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GOOD. Yes, there are many ways butt down upon this, and they are crooked and wide: but thus thou must distinguish the right from the wrong, the right only being straight and narrow'.

Then I saw in my dream that CHRISTIAN asked him further, if he could not help him off with the burden that was upon his back: for as yet he had not got rid thereof, nor could he by any means get it off without help.

He told him, As to thy burden, be content to bear it until thou comest to the place of deliverance; for there it will fall from thy back of itself..

Then CHRISTIAN began to gird up his loins, and to address himself to his journey. So the other told him that by that he was gone some distance from the gate he would come at the house of the INTERPRETER, at whose door he should knock, and he would show him excellent things. Then CHRISTIAN took his leave of his friend, and he again bid him God speed.

Then he went on till he came to the house of the INTERPRETER, where he knocked over and over: at last one came to the door and asked who was there?

CHR. Sir, here is a traveller, who was bid by an acquaintance of the good man of this house to call here for my profit; I would therefore speak with the master of the house. So he called for the master of the house, who after a little time came to CHRISTIAN and asked him what he would have?

Sir, said CHRISTIAN, I am a man that am come from the city of DESTRUCTION, and am going to the

1 Mat. vii. 13, 14.

mount ZION; and I was told by the man that stands at the gate at the head of this way, that if I called here you would show me excellent things, such as would be a help to me in my journey.

Then said the INTERPRETER, Come in; I will show thee that which will be profitable to thee. So he commanded his man to light a candle, and bid CHRISTIAN follow him: so he had him into a private room, and bid his man open a door; the which when he had done, CHRISTIAN saw the picture of a very grave person hang up against the wall; and this was the fashion of it: it had eyes lifted up to heaven, the best of books in its hand, the law of truth was written upon its lips, the world was behind its back; it stood as if it pleaded with men, and a crown of gold did hang over its head.'

Then said CHRISTIAN, What meaneth this?

INTERP. The man whose picture this is, is one of a thousand; he can beget children', travail in birth with children, and nurse them himself when they are born. And whereas thou seest him with his eyes lifted up to heaven, the best of books in his hand, and the law of truth written on his lips; it is to show thee that his work is to know and unfold dark things to sinners; even as also thou seest him stand as if he pleaded with men: and whereas thou seest the world as cast behind him, and that a crown hangs over his head; that is to show thee, that slighting and despising the things that are present, for the love that he hath to his Master's service, he is sure in the world that comes next to have

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glory for his reward. Now, said the INTERPRETER, have showed thee this picture first, because the man whose picture this is, is the only man whom the Lord of the place whither thou art going hath authorized to be thy guide, in all difficult places thou mayest meet with in the way: wherefore, take good heed to what I have showed thee, and bear well in thy mind what thou hast seen; lest in thy journey thou meet with some that pretend to lead thee right, but their way goes down to death.

Then he took him by the hand and led him into a very large parlour that was full of dust, because never swept; the which, after he had reviewed a little while, the INTERPRETER called for a man to sweep. Now when he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly to fly about, that CHRISTIAN had almost therewith been choked. Then said the INTERPRETER to a damsel that stood by, Bring hither water and sprinkle the room; the which when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with pleasure.

Then said CHRISTIAN, What means this?

The INTERPRETER answered, This parlour is the heart of a man that was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the gospel: the dust is his original sin and inward corruptions that have defiled the whole man. He that began to sweep at first, is the law; but she that brought water and did sprinkle it, is the gospel. Now whereas thou sawest that, so soon as the first began to sweep, the dust did so fly about that the room by him could not be cleansed, but that thou wast almost choked therewith; this is to show thee, that the law,

instead of cleansing the heart, by its working, from sin, doth revive, put strength into, and increase it in the soul, even as it doth discover and forbid it; for it doth not give power to subdue it.

Again, as thou sawest the damsel sprinkle the room with water, upon which it was cleansed with pleasure; this is to show thee, that when the gospel comes in the sweet and precious influences thereof to the heart, then, I say, even as thou sawest the damsel lay the dust by sprinkling the floor with water, so is sin vanquished and subdued, and the soul made clean through the faith of it, and consequently fit for the King of glory to inhabit”.

I saw, moreover, in my dream, that the INTERPRETER took him by the hand and had him into a little room where sat two little children, each one in his chair. The name of the eldest was PASSION, and the name of the other PATIENCE. PASSION seemed to be much discontented, but PATIENCE was very quiet. Then CHRISTIAN asked, What is the reason of the discontent of PASSION? The INTERPRETER answered, The governor of them would have him stay for his best things till the beginning of the next year; but he will have all now. But PATIENCE is willing to wait.

Then I saw that one came to PASSION and brought him a bag of treasure, and poured it down at his feet: the which he took up and rejoiced therein, and withal laughed PATIENCE to scorn. But I beheld but a while, and he had lavished all away and had nothing left him but rags.

1 Rom. v. 20. vii. 7-11. 1 Cor. xv. 56. 2 John xiv. 21-23. xv. 3. Acts xv. 9. Rom. xvi. 25, 26. Eph. v. 26.

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