Cut did you 1 are cast out," (John vi. 27; and fore spodeli Oh! dil he light upon you? and I will teach thee about the way thou Good : %. That mountain his been the death of any, and will be the death of many lis "e. It is well you escaped being dashed in pieces Ly it. Chidian, Why, truly, I do not know what had is come of me there, had not Evangelist bay poly post me aga'n as I was mu-ing in the most of my dumps; but it was God's mercy | that he came to me ag in, for else I had never come hither. But now I am come, such a one As I am, more fit indeed for death by that mon than thus to stand talking with my Io d. But, ch! what a favour is this to me, t.st yet I am admitted entrance here † Gd. We make no objections against any, standing all that they have done beton: they come hither. "They in no wise to lellever to triau pa in his righteousness and * Tajch Jerus krows what is in man, and all his way, yet he wi! bring the soul to confession unto See the loving Leart of Christ to sinpers, and the free crimeations he admits them to with himselt. Oy people, pour out your hearts before hir God is a refuge for us. Ps. Ixii. 8. It is a de sign of a genuine work of grace, when the heart averis to graet. Here is no aser'bing any Thing to his own w dom or power; but his e-cape hon des, uction, and be ng yet in the way of salva hica, are wholly re-lved into the grace of the Gospel, the mercy of God, and 'r his free favour, an i eluighty It is sweet to converse with Jesus, of his free power. genes to wretched and unworthy sinaers. Do not you find it so Christian is afraid of losing his way; a blessed sgr of a gracious heart, when it possesses godly jealous v. Christian, bing a twitted at the strait gate, is di- | rested in Le narrow way. In the broad road every man may choose a path suited to his incinations, sh it About to avoid difficulties, or accommodate himself to circumstapes; and be will be sare of company agreea le to his ple. Put Christiars must follow one another, in the narrow way along the same track, surmuntlig difi ulies, facing ems, and bearing hardships, without any room to trade them: nor is re given to iifferent tastes, habits, or Projansitis. It is therefore a spritened, or as seme render the word, an offlicted way- being inded an | there n turn scan B aid Christian,ta windings, by which a strangery ny loss how ! Good-will. Yes, there are me” was butt down upon this, and they are crooked and wise; but thus thou must distrauish the right from the wrong, the right only being tat s00 narrow. Matt. vii. 13, 14. Then I saw in my dream that Clrsoon. 'n further, if he could not help bian of! with the bur len that was upon his bat ; it as yet he had not got rid the reof, nor could higrama means get it off without help. He told him, As to thy burden, be content to bear it until thou comes to the prc of deliverance; for there it will fall from ty ogch of itself. Then Christian began to gird up his lens and to address himself to his journey. S, the habitual course of repentance, saith, love, sen deist, patience; in a word, a full coloririty to God, according to the Se. ptures. Christ einse f the way, by which we com to L. 1. living faith which works by love, we way of his steps." This path is ko'ch posed to the crooked ways of men; for it consis8 in an uniterm regard to piety, inte, ity, sincerty, and ¦ kindness, at a distance from all the bypoor sies, – and artificca, by which argdiy men wird ab aved detection, keen up their 1 show or impore on themselves. The qurta is bat e i thịt 1⁄41 him that by that he was gone some Jene from the gate he would come at the - house of the Internet 1, at whose door he should knock, and he would show him excel ient things. Then Christian took his leave of his friend, and he again bid hil. God speed, CHAPTER Christian delightfully entertained at the Interpreter's house. TN Chastian went on till he came to the Puse of the Interpreter, where he knocked end wer; at last one came to the door and askow w I was there? Crist. Sir, here is a traveller, who was hid by an aquaintance of the good man of this to call here for my profit; I would thereze speak with, the master of the house. So he 26 for the master of the house, who after a 12 came to Christian, and asked him val, word have? ud Cristian, I am a man that am come fou the eity of Destruction, and am going to the Mount Sion, and I was told by the n an fastands at the gate at the head of this way, I called here you would show me excelke this, such as would be a help to me in Ta said the Interpreter, Come in; I will show thee that which will be profitable to thee.