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THE GLORY OF THE CITY.

Now I beheld in my dream, that they talked more in their sleep at this time than ever they did in all their journey; and, being in a muse thereabout, the gardener said even to me, "Wherefore musest thou at the matter?. It is the nature of the grapes of these vineyards, to go down so sweetly as to cause the lips of them that are asleep to speak.

So I saw that when they awoke, they addressed 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) (a) 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

* 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. O for a strong world-conquering, sin-subduing, death-overcoming faith, in life and death! Jesus, Master, speak the word, unbelief shall flee, our faith shall not fail, and our hope shall be steady.

(a) Rev. xxi. 18. 3 Cor. iii. 18,

CHRISTIAN ALMOST LOST IN THE RIVER. 241

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 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

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 them. selves, or what they have done and been? No; only the same Jesus who conquered death for us, and can 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 change the guiltless tomb.

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. O 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!

242

HOPEFUL ENCOURAGES CHRISTIAN.

before him. Also, he in a great measure lost his serises, 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 heart-fears 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 see the gate, and men standing by to receive us ;" but Christian would answer, "It is you, it is you they wait for; you have been "" you, Hopeful ever since I knew you." "And so have said he, to Christian. Ah, brother," said he, "surely if I was right, he would now rise to help me ; but for my sins he hath brought me into the snare, and hath left me." Then said Hopeful, "My brother, you have quite forgot the text, where it is said of the wicked, There are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm; they are not troubled as other men, neither are they plagued like other men." These troubles and distresses that you go through in these waters, are no sign that God hath forsaken you; but are sent to try

* 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 al-mighty to save them.