Then faid Evangelift, If this be thy Condition, Why ftandeft thou ftill? He anfwered, Because I know not whither to Conviction go. Then he gave him a * Parchment Roll, of the Neceffi and there was written within, + Fly from ty of Flying the wrath to come. + Matth. 3.7. 14. 105. The Man therefore read it, and looking upon Evangelift very carefully, faid, Whither must I By? Then faid Evangelift, pointing with his Finger over a very wide ↑ Mat. 7. 13. Field, Do you see yonder ‡ Wicket-Gate? The Man faid, No: Then, faid the || Pfal. 119. other, Do you fee yonder || Shining Light? He faid, I think I do. Then faid Evan2 Pet. 1. 19. gelift, Keep that Light in your Eye, and Chrift, and theWayto bim, go up directly thereto, fo fhalt thou fee cannot be found the Gate; at which, when thou knockest, without the it fhall be told thee what thou shalt do. Word. So I faw in my Dream that the Man began to run; Now he had not run far from his own Door, but his Wife and Children perceiving it, began to cry after him to Luke 14.26. return; but the Man put his Fingers in § his Ears, and ran on crying, Life! Life! Eternal Life! So he looked not behind him, *Gen. 19. 17. * but fled towards the Middle of the Plain. + Jer. 20. 10. The Neighbours alfo came out to + fee. They that fy him run, and as he ran fome mocked, from the Wrath others threatened, and fome cried after to come are à Gazing Stock him to return; and among those that did to the World. fo Chriftian no Sooner leaves the world, but meets With Tidings of another: And doth fhews Him bow to mount to that from this below. a Obftinate follow bim. fo, there were two that were refolved to fetch him back by force. The Name of the one was Obftinate, and the Name of the other Pliable. Now by this Time the Man was got a good Distance from them; but however they were refolved to pursue him, which they did, and in a little Time they overtook him. Then said the Man, Neighbours, Wherefore are ye come? They faid, To perfuade you to go back with us; but he faid, That can by no Means be: You dwell (faid he) in the City of Destruction, (the Place also where I was born) I fee it to be fo: And dying there, fooner or later, you will fink lower than the Grave, into a Place that burns with Fire and Brimftone: Be content, good Neighbours, and go along with me. ле + What, faid Obftinate, and leave our + Obftinate. Friends and our Comforts behind us! Yes, faid Chriftian (for that was his Chriftian. Name) because that All which you shall for fake, is not worthy to be compared with a || Cor. 4. 18. little of that, that I am feeking to enjoy ; and if you will go along with me, and bold it, you fhall fare as I myfelf; for there where I go, is enough and to fpare; come § Luke 15.17. away, and prove my Words. Obft. What are the Things you seek, fince you leave all the World to find them? Chr. I feek an * Inheritance incorruptible, 1Pet. 1. 4. undefiled, and that fadeth not away: And it is laid up in Heaven, + and fafe there, to + Heb.11.16. be bestowed, at the Time appointed, on B 3 them them that diligently feek it. Read it fo, Obft. Tufh, faid Obftinate, away with your Book: Will you go back with us, or no ? Chr. No, not I, faid the other; be* Luke 9, 62. cause I have laid my Hand to the * Plough. Obft. Come then, Neighbour Pliable, let us turn again, and go home without him: There is a Company of these crazyheaded Coxcombs, that when they take a Fancy by the End, are wifer in their own Eyes than feven Men that can render á Reason. Pli. Then faid Pliable, do not revile; if what the good Chriftian fays is true, the Things he looks after are better than ours'; my Heart inclines to go with my Neighbour. Obft. What! more Fools ftill? Be ruled by me, and go back; who knows whither fuch a Brain-fick Fellow will lead you? Go back, go back, and be wife. + Chriftian Chr. Nay, but do thou + come with thy and Obftinate Neighbour Pliable; there are fuch Things pull for Pliato be had which I fpoke of, and many ble's Soul. more Glories befides; if you believe not me, read here in this Book, and for the Truth of what is expreffed therein, behold 1 Heb. 9. 17. all is confirmed by the Blood of him 18,19,20,21. that made it. Pliable con fented to go Pli. Well, Neighbour Obftinate, (faith Pliable) I begin to come to a Point, 1 inquith Chrifti- tend to go along with this good Man, and to caft in my Lot with him; but, my good Companion, do you know the Way to this defired Place? an. Chr. |