Ex Libris r C. K. OGDEN I THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES ' o f) f~~~~ , (' na4at t c0f/t * r> o* PILGRIMS P Msi* SCOTT, PART i . PR PREFACE. 1 UK high estimation, in which the PILGRIM'S PROGRESS has been held for much above a century, sufficiently evinces it* in- trinsick value: and there is every reason to suppose, that it will lie ivad with admiration and advan; e| to come, probably till the consummation of all tiling. Tin- pious Christian, in proportion to " his growth in grace, and " in the knowledge of Jesus Christ," derive- more and more in- struction from repeated perusals of this remarkable book; while his enlaced experience and extended observation enable him to unfold, with progressive evidence, the meaning of the agr- similitude employed b\ its ingenious author: and even the care- less reader is fascinated to attention, by the- simple and artle manner in which the interesting narrati\e is arranged. Vu should this be represented a^ mere amust-ment, for it has l>et n nbs-r\cd, bv men of ijreat disr-rnment and ac(|iiaintance with the human mind, that young per-oiis, ha\ ing f)eru//*?. PREFACE. Rirere the man, whose PILGRIM marh the road J>i'/ guides the PROGRESS of the soul to God. "fwerf well with most if books, that eould engage 'I 'heir childhood, picas' d them at a riper age; The man approving what had charni'd the boy, Would die at last in comfort, pcaee, and joy, And not with curses on his art who stole The gem of truth from his unguarded soul.' COWPER, TIROCIMtTM, V. In respect of this edition of the PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, it may be proper to observe, that it has become general to publish every approved work, in such a style of elegance, and with such deco- rations, as may recommend it to a place in the collections of the curious and affluent; and thus atti-act the notice of those who would perhaps otherwise have overlooked it It was therefore thought, that something of this kind might properly be attempted, in respect of this excellent work; provided k were accompanied with original explanatory notes. Several persons have indeed al- ready favoured tliepublick with illustrations of this kind: but the editor, on mature deliberation, did not think himself precluded by this consideration from communicating his- sentiments on a favour- ite book, according to a plan he had formed in his own mind. Every man who thinks for himself has his own views of a subject, which often vary, more or k>ss, from the sentiments of others, whom he nevertheless esteems and loves with great cordiality: and the great Head of the church lias entrusted different talents to his servants, to qualify them for usefulness among distinct descriptions of per- sons. It is indeed incontrovertible, that some men will receive the great truths of Christianity with candour and docility, when ex- hibited in'a style and manner suited to their peculiar taste, who- disregard and reject them, when conveyed in language which num- bers, perhaps justly, think far more interesting and affecting. It need not, therefore, be apprehended, that the labours of different writers on the same subject should materially interfere with each, other: rather we may indulge an hope, that, as far as they accord to the standard of divine truth, they will, in different circles, pro- mote the common cause of vital godliness. PRF.FAC I . V The editor'- aim/- in tin- attempt to elucidate the PlLGl|l'i , i-. f" nive a brief key to the grand outlines ul' the al- \, from which the a-tteutivc reader mav obtain a general idea of the author's design; to bestow more paias ui lixJiig the ] , meaning of those parts, which might mo-r perplex the enquirer, and v.hich seem to Jia\e mo-t escaped the notice, or divided tin timcnt-, ot expositors; to state aud c-tub!Mi, conipcndion-l\ but clearly, thox 1 doctrinal, practical, and cxperitueoiaj i.c\\- of Chris- tianity, \\hicli -Mr. limnan meant to.a\e\ ; to jiiiard tbeju care- fully from those extremes and perversions which 1** iwxer :'K\ but which too frequently inc reuse men's prejudices a<^ai|iil them; to delineate the more prominent Iv-atures (.f his \ari> us c h;i; .1 \\i;ii a s|n-cial reference to 'the present state of religious pnii- distinguishing accurately \\hat he approses, from the defect - of true jiiliinms; and in line, to i\e as ju>t n n-prest-nlatioii, us may he, of the author'- -enliiucnts t-ur.ceiMiini; the n^lit a\ I< In ;uen, ami of the main fal-e \\y\s and hy-paths, \\!iioh pn.>e i;i- jurious to all who venture into them, und fatal to unuuinbered multitudes. In executing this plan, no information that the editor could procure ha- been neglected; but hi- d >cs not in\arial>ly ad- the >entinient- of any man: and \\hile his dependence is placed, a, he hopes, on the promised teaching of l!ie Holy Spirit, he doc- not tliink himself authorixed to spare any pains in en- deavouring to render the publication acceptable and useful. The t-\t i- printed, a- it -lands in the oldest edition-, which may be -uppo-ed to contain the author's oun terms, \\hich later editor- hu\e frequently modernized. A few ob-olrte -ic.d \\onls, and unusual phra-e-, MVIII to In-come tin character of the. Pilgrim; and thes are often more cmphalical tliun any which can be sti!>-tituted in their Mead. Some c\cej.ti<>n-. hov,- eser, ha\e been admitted; as the author, if living, would p!-ol>abl\ < lian^e a \er\ few e\pn -M->n- for -uch as art* less ollen-i\e to m- dern ears; and in other instances the -lip- of hi- pen. \\hile taken up with things of va-tly superior importance, woulat he ha,s U-en favoured i)\ .Mr-, (iur.u \, Ilolborn, with the UM of tlu second edition of the iir-t p:irt of the Pin. KIM, by \\hich lie ha. vi PREFACE. been enabled to correct many errors of subsequent editions. The author's marginal references seemed so essential a part of the work, that it was deemed indispensably requisite to insert them in their places. But as the marginal notes do not appear to convey any material instruction distinct from that contained in the text, and to be principally useful in pointing out any passage, to which the reader might wish to refer; it was thought most advisable to omit them, and to supply their place by a running title on the top of tfvery page, conveying as nearly as possible the same ideas : for, indeed, they so encumber the page, and break in upon the uniform- ity of printing, that all hope of elegance must be precluded while they are retained. Mr. Bunyan prefaced each part' of the PILGRIM'S PROGRESS with a copy of verses: but as his poetry does not suit the taste of these days, and is by no means equal to the work itself, it hath been deemed expedient to omit them. That prefixed to the first partis intitled 'The Author's Apology for his Book;' in which he informs the reader that he was unawares drawn into the alle- gory, when employed about another work ; that the further he pro- ceeded, the more rapidly did ideas flow into his mind; that this induced him to form it into a separate book; and that, shewing it to his friends - ' Some said, ' John, print it,' others said, ' Not so;' Some said, ' It might do good;' others said, ' JVb.' The publick will not hesitate in determining which opinion was the result of the deeper penetration ; but will wonder that a long apology for so valuable a publication should have been deemed necessary. This was, however, the case; and the author, having solidly though rather verbosely, answered several objections and adduced some obvious arguments in very unpoetical rhymes, con-- eludes with these lines, which may serve as a favourable specimen of the whole. ' Would 'st thou divert thyself from melancholy ? Would' st thou be pleasant, yet be far from folly? Would' at thou read riddles and their explanation ? Or eke be drowned in thy contemplation ? Dost thou love picking meat ? Or would'st thou see A man i'th' clouds, and hear him speak to t/iec? PREFACE. -VU Wouhr*t t/toti be in a dream, and yet not sleep* Or would' xt t/iou in a moment laiig/i ati'l weep? Or would'st t/iun lose thyself, and catch no harm ? .-I ml find thysrlf again without a c/tann? Would' st read t/ii/*t /t\ and read t/ioit kiiox'st not u/iat. And yet know whether thuu art blest or not. By reading the same lines'? then conic hither^ And l*yjny book, thy heart and head together' The poem prefixed to the second part, ki a kind of dialogue be- tween the- author and his book, is still less interesting; and SITUS to shew, that he had a more favourable opinion of its comparative, merit, than posterity has formed ; which is no singular case. Some verses are likewise found at the bottom of certain plates that accompanied several of the old editions, which the\. who omit the plates, or substitute others know not where to insert. To shew all regard, however, to every thing that Mr. HTXYAN wrote, as a part of the work, they will be found in the notes ou the jucidejjtsio which they refer. THE LIFE OF JOHN BUN Y AN, 11 F. celebrated author of the PILGRIM'S PROGRESS was born, .A. 1). ld\\S, at Mi. STOW, a small village near BEDFORD. His father rained his bread by the low occupation of a tinker ; but he boro a fair character, and took care that hi.s -on, whom he brought up to the same business, should be taught to read and Ivrite. We are told indeed, that he quickly forgot all he had learned, through his extreme profligacy : \etit is probable, that be retained so much as enabled him to recover the rest, when his mind became better disposed ; and that it wa.s very useful to him in the subsequent part of hi- life. The material-, from which an account of this valuable man must be compiled, are so scanty and imperfect, that nothing very satis- . v must be expected. He seems from his earliest youth to have i.een greatly addicted to gross vice as well as impict\ lie was interrupted in his course by continual alarms and convic- tion-, vvlndi were sometime- peruliaily overwhelming; but the} had ao other cfiect at the time, than to extort from him the most ab- surd wishes that can be imagined. A copious narrative of these ear- ly conflicts and crimes is contained in a treatise published by him- self, under the title of Grace abounding to the chief of Sinners. 