Christian rests at the House Beautiful.

no evil. Nay, I think I may say, that if what they saw in me did hinder them, it was my great tenderness in sinning against God, or of doing any wrong to my neighbour.

CHAR. Indeed Cain hated his brother, “because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous';" and if thy wife and children have been offended with thee for this, they thereby show themselves to be implacable to good; and thou hast delivered thy soul from their blood.k

Now I saw in my dream, that thus they sat talking together until supper was ready. So when they had made ready, they sat down to meat. Now the table was furnished with fat things, and with wine that was well refined; and all their talk at the table was about the Lord of the hill; as, namely, about what he had done, and wherefore he did what he did, and why he had builded that house; and by what they said, I perceived that he had been a great warrior, and had fought with and slain him that had the power of death'; but not without great danger to himself; which made me love him the more.

For, as they said, and as I believe, said Christian, he did it with the loss of much blood. But that which put glory of grace into all he did, was, that he did it out of pure love to his country. And, besides, there were some of them of the household that said, they had been and spoke with him since he did die on the cross; and they have attested, and they had it from his own lips, that he is such a lover of poor pilgrims, that the like is not to be found from the east to the west.

Hence see the necessity of a Christian's giving good evidence, that he is really possessed of those graces of piety, prudence, and love, in order that he may enjoy the communion of saints.

i 1 John iii. 12.

Ezek. iii. 19. í Heb. ii. 14, 15.

Christian is shewn the

They, moreover, gave an instance of what they affirmed, and that was, he had stripped himself of his glory, that he might do this for the poor; and that they heard him say and affirm, That he would not dwell in the mountain of Zion alone. They said, moreover, that he had made many pilgrims princes, though by nature they were beggars born, and their original had been the dunghill".

Thus they discoursed together till late at night; and after they had committed themselves to their Lord for protection, they betook themselves to rest. The Pilgrim they laid in a large upper chamber, whose window opened towards the sunrising: the name of the chamber was Peace, where he slept till break of day, and then he awoke and sang―

"Where am I now? Is this the love and care
Of Jesus, for the men that pilgrims are
Thus to provide, that I should be forgiven,
And dwell already the next door to heaven"?"

So in the morning they all got up; and after some more discourse, they told him he should not depart till they had shewed him the rarities of that place. And first they had him into the study, where they shewed him records of the greatest antiquity in which, as I remember my dream, they shewed him, first, the pedigree of the Lord of the hill, that he was the Son of the Ancient-of-Days, and came by that eternal generation; here also were more fully recorded the acts that he had done, and the names of

7 See the happiness of those who have peace with God, and keep a conscience void of offence. They rest under the shadow of the Almighty, and when they awake they are still with him, and are thankful for his benefits.

8 Christ, and meditation on Christ, on his birth, his life, his works, his death, his atonement, righteousness, and salvation, are the delight of Christian souls.

1 Sam, ii. 8. Psal. cxiii. 7.

Rarities of the House Beautiful.

many hundreds that he had taken into his service; and how he had placed them in such habitations that could neither by length of days, nor decays of na ture, be dissolved.

Then they read to him some of the worthy acts that some of his servants had done: as how they had "subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the aliens"."

Then they read again in another part of the records of the house, where it was shewed how willing their Lord was to receive into his favour any, even any, though they in times past had offered great affronts to his person and proceedings. Here also were several other histories of many other famous things, of all which Christian had a view: as of things both ancient and modern; together with prophecies and predictions of things that have their certain accomplishment, both to the dread and amazement of enemies, and the comfort and solace of pilgrims9.

The next day they took him and had him into the armoury, where they shewed him all manner of furniture which their Lord had provided for pilgrims, as sword, shield, helmet, breastplate, all-prayer, and shoes that would not wear out. And there was here

9 The sacred Scriptures clearly shew the infinite willingness of the Lord to save the chief of sinners. The accomplishment of prophecies and promises displays the faithfulness of the Lord to his word; whereby the righteous are greatly encouraged, and the wicked are awfully warned. The former shall shine as the sun in the kingdom of their Father; but the latter shall go into ever. lasting misery.

Heb. xi. 33, 34.

The Rarities of the House Beautiful.

enough of this to harness out as many men, for the service of their Lord, as there be stars in the heavens for multitude.

They also shewed him some of the engines with which some of his servants had done wonderful things. They shewed him Moses's rod; the hammer and nail with which Jael slew Sisera; the pitchers, trumpets, and lamps too, with which Gideon put to flight the armies of Midian. Then they shewed him the ox's goad, wherewith Shamgar slew six hundred men. They shewed him also the jaw-bone with which Samson did such mighty feats: they shewed him moreover the sling and stone with which David slew Goliath of Gath; and the sword also with which their Lord will kill the man of sin, in the day that he shall rise up to the prey. They shewed him besides many excellent things, with which Christian was much delighted'. This done, they went to their rest again.

Then I saw in my dream, that on the morrow he got up to go forwards, but they desired him to stay till the next day also; and then, said they, we will, if the day be clear, shew you the Delectable Mountains; which, they said, would yet further add to his comfort, because they were nearer the desired haven than the place where at present he was; so he consented, and staid.

When the morning was up, they had him to the top of the house, and bid him look south: so he did; and, behold, at a great distance, he saw a most pleasant mountainous country, beautified with woods, vineyards, fruits of all sorts, flowers also, with springs

I

Contemplation on the things of old, recorded in the word of God, is a great help to a growth in faith; it animates hope, and » causeth the soul to press forward in the Christian race.

Christian is armed for his Journey.

and fountains, very delectable to behold. Then he asked the name of the country. They said, It is Emmanuel's Land; and it is as common, said they, as this hill is, to and for all the pilgrims. And when thou comest there, from thence thou mayest see to the gate of the Celestial City, as the shepherds that live there will make appear

24

Now he bethought himself of setting forward, and they were willing he should. But, first, said they, let us go again into the armoury. So they did; and when they came there they harnessed him from head to foot, with what was of proof, lest perhaps he should meet with assaults in the way. He being therefore thus accoutred3, walked out with his friends to the gate, and there he asked the Porter, if he saw any pilgrims pass by? Then the Porter answered, Yes.

CHR. Pray, did you know him?

POR. I asked his name, and he told me it was Faithful.

CHR. Oh, said Christian, I know him: he is my townsman, my near neighbour, he comes from the place where I was born: How far do you think he máy be before.

POR. He is got by this time below the hill,

CHR. Well, said Christian, good Porter, the Lord be with thee, and add to all thy blessings much increase, for the kindness that thou hast shewed to me 4.

Then he began to go forward; but Discretion,

2 All this is descriptive of those spiritual and experimental views which souls are favoured with, under the preaching of the word of grace, and in the ordinances of the church of Christ.

3 See what this Christian armour is, in Eph. vi. 13, &c.

4 Christians love the ministers of Christ, bless them, and pray for them, because the Lord hath made them useful to their souls, in edifying, comforting, and establishing them in the faith of his love, and the hope of his salvation.