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Good. That mountain has been the death of many, and will be the death of many more: 'tis well you escaped being dafhed in pieces by it.

Chr. Why truly I do not know what would have become of me, had not Evangelift happily met me again as I was musing in the midst of my troubles. It was God's mercy that he came to me again, elfe I had never come hither. But I am come, fuch a one as I am, more fit indeed for death by that mountain, than thus to ftand talking with my Lord. Oh! what a favour is this, to be admitted here!

Good. We make no objections to any notwithftanding all they have done before they come hither, they are in no wife caft out. good Christian, come a little way with

Therefore, me, and I

Look be

will teach thee the way thou must go. fore thee; doft thou fee this narrow way? This is the way which thou must go. It was caft up by the Patriarchs, Prophets, Chrift and his Apoftles; and it is as ftrait as a rule can make it: this is the way thou must go.

Chr. But are there no turnings nor windings, by which a stranger may lofe his way?

Good. Yes, there are many ways which butt down upon this; and they are crooked and wide: but thus thou mayeft diftinguish the right from the wrong, the right only being ftrait and narrow.

Then I faw in my dream, that Christian asked him farther, If he could not help him off with the

burden.

burden that was upon his back? For as yet he had not got rid thereof, nor could he by any means get it off without help. He told him, as to his burden, to be content to bear it, until he came to the Place of Deliverance; and there it would fall from his back of itself. Then Christian began to gird up his loins, and address himself to his journey. The other told him, That at some distance from the gate he would come to the house of the Interpreter, at whose door he should knock, and he would fhew him excellent things.

Then Christian took his leave of his friend, and again bid him God fpeed.

He went on till he came to the house of the Interpreter, where he knocked again and again: at laft one came to the door, and afked, Who was there? Chriftian faid, Sir, here is a traveller, who was bid by an acquaintance of the good man of this houfe to call here for my profit: I would therefore speak with the mafter of the house. So he called for the master of the house; who, after a little time, came to Chriftian, and asked him what he would have? Sir, faid Chriftian, I am a man who am come from the city of Destruction, and am going to Mount Zion; and I was told by the man who stands at the

a Christian comes to the house of the Interpreter, where he has many mysterious reprefentations prefented to him. The Christian at this houfe is taught to look for the spiritual meaning, myftery, and accomplishment of the Scriptures, in himfelf and others.

gate,

gate, at the head of this way, that if I called here, you would fhew me excellent things, fuch as would be a help to me in my journey.

Then faid the Interpreter, Come in; I will fhew thee that which will be profitable to thee. So he commanded his man to light the candle, and bid Christian follow him. He then had him into a private room, and bid his man open a door: which when he had done, Chriftian faw the picture of a very grave person hanging up against the wall; and this was the fashion of it: He had eyes lifted up to heaven; the best of books in his hand; the law of

This picture represents a true minifter of the Lord Jefus Chrift. The Interpreter fhews Christian this picture first, because none but thofe, who are truly and experimentally taught of God themselves, can be of service to others. Many pretend to be ministers of Christ who are strangers to the law of truth, and to the glorious liberty of the fons of God: thefe may not only appear very fanctified and very religious, but may advance many glorious and bleffed truths, fo as, if poffible, to deceive the very elec. Our bleffed Lord has cautioned us against those who come crying out, "Lo here, and lo there:" he has bid us beware of wolves in sheep's clothing. St. Paul has described the false teachers in his day as those who defired to make a fair fhew in the flesh. These may seem to plead moft earnestly; may cry out moft vehemently against fin; and may weep over the fouls of men, as if they were made up of nothing else but candour and charity: yet, Mr. Hart fays, they

Deferve not a moment's regard,

But rather be boldly withstood,

If any thing, eafy or hard,

They preach, fave the Lamb and his blood.

truth

truth was written upon his lips; the world was be hind his back; He ftood as if he pleaded with men; and a crown of gold did hang over his head.

Chr. What meaneth this?

Inter. The man, whose picture this is, is One of a thousand; he can beget children; travel in birth with children; and nurse them himself when they are born. Whereas thou feeft him with his eyes lift up to heaven; the best of books in his hand; and the law of truth written on his lips; this is to fhew thee, that his work is to know and unfold dark things to finners: alfo thou seeft him stand as if he pleaded with men; and whereas thou feeft the world as caft behind him, and a crown hangs over his head; this is to fhew thee, that, flighting and defpifing the things which are prefent, for the love which he hath to his master's fervice, he is fure, in the world to come, to have glory for his reward.

Now, faid the Interpreter, I have fhewed thee this picture first, because the man, whose picture this is, is the only man whom the Lord of the place, whither thou art going, hath authorised to be thy guide in all the difficult places which thou mayest meet with in the way: wherefore take good heed to what I have fhewed thee, and bear well in thy mind what thou haft feen; left in thy journey thou meet with fome who may pretend to lead thee right, but their way goes down to death.

He then took him by the hand, and led him into a very large parlour which was full of duft, because

never

never fwept: which, after he had reviewed it a little while, the Interpreter called for a man to sweep.Now, when he began to fweep, the dust began abundantly to fly about, fo that Chriftian was almost choked with it. Then faid the Interpreter to a damfel that stood by, Bring hither the water, and fprinkle the room: which when she had done, it was fwept and cleansed with pleasure.-Then, faid Christian, What means this?-The Interpreter anfwered, This parlour is the heart of a man never fanctified by the sweet grace of the gofpel; the duft is his original fin, and the inward corruptions which have defiled the whole man. He, who began to fweep at first, is the law; but she who brought water, and did sprinkle it, is the gospel. Whereas thou faweft that, as foon as the first began to fweep, the duft did fo fly about, that the room could not be cleanfed by him; but that thou waft almost choked therewith; this is to fhew thee, that the law, instead of cleanfing the heart from fin, by its working, doth revive it, put strength into it, and increase it in the foul: it doth likewife discover and forbid it, but it doth not give power to fubdue it. Again, Thou faweft the damfel fprinkle the room with water, upon which it was cleansed with pleasure; this is to fhew

c Chriftian is next fhewn the difference between law and gofpel. Unless you can diftinguifh one from the other, by their different effects upon the heart and confcience, you will never clearly understand the fcriptures, and you will be like children, toffed to and fro with every wind of doctrine.

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