1 hiring this part of his life he waj twice preserved from the mo-t imminent danger of drowning : and being a soldier in the parlia- ment's army at the siege of Lei(e-t< -r. A. D. 1645, he was drawn out to stand centinel ; but one of his comrades, having by lii- ow:i taken his place, was shot through the head on his post; and X THE LIFE OF thus BU'NYAN was reserved by the all-disposing hand of GOD for better purposes. He seems, however, to have made progressive advances in wickedness, and to have become the ring-leader of youth in every kind of profaneness and excess. His career of vice received a considerable check, in consequence of his marriage with the daughter of a person who had been very religious in his way, and remarkably bold in reproving vice, but who was then dead. His wife's discourse to him concerning her father's piety excited him to go regularly to church ; and as she brought him, for her whole portion, The Practice of Piety, and The plain Man's Path-way to Heaven, he employed himself fre-- quently in reading these books.. The events recorded of our author are so destitute of dates, and regard to the order in which they happened, that no clear arrange- ment cau now be made of them : but it is probable, that this new attention to religion, though ineffectual to the reformation of his conduct, rendered him more susceptible of convictions ; and his vigorous imagination, at that time altogether untutored by know- ledge or discretion, laid him open to a variety of impressions, sleeping and waking, which he verily supposed to arise from words spoken to him, or objects presented before his bodily senses; arid he never after was able to "break the association of ideas Avhich was thus formed in his mind. Accordingly he says, that one day when he was engaged in diversion with his companions, ' A voice 4 did suddenly dart from heaven into my soul, which said, Wilt * thou leave thy sins and go to heaven, or have thy sins and go to 4 hell f The consciousness of his wicked course of life, accom- panied with the recollection of the truths he had read, suddenly meeting in his mind, thus produced a violent alarm, and made such an impression on his imagination, that he seemed to have heard these words, and to have seen CHRIST frowning and Jnenacing him. But we must not suppose, that there was any tniracle wrought; nor could there be any occasion for a new revelation to suggest or enforce so scriptural a warning. This may serve as a specimen of those impressions, which constitute a large part of his religious experience, but which it is not ad- visable to recapitulate. He was next tempted to conclude that it was then too late to re- pent or seek salvation ; and, as he ignorantly listened to the sugges- tion, he indulged his corrupt inclinations without restraint, imag- JOHN BUNYAH. M that this was tlic only way in which he could possibly have the least expectation of pleasure, during his whole existence. While lie was proceeding in this wretched course, a woman of very bad character reproved him with great severity for profane swearing ; declaring in the strongest expressions, that he exceeded in it all men she had ever heard. This made him greatly asham- ed, when he reflected that he was too vile even for such a bad woman to endure: so that from that time he began to break oiT that odious custom. His guilty and terrified mind was also pre- pared to admit the most alarming impressions during his sleep: and he had such a dream about the day of judgment, and its awful circumstances and consequences, as powerfully influenced his conduct. There was, indeed, nothing very extraordinary in this ; for such dreams are not uncommon to men under deep convic- tions : yet the Lord was doubtless, by all these means, secretly influencing his heart, and warning him to flee from the wrath to come. lie was, however, reluctant to part with his irreligious associates and vain pleasures ; till the conversation of a poor man, who rame in his way, induced him to read the Bible, especially the preceptive and historical parts of it : and this put him upon an entire reformation of his conduct ; so that his neighbours were greatly astonished at the change. In this manner he went on for about a year ; at some times satisfied with himself, and at others distressed with fears ami consciousness of guilt. Indeed ms ever after to have considered a [l these convictions and desires as \v!i"lK originating ;ii:i natural pnnci|ilrs ; l,i;t HI this perhaps some persons will venture to dissent in-m him. A M'lf-righteous dependence accompanied with self-complacency, and furnishing incentives to pride, is indeed a full proof of unre- generacy: but conscientiousness connected with disquietudes, humiliation for sin, and a disposition to wait for divine teaching, is an effect an. I evidence 'i /./,. though the mind be yet darkened with igaorftnct, error, and prejudice. And he, that hatli life will give it more abundantly; for, " The path of the just i< " as the shining light, that shinotb more and more unto tlie per- ' feet day. While Br s YAK was in this*tate of mind he went to BEDFORD, in the exercise of his trade as n tinker, where lie overheard s.-mo vomen discourse about regeneration : and though he did not under- xn THE LIFE or stand their meaning, he was greatly affected by observing the ear- nestness, cheerfulness, and humility of their behaviour; and he was also convinced that his own views of religion were very de- fective. Being thus led to frequent their company, he was brought as it were into a new world. Such an entire change took place in his views and affections; and his mind was so deeply engaged in contemplating the great ,'concerns of eternity, and the things per- taining to the kingdom of GOD ; that he found it very difficult to employ his thoughts on any secular affairs. But this extraordinary flow of affections, not being attended by doctrinal information in any measure proportionable, laid him open to various attempts of SATAN and his emissaries. The RANTEKS, a set of the vilest antinomians that almost ever existed, first assail- ed him by one of their party, who had formerly been Mr. BUN- YAN'S companion in vice: but he over-acted his part; and, pro- ceeding even to deny the being of a GOD, probably furnished the character of ATHEIST in the PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. While Air. BUN; VAN was engaged in reading the books of the RANTERS, not being able to form his judgment about them, he was led to offer up the following prayer: ' O Lord, I am a fool, and not able to 4 know the truth from error: Lord, leave me not to my own blind- ' ness, either to approve or condemn this doctrine. If it be of * GOD, let me not despise it; if it be of the devil, let me not em- ' brace it. Lord "I lay my soul in this matter only at thy foot; ' let me not be deceived, I humbly beseech thee/ No experienced Christian will be surprised to find, that the Lord, in an evident manner, graciously answered this most suitable request. Mr. BUN Y AN soon saw through the delusions of the RANTERS; and probably referred to them, under the character of SELF-WILL, in the second part of this work. The Epistles of ST. PAUL, which he now read with great atten- tion, but without any guide or instructor, gave occasion to his being assaulted by many sore temptations. He found the apostle continually speaking oi faith; and he could not understand the meaning of that word, or discover whether he was a believer or not : so that, mistaking the words of CHRIST *, he was tempted to seek a solution of his difficulty by trying to work a miracle. He thought however it would be right to pray, before he made the at- tempt, and thus he was induced to desist, though his difficulties still i Matt, xvii. 20. JOHN* Bt'VY.<\. \l'O remained. On another occasion he \\-as delivered from gre;i> plexities about tin- doctrine of election, l>y reflecting that none trusted in don and was confounded:" and then-tore it would be tw-st for him to trot in (.on, ai.d leave election. " secret thing," with the Lord to whom it belonged. And the general invitations of the gospel, and the assurance that " vet there " is room," helped him to repel the temptation to coiiclu ; : the day of grace was past. This brief account of his temptations and escape* may teach others the best way of residing similar suggestions; and it may shew us, that numbers arc durably harassed by such pcrple for want of doctrinal knowledge and faithful instructors ami coun- sellors. He was, however, afterwards enabled by means of these. inward trials, to'caution others to better effect, and more tenderly to s\ mpathi/c with the tempted. After some time, Mr. Bi NY AN became acquainted with Mr. GIFFORD, an Antipu'do-baptist minister at HKDFOKI>. whose conversation was very useful to him: yet he was in some respects more discouraged than ever, by fuller discoveries of those evils in I. is heart, which he had not before noticed; and by doubts con- cerning the truth of the scriptures, which his entire ignorance of the evidences by which they are most completely authenticated, rendered durably perplexing to him. lie \\as, however, at length relieved by a sermon he heard on the love ot "Ciiiuvr: though the grounds, tin which he derived satisfaction and encouragement from it, are not \ery accurately stated.- -Soon alter this he was admitted, hv adult baptism, a memlier of .Mr. (in IORD'S church, A. 1 >. Ix-ing then twentv -seven years of age; and after a little time, lie ua> earnestly desired by the column-nation to expound or preach, in a manner which is customary among the Dissenters, as a prepa- ration to the ministry. I or a \\liile he resisted their importunity, under a deep seriM- ol his incom|x-t( ncv ; but at length In- \\as pre- vailed upon to s|K-ak in a small company, which he did greatlv to their sati-uiction ami edification. Having been thus proved for a -on.-iderablr time, hewas:cnters, l>\ .lame* II. m K>s7: but that he advised his brethren to v avail thcm-elu -. of the sun-shine, by diligent endeavours to s])read tlie Dispel, and to prepare for an approaching storm by fasting and prayer. The ii"\t \ear h<- took a journey in very bad weather from LONDON ' Ur.ADlNG, BERKS, to make uj) a breach between a lather and his son, with whoiri he had SOUK- acquaintance; and haxing hap- pily effected his last work and labour of love, he returned to his lodgings on SNOW-HILL apparently, in good health, but very wet with the heavy rain that was then falling: and soon after he was sei/ed with a fever, which in ten days terminated his useful life. He bore his malady with great patience and composure, and died in a very comfortable and triumphant manner, AUG. 31, 16*88, -ixty years; after having exercised his ministry about thirty two. He lies buried in 1U N HILL FIELDS, where a tomb-stone to his memory may still be seen. lie was twice married: by his lir-t wife, he had four children, one of which, a daughter named M \UY who was blind, died before him. lie was married to his second wife A. P. 1 6*5 8, two years before his imprisonment, by whom In- seem* not to ha\e had any children. She sunned him about four years. Concerning the other branches of his family we have not been able to gain any information. Mr. KiNYxN was tall and broad set, though not corpulent: lie had a ruddv complexion, with sparkling exes, ;md hair inclining to red, but in his old age sprinkled with grey. His whole appear- ance was plain, and his dress ulwaxs simple and unaffected. He published sixty tract-, which equalled the number of vears he lived. The PILGRIM'S PROGRESS had passed through more tiian fifty editions in 1784. His character seems to have been uniformly good, from the time when he was brought acquainted with the blessed g"s|>rl of CM HIST: and though his countenance was rather stern and his manner rough; yet he was very mild, modest, and affable, in his hehaxiour. He was backward to speak much, except on pa.ticu- l.ir occasions, and remarkabh nxersr to boasting; ready to sul mir to the judgment of others, and di-pos t -| to forgive inj tin- -. t. I'.w peace with all men, ami to employ himself as . \et he was steady to his principles, and bold in reproxi;,.. i \ out respect of persons. Many slanders were spread conn : B THE LIFE OF JOHN Mm during the course of his ministry, some of which ho refuted ' they have however all died away ; and no one now pretends to say any thing to his disadvantage, except as a firm attachment to his creed and practice, as a Calvinist, a Dissenter, and an .