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Faith. A work of grace in the soul discovereth itself, either to him that hath it, or to standers by.

One good sign of grace.

To him that hath it, thus: It gives him conviction of sin, especially of the defilement of his nature, and the sin of unbelief (for the sake of which he is sure to be damned, if he findeth not mercy at God's hand, by faith in Jesus Christ), (John xvi. 8; Rom. vii. 24; John xvi. 9; Mark xvi. 16). This sight and sense of things worketh in him sorrow and shame for sin; he findeth, moreover, revealed in him the Saviour of the world, and the absolute necessity of closing with him for life; at the which he findeth hungerings and thirstings after him; to which hungerings, &c., the promise is made (Ps. xxxviii. 18; Jer. xxxi. 19; Gal. ii. 16; Acts iv. 12; Matt. v. 6; Rev. xxi. 6). Now, according to the strength or weakness of his faith in his Saviour, so is his joy and peace, so is his love to holiness, so are his desires to know him more, and also to serve him in this world. But though I say it discovereth itself thus unto him, yet it is but seldom that he is able to conclude that this is a work of grace; because his corruptions now, and his abused reason, make his mind to misjudge in this matter: therefore in him that hath this work there is required a very sound judgment before he can, with steadiness, conclude that this is a work of grace.

To others it is thus discovered: 1. By an experimental confession of his faith in Christ (Rom. x. 10; Phil. i. 27; Matt. v. 19). 2. By a life answerable to that confession; to wit, a life of holiness,-heart-holiness, family-holiness (if he hath a family), and by conversation-holiness in the world: which in the general teacheth him, inwardly, to abhor his sin, and himself for that, in secret; to suppress it in his family and to promote holiness in the world; not by talk only, as a hypocrite or talkative person may do, but by a practical

A Second Question.

115

subjection in faith and love to the power of the Word (John xiv. 15; Ps. 1. 23; Job xlii. 5, 6; Ezek. xx. 43). And now, sir, as to this brief description of the work of grace, and also the discovery of it, if you have aught to object, object; if not, then give me leave to propound to you a second question.

Talk. Nay, my part is not now to object, but to hear: let me, therefore, have your second question.

Another good sign of grace.

Faith. It is this: Do you experience this first part of this description of it? and doth your life and conversation testify the same? or standeth your religion in word or in tongue, and not in deed and truth? Pray, if you incline to answer me in this, say no more than you know the God above will say Amen to; and also nothing but what your conscience can justify you in: "for, not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth." Besides, to say I am thus and thus, when my conversation and all my neighbours tell me I lie, is great wickedness.

Talkative not

pleased with Faithful's question.

Talk. Then Talkative at first began to blush; but, recovering himself, thus he replied: You come now to experience, to conscience, and God; and to appeal to him for justification of what is spoken. This kind of discourse I did not expect: nor am I disposed to give an answer to such questions; because I count not myself thereto, unless you take upon you to be a catechiser; and, though you should so do, yet I may refuse to make you my judge. But, I pray, will you tell me why you ask me such questions?

The reasons why Faithful put to him that question.

Faith. Because I saw you forward to talk, and because I knew not that you had aught else but notion. Besides, to tell you all the truth, I have heard of you that you are a man whose religion lies in talk, and that your conversation gives this your mouth-profession

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Faithful's plain dealing

with tive.

Talka

A Good Riddance.

the lie. They say, you are a spot among Christians, and that religion fareth the worse for your ungodly conversation; that some have already stumbled at your wicked ways, and that more are in danger of being destroyed thereby your religion, and an alehouse, and covetousness, and uncleanness, and swearing, and lying, and vain company-keeping, &c., will stand together. The proverb is true of you which is said of a whore, to wit, that "She is a shame to all women." So are you a shame to all professors. Talk. Since you are ready to take up reports, and to judge so harshly as you do, I cannot but conclude you are some peevish or melancholy man, not fit to be discoursed with; and so adieu.

Talkative

away

flings
from Faith
ful.

Chr. Then came up Christian, and said to his brother, I told you how it would happen; your words and his lusts could not agree. He had rather leave your company than reform his life. But he is gone, as I said: let him go, the loss is no man's but his own. He has saved us the trouble of going from him; for he continuing (as I suppose he will do) as he is, he would have been but a blot in our company: besides, the apostle says, From such withdraw thyself."

A good riddance.

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Faith. But I am glad we had this little discourse with him; it may happen that he will think of it again : however, I have dealt plainly with him, and so am clear of his blood, if he perisheth.

Chr. You did well to talk so plainly to him as you did. There is but little of this faithful dealing with men now-a-days, and that makes religion to stink so in the nostrils of many, as it doth; for they are these talkative fools, whose religion is only in word, and are debauched and vain in their conversation, that (being so much admitted into the fellowship of the godly) do

A Joyful Meeting.

117

puzzle the world, blemish Christianity, and grieve the sincere. I wish that all men would deal with such as you have done: then should they either be made more conformable to religion, or the company of saints would be too hot for them. Then did Faithful say

How Talkative at first lifts up his plumes!

How bravely doth he speak! How he presumes
To drive down all before him! But so soon
As Faithful talks of heart-work, like the moon
That's past the full, into the wane he goes;

And so will all, but he that heart-work knows.

Thus they went on, talking of what they had seen by the way, and so made that way easy which would otherwise, no doubt, have been tedious to them; for now they went through a wilderness.

Now, when they were got almost quite out of this wilderness, Faithful chanced to cast his eye back, and

[graphic]

THE MEETING WITH EVANGELIST.

espied one coming after them, and he knew him. Oh !

Evangelist

overtakes them again.

said Faithful to his brother, who comes yonder? Then Christian looked, and said, It is my good friend Evangelist. Ay, and my good friend too, said Faithful; for it was

118

Evangelist's Exhortation.

he that set me on the way to the gate. Now was Evangelist come up with them, and thus saluted them: Evan. Peace be with you, dearly beloved; and peace be to your helpers.

Chr. Welcome, welcome, my good Evangelist; the sight of thy countenance brings to my re

They are glad at the sight of him.

membrance thy ancient kindness and unwearied labouring for my eternal good. Faith. And a thousand times welcome, said good Faithful. Thy company, O sweet Evangelist, how desirable it is to us poor pilgrims !

Evan. Then saith Evangelist, How hath it fared with you, my friends, since the time of our last parting? What have you met with, and how have you behaved yourselves?

Then Christian and Faithful told him of all things that had happened to them in the way; and how, and with what difficulty, they had arrived to that place.

Evan. Right glad am I, said Evangelist, not that

His exhorta

tion to them.

you have met with trials, but that you have been victors; and for that you have, notwithstanding many weaknesses, continued in the way to this very day.

66

I say, right glad am I of this thing, and that for mine own sake and yours. I have sowed, and you have reaped; and the day is coming when "both he that sowed and they that reaped shall rejoice together:" that is, if you hold out; "for in due season ye shall reap, if ye faint not" (John iv. 36; Gal. vi. 9). The crown is before you, and it is an incorruptible one; so run, that ye may obtain" it (1 Cor. ix. 24-27). Some there be that set out for this crown, and, after they have gone far for it, another comes in and takes it from them; "hold fast, therefore, that you have; let no man take your crown (Rev. iii. 11). You are not yet out of the gun-shot of the Devil: "you have not yet resisted unto

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