7^
 
 >^ 
 
 y 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 SCENES 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 pilgrim's |Pragr^$s 
 
 BY 
 
 RICHARD BALL RUTTER 
 
 # 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 TRUBNER & Co., LUDGATE HILL 
 
 PRINTED BY JOHN BELLOWS, GLOUCESTER 
 MDCCCLXXXU
 
 
 R45 
 
 O /H^ 
 
 €fiti^tim anb pliable 
 
 HE Lord Himfelf will wipe all tears away 
 Once and for ever ;" "And with whom fhall be 
 Our loving converfe through that cloudlefs day?" 
 
 Alked Pliable ; faid Chriftian, "We fhall fee 
 
 Seraphs, whofe every breath is melody, 
 
 Whom but to look on is a dream of joy ; 
 
 And, even richer bleffmg, there fhall we 
 
 Regain the loft and loved, our firft employ 
 
 To clofe the links which death could ftrain but not deflroy. 
 
 " Holy and loving, all our forrows o'er. 
 
 Beneath the beam of God's approving eye, 
 
 In his known Prefence fafe for evermore, 
 
 How fhall we wonder that we feared to die ! 
 
 There the crowned Elders fit enthroned on high. 
 
 There all the pure in heart behold their God ; 
 
 Yea death is fwallowed up in victory, 
 
 For each whofe martyred blood cried from the fod, 
 
 Shall touch the fceptre there, leaving on earth the rod. 
 
 B 
 
 00 b'
 
 2 THE SLOUGH OF DESPOND 
 
 " Some were confumed with fire, fome gave their breath 
 
 Up to the cruel fea, for His dear fake 
 
 Who gave them ftrength to fight the fear of death ; 
 
 And the wild beaft was loofed his prey to make 
 
 Of fome whofe dying filence mutely fpake ; 
 
 But all are there, they fell afleep in clay, 
 
 Enrobed in immortality to wake." 
 
 Said Pliable, " While hearing all you fay 
 
 Of heavenly joys, the charms of this world melt away." 
 
 €i[|c ^longl) of 2Dejef|)oiili. 
 
 "THE Slough thine eyes furveyed 
 Cannot be mended, being the defcent 
 Whereto the bitter tears of hope delayed. 
 With awful fenfe of former trefpafs blent, 
 Continually do run, finding no wholefome vent.
 
 THE SLOUGH OF DESPOND 3 
 
 " And therefore is the quickfand called Defpond, 
 
 For, ever as each confcience wakes from fin, 
 
 Doubts, fears, and difmal thoughts, too clofely conned, 
 
 Throughout this gloomy fwamp come pouring in, 
 
 Efcape from which none without Help can win ; 
 
 Such is its caufe, and fo poor fouls are drowned 
 
 In its dark quagmires ere they well begin 
 
 Their journey, yet the King who owns the ground 
 
 Right willingly would make the treacherous footing found. 
 
 ** His labourers alfo have, under command 
 Of His furveyors, daily been employed 
 Thefe fixteen hundred years on this wet land, 
 Which thus the old high way hath half deftroyed ; 
 But its ftill hungering maw is never cloyed ; 
 Though, to my knowledge, there have been," faid he, 
 " Full twenty thoufand loads fhot down the void. 
 Yea millions, fo to fpeak, of words which be 
 Sound as the acorn's firm and time-defying tree,
 
 4 THE SLOUGH OF DESPOND 
 
 " And brought throughout the year from every part 
 
 Of the King's realms, (and they who know, declare 
 
 That if it could be filled by toil or art. 
 
 The beft materials thefe for its repair ;) 
 
 But notwithftanding this His royal care, 
 
 'Tis ftill the flough Defpond, and fuch for ever, 
 
 Though bridged at times by mountain-moving prayer, 
 
 Muft it remain, defpite all man's endeavour, 
 
 For only Help from God paft guilt from grief can fever. 
 
 " True, 'tis the Law-giver's imperial will 
 
 That fteps of ftone fhould crofs the quaking flough, 
 
 But at fuch times as it doth overfill 
 
 With weeping weather, as it doth e'en now, 
 
 What between clouded eye and dizzy brow. 
 
 The few who fee them often flip afide. 
 
 And truly, fink into the mire, as thou 
 
 And I can witnefs, yet the fteps abide ; 
 
 But once within the gate, no fuch falfe ooze fliall glide."
 
 E SHREW him for his coimfel ! well I wot. 
 My worthy fellow, a more dangerous way 
 And troublefome, in all the world is not, 
 Than this one, fhown thee in an evil day. 
 Which thou (halt find if thou his rule obey ; 
 Thou haft, methinks, already tafted forrow. 
 For I perceive that from Defpond's foul clay 
 Thou haft been fain a mirv cloak to borrow ; 
 But fmall is this day's grief to that of each to-morrow. 
 
 " Hear me who am thy elder, yet again ! 
 
 Thou art moft fure to meet with, ere the clofe 
 
 Of this thy journey, wearinefs and pain. 
 
 Hunger and peril, nakednefs and blows, 
 
 Wild beafts, and fights more fell than fancy knows, 
 
 Horrible darknefs, and to fum up all 
 
 Of dreadful in one word, death, far from thofe 
 
 Whofe love might turn his arrow in its fall ; 
 
 And is not this a fate the boldeft heart to 'appal ?
 
 6 WORLDLY WISEMAN 
 
 " Thefe things, my friend, are certain to be true, 
 
 Having been proved by many gone before ; 
 
 And can fuch blind obedience then be due 
 
 To that cold ftranger of thy heart and door ?" 
 
 " Why Sir, this burden on my back, is more 
 
 Grievous to bear," faid Chriftian, "than the things 
 
 Which you have told, ay came they o'er and o'er. 
 
 O Sun Divine ! that in her wanderings. 
 
 My 'lightened foul might know the healing in Thy wings !" 
 
 " Tell me how firft thy heavy burden came ?" 
 Afked Worldly Wifeman then, and Chriftian faid, 
 " By reading in this book ;" "I thought the fame," 
 Cried the'other, " and, poor pilgrim, thou haft fped 
 Even as one who rafhly dares to tread 
 A mifty mountain path at day's decline, 
 Who falls into an agony of dread 
 Which fteals his judgment, (as it hath ftolen thine,) 
 Making the haplefs wretch mad as the thrall of wine."
 
 OVED at the fight, the good EvangeHft [ground 
 Caught his right hand and raifed him from the 
 Saying the while, " The fm has yet to'exift. 
 For which no ample pardon can be found 
 By Love that knows nor obftacle nor bound ; 
 Then be not faithlefs, but believe through all." 
 Chriflian recovered ftrength at that glad found 
 To bear, like Adam rifmg from his fall, 
 The after-tafte of fm, the wormwood and the gall. 
 
 Evangelift proceeded thus, " Do thou 
 
 Give earneft heed to all that I fhall tell. 
 
 Because I am about to (how thee now 
 
 The guilt of him who caufed thee to rebel, 
 
 And of that other fmooth-tongued infidel 
 
 To whom he fent thee ; now the former's name 
 
 Is Worldly Wifeman, and he earns it well. 
 
 Partly for that, though he the charge difclaim, 
 
 The doctrine which he loves from this world's wifdom came.
 
 8 evangelist's second meeting 
 
 (" So always to the town Morality 
 
 He goes to church,) and partly it would feem, 
 
 Becaufe he loves good works to deify, — 
 
 To fave without a Saviour ; — in his fcheme 
 
 Chrifl; is fuperfluous, and faith a dream ; 
 
 And fince his worldly mind is biafd thus, 
 
 My righteous ways are vile in his efteem, 
 
 And his perverfions of them dangerous ; 
 
 Now there are three main things thou fhould'ft be fedulous 
 
 Moft thoroughly to hate in this man's lies." 
 
 Poor Chriftian felt, alas, 'twas all too plain 
 Each lie had found its echo in the man ! 
 Full of fad thought, he trembling turned agaui 
 To good Evangelift, and thus began, 
 " What think you Sir, is there yet any plan 
 By which I haply may regain the road 
 Whence, like a light-heeled fool erewhile I ran ; 
 Shall I not now be bound to this my load 
 For ever, and be fent back to my old abode ?
 
 EVANGELIST S SECOND MEETING 
 
 *' Alas that I gave heed to ill advice ! 
 
 Can pardon yet be mine ?" Evangelift 
 
 Thus anfwered, " Let thefe few laft words fuffice ; — 
 
 Thy fin is great and twofold, having miffed 
 
 The right way wilfully, and dared perfifl 
 
 To keep the wrong ; yet he who guards the door, 
 
 Goodwill by name, thy touch will not refifl ; 
 
 But take good heed thou turn afide no more. 
 
 Left God's re-kindled wrath burn hotter than before." 
 
 Then did the man addrefs himfelf to trace 
 
 His footfteps o'er, and rofe up grateful-hearted ; 
 
 One fmile, one prayer, one fatherly embrace 
 
 Evangelift beftowed, and then they parted ; 
 
 So on the pilgrim hied, nor ever ftarted 
 
 Out of the roadway, and all fpeech repreffed ; 
 
 If travellers fpoke, like fome feared bird, he darted 
 
 On, on, and up the hill, where funk to reft, 
 
 The new-born mift lay foft upon its parent breaft.
 
 lO 
 
 ,T laft Goodwill approached with key in hand 
 To the'inner fide, and afked, what man drew nigh, 
 And whence he came, and what was his demand ; 
 Said Chriflian, "A poor burdened fmner I, 
 Who from the city of Deftruction fly 
 To the Mount Zion, feeking fo to be 
 Saved from the wrath to come ; I would apply 
 For entrance therefore, honored Sir, to thee, 
 Since I perceive thy gate bars the one path for me," 
 
 "Why truly," anfwered Chriftian, " I know not 
 
 What had befallen me, if Evangelift 
 
 Had but delayed his coming to the fpot, 
 
 And failed to keep that melancholy tryft 
 
 By God appointed, when He deigned to affift 
 
 A wretch who never elfe had hither come ; 
 
 Yes I, e'en I, unworthy fo to have miffed 
 
 That death, inftead of lying cold and dumb, 
 
 Stand counting to my Lord Iqve's yet uncounted fum.
 
 THE WICKET GATE AND GOODWILL II 
 
 " And O, what favor is vouchfafed to me 
 
 In being thus redeemed from wrath and fear!" 
 
 " We anfwer all, however vile they be. 
 
 Or have been ; all have fmned, but all are dear 
 
 To God," replied Goodwill, "and therefore here 
 
 Is none in any wife cafl harfhly out. 
 
 Now through the clear and cloudlefs atmofphere, 
 
 Perufe the living map thus ftretched about, [of doubt. 
 
 And melt with prayer's warm breath all lingering mifts 
 
 *' Look onward, let that path be well furveyed 
 
 Which climbs towards heaven dire6lly from this gate ; 
 
 By patriarchs, prophets, and apoftles made, 
 
 With Chrift's good help, it lies as true and ftraight 
 
 As fkill divine can meafure, therefore wait 
 
 And view it well, for 'tis thine only way ;" 
 
 Said Chriftian, " How do men difcriminate 
 
 The good old path, from byways which betray 
 
 The careful eye to rove, the cautious foot to flray ?"
 
 12 THE WICKET GATE AND GOODWILL 
 
 Anfwered Goodwill, " Though many ways abut 
 On this, yet all are crooked ones and wide ; 
 But the right way is flraight, as if 'twere cut 
 With God's unfwerving ploughfhare ; 'tis befide 
 At times moft narrow, be thefe marks thy guide." 
 Now in my dream I faw that Chriftian prayed 
 For help to loofe that grievous burden, tied 
 Upon his back, where flill 'twas firmly laid. 
 Waiting the potent touch of more than mortal aid. 
 
 *^ ^ Jl. .A£. M. Jf. ;U, 
 
 •?«• TP -Tt* 'TT W A^ •TT 
 
 Cried the'other, " After travelling fmoothly o'er 
 
 Some miles within the gate, thou drawefl near, 
 
 (If all go well,) the hofpitable door 
 
 Of the Interpreter, and do not fear 
 
 To knock and wait until the mafter hear, 
 
 For in his florehoufe joy and ufe are blended." 
 
 Chriftian took leave of one made ever dear 
 
 In but a few fhort hours, who then commended 
 
 The pilgrim to God's care, and fo their meeting ended.
 
 13 
 
 €1)0 ginterpreter'iEf I^ou^e 
 
 AID Chriftian, "Gracious Sir, I here attend 
 By order of the gatekeeper Goodwill, 
 Who told me you would fweetly condefcend 
 With fuch good things mine eye, heart, mind, to fill, 
 As fhould not early die, but bloom in memory flill," 
 
 "Come in," replied the Interpreter, "behold 
 
 Thofe things of which thou fpeak'fl, and it fhall be 
 
 To thine eternal profit ;" then he told 
 
 His man to bring a light, and prefently 
 
 He faid to Chriftian, " Up, and follow me !" 
 
 And now he led him to an inner room, 
 
 Where, when a panel opened, they could fee 
 
 A folemn portrait gazing through the gloom ; 
 
 And this the form of man that likenefs feemed to affume ;
 
 14 THE INTERPRETERS HOUSE 
 
 The raifed yet half-veiled eye looked glory fmitten, 
 
 The bell of books lay open in his hand, 
 
 Upon the lip the law of truth was written, 
 
 Its back to the earth, the figure feemed to fland 
 
 Pleading with men, and lo, a circling band, 
 
 Like to a golden crown, o'er-hung the brow ! 
 
 Then Chriftian faid, " Ah Sir, might I demand 
 
 The hiftory of him we gaze on now. 
 
 Before whofe feet my foul would almofl dare to bow !" 
 
 The Interpreter replied, " Thou feefl a man, 
 
 One of a thoufand ; who unites indeed, 
 
 Father and mother, nurfe and guardian, 
 
 In his own perfon, for the church's need ; 
 
 His eye in heaven, the book he loves to read, 
 
 The law of truth upon his opening lip, 
 
 His felf-forgetting gefture, bent to plead 
 
 With fmful men, all this rare workmanfhip, 
 
 But faintly fhadows one whofe work effays to ftrip,
 
 THE INTERPRETER S HOUSE I5 
 
 *' Its film of darknefs from the natural eye ; 
 
 And this world placed behind him, is to fhow 
 
 How much he flights all pleafures born to die, 
 
 For love of Him who furely will beflow 
 
 Yon crown of glory fafhioned long ago, 
 
 Though hung in heaven until its owner's death. 
 
 Now this I fhowed thee firfl, that thou might'ft know, 
 
 He who before us lives in all but breath. 
 
 Is that one man of whom the one Ordainer faith, 
 
 " That he is fully authorized to be 
 
 Thy guide through every danger of the way ; 
 
 And therefore hold him faft in memory, 
 
 For fear of thofe who tempt the flock to flray. 
 
 Wolves in fheeps' clothing, hungering for their prey."
 
 i6 
 
 ^a<e^je^ion anb patience 
 
 UTas thou might'ft perceive wild Paffionfquander 
 All that he had, while yet life's day was young, 
 And feeft him now, a fhivering fuppliant yonder. 
 Hate at his heart, but prayer upon his tongue ; 
 So fhall the trembling hearts and hands be wrung 
 Of thofe who fix them both on earthly things. 
 When all fhall die round which their life had clung. 
 When drooping Fame fhall moult her eagle wings, 
 And Love's mute lips recoil like mufic's broken firings." 
 
 Then Chriftian faid, *' Now know I that the younger 
 
 Is wifer of the two in many ways ; 
 
 Thrice happy ! unto whom the fpirit's hunger 
 
 Is fure and certain pledge of harveft days ; 
 
 For whofe brow waits the feal of glory and praife 
 
 Infcribed with the unutterable name ; 
 
 While Paffion, like a boding meteor's blaze, 
 
 Or flafh of nitrous and fulphuric flame, 
 
 Dies almoft in the birth, a child of fm and fliame."
 
 17 
 
 €f)e un^tm JflenetDcr of tljc ^attth fire 
 
 OW in my dream the Interpreter next came 
 
 To Chriflian folemnly, and led him thence 
 
 To watch a pure and folitary flame, 
 With one that flood thereby who drove to quench the fame ; 
 
 Againfl a wall that fire continued burning, 
 Defpite the water that he ever threw ; 
 Higher and hotter, rain to vapour turning. 
 E'en from the moiflure frefher ftrength it drew, 
 And quaffed it up as funbeams drink the dew ; 
 Afked Chriftian, " What means this ?" the other faid, 
 '* This quenchlefs fire difplays what grace can do 
 In man's regenerate heart, once cold and dead, 
 Now quick to love and truft its former hate and dread. 
 
 D
 
 1 8 THE UNSEEN RENEWER OF THE SACRED FIRE 
 
 " The one who fhrives to kill the living fire, 
 Is he who wreaks his hate to God, on man ; 
 But as thou feeft it hotter burn and higher, 
 Toil the infernal worker all he can, 
 The caufe thereof thou foon may'ft fully fcan ;" 
 Then fhowed he how behind the heated wall 
 There flood that fire's perpetual Guardian, 
 Who, from a crufe like Zarephath's, let fall 
 Unquenchable fupplies, himfelf concealed from all. 
 
