64 MISERY OF DESPAIR. CHR. For what did you bring yourself into this condition? MAN. For the lusts, pleasures, and profits of this world; in the enjoyment of which I did then promise myself much delight; but now every one of those things also bite me, and gnaw me like a burning worm. CHR. But canst thou not now repent and turn? MAN. God hath denied me repentance. His word gives me no encouragement to believe; yea, himself hath shut me up in this iron cage; nor can all the men in the world let me out. O eternity, eternity! how shall I grapple with the misery that I must meet with in eternity! Then said the Interpreter to Christian, "Let this man's misery be remembered by thee, and be an everlasting caution to thee." 66 Well," said Christian, "this is fearful! God help me to watch and be sober, and to pray that I may shun the cause of this man's misery! Sir, is it not time for me to go on my way now?" INTER. Tarry till I shall show thee THE JUDGMENT. one thing more, and then thou shalt on thy way. 66 65 go So he took Christian by the hand again, and led him into a chamber, where there was one rising out of bed; and as he put on his raiment, he shook and trembled. Then said Christian, "Why doth this man thus tremble ?" The Interpreter then bid him tell to Christian the reason of his so doing. So he began and said, "This night, as I was in my sleep, I dreamed, and behold the heavens grew exceeding black; also it thundered and lightened in most fearful wise, that it put me into an agony. So I looked up in my dream, and Dream of the saw the clouds rack' at an un- Judgment. usual rate, upon which I heard a great sound of a trumpet, and saw also a Man sit upon a cloud, attended with the thousands of heaven; they were all in flaming fire: also the heavens were on a burning flame. I heard then a voice saying, Arise, ye dead, and come to judgment;' and with that the rocks rent, the graves opened, and the dead that were therein came forth. Some of them were exceed 66 q THE JUDGMENT. ing glad, and looked upward; and some sought to hide themselves under the mountains. Then I saw the Man that sat upon the cloud open the book, and bid the world draw near. Yet there was, by reason of a fierce flame which issued out and came before him, a convenient distance betwixt him and them, as betwixt the Judge and the prisoners at the bar. I heard it also proclaimed to them that attended on the Man that sat on the cloud, Gather together the tares, the chaff, and stubble, and cast them into the burning lake.' And with that, the bottomless pit opened, just whereabout I stood; out of the mouth of which there came, in an abundant manner, smoke and coals of fire, with hideous noises. It was also said to the same persons, Gather my wheat into the garner.' And with that I saw many catched up and carried away into the clouds, but I was left behind." I also sought to hide myself, but I could not; for the Man that sat upon the cloud still 1 Cor. 15: 52; Rev. 20: 11-14; ' Mal. 3: 2, 3; 6 1 Thes. 4: 16; Jude 14; John 5: 28; 2 Thes. 1:8; Is. 26: 21; Micah 7: 16, 17; Ps. 96:1-3; Dan. 7: 10. Dan. 7; 9, 10. Luke 3: 17. Matt. 3; 12; 13: 30; 1 Thess. 4: 16, 17. Mal. 4: 1. CHRISTIAN GOES ON HIS WAY. 67 kept his eye upon me: my sins also came mind; and my conscience did into my accuse me on every side. awaked from my sleep." Upon this I CHR. But what was it that made you so afraid of this sight? MAN. Why, I thought that the day of judgment was come, and that I was not ready for it: but this frighted me most, that the angels gathered up several, and left me behind; also the pit of hell opened her mouth just where I stood: my conscience, too, afflicted me; and, as I thought, the Judge had always his eye upon me, showing indignation in his countenance. Then said the Interpreter to Christian, "Hast thou considered all these things?" CHR. Yes, and they put me in hope and fear. INTER. Well, keep all things so in thy mind, that they may be as a goad in thy sides, to prick thee forward in the way thou must go. Then Christian began to gird up his loins, and to address himself to his journey. Then said the Interpreter, "The ▾ Rom. 2; 14, 15. 68 CHRISTIAN LOSES HIS BURDEN. Comforter be always with thee, good The teachings of Christian, to guide thee in the way that leads to the City." So Christian went on his way, saying the Holy Spirit are needed. "Here I have seen things rare and profitable; Then let me think on them, and understand Now I saw in my dream, that the highway up which Christian was to go, was fenced on either side with a wall, and that wall was called Salvation." Up this way, therefore, did burdened Christian run, but not without great difficulty, because of the load on his back. Christian's burden still wearisome. He ran on thus till he came at a place somewhat ascending; and upon that place stood a cross, and tion being wholly a little below, in the bottom, Christian's atten occupied with the atoning sacrifice of Christ, his burdon a sepulchre. fell from him. So I saw in my dream, that just as Christian came up with the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do, till it Isa. 26: 1. |