† She coruanded's mant to light a canolle, and bil Christian to follow hien: so he had him in a plate room, and bid his man open a the which win he had done Christian TV "Lo pichưa on a very grave person hang ap e wall; and this was the fashion of it had eyes Nited up to heaven, the best its in its hand, the law of truth was writnon its lips, the world was behind its let stood as if it pleaded with men, and 5 rown of gold did hang over its head.” Then said Christian, What mean th this? Interpreter. The man whose picture this is, is one of a thousand; he can beget children, 1 Cor. iv. 15,) travail in birth with children, (Cal iv. 19,) and nurse them himself when they, aro born. And whereas thon se st him with is cyes lifted up to heaven, the best of books in his hand, and the law of truth written oa Lis lips; it is to show thee that his work is to know and unfold dark things to sinners; even as alo thou seest him stand as if he pleaded with men; and whereas thou see at the world as east behind him, and that a crown hangs over his head; that is to show thee, that slighing and despising the things that are present, for che love that he hath to his Master's service, he is sure in the world that comes next to have glony for his reward. Now, said the Interpreter, I have showed 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 authorized to be thy guide, in all difficult places thou mayest meet with in the way; wherefore take good heed to what I have showed thee, and bear well in thy mind what thou hast seen; lest in thy journey thou met with some that pretend to lead thee right, but their way goes down to death.', Then he took him by the hand, and led him into a very large parlour that was full of dr.t, because never swept; the which, after he d reviewed a little while, the Interpreter calicd preaching the everlasting Gospel, he is one who despises the world, is dead to its pleasures and joys; bie chief aim is to exalt and glorify the Lord Jesus, his atoning blood, justifying righteousness, and finishing salvation; and his greatest glory is to bring sinners to Christ, to point him out as the one way to thin, and to edify and build up saints in him. Ent there are many who profess to do this, yet turn poor sinners out of the way, and point them to a righteousness of their own for justification, in whole or in part. Of the e the Spirit teaches us to beware; the former, he leads and directs souls to love and esteem him highly for their labours and faith in the Lord, and real for his hoacerand glory and for the salvation of soals. Tie heed what you hear. Mark iv. 24. for a man to sweep. Now when he began to sweep, the dust bean so abundantly to fly alout, that Christian had almost there with been choked. Then said the Interpreter to a damsel that stood by, Bring hither water and sprinkle the room; the which when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with pleasure. Then said Christian, What means this? The Interpreter answered, This parlour is the heart of a man that was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the Gospel; the dust is his original sin and inward corruptions, that have de filed the whole man. He that beg, n to sweep at first is the lew; but she that brought water And did sprinkle it is the Gospel. Now whereas thou sawest that, so soon as the fast began to sweep, the dust did so fly about, that the room. by him could not be cleansed, but that I'm wast abost choked therewith; this is to show thee, that the law, instead of cleansing the heart, by its working, from sin, doth revive, put strength into, and increase it in the soul, even as it doth discove, and forbid it; for it doth not give power to subdue it. Rom. v. 29; vii. 7, 11; 1 Cor. xv. 56. Christian asked, What is the r " of the Then I saw that one came to Pa 1 The said Christian to the Internrster, Expound his matter more fully to me. Solaid, These two lads are for ther 'l nex sion, of the men of this world; and Pavers, of the max of that which is to ecma For here!1 scest Passion vill have ad now year, that is to say, in this world; so are te ren of this world they must have good things now, they cannot s«, year-that is, until 1) - net wor'l, | po" ion of good. That proverb, | the hailsworth two in the bush," authority with them than are all tl testimonics of the good of the wid i 4 AL But as thou sewest that he had quickly but rags; so will it be with a'! .u d of this world.† A „a1n as thou say ost the damsel sprinkle the room with water, upon which it was cleanseu vithi hasure; this is to show thee, “at when the Gospel comes in the sweet and procon ball away, and had pre my left bin, 17tou. flaches thereof to the heart, then, I say, ever is thou sawest the damsel hy the dust by sprinking the floor with water, so is sin va is quished and subdu 1, and the soul ma le cles » through the faith of it, an 1 con-ecently fit for the King of Glory to inhabit. John xiv. 2., 20; av. 8; Auis xv. 9; Rom. xvi. 25, 26; Ey h. Y. 26. I saw moreover, in my dream, that t» Ir terpreter took him by the hand, allad him ictò a little room where sat tv o little e' ildren, vach one in his chair. The new of the'd t was Passion, and the nane of the other Patience. Passion seemed to be much dis op tented but Patience was very quiet. Then you Now judge by this, whether you are deri law, or the Gospel, Have you ever found in y what is Lere described? 