000 THE Pilgrim's Progress: IN THE SIMILITUDE OF A DRE A M. SI walked through the Wilder- Place to fleep: And as I flept, I dreamed with a lamentable Cry, faying, What His Outcry. fball I do? Acts 2.37. In this Plight therefore he went Home, and refrained himfelf as long as he could, that his Wife and Children thould not perceive his Diftrefs; but he could not be filent long, becaufe that his Trouble increased: Wherefore at length he brake his Mind to his Wife and Children; and thus he began to talk to them: 0 my dear Wife, faid he, and you the Children of my Bowels, 1 your dear Friend am in myself undone, by Reafon of a Burden that lieth hard upon me Moreover, I am certainly informed, * This World. that this our City will be burned with Fire from Heaven: In which fearful Overthrow, both myfelf, with thee my Wife, and you my fweet Babes, fball miferably come to Ruin, + He knew no except (the which yet I fee not) fome Way of Way of Escape Escape may be found, whereby we may be as jet. delivered. At this his Relations were fore amazed; not for that they believed that what he had faid to them was true, but because they thought fome Frenzy Diftemper had got into his Head; therefore it drawing towards Night, and they hoping that Sleep might fettle his Brains, with all Hafte they got him to Bed: But the Night was as trouble fome to him as the Day; wherefore, instead of Sleeping, he spent it in Sighs and Tears. So when the Morning was come, they would know how de did; he told them worfe and worfe; he alfo fet to talking to them again, but Carnal Phy- they began to be hardened. They also fic for a fick thought to drive away his Diftemper by harth and furly Carriage to him: Sometimes they would deride, fometimes they would chide, and fometimes they would Soul. quite neglect him. Wherefore he began to retire himself to his Chamber, to pray for and pity them; and alfo to condolé his own Mifery: He would also walk folitarily in the Fields, fometimes Reading, and fometimes Praying; and thus for fome Days he spent his Time. Now I faw, upon a Time, when he was walking in the Fields, that he was (as he was wont) reading in his Book, and greatly diftreffed in his Mind; and as he read, he burst out, as he had done before, crying, *What shall I do to be faved? *Acts 16. I faw alfo that he looked this Way, and 30, 31. T that Way, as if he would run; yet he ftood ftill, becaufe (as I perceived) he could not tell which Way to go. I looked then, and saw a Man named Evangelift coming to him, and asked, Wherefore doft thou cry? + Heb 9,27. t He answered, Sir, I perceive, by the Book in my Hand, that I am condemned to + die, and after that to come to Judg+ Job. 16.21, ment and I find that I am not wil; ling to do the Firft, nor able to do the | Ezek. 22. Second, Then faid Evangelist, 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. And, Sir, 22. 14. if I be not fit to go to Prifon, I am not § Ifa. 30. 33. fit to go to Judgment, and from thence to Execution; and the Thoughts of these Things make me cry. Then faid Evangelift, If this be thy Condition, Why ftandeft thou ftill? He anfwered, Because I know not whither to Convidion 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. 2 Pet. 1. 19. 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, said the Pfal. 119. other, Do you fee yonder | Shining Light? He faid, I think I do. Then faid EvanChrift, and gelift, Keep that Light in your Eye, 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. + Jer. 20. 10, but fled towards the Middle of the Plain. 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 fooner leaves the world, but meets With Tidings of another: And doth shews Him bow to mount to that from this below. |