And giant Despair felt his limbs to fail, so that he could by no means go after them. OXFORD: Printed and Published by Bartlett and Hinton. and arrive at the Delectable Mountains. "Out of the way we went, and then we found Whose castle's Doubting, and whose name's Despair." They went then till they came to the Delectable Mountains, which mountains belong to the Lord of that hill, of which we have spoken before; so they went up to the mountains, to behold the gardens and orchards, the vineyards and fountains of water; where also they drank and washed themselves, and did freely eat of the vineyards. Now there were on the tops of these mountains shepherds feeding their flocks, and they stood by the highway side. The pilgrims therefore went to them, and leaning upon their staves (as is common with weary pilgrims when they stand to talk with any by the way) they asked, "Whose Delectable Mountains are these? and whose be the sheep that feed upon them* ?" SHEP. These mountains are Emmanuel's Land, and they are within sight of his city; and the sheep also are his, and he laid down his life for them*. CHR. Is this the way to the Celestial City? SHEP. You are just in the way. CHR. How far is it thither? the soul, and exalt the Saviour. We see here these two pilgrims, by their own folly, got into Doubting-Castle; but it was by free promise that they escaped from it. So this pillar was a memento to their shame, while it was a monument of God's favour in Christ to them. See the various changes, the sunshine and clouds, the pros perity and adversity, which Christians generally go through in their way to the promised land. Lately these two pilgrims were bewailing their state in Doubting-Castle under Giant Despair; now they are come to the Delectable Mountains, where all is clear; perfect, and joyful hope. So that God's word is now comfortably fulfilled unto them; see Isaiah xlix. 9-11. "I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted." * John x. 11, 14, 15. The Shepherds at the Delectable Mountains SHEP. Too far for any but those that shall get thither indeed 5. CHR. Is the way safe or dangerous? SHEP. Safe for those for whom it is to be safe; "but transgressors shall fall therein """" CHR. Is there in this place any relief for pilgrims that are weary and faint in the way? SHEP. The Lord of these mountains hath given us a charge "not to be forgetful to entertain strangers";" therefore the good of the place is before you. I also saw in my dream, that when the shepherds perceived that they were wayfaring men, they also put questions to them (to which they made answer, as in other places) as, Whence came you? and, how got you into the way? and, by what means have you persevered therein? for but few of them that begin to come hither do shew their faces on these mountains. But when the shepherds heard their answers, being pleased therewith, they looked very lovingly upon them, and said, Welcome to the Delectable Mountains. The shepherds, I say, whose names were Knowledge, Experience, Watchful, and Sincere, took them ♪ Oh, how many professors grow weary of the way, fall short and fail of coming to the end! Though the way be too far, too straight, and too narrow, for many who set out, and never hold on to the end; yet all who are begotten by the word of grace, and born of the Spirit of truth, may persevere unto the end, being kept by the mighty power of God, through faith, unto eternal salvation, 1 Pet. i. 5. 6 It is safe for all those who are truly converted to God, and now live by faith in Christ, and in holy obedience to his will. Look to yourselves, 2 John 8. 7 Precious names !-What is a pilgrim without knowledge? and what is knowledge without experience? Holy watchfulness and sincerity ought to attend us every step When these graces are in us, and abound, they make delectable mountains indeed. |