 "This, faid the Interpreter, "is God's Anointed, 
 Whofe hidden hands the facred fire maintain. 
 While that loft fpirit plies his tafk appointed, 
 Grows mad with baffled fury, clanks his chain, 
 And writhes to fee his develifh labour vain ; 
 The gracious form withdrawn from public fhow 
 Is Chrift within, fo figured, to explain 
 That men when tempted fee Him not, nor know 
 That in fuch drooping hearts fuch holy fire can glow."
 
 19 
 
 €!)e a^an tuljo fonQ^t (ji^ IBap into tjje ^^alace 
 
 ALSO faw the Interpreter again 
 Take hold of Chriftlan by his willing hand, 
 And lead him down a broad and pleafant plain, 
 Whereon a ftately palace feemed to ftand, 
 A glittering gem fet richly in the land, 
 Which dazzled while it charmed him ; and behold, 
 High on its battlemented top, a band 
 Of radiant champions clad in mail of gold, 
 'Neath royal banners flung from many a purple fold. 
 
 Then Chriftian fighed, " O might we enter thither !" 
 
 The Interpreter in filence led him on 
 
 Clofe to the gateway ; there thronged alfo hither 
 
 A wiftful company, but cowed and wan, 
 
 As fearful of the rifk to be o'ergone 
 
 In dread attempt to force an entrance there ; 
 
 And one fat near who, ever and anon. 
 
 Wrote in a book his name who fo fliould dare 
 
 To force the fteel-bound gate, to fcale the guarded ftair.
 
 20 THE MAN WHO FOUGHT HIS WAY INTO THE PALACE 
 
 For Chriftian faw that round the doorway flood 
 
 A band of men at arms in mail of proof, 
 
 Sworn to refift each effort to make good 
 
 An entrance, and to flay or keep aloof 
 
 All who afpired to tread that terraced roof; 
 
 And now he flood in deep and fad amaze, 
 
 To fee the pilgrims, for whofe fole behoof 
 
 That caftle rofe, draw back before the rays 
 
 Of battleaxe and fpear bright in the noonday blaze. 
 
 At laft a warrior ftern of eye and brow. 
 Towards the Recorder, with a flep sedate, 
 Approached; "Set down my name," he cried, and now 
 He lightly donned his helmet's ponderous weight. 
 Drew fword, and rufhed on thofe that kept the gate. 
 Who met his ftrokes with well nigh equal force, 
 But he unfcared and nerved with hope and hate. 
 Struck dead or wounded all who barred his courfe, 
 Himfelf bapti3ed in blood from many a ghaftly fource,
 
 THE MAN WHO FOUGHT HIS WAY INTO THE PALACE 21 
 
 And cut his way through all, and forward preffed 
 Into the palace ; whereupon a found, 
 (Sweet as the farewell kiffes of the Weft 
 Hufhing the woods at eve,) was breathed around 
 By thofe Immortals walking vi6lory crowned, 
 Beyond the reach of change and death and fm ; 
 And thus the towers melodioufly refound, 
 " Lord of the dauntlefs heart, come in, come in ! 
 Eternal glory thou through God's free grace fhalt win." 
 
 And now the warrior having been arrayed 
 
 In like refplendent garments, Chriftian faid. 
 
 And fmilingly, " I need no teacher's aid 
 
 To fhow me how this riddle may be read ; 
 
 Now let me go or e'er the day be fped ;" 
 
 " Nay," cried the Interpreter, "awhile remain, 
 
 Until two further vifions, dark and dread, 
 
 Shall have been paffed before thee, then again 
 
 Thou may'ft purfue thy path along the cooler plain."
 
 22 
 
 €1^ 09an in tjje g[ron <irage 
 
 O taking Chriftian's trembling hand once more, 
 He led him to a dark and dreary room, 
 Where, fadder fight than any feen before, 
 Sat in an iron cage, a man, to whom 
 The outer darknefs of that living tomb, 
 (Which his dull downcaft eyes regarded not,) 
 Was funfhine, to the fpirit's inner gloom ; 
 His hands were clafped, thick-coming fighs, begot 
 By fm upon defpair, peopled that lonely spot. 
 
 Afked Chriftian, "What means this ?" the Interpreter 
 
 Said, " Afk the man and he fhall anfwer thee ;" 
 
 Then thus he fpoke to that poor prifoner, 
 
 " What art thou ?" almoft in foliloquy, 
 
 " I am what once I was not," murmured he ; 
 
 " What waft thou once ?" afked Chriftian, he replied, 
 
 "Ah, I was once like fome fair flowering tree. 
 
 And one whofe leafy dome rofe high and wide, 
 
 A flielter to the flock, a glory and a pride.
 
 THE MAN IN THE IRON CAGE 23 
 
 " I once was bound for the celeflial city, 
 
 Or thought I was, and oft my heart beat faft 
 
 To hope that through its ample gate of pity, 
 
 I fhould obtain an entrance there at lafl ;" 
 
 "Well but what art thou now ?" Chriftian aghaft 
 
 Inquired ; the other anfwered, " I am now 
 
 A wretch o'er whom the day of grace hath paffed, 
 
 Leaving perpetual night to witnefs how 
 
 I dint thefe maffive bars, thus with my blood-ftained brow." 
 
 "But how," afked awe-ftruck Chriftian, "cam'ft thou thus?" 
 
 The man replied, " I ceafed to watch and pray. 
 
 Unreined my lufts, became lefs rigorous 
 
 Towards my own faults and follies day by day, 
 
 Prefumed on God's long-fuffering delay, 
 
 Obfcured the heavenly light which fhines on all, 
 
 Grieved the bleft Spirit 'till He fled away. 
 
 Tempted the devil 'till he heard my call, 
 
 Provoked the Lord to wrath, who left me then to fall,
 
 24 THE MAN IN THE IRON CAGE 
 
 " And now my hardened heart can ne'er repent ;" 
 Then Chriflian whifpered to the interpreter, 
 " Is all the wealth of God's rich mercy fpent ? 
 Has Love given o'er the work affigned to her ?" 
 Said the other, " Afk him ;" " Doft thou then aver," 
 Cried he, " that hope hath fled away to die, 
 And left thee in defpair's dark fepulchre ?" 
 " I do," replied the man ; afked Chriftian, *' Why ? 
 Is not the Son of God piteous exceedingly ?' 
 
 Anfwered the man, " O never more to me ! 
 
 For I have crucified the Lord again. 
 
 Contemned His righteoufnefs and dignity, 
 
 Counted His cleanfing blood unholy and vain. 
 
 Done defpite to His Spirit, and remain 
 
 Barred from all prayer, all promife, all endeavour ; 
 
 Nothing is left to lofe or to obtain ; 
 
 The fiend's triumphant voice rings wildly ever, 
 
 'Can fuch a wretch be faved? No, never, never, never'!"
 
 THE MAN IN THE IRON CAGE 25 
 
 *' What tempted thee to bring thyfelf to this ?" 
 Afked Chriftian, " For the luft, the gain, the pleafure 
 Of this loft world," faid he, " whofe tafte of blifs 
 Promifed me joy beyond all former meafure ; 
 But now each darling fm, each bofom treafure, 
 Creeps back upon my heart a quick-fanged fnake, 
 And faflens there to torture me at leifure ;" 
 Said Chriftian, " Canft thou not repent, and make 
 One lafl appeal to Him who fuffered for man's fake ?" 
 
 " God hath denied to me the faving grace 
 Of true repentance," faid the man, " His word 
 Prefents no ground for hope in fuch a cafe, 
 Where e'en the pangs of hell are fcarce deferred ; 
 His changelefs fiat hath long fince interred 
 My life, my foul, in this untimely grave ; 
 Nor if the prifoner's ftifled moans were heard 
 Through earth and heaven, would they avail to fave; 
 All angels and all men could never free that flave. 
 
 E
 
 26 THE MAN IN THE IRON CAGE 
 
 " And O, Eternity ! eternity ! 
 
 When I fliall wake to thine unending day, 
 
 How fhall I grapple with my mifery ?" 
 
 Then did the Interpreter to Chriftian fay, 
 
 " Let the remembrance never fade away 
 
 Of this man's wretchednefs, and fo take heed ;" 
 
 Said Chriftian, " This is fearful, let me pray 
 
 For prefent help in every time of need. 
 
 And thus the caufes fhun which to fuch iffues lead.
 
 27 
 
 €!je E'ap of 3|utigmcnt 
 
 OW is't not time for me to journey on ?" 
 
 Cried the other "Tarry till I firft have shown 
 But one thing more, and then thou may'ft be 
 So taking Chriftian's hand within his own, [gone ; 
 
 They reached a room, where pallid and alone, 
 A man was rifmg from a troubled sleep, 
 Who, while his garments hurridly were thrown 
 Upon him, fhook as though his flefh did creep ; 
 Then Chriftian afked, "What caufe hath power to pierce fo 
 
 [deep ?" 
 The Interpreter then bade the man unfold 
 The reafon of his fear, who thus complied ; 
 " Laft night as I was wrapped in fleep, behold ! 
 The blackened fky appearing to divide 
 In jagg'd and fiery chafms, prophecied 
 The clofely following thunder's deeptoned peal ; 
 I gafped for terror, and methought I tried 
 To watch the rack which feemed to fhake and reel, 
 As though the clouds were curfed with life to fear and feel.
 
 28 THE DAY OF JUDGMENT 
 
 " On which I heard a trumpet's piercing found, 
 
 And faw the Cloud-enthroned defcend from high, 
 
 Who, with in-numerable feraphs round, 
 
 Swept unimpeded through the flaming fl^y ; 
 
 And next I heard a mighty angel cry, 
 
 ' Come up for judgment ye difperfed dead, 
 
 Whether in earth, or fea, or fire, ye lie !' 
 
 The rocks were rent, the fhrinking ocean fled, 
 
 Earth's million mouths difgorged the flefli wherein flie fed, 
 
 "And yielded up the univerfal man ; 
 
 Some were exceeding glad, their full eyes raifed, 
 
 With tears of grateful joy unbidden ran ; 
 
 But others ruflied, diftracted and ama3ed, 
 
 'Neath mountain crags, whence tremblingly they ga3ed. 
 
 Then did I fee the Cloud-enthroned draw nigh. 
 
 And ope the book of doom ; its letters bla3ed, 
 
 And fhot intelligence to every eye, 
 
 While on each human foul full flaflied the Deity.
 
 THE DAY OF JUDGMENT 29 
 
 " Yet 'twixt that foul, (how near and yet how far !) 
 
 And its Creator, rofe a wall of flame, 
 
 As between judge and prifoner at the bar ; 
 
 I alfo heard a clarion voice proclaim 
 
 To thofe who with the cloud-throned Monarch came, 
 
 * Gather together all the tares, the chaff. 
 
 The ftubble and the duft, and caft the fame 
 
 Into the burning lake ;' with this, the half 
 
 Of being died, without one figh or epitaph. 
 
 " For hell's unfathomed gulf had burfl:, and fpread 
 Horribly wide before me, from which guflied 
 Smoke, fire, and moanings of the doubly dead ; 
 But foon as thefe fad echoes all were hufhed, 
 The fpirits who, with fweeping wings, had ruflied 
 To warn the ftars of God's approaching feet. 
 Proclaimed, while fad eyes gliftened, pale cheeks 
 ' Gather and garner all the precious wheat ;' [fluflied, 
 With that, methought I faw the broad aerial (Ireet
 
 30 THE DAY OF JUDGMENT 
 
 " Grew populous with fouls that feemed to fly, 
 
 Each with its radiant angel guide affigned, 
 
 To everlafting blifs ; but I, but I, 
 
 How can I utter it ! was left behind. 
 
 Vainly I fought a fhelter then to find 
 
 From the 'eye of Him who fat upon the throne ; 
 
 My fms came alfo frefhly to my mind, 
 
 While wakened confcience groaned with hollow tone, 
 
 ' Juft doom, which brings thy foul to meet its God alone !' 
 
 "At which I woke from fleep ;" Then Chriftian faid, 
 
 " What was it made you fo afraid of this ?" 
 
 The man replied, " Becaufe I thought with dread, 
 
 That the laft day had dawned on me, remifs 
 
 In preparation for it, hell's abyfs 
 
 Yawned at my feet burfting its broad confine ; 
 
 And what was worfe, while others rofe to blifs. 
 
 One foul was left, and that one foul was mine ; 
 
 My confcience pierced me fore, alfo the Judge divine
 
 THE DAY OF JUDGMENT 3I 
 
 " Fixed, as I thought, on me His awful eye, 
 
 Unveiling all the terrors of its beams ;" 
 
 Then did the Interpreter to Chriftian cry, 
 
 " Hafl thou confidered all thefe fights and dreams ?" 
 
 "Yes," anfwered he, "and well it me befeems 
 
 To walk in company with hope and fear ;" 
 
 Said the other, " Let remembrance of fuch themes 
 
 Be, as it were, a fpur to guide or cheer 
 
 Thy fpirit on its way, with me no longer near." 
 
 Then did the pilgrim gird himfelf to be 
 
 Prepared for travel, and the other cried, 
 
 " Good Chriftian ! may the Comforter with thee 
 
 Remain for ever as thy guard and guide. 
 
 Leading thee fafely through the defert wide, 
 
 Which every heaven-bound foul muft crofs, before 
 
 The city rifes looming in her pride ;" 
 
 So Chriftian left that hofpitable door, 
 
 And on the road he fang and viewed his journey o'er.
 
 32 
 
 ^^^^HEN was he glad, and his expanding breaft 
 
 Allowed the full-charged heart to throb its glee, 
 While thus he fang, "His labour gives me reft, 
 His bitter death brings happy life to me !" 
 Long, long, he ga3ed upon the hallowed tree, 
 For marvellous he deemed it, that the fame. 
 Should fo have inftant power to fet him free ; 
 He therefore looked, until his eyes became 
 Wet with a dew exhaled from wonder, love, and fhame. 
 
 While thus he ftood adoring, ga3ing, praying, 
 He faw three fhining ones draw near, who cried, 
 " Peace be upon thee!" and the firft one faying, 
 " Thy fms are all forgiven thee," ftood afide ; 
 A change of raiment then the next fupplied, 
 Stripping his rags ; and the laft fealed his brow, 
 And gave a roll of promife, (which was tied 
 Clofe on his heart to bind him to his vow,) 
 The paffport into heaven ; fang the glad pilgrim now, 
 
 A Hymn to Christ who died and rose again.
 
 33 
 
 "BUT will it not be found, 
 O Friends ! a daring trefpafs, and a crime 
 'Gainil Him who knoweth whither we are bound, 
 And rules the place, if thus His dignity ye wound, 
 
 " By violating His revealed command ?" 
 
 They faid, "His tongue had little need to run 
 
 On their affairs, the cuftom of the land 
 
 Confirming fully all which they had done ; 
 
 And teftimony contravened by none. 
 
 They could produce if called on, which would fhow 
 
 That this fhort way of theirs had been begun 
 
 Ay, upwards of a thoufand years ago ;" 
 
 "But," anfwered Chriflian then, "I fain would furely know
 
 34 FORMALIST AND HYPOCRISY 
 
 "If this your way of entrance could confront 
 
 A trial at the law ;" they told him, " How 
 
 This right of way, confirmed by ufe and wont 
 
 For twice five hundred years, would doubtlefs now, 
 
 (As all impartial jurifts muft allow,) 
 
 Be adjudged lawful ; and befides," faid they, 
 
 "We tread the highway, and what more doft thou ? 
 
 If we are only in, what matter pray 
 
 How firft we gained accefs ? are we not in the way 
 
 " As much as thou who entered through the gate, 
 Although we two came tumbling o'er the wall ? 
 Therefore wherein is this thy prefent ftate 
 Better than ours ?" faid Chriftian, " I take all 
 My fleps at God's command, you thief-like, crawl 
 Along the courfe your own rude fancies fleer ; 
 The Ruler of the way doth plainly call 
 Such pilgrims robbers, and I fear, I fear, 
 That at the journey's end your error will appear.
 
 FORMALIST AND HYPOCRISY 35 
 
 "You enter by yourfelves without His leave, 
 And by yourfelves your exit will be made 
 Without His mercy ;" this did they receive 
 With little anfwer, only on him laid 
 A charge to heed himfelf ; I then furveyed 
 Their further courfe, and each man went his way 
 Without much conference, fave that thofe two prayed 
 Chriflian to note, touching the law, that they 
 Were blamelefs as himfelf, and then went on to fay, 
 
 "W^e fee not how thou differefl from us, 
 But by the coat thou beareft on thy back, 
 W^hofe comelinefs we need not now difcufs ; 
 'Twas doubtlefs given by one who faw thy lack 
 Of decent drefs, pitying thy wardrobe's wrack ;" 
 "The law," faid Chriftian, "will not ferve you, fmce 
 You broke it when you entered on the track ; 
 As for my coat, 'twas given me by my Prince, 
 Who as you truly fay. His kindnefs to evince,
 
 36 FORMALIST AND HYPOCRISY 
 
 'r 
 
 " Took off my filthy rags, and gave inftead, 
 This robe of righteoufnefs immaculate ; 
 And much it lightens every ftep I tread, 
 To know that when I reach the city's gate, 
 Its gracious Lord, will from His high eftate. 
 Remember one who wears the garb He gave 
 The day He flripped me of the rags I hate ; 
 Moreover His near friend was bade to 'grave 
 A mark upon my brow, as feal that He could fave, 
 
 " The very day my grievious burden fell, 
 
 (Which mark of mine perchance you cannot fee ;) 
 
 And I am bold this further grace to tell, 
 
 That then a fealed roll was given to me. 
 