\nti- pcedo-baptist, has been called bigotry;- and as the account given of his own experience has been misunderstood or mi* rep resented. lie was undoubtedly endued with extraordinary natural talents j, his understanding, discernment, memory, invention, and imagi- nation, were remarkably sound and vigorous: so that he made very great proficiency in the knowledge of scriptural divinitv y though brought up in ignorance: but he never made/ much pro- gress in human learning. Even such persons, as did not favour his religious principles, have done ample justice to his mental pow- ers. The celebrated Dr. JOHNSON ranks the PILGRIM'S PRO- GRESS among a very few books indeed, of which the reader when he comes to the conclusion, wishes they had been longer; and al- lows it to rank high among the works of original genius r . But it is above all things wonderful, that BUNYAN'S imagination, fer- tile and vigorous in a very great degree, and wholly untutored by the rules of learning, should in this instance have been so disci- plined by sound judgment, and deep acquaintance with the Scrip- ture, as to produce, in the form of an allegory, one of the fairest and most unexceptionable treatises on the system of Calvinism, that can be found in the ENGLISH language! In several of his ether publications his imagination frequently carried him beyond just bounds;: but here he avoids all extremes, and seems not to deviate either to the right hand or to the left. Perhaps, as he was himself liable to depression of spirit, and had passed through deep distresses, the- view he gives of the Pilgrim's temptations may be too gloomy: but he has shewn in the course of the work, that this arose principally from inadeqtJate views of evangelical truth, and the want of Christian communion, with the benefits to be derived from the counsels ofa faithful minister. i Piozzt's Anecdotes of JOHNJON.'BOIWSLL'S Life of JOHNSON, 'il, p. 97. ad. edit. THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. PART I. .S I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place where was a den ; and I laid me down in that place to sleep : and as I slept I dreamed a dream*. I dreamed, and behold I saw a man clothed with rags, standing in a cef- ' '.tin place, with his face from his <>\\n house, a book Mr. BUNYATI was confined about twelve years in BED- FORD jail, t<>r i M raising his ministry contrary to the statutes thru in force. This was ' the den, in which lit- slept and d train- ed :' hi-rr he penned this instructive allegory, and many other u-rful works, which evince that he was neither soured nor < -;i\- of these humiliating convictions exceeding -vary, but the lili- <>t" faith and grace always begins with them; and they who :itv wboDy ftnngen-to this experience arc Christians only in name and form : ' JI- knows no hope who never knew a fear.' COWFSB* 4 THEIR BEHAVIOUR TO 11131. with all haste they got him to bed : but the night was as troublesome 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 he did : and he told them worse and worse. He also set to talking to them again, but they be- gan to be hardened : they also thought to drive away his distemper by harsh and surly carriages to him: sometimes they would deride, sometimes they would chide, and sometimes they would quite neg- lect him. Wherefore he began to retire himself to his chamber, to pray for and pity them ; and also to condole his own misery. He would also walk solitarily in the fields, sometimes reading and sometimes praying; and thus for some days, he spent his time. c c The contempt or indignation, which worldly people express towards those who are distressed in conscience, commonly in- duces them to conceal their inquietude as long as they can, even from their relatives ; but this soon becomes impracticable. Na- tural affection also, connected with a view of the extreme danger to which a man sees the objects of his' most tender attachments exposed, but of which they have no apprehensions, will extort earnest representations, warnings, and intreaiies. The city of DESTRUCTION, (as it is afterwards called) signifies this present evil world as doomed to the flames ; or the condition of careless sin- ners immersed in secular pursuits and pleasures, neglecting eter- nal things, and exposed to the unquenchable fire of hell, " at the " day of judgment arid perdition of ungodly men." They, who are ignorant of the Scriptures, and unaccustomed to compare their own. conduct with the divine law, will be amazed- at such discourse ; and, instead of duly regarding the warnings given them, will commonly ascribe them to enthusiasm or insanity : and, as EVAXGELIST MEETS HIM. 5 Now I sn\\\ iijxm a time, when lit- was walking in the fields, that he was (as lie wzis wont) reading in his hook, and greatly distressed in his mind ; and as he read, he hurst out, as lie had done before, cry- ing " What shall I do to he saved '?" I saw also tliat he looked tin's way, and that way, as if he would run; vet he stood still, beeause (as ' v , V I perceived) he could not tell which way to go. I looked then, and saw a man named KVA.M;KJ,JST coming to him, and he asked, k Wherefore dost thou cry?' lie answered, Sir, I perceive by the book in my hand that I am condemned to die, and 1 Acts xvi. 30, 31. prophets, apostles, and the Son of GOD himself, were looked upon M vtsioaaiies or betide themselves by their Contemporaries; \vc may be sure that no prudence, excellence, or benevolence, cau exempt the con-i-tent believer from thr same trial. Near rela- tions will generally be the first to form this opinion of his case; and will di-vjse \arious exjK-dients to (juiet his mind: divert ,;is, company, feasting', ah-enre from ^MIOU- friends or b(M)k, will be pre-eriird ; Knd l>v these means a faNc peace ofu*n Miccivds a transient alarm. Hut when any cue hs receiwd a ^ miliatinn (li'fr.\er\ of the evil and desert of sin, such \sill not alleviate but increase the anguish; and will be follow <-d by still greater earne-tnr>-> about his own salvation, and that of This rommonly strengthens prejudice, and induco <>!>- y : and contemptuous pity piv^ place to resentment, iii usage, derision, or neglect. 'Hie disconsolate believer is then driven auto retirement, and endeavours to relieve IMK burdened niiiid by reading the Scriptures, ao4 meditating on his doleful cae, with compassionete prayer- f his despiscr* : r.nd thus he so\\s iu tears tkat seed from which the hancst of his future joy will surely be produced. B J- after that to come to judgment ; and I find that I am not willing to do , the first nor able to do the second '. Then said EVANGELIST, Why not willing to die, since this life is attended with so many evils ? The man answered, Because I fear that this burden that is upon my back will sink me lower than the grave, and I shall fall into Tophet z . "And, Sir, if I be not fit to go to prison, I am not fit to go to judgment, and from thence to execution : and the thoughts of these things make me cry. d Then said EVANGELIST, if this be thy condi- tion, why standest thou still ? He answered, Be- cause I know not whither to go. Then he gave him a PARCHMENT-ROLL; and there was written within, " Flee from the wrath to come 3 ." e 1 Heb. ix, 27. Job xvi. 21, 22. Ezek. xxii. 14. 2 Isai. xxx. 33. * Matt. iii. 7. d The Scriptures are indeed sufficient to make us wise unto salvation, as well as to shew us our guilt and danger : yet the Lord commonly uses the ministry of his servants, to dir6ct into the way of peace, even those who have previously discovered their lost condition. Though convinced of the necessity of escaping from impending ruin,' they hesitate not knowing what to do ; till providence brings them acquainted with some faithful preacher of the gospel, whose instructions afford an explicit answer to their secret enquiries after the way of salvation. The able minister of CHRIST will deem it necessary to en- force the warning, " Flee from the wrath to come," even upon those who are alarmed about their, souls ; because this is the proper way of exciting them to diligence and decision, and of preserving them from procrastination. They, therefore, who WHO BEGINS TO RUN FROM HOME. 7 The man therefore read it, and, looking upon EVANGELIST very carefully, said, Whither must I flee? Then said EVANGELIST, pointing with his finger over a very wide field, Do you see yonder WICKET-GATE '? The man said, No. Then said the other, Do you see yonder shining Light*? lie said, I think I do. Then said EVANGELIST, Keep that light in your eye, and go up directly thereto, so shalt thou see the Gate ; at Munich when thou knockest it shall be told thce what thou shalt do. So I saw 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 return'; but the man put his fin- gers in* his ears, and ran on, crying Life! life! eternal life! So he looked not behind him 4 but fled towards the middle of the plain. ( 1 Matt. vii. 13, 14. Psal. cxix. 105. 2 Pet. i. 19. * Luke xiv. 26. + Gen. xix. 17. 2 Cor. iv. 18. would persuade persons under convictions, that their fcur> an- groundless, their guilt tar less than they suppose, and their dan- ger iinan'marv, use the most effectual means of soothing them into a fatal securit\. And no discoveries of heinous guilt or helpless ruin in them wires can produce despondency, provided the salvation of the gospel be fully exhibited and proposed to them. f The awakened sinner may be incapable, for a time, of per- ceiving the way of salvation by faith in CHRIST ; for divine illu- mination is often very gradual : si the Pilgrim could M"t -re the Gatf, when EVANGELIST pointed it out to him. Yet he thought be could discern i\\c shining Jjght ; for upright enquirers attend to the general instructions and encouragement* of Scripture, unJ tho OBSTINATE AND PLIABLE The neighbours also came out /to see him run : and as lie ran, some mocked, others threatened, and some cried after him to return ; and among those that did so there were two that were resolved to fetch him back by force. The name of one was OBSTINATE, and the name of the other PLIABLE. Now by this time the man was got a good distance from them ; but however they were resolved to pur- sue him, which they did, and in a little time they overtook him. Then said the man, Neighbours, Wherefore are you come ? They said, To persuade you to go back with us ; but he said, That can by no means be: you dwell, said he, in the City of DESTRUCTION, the place also where I was born; I see it to be so; and dying there, sooner or later, you will sink lower than the grave, into a place that declarations of the pardoning mercy of GOD, which by degrees lead them to the knowledge of Cn HIST and to faith in him ; as our author says in a marginal note, ' CHRIST, and the way to him, cannot be * found without the Word/ The Pilgrim being thus instructed, * began to run :' for no persuasions or considerations can induce the man, who is duly in earnest about salvation, to neglect those things which he knows to be his present duty : yet \vhcn this is the case, it must be expected that carnal relations will oppose this new course of conduct ; especially as it appears to them destructive of all prospects of worldly advantage. The following lines are here subjoined to a very rude engrav- ing : ' CHRISTIAN no sooner leaves the world, but meets EVANGELIST, who lovingly him greets With tidings of another ; and doth shew Him how to mount to that from this below.