced to conclude, that notwith. standing my former fond conceits of myself and duties, I have committed sin enough in one day to send me to hell, though my former life had been faultless.

CuR. And what did you then?

HOPE. DO! I could not tell what to do, until I broke roy mind to Faithful; for he and I were well acquainted told me, that unless I could obtain the righteou that never had sinned, neither mine own, nor ness of the world, could save me.

CHR. And did you think he spake true?
HOPE. Had he told me so when I was

23

with mine own amendments, I had called him fool for his pains; but now, since I see mine own infirmity, and the sin which cleaves to my best performance, I have been forced to be of his opinion.

CHR. But did you think, when at first he suggested it to you, that there was such a man to be found, of whom it might justly be said that he never committed sin?

HOPE. I must confess the words at first sounded strangely; but after a little more talk and company with him, I had full conviction about it.

CHR. And did you ask him what man this was, and how you must be justified by him?

HOPE. Yes, and he told me it was the Lord Jesus, that dwel. leth on the right hand of the Most High, Heb. x. 12. And thus, said he, you must be justified by him, even by trusting to what he hath done by himself in the days of his flesh, and suffered when he did hang on the tree, Rom. iv. 5; Col. i. 14; 1 Pet i. 19. I asked him further, how that man's righteousness could be of that efficacy, to justify another before God. And he told me, he was the mighty God, and did what he did, and died the death also, not for himself, but for me; to whom his doings, and the worthiness of them, should be imputed, if I believed on him. CHR. And what did you do then?

HOPE. I made my objections against my believing, for that I thought he was not willing to save me.

CHR. And what said Faithful to you then?

HOPE. He bid me go to him and see. Then I said it was presumption. He said, No; for I was invited to come, Matt. xi. 28. Then he gave me a book of Jesus's inditing, to encou. rage me the more freely to come; and he said concerning that book, that every jot and tittle thereof stood firmer than heaven and earth, Matt. xxiv. 85. Then I asked him what I must do when I came; and he told me, I must entreat upon my knees, Psa. xcv. 6; Dan. vi. 10, with all my heart and soul, Jer. xxix. 12, 13, the Father to reveal him to me. Then I asked him further, how I must make my supplications to him; and he said, Go, and thou shalt find him upon a mercy-seat, where he sits, all the year long, to give pardon and forgiveness to them that come, Exod. xxv. 22; Lev. xvi. 2; Numb. vii. 89; Heb. iv. 16. I told him that I knew not what to say when I came; and he bid me to say to this effect: God be merciful to me a sinner, and make me to know and believe in Jesus Christ; for I see, that if his righteousness had not been, or I have not faith in that righteousness, I am utterly cast away. Lord, I have heard that thou art a merciful God, and hast ordained that thy Son Jesus Christ should be the Saviour of the world; and moreover, that thou art willing to bestow him upon such a poor sinner as I am. And I am a sinner indeed. Lord, take therefore this opportu. nity, and magnify thy grace in the salvation of my soul, through thy Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

CHR. And did you do as you were bidden?

HOPE. Yes, over, and over, and over.

CHR. And did the Father reveal the Son to you?

HOPE. No, not at first, nor second, nor third, nor fourth, nor fifth, no, nor at the sixth time neither.

CHR. What did you then?

HOPE. What? why I could not tell what to do.
CHR. Had you no thoughts of leaving off praying?
HOPE. Yes; and a hundred times twice told.
CHR. And what was the reason you did not?

HOPE. I believed that it was true which hath been told me, to wit, that without the righteousness of this Christ, all the world could not save me; and therefore, thought I with myself, if I leave off I die, and I can but die at the throne of grace. And withal this came into my mind, "If it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, and will not tarry," Hab. ii. 3. So I continued praying, until the Father showed me his Son.

CHR. And how was he revealed unto you?

HOPE. I did not see him with my bodily eyes, but with the eyes of mine understanding, Eph. i. 18, 19, and thus it was. One day I was very sad, I think sadder than at any one time in my life: and this sadness was through a fresh sight of the greatness and vileness of my sins. And as I was then looking for nothing but hell, and the everlasting damnation of my soul. suddenly, as I thought, I saw the Lord Jesus looking down from heaven upon me, and saying," Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," Acts xvi. 31.