 Its contents to be more than company 
 
 Throughout my travels ; I was alfo told 
 
 To fhow it fearleffly, when I fhould be 
 
 A fuppliant at heaven's gate, and then, behold. 
 
 The confcious fpirit gate would of itfelf unfold !
 
 FORMALIST AND HYPOCRISY 37 
 
 " Now all thefe things, my Friends, I doubt you lack, 
 And that because you paffed not through the door ;" 
 To this they deigned to give no anfwer back, 
 Only each looked at each, and laughed the more ; 
 Then I perceived that Chriftian kept before, 
 While all walked on ; nor did he fpeak again, 
 Save to himfelf a little, mufmg o'er 
 His future of delight, his paft of pain ; 
 He alfo often read while traverfmg the plain 
 
 The roll the angel gave him, to renew 
 
 His fpirit's flrength ; now did the pathway bring 
 
 The hill called Difficulty full in view, 
 
 And at its foot I faw a bubbling fpring ; 
 
 Alfo two other ways, which iffuing 
 
 From the flraight road turned toward the left and right ; 
 
 Nathlefs the narrow way did clofely cling 
 
 To the fteep hill ; then Chriftian drew frefh might 
 
 From the clear fount, and fang while climbing up the height.
 
 OW half way up the hill fome fpreading trees, 
 
 Whofe interlacing boughs an arbour made, 
 Showed that the gracious Lord who owns the hill, 
 Had planned this arbour of refrefhing fhade. 
 For weary travellers ; Chriftian firft flood ftill, 
 Then fat within, (for fuch the Owner's will ;) 
 And here, when from his breaft the roll he drew 
 And read, it proved a balm for bygone ill ; 
 He alfo now began a frefh review 
 Of that white robe he wore fmce firft the crofs he knew. 
 
 Thus pleafmgly employed fome little fpace, 
 
 He dropped, from half-forgetfulnefs, to fleep, 
 
 Until the night drew near with flealthy pace ; 
 
 Now while he flept, his hand forgot to keep 
 
 Hold of the roll ; at laft his flumber deep 
 
 Was broken by a man who came and faid, 
 
 " Go to the ant thou fluggard, watch yon heap 
 
 Garnered for winter ere the fummer fled ;" 
 
 With that did Chriflian foon ftart up and onward tread
 
 THE HILL DIFFICULTY AND TIMOROUS AND MISTRUST 39 
 
 Until his finewy ftrength and limbs robuft 
 
 Gained the hill top, where two men met him, one 
 
 Being named Timorous and one Miftruft ; 
 
 To whom faid Chriftian, " Wherefore do ye run 
 
 Thus backward o'er a way fo well begun ?" 
 
 Then Timorous replied, that being bound 
 
 Unto Mount Zion, they had fcorned to fliun 
 
 That difficult afcent, yet had they found 
 
 The further they had gone the more rifk thickened round ; 
 
 They therefore were returning down the fteep ; 
 
 "Yea," cried Miftruft, "for clofe at hand there lie, 
 
 (We know not whether waking or afleep.) 
 
 Two lions in the way, which terrify. 
 
 Then doubtlefs tear and flay the paffer by," 
 
 Chriftian replied, " O Sirs, you make me fear, 
 
 Where fhall I turn in this extremity ? 
 
 If I go back to my own land from here. 
 
 That is prepared for fire, and my unbleft career
 
 40 THE MISSING ROLL FOUND 
 
 "Will end in death a few fhort years o'er-gone, 
 But if I only reach the heavenly gate, 
 I fhall be fafe, yes, I muft venture on." 
 
 €1^ !3r9ii0f^ing iHolI founti 
 
 E went thus fadly on 'till rofe to view 
 That leafy arbour where he flept before, 
 At fight of which his tears gufhed forth anew, 
 So frefhly had it brought to mind once more 
 The fault that robbed him of the roll he bore ; 
 He therefore walked in forrow, thus bewailing, 
 " O wretched man as ever night clofed o'er ! 
 Who flept until the fummer day was failing, 
 Then woke to fquander tears as fad as unavailing ;
 
 THE MISSING ROLL FOUND 4I 
 
 " Who on the miclft of Difficulty's height 
 
 Could fo indulge the flefh, as to abufe 
 
 With dreams of carnal eafe and vain delight, 
 
 That folace which the Lord doth not refufe 
 
 To fainting pilgrims whom brief reft renews ; 
 
 And I have trod how many fteps in vain ! 
 
 So for their fms did wandering Ifrael lofe 
 
 The readier way to reft, condemned again 
 
 To tread the weary track of danger, toil, and pain. 
 
 " Thus am I made to take thofe fteps with forrow 
 
 W^hich fhould ere now have led me nearer blifs, 
 
 Nor can I be fo far this time to-morrow 
 
 As now I might be, were it not for this ; 
 
 And I am forced to brave the precipice 
 
 Thrice over, which I need but once have scaled ; 
 
 Yea alfo 1 am like the road to mifs, 
 
 For now the wafted day has nearly failed ; 
 
 Alas, that luft of eafe fo eafily prevailed !" 
 
 G
 
 42 THE MISSING ROLL FOUND 
 
 Now he, by this, had reached the arbour, where 
 
 Awhile he weeping fat and deeply fighed ; 
 
 At laft, (in anfwer to forgotten prayer,) 
 
 While looking vacantly on earth, he fpied, 
 
 His miffing roll, which foon as he had eyed 
 
 Was feized and fafely gathered to his breaft, 
 
 With all the hafte that trembling joy fupplied ; 
 
 But who can tell what happy thoughts poffeffed 
 
 The heart which bore again its pledge of heavenly reft ? 
 
 He therefore kneeling thanked the Lord, whofe kindnefs 
 Throws light athwart the lids of weeping eyes; 
 Whofe hand can rend the veil of mortal blindnefs ; 
 Who holds the key of His own myfteries. 
 And now, while tears of joy and fweet furprife 
 Are mingled with the thickening dews of even 
 On Chriflian's grief-worn cheek, he leaves his fighs 
 With the arbour flowers, anticipates his heaven. 
 And feels his future fafe, with fuch a paft forgiven.
 
 €]^ri!Sftian'i6f ^Hjgroacf) anti 3(ntcotiuttio!t to tf^t 
 l^ou^c 25cautiful 
 
 I E called to mind the flory heard before, 
 
 When Timorous and Miftruft their terror told, 
 And how they quaked to hear the lions roar ; 
 He alfo thought, " Thefe beafts are doubly bold 
 When night's dark curtains noifelefily infold 
 The fleeping earth, and were they now to pafs. 
 Their fudden fpring and their relentlefs hold 
 O how could I efcape ? Alas, Alas, 
 How like the drifted fnow my gathering woes amafs!" 
 
 While thus he felt the grief-cloud thicken o'er him, 
 
 He raifed his anxious eyes toward heaven, and lo ! 
 
 A ftately palace rofe on high before him ; 
 
 Its name was Beautiful, its cafement's glow 
 
 Sufficed his yet untrodden path to fhow. 
 
 Then in my dream I faw him mend his pace. 
 
 Determined foon, if poffible, to know 
 
 Whether the Owner of that goodly place 
 
 Would give the pilgrim reft, would grant the wand'rer grace.
 
 44 CHRISTIAN AND THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 
 
 But foon the nature of the ground compelling 
 The road to narrow on each rugged fide, 
 About a furlong off the porter's dwelling, 
 He walked full warily, till he efpied 
 Two lions in the way, " Now, now," he cried, 
 " I fee the danger which drove back again 
 Miftruft and Timorous," (the beafts were tied, 
 Howbeit Chriftian could not fee their chain,) 
 Then was he fore afraid, and fcarcely could refrain 
 
 From turning ere he reached the palace gates. 
 
 Believing naught but death before him lay ; 
 
 But he whofe name is Watchful, and who waits 
 
 As porter at the lodge by night and day, 
 
 Saw him as though about to turn away. 
 
 And cried, " O Pilgrim ! is thy fhrength fo fmall ? 
 
 Fear not the lions, both are chained, for they 
 
 Are only there to try the faith of all. 
 
 Left thofe who walk by fight fhould reach my Mafter's hall.
 
 CHRISTIAN AND THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 45 
 
 " Keep thou but in the midfl of thy lone path, 
 And none fhall harm thee." 
 
 "What houfe is this ?" afked Chriflian, "Sir, may I 
 
 Lodge but one night in fuch a princely dwelling ?" 
 
 The porter anfwered, "He who rules on high, 
 
 Hath built this palace Beautiful, excelling 
 
 His other feats, thus lovingly compelling 
 
 His friends below to enter in and reft ; 
 
 All He requires from fuch, the truthful telling 
 
 Of their paft travel and their future queft," 
 
 Said Chriftian, " I who now afpire to be His guefl 
 
 " Have from the city of Deftruction come 
 
 And journey toward Mount Zion, but becaufe 
 
 The fun hath fet, am I thus troublefome. 
 
 Seeking for reft ;" the porter feemed to paufe, 
 
 And afked his name, " Sir, at the firfl it was 
 
 Gracelefs, but Chriftian is my altered name ; 
 
 Of Japheth's race, (which our one Father draws 
 
 To fojourn in the tents of Shem,) I came ;" 
 
 " But wherefore," cried the man, " our entertainment claim
 
 46 CHRISTIAN AND THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 
 
 ♦' Thus later than the fun ?" faid Chriftian, " I 
 
 Had been here fooner, but that, fad to fay, 
 
 Within the arbour I flept heavily ; 
 
 And notwithftanding that illtimed delay, 
 
 Thou would'ft have feen me earlier in the day. 
 
 Had it not been that my deceitful fleep 
 
 Filched from my nervelefs hand this roll away, 
 
 Which lofs, not finding 'till I won the fleep, 
 
 What was there left to do but flop, return, and weep? 
 
 " But God be thanked ! I found my miffing treafure. 
 
 And I am come at lafl ;" the man replied, 
 
 "According to my holy Mafter's pleafure. 
 
 Some of His chofen friends who here abide 
 
 Muft I now fummon, they will foon decide 
 
 If thou may'ft pafs and I incur no blame ;" 
 
 A bell, with warning tongue for far and wide, 
 
 The porter rang, and with the found there came 
 
 That grave yet lovely maid whom men Difcretion name ;
 
 CHRISTIAN AND THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 47 
 
 Who afked why fhe was called ; anfwered the man, 
 
 " This pilgrim feeketh Zion's holy hill, 
 
 And from the city of Deftru6lion ran, 
 
 What time he woke to do our Mafler's will ; 
 
 Benighted, weary, travel-worn, and chill, 
 
 He craved admiffion and repofe 'till day ; 
 
 I told him I would fummon thofe whofe fkill 
 
 Could teft his truth and prove what he fhould fay, 
 
 E'en as that rule dire6ls which we are pledged to obey." 
 
 So then fhe afked him whence he was, and where 
 
 He meant to journey, and he told her fhraight ; 
 
 She alfo afked him how he entered there. 
 
 If o'er the wall or through the wicket gate ; 
 
 He told her ; next fhe afked him to relate 
 
 What he had feen and met with as he came ; 
 
 All which he told her ; and to terminate 
 
 Her lengthy queftioning, flie afked his name ; 
 
 " 'Tis Chriflian," he replied, "and I would urge my claim
 
 48 CHRISTIAN AND THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 
 
 " To lodge this night within your houfe, the rather, 
 
 Becaufe I deem it fafhioned with His aid, 
 
 Who though the Sovereign Lord, is ftill the Father 
 
 Of all the creatures that His love hath made ;" 
 
 She fmiled a budding fmile, which feemed afraid 
 
 To bloom, left that might fhake the tender dew 
 
 From off the violet eyelid's spangled braid ; 
 
 After a paufe fhe gracefully withdrew. 
 
 And as fhe went, methought, the dark night darker grew.
 
 €l)c ^ou^t 25cautiful, anD toljat tua^ jSfaiti anti ^cen tfjete 
 
 HOSE things," faid Chriflian, " feemed to draw 
 The fire of heavenly joy, I longed to flay, [below 
 But knew, Alas ! that I mufl further go ;" 
 Afked Piety, "What faw you by the way?" 
 "It grew a little later in the day," 
 Said Chriftian, "when I faw upon a height, 
 Wrapped in a bleeding robe of mortal clay. 
 One hanging on a crofs, and at the fight 
 My burden fell, and plunged into perpetual night. 
 
 " For you muft know that all my life I bore 
 
 A heavy load, but at the crofs it fell ; 
 
 'Twas a flrange thing ! was ever man before 
 
 Unburdened by a hand invifible ? 
 
 And while I gazed, like one beneath a fpell, 
 
 Three fhining ones in gracious fellowfhip, 
 
 Rofe fuddenly before me, one to tell 
 
 My fins were all forgiven me, one to ftrip 
 
 My pieced and worn-out garb, and in its ftead to equip 
 
 H
 
 50 THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 
 
 " My frefhened body with this flowing cloak ; 
 But he who came the lafl, thus figned my brow, 
 And gave me this fealed roll," as Chriftian fpoke, 
 He plucked it forth ; cried Piety, " But how 
 Saw you no more than you have faid e'en now ? 
 Is there naught elfe ?" " The befl things have been told," 
 Chriftian replied, "yet mufl I needs avow- 
 That I have flill fome fecrets to unfold, 
 As namely, I defcried three men perverfely bold, 
 
 " Sloth, Simple, and Prefumption, fleeping lie 
 
 At fome fmall diftance off the narrow way, 
 
 With fhackles on their feet ; I ventured nigh 
 
 To roufe them, but how vainly, need I fay ? 
 
 I alfo faw on that eventful day, 
 
 Hypocrify and Formalifl achieve 
 
 Their forceful entrance, fpurning all delay ; 
 
 Both foon were loft and doomed beyond reprieve. 
 
 Even as I forewarned, though they would not believe.
 
 THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 5I 
 
 " Such thoughts are grief, and could I rife to be 
 Sole sovereign o'er myfelf, I would at once decree 
 
 *' Their ftricft and life-long exile from my breaft ; 
 
 But though my aims are changed, my obje6ls new, 
 
 Yet when I covet what I know is befl:, 
 
 That which is worft is prefent ;" " Is it true 
 
 Your arm at times is potent to fubdue 
 
 Such foes ?" afked Prudence, "Yes," faid he, "though fcenes 
 
 Of conquefl are with me but fhort and few ; " 
 
 " Can you," fhe afked, " remember by what means 
 
 You gain thefe golden hours when vi6lory intervenes ?" 
 
 " Yes, when I mufe upon the crofs I faw," 
 
 Said Chriftian, "that will do it ; and when I 
 
 This flowing robe without one fpeck or flaw 
 
 Contemplate, that will do it fpeedily ; 
 
 When thought grows warm and flame-like flioots on high, 
 
 Leaving this Prefent, that will do it well ; 
 
 Or poring o'er this roll of prophecy 
 
 Will do it ;" then faid Prudence, "Can you tell 
 
 Why thus you flrive to fcale heaven's hard- won citidel ?"
 
 <« 
 
 52 THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 
 
 " Becaufe I long to fee Him living there, 
 
 Who on the cruel crofs was fhown me dead," 
 
 Chriflian replied ; " and in that purer air, 
 
 I hope to 'fcape the clouds which overfpread 
 
 My judgment here below ; and there, 'tis faid, 
 
 Death's fhadow never darkens happy faces ; 
 
 But I, by gratulating angels led. 
 
 And freed from all that fetters and debafes, 
 
 With thofe I loved on earth fhall mingle foul embraces. 
 
 "In truth, my bark of life is fwiftly failing 
 
 Toward Him who lighteneth all her load of pain ; 
 
 I grow more weary of my inward ailing ; 
 
 I long to live where death fhall ceafe to reign ; 
 
 And leaving funs that fet and moons that wane. 
 
 To fee that living Light which cannot die ; 
 
 To fwell my Monarch's praife, to join His train, 
 
 Who " Holy, holy, holy," ever cry, 
 
 No fm nor forrow more, a glorious company." 
 
 ^ T^ -TT TV* "W* '?¥• TS* TS"
 
 THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 53 
 
 Then Charity addreffed him thus, " Have you 
 
 A wife, or do you Hve a lonely man ?" 
 
 " I have a wife and four young children too," 
 
 Said he ; " How could you leave them, when you ran 
 
 From your bad town ?" fhe afked ; he then began 
 
 To weep, and anfwered, "Willingly indeed 
 
 Would I have brought them with me, but who can 
 
 Plant in unwilling fouls the heavenly feed ? 
 
 All, all oppofed my courfe. none faw its vital need." 
 
 Then faid that maid fo brave yet gentle hearted, 
 " You fliould have talked to them, and tried to fliow 
 Their danger, ere you thus alone departed ;" 
 Chriftian replied, " Dear Lady, I did fo. 
 And I foretold our country's coming woe ; 
 But cold as thofe whofe funeral peal is knelled. 
 They counted me as one that mocked, although 
 Within thefe pleading eyes they all beheld 
 The grief of love unloved, of fympathy repelled."
 