* ATTEMPT TO FETCH HIM BACK. 9 burns with fire and brimstone: be content, good neighbours, and go along with inc. 8 What, said OBSTINATE, and leave our friends and our comforts behind us! Yes, said CHRISTIAN, (tor that was his name,) because, that till is not worthy to be compared with a little of that that I am seeking to enjoy; and if you will u'o along with me, and hold it, you shall fare 1 as I myself; for there where I go is enough and to spare 1 : come away, and prove my words. OBST. What are the things you seek, since you leave all the world to find them? CHR. I seek an " inheritance incorruptible, un- " defiled, and that fadeth not away;" and it is " laid up ju heaven 1 ," and safe there, to be bestow- ed at the time appointed on them that diligently seek it. Read it so, if you will, in my book. 1 Luke xv. 17. * i Pet. i. 4 6. Heb. xi. 6. 16. * The attention of whole circles of careless sinners is generally excited, when onr of their companions engages in religion, and for- sakes the party. He soon becomes the topick of conversation ; some ridicule, others rail or thjvaten, other* us<- force or artiiice to withdraw him from his purpose; according to their different dis- po-itions, situations, or relations to him. Most of them, however, M.I in desist, mul leave him to his choice. But two character- are II,. i s> . .>!\ *hak< u oft': til - OIU Ulthar I.:;- nair.r.i ( >r- : i \ \ , r. and PLIABLE, to denote their opposite propensities. The former, through a r> >i>lute pride and stoutness of heart,' persists in at- tempting to bring bark the new convert to his worldly pursuits: the latter, from a natural ea>iiw~- I am glad you are persuaded to go along with me; had even OBSTINATE himself but felt what I have felt, of the powers and terrors of what is"'yet mismi. he would not thus lightly have given us the back. h This^dialogiie admirably illustrates the characters of the speaker*. CHRISTIAN, (for so he is henceforth called.) is firm, decided, bold, and sanguine: OBSTIN ATK i* pIQ&oe,SCOnifal, aelf- Millicient. and disposed to contemn even the Word <>t (Jon, when it interferes with his worldly interests : PLIABLE is yielding, and c.i-ily induced \ engage in things of which he understands neither the nature nor the consequences. CHRISTIAN'S plain warnings and earnest entreaties; and OBSTINATE'S contempt ot' believer*, as ' cra^d-headcd coxcombs,' and his exclamation \vhen TI.I \ r. i r. inclines to be a Pilgrim, ' What ! more fools Mill !' are admirably charactcrUtick ; and shew that such sarcasms ami scornful . an- peculiar to no age <>r place, but always follow serious godliness as the shadow dues the substance. 12 CHRISTIAN DISCOURSES WITH PLIABLE, PLI. Come, neighbour CHRISTIAN, since there are none but us two here, tell me now further, what the things are, and how to be enjoyed, whither we are going. CHR. I can better conceive of them with my mind than speak of them with my tongue : but yet, since you are desirous to know, I will read of them in my book. PLI. And do you think that the words of your book are certainly true ? CHR. Yes verily, for it was made by him that cannot lie '. PLI. Well said ; what things are they? CHR. There is an endless kingdom to be in- habited, and everlasting life to be given us, that we may inhabit that kingdom for ever*. PLI. Well said; and what else? CHR. There are crowns of glory to be given us; and garments that will make us shine like the sun in the firmament of heaven 3 . PLI. This is excellent : and what else? CHR. There shall be no more crying nor sorrow; for he that is owner of the place will wipe all tears from our eyes 4 . PLI. And what company shall we have there? CHR. There we shall be with Seraphims and Cherubins, creatures that Will dazzle your eyes to look on them 5 . There also you shall meet with 1 Tit. i. 2. 4 Isa. xlv. 17. John x. 27 29. * 2 Tim. iv. 8. Rev. iii. 4. Matt. xiii. 43. 4- Isa. xxv. 8. Rev. vii, 16. 17. xxi. 4. 5 Isa, vi. 2, i Thess. iv, 16, 17. WHO IS MUCH DELIGHTED. 13 thousands and ten thousands that have gone he- fore us to that plaee; none of them are hurtful, hut loving and holy; every one walking in the sight of God, and standing in his presence with ac- ceptance for ever. In a word, there we shall see the elders with their golden crowns'; there \ ..- shall see holy virgins with their golden harps 1 ; there we shall see men that by the world were cut \ in pieces, burnt in flames, eaten of beasts, drowned in the seas, for the love that they hare to the Lo;;i> of the place, all well, and clothed with immor- tality as with a garment 1 . Pi. i. The hearing of this is enough to ravish one's heart: but are these tilings to he enjoyed? how shall we gel to be sharers hereof? C'IIH. The LORD, the Governor of the country, hath recorded lliat in this book; the .substance of \\iiieh is, it' we be truly willing to have it he will be.-tow it upon us freely*. PI.I. Well, my good companion, glad am I to hear of these things. Come on, let us mend our pace. C'IIH. I cannot go so fast as I would, by reason of this burden that is ujxm my back. ' 1 Rev. iv. 4. Rev. xiv. i 5. John xii. 25. 2 Cor. v. 2 5. * Isa. Iv. i 3. John vi. 37. vii. 37. Rev. xxi. 6. xxii. 17. ' Th- rniurrxatjoii ln-twoon CHRISTIAN and PLIABLE mark* tin* o be careful 1\ di-- tini;ui-lH' meet uith this Slough in e\er\ part of their pilgrimage, it arises from an immature judgment, erroneous sentiments, or peculiar temptations. When the diligent student of the Scriptures obtains Mich an acquaintance with the perfect holiness ( .f (IoD, the spirit- uality of hi> law, the inexpressible evil of sin. and lii- o\\n ol PART I. C i() CHRISTIAN STRUGGLES TO THE OTII ER SI DE. Wherefore CHRISTIAN was left to tumble in the Slouch of DESPOND alone; but still he endeavoured tions and transgressions, as greatly exceeds the measure in which he discerns the free and full salvation of tke gospel, his humilia- tion will of course verge nearer and nearer to despondency. This, however, is not essential to repentance, but arises from misappre- hension ; though few in proportion wholly escape it. The mire of the Slough represents that idea which desponding persons entertain of themselves and their situation, as altogether vile and loathe- some ; and their confessions and self-abasing complaints, which render them contemptible in the opinion of others. As every at- tempt to rescue themselves discovers to them more of the latent evil of their hearts, they seem to grow worse and worse ; and, for \vantofaclearundcrstandingof the gospel, they have no firm ground to tread on, and know neither where they arc, nor what they must do. But how could PLIABLE fall into this Slough, seeing he had no such views of GOD, or his law, of himself, or of sin, as this condition seems to pre-suppose ? To this it may be an- swered, that men can hardly associate with religious persons, and hear their discourse, confessions, and complaints, or become ac- quainted with any part of Scripture, without making some alarm- ing and mortifying discoveries concerning themselves. These transient convictions taking place when they fancied they were about to become very good, and succeeding to great self-compla- cency constitute a grievous disappointment; a&d they ascribe their uneasiness to the new doctrine they have heard. But though PLIABLE fell into the Slough, CHRISTIAN ' by reason of ' his burden' sunk the deepest ; for the true believer's humiliation for sin tends greatly to increase his fear of wrath. Superficial professors, expecting the promised happiness without trouble or suffering, are often very angry at those who were the means of leading them to think of religion ; as if they had deceived them: and, being destitute of true faith, their only object is, at any rate to get rid of their uneasiness. This is -a species of stony-ground hearers abounding in every part of the church, who are offended and fall away, by means of a little inward disquietude, before any outward tribulation arises because of the word. ; ! < DM El TO ur.i.i VF.U HIM. 17 !-ug'_rle to that side of the Slough, that was still further from his own house 1 , and next to tlu> Wick- et-gate, the which lie did, l>nt could not get out, hccausc of the burden that was upon his hack. IJut I beheld in my dream, that a man came to him, whose name was HELP, and asked him, ' What he did ther. ' Sir," .said CHRISTIAN, k 1 was bid go this way, by a man (ailed Kv.\ \ (; 1. 1 .1 sr, who tlirected me also to yonder Gate, that I might e.scaj>c ihe wrath to come: and as I was going thither I fell in Hi; j.i'. But why did you not look for thestcj dm. FEAR folloM-ed me so h:ird. that 1 iled the next was, and fell in. ' 1 CHIUSTIVN dreaded the doom of liis city ni<>rc than tho h. .Manv jMTMin-, under d .t' ri.ns.-i.-iux 1 , arc nt" n-licf", lot it i!iut <.lc*p>iir would In- tin sequence of a return to tliur fi.rnu-r roiir-M- of >in : if thr\ ; tlu-rrforc, it shall bo, while- rann--tl\ -'nmyjnn:, under deep dis- couragement, after that salvation for which their >ouK e\en faint within them. Their own efforts indeed tail t( extricate them : l>ut in due time tin- Lord send-, them .1- : Ix-d !