But I replied, Lord, I am a great, a very great sinner; and he answered, "My grace is sufficient for thee," 2 Cor. xii. 9. Then I said, "But, Lord, what is believing?" And then I saw from that saying, "He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he

eveth on me shall never thirst," John vi. 35, that be4 coming was all one; and that he that came, that is, his heart and affections after salvation by Christ, ed in Christ. Then the water stood in mine further," But, Lord, may such a great sinner accepted of thee, and be saved by thee?" And

And him that

cast out," John vi. 37. Then I said, But how, Lord, must I consider of thee in my coming to thee, that my faith may be placed aright upon thee? Then he said, "Christ Jesus can e into the world to save sinners," 1 Tim. i. 15. He is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes, Rom. x. 4, and chap. iv. He died for our sins, and rose again for our justification, Rom. iv. 25. He loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Rev. i. 5. He is Mediator between God and us, 1 Tim. ii. 5. He ever liveth to make intercession for us, Heb. vii. 25. From all which I gathered, that I must look for righteousness in his person, and for satisfaction for my sins by his blood: that what he did in obedience to his Father's law, and in submitting to the penalty thereof, was not for himself, but for him that will accept it, for his salvation, and be thankful. And now was my heart full of joy, mine eyes full of tears, and mine affections running over with love to the name, people, and ways of Jesus Christ.

CHR. This was a revelation of Christ to your soul indeed. But tell me particularly what effect this had upon your spirits.

HOPE. It made me see that all the world, notwithstanding all the righteousness thereof, is in a state of condemnation. It made me see that God the Father, though he be just, can justly justify the coming sinner. It made me greatly ashamed of the vileness of my former life, and confounded me with the sense of my own ignorance; for there never came a thought into my heart before now that showed me so the beauty of Jesus Christ. It made me love a holy life, and long to do something for the honour and glory of the name of the Lord Jesus. Yea, I thought that had I now a thousand gallons of blood in my body, I could spill it all for the sake of the Lord Jesus.

I saw then in my dream, that Hopeful looked back, and saw Igno ance, whom they had left behind, coming after, Look, said he to Christian, how far yonder youngster loitereth behind. CHR. Ay, ay, I see him; he careth not for our company. Hors. But I trow it would not have hurt him had he kept pace with us hitherto.

CHR. That is true; but I warrant you he thinketh otherwise.

HOPE. That I think he doth; but, however, let us tarry for him. So they did.

Then Christian said to him, Come away, man; why do you stay so behind?

IGNOR. I take my pleasure in walking alone, even more a great deal than in company, unless I like it the better.

Then said Christian to Hopeful, (but softly,) Did I not tell you he cared not for our company? But, however, come up, and let us talk away the time in this solitary place. Then, directing his speech to Ignorance, he said, Come, how do you do? How stands it between God and your soul now?

IGNOR. I hope well; for I am always full of good motions, that come into my mind to comfort me as I walk. CHR. What good motions? pray tell us. IGNOR. Why I think of God and heaven. CHR. So do the devils and damned souls. IGNOR. But I think of them, and desire them.

CHR. So do many that are never like to come there. "The soul of the sluggard desires, and hath nothing," Prov. xiii. 4. IGNOR. But I think of them, and leave all for them. CHR. That I doubt, for leaving of all is a very hard matter; yea, a harder matter than many are aware of. But why, er by what, art thou persuaded that thou hast left all for God and heaven?

IGNOR. My heart tells me so.

CHR. The wise man says, "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool," Prov. xxviii. 26.

one.

IGNOR. That is spoken of an evil heart; but mine is a good

CHR. But how dost thou prove that?

IGNOR. It comforts me in hopes of heaven.

CHR. That may be through its deceitfulness; for a man's heart may minister comfort to him in the hopes of that thing for which he has no ground to hope.

IGNOR. But my heart and life agree together, and therefore my hope is well grounded.