 54 THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 
 
 " And did you pray to God that He would blefs 
 Your offered counfel ?" Charity inquired ; 
 Said Chriftian, " I may freely anfwer yes, 
 And that with zeal and conftancy untired, 
 For you may think how deeply I defired 
 The welfare of thofe fouls fo dear to me ;" 
 " But faid you, how your inward eye was fired 
 With that fwift-coming flame none elfe could fee, 
 That far-refracted flafh of God's artillery ?" 
 
 " Again and yet again I warned them all," 
 Said Chriftian ; " they might alfo fee my fears, 
 In this fad face darkly prophetical, 
 Where clouds of forrow melted to the tears 
 Which hope's bright iris never fweetly cheers ; 
 Did they not alfo fee my trembling under 
 The dreadful judgment ringing in my ears ? 
 To them but as the uncertain diftant thunder, 
 When fkies are clear, and men fcarce deign to paufe or 
 
 [wonder."
 
 THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 55 
 
 •'What could they fay," afked fhe, "which might excufe 
 
 Their mad rejection of the proffered truth ?" 
 
 Chriftian rephed, "My wife was loth to lofe 
 
 This pleafant world. and*-the reft feemed in footh, 
 
 Prone to the foolifh vanities of youth ; 
 
 So what with one delufion and another, 
 
 They turned away, difcarding all felf-ruth ; 
 
 " But fome with ill example wholly fmother 
 
 The breath of good advice, did you thus a.6i my Brother ?'" 
 
 Afked fhe ; he anfwered modeftly, "Although 
 
 I dare not much commend my way of life, 
 
 Full of miftakes and failures, (and I know 
 
 That he whofe lip profeffion is at ftrife 
 
 With daily conduct, wields the traitor knife 
 
 That flabs at fweet Religion,) yet I may 
 
 Affert, that neither to my babes nor wife, 
 
 Did I give caufe, fo far as in me lay, 
 
 To doubt my truth, to fcorn the ftrait and narrow way;
 
 56 THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 
 
 "Yea for this very thing, they oft declared 
 
 That I was too precife, and blamed me flill 
 
 When for their fakes, my felf-denial fpared 
 
 To do thofe things in which they faw no ill ; 
 
 And though my grief acquainted eyes may fill 
 
 With tears while faying it, the twofold chain 
 
 Which held them back from union with my will, 
 
 Was my defire to keep God's law from ftain, 
 
 Linked with that love to man which follows in its train." 
 
 * # * # ■Ji- # * # 
 
 Now in my dream I faw that thus they fat 
 
 Together talking until fupper came ; 
 
 The board made ready, they were placed thereat, 
 
 And all the land could give, fupplied the fame 
 
 With food and drink ; but in their fpeech, the ain 
 
 Was ever toward the Lord who owns the hill, 
 
 As how and why he earned his earthly fame, 
 
 And wherefore he, of his own gracious will, 
 
 Had built that houfe for all who came its courts to fill.
 
 THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 57 
 
 And from fome words they dropped, I foon perceived 
 That fince the hour he firft drew mortal breath, 
 He had been bred to arms, and had achieved 
 Vi6lory o'er him who had the power of death, 
 Though with apparent rifk and real fcath ; 
 (O loved the more in that he bled for me !) 
 " For many an one of this true houfehold faith, 
 And I believe it," Chriftian cried, "that he 
 Did all to fave the land of his nativity, 
 
 ("'Tis this which bathes his life in floods of glory,) 
 
 For which he forrowing lived and fuffering died." 
 
 Some alfo told this ftrange yet truthful ftory, 
 
 That fmce the Saviour had been crucified, 
 
 They had both feen and heard Him ; but befide, 
 
 They witneffed to the truth of every word, 
 
 When to their anxious thoughts He thus replied, 
 
 " My little ones ! your ears have not yet heard 
 
 Thofe deeper tones of love whofe echo hell hath ftirred."
 
 58 THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 
 
 I heard them give this inftance of His love. 
 That He for them had caft His crown away, 
 And left His throne the highefh heavens above, — 
 Self-exiled God ! — to affume a robe of clay, 
 And fave a world. They alfo heard him fay. 
 He would not dwell alone on Zion's hill ; 
 And they affirmed that His reconquered fway, 
 And His augmented majefty, deigned fhill 
 The lowly foul to crown, the poor heart's void to fill. 
 
 They thus difcourfed far down the deepening night, 
 When, having wafted up to heaven a prayer, 
 That through the darknefs. God would be their light, 
 They went to reft ; the fpacious chamber where 
 The pilgrim lay. Ihowed thoughtful love and care, 
 (Its name was Peace ;) with the firft glance of fire 
 From morning's eye, he heard a joyous air. 
 Trilled by the birds from the fweet fcented brier 
 Which 'neath his window grew, and Chriftian joined the 
 
 [choir.
 
 THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 59 
 
 So in the wider dawn all met, and after 
 
 Some more difcourfe, they bade him wait a fpace, 
 
 Until from marble floor to oaken rafter, 
 
 They fhould have fhown the wonders of the place ; 
 
 Firft in the Study, it behoved to trace 
 
 The meaning of the records of the paft, 
 
 Emblazoned with His deeds and high drawn race. 
 
 Who proved, when light upon the page was caft, 
 
 Child of the ancient days, albeit the Firft and Laft. 
 
 And next they culled from exploits numberlefs 
 
 Of His undaunted champions, how that they 
 
 Subdued revolted lands, wrought righteoufnefs, 
 
 Obtained God's promifes, kept (till at bay 
 
 The famifhed lion roaring for his prey, 
 
 With life blood quenched the bigot's hell-brought light, 
 
 Efcaped the cruel fword upraifed to flay, 
 
 Grew ftrong in weaknefs, valorous in fight. 
 
 And turned with God's good help the alien hoft to flight.
 
 60 THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 
 
 From volumes treafured there they alfo learned 
 How willingly their Lord admitted all, 
 Yes all, to His free grace, though they had fpurned 
 His government. His perfon, and His call ; 
 And in that world-remote and filent hall, 
 They fearched the records of illuftrious things, 
 Ancient or modern as their choice might fall. 
 Mingled with truths, on which the future flings 
 The fhadow and the dread of flow defcending wings. 
 
 Enrobed in darknefs moves the approaching Seer, 
 
 But lo ! o'er-taking Time, he walks at laft, 
 
 In truth's full light, his voice rings loud and clear. 
 
 When once its deed has joined the lucid Pafl; ; 
 
 Then, then it awes as with a trumpet blafl. 
 
 The foes of God, and while appalling thefe, 
 
 It but confirms the faith of thofe who caft 
 
 The anchor of hope in heaven-reflected feas. 
 
 And wait to enter port with evening's favouring breeze. 
 
 TV" "TV" "TV" "TV T\* 'Jr TV" T^
 
 THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 6l 
 
 Then in my dream I faw that on the morrow 
 He rofe to travel, but they bade him ftay 
 One night, that fo the parting cup of forrow 
 Might feem to all lefs bitter, " For," faid they, 
 "In the clear morning we can well furvey, 
 From the hill-top, thofe mountains which we call 
 Dele(5lable, and though far far away, 
 The memory of their lovelinefs, o'er all 
 Thy intervening path fhall like a funbeam fall ; 
 
 " For they be nearer heaven than where we are ;" 
 
 He therefore could not choofe but ftay ; fo when 
 
 The hour had come for morning's dewy ftar 
 
 To fade in brightnefs, as the life of men 
 
 Made holy, dies in light, they rofe again, 
 
 And walked around the terraced roof, and bade 
 
 Their guefl look Southward, which he did, and then 
 
 He faw a fair and hilly country, clad 
 
 With fruits that made it rich and flowers that made it glad,
 
 62 THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 
 
 Vineyards and orchards, bloffoms, ftreams, and fountains, 
 
 And wood-fringed meadows, a delightfome land ; 
 
 " How call ye thofe green fields, thofe purple mountains?" 
 
 The pilgrim cried, and thus the fifter band 
 
 Made mufical reply to his demand, 
 
 In tones which angels well might paufe to hear, 
 
 "They be Immanuel's own, and thofe who ftand 
 
 Upon them, deem the heavenly city near. 
 
 So flafh its gates of gold throughout the ether clear, 
 
 " When looked upon with pure and loving eyes, 
 
 Through that perfpective glafs of faith, which He 
 
 Who owns the hills and valleys, ftill fupplies 
 
 To all who join that fhepherd company. 
 
 Guiding to paftures where the lilies be ; 
 
 For even as this place whereon we are. 
 
 The road throughout that happy land is free 
 
 To every pilgrim coming from afar ; 
 
 And paths which God makes wide who dares prefume to bar ?" 
 
 ■3t^ TT T? ^ w tF Tr ^ ^
 
 THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 63 
 
 Now in my dream I faw that foon as they 
 Had found the lowly valley of their queft, 
 His good companions, ere they turned away. 
 With fmiles not unbedewed with tears, expreffed 
 Their fifter-love for the departing gueft 
 In more than words ; they brake the hallowed bread 
 Which is Chrift's flefli ; and fhared the firft and beft 
 Blood of the grape He gave, when bent to tread 
 The wineprefs all alone, dyeing His white robes red; 
 
 A clufler alfo from the vines which grow 
 Within the borders of the promifed land. 
 Brought by the meffengers of faith, to fhow 
 How rich its foil, its ripening air how bland ; 
 Then Chriftian, having kiffed the offered hand 
 Of each kind hoftefs, made no longer ftay ; 
 But fcarcely had he left that lovely band, 
 When up the vale, he faw to his difmay, 
 A foul fiend coming on to meet him in the way.
 
 64 
 
 Therefore from me, thy foverelgn, haft thou fled ? 
 Did I not deem that thou might'ft yet give heed 
 To my commands, I now would fmite thee dead," 
 So fpoke the fiend ; faid Chriftian, " Born indeed, 
 In your dominions, muft I toil and bleed 
 Through life about your bufinefs, when the wages 
 Of fin are death ? a miferable meed 
 For tafks almoft as wretched ; who engages 
 Never to^mend his lot, nor mount life's higher ftages ? 
 
 "Not I, who therefore grew folicitous 
 
 To leave your land ;" then fpake the fiend again, 
 
 " No prince will lightly lofe his fubje6ls thus, 
 
 Nor Avill I thee ; but fince thou doft complain 
 
 Of my rewards and tafks, only refrain 
 
 From this bold trefpafs on my power and ftate, 
 
 And here I promife thee to entertain 
 
 No one unkingly thought of fecret hate, 
 
 But all my land affords on all thy wants fhall wait."
 
 APOLLYON - 65 
 
 *' But I," faid Chriflian, "have engaged to ferve 
 
 Another and a nobler lord, for He 
 
 Is the great King of kings ; and fhall I fwerve 
 
 From my fealed promife, to return with thee ?" 
 
 The fiend replied, "Thou haft affuredly, 
 
 According to the old familiar phrafe, 
 
 Changed bad for worfe, yet do I daily fee 
 
 That thofe who crawl in thy new mafter's ways, 
 
 Soon flip his dog-leafh off, and 'fcape the lafh he fways, 
 
 " Returning unto me ; and thus do thou, 
 
 So all fhall yet be well ;" faid Chriflian, " I 
 
 To him have pledged my faith, and made my vow 
 
 Of life-long fealty, therefore to comply 
 
 With mandates fuch as thine, would bring me nigh 
 
 To merit and to meet a traitor's end ;" 
 
 " Thou did'ft the fame to me in days gone by," 
 
 Anfwered Apollyon, "yet I condefcend 
 
 To pardon all the paft, and hold thee as my friend,
 
 66 APOLLYON 
 
 '* If only thou wilt now return with me 
 
 To fields through which joy's brimming river glides;" 
 
 Then Chriftian anfwered, "What I promifed thee 
 
 Was in my nonage ; I account befides, 
 
 That He whofe royal banner henceforth guides 
 
 This arm in fight, this foot upon its way. 
 
 Is able to abfolve me, yea provides 
 
 A fpecial pardon for all fuch as lay 
 
 Their rebel weapons down, their paft be what it may. 
 
 " And to fpeak truth, I tell thee once for all 
 
 O thou Deftroyer! that I love His fway, 
 
 (Which thy falfe lip hath called tyrannical,) 
 
 His perfon, fervants, dwelling-place, and pay, 
 
 Better than thine ; ceafe then to bar the way, 
 
 And never tempt me more ; for I have ta'en 
 
 Earnefl from Him, and here I ftand to fay 
 
 That what I am I ever will remain. 
 
 His fervant and not thine, who fpend'fi: thy breath in vain."
 
 APOLLYON 67 
 
 ''Confider yet once more," calmly replied 
 
 The artful fiend, " what fhadows wait to fall 
 
 Upon thy purposed path ; thou can'ft not hide 
 
 From me or from thyfelf, that well nigh all 
 
 Who thus refpond to thy new mafler's call, 
 
 Becaufe they wander from my ways and me 
 
 Meet an ill end ; earth's covering is too fmall 
 
 To wrap the bones of thofe we daily fee 
 
 Creep to that fhameful death whence I would refcue thee. 
 
 ** And fmce thou lov'fl his fervice more than mine. 
 
 Art thou fo dull of mind as not to know 
 
 That he, whom for mirth's fake, I call divine, 
 
 Has other work than thy affairs below 
 
 To heed and guide ? methinks his arm is flow 
 
 To free his friends from my avenging hands ; 
 
 But as for me, 'tis known that I beftow 
 
 Freedom on all who walk in my commands. 
 
 From him and his, as long as power or cunning flands.
 
 68 APOLLYON 
 
 " Thou wail; almoft perfuaded to return 
 When the chained lions met thy timid gaze ; 
 And if fhame be not dead, thy cheek muft burn. 
 While I affert, that when thy works and ways 
 By thee are told, thy fecret thirft for praife 
 Is the mean motive, rather than God's glory ;" 
 " All this is true," faid Chriftian, "and difplays 
 Lefs than the half of life's unopened flory ; 
 And thy heart-piercing words, fternly condemnatory^ 
 
 "Although they be, I own are all too mild 
 
 To meet my cafe ; but He whom I obey 
 
 Has owned me, as a father owns the child, 
 
 Who home returning from an erring way, 
 
 Forfakes his follies ; let me alfo fay. 
 
 That thefe infirmities and faults were mine, 
 
 Or ever I had left thy land, for they 
 
 Alas ! were then to me as lufcious wine ; 
 
 But I have wept them out with tears which Love divine
 
 APOLLYON 69 
 
 "Has taught to flow, and I am all forgiven ;" 
 Then burft Apollyon into furious rage, 
 Saying, " I hate this King of earth and heaven, 
 His laws and people, and I live to wage 
 Fierce war with him in every place and age ; 
 Know that I fland to bar thy way, or fhed 
 Thy life-blood, down I throw my royal gage, 
 Accept it if thou dar'ft ;" then Chriftian faid, 
 " Beware of what you do, for I, proud fpirit, tread 
 
 The King's highway, the way of holinefs." 
 
 Then did the fiend, his long-fought time efpying, 
 Draw up to clofe with Chriftian, who fell prone, 
 Apollyon's mountain weight upon him lying ; 
 And with the dreadful fliock his fword was thrown 
 Out of his hand, worn to the gliftening bone ; 
 " Now am I fure of thee," Apollyon faid, 
 And preffed fo heavily, that one low moan 
 Seemed all that fevered Chriftian from the dead ; 
 Defpair drew near and paufed, Hope trembling, turned 
 
 [and fled.
 
 70 APOLLYON 
 
 But as the Lord would have it, while the foe 
 Was lifting high his arm, as if he meant 
 To make no fecond thrufl: or after blow, 
 Chriflian, by what the world calls accident, 
 Regained his fword, and thus he gave free vent 
 To the full tide of faith, " Rejoice no more 
 Againft me O mine enemy ! I bent 
 But like the bough, which when the guft is o'er 
 Rifes again," he thruft deeper than e'er before. 
 
 Forcing the fiend to rife as one who fprings 
 Pierced at the heart though whole in every limb ; 
 Then Chriftian faying, " Nay in all thefe things 
 We are made more than conquerors, through him 
 Who loved us," fmote a fecond time, his grim 
 And dreadful foe, who fpreading wing-like flames 
 Flew ftraightway forth to gain the diftant, dim, 
 And filent fhadow-land of thwarted aims ; 
 So Chriftian ftood alone to count his fears and maims.
 
 71 
 
 €()e Fallcp of tt)e ^Ijaboto of 2Dcatl) 
 
 ; H E valley of the fhadow of dread death 
 
 Chriflian must needs pafs through, because the 
 To the celeftial City, traverfeth [way 
 
 Thofe leaden fields beneath their fkies of gray ; 
 A lonely land ; one in the olden day, 
 Who knew it well, called it, "A defert place, 
 A land of pits and drought, a land where lay 
 Death's fhadow, and whence none, but by God's grace. 
 Can e'er emerge to light, bearing no friendly trace 
 
 Of footfteps, and without a human dwelling ;" 
 Now here poor Chriftian's danger feemed to be 
 Greater than that which I have juft been telling, 
 Even as by the fequel you will fee.
 