1st. Of the law, nove eve: feit your lusts and corruptions irritated and male to abound in you, as to your perception and & 1. ng by the commandines' working in you ai1 54.1 of encupiscence? for without the law i wad. 1 Rom. vii. 8. Has the application of the law to your | conse care made sin to revive in you, so as that you ded to all your former hopes of being just í elby your obcquer, e to the law? i no* you are yet dead in sia sie ave to legal hopes and van confien. Bit f hgh the law you become dead to the raw, hớ. the its time to come; but last gives place to nothing, for there is not another to succeed: he, therefore, that hath his portion first must needs have a time to spend it; but he that has his portion last must have it lastingly; therefore it is said of Dives, "In thy lifetime thou receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented." Luke xiv. 19, 31. Christian. Then I perceive it is not best to covet things that are now, but to wait for things to come. Interpreter. You say truth; "For the things that are seen are temporal; but the things that are not seen are eternal," (2 Cor. iv. 18;) but, though this be so, yet since things present and our fleshly appetite are such near neighbours one to another; and again, because things to come and carnal sense are such strangers one. to another; therefore it is that the first of these so suddenly fall into amity, and that distance is 80 continually between the second.* Then I saw in my dream that the Interpreter took Christian by the hand, and led him into a place where was a fire burning against a wall, and one standing by it always casting much water upon it to quench it; yet did the fire burn higher and hotter. Then said Christian, What means this? The Interpreter answered, This fire is the work of grace that is wrought in the heart; he that casts water upon it to extinguish and put it out, is the Devil; but in that thou seest the fire notwithstanding burn higher and hotter, thou shalt also see the reason of that. So he had him about to the back side of the wall, where he saw a man with a vessel of oil in his hand, of which he did also continually cast, but secretly, into the fire. Then said Christian, What means this? The Interpreter answered, This is Christ, who continually with the oil of his grace maintains the work already begun in the heart; by the means of which, notwithstanding what the Devil can do, the souls of his people prove gra Here see the preciousness and glory of faith; it causeth the soul to make a proper estimate, and set a due vale on things; it pierceth through the objects of time and sense, and fixes upon glory and eternity. This is the proper character of every heaven-bor soul; the just shall live by faith. Heb. ii. 4. This is a life of heaven upon earth. It is plain Mr. Bunyan did not ascribe that glory to the work and power of the creature, which is due solely to the Lord, who is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginner, the Carrier on, and cious still. 2 Cor. xii. 9. And in that thou sawest that the man stood behind the wall to maintain the fire; this is to teach thee that it is hard for the tempted to see how this work of grace is maintained in the soul.† I saw also, that the Interpreter took him again by the hand, and led him into a pleasant place, where was builded a stately palace, beautiful to behold; at the sight of which Christian was greatly delighted; he saw also upon the top thereof certain persons walking, who were clothed all in gold. Then said Christian, May we go in thither? Then the Interpreter took him, and led him up towards the door of the palace; and behold, at the door stood a great company of men, as desirous to go in, but durst not. There also satman at a little distance from the door, at a table side, with a book and his inkhorn before him, to take the name of him that should enter therein; he saw also that in the doorway stood many men in armour to keep it, being resolved to do to the men that would enter what hurt and mischief they could. Now was Christian somewhat in amaze; at last, when every man started back for fear of the armed men, Christian saw a man of a very stout countenance come up to the man that sat there, saying, "Set down my name, sir;' the which when he had done, he saw the man draw his sword, and put an helmet upon his head, and rush toward the door upon the armed men, who laid upon him with deadly force; but the man was not at all discouraged, but fell to cutting and hacking most fiercely. So