CHR. Who told thee that thy heart and life agree together? IGNOR. My heart tells me so.

CHR. "Ask my fellow if I be a thief." Thy heart tells thee so! Except the word of God beareth witness in this matter, other testimony is of no value.

IGNOR. But is it not a good heart that hath good thoughts? and is not that a good life that is according to God's commandments?

CHR. Yes, that is a good heart that hath good thoughts, and that is a good life that is according to God's commandments: but it is one thing, indeed, to have these, and another thing only to think so.

IGNOR. Pray, what count you good thoughts, and a life

CHR. There are good thoughts of divers kinds : some respect-
g ourselves, some God, some Christ, and some other things.
IGNOR. What be good thoughts respecting ourselves?
CHR. Such as agree with the word of God.

IGNOR. When do our thoughts of ourselves agree with the ord of God?

CHR. When we pass the same judgment upon ourselves hich the word passes. To explain myself: the word of God ith of persons in a natural condition, "There is none righous, there is none that doeth good." It saith also," that every agination of the heart of man is only evil, and that continu. y," Gen. iv. 5; Rom. iii. 10-12. And again, "the imagination man's heart is evil from his youth," Gen. viii. 21. Now, then, en we think thus of ourselves, having sense thereof, then e our thoughts good ones, because according to the word of God. IGNOR. I will never believe that my heart is thus bad. CHR. Therefore thou never hadst one good thought concernthyself in thy life. But let me go on. As the word passeth udgment upon our hearts, so it passeth a judgment upon Aways; and when the thoughts of our hearts and ways agree h the judgment which the word giveth of both, then both good, because agreeing thereto.

IGNOR. Make out your meaning.

CHR. Why, the word of God saith, that man's ways are oked ways, not good, but perverse; it saith, they are natuy out of the good way, that they have not known it, Psa. v. 5; Prov. ii. 15; Rom. iii. 12. Now when a man thus keth of his ways, I say, when he doth sensibly and with t-humiliation thus think, then hath he good thoughts of >wn ways, because his thoughts now agree with the judg.

t of the word of God.

NOR. What are good thoughts concerning GC

HR. Even, as I have said concerning ourselves, when our ghts of God do agree with what the word saith of him; and is, when we think of his being and attributes as the word taught; of which I cannot now discourse at large. But eak of him with reference to us: then have we right ghts of God, when we think that he knows us better than now ourselves, and can see sin in us when and where we te none in ourselves: when we think he knows our inmost An, and that our heart, with all its depths, is always open his eyes; also when we think that all our righteousness s in his nostrils; and that therefore he cannot abide to see and before him in any confidence, even of all our best

rmances.

NOR. Do you think that I am such a fool as to think that an see no farther than I; or that I would come to God in st of my performances?

R. Why, how dost thou think in this matter? TOR. Why, to be short, I think I must believe in Christ stification.

2. How! think thou must believe in Christ, when thou not thy need of him! Thou neither seest thy original tual infirmities; but hast such an opinion of thyself, and it thou doest, as plainly renders thee to be one that did see a necessity of Christ's personal righteousness to justify f God. How, then, dost thou say, I believe in Christ? OR. I believe well enough for all that.

t. How dost thou believe?

OR. I believe that Christ died for sinners; and that I e justified before God from the curse, through his gracious nce of my obedience to his law. Or thus, Christ makes sies, that are religious, acceptable to his Father, by virtue nerits, and so shall I be justified.

:. Let me give an answer to this confession of thy faith. 'hou believest with a fantastical faith; for this faith is re described in the word.

hou believest with a false faith; because it taketh justifrom the personal righteousness of Christ, and applies

y own.

his faith maketh not Christ a justifier of thy person, but etions; and of thy person for thy actions' sake, which is

erefore this faith is deceitful, even such as will leave ter wrath in the day of God Almighty: for true justifyh puts the soul, as sensible of its lost condition by the n flying for refuge unto Christ's righteousness (which sness of his is not an act of grace by which he maketh, fication, thy obedience accepted with God, but his obedience to the law, in doing and suffering for us at required at our hands); this righteousness, I say, accepteth; under the skirt of which the soul being , and by it presented as spotless before God, it is and acquitted from condemnation.