 ']2 THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH 
 
 " What faw you ?" Chriftian afked, the ftrangers faid, 
 
 " The vale itfelf, which ftraight before us lay 
 
 In pitchy darknefs ftreaked with lurid red ; 
 
 There, by the momentary lightning's ray, 
 
 Loft fouls and fiends more deeply damned than they. 
 
 We trembling faw ; we alfo heard afar, 
 
 A difmal wail which never died away. 
 
 As from thofe hopelefs multitudes who are 
 
 Harneffed with iron chains to Satan's fiery car, 
 
 " And penfive captives to a milder woe, 
 
 Who fit with downcaft eyes, and weep and figh. 
 
 Wafted a found like breezes fobbing low ; 
 
 Clouds of confufion veiling the far fky, 
 
 Hung o'er that chafm ; and there with glaffy eye, 
 
 Death undifturbed fits brooding ; in a word, 
 
 It is a place given o'er to mifery, 
 
 And wild diforder ;" Chriftian undeterred. 
 
 Then faid, " I cannot yet by all that I have heard.
 
 THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH 73 
 
 " Perceive but that my way to Zion's hill 
 
 Lies here ;" " Thine be it, 'tis not ours," they cried ; 
 
 And fo they parted, Chriftian walking ftill, 
 
 With fword unfheathed, and glancing reftlefs eyed, 
 
 Before, behind him, and on either fide. 
 
 For fear of frefh affaults. 
 
 * * * -X- -jf- * * -:<• 
 
 Then Chriftian faid. 
 
 " I pray thee grant deliverance to my foul ;" 
 Thus paffed he on a weary while, although 
 Still feemed thofe fiery waves impelled to roll 
 Toward him alone ; and ruHiings to and fro. 
 And voices of a difembodied woe. 
 Made his ears tingle ; till there rofe before him, 
 The dread that by fome ftrange invifible foe 
 He fhould be torn in pieces, or that o'er him 
 Hell's hoft would tread, and none in heaven or earth de- 
 
 [plore him. 
 
 K
 
 74 THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH 
 
 Sad echoes rolled and fiery billows gleamed, 
 While Chriftian travelled many miles in fear; 
 And coming to a byway, where he deemed 
 A cry of banded fiends fell on his ear, 
 As though they rufhed to meet him, he paufed here, 
 To ponder well what courfe he fhould purfue, 
 And the half-cherifhed thought, "Why perfevere 
 Againft fuch dreadful odds ?'" at times fhot through 
 His troubled mind, but then the fweet fufpicion grew, 
 
 That he might foon be halfway through the vale ; 
 
 He alfo called to mind the ills o'ergone 
 
 Safely already, and that now to quail, 
 
 Might be more dangerous than to venture on ; 
 
 So he went forward, yet anon, anon. 
 
 Nearer and nearer came the hellifli crowd ; 
 
 But when the demons' breath fell hot upon 
 
 His fhrinking cheek, he flopped and cried aloud, 
 
 " I walk with God the Lord, and with his ftrength endowed
 
 THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH 75 
 
 "I bid defiance to ye all," they now 
 Gave back, and foon were hidden from his eyes ; 
 One thing I muft record, I noted how 
 Bewildered Chriflian failed to recognize 
 The found of his own voice, and in this wife 
 I watched the manner of the frefh affault ; 
 Over againft the fulph'rous flames which rife 
 Out of the burning pit's o'er-arching vault, 
 Even without his leave, or knowledge, or default, 
 
 There foftly crept behind him one of thofe 
 
 Whofe fole remaining hope of joy now lies 
 
 In dragging happier fouls down to their woes, 
 
 Whofe whifperingly fuggefted blafphemies 
 
 Too horrible to utter, feemed to rife 
 
 From the poor pilgrim's own delib'rate will ; 
 
 This new temptation in it's fubtle guife, 
 
 Struck deeper than all Chriftian's former ill ; 
 
 Him loved fo much before, yea loved fo deeply ftill,
 
 76 THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH 
 
 To live to feel that he had thus blafphemed ! 
 But Chriftian would have ftilled the horrid voice 
 Had it been his to rule ; he little deemed 
 It lay beyond the region of his choice ; 
 How had it caufed his fad heart to rejoice, 
 Had he but known that flopping his vexed ears 
 Againfl the found caufed by that fiend-device, 
 Would have deftroyed it; hours that feemed like years 
 Dragged flowly by, (fo long a prefent grief appears.) 
 
 And now he knew how narrow was the way 
 
 Which he had paffed ; he alfo trembling faw 
 
 Loft fouls, and fiends more deeply damned than they. 
 
 Although far off, (becaufe they hold in awe 
 
 The rifmg fun, and at his beams withdraw,) 
 
 Yet did he fee them plainly ; as 'tis faid, 
 
 " Deep things from darknefs, he who wields the law 
 
 Of day and night reveals, his wings widefpread, 
 
 Bring out from death's cold fhade the loft, the doubly dead."
 
 THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH 7/ 
 
 More feared at night yet feen more clearly now, 
 
 Becaufe confpicuous in the eye of day, 
 
 Chriftian furveyed with fixed confid'rate brow, 
 
 The dangers of his folitary way ; 
 
 At which calm retrofpect of all that lay 
 
 O'erpafl and gone, the deep and hidden well 
 
 Of joy, uprifing 'gainfh it's owner's fway, 
 
 Brimmed with quick tears which through their fluices fell ; 
 
 His lips were mute, his eyes fpoke love ineffable. 
 
 " Let there be light," faid Love in heaven, then flowed 
 
 The light on Chriftian from the vi6lor fun ; 
 
 For note, that though the firft part of his road 
 
 Throughout the vale of death's dark fhade, was one 
 
 To 'appal the braveft, there remained undone 
 
 As hard a tafk, to wit, the paffage o'er 
 
 The fecond ; and his rifks already run 
 
 Were lefs, if poffible, than thofe before ; 
 
 For here were thickly fet by the infernal fower.
 
 78 THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH 
 
 Snares, traps, and nets throughout the whole extent, 
 To the remoteft verge of Chriftian's fight ; 
 And therewithal the furface fo was rent 
 With holes and pits and fhelvings, that had night 
 Still robed the earth in black, the pilgrim might 
 Have Hipped a thoufand times ; but as I faid, 
 The vi6lor fun had fcaled the bordering height ; 
 Then Chriftian fang, "His beams are round my head, 
 And by his light I walk, though dark the vale I tread." 
 
 And in this light he walked e'en to the clofe 
 Of that dark vale. Here alfo in my fleep, 
 I faw the mangled limbs of fome of thofe 
 Who had been pilgrims once, a ghaftly heap 
 Of afhes, bones, and blood ; and while in deep 
 And anxious mufmg what the caufe might be, 
 I Tpied a cave a little up the fteep, 
 In which two giants of one progeny, 
 Have dwelt in fecret league from hoar antiquity ;
 
 THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH 79 
 
 By the fell power and tyranny of whom, 
 
 The men whofe faplefs bones lay mould'ring there, 
 
 Were foully murdered ; but their open tomb 
 
 Chriflian paffed through without much caufe for fear; 
 
 Whereat I wondered ; but that fway fevere 
 
 Is, I have learned fmce then, o'er-maftered now ; 
 
 The elder has been dead for many a year ; 
 
 While th'other, though alive, compelled to bow 
 
 Beneath the weight of age, and fcarred from foot to brow, 
 
 With wounds received when he was young and brave, 
 
 Is grown fo ftiff and feeble, as to do 
 
 But little more than fit within his cave, 
 
 Gnafhing his teeth at pilgrims who pafs through 
 
 This darkened vale, and ever vexed anew 
 
 Becaufe he cannot reach them. So, behold ! 
 
 Chriflian went on his way, yet at the view 
 
 Of that grim man of fm, bent, palfied, old. 
 
 He knew not what to think, nor yet when plainly told,
 
 So THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH 
 
 By him whom grief and age had fafely chained, 
 " Ye ne'er will mend till more of you be burned ;" 
 But Chriflian held his peace, and having gained 
 Some little confidence, went paft, nor turned 
 A backward look at one who, beaft-like, churned 
 The white foam of his rage with gory fang, 
 Who mercy from miffortune ne'er had learned, 
 Whofe thin flirill fcream throughout the nations rang, 
 Troubler of church and world ; then joyful Chriflian fang, 
 
 " My gratitude vies with my wonder ! 
 I have traverfed the darknefs at laft, 
 The bolt-bearing lightning, the thunder, 
 The horrible pitfalls are paffed ; 
 I have threaded the fiend-haunted valley 
 O'erfpread with the fliadow of death, 
 And now let me halt, while I rally 
 My courage, and gather my breath ; 
 Encompaffed about with temptation, 
 I flipped on the threfhold of hell. 
 But the arm of a prefent falvation 
 Around me was thrown as I fell."
 
 8i 
 
 Contjcr^ation toitj) f aitl[)ful 
 
 HEN Faithful anfwered, " I efcaped the Slough 
 Into the which you fell, and reached the gate 
 Without much peril ; but I here avow 
 
 My fad difcov'ry that the fiend can bait 
 
 His fnare, with amiable and delicate, 
 
 As well as dark temptations, for I met, 
 
 (As Truth compels me blufhing to relate,) 
 
 That wanton dame who wanders to befet 
 
 And catch unwary youth in her wide filken net." 
 
 'Twas well that you efcaped her," Chriflian faid, 
 
 " She found chafte Jofeph in his prime of youth, 
 
 And he like you from her falfe beauty fled ; 
 
 Yet was that witch fo foully fair, in footh, 
 
 Almoft his death ; but for the fake of truth, 
 
 What were the arts fhe ufed ?" Faithful replied, 
 
 " You would not think how flattering and how fmooth, — 
 
 But that you have fome knowledge for your guide, — 
 
 Her honeyed words, diflilled from rofy lips that lied;
 
 82 CONVERSATION WITH FAITHFUL 
 
 " And long fhe flrove to tempt me from the way, 
 
 Still promifing all manner of content ;" 
 
 " Not that," grave Chriftian hafted then to fay, 
 
 " Which waits upon a confcience innocent ;" 
 
 ** You fure might know," cried Faithful, "that I meant 
 
 Earthly and low delight ;" faid the other then, 
 
 " O rare efcape ! thank God for the event ! 
 
 They who forfake Him, fall into her den. 
 
 Where luft and murder lurk to flay the fouls of men." 
 
 ** Nay," anfwered Faithful, " I can fcarcely tell 
 
 Whether I wholly 'fcaped her wiles or no ;" 
 
 " Alas, alas, my Brother, if you fell !" 
 
 Chriftian exclaimed ; then Faithful faid, " Not fo, 
 
 For I remembered what was long ago 
 
 Writ with the finger of a fcribe of God, 
 
 * Her fteps take hold of hell,' and left her, though 
 
 I was compelled to fhut mine eyes, and trod 
 
 In a dim path awhile ; I feared the avenging rod,
 
 CONVERSATION WITH FAITHFUL S$ 
 
 " Would fall upon me but for gazing on her ; 
 
 ' O turn away mine eyes from vanity !' 
 
 I prayed, that I may dread to look upon her ; 
 
 But all fo clofely does deep hatred lie 
 
 To that bafe kind of loving, that as I 
 
 Departed thence, fhe curfed me and reviled ;" 
 
 "And did you not," afked Chriftian, with a figh, 
 
 "Meet foes who frowned, as well as foes who fmiled?" 
 
 Said Faithful, "When I reached the hills confufedly piled 
 
 " Called Difficulty, there a man I found 
 
 Preffed earthward with the weight of many years." 
 
 *<A£> 'itr ^ Urn 4t 4£> ^^ 
 
 ^ TT TT /* ^ 75" TT 
 
 " This Mofes, man of men 
 
 Moft obdurate, exclaimed, * All hope give o'er 
 Of mercy fhown by me,' then fmiting as before,
 
 84 CONVERSATION WITH FAITHFUL 
 
 " He doubtlefs would have been my death, had not 
 
 One coming by enjoined him to forbear ;" 
 
 " What could he be who reached that lonely fpot 
 
 At fuch a time ?" afked Chriftian ; " Strangely fair, 
 
 Yet fad he looked, and I was unaware, 
 
 (For I had fainted,) who he was, at firfl ; 
 
 But when his wounded hands and fide bent there 
 
 Above my wounds, the truth upon me burft, 
 
 I knew he was the Lord ; then foon as e'er I durft, 
 
 " Again I climbed the hill ;" " That man of wrath 
 
 Said Chriftian, " who o'ertook you, was the fame 
 
 Who fpareth no tranfgreffor, yea who hath 
 
 No touch of pity, Mofes is his name ;" 
 
 " Alas ! I know him well, 'twas he who came, 
 
 (For we," faid Faithful, "once before have met,) 
 
 Fraught with thofe threatenings of devouring flame, 
 
 Unto my houfe, which I could not forget, 
 
 Even while all around feemed deaf to danger yet"
 
 85 
 
 5paitt)ful meets? SDiiecontent anti ^^amt 
 
 I^^^^HEN Chriftian fald to Faithful, " Pray you tell, 
 Met you no traveller through thofe meadows 
 That valley of humility ?" "I well [green. 
 
 Remember that I did," faid Faithful, "it befell, 
 
 " That one named Difcontent befet me there, 
 Who gladly would have turned my feet to go 
 Backward with him, for which his reafons were, 
 Becaufe the vale was from its nature, low 
 And defpicable, and that therefore, fo 
 My wafted life in that mean ditch to hide. 
 Would difoblige all thofe I cared to know, 
 As Arrogancy, Self-conceit, and Pride, 
 With Glory-of-this-world, and many more befide ;
 
 86 FAITHFUL MEETS DISCONTENT AND SHAME 
 
 "Who, he continued, would, andjuftly, feel 
 
 Enraged, with fuch a headftrong fool as I, 
 
 (He prayed me to excufe his friendly zeal,) 
 
 Should feem to them, if ftill averfe to fly 
 
 From that deep valley of Humility." 
 
 Afl<ed Chriftian, "Well, what.anfwer did you make ?" 
 
 " I told him," Faithful faid, "that though the tie 
 
 Of kindred was no eafy bond to break, 
 
 And thofe he named had long been loved for nature's fake, 
 
 "Yet fmce I had a pilgrim come to be. 
 
 They had difowned me, and I partly them ; 
 
 That therefore they were now no more to me 
 
 Than if we could not claim one parent ftem ; 
 
 Touching this vale that he had dared contemn, 
 
 His judgment was too light to weigh its worth ; 
 
 Humility fhall wear the diadem 
 
 Of honour, while the haughty fpirit's mirth 
 
 Shall change to wail, it's lord laid grov'ling on the earth.
 
 FAITHFUL MEETS DISCONTENT AND SHAME 87 
 
 " Therefore, faid I, ftill be it mine to go 
 Along this lowly valley, honour-crowned 
 By wifdom, rather than to fink fo low. 
 As that my heaven-raifed forehead fhould be bound 
 With mud befpattered wreaths, which may be found 
 On every highway trampled by the throng ;" 
 Afked Chriftian, " Met you on that holy ground 
 With no one elfe ?" " Yes, as I paffed along," 
 Said Faithful, "Shame I met, but of all thofe among 
 
 "Whom I have mingled in my life-long walk. 
 He bears, I think, the moft ill-chofen name." 
 
 " * And is not this,' " he aflced, " 'a burning fhame ?' " 
 " And what reply," afked Chriftian, " did you make?" 
 "At firfl," faid Faithful, "it was hard to frame 
 A fitting anfwer to the taunts he fpake ; 
 Yea, the hot tingling blood feemed to forfake 
 My heart, to flufh my face, Shame fhamed me fo ; 
 I almoft thought I dared not undertake 
 To plead Religion's caufe 'gainft fuch a foe, 
 Until I called to mind thofe words faid long ago,
 
 88 FAITHFUL MEETS DISCONTENT AND SHAME 
 
 *' 'The things efteemed by man, are with the Lord 
 
 Abomination;' and I thought again, 
 
 Although this Shame, whofe word cuts Hke a fword. 
 
 Tells all too truly what is found in men ; 
 
 He cannot tell, for 'tis beyond his ken. 
 
 What may be found in God, by thofe who feek 
 
 In God's own words, pardon, ftrength, courage, when 
 
 Paft, prefent, future, as a chorus, fpeak 
 
 Of confli6l to the ftrong, of terror to the weak. 
 
 " I alfo thought that at the day of doom, 
 
 The fwelling fpirits and the noble few 
 
 Whom Shame admired, will, rifmg from the tomb, 
 
 {How changed and humbled by their paffage through !) 
 
 Not then be found my judges ; no, I knew 
 
 That life or death will fall to them and me, 
 
 According to the ftricl requirement due 
 
 Unto His law, whom every eye fhall fee. 
 
 Advocate, Witnefs, Judge, in triune Deity.
 
 FAITHFUL MEETS DISCONTENT AND SHAME 89 
 
 " Therefore, thought I, what God declares is beft, 
 
 Is fo, let all the men on all the earth 
 
 Deny it's excellence ; and for the reft, 
 
 Seeing that Chrift has deemed religion worth 
 
 Coming to die for ; that each tender birth 
 
 Of confcience, and each infant fear of fm. 
 
