Hopeful. Now, since we are talking about him, let us a little inquire into the reason of the sudden backsliding of him and some others.

Christian. It may be very profitable; but do you begin.

ous to them; they like not to see their misery before they come into it; though perhaps the sight of it first, if they loved that sight, might make them flee whither the righteous flee and are safe; but because they do as I hinted before, even shun the thoughts of guilt and

1. Though the consciences of such men are awakened, yet their minds are not changed: therefore, when the power of guilt weareth away, that which provoketh them to be religious ceaseth: wherefore they naturally return to their old course again; even as we see the dog that is sick of what he has eaten, so long as his sickness prevails he vomits and casts up all: not that he doeth this of free mind, (if we must say a dog hath a mind,) but because it troubleth his stomach; but now, when his sickness is over, and so his stomach eased, his desires being not at all alienated from his vomit, he turns him about, and licks up all; and so is it true which is written, "The dog is turned to his own vomit again." 2 Pet. ii. 22. Thus, I say, being hot for heaven, by virtue only of the sense and fear of the torments of hell, as their sense of hell and fear of damnation chills and cools, so their desires for heaven and salvation cool also. So then it comes to pass, that when their guilt and fear is gone, their desires for heaven and happiness die, and they return to their course again.*

2. Another reason is, they have slavish fears that do overmaster them: I speak now of the fears that they have of men; "for the fear of man bringeth a snare." Prov. xxix. 25. So then, though they seem to be hot for heaven so long as the flames of hell are about their ears, yet, when that terror is a little over, they betake themselves to second thoughts, namely, that it is good to be wise, and not to run (for they know not what) the hazard of losing all, or at least of bringing themselves into unavoidable and unnecessary troubles: and so they fail in with the world again.

3. The shame that attends religion lies also as a block in their way: they are proud and haughty, and religion in their eye is low and contemptible: therefore when they have lost their sense of hell and wrath to come, they return again to their former course.

4. Guilt, and to meditate terror, are griev

their awakenings about the terrors and wrath of God, they harden their hearts gladly, and choose such ways as will harden them more and more.

Christian. You are pretty near the business; for the bottom of all is, for want of a change in their mind and will. And therefore they are but like the felon that standeth before the judge; he quakes and trembles, and seems to repent most heartily: but the bottom of all is, the fear of the halter; not that he hath any detestation of the offence; as is evident, because, let but this man have his liberty, and he will be a thief, and so a rogue still; whereas, if his mind was changed he would be otherwise.

Hopeful. Now I have showed you the reasons of their going back, do you show me the manner thereof.

Christian. So I will willingly. They draw off their thoughts, all that they may, from the remembrance of God, death, and judgment to come:-then they cast off by degrees private duties, as closet-prayer, curbing their lusts, watching, sorrow for sin, &c.;-then they shun the company of lively and warm Christians;after that they grow cold to public duty; as hearing, reading, godly conference, and the like; then they begin to pick holes, as we say, in the coats of some of the godly, and that devilishly, that they may have a seeming colour to throw religion (for the sake of some infirmities they have spied in them) behind their back;-then they begin to adhere to, and associate themselves with carnal, loose, and wanton men;-then they give way to carnal and wanton discourses in secret; and glad are they if they can see such things in any that are counted honest, that they may the more boldly do it through their example; after this, they begin to play with little sins openly: and then, being hardened, they show themselves as they are. Thus being launched again into the gulf of misery, unless a miracle of grace prevent it, they everlastingly perish in their own deceivings.†

It begins in the unbelief of the heart, and ends in open sins in the life. Why is the love of this world so forbidden? why is covetousness called idolatry? Because whatever draws away the heart from God,

dressed themselves to go up to the city. But, as I said, the reflection of the sun upon the city, for the city was pure gold, (Rev. xxi. 18; 2 Cor. iii. 18,) was so extremely glorious, that they could not as yet with open face behold it, but through an instrument made for that purpose. So I saw that as they went on there met them two men in raiment that shone like gold, also their faces shone as the light.