>. tin- alii ^om ;d peisoii naineil lli-.I.r, who max the instrument> by which they receive encouragement ; a -enice in which it is a pmikge to be employed: or the Hol\ Spiiit, the Ljuer of hope and peace. |'i \ u i^ also per-'.nitied ; in the midst of the new convert's discourse on the jo\s < t heaven, fears of wrath citten cast him into dopondencv . v\ lull- he s () meditates oa 'he terrors of the Lord as t overlook his piei ion- proj.n-rs. I IS WHV THE SLOUGH IS XOT MENDED, ' Then,' said lie, * Give me thy hand.' So he gave him his hand, and he drew him out, and set him on sound ground, and let him go on his way. Then I stept to him that pluckt him out, and said, ' Sir, wherefore, since over this place is the way from the city of DESTRUCTION to yonder Gate, is it, that this plat is not mended, that poor travellers might go thither with more security?' And he said to me, this miry Slough is such a place as cannot be mended. It is the descent, whither the scum and filth that attends conviction of sin doth continually run, and therefore it is called the SLOUGH OF DESPOND: for .still as the sinner is awakened about his lost condition, there ariseth in his soul many fears, and doubts, and discouraging apprehensions, which all of them get together, and settle in this place. And this is the reason of the badness of this ground \ It is not the pleasure of the King, that this place should remain so bad. His labourers also have, by the directions of his Majesty's surveyors, been, for above this sixteen hundred years, employed about this patch of ground, if perhaps it might be mend- ed : yea and to my knowledge, said he, Here hath been swallowed up, at least, twenty thousand cart- loads, yea millions of wholesome instructions, that have at all seasons been brought from all places of the King's dominions ; (and they that can tell say, that they are the best materials to make good ground of the place, if so be it might be mended ;) but it 1 Psal, xl. 2. Isa, xxxv. 3, 4. STEPS PLACED ACROSS IT. 1) is the Si.ort.ii or DESPOND still, and so will be, when they have done what they ean. True there arc-, In the direction of the I^aw -giv- er, certain good and substantial steps, placed even through the very midst of this Slough : but at such time as this place doth much spue out its iilth, as it doth against change of weather, these steps are liardlv seen, or if they be, men through the dizzi- of their heads *tep beside; and then they arc bt-inircd to purpose, notwithstanding the steps be there: but the ground is good when they are once got in at the date 1 . m 1 i Sam. xii. 22. m This account of the Slough, which our author in Iris vision n -ceived from HELP, coincides with the preceding explanation. Increasing knowledge produces deeper self-abasement : hence dis- coura^iuii fears arise in men's minds le-t the\ should ; it hi^t perish, and objections against themselves continually accumulate, till ihrv lull into habitual despondency, unless they constantly attend to t!i<- encouragements of the Scripture, or, in the apostle's lan- . have " tlu-ir tVct shod with the preparation of the gospel of " jxaice." As this state ot* mind is distivssing and entivblini: in it-i-If, and often furnishes enemies \\itb a plausible objection to religion, the servants of GOD have al\va\s attempted to preserve the serious t*n<|iiirers alter salvation from it, by various scriptural instructions and consolatory topicks : \et their sucees, j> n,>t ade- quate to tlu ir wishes; for the Lord is pleased to permit numbers to be thus discouraged, in order to detect false professors, and to render the upright mmv watchful and humble. Our author, in a ial note, explains the >//M to mean, ' the promises of for- Mess and acceptance to life by faith in CHRIST ;' which in- clude the general invit.itioiis, and the yaiious encourap-mcnts yiven in Scripture to all who sevk the salvation of the l/.nl, and ddii;ently use the appointed means. It was evidently his opinion, C3 20 PLIABLE RIDICULED ON HIS RETURN. Now I saw in my dream that by this time PLIA- BLE was got home to his house. So his neighbours came to visit him; and some of them called him wise man for coming back ; and some called him fool for hazarding himself with CHRISTIAN : others again did mock at his cowardliness, saying, ' Sure- ly, since you began to venture, I would not have been so base to have given out for a few difficul- ties:' so PLIABLE sat sneaking among them. But at last he got more confidence, and then they all turned their tales and began to deride poor CHRISTIAN behind his back. And thus much concerning PLIABLE. " Now as CHRISTIAN was walking solitarily by himself, he espied one afar off come crossing over the field to meet "him, and their hap was to meet just as they \vere crossing the way of each other. The gentleman's name was Mr. WORLDLY- that the path from destruction to life lies by this Slough ; and that none arc indeed in the narrow way, who have neither struggled through it, nor gone over it by means of the steps. ' The change of 1 weather' seems to denote those seasons, when peculiar tempta- tions, exciting sinful passions, perplex the minds of new converts ; and so, losing sight of the promises, they sink into despondency during humiliating experiences: but faith in CHRIST, and in the merry of GOD through him, sets the Pilgrim's feet on good gr6und. n They, who affect to despise real Christians, often feel and ex- press great contempt for those that cast off their profession : such men are unuble, for a time, to resume their wonted confidence among their former companions ; and this excites them to pay court to them by reviling and deriding those whom they have for- saken. WO R I. D L Y -W I S E M A X M J . K T S C II III S 'I I A V . '-1 WISFMAN; lie dwelt in the town of' C'AKXAI- POLICV; a very great town, and also hard by from whence CiiuisTiAN' eame. This man then meeting with CHRISTIAN, ami having sonic ink- ling of him, for CHRISTIAN'S setting forth from the City of DESTKL CTIO3I was mueh noised ahroad, not only in the town where lie dwelt, hut also it began to be the town-talk in some other places; .Master WORLDLY-WISK.M AX therefore- havingsome guess of him by beholding his laborious going, by observing his sighs and groans, and the like, began thus to enter into some talk with CHRISTIAN. The wise men of this world carefully notice those who be- gin to turn their thoughts to religion, and attempt to counteract their convictions before the case becomes desperate ; from their desponding fears they take occasion to insinuate that they are deluded or disordered in their minds ; that they make too much ado about religion ; and that a decent regard to it is all that i-. requisite, which consist-* with the enjoyment of this lile. and e\en ronducv> to -rcular advantiige. \Voui.ni.v-\\ IS>.MAK, then-- fure, is a person Of COHeqaeDCe, whose superioritv i\e> him in- fluence over poor Pilgrims : he is n rejnitaMe and successful man ; prudent, sa^arious, and a( -quaiiited with munkind ; moral, and .is in his wav, and qualified to give the \er\ best counsel to those who wish to ser\e both CIoi) and M. \JIMON : but he is de- rided in his judgment against all kinds and "f religion. which interfere with a man's worldly interest, disquiet Ins mind, or -]>oil his relish for outward enjoyments. He reside-, at C'.vu- s \ i -I'oi.u Y, a great town near the city of DESTRUCTION . to* worldly prudence, modelling a man\ K lii;ion, is as niijious as open vice and impii ty ; though it be very prevalent amony decent and virtuous people. Such men attend to the reports that are circu- l.ited about the conversion () j' their neighbours, ami often watch tlieir opportunity of entering into discourse with them. i > 22 WORLDLY-WISEMAN QUESTIONS CHRISTIAN, WORLD. How now, good fellow, whither away after this burdened manner? CHR. A burdened manner indeed, as ever, I think, poor creature had ! And whereas you ask me, Whither away ? I tell you, Sir, I am going to yonder Wicket-gate before me ; for there, as I am informed, I shall be put in a way to be rid of my heavy burden. WORLD. Hast thou a wife and children ? CHR. Yes ; but I am so laden with this burden, that I cannot take that pleasure in them as for- merly : methinks I am as if I had none '. WORLD. Wilt thou hearken to me if I give thee counsel ? CHR. If it be good I will; for I stand in need of good counsel. WORLD. I would advise thee, then, that thou with all speed get thyself rid of thy burden ; for thou wilt never be settled in thy mind till then ; nor canst thou enjoy the benefits of the blessing which God hath bestowed upon thee till then. CHR. That is that which I seek for, even to be rid of this heavy burden ; but get it off myself I cannot : nor is there any man in our country that can take it off my shoulders : therefore am I going this way, as I told you, that I may be rid of my burden, WORLD, Who bid thee go this way to be rid of thy burden ? CUR. A man that appeared to me to be a very 1 i Cor, vii, 29. AND BLAMES EVANGELIST'S COUNSEL. 23 m -cat and honourable person ; his name, as I re- member, is EVANGELIST. WOULD. I beshrew him for his counsel; there is not a more dangerous anil troublesome way in the world than is that unto which he hath directed tliee ; and that thou shalt find if thou wilt be ruled by his counsel. Thou hast met with something, U I perceive, already ; for I see the dirt of the Slough of DES PO v D is upon thee ; but that Slough is the beginning of the sorrows that do attend those that go on in that way. Hear me, I am older than thou ! thou art like to meet with on the way which thou goest, wearisomeness, painful- ness, hunger, perils, nakedness, sword, lions, dra- gons, darkness, and, in a word, death, and what not ! These things are certainly true, having been confirmed by many testimonies. And why should a man so carelessly cast away himself by giving heed to a stranger. C'HK. Why, Sir, this burden on my back is more terrible to me than are all these things which you have mentioned : nay, mcthinks I care not what I meet with in the way, so be I can also meet with deliverance from my burden. WORLD. How earnest thou by thy burden at first ? CHR. By reading this book in my hand. WORLD. I thought so; and it is happened unto thee as to other weak men, who meddling with things too high for them, do suddenly fall into thy distractions ; which distractions do not only unman 24 WORLDLY-WISEMAN COUNSELS CHRISTIAN men, (as thine I perceive has done thee,) but they run them upon desperate ventures to obtain they know not what. CHII. I know what I would obtain; it is ease for my heavy burden. WORLD. But why wilt thou seek for ease this way, seeing so many dangers attend it ? Especially since, hadst thou patience to hear me, I could di- rect thee to the obtaining of what thou desirest, without the dangers that thou in this way wilt run thyself into. Yea, and the remedy is at hand. Besides, I will add, that, instead of these dangers thou shalt meet with much safety, friendship, and content, p P There is great beauty in this dialogue, arising from the exact" regard to character preserved throughout. Indeed this forms one of our author's peculiar excellences ; as it is a very difficult at- tainment, and always manifests a superiority of genius. The self-satisfaction of WORLDLY-WISEMAN ; his contempt of CHRIS- TIAN'S sentiments and pursuits ; his sneering compassion, and cen- sure of EVANGELIST'S advice; his representation of the dangers and hardships of the way, and of ' the desperate ventures' of re- ligious people ' to obtain they know not what ;' and his conh'dent assumption, that CHRISTIAN'S concern arose from weakness of intellect, ' meddling with things too high for him,' and