 With Him is precious ; that the very dearth 
 
 Of wordly wifdom, in their fouls who win 
 
 The heavenly, oft makes fpace for the good feed within ; 
 
 " And that the pooreft man who loveth Chrift 
 
 Is richer than the richeft in the world 
 
 Who hateth Him ; therefore, O Shame! who Heft 
 
 Moft, when moft feeming true ; who would'ft have curled 
 
 Thy lip with fcornful triumph, to have hurled 
 
 My foul to hell, thither return again ; 
 
 If my King's banner, borne by me, were furled 
 
 At thy folicitings, declare, how then 
 
 Could I endure His gaze fearching all fouls of men ? 
 
 M
 
 90 FAITHFUL MEETS DISCONTENT AND SHAME 
 
 *' Should I be now afhamed of Him and His, 
 
 Would He not foon be found afhamed of me ? 
 
 So Shame was anfwered ; but indeed he is 
 
 A bold impoftor, I could fcarcely free 
 
 My path from his intrufive company ; 
 
 Yea, he would ftill be taunting me with one 
 
 Of the too many earthly ftains which be 
 
 On the faints' robe, kept white by nearly none ; 
 
 But at the laft I faid that fpots upon the fun, 
 
 " Dimmed not his luftre ; that 'twas all in vain 
 To tempt me further in this bufmefs, feeing 
 The things he looked upon with moft difdain 
 I held moft glorious ; therefore our agreeing 
 Had come to be impoffible ; then freeing 
 My foofteps from this Shame, I walked alone. 
 And felt at once the full delight of being 
 In no worfe company than e'en my own ; 
 So I began to fmg in no defpondent tone,"
 
 FAITHFUL MEETS DISCONTENT AND SHAME 9 1 
 
 *' I am rejoiced, my Brother, that the fnares 
 
 Of Shame," faid Chriftian, "were thus 'fcaped by thee ; 
 
 For as thou fay'ft, of all, I think he bears 
 
 The moft ill-chofen name ; his face we fee 
 
 When in the ftreets, urging his hateful plea, 
 
 To make us feel afhamed in open day ; 
 
 That is, afhamed of goodnefs ; but if he 
 
 Were not himfelf moft fhamelefs, could he ftay 
 
 So clofely and fo long, to dog us on our way ?" 
 
 Quoth Chriftian, "You fay well, but did you meet 
 With no one elfe when Shame at laft withdrew ?" 
 Said Faithful, " No, not I, and light and heat 
 Were both vouchfafed me all that valley through, 
 And paft the vale of death's cold fhadow too, 
 For I had cheerful funfhine all the way ;" 
 Said Chriftian gently, " It was well for you ; 
 It fared far otherwife with me, I may 
 Freely confefs, that when Humiliation lay 
 
 A valley fpread before my view, I fought 
 On entering it, a long and dreadful fight."
 
 92 
 
 ContJcrjBiation toitt) Calftatitjc 
 
 MOREOVER in my dream I faw that they 
 Difcourfed at large on what the paft fuppHed ; 
 Now Faithful, as he chanced to look that way, 
 Obferved aloof, though walking at their fide, 
 One Talkative, (for here the path was wide, 
 Allowing room for all to walk abreaft ;) 
 The man was tall, and comelier when eyed 
 Far off than near ; whom Faithful thus addreffed, 
 ' Whither away good Friend, are you, as we, in queft 
 
 " Of the celeftial city ?" " Yes," quoth he ; 
 "'Tis well," faid Faithful, "and I hope we may 
 Have your good company ;" " So let it be, 
 With all my heart," cried Talkative ; " Then pray 
 Let us together wend upon our way," 
 Faithful rejoined, "nor in our walking, fmother 
 Young zeal with filence ;" "I may truly fay," 
 Replied the man, "it pleafes me, my Brother, 
 To talk of holy things, with you or any other ;
 
 CONVERSATION WITH TALKATIVE 93 
 
 ** And glad indeed I am to meet with thofe 
 
 Who love fo good a work, for truth to fpeak, 
 
 There are but few, as you may well fuppofe, 
 
 Who thus, a way, tedious at times and bleak 
 
 Beguile ; mofl pilgrims choofe in talk to feek 
 
 For things of little profit, which hath wrought 
 
 Some lofs to me, for though I am not weak 
 
 To lean, or much expe6ting to be taught. 
 
 Yet ftrongeft minds gain moft by interchange of thought." 
 
 " That is indeed a lofs to be deplored. 
 
 For what more fit to grace a human lip, 
 
 Than humble fpeech of heaven and heaven's Adored ?" 
 
 Faithful replied ; "I like your fellowfhip 
 
 Exceeding well, you let no topic flip 
 
 Out of your grafp without conviction's feal," 
 
 Said Talkative, "and O ! 'tis fweet to (trip 
 
 The folds from myftery, and fo reveal 
 
 The hidden things of God, if we have hearts to feel
 
 94 CONVERSATION WITH TALKATIVE 
 
 *' Delight in what is new or wonderful ; 
 
 As thus, if any love to dig in mines 
 
 Of unwrought treafure, or enjoy to cull 
 
 The field of wonders, miracles, and figns, 
 
 They find no book like God's, where joy combines 
 
 So fweetly with furprife ;" "All this is true," 
 
 Said Faithful, "but the fruit His hand enfhrines 
 
 Within the flower, — I mean what deeds enfue 
 
 After we ihut the book, fhould moft be held in view." 
 
 " I faid fo, for the light which converfe flings 
 
 On fcripture is moft precious ; we by fpeech," 
 
 Said Talkative, " explore unnumbered things ; 
 
 By this, earth's vanity we learn and teach, 
 
 And bring heaven's truth down to our fpirit's reach ; 
 
 Thus in the general, but to be exprefs, 
 
 The abfolute neceffity for each 
 
 Of the new birth, how poor and profitlefs 
 
 All works of man, the need of Chrifl's own righteoufnefs,
 
 CONVERSATION WITH TALKATIVE 95 
 
 " Or fuch like, by this means are taught ; I may 
 
 Alfo affert that thus by talk, we learn 
 
 How to repent, believe, endure, and pray, 
 
 And fo forth ; by this like wife we difcern 
 
 Promise and joy, when with our friends we turn 
 
 The gofpel page ; further, by this we know 
 
 How to refute falfe do6lrine ; and we earn 
 
 The right to vindicate the truth, yea grow 
 
 Weak to infl:ru6l the weak, yet ftrong to raife the low." 
 
 *' All this is good, and glad am I to hear 
 Such things from you," cried Faithful ; " Ah ! the want 
 Of good difcourfe is one great caufe I fear." 
 Said the other, "why the number is fo fcant 
 Of thofe who know the need of faith, and pant 
 To feel a work of grace begun within ; 
 And why fo many, groffly ignorant, 
 Drag on in legal chains, a load of fm 
 Through life, for love not law his heaven for each muft 
 
 [wni.
 
 96 CONVERSATION WITH TALKATIVE 
 
 " But by your leave, a knowledge fuch as this," 
 Cried Faithful, " is the gift of God alone ; 
 And none that e'er hath been, fhall be, or is, 
 Earns it by fpeech or labour of his own ;" 
 " Which precious truth," faid Talkative, "is known 
 And prized by me, for every good we gain 
 Mufl by God's Spirit doubtlefs firft be fown ; 
 All is of grace, not works ; I could maintain 
 This by a hundred texts, as forcible as plain." 
 
 *' Well then," quoth Faithful, " what high thought fhall be 
 
 The prop round which our free difcourfe may twine ?" 
 
 " Whate'er you will," faid the'other, " I am free 
 
 To talk of earthly things or things divine, 
 
 Of law or gofpel, of the inner fhrine 
 
 Or outer court, of future or of paft. 
 
 Of foreign or domeftic, of the fign 
 
 Or of the fubftance, only may we caft 
 
 The light of truth o'er all, and profit at the laft."
 
 CONVERSATION WITH TALKATIVE 97 
 
 And now did wondering Faithful quickly tread 
 
 Clofe up to Chriftian, who this while had been 
 
 Walking alone, and foftly to him faid, 
 
 " A brave companion have we found I ween ! 
 
 Surely in him may be difkin6lly feen 
 
 The pilgrim's model ;" at which Chriftian fmiled, 
 
 But modeftly, and anfwered, " He whofe mien 
 
 And talk you fo admire, has often wiled 
 
 By fcores, good men like you, whom he has juft beguiled." 
 
 " Do you," afked Faithful, " know him then my Brother ?" 
 
 " Yes, better than he knows himfelf," replied 
 
 Blunt Chriftian ; " Pray what is he ?" afked the other ; 
 
 "His name is Talkative, he ufed to abide," 
 
 Quoth Chriftian, " in our town, which fpreads fo wide 
 
 That therefore I fuppofe you know him not ;" 
 
 " Where lived he, — who his father ?" Faithful cried ; 
 
 " Say-well of Prating row this fon begot. 
 
 Who is well known to all the neighbours round the fpot, 
 
 N
 
 98 CONVERSATION WITH TALKATIVE 
 
 *' As Talkative," faid Chriftian, " of that ftreet ; 
 
 And all defpite his deftly ordered tongue, 
 
 Search for a fummer's day, you fcarce will meet 
 
 A forrier rafcal or a founder lung ;" 
 
 Cried Faithful, "Well, I know that I am young 
 
 And inexperienced, but he feems to be 
 
 A richly gifted man ;" " That is, among 
 
 Thofe men who do not know him thoroughly, 
 
 For he is beft abroad, and fhould you chance to fee 
 
 " The man at home," faid Chriftian, "you would find 
 
 His daily life moft ugly ; what you fay 
 
 Touching his varied gifts, brings to my mind 
 
 A painting, which appears on clofe furvey, 
 
 Formlefs and falfe, but if we move away. 
 
 We learn that diftance is the friend of art. 
 
 Transforming blots to beauties ;" " Yet I may 
 
 Take leave to think," faid th'other, " that in part 
 
 You jeft, becaufe you fmile;" " No mirth fits at my heart.
 
 CONVERSATION WITH TALKATIVE 99 
 
 " Although I fmile ; and God forbid that I," 
 
 Said Chriftian, " fhould reap joy from others' crimes ; 
 
 Still lefs from ftooping down to vilify 
 
 Even God's enemies ; but there are times, 
 
 And this is one of them, when the fmooth chimes 
 
 Of modern courtefy are out of date ; 
 
 When what the weak call cruelty, fublimes 
 
 To the higheft mercy ; therefore though I hate 
 
 The cenfor's thanklefs tafk, I dare expatiate 
 
 " On this man's condu6l ; he conforts with any ; 
 And as his voice with you demurely fmks, 
 So is it pitched for the befotted many 
 Who throng the ale-bench, and the more he drinks, 
 The more he talks ; but whofoever thinks 
 To find the truth in this man's home or heart, 
 Finds only himfelf deceived ; her golden links 
 He melts and coins ; one feeming godly part 
 Alone he has, that tongue fo natural in its art."
 
 lOO CONVERSATION WITH TALKATIVE 
 
 Cried Faithful, " Say you fo ! then how am I 
 Beguiled by this man's tongue ?" " Beguiled indeed," 
 Chriflian replied, "but one who fcorned to lie 
 Thus wrote, ' They fay and do not ;' and we read, 
 ' God's kingdom is not fliown in word or creed, 
 But in a living power ;' this Talkative 
 Speaks well of prayer, repentance, faith, the need 
 Of the new birth, but thefe words only give 
 The picfture of that life he never means to live. 
 
 " For ftanding on his hearth, I learned to view 
 
 His life more clofely than a fhranger could ; 
 
 And what I fpeak of him I know is true ; 
 
 His houfe is utterly devoid of good ; 
 
 Thence no prayer rifes, nor is underftood 
 
 Within thofe walls the meaning of contrition ; 
 
 Yea, the brute pilgrim of the field and wood, 
 
 Obeys God better, after it's condition. 
 
 Than he, who turns to bane the gift of free volition.
 
 CONVERSATION WITH TALKATIVE lOI 
 
 *' He is to all who know him, known to be 
 
 Religion's very ftain, reproach, and fhame ; 
 
 Through him, her robe of fpotlefs purity 
 
 Is counted vile, and few dare breathe her name ; 
 
 For thus un-numbered loathing lips proclaim 
 
 His life, 'A faint without, a fiend within ;' 
 
 His wretched family confirm the fame ; , 
 
 Such churlifh carriage and fuch railing din, 
 
 Such domineering fway o'er fervants and o'er kin, 
 
 "Are fuffered by thofe helplefs thralls of his. 
 
 That what to do, or hov/ to look or fpeak. 
 
 They never know ; the common \yhifper is, 
 
 Amongft the timid liock of poor and weak, 
 
 Driven to his mif-named juftice, ' Better feek 
 
 Fair dealing from a heathen than from him ;' 
 
 Moft to be feared when fawning moft, this fleek 
 
 And fmiling foe would fmite them life and limb, 
 
 Were his the power, and they to crofs his gain or whim.
 
 I02 CONVERSATION WITH TALKATIVE 
 
 " Befides, he trains his fons to follow after 
 His crooked way ; and if in them he fees 
 The tender buds of confcience, with rude laughter, 
 With 'idiot,' 'madman,' and fuch words as thefe. 
 With fneers at ' foolifh cowardice,' from their knees 
 He fhames them ; nor will he affift to raife, — 
 Unlefs they firft obey his harfh decrees, — 
 Their worldly intereft, no, nor speak their praife 
 To any one who would ; fo wicked are his ways, 
 
 " That I, for my part, cannot think but he. 
 
 Alone has caufed the death of many fouls ; 
 
 And that if God prevent not, he will be 
 
 The death of many more ;" " Wife fpeech controls 
 
 Rafh judgment, and my Brother's fkill unrolls 
 
 The map of this man's life from early youth," 
 
 Said Faithful, "and I know thefe rocks and fhoals 
 
 Are mentioned, not from malice, but in footh, 
 
 From Chriftiah's love for me, for honour and for truth."
 
 CONVERSATION WITH TALKATIVE IO3 
 
 ''Had I but known the man no more than you, 
 
 I might perhaps," faid Chriftian, "have been wiled 
 
 As you were ; yea, had this report been due 
 
 To thofe whofe lips and Hves are fm-defiled 
 
 I fliould on hearing it have only fmiled, 
 
 And thought it (lander ; (for fuch tales abound, 
 
 Where lie on lie is fhaped, and fmoothed, and piled, 
 
 To raife a flielter whence the bad may wound 
 
 The fair fame of the good,) but Ah ! I grieving found, 
 
 " That all thefe things were proved againft this man. 
 
 With many more as grofs ; I alfo know 
 
 That good men are afhamed of him, they can 
 
 Nor friend nor brother call him, their cheeks glow 
 
 With fhame to think of him ;" "I feel I owe 
 
 The truth that words and deeds may dwell afunder, 
 
 Solely to you," faid Faithful, "may I grow 
 
 More careful to examine what lies under ;" 
 
 "They dwell apart indeed," faid Chriftian, "and no wonder,
 
 I04 CONVERSATION WITH TALKATIVE 
 
 " For they be diverfe as are body and foul ; 
 
 And as the body when the foul hath flown 
 
 Is dead, fo fpeech, if fpeech comprife the whole 
 
 Profeffion, is dead too ; by deeds alone 
 
 Can th' inner foul of piety be known ; 
 
 Thus is religion pure and undefiled, 
 
 Before our God and Father always fhown, — 
 
 In caring for the friendlefs orphan child ; 
 
 Soothing the widowed heart, till grief grow reconciled 
 
 *' To life and God ; and iiriving to keep free 
 
 From this plague-fpotted world's infectious taint ; 
 
 This, Talkative is not aware of, he 
 
 Thinks that to hear and talk will make a faint, 
 
 And thus deceives his foul ; were he acquaint 
 
 With wifdom, fhe would fay to him that hearing, 
 
 Is but as feed time ; and fpeech, but as faint 
 
 And feeble proof of fruit indeed appearing 
 
 In heart and life ; and when the day that he is fearing,
 
 CONVERSATION WITH TALKATIVE IO5 
 
 *' Shall dawn, be fure, whoe'er themfelves deceive, 
 Men fliall be judged according to their deeds ; 
 It will not then be afked, ' Did you believe ?' 
 But, ' Were you full-eared fheaves or worthlefs weeds, 
 Doers or talkers ?' and as each one pleads. 
 So is the doom. The obje6l of heaven's call, 
 Hath been compared to harvefl, which time breeds 
 No thoughts but thoughts of ripened fruit in all ; 
 Not that I mean to'imply by what I have let fall, 
 
 " That aught can be accepted, which is not 
 Of faith." 
 
 *M, M, M, M^ M, ^ ^ ^ 
 
 "What fhall I do?" afked Faithful then, "Why go 
 
 To him," faid Chriftian, "fpeak with loving fl<ill 
 
 Upon religion's power, and afk to know, 
 
 (After he has approved it, as he will,) 
 
 Whether this living power indeed doth fill 
 
 His heart, houfe, converfation ;" Faithful here 
 
 Again ftepped forward, preffing on, until 
 
 He overtook the man, then cried, "What cheer? 
 