These men asked the pilgrims whence they came? and they told them. They also asked them where they had lodged, what difficulties and dangers, what comforts and pleasures, they had met with in the way? and they told them. Then said the men that met them, "You have but two difficulties more to meet with and then you are in the city."*

Christian then and his companion asked the men to go along with them: so they told them they would: But, said they, you must obtain it by your own faith. So I saw in my dream that they went on together till they came in sight of the gate.

Now I further saw, that betwixt them and the gate was a river; but there was no bridge to go over: the river was very deep. At the sight therefore of this river, the pilgrims were much stunned; but the men that went with them, said, "You must go through, or you cannot come at the gate."†

The pilgrims then began to inquire, if there was no other way to the gate? to which they answered, "Yes; but there hath not any, save two, to wit, Enoch and Elijah, been permitted to tread that path, since the foundation of the world, nor shall until the last trumpet shall sound." The pilgrims then (especially Christian) began to despond in their minds, and looked this way and that, but no way could be

What are these two difficulties? are they not death without, and unbelief within? It is through the latter that the former is at all distressing to us. Oh for afrong world-conquering, sin-subduing, death-overcoming faith, in life and death! Jesus, Master, speak the worl, unbelief shall flee, our faith shall not fail, and our hope shall be steady.

Well, now the pilgrims must meet with, and encounter their last enemy, death. When he stares them in the face, their fears arise. Through the river they must go. What have they to look at? what they are in themselves, or what they have done and been? No; only the same Jesus who conquered death for us, and an and will overcome the fear of death in us.

Faith builds a bridge across the gulf of death;
Death's terror is the mountain faith removes,
'Tis faith disarms destruction; and absolves
From every clamorous charge the guiltless tomb.

found by them, by which they might escape the river. Then they asked the men, "If the waters were all of a depth?" they said, "No;" yet they could not help them in that case; "For (said they) you shall find it deeper or shallower, as you believe in the King of the place."

They then addressed themselves to the water, and entering, Christian began to sink, and crying out to his good friend Hopeful, he said, “I sink in deep waters; billows go over my head, all his waves go over me. Selah."

Then said the other, "Be of good cheer, my brother, I feel the bottom, and it is good." Then said Christian, "Ah! my friend, the sorrow of death hath compassed me about, I shall not see the land that flows with milk and honey." And with that a great darkness and horror fell upon Christian, so that he could not see before him. Also he in a great measure lost his senses, so that he could neither remember nor orderly talk of any of those sweet refreshments that he had met with in the way of his pilgrimage. But all the words that he spake still tended to discover that he had horror of mind, and heartfears that he should die in that river, and never obtain entrance in at the gate. Here also, as they that stood by perceived, he was much in the troublesome thoughts of the sins that he had committed, both since and before he began to be a pilgrim. It was also observed, that he was troubled with apparitions of hobgoblins and evil spirits; for ever and anon he would intimate so much by words. Hopeful therefore here had much ado to keep his brother's head above water; yea, sometimes he would be quite gone down, and then, ere a while, would rise up again half dead. Hopeful did also endeavour to comfort him, saying, "Brother, I

For faith views, trusts in, and relies upon, the word of Christ, for salvation in the victory of Christ over sin, death and hell. Therefore, in every thing we shall always prove the truth of our Lord's words, "According to your faith be it unto you." Matt. ix. 29. Oh what support in death, to have Jesus our triumphant conqueror to look unto, who has disarmed death of his sting, and swallowed up death in his victory!

What! after all the past blessed experience that Christian had enjoyed of his Lord's peace, love, joy, and presence with him, his holy transports and heavenly consolations, is all come to this at last? You know "the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." 1 Cor. xv. 26. Satan is sometimes suffered to be very busy with God's people in their last moments, but he too, like death, is a conquered enemy by our Jesus: therefore amidst all his attacks, they are safe. For he is faithful to them, and almighty to save them.