What would you have us trust to what Christ in person has done without us? This conceit would e reins of our lusts, and tolerate us to live as we list: matter how we live, if we may be justified by Christ's righteousness from all, when we believe it?

29

CHR. Ignorance is thy name, and as thy name is, so art thou; even this thy answer demonstrateth what I say. Igno. rant thou art of what justifying righteousness is, and as ignorant how to secure thy soul through the faith of it, from the heavy wrath of God. Yea, thou also art ignorant of the true effects of saving faith in this righteousness of Christ, which is to bow and win over the heart to God in Christ, to love his name, his word, ways, and people, and not as thou ignorantly imaginest.

HOPE. Ask him if ever he had Christ revealed to him from hean.

IGNOR. What! you are a man for revelations! I believe, that what both you and all the rest of you say about the matter, is but the fruit of distracted brains.

HOPE. Why, man! Chist is so hid in God from the natural apprehensions of all flesh, that he cannot by any means be savingly known, unless God the Father reveals him to him.

IGNOR. That is your faith, but not mine; yet mine, I doubt not, is as good as yours, though I have not in my head so many whimsies as you.

CHR. Give me leave to put in a word. You ought not so slightly to speak of this matter; for this I will boldly affirm (even as my good companion hath done) that no man can know Jesus Christ but by the revelation of the Father; yea, and faith too, by which the soul layeth hold upon Christ (if it be right), must be wrought by the exceeding greatness of his mighty power, Matt. xi. 27; 1 Cor. xii. 3; Eph. i. 17-19: the working of which faith, I perceive, poor Ignorance, thou art ignorant of. Be awakened then, see thine own wretchedness, and fly to the Lord Jesus; and by his righteousness, which is the righteousness of God (for he himself is God), thou shalt be delivered from condemnation.

IGNOR. You go fast; I cannot keep pace with you; do you go on before; I must stay awhile behind. Then they said

Well, Ignorance, wilt thou yet foolish be,

To slight good counsels, ten times given thee?
And if thou yet refuse it, thou shalt know

Ere long the evil of thy doing so.

Remember, man, in time; stoop, do not fear;
Good counsel, taken well, saves; therefore hear!
But if thou yet shalt slight it, thou wilt be
The loser, Ignorance, I'll warrant thee.

Then Christian addressed himself thus to his fellow:
CHR. Well, come, my good Hopeful, I perceive that thou and
I must walk by ourselves again.

So I saw in my dream that they went on apace before, and Ignorance he came hobbling after. Then said Christian to his companion, I much pity this poor man; it will certainly go ill with him at last.

HOPE. Alas! there are abundance in our town in this condi. tion, whole families, yea, whole streets, and that of pilgrims too; and if there be so many in our parts, how many, think you, must there be in the place where he was born.

CHR. Indeed, the word saith, "He hath blinded their eyes, lest they should see," etc.

But, now we are by ourselves, what do you think of such men? have they at no time, think you, convictions of sin, and so, consequently, fears that their state is dangerous?

HOPE. Nay, do you answer that question yourself, for you are the elder man.

CHR. Then I say, sometimes, as I think, they may; but they, being naturally ignorant, understand not that such convictions tend to their good; and therefore they do desperately seek to stifle them, and presumptuously continue to flatter themselves in the way of their own hearts.

HOPE. I do believe, as you say, that fear tends much to men's good, and to make them right at their beginning to go on pilgrimage.

CHR. Without all doubt it doth, if it be right; for so says the word, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," Job xxviii. 28; Psa. cxi. 10; Prov. i. 7; ix. 10.

HOPE. How will you describe right fear?

CHR. True or right fear is discovered by three things.

1. By its rise it is caused by saving convictions for sin.

2. It driveth the soul to lay fast hold of Christ for salvation.

3. It begetteth and continueth in the soul a great reverence of God, his word, and ways: keeping it tender, and making it afraid to turn from them, to the right hand or to the left, to any thing that may dishonour God, breaks its peace, grieve the Spirit, or cause the enemy to speak reproachfully.