after he had received and given many wounds to those that attempted to keep him out, he cut his way through them all and pressed forward into the palace; at which there was a pleasant voice heard from those that were within, even of those that walked upon the top of the palace, saying, "Come in, come in; Eternal glory thou shalt win." So he went in, and was clothed with such gar Finisher of his work in sinners' hearts; and never can his work be extingnished there, till Satan's water is more powerful to quench, than Christ's oil and grace are to keep the fire burning. The instruction especially inculcated by this emblem is an entire reliance on the secret but powerful influence of divine grace, to maintain and carry on the sanctifying work that has been begun in the soul. We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Acts xiv. 22. CHAPTER VI. Christian loses his burden at the cross. Now I saw in my dream, that the highway, up which Christian was to go, was fenced on either side with a wall, and that wall was called Salvation. Isa. xxvi. 1. Up this way therefore did burdened Christian run, but not without great difficulty, because of the load on his back.* He ran thus till he came at a place somewhat ascending, and upon that place stood a Cross and a little below, in the bottom, a Sepulchre. So I saw in my dream, that just as Christian came up with the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulder, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre, where it fell in, and I saw it no more. Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said with a merry heart, "He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his death." Then he stood still awhile to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him, that the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his burden. He looked, therefore, and looked again, * Our uphill difficulty is the way to the greatest comforts. Burdens are more felt when comforts are near at hand. Christian had faith; he believed that there was redemption in the blood of Christ, even forgiveness of sins, before he came up to the cross, but now he finds and feels the comfort of it: He has now the joy of faith, the guilt of his sins is taken off his conscience, and he is filled with joy and peace in believing. You who believe Christ to be the only Saviour, go on believing till you experience the comfort of knowing that he is your Saviour, and feel pardon in his blood; for when God releases us of our guilt and burden, we are as those that leap for joy; but you cannot have this till you come to the cross, and rest all your hopes upon it. Here is the love and grace of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Pray mind; when God pardons the sinner through the blood of Christ, he also clothes him with the righteousness of Christ. Those who deny Christ's righteousness, never saw the purity of the aw, their own nakedness, nor abhorred even till the springs that were in his head sent the waters down his cheeks. Zech. xii. 10. Now as he stood looking and weeping, behold three shining ones came to him, and saluted him with, "Peace be to thee:" so the first said to him, "Thy sins be forgiven thee,” (Mark ii. 5;) the second stripped him of his rags and clothed him with a change of raiment; the third also set a mark on his forehead, and gave him a roll with a seal upon it, (Zech. iii. 4; Eph. i. 13,) which he bid him look on as he ran, and that he should give it in at the celestial gate; so they went their way. Then Christian gave three leaps for joy, and went on singing: "Thus far did I come laden with my sin, Nor could aught ease the grief that I was in, The the filthy rags of their own righteousness. author's uniform doctrine sufficiently shows, that he considered spiritual apprehensions of the nature of the atonement as the only source of genuine peace and comfort. And as the "mark in the forehead" plainly signifies the renewal of the soul to holiness, so that the mind of Christ may appear in the outward conduct, connected with an open profession of faith, while the roll with a seal upon it, denotes such an aşsurance of acceptance, as appears most clear and satisfactory, when the believer most attentively compares his views, experiences, desires, and purposes, with the Holy Scriptures, so he could not possibly intend to ascribe such effects to any other agent than the Holy Spirit, who, by enabling a man to exercise all filial affections towards God in an enlarged degree, as the "Spirit of adoption bears witness" with his conscience that God is reconciled to him, having pardoned all his sins; that he is justified by faith, through the blood of Christ; and that he is a child of God, and an heir of heaven. These things are clear and intelligible to those who have experienced this happy change. |