hearkening to bad counsel, (that is, reading the word of GOD, and attending to the preaching of the gospel) and from distraction as the natural consequence, are most admirably characteristick. His arguments also arc very specious. He docs not say, that EVAXGELIST had not pointed out the way of salvation, or that wicked men are not in danger of future misery : but he urges, that so much concern a- bout sin and the eternal world takes men off from a proper regard to their secular concerns, and injures their families ; that it prevents their enjoying comfort in domestick life, or in other providential TO GO TO LEGALITY. '_Y> CIIH. Pray Sir, open this secret to me. WORLD. Why in yonder village, (the village is named MOUAI.ITY) there dwells a gentleman, whose name is LKC-ALITY, a very judicious man, and a man of a \ <>d name, that has skill to help men off with such luirdc -us as thine are from tluir shoulders; yea, to my knowledge lie hath done a great deal of good this way : aye, and be- sides, he hath skill to cure those that are somewhat cra/cd in their wits with their burdens. To him, ;.s 1 said, thou inaycst go and be helped presently. His house is not quite a mile from this place; and ; that it leads thorn into perilous and distressing situations, t which their first terrors and despoolings arc onl\ an earnest ; that a troubled conscience may be quieted in a more expeditious aiid easy manner; and that they may obtain credit, comfort, and manifold advantages, by follow ing prudent counsel. On the other hand, Cii i< ivr i AN speaks in the character of a young convert. He makes no sec ret ot his distress and terrors, and declares with- out reserve the method in which he sought relief. He own- lie -t his relish for every earthly comfort, and desires to re-ei\e good counsel : but while lie is prepared to withstand all persuasions to return home, he is not upon his guard against the insidious ad- vice of WORLDLY-WISEMAN. He fears the \\raih to come more than all the dreadful things which had been mentioned: but IIH earnestness f. ^i t immediate relief exposes him to the danger of -eking it in an unwarranted wa\ . Searching tin Scriptures has shewn him his guilt and danger; but, not having learned likewise the instructions of life, lie docs not divcern the f.ital tt-ndency of the plausible advice given him, <-] ( lallv as his counsellor is a person it reputation and sagacity. Every one, who has been in the .iv of making observations on these matters, must perceive IM,\\ 'v this suits the case of numbers, when first brought to miud " the one thing needful." 26 CIVILITY SON TO LEGALITY. if he should not be at home himself, he hath a pretty young man to his son, whose name is CIVIL- ITY, that can do it (to speak on) as well as the old gentleman himself. There, I say, thou mayest be eased of thy burden : and if thou art not minded to go back' to thy former habitation, as indeed I would not wish thee, thou mayest send for thy wife and children to thee to this village; where there are houses now stand empty, one of which thou mayest have at reasonable rates. Provision is there also cheap and good : and that which will make thy life more happy, is, to be sure there thou shalt live by honest neighbours in credit and good fashion. q i The village MORALITY represents that large company, who, in nations favoured with revelation, abstain from scandalous vices, and practise reputable duties, without any genuine fear or love of GOD, or regard to his authority or glory. This decency of con- duct, connected with a system of notions, and a stint of external worship, is substituted in the place of Christianity : but it is faulty in its principle, its measure, and its object. It results wholly from self-love ; it is restricted to the outward observance of some scrip- tural precepts, while the rest arc disregarded ; and it aims princi- pally at the acquisition of reputation, or temporal advantages, with only a subordinate respect even to the interests of eternity. It is entirely different from humble, cheerful, unreserved obedience ; it leaves the heart in the possession of some worldly idol ; and never constitutes a spiritual worshipper, or renders a man meet for the pleasures of heaven. Yet this mutilated religion draws multitudes off from attending either to the holy requirements of the law, or the humbling doctrines of the gospel. The most noted inhabitant of this village derives his name, LEGALITY, not from making the law of GOD his rule and standard, (for " by the law is the know- " ledgo of sin," which tends to increase the convinced sinner's dis~ CHRISTIAN SETS OUT FOR MORALITY. C7 Xow was CHRISTIAN- somewhat at a stand ; but presently lie concluded, It' this be true which this gentleman has said, my wisest course is to take his advice; and with that he thus farther spoke. C'IIR. Sir, which is my way to this honest man's house- "- WORLD. Do you see yonder high hill ? CIIR. Yes, very well. WORLD. By that hill you must go, and the first you come at is his. So CHRISTIAN, turned out of his way to go to Mr. LEGALITY'S house for help. But behold when he was got now hard by the hill, it seemed so high, and also that side of it that was next the wav side ) but from his tradiin^ men to w \Va\ \\ould prove their ruin ! Most Pilgrims are :is>:iilcd by such counsellors ; and few are able to detect the fallar\ of tin ir i in^s till their own i'oll\ vuxcis them. <2S CHRISTIAN MET BY EVANGELIST, did hang so much over, that CHRISTIAN was afraid to venture further, lest the hill should fall on his head : wherefore there he stood still and he wot not what to do. Also his hurden now seemed heavier to him than while he was in his way. There came also flashes of fire out' of the hill, that made CHRISTIAN afraid that he should be burned ' ; here therefore he did sweat and quake for fear. And now he began to be sorry that he had taken Mr. WORLDLY-WISEMAN'S counsel. And with that he saw EVANGELIST coming to meet him ; at the sight also of w r hom he began to blush for shame. So EVANGELIST drew nearer and nearer; and coming up to him he looked upon him with a se- vere and dreadful countenance, and thus began to reason with CHRISTIAN. ' What -doest thou here ?' said he. At which word CHRISTIAN knew not what to answer; wherefore at present he stood speechless before him. Then said EVANGELIST further, ' Art not thou the man that I found crying without the walls of the City of DESTRUCTION ?' r 1 Exod. xix. 16 18. Heb. xii. 21. T CHRISTIAN must go past mount SINAI to the village MO- RALITY : not that such men, as depend on their own reformation .and good works, pay a due regard to the holy law of GOD, for " they are alive without the law ;" but they substitute their own scanty obedience in the place of the righteousness and atonement of CHRIST. They who are not humbled in true repentance, per- ceiving little danger, pass on securely ; but the true penitent finds every attempt " to establish his own righteousness" entirely 1(0 ASKS HIM HOW lil C A.MK TH ITU KR. Cj) CHU. Ye>. dear Sir, I am the man. Kv.\\. Did not I direct thce tin- way to the lit- tle WlCKI T-GATK? Yes. dear Sir, said CHRISTIAN. 1'v \N. How is it then that thou art -,o e.nickly turned :i-idc : tor than art now out of tlu- v.ay. CMR. I met with a gentleman, so soon as I had got over the slough of DESPOND, who JKTSI:; me that I might, in the -ullage before me, find a man that could take off my burden. I-'.VAN. What was he? Cni:. He looked like a gentk.man, and talked much to me, and got me at last to yield ; > > \ came hither: hut when I heheld this hill, and how it hangs over the way, I suddenly made a .stand it should rail on my head. F.v A N. What said that gentleman to yon : C'IIH. Why he n^ked me v hither I was ".-I'mg: anil I told him. KVA \. And what said he then : (IJH. lie asked me if I had a family, and I told him: hut, said 1, I am so loadcM \sith the \n-.- ^ u]><>i-tm- : tbe more be COmparca l. : - rundnrt and rli^ractcr \\ith fhirtlix inr lav. . the jn-.d", is his alnnn ; and hi- viiMi-ti.ivs tirniMf Ir-t i(- (urf >||oulil iinnicdiutcly tali upon him, with icn^num IIP-IT tii niriivluus than tin- :r."-t :i\vful tliundcr. Ti.fii tin - M Is o| \viirldl\ wixjoin apju\ir in their true li'Jit, and tin- -uu,rr is prr|i:ircd tn wrlronir frr- s;i|\ati'>r-. : nii-i lh( :ilil thr in \\IIOM- instruciiiiiis he hud funiukrii, mrct him, shame would IK- aiddcd to hi^ u-rrur ; and h<- would c\rn U- U-miAiid lo i hi^ t'.iit It ful frii-nd, through tV;ir of nx-rirrd n-proof. 30 EVANGELIST SHARPLY REBUKES CHRISTIAN. that is on my back, that I cannot take pleasure in them as formerly. EVAN. And what said he then ? CHR. He bid me with speed get rid of my bur- den, and I told him 'twas ease that I sought : and, said I, I am therefore going to yonder Gate to re- ceive further direction how I may get to the place of deliverance. So he said that he would shew me a better way, and short, not so attended with dif- ficulties, as the way, Sir, that you set me ; which way, said he, will direct you to a gentleman's house, that hath skill to take off these burdens. So I be- lieved him, and turned out of that way into this, if haply I might be soon eased of my burden ; but when I came to this place, and beheld things as they are, I stopped for fear, as I said, of danger : but I now know not what to do. Then, said EVANGELIST, stand still a little, that I may shew thee the words of GOD. So he stood trembling. Then, said EVANGELIST, " See that " ye refuse not him that speaketh, for if they es- " caped not, who refused him that spake on earth, " much more shall not we escape, if we turn away " from him that speaketh from heaven. " ' He said moreover, " Now the just shall live by faith; but- " if any man draws back, my soul shall have no " pleasure in him. " a He also did thus apply them. Thou art the man, that art running into this misery. Thou hast begun to reject the counsel of the Most High, and to draw back thy foot from the way 1 Heb. xii. 25. Heb. x. 38. CHRISTIAN IS GREATLY TERRIFIED. 31 of peace, even almost to the hazarding of thy per- dition. Then CHRISTIAN fell down at his foot as dead, crying, Woe is me, for I am undone. At the sight of which K\ \\GELIST caught him by the right hand, saying, "All manner of sin and blasphc- mies shall be forgiven unto men 1 :" " Be not " faithless, but believing." Then did CHRISTIAN again a little revive, and stood up trembling, as at t, before EVANGELIST. * 1 Matt. xii. 31. Mark iii. 28, 29. It appears from this passage, that the Author judged it right, in dealing with persons under great terror of conscience, to aim at preparing them for solid peace, rather than hastily "ivins them com- fort. Men may be greatly dismayed, and in some degree humbled, and yet not be duly scnsfble of the hcinousness and aggravations of their guilt. In this case, further instructions arc needful to ex- cite them to proper diligence and self-denial, and to make way for abiding peace and consolation. Whereas, a compassionate. l>ut injudicious method, of proposing consolatory topicks indiscrimi- nately to all under trouble of conscience, lulls many into a fatal sleep, and gives others a transient peace which soon terminates in In j>er despondency : as a wound, hastily skinned over by an ig- norant practitioner, instead of being effectually cured by the patient attention of a skilful surgeon, will soon tacomc worse than before. The communication of more knowledge may indeed augment a man's terror and distress; but if it produce a deeper humiliation, it \vill effectually warn him against carnal counsellors and i.tN.