HOPE. Well said; I believe you have said the truth. Are we now almost got past the Enchanted Ground?

CHR. Why? are you weary of this discourse? HOPE. No, verily, but that I would know where we are. CHR. We have not now above two miles farther to go thereon-But let us return to our matter.

Now the ignorant know not that such convictions as tend to

30

put them in fear, are for their good, and therefore they seek to stifle them.

HOPE. How do they seek to stifle them?

CHR. 1. They think that those fears are wrought by the devil (though indeed they are wrought of God), and thinking so, they resist them, as things that directly tend to their overthrow. 2 They also think that these fears tend to the spoiling of their faith; when, alas for them, poor men that they are, they have none at all! and therefore they harden their hearts against them. 3. They presume they ought not to fear, and, therefore in despite of them, wax presumptuously confident. 4. They see that those fears tend to take away from them their pitiful old self-holiness, and therefore they resist them with all their might.

HOPE. I know something of this myself; for before I knew myself it was so with me.

CHR. Well, we will leave at this time our neighbour Ignorance by himself, and fall upon another profitable question. HOPE. With all my heart; but you shall still begin. CHR. Well, then, did you know, about ten years ago, one Temporary in your parts, who was a forward man in religion then?

HOPE. Know him! Yes; he dwelt in Graceless, a town about two miles off of Honesty, and he dwelt next door to one Turnback.

CAR. Right; he dwelt under the same roof with him. Well, that man was much awakened once; I believe that then he had some sight of his sins, and of the wages that were due thereto.

HOPE. I am of your mind, for (my house not being above three miles from him) he would ofttimes come to me, and that with many tears. Truly I pitied the man, and was not altogether without hope of him: but one may see, it is not every one that cries, "Lord, Lord."

CHR. He told me once that he was resolved to go on pilgrimage as we go now; but all on a sudden he grew acquainted with one Save-self, and then he became a stranger to me.

HOPE. Now, since we are talking about him, let us a little inquire into the reason of the sudden backsliding of him and

such others.

CHR. It may be very profitable; but do you begin.

HOPE. Well, then, there are, in my judgment, four reasons for it:

1. Though the consciences of such men are awakened, yet their minds are not changed therefore, when the power of guilt weareth away, that which provoked them to be religious ceaseth; wherefore they naturally turn to their old course again; even as we see the dog that is sick of what he hath eaten, so long as his sickness prevails, he vomits and casts up all; not that he doeth this of a free mind, (if we may say a dog has a mind,) but because it troubleth his stomach; but now when his sickness is over, and so his stomach eased, his desires being not at all alienated from his vomit, he turns him about, and licks up all; and so it is true which is written, "The dog is turned to his own vomit again," 2 Pet. ii, 22. This, I say, being hot for heaven, by virtue only of the sense and fear of the torments of hell, as their sense of hell and fear of damnation chills and cools, so their desires for heaven and salvation cool also. So then it comes to pass, that when their guilt and fear is gone, their desires for heaven and happiness die, and they return to their course again.

2. Another reason is, they have slavish fears that do over. master them: I speak now of the fears that they have of men: "For the fear of man bringeth a snare," Prov. xxix. 25. So then, though they seem to be hot for heaven so long as the flames of hell are about their ears, yet, when that terror is a little over, they betake themselves to second thoughts namely, that it is good to be wise, and not to run (for they know not what) the hazard of losing all, or at least of bringing themselves into unavoidable and unnecessary troubles; and so they fall in with the world again.

3. The shame that attends religion lies also as a block in their way: they are proud and haughty, and religion in their eye is low and contemptible: therefore when they have lost their sense of hell and the wrath to come, they return again to their former course.

4. Guilt, and to meditate terror, are grievous to them; they like not to see their misery before they come into it: though perhaps the sight of it at first, if they loved that sight, might make them fly whither the righteous fly, and are safe; but be cause they do, as I hinted before, even shun the thoughts of guilt and terror; therefore, when once they are rid of their awakenings about the terrors and wrath of God, they harden their hearts gladly, and choose such ways as will harden them more and more.