 How is it now with you ?" "Well, thank you, but I fear 
 
 o
 
 I06 CONVERSATION WITH TALKATIVE 
 
 " That we have loft," faid th'other, " no fmall good, 
 We might have talked the whole way to this place ;" 
 "Well, if you pleafe, I, as no doubt I fhould, 
 Having been left by you to ftate a cafe, 
 Will now begin ; How is God's faving grace 
 Made known, when in man's evil heart it fprings ?" 
 Aflced Faithful ; then faid Talkative, " I trace 
 Your queftion's aim, which is, the power of things ; 
 A bleffed theme, the thought expands my fpirit's wings. 
 
 " Hear then in brief my anfwer, to begin ; 
 
 Whene'er the grace of God hath touched a heart, 
 
 It caufeth there an outcry againft fm ; 
 
 And fecondly," " Nay, hold, and take one part" 
 
 Said Faithful, " of our fubjecl firft, nor ftart 
 
 Awry at the beginning ; you fliould fay, 
 
 Rather it caufeth there a galling fmart 
 
 Becaufe of fm ;" " What is the difference pray ?" 
 
 Afked Talkative furprifed, " Much difference every way,"
 
 CONVERSATION WITH TALKATIVE IO7 
 
 Said Faithful, "feme make outcry againfl evil 
 From policy, but if v/e feel it's fmart, 
 And hate it, 'tis God's doing ; oft the Devil 
 Is chid with all the tricks of pulpit art, 
 By men who ferve him greedily in heart, 
 And houfe, and converfation. The falfe wife 
 Of Potiphar, could a6l the outcry part 
 Of chaftity right well, yet was her life 
 Unholy, and her heart with evil paffions rife. 
 
 " Some againfl fm make outcry, as the mother 
 
 Againft the infant on her knee doth cry. 
 
 Rating it well, and falling then to fmother 
 
 The querulous babe with kiffes ;" '* Ah ! I fpy," 
 
 Cried Talkative, " that at the catch you lie ;" 
 
 " Not fo," faid Faithful, "for my fole defire 
 
 Is truth ; but what is your next fign, whereby 
 
 You prove that the one baptifm of fire 
 
 Hath cleanfed a human heart ?" faid th'other, " To acquire
 
 I08 CONVERSATION WITH TALKATIVE 
 
 " Clear infight into gofpel myfteries :" 
 
 Faithful replied, " This fign fhould have been firft, 
 
 But firft or laft, 'tis falfe ; the piercing eyes 
 
 Of man may fathom myftery, (fuch thirft 
 
 Hath he for knowledge,) with a foul accurfed ; 
 
 Yea, were it poffible for one of earth 
 
 To know the thoughts of God, and be well verfed 
 
 In heaven's decrees, he would be nothing worth, 
 
 Unlefs he alfo fhowed the fruits of heavenly birth. 
 
 "When Chrift inquires, ' Do ye know all thefe things ?' 
 
 And the difciples anfwer 'Yes,' He cries, 
 
 ' Bleft are ye if ye do them ;' and thus brings 
 
 More bleffmg to the good than to the wife, 
 
 To doing than to knowing ; He implies 
 
 That deep and varied knowledge may be ftill 
 
 Divorced from a6lion ; which truth alfo lies 
 
 In words of His like thefe, ' His mafter's will 
 
 He knows, but does it not ;' a man may quaff his fill
 
 CONVERSATION WITH TALKATIVE IO9 
 
 ** Of heavenly knowledge, yet not love the Lord ; 
 Therefore your fign is falfe ; and In my view, 
 To know, is but a ftate which doth afford 
 Pleafure to talking boafters, but to do, 
 Is that which pleafeth God ; yet is it true 
 That no heart void of knowledge can be good, 
 For without that 'tis naught ; therefore, in few, 
 There are two kinds of knowledge, one, that would 
 I n fpeculation reft, the meer obferver's mood ; 
 
 "And one, that is united with the grace 
 
 Of faithful love ; and while this, makes a man 
 
 Strive to ferve God with all his heart, we trace 
 
 The former kind pervading the whole plan 
 
 Of the bare talker's life ; the Chriftian, 
 
 Unfatisfied without the other, prays, 
 
 * O ! give me underftanding, fo I can 
 
 Keep Thy pure law, yea, tread Thy holy ways, 
 
 With all my heart and ftrength all my remaining days.' "
 
 no CONVERSATION WITH TALKATIVE 
 
 Then Talkative replied, "I fee you lie 
 
 Again upon the catch, here is no ground 
 
 For edifying ;" "Well," faid Faithful, " I 
 
 Suggeft that, if you pleafe, you fhall propound 
 
 Another fign, whereby God's grace is found 
 
 By the fpe^lator, when it dwells in men ;" 
 
 " Not I," quoth Talkative, (who flightly frowned,) 
 
 " For we fhall ne'er agree ;" cried Faithful, " Then 
 
 If you will not, may I ?" and Talkative again 
 
 Anfwered, " O, you may ufe your liberty."
 
 €t)angclij^t forctoam^ tfyt pilgrim^ of Faititp fait 
 
 HEN, children, to that wicked town ye come, 
 Fierce foes will meet you, ruffian flaves of fm. 
 Who will ftrive hard to work your martyrdom. 
 And one or both of you mufk die therein ; 
 But be you * faithful unto death ' and win 
 *A crown of life,' the gift your King beftows ; 
 He that firft dies in pain, fhall firft begin 
 To live in joy, and thus efcape the woes 
 That lie in wait for him who haply further goes." 
 
 Zlyc SDcattj of f atttjful 
 
 IHUS Faithful died ; as rofe that faithful foul 
 Elijah-like to the celeflial gate. 
 Sweet voices and eolian mufic ftole 
 To the 'rapt fenfe of him who yet mufl wait, 
 And fee the end of this dark deed of hate,
 
 112 HOPEFUL JOINS CHRISTIAN 
 
 Even to Chriftian's ; yet the Lord, whofe fway 
 
 Is over all, was pleafed to moderate 
 
 The fury of the foe ; and footh to fay, 
 
 The pilgrim for this time, efcaped and went his way. 
 
 ]^opcful join^ 4n)rijeftian.— €l)c ritjcr of rtje teiatcr of life 
 
 HEN wound their way befide that tranquil river 
 Of God, which David knew, and called by John 
 The water of life ; they praifed the gracious 
 Of this refrefhing boon, and journeyed on [Giver 
 
 With great delight ; all wearinefs was gone 
 At the firfl tafte of that tranfparent wave, 
 And either fide the graffy banks upon, 
 Are trees whofe drooping fruit the waters lave, 
 Whofe wondrous leaves have power from threatened death 
 
 [to fave.
 
 HOPEFUL JOINS CHRISTIAN II3 
 
 On each foft-floping bank, there grew the lily, 
 In fields the long year through as green as May ; 
 No need to fear the evening dew-damp chilly, 
 For midnight there was genial as mid-day ; 
 So wrapped in fweet and fafe repofe they lay. 
 Awhile they traverfed that delightfome land. 
 Which gave them all they needed on their way ; 
 Its ftream befide their path, its fruit at hand, 
 While airs breathed freih from heaven their foreheads 
 
 [gently fanned.
 
 114 
 
 N D now they reach the country where the mountains 
 Men call Dele6lable upheave toward heaven ; 
 Gardens and vineyards, orchards, gufhing fountains, 
 To fcent, to tafle, to fight, to touch, were given ; 
 Each glittering morn, each many-tinted even. 
 They bathed in thofe pure waves of liquid light, 
 And freely eat the blooming clufters riven 
 From broad-leaved vines, the while far up the height 
 Were fliepherds tending flocks, full in the travellers' fight; 
 
 Who therefore afked them, (as they refled, leaning 
 
 Upon their flaves as weary pilgrims do,) 
 
 Who owned the fruitful hills thus intervening. 
 
 And whofe the fiieep that fed there ; anfwer due, 
 
 Thofe friendly fhepherds made, "It will, to you, 
 
 Be joy to learn this is Emmanuel's land ; 
 
 The goodly place which ye are journeying to, 
 
 Is within fight ; and fheep of His good hand 
 
 Are thefe for whom he died, though He all heaven command.
 
 THE DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS II5 
 
 " So great His love divine and human pity ;" 
 
 Then thus the pilgrims afked the fhepherd train, 
 
 *' Is this the way to the celeftial city ? 
 
 Is the road long, and is it fteep or plain, 
 
 Dangerous or fafe ? and fhall we reach again 
 
 Some hofpitable place of reft and fleep ?" 
 
 They faid, " The way through the great King's domain 
 
 Ye tread ; 'tis fhort or long, 'tis plain or fleep, 
 
 According to your faith ; 'tis fafe for thofe who keep 
 
 *' The rules of Him who planned the King's highway. 
 
 But thofe who keep them not fhall fall therein ; 
 
 And as to your laft query, we may fay, 
 
 That ftrangers reaching here we treat as kin ; 
 
 Which loving cuftom hath its origin. 
 
 In the ftri6l charge of our dear country's Lord, 
 
 Who looks on all ungentlenefs as fm ; 
 
 Therefore fear not, our precious things here ftored 
 
 Are yours, for they are His, Whofe bounty be adored!"
 
 Il6 THE DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS 
 
 At length the hour drew near to journey on, 
 
 (O change ! of all thou only changeft not ;) 
 
 So ere the pilgrims fhould indeed have gone, 
 
 The fliepherds led them up to one clear fpot 
 
 Commanding all the valley, nor forgot 
 
 To fhow them through their glafs of faith, at lafl, 
 
 The gate of that fair city where their lot 
 
 Should, as they hoped, eternally be caft ; 
 
 But their hands fliook in fear of what fo late had paffed 
 
 Before their eyes, nor could they hold the glafs 
 Steadily, yet they thought they faw the gate ; 
 'Till a quick flafh of heaven's glory, was 
 As darknefs to them in their weak eftate ; 
 But they remembered it, and learned to wait.
 
 117 
 
 ^t\p bp tljc tDap 
 
 JONVOY is good, but it is better ftill 
 To afk the King Himfelf to guard our way ; 
 His prefence fo made David's bofom thrill 
 With joy in front of death, that he could fay, 
 ' I fear no ill if Thou but with me ftay ;' 
 And Mofes was for dying where he flood. 
 Rather than journey for a fmgle day. 
 Without the help and confcious neighbourhood 
 Of God, apart from Whom we are apart from good. 
 
 "And O my Brother ! If He doth but go 
 
 With us along, what need to be afraid 
 
 Of tens of thoufands ? let the godlefs foe 
 
 Rife up againfl us, fliould we feel difmayed, 
 
 Whofe weaknefs on Omnipotence is ftayed ? 
 
 Though I have fought, and through His help am living, 
 
 I cannot boaft of aught except His aid ; 
 
 And I fliould view my future with mifgiving. 
 
 Did not all vi6tory dwell in trufting and receiving."
 
 ii8 
 
 N D foot! they faw far off, as if to meet them, 
 A man approaching foftly and alone ; 
 So ere he could draw near enough to greet them. 
 Said Chriftian to his friend in warning tone, 
 " See one whom charity herfelf muft own 
 To be a faithlefs pilgrim, walking there, 
 His back toward Zion ;" Hopeful, cautious grown, 
 Anfwered, " I fee him, let us now beware, 
 Left he fhould alfo prove a flatterer and a fnare." 
 
 So he drew near and nearer, till at lafl 
 
 They met ; his name was Atheift, " Though," he faid, 
 
 *' This was but as a nickname on him caft 
 
 By bigots, and by dreamers fancy-fed ; 
 
 Howe'er," he added, " have ye fairly fped, 
 
 And whither are ye going ?" they replied, 
 
 •' To the mount Zion ;" then he fliook his head, 
 
 And laughed fo loudly, that the mountain fide 
 
 Echoed the ugly found of fneering lips that lied.
 
 ATHEIST 119 
 
 They afked, *' What is the reafon of your laughter ?" 
 
 '' I laugh to fee how ignorant ye are 
 
 Poor fouls," faid Atheift, "in thus feeking after 
 
 A land, which like the marifh meteor-ftar, 
 
 Still flees before you, go ye e'er fo far ; " 
 
 " Shall we not be received when we have run 
 
 Th' allotted courfe ?" afked they ; " I know one bar 
 
 To your reception there, and only one," 
 
 Said he, " that no fuch land exifts, when all is done. 
 
 " There's no fuch place in all this world below ;" 
 
 '* Yes, but there is above," quoth they ; "So, I," 
 
 Said Atheift, "thought, or wherefore did I go 
 
 On pilgrimage ? I heard the common cry 
 
 About this Zion, and fet out to try 
 
 To reach it ; I have fought it twenty years, 
 
 Yet can I find I draw no nigher, and why ? 
 
 Becaufe no city of this name appears 
 
 In any world but one, — the world of hopes and fears."
 
 I20 ATHEIST 
 
 Cried they, "We have both heard there's fuch a place, 
 
 And do beHeve it ;" Atheift faid again, 
 
 " Once I beHeved it too, or this fools'-chafe 
 
 I never had begun ; but fince 'tis plain 
 
 That there is no fuch place, for I in vain 
 
 Have fought for it a longer time than you, 
 
 I fhall go back, efchewing future pain, 
 
 And feek my joy in thofe things which I threw 
 
 Behind me, lured by hope, falfe as my words are true." 
 
 Then Chriftian afked of Hopeful, " Is it fo, 
 Doth this man fpeak the truth ?" and Hopeful faid, 
 " Take heed, one of the flatterers he ; I know 
 The pain of having once been thus mifled ; 
 What, no mount Zion ! is then memory dead ? 
 Did'ft thou not fee the gate of dazzling light. 
 When from the hills we viewed the landfcape fpread 
 Around ? befides, we walk by faith not fight ; 
 On, on, left wand'ring fteps frefh chaftifement invite.
 
 ATHEIST 121 
 
 ''You Ihould to me, not I to you have taught 
 Thofe words of truth, ' Learn, O my Son, to ceafe 
 To Hften to the ill inftrudlion, fraught 
 With error, which forgets the way of peace ;' 
 Once more I fay, my Brother, we increafe 
 Peril by further parley ; O believe, 
 To thy limed foul's falvation and releafe !" 
 Then Chriftian fpoke, " O Hopeful, I perceive 
 Thy honefty of heart, and pr'ythee, do not grieve 
 
 ^ " Or deem I held thy faith in real doubt, 
 I but confirmed it ; as for Atheift, true, 
 The lamp vouchfafed to guide him, is put out 
 By this world's god ; but as regards us two. 
 Walk we as in the light, in open view 
 Of every eye, as trufting pilgrims may ;" 
 Said Hopeful, " Brother, I rejoice anew, 
 In hope of the full glory of God this day ;" 
 And fo they left the man, who laughing went his way.
 
 122 
 
 J^oprfur^ account of ^i^ cojtijcr^ion 
 
 SKED th' elder, " How was Chrift revealed to 
 "I did not fee Him with my bodily eyes," [you?" 
 Said Hopeful, "but within my fpirit view 
 Arofe the Form, now throned above the flvies, 
 Once crucified on earth ; and in this wife 
 It came ; one day I was exceeding fad. 
 More fad than e'er before, for in ftrange guife, 
 My dead fms paffed before me, darkly clad. 
 And larger than in life, like ghofts that drive men mad. 
 
 " And while I looked for nothing elfe but hell 
 
 For evermore, fuddenly, as I deemed, 
 
 I, even I, beheld the Invifible, 
 
 And the Lord looked on me from heaven ; He feemed 
 
 To fay to me alone, as His fmile beamed 
 
 Like life to my dead foul, ' Believe and live !' 
 
 I faid, "Ah Lord! long, long have I efleemed 
 
 My fms too great and many to forgive ;" 
 
 ' Sufficient is my grace, thou haft but to receive.
 
 THE LAND OF BEULAH I23 
 
 "And I do all the reft,' the Lord replied; 
 I afked Him, ' what then is believing Lord ?' 
 And now I knew He fhowed that, when He cried, 
 ' O hungry come, thirfty, believe My word,' — 
 Believing is but coming." 
 
 €J)c lanb of 55cukl), anti tJ)e ftritigck^.sf ribet 
 
 O W in my dream I faw that by this time 
 The pilgrims had o'erpaft th' Enchanted Ground; 
 And having gained the pure and genial clime 
 Of Beulah's pleafant land, and having found 
 That their way traverfed it, they looked around, 
 And chofe a place wherein to reft awhile ; 
 Yea, here they heard continually the found 
 Of cooing doves, and notes that might beguile 
 The road inlaid with flowers for many a velvet mile.
 
 124 THE LAND OF BEULAH 
 
 In that delightfome land 'tis always day ; 
 
 It Hands above the foul and murky air 
 
 Of death's dark valley, ftretching far away 
 
 Beyond the fartheft reach of grim Defpair ; 
 
 Neither could they fo much as fee from there 
 
 The towers of Doubting Caflle, for they flood 
 
 In fight of that far-gleaming city, where 
 
 The pathway ceafed, and of it's brotherhood, 
 
 Some met them now with fmiles as elder children fhould. 
 
 For in this land the fhining ones do ufe 
 
 To make their common walk, becaufe it lies 
 
 Near unto heaven ; the bridegroom here renews 
 
 His contra6l with the Bride ; and bent his eyes, 
 
 Lighted with love that never wanes or dies, 
 
 Full on the pilgrims ; who found ample ftore 
 
 Of corn and wine, for bountiful fupplies 
 
 Of all which they had ever lacked before. 
 
 Were here laid up for thofe whofe toil was nearly o'er.
 