- dejH-ndenees. Turning aside* from the gospel implies a tin- tusiil to hrarken toC'iiuiNT : and all who do thus, run into miser\ and lease the wa\ of peace, to the ha/ard of their -ouls . The-c denunciations are de-pi-ed hy the stout-hearted, l>ut the contrite in spirit. \vhen consciously uuilty, if thus addre-ed, would tall into Gal. v. 4. I'ART I. D EVANGELIST REFUTES Then EVANGELIST proceeded, saying, , " Give " more earnest heed to the things" that I shall tell thee of. I will now shew thee who it was that de- luded thee, and who 'twas also to whom he sent thee. The man that met thee is one WORLDLY- WISEMAN, and rightly is he so called ; partly he- cause he favonreth only the doctrine of this world r , (therefore he always goes to the town of MORALI- TY to Church ;) ' and partly, because he loveth that doctrine best, for it saveth him from the cross * ; and because he is of this carnal temper, therefore he seeketh to pervert my ways, though right. Now there are three things in this man's counsel that thou must utterly abhor: His turn- ing thee out of the way ; -His labouring to render 1 i John, iv. 5. 2 Gal. vi. 12. despair, did not the ministers of CHRIST encourage them by the grace of the gospel. The following lines are here inserted, as before, in the old editions : * When Christians unto carnal men give ear, Out of their way they go, and pay for't dear : For Master WORLDLY-WISEMAN can but show A saint the way to bondage and to woe.' * WORLDLY-WISEMAN goes to church at the town of MORAL- ITY : for the persons here represented, in great measure support their confidence and reputation for religion by attending on those preachers, -who substitute a proud scanty morality in the place of the gospel. This both natters their self-preference, and coincides with their carnal pursuits: and they, verily think they have found out the secret of reconciling the friendship of the world with the favour of GOD ; and set up for teachers of the same convenient system. WORLDLY WISEMAN'S COUNS 33 the cross odious to thce; And his setting thy feet in that way that leadcth unto the administra- tion of Death. First, Thou must ahhor liis turning thec out of the way ; yea, and thine own consenting thereto : because this is to reject the counsel of GOD, for the sake of the counsel of a WORLDLY-WISEMAN. The LORD says, " Strive to enter in at the strait "gate," (the Gate to which I sent thee;) "for " strait is the gate that leadeth unto life, and few " there be that find it 1 ." From this little WICKET- GATE, and from the way thereto hath this wicked man turned thce, to the bringing of thee almost to destruction : hate therefore his turning thee out of the way, and ahhor thyself for hearkening to him. Secondly, Thou must ahhor his labouring to render the cross odious unto thee; " for thou art " to prefer it before the treasures of Egypt 1 :" be- Mdes, the KINO OF GLOHY hath told thee, that, " he that will save his life shall lose it ;" and, " he " that comes after him, and hates not his father, " and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, " and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot * be my disciple 1 ." I say the -retbre, for a man to labour to persuade thee, that that shall be thy death, without which the TRUTH hath said, thou canst not have eternal life; This doctrine thou must abhor. Matt. vii. 13, 14. Luke xiii. 24. Hcb. xi. 25, 26. Matt. x. 39. Mark viii. 34, 35. Luke xiv. 26, 27. John xii. 25. D a 34 LEGALITY AND CIVILITY ARE CHEATS. Thirdly, Thou must hate his setting of thy feet in the way that leadeth to the ministration of death. And for this thou must consider to whom he sent thee, and also how unable that person was to de- liver thee from thy burden. He to whom thou wast sent for ease, being by name LEGALITY, is the son of the bond-woman, which now is, and is in bondage with her children ' ; and is in a mys- tery this Mount SINAI, which thou hast feared will fall on thy head. Now if she with her chil- dren are in bondage, how canst thou expect by them to be made free? This LEGALITY therefore is not able to set thee free from thy burden. No man was as yet ever rid of his burden by him ; no, nor ever is like to be : "Ye cannot be justified by " the works of the Law; for by the deeds of the " Law no man living" can be rid of his burden; therefore Mr. WORLDLY-WISEMAN is an alien; and Mr. LEGALITY is a cheat; and for his son CIVILITY, notwithstanding his simpering looks, he is but a hypocrite, and cannot help thee. Believe me, there is nothing else in all this noise that thou hast heard of this sottish man, but a de- sign to beguile thee of thy salvation, by turning- thee from the way which I had set thee. After this EVANGELIST called aloud to the heavens for confirmation of what he had said ; and with that there came words and. fire out of the Mountain, under which poor CHRISTIAN stood, that made the hair of his flesh stand. The words were thus 1 Gal. iv. 21^-27. CHRISTIAN ALARMED AND ASHAMED. '.}') pronounced : kt As many as are of the works of 4 ' the law, arc under the curse; for it is written, " Cursed is every one that continueth not in all ' things which are written in the book of the law " to do them 1 .'" 1 Now CHRISTIAN looked for nothing hut death, and began to cry out lamentably, even cursing the time in which he met with Mr. WOHI.DLY- w i si. MAX; still calling himself a thousand fools ior hearkening to his counsel : he also was greatly ashamed to think that this Gentleman's argument*, following only from the flesh, should have that prevalency with him, to forsake the right way. This done, he applied himself again to KVANGEL- j s i in words and sease as follows : 1 Gal. iii. 10. u When CHRIST had finished his work on earth, the covenant ui:!i NUAEL as a national Mount SINAI was abrogated : ami the. lr\s s. by cleaving to tin- Mosaick law, were It-It in bond- age and under condemnation. In like manner, all professed Christians, who depend on notion-., sacraments, religious duties and morality, and neglect CHRIST and the new covenant in his blood, are entangled in a fatal error. They seek the ble>Mn<; " not " by faith, but as it uere by the works of the law;" " for they " stumble at that stumbling stone." The Scriptures adduced by \'.\ \ M. i i IST an- ^o |)crtinent and conclusive against tliis species of religion, which has at preM-ut almost superseded the;o>p'l, that they can iK-\er be fairly answered: nay, the more any man con- thern, as the testimony of GOD himself, the greater must be bis alarm, (even a- it' he heard the voice iiom Mount SINAI out of the midst of the fire;) unless he be conscious of ha\ nounced every other confidence, to " Hee for refuge ty lay hold on ' the hope set before us" in the gospel. D3 36 CHRISTIAN HASTENS BACK, CHR. Sir, what think you ? is there hopes ? may I now go back and go up to the WICKET-GATE, shall I not be abandoned for this, and sent back from thence ashamed ? I am sorry I have heark- enec} to this man's counsel, but may my sin be forgiven ? Then said EVANGELIST to him, Thy sin is very great, for by it thou hast committed two evils ; thou hast forsaken the way that is good, to tread in for- bidden paths : yet will the man of the GATE receive thee, for he has good will for men ; only, said he, take heed that thou turn not aside again, " lest "thou perish from the way, when his wrath is " kindled but a little. "Then did CHRISTIAN address himself to go back, and EVANGELIST, after he had kissed him, gave him one smile, and bid him God speed : so he went on with haste, neither spake he to any man by the way ; nor if any man asked him, would he vouchsafe them an answer. He went like one that was all the while treading on forbidden ground, and could by no means think himself safe, till again he was got into the way which he left to follow Mr. WORLD- LY-WISEMAN'S counsel : w so in process of time w In aiming to encourage those who arc ready to despond, we must by no means persuade them that their sins are few or small, or that they judge themselves too rigorously : on the contrary, we should endeavour to convince them that their guilt is far greater than they suppose ; yet not too great to be pardoned by the infinite mercy of GOD in CHRIST JESUS : for this tends to take them off move speedily from every vain attempt to justify themselves, and AND ARRIVING, KNOCKS AT TH I. CATE. 37 CHRISTIAN JJOt Uj) tO till 1 st affectionate encourage- ments, tlu 1 faithful minister will also solemnly warn young converts not to turn a-ide : nor can the humble when OOttCJoasty ever find contideiice or coinibrt, till they haM % n--ai:u I the way they had * Tkis Gale reprc-i-m^ Ciinisr him-eh", a- reiei\ed by the pe- nitent sinner for all the purposes of sahat'n.n, according to the measure of hi-> ae(jiiaintanre \\ith the Scriptures; by which he actually enters into a state of acceptance with GOD. Vet, to prevent inisUkr*, the Janiiiiage of our Lord on thi> subject should be carefullv considered. " Enter ye in at the strait izate, for \\id- " is the j;atc, and broad is the wa\ that leadeth to dc-trin.- " lion ; and many there be who go in thereat 1 ." ' \Vi % are all lx>ni 'in sin and the children of \\rath;' ue ' turne\er\ OM to his " own way" of sin and folly; and a!.i>, mo.