CHR. You are pretty near the business, for the bottom of all is for want of a change in their mind and will. And there. fore they are but like the felon that standeth before the judge: he quakes and trembles, and seems to repent most heartily,

but the bottom of all is the fear of the halter; not of any d tation of the offence, as is evident; because, let but this have his liberty, and he will be a thief, and so a rogue s whereas, if his mind was changed, he would be otherwise. HOPE. Now I have showed you the reasons of their g back, do you show me the manner thereof. CHR. So I willingly will.

1. They draw off their thoughts, all that they may, from remembrance of God, death, and judgment to come. 2. Then they cast off by degrees private duties, as c prayer, curbing their lusts, watching, sorrow for sin, and like. 3. Then they shun the company of lively and warm C

tians.

4. After that they grow cold to public duty; as hear reading, godly conference, and the like.

5. They then begin to pick holes, as we say, in the coa some of the godly, and that devilishly, that they may ha seeming colour to throw religion (for the sake of some infi ties they have espied in them) behind their backs

6. Then they begin to adhere to, and associate themse with, carnal, loose, and wanton men.

7. Then they give way to carnal and wanton discourse secret; and glad are they if they can see such things in any are counted honest, that they may the more boldly do it thro their example,

8. After this they begin to play with little sins openly. 9. And then, being hardened, they show themselves as are. Thus being launched again into the gulf of misery, u a miracle of grace prevent it, they everlastingly perish in t own deceivings.

Now I saw in my dream, that by this time the pilgrims got over the Enchanted Ground, and entering into the cou of Beulah, Isa. lxii. 3-12; Cant. ii. 10-12; whose air was sweet and pleasant; the way lying directly through it, solaced themselves there for a season. Yea, here they continually the singing of birds, and saw every day the fl appear in the earth, and heard the voice of the turtle in land. In this country the sun shineth night and day; w fore this was beyond the Valley of the Shadow of Death also out of the reach of Giant Despair; neither could they this place so much as see Doubting Castle. Here they were within sight of the city they were going to; also here met them some of the inhabitants thereof; for in this land the shining ones commonly walked, because it

up to the City. But, as I said, the reflection of the sun upon the City, (for the City was pure gold, Rev. xxi. 18,) was so extremely glorious, that they could not, as yet, with open face behold it, but through an instrument made for that purpose, 2 Cor. iii. 18. So I saw, that as they went on, there met them two men in raiment that shone like gold, also their faces shone as the light. These men asked the pilgrims whence they came, and they told them. They also asked them where they had lodged, what difficulties and dangers, what comforts and pleasures, they had met in the way; and they told them. Then said the men that met them, You have but two difficulties more to meet with, and then you are in the City.

Christian and his companion asked the men to go along with them so they told them that they would; But, said they, you must obtain it by

your own faith. So I saw in my dream that they went on together till they came in sight of the gate.

Now I further saw, that betwixt them and the gate was a river; but there was no bridge to go over; and the river was very deep. At the sight

therefore of this river, the pilgrims were much stunned; but the men that went with them said, You must go through, or you cannot come at the gate.

The pilgrims then began to inquire, if there was no other way to the gate? To which they answered, Yes; but there hath not any, save two, to wit, Enoch and Elijah, been permitted to tread that path since the foundation of the world, nor shall until the last trumpet shall sound. The pilgrims then, especially Christian, began to despond in his mind, and looked this way and that, but no way could be found by them by which they might escape the river. Then they asked the men if the waters were all of a depth. They said, No; yet they could not help them in that case; For, said they, you shall find it deeper or shallower as you believe in the King of the place.

They then addressed themselves to the water, and entering, Christian began to sink, and crying out to his good friend .Hopeful, he said, I sink in deep waters; the billows go over my head, all his waves go over me. Selah.