 THE LAND OF BEULAH I25 
 
 Here they heard voices from the City faying, 
 " Let Z ion's forrowing daughter now be told. 
 He for whofe prefence thou haft long been praying, 
 And who is thy falvation, comes ; behold, 
 He gives and takes a meed more prized than gold 
 Or precious gem. He lows and reaps His love." 
 Nor were the people of the countr\^ cold 
 In greeting, but with gentleft fpeech enwove 
 Such words as thefe, "Ye faints, fought out, enrolled 
 
 [above ! " 
 
 They felt while walking through this land of flowers, 
 
 A holier joy than they had ever found 
 
 In countries further from thofe happy towers 
 
 Circling the City whither they were bound ; 
 
 And drawing nearer to it's hallowed ground. 
 
 A yet more glorious view thereof they gained ; 
 
 'Twas bright with pearl and gem, and through it wound 
 
 Streets paved with gold ; fo fafl the funbeams rained, 
 
 That way-worn Chriflian felt with over f)leafLirc pained ;
 
 126 THE LAND OF BEULAH 
 
 And fo it was with Hopeful, wherefore here 
 
 Some Httle time they refted, while they poured 
 
 In every fwifter traveller's lift'ning ear, 
 
 The words, " Should you firfl fee our rifen Lord, 
 
 (VVhofe holy name be evermore adored,) 
 
 Tell Him we long to fee Him face to face." 
 
 But foon, with frefhened ftrength and fight reflored, 
 
 They walked with clearer aim and firmer pace, 
 
 Nearer and nearer yet their fouls' true dwelling place. 
 
 Pafl orchards, vineyards, and frefh garden bowers, 
 
 Which opened on the road, they joyful fped ; 
 
 When lo ! the Guardian of thofe fruits and flowers, 
 
 Stood in the path, to whom the pilgrims faid, 
 
 " Thefe goodly vineyards, and thefe gardens fpread 
 
 O'er all the land, whofe are they ?" he replied, 
 
 *' They are the King's, who here delights to tread ; 
 
 Who alfo deigned to plant them, and provide 
 
 This folace for the few who have not fwerved afide."
 
 THE LAND OF BEULAH 12] 
 
 Therefore the Gardener to the vineyards leading, 
 Bade them to tafte the clufters from the tree ; 
 Then to the royal bowers and walks proceeding, 
 He fhowed them where the King delights to be. 
 And here they flept in deep fecurity ; 
 Now in my dream I faw that for a fpace, 
 They, in their fleep, talked more continuoufly 
 Than e'er before ; and feeing in my face 
 Some wonder at the fame, the Guardian of the place 
 
 Said, "Wherefore do'fl thou marvel at the thing? 
 
 Such is the nature of the vines that creep 
 
 Up thefe foft Hopes, caufmg the lips to fmg 
 
 That touch them, yea although the fmgers fleep, 
 
 So fweet the fruit which refting toilers reap ;" 
 
 Now when they woke, I faw that they addreffed 
 
 Themfelves to mount the city-girdled fteep ; 
 
 But as I faid, it flood not all confeffed, 
 
 Becaufe its golden ftreets outfhone the dazzling Weft
 
 128 THE LAND OF BEULAH 
 
 Of fummer s eve ; fo the bright flafhes blazed, 
 
 That only through a glafs could they furvey 
 
 The glory fafely and with eyes undazed ; 
 
 Now I beheld that as they went their way, 
 
 Two men, whofe faces fhone like fudden day, 
 
 And whofe ftrange raiment flafhed like Zion's gold. 
 
 Met them and all<^ed, " Whence come ye ?" to which they 
 
 Duly replied ; then afked them to unfold 
 
 The ftory of the way, and further to be told 
 
 Each difficulty, danger, comfort, pleafure. 
 
 They had experienced, and they told the men ; 
 
 Who faid, " You now have almoft proved your meafure 
 
 Of pain, but two more obftacles, and then 
 
 Ye are in the City." Now methought, that when 
 
 The fhining ones had ceafed, the pilgrims prayed 
 
 That they would ftay the end ; and ne'er again 
 
 Did thofe tv/o fpirits depart, yet anfwer made, 
 
 " You muft attain your end by no external aid,
 
 THE LAND OF BEULAH 
 
 129 
 
 " But by your proper faith." So in my dream, 
 
 I faw they went together 'till they flood 
 
 I n full fight of the gate ; but lo ! a ftream 
 
 Rolled between them and it, a bridgelefs flood, 
 
 Exceeding fwift. In meditative mood, 
 
 Yet troublous, bent the pilgrims o'er the river ; 
 
 But thofe who with them went to do them good, 
 
 Said, " Ye muft needs go through it, or ye never 
 
 Can reach the golden gates which open joy for ever." 
 
 "Is there no other way but paffmg through ,-*" 
 
 They afked ; one of the men with pitying mien, 
 
 Said, " Yes, but none hath ever, faving two, 
 
 As namely, Enoch and Elijah, been 
 
 Allowed to tread that pathway fmce, I ween, 
 
 This earth was born, nor (hall, "till it's dirge found." 
 
 Then failed the pilgrims' hearts, (which might be feen 
 
 In Chriflian fpecially,) both looked around 
 
 Seeking a way to efcape, but no way could be found. 
 
 R
 
 130 THE LAND OF BEULAH 
 
 " And is the fhream in any chofen place 
 
 One depth ?" they afked ; the men repHed, "Not fo, 
 
 Yet can we not affifl you in that cafe, 
 
 For you fliall find it either ebb or flow, 
 
 As ye beHeve in Him to whom ye go, 
 
 Lord of the rebel waves and all befide ;" 
 
 They then prepared them for the flream, but lo ! 
 
 Chriftian on entering 'gan to fink, and cried 
 
 To Hopeful, that dear friend, " Beneath the whelming tide, 
 
 " I fmk in the deep waters," 
 
 With that a horror and thick cloud fell o'er 
 
 The dying Chriftian, who became as blind, 
 
 And could by no means fee what lay before ; 
 
 Yea, Reafon's helm, which guides the reftlefs mind, 
 
 He almofl loft, and with it cafl behind 
 
 Remembrance and difcourfe of happier years ; 
 
 But all the words he ftill had power to find 
 
 Difcovered mental terror, and heart-fears 
 
 That his would be the death no hope of glory cheers.
 
 THE LAND OF BEULAH 131 
 
 Therefore his friend had much ado to keep, 
 
 His brother's head above the waters, yea, 
 
 Sometimes poor Chriftian fank beneath the tide ; 
 
 Again a Httle while, and he would be 
 
 Raifed up half dead ; when thus brave Hopeful tried 
 
 To comfort him, " Brother, for whom Chrift died ! 
 
 The gate, and men within it, I can fee 
 
 Waiting to welcome us ;" but Chriftian cried, 
 
 " 'Tis you, 'tis you they wait for, not for me ! 
 
 You have been hopeful ftill, through all our mifery." 
 
 " And furely fo have you," replied the other ; 
 
 "Ah!" faid poor Chriftian, "truly, if I were 
 
 At peace with God, He now would rife, my Brother, 
 
 To help, but He hath brought me to the fnare 
 
 Becaufe of all my fms, and leaves me there ;" 
 
 Then anfwered Hopeful, "You have quite forgot 
 
 Thofe warnings of the pfalmift which declare 
 
 Of the ungodly, * In their death is not 
 
 One pang, their ftrength is firm, and theirs the envied lot,
 
 132 THE LAND OF BEULAH 
 
 *' Free from the grief,' (which is a gift divine ;) 
 
 Thefe troubles and diftreffes you endure 
 
 In paffing through the river, are no fign 
 
 God has forfaken you ; be, rather, fure 
 
 That they are fent to try your faith, and lure 
 
 Your memory back to His great love of old ; 
 
 To prove that He is rich, though you are poor, 
 
 And full of need ;" Then in my dream, behold ! 
 
 That Chriftian mufed awhile ; whom Hopeful growing bold, 
 
 Thus fpoke to once again, " Be of good cheer, 
 
 Chrift Jefus makes thee whole." Then Chriftian cried. 
 
 With a loud voice, "Again I fee Him near. 
 
 Who tells me. ' When thou paffeft through the tide, 
 
 I will be with thee, and with Me befide 
 
 The river fhall not overflow thee.' " Then 
 
 They both took heart, and o'er the waters wide 
 
 The enemy was quiet, 'till thefe men 
 
 Had overpaft the flream ; Chriftian felt ground, and when
 
 THE LAND OF BEULAH I33 
 
 He fo had done, the reft of that dark flood 
 
 Was eafy wading ; fo they gained at laft 
 
 The further bank, on which, behold ! there ftood 
 
 Waiting, their two bright comrades of the paft, 
 
 Who thus faluted them, *' We have flown faft 
 
 To welcome you ; the cloud path have we trod 
 
 To minifter to you, whom mercy vaft 
 
 And marvellous, hath made the heirs of God." 
 
 Thus went they toward the gate, and feemed to flcim the fod.
 
 ^I)c tic^nrigtion of tfyt celestial Citp, miti of tt)e pilgdmjef' 
 
 entrance tf)ctc 
 
 I^^'^EHEN they who had been pilgrims afked the fpirits, 
 " And in the holy place what mufl we do ?" 
 They anfwered, "There each happy foul inherits 
 The eafe of all it's travail ; there fhall you 
 Have joy for all the grief you ever knew ; 
 You there fliall reap what you have fown, and gather 
 Fruit of the prayers, the tears, the woes, gone through 
 For your King's fake upon the way ; yea rather. 
 Fruit of the love in you, fown by the Eternal Father. 
 
 *' And there fhall you thofe golden crowns put on 
 
 Prepared ere time began ; you fhall enjoy 
 
 Eternal vifion of the Holy One, 
 
 And ' fee Him as He is ;' ftill your employ 
 
 Sweet pralfe and high thankfglving, (founds that cloy 
 
 The ear of heaven never,) unto Him, 
 
 Your \ovt of whom was mixed with much alloy 
 
 On earth, becaufe the eye of faith was dim. 
 
 There, with more caufe to love than highefl feraphim,
 
 THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CELESTIAL CITY 1 35 
 
 •'You (hall both fee the Mighty One and live, 
 
 And hear Him with delight ; you fhall again 
 
 Meet dear ones gone before you, and receive 
 
 Thofe that fhall follow after : not as men 
 
 Are clothed, to veil their fhame, fhall you be, when 
 
 You walk indued with majefty and glory ; 
 
 Or on the obedient winds make up His train, 
 
 When, as was feen by prophet eyes before ye. 
 
 He comes with trumpet found to brighten earth's fad ftory, 
 
 *' Riding the cloud ; there fliall you with Him be ; 
 
 When He fhall fit upon the judgment throne, 
 
 You fhall be near ; and when He fhall decree 
 
 Sentence on all the wicked, let them own 
 
 The angelic name or human, not alone 
 
 Shall He adjudge them, you fhall alfo fliare 
 
 The high deliberation, becaufe none 
 
 Except His foes and yours fhall tremble there. 
 
 Therefore when He returns to the earth He made fo fair.
 
 136 THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CELESTIAL CITY 
 
 " You fhall come too with trumpet found and fong, 
 
 Yea, be for ever with Him." Now while they 
 
 Were drawing toward the gate, behold, a throng 
 
 Of Zion's citizens, a fair array, 
 
 Came out to meet them ; unto whom gan fay 
 
 The pilgrims' two bright comrades of the part:, 
 
 " Thefe are the men who, in life's little day. 
 
 Have loved our Lord, and for His fake have caft 
 
 Earth's good behind their back, and we have travelled faft, 
 
 "At His command to fetch them, and thus far 
 
 Upon their journey are they joyful brought, 
 
 That they may mingle with the faints who are 
 
 Seeing their Saviour face to face." Methought, 
 
 On this, the circumambient air was fraught, 
 
 Thus with the heavenly hoft's loud-voiced acclaim, 
 
 " Hail bleffed fpirits, whom the Lamb hath fought 
 
 To grace His marriage fupper!" alfo came 
 
 To meet them at this time, thofe whom the angels name
 
 THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CELESTIAL CITY 137 
 
 As the King's trumpeters, to whom were given 
 Garbs white and fhining ; who with greeting loud 
 Albeit melodious, made an echo in heaven ; 
 Ten thoufand welcomes from the tuneful crowd 
 Met Chriftian and his fellow, trumpets proud 
 And fhouting voices joined ; the joyful band, 
 With wings, as fwift as heavenly love, endowed, 
 Compaffed the pilgrims round on every hand ; 
 Some went before, and fome their momentary ftand 
 
 Took nearer earth, fome gleamed upon the right, 
 And others on the left, (as though it were 
 With melody and fmging to invite, 
 And guide, and guard them through the upper air ;) 
 So that to thofe who fhood beholding there, 
 The fight thereof was like all heaven defcending 
 To meet them ; therefore thus the ranfomed pair 
 And the angels paffed together ; and while wending, 
 Some, ever and anon, mufic with geflure blending,
 
 138 THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CELESTIAL CITY 
 
 Still fignified to Chriflian and his friend 
 Pleafed welcome to their blifsful company, 
 And joy to meet them at the journey's end ; 
 And now were thefe two men, as it might be. 
 In heaven before they came there, fuch a fea 
 Of mufic, with reiterated wave 
 Lulled their 'rapt fouls to deep ferenity, 
 And all fo fweet the fmiles the angels gave ; 
 The City alfo here, bright contraft to the grave, 
 
 Rofe to their view, the while they thought they heard 
 All the bells there ring out, glad welcome telling ; 
 But above all, how were their fpirits ftirred 
 With warm and joyful thoughts of ever dwelling 
 Therein, with fuch companions ; thoughts excelling 
 All that all tongues or pens could fpeak or write ; 
 Thus to the gate they came, o'er which, compelling 
 Heedful regard, they faw in letters bright 
 And golden, " Bled are they that, walking in the light,
 
 THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CELESTIAL CITY 1 39 
 
 " Do His commandments, and thereby can prove 
 
 Their title to the tree of life, their claim 
 
 To pafs the portals of eternal love," 
 
 Then in my dream I faw, that thofe two fame 
 
 Bright comrades of the paft, bade them to frame 
 
 A fummons at the portal ; which when done, 
 
 Some from above looked over ; Enoch came, 
 
 With Mofes and Elijah, to whom one 
 
 Of the bright fpirits faid, " From paft the furthefl: fun, 
 
 " E'en from the city of Deftru6lion, thefe 
 
 Two pilgrims are come up, the love they have 
 
 Unto our country's King and His decrees. 
 
 Being the caufe ;" and then the pilgrims gave. 
 
 To thofe benignant patriarchs pleafed yet grave, 
 
 The feveral certificates they had 
 
 From the beginning, and had ftriven to fave 
 
 Through every peril ; thefe the warders bade 
 
 To lay before the King, heaven's meffengers were glad
 
 140 THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CELESTIAL CITY 
 
 To take them in ; which when the King had read, 
 
 He afked, "Where are they ?" and reply was made, 
 
 " They ftand without the gate ;" then the King faid, 
 
 " Open the gate, nor let them be afraid 
 
 To enter in, for they, by Mine own aid. 
 
 Have kept the truth, and I have kept them Mine :" 
 
 Now in my dream I faw that heaven obeyed, 
 
 For the gate opened at the Voice divine ; 
 
 And as the men went in, lo. glory feemed to fhine, 
 
 Not on, but from them, and their raiment grew 
 Luflrous and clear, as though divinely fair ; 
 Some met them bringing harps and chaplets due, 
 And gave them to the pilgrims, crowns to wear 
 For honour, harps the fweep of praife to bear. 
 Then in my dreaming ear I heard the bells 
 Ring loud for joy becaufe the men were there. 
 And it was faid, " Thus your glad welcome tells, — 
 'Enter ye now the joy which lives where Jefus dwells.' "
 
 THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CELESTIAL CITY 141 
 
 I alfo heard the men themfelves, to me 
 It feemed as though they fang in altered tone, 
 "All bleffmg, honour, power, and glory be 
 Ever to Him who fitteth on the throne, 
 And to the Lamb." Then I remained alone. 
 Now as the gate flew open to admit 
 The pilgrims, I looked in ; the whole place flione 
 Dazzlingly, and its fkies were bright as it ; 
 'Twas paved with gold, and men on whofe brows feemed 
 
 [to fit 
 
 Crowns, traverfed the great City, bearing palms 
 
 In lifted hands, or fweeping harps of gold 
 
 Inflincl with praife ; fome who had wings, fang pfalms 
 
 Together or alone ; and echo rolled. 
 
 What to a mortal ear may beft be told 
 
 As " Holy, holy, holy is the Lord :" 
 
 And after that I faw heaven's portal fold. 
 
 Then in my dream, fubmiffive I adored. 
 
 Yet wifhed myfelf with thofe o'er whom fuch glory poured.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 t N#! "mi 
 
 JUN1419i2 
 
 Form L9-32»ft-8,'57(.C8680s4) 444 
 
 ■M'm-iJs:. ' .^.
 
 liL 
 
 T^ utter - 
 
 )285 Scenes from the 
 D.^.q pilgr im' c; progress 
 
 PR 
 
 RU5s 
 
 3 1158 00790 0086 
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 
 AA 000 380 810 2