-t men ju-r-i-t in one evil nirse or other, to the end of their day s, bciiy kept in counte- nance by the example of a vast majority, in which the rich, the noble, and the \\jsi- of this world are generally included. " Because " strait is the gate and narrow the way which leadeth unto life ; " and fewthccc be that find it." But by this strait Gate every true penitent enters into the narrow way to life, though with difficulty and conflict. This entrance on a life of ex angelical piety is in the language of the allegory called a WICKET, or ulittlfgatc: for the Matt. \n. 13, 14. P4 38 GOOD-WILL SPEAKS TO CHRISTIAN, At last there came a grave person to the Gate, named GOOD-WILL, who asked, Who was there ? and whence he came ? and what he would have ? CHR. Here is a poor burdened sinner; I come from the City of DESTRUCTION, but am going to Mount ZION, that I may be delivered from the wrath to come ; I would therefore, Sir, since I am convert cannot carry along with him any of his sinful practices, ungodly companions, worldly idols, or false confidences, when he enters in : nor can he effectually contend with those enemies that obstruct his passage, unless he wrestle continually with GOD in prayer for his gracious assistance. And therefore our Lord has also said " Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for many, I say " unto you, shall seek to enter in and shall not be able l ." Yet we must not forget that the sinner returns to GOD by faith in Cu RIST ; that genuine repentance comes from him and leads to him ; and that the true believer not only trusts in the Lord for salvation, but also seeks his liberty and happiness in his service. These things taken together are so contrary to the pride and lusts of the human heart, to the course of the world, and to the temptations of the devil, that striving is far more necessary in this, than it can be conceived to be in any other, kind of conversion. Various exer- cises of the mind commonly precede this unreserved acceptance of CHRIST ; but they are not in general easy to be known from those temporary convictions, impressions, and starts of devotion, which vanish and come to nothing. Yet even this saving change is ju- diciously distinguished by our author from that view of the Cross, by which CHRISTIAN was delivered from his burden, for reasons which will speedily be stated. The following lines are here inserted under an engraving : ' He that would enter in, must first without Stand knocking at the gate, nor need he doubt, That is a knocker, but to enter in ; For GOD can love him, and forgive his sin.' > Luke xiii. 24. AND ADMITS HIM AT THE GATE. 39 informed that by this Gate is the way thither, know if you are n'illing to let me in. I am inlling with all my heart, said he; and with that he opened the Gate. y So when CHRISTIAN" was stepping in, the other gave him a pull. Then said CHRISTIAN, What means that? The other told him, * A little dis- tance from this Crate, there is erected a strong Ca>tlc, of which BEELZEBUB is the Captain ; from thence both he and they that are with him, shoot arrows at them that come up to this Gate; if hap- ly they may die before they enter in.' z Then said CHRISTIAN, I rejoice and tremble. So when he f GOOD-WILL seems to be an allegorical person, the cnibU'in of the compa-Monate love of GOD to sinners through JESUS CM HIST '. He " came from heaven to do the will of him that " sent him," and " he will in no wise cast out any that come to him," rither on account of former sins, or present mistakes, in- tirmitie*, evil habits, or peculiar temptations. " For he waits to " be gracious," till Dinners seek him by earnest persevering prayer. Numbers give themselves no concern about their souls; other*, alter con\ic-ti<>ns, turn back with PLIABLE, or cleave to the coun- sels of worldly wisdom : but all, who come to CHRIST with a real of his salvation, are cordially welcomed; and while angels rejnire over them, the Redeemer " sees of the travail of his soul and is satisfied." ' \- M nncrs become more decided in counting all but loss for CM HIST, and assiduous in the means of grace, Satan, if permitted, \\ill !> more vehement in his endeavours to discourage them ; that, if possible, he may induce them to desist, and so come short of the juue. It is probable that the powers of darkness cannot exactly distinguish between those impressions which arc the effect* of rc- Luke ii. 14. 40 GOOD-WILL DISCOURSES WITH CHRISTIAN, was got in; the man of the Gate asked him, Who directed him thither ? CHE. EVANGELIST hid me come hither and knock, as I did ; and he said, that you Sir, would tell me what I must do. GOOD. "An open door is set before thee, and " no man can shut it." CHR. Now I .begin to reap the benefits .of my hazards. GOOD. But how is it that you came alone ? CHR. Because none of my neighbours saw their danger as I saw mine. GOOD. Did any of them know of your coming ? CHR. Yes, my wife and children saw me at the first, and called after me to turn again. Also some of my neighbours stood crying, and calling after me to return ; but I put my fingers in my ears, and so came on my way. GOOD. But did none of them follow you to per- suade you to go back ? CHR. Yes, both OBSTINATE and PLIABLE: But when they saw that they could not prevail, OBSTINATE went railing back; but PLIABLE came , with me a little way. generation, and such as result from natural passions. It is, how- ever, certain that they attempt to disturb all those who earnestly cry for mercy, by various suggestions to which they were wholly strangers while satisfied with a form of godliness: and that the Christian's grand conflict, to the end of his course, consists in surmounting the hindrances and opposition he meets with, in keeping near to the throne of grace, by fervent, importunate, and persevering prayer,. V, HO ANSWERS ALL HIS QUESTIONS. 41 GOOD. But why did he not come through? C'IIK. We indeed fame both together, until we came to the Slough of DESPOND, into the which we also suddenly fell. And then was my neigh- bour PJ i MILE discouraged, and would not adven- ture further. Wherefore getting out again, on that side next to his own house, he told me, I should p< > * the brave country alone for him. So he went his way, and 1 came mine; he after OUST i \ A i !:. and I to this Gate. Then said GOOD-WILL, Alas poor man ! is the C'elestial Glory of so small esteem with him, that lie counteth it not worth running the hazards of a few difficulties to obtain it ? Truly, said CHRISTIAN, I have said the truth of l*i.i A lii.K ; and if 1 should also say the truth of inxM-lf, it will appear there is no betterment a 'twixt him and myself. 'Tis true he went back to his own house, but I also turned aside to go in the way of death, being persuaded thereto by the car- nal arguments of one Mr. WOULD LY-W is j .M A \ . GOOD. Oh, did he light upon you ! what, he Mould have had you a sought for ease at the Our author here puts a very cmphatical word into CIIRIS- j i \ \'s mouth, (' then* is no Itrttrnncnt 'twixt him and myself) uliich later editors have changed for difference. This is by no means an improvement, though the word may be more classical : for LI.II c had made an immense ilitffrcnce between CHRISTIAN and I'l i ABLE ; but the former thought his conduct equally criminal, and therefore, in respect ot deserving-, there was no betterment bc- them. 42 CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTED IN THE WAY, hands of Mr. LEGALITY ; they are both of them a very cheat : but did you take his counsel ? CHR. Yes, as far as I durst : I went to find out LEGALITY, until I thought that the Mountain that stands by his house would have fallen upon my head : wherefore there I was forced to stop. GOOD. That Mountain has been the death of many, and will be the death of many more : 'tis well you escaped being by it dasht in pieces. CHR. Why, truly I do not know what had be- come of me there, had not EVANGELIST happily met me again as I was musing in the midst of my dumps: but 'twas GOD'S mefcy that he came to me again, 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 Mountain, than thus to stand talking with my LORD : But O ! what a favour is this to me, that yet I am admitted entrance here. GOOD. We make no objections against any, not- withstanding all that they have done before they come hither, " they in no Avise are cast out ' ;" and therefore good CHRISTIAN, come a little way with me, and I will teach thee about the way thou must go. Look before thee ; dost thou see this narrow way ? THAT is the way thou must go. It was cast up by the Patriarchs, Prophets, Christ, and his Apostles, and it is as straight as a Rule can make it. This is the way thou must go. But, said CHRISTIAN, Is there no turnings or windings, by which a Stranger may lose the way ? 1 John vi. 37. AND TO DISTINGUISH IT FROM OTHER WAYS. 43 GOOD. Yes, there are many Mays butt down upon this ; and they are crooked, and wide : but //lit A- thou niay'st distinguish the right from the wrong, that only being straight and narrow. b Then I saw in my dream, that CHRISTIAN ask- ed him further, if he could not help him off with hi*, burden, that was upon his back; fo.r as yet he b CHRISTIAN, when admitted at the at rait gate, is directed in the narnm: way. In the broad road e\erv man may choose a path .suited to his inclinations, shift about to avoid difficulties, or ac- commodate himsclt' to circumstances ; and he niav he -ure of com- pany agreeable to his taste. But Christians must follow one another in the narrow way on the same track, facing enemies, and bearing hardships, without attempting to evade them : nor is anv indulgence pven to different tastes, hahits, or propensities. It is; therefore., a ttraitened, or, as some render the word, an afflicted way ; being in- deed an habitual cour-e of repentance, self-denial, patience, and mortification to sin and the world, according to the rule of the. holy Scripture^. C'liiusr himself is tlie\V.\Y, by which we come, t" the Father and \\alk with him; but true faith works by lo\e, and " sets us in the way of his steps '." '1 hi- path is al>o .-/,. a* opposed to the crooked ways of \\icked men *; for it consists n an uniform n-ard to piety, integrity, sincerity, and kindness; at a distance from all the hypocrisies, frauds, and aitilice-. by whicii ungodly men wind about, to a\oid detection, and keep up their credit, to deceive others or impose on theniM'lvc-. Thi: question propose,) \>\ CuuisTt \\ implies, that bolie\i-is are in. -re <>l missina tji,. \ l!1N than of encotinterin<; hardships: and ( WILL'S answer, that many \\u\iliutli-il down on it, or opened into it in various directions, s|,,. u ,, t|, ul the cureless and self-willed aie xtremely liable to be deceived. Hut all th. and u/W< ; they turn aside from the direct line oi living faith and holy obedience, and an- more soothing, indulgent, and plea i-iirrupt nature, than the path of life; which :: -i/ forward, and is c\cr\ \\here contrary to the bias of the carnal mind. > Pi. UiXT. 13. PJ. coiiii; to the Mount Ziox ; and I was told by the man that stands at the Gate, at the head of this way, that if I called here, you would shew me excellent thi Mich as would be an help to me in my journc\ . Then *aid the INTER PI: KTF.H. Come in ; 1 will iirqiiaintancc \\itlt tho Scripture, his sound judgment, deep experi- ence and c\U'tisi\e observation. \Vitli ^iviit propriety ho place* the llOUSO of till 1 INTKKIMII.TI-.R beyond till' STRAIT U VTKI 1'T the knowledge of dixiiu rhinos which preoodet COBVCnioa to(i(i> In faith in CHRIST, is very -c;mty, compared \\ith the diligent Christian's suljvcjiient attuinntents. A tew livid inn truths deeply impressed on the heart, and producing ei'iimc -IKUS tc;ir.uml hope., with warm desires and atFeftions-. rli:ir;icteri/e the state of a i.evi- l>onil)alx: but relianc on the mercy of (Jon through J CIIKISI pit-pan- him for further instruction : and, " having tasi- " ed that the Ix>rd is ^uraeioii*. In- de.-ire- the sino-re i.iilk of t lit- " word, that he may -row thereliv." Tl,.- IN . !:uris .' . i n em- .ili-matK all\ represents the teaching ot the Holy Spint uciMidi)^ to the Scripture, (r while l>elie\-is iva