Then said the other, Be of good cheer, my brother, I feel the bottom, and it is good. Then said Christian, Ah! my friend. the sorrows of death have compassed me about, I shall not see the land that flows with milk and honey. And with that a great darkness and horror fell upon Christian, so that he could not see before him. Also here he in a great measure lost his senses, so that he could neither remember nor orderly talk of any of those sweet refreshments that he had met with in the way of his pilgrimage. But all the words that he spoke still tended to discover that he had horror of mind, and heart-fears that he should die in that river, and never obtain entrance in at the gate. Here also, as they that stood by perceived, he was much in the troublesome thoughts of the sins that he had committed, both since and before he began to be a pilgrim. It was also observed, that he was troubled with apparitions of hobgoblins and evil spirits; for ever and anon he would intimate so much by words.

Hopeful therefore here had much ado to keep his brother's head above water: yea, sometimes he would be quite gone down, and then, ere awhile, he would rise up again half dead. Hopeful also would endeavour to comfort him, saying, Brother. I see the gate, and men standing by to receive us; but Christian would answer, It is you, it is you they wait for; you have been hopeful ever since I knew you. And so have you, said he to

31

Christian. Ah, brother, said he, surely, if I was right, he would now arise to help me; but for my sins he hath brought me into the snare, and hath left me. Then said Hopeful, My brother, you have quite forgot the text where it is said of the wicked, "Theve are no band, ia their death, but their strength is firm; they are not

troubled as other men, neither are they plagued like other men," Psa. lxxiii. 4, 5. These troubles and distresses that you go through in these waters, are no sign that God hath forsaken you; but are sent to try you, whether you will call to nrind that which heretofore you have received of his goodness, and live upon him in your distresses.

Then I saw in my dream, that Christian was in a muse awhile. To whom also Hopeful added these words, Be of good cheer, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole. And with that Chris tian brake out with a loud voice, Oh, I see him again, and he tells me, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee," Isa. xliii. 2. Then they both took courage, and the enemy was after

that as still as a stone, until they were gone over. Christian, therefore, presently found ground to stand upon, and so it followed that the rest of the river was but shallow. Thos they got

over.

Now, upon the bank of the river,

on the other side, they saw the two shining men again, who there waited for them. Wherefore being come out of the river, they saluted them, saying, We are ministering spirits, set forth to minister for those that shall be heirs of salvation. Thus they went towards the gate.

Now you must note, that the City stood upon a mighty hill; but the pilgrims went up that hill with ease, because they had these two men to lead them up by the arms: they had likewise left their mortal garments behind them in the river; for though they went in with them, they came out without them. They therefore went up here with much agility and speed, though the foundation upon which the city was framed was higher than the clouds; they therefore went up through the regions of the air sweetly talking as they went, being comforted because they safely got over the river, and had such glorious companions to attend them.

The talk that they had with the shining ones was about the glory of the place; who told them that the beauty and glory of it was inexpressible. There, said they, is "the Mount Sion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect," Heb. xii. 22-24. You are going now, said they, to the paradise of God, wherein you shall see the tree of life, and eat of the never-fading fruits therecf; and, when you come there, you shall have white robes given you, and your walk and talk shall be every day with the King, even all the days of eternity, Rev. ii. 7; iii 4, 5, xxii. 5. There you shall not see again such things as ou saw when you were in the lower region upon the earth; 'to wit, sorrow, sickness. affliction, and death; " for the former things are passed away," Isa. lxv. 16, 17. You are going now to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, and to the prophets, men that God hath taken away from the evil to come, and that are now resting upon their beds, each one walking in his righteousness. The men then asked, What must we do in the holy place? To whom it was answered, You must there receive the comfort of all your toil, and have joy for all your sorrow; you must reap what you have sown, even the fruit of all your prayers, and tears, and sufferings for the King by the way, Gal. vi. 7. 8. In that place you must wear crowns of gold, and enjoy the perpetual sight and visions If the Holy One; for there you shall see him as he is, 1 John iii. 2. There also you shall serve him continually with praise, with shouting and thanksgiving, whom you desired to serve in the world. though with much difficulty, because of the infirmity of your flesh. There your eyes shall be delighted with seeing, and your ears with hearing the pleasant voice of the Mighty