THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, IN THE SIMILITUDE OF A DRE A M SI walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place where was a den *; and A I laid me down in that *The goal. place to fleep and as I flept, I dreamed a dream. I dreamed, and behold, I faw a man clothed with rags, ftand in a certain place, with his face from his own house, a book in hand, and a great burden on his back, Ifa Ixiv. 6. Luke xvi. 33. Pfalm xxxviii 4. Heb. ii. 2. Luke xiv. 31. looked, and faw him open the book, and read therein, and as he read, he wept and trembled: and not be ing able longer to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry, faying, What shall I do ? Acts if. 27 In this plight therefore he went home, and refrained himself as long as he could, that his wife and children fhould not perceive his diftrefs, but he could not be filent long, becaufe that his trouble increafed: wherefore at length he brake his mind to his wife and children? and thus he began to talk to them, O my dear wife, faid be, and you the children of my bowcls, 1 your dear friend, am myself undone by reafon of a burden that lieth hard upon me: moreover, I am for certain informed, that this our city will be burned with fire from heaven, in which fearful overthrow, both myself, with thee, my wife, and you my fweet babes, fhall miferably come to ruin, except (the which yet I fee not) fome way of cfcape may be found, whereby we may be delivered. At this, his relations were fore amazed; not for that they believed that which he faid to them was true, but because they thought that fome frenzy diffemper had got into his head: therefore, it drawing towards night, and they hoping that fleep might fettle his brains, with all hafte they got him to bed, but the night was as troublesome to him as the day: wherefore, instead of deeping, he spent it in fighs and tears, fo when' the morning was come, they would know how he did: and he told them, worfe and worfe; he alfo fet to talking to them again, He knows no way of eJcape as yet. but They alfo Carnal phyfic for a fick foul. but they began to be hardened. thought to drive away his distemper by harsh farly car riage to him: fometimes they would deride, fometimes they would chide, and fometimes they would quite neglect him; wherefore he began to retire himself to his chamber to pray for, and pity them, and also to condole his own mifery: he would alfo walk folitarily in the fields, fometimes reading, and fometimes praying, and thus for fome days he fpent his time. Now, I frw, upon a time, when he was walking in the fields, that he was (as he was wont) reading in his book, and greatly diftref fed in his mind; and as he read, the benft out, as he had done before, crying, What fhall I do to be faved? A&ts xvi. 30, 31. I faw alfo that he looked this way, and that way, as if he would run, yet he flood ftill, because, (as I perceived) he could not tell what way to go. I looked then, and faw a man named EVANGELIST, coming to him; and asked, Wherefore doeft thou cry? He anfwered, Sir, I perceive by the book in my hand, that I am condemned to die, and after that to come to judgment; and I find that I am not willing to do the firft, nor able to do the fecond, Heb. ix. 27. Job xvi. 21. Ezek. xxii. 14. Then faid Evange 14. Chriftian no fooner leaves.this world but meets Aift, Why not willing to die; fince this life is attended with fo many evils? The man anfwered, because I fear that this burden that is upon my back, will fink me lower than the grave; and I fhall fall into Tophet. Ha. xxx. 33. And, Sir, if I be not fit to go to prifon, I am not fit to go to judgment, and from thence to execution, and the thoughts of thefe things make me cry. Then, faid Evangelift, If this be thy condition, why ftandeft thou fill? He answered, Because I know not whither to go. Then he gave him a parchment roll, and there was written within, Fly from the wrath to come, Matthew iii. 7. * Convictions of the necef fity of flying. The man therefore read it, and looking upon Evangelift very carefully; faid, Whither muft I fly then faid Evangelist, pointing with his finger over a very wide field. Do you fee yonder wicket-gate ? Mat. vii. 13. The man faid, No. Then faid, the other, Do you fee yonder fhining light? Pfalm cxix. 105. 2 Pet. i. 19. He faid, I think I do... Then faid Evangelist, Keep that light in your eye, and go up directly thereto, † fo fhalt thou † Christ and the way to him cannot be fout the word. fee the gate at which when found withthou knockeft, it shall be told thee what thou shalt dosnelle So I faw in my dream that the man began Staudido to |