Talk with Goodwill.

33

tain that stands by his house would have fallen upon my head; wherefore there I was forced to stop.

GOOD. That mountain has been the death of many, and will be the death of many more: it is well you escaped being by it dashed in pieces.

CHR. Why truly I do not know what had become of me there, had not Evangelist happily met me again as I was musing in the midst of my dumps; but it was God's mercy that he came to me again, for else I had never come hither. But now I am come, such a one as I am, more fit indeed for death by that mountain, than thus to stand talking with my Lord. But, oh! what a favour is this to me, that yet I am admitted entrance here!

GOOD. We make no objections against any, notwithstanding all that they have done before they come hither: they in no wise are cast Christian is comout, John vi. 37. And therefore, rected yet on his good Christian, come a little way with way.

forted again, and di

me, and I will teach thee about the way thou must go. Look before thee; dost thou see this narrow way? That is the way thou must go. It was cast up by the patriarchs, prophets, Christ and his apostles, and it is as straight as a rule can make it; this is the way thou must go.

CHR. But, said Christian, are there no turnings nor windings, by which a stranger may lose his way?

Christian afraid of losing his way.

GOOD. Yes, there are many ways abut down upon this; and they are crooked and wide: but thus thou mayest distinguish the right from the wrong, the right only being strait and narrow, Matt. vii. 14.

34

Christian reaches the Interpreter's House.

Christian weary of

his burden.

Then I saw in my dream, that Christian asked him further, if he could not help him off with his burden that was upon his back. For as yet he had not got rid thereof, nor could he by any means get it off without help. He told him," As to thy burden, be content to There is no deli- bear it, until thou comest to the place guilt and burden of of deliverance; for there it will fall and blood of Christ. from thy back of itself."

verance from the

sin, but by the death

Then Christian began to gird up his loins, and to address himself to his journey. So the other told him, that by that he was gone some distance from the gate, he would come at the house of the Interpreter, at whose door he should knock, and he would show him excellent things. Then Christian took his leave of his friend, and he again bid him God-speed.

Then he went on till he came at the house of the Interpreter, where he knocked over the house of the In- and over. At last one came to the door, and asked who was there.

Christian comes to

terpreter.

CHR. Sir, here is a traveller, who was bid by an acquaintance of the good man of this house to call here for his profit; I would therefore speak with the master of the house.

So he called for the master of the house, who, after a little time, came to Christian, and asked him what he would have.

CHR. Sir, said Christian, I am a man that am come from the city of Destruction, and am going to mount Zion; and I was told by the man that stands at the gate at the head of this way, that if I called here you would show me excellent things, such as would be helpful to me on my journey.

INTER. Then said the Interpreter, Come in; I

The Interpreter's House.

35

Illumination. He is entertained.

will show thee that which will be profitable to thee. So he commanded his man to light the candle, and bid Christian follow him; so he had him into a private room, and bid his man open a door; the which when he had done, Christian saw the picture of a very

Christian sees

grave person hang up against the brave picture. wall; and this was the fashion of it: it had eyes lifted up to heaven, the best of books in its hand, the law of truth was written upon its lips, the world was behind its back; it stood as if it pleaded with men, and a crown of gold did hang over its head. CHR. Then said Christian, What meaneth this? INTER. The man whose picture this is, is one of a thousand. He can say in the words of the apostle, "Though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers. for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you," 1 Cor. iv. 15. Gal. iv. 19. And whereas thou seest him with his eyes lift up to heaven, the best of books in his hand, and the law of picture. truth writ on his lips; it is to show thee, that his work is to know, and unfold dark things to sinners even as also thou seest him stand as if he pleaded with men. And whereas thou seest the world as cast behind him, and that a crown hangs over his head; that is to show thee, that slighting and despising things that are present, for the love that he hath to his Master's service, he is sure in the world that comes next to have glory for his reward. Now, said the Interpreter, why he showed I have showed thee this picture first, him this picture first. because the man whose picture this is, is the only

Meaning of the

36

The Interpreter's House.

man whom the Lord of the place whither thou art going hath authorized to be thy guide, in all difficult places thou mayst meet with in the way · wherefore take good heed to what I have showed thee, and bear well in thy mind what thou hast seen, lest in thy journey thou meet with some that pretend to lead thee right, but their way goes down to death.

Then he took him by the hand, and led him into a very large parlour that was full of dust because never swept; the which after he had reviewed it a little while, the Interpreter called for a man to sweep. Now, when he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly to fly about, that Christian had almost therewith been choked. Then said the

Interpreter to a damsel that stood by, Bring hither water, and sprinkle the room;" the which when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with pleasure.

CHR. Then said Christian, What means this?

INTER. The Interpreter answered, This parlour is the heart of a man that was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the gospel. The dust is his original sin, and inward corruptions, that have defiled the whole man. He that began to sweep at first, is the law; but she that brought water, and did sprinkle it, is the gospel. Now whereas thou sawest, that as soon as the first began to sweep, the dust did so fly about, that the room could not by him be cleansed, but that thou wast almost choked therewith; this is to show thee, that the law, instead of cleansing the heart (by its working) from sin, doth revive, Rom. vii. 9 put strength into, 1 Cor. xv. 56. and increase it in the soul, Rom. v. 20. even as it doth discover and forbid it.

The Interpreter's House.

37

for it doth not give power to subdue. Again, as thou sawest the damsel sprinkle the room with water, upon which it was cleansed with pleasure; this is to show thee, that when the gospel comes in the sweet and precious influences thereof to the heart, then, I say, even as thou sawest the damsel lay the dust by sprinkling the floor with water, so is sin vanquished and subdued, and the soul made clean, through the faith of it, and consequently fit for the King of glory to inhabit, John xv. 3. Eph. v. 26. Acts xv. 9. Rom. xvi. 25, 26. John xv. 13.

I saw moreover in my dream, that the Interpreter took him by the hand, and had him into a little room, where sat two little chil

He showed him

tience.

dren, each one in his chair. The Passion and Pa name of the eldest was Passion, and the name of the other Patience. Passion seemed to be much discontented, but Patience was very quiet. Then Christian asked, "What is the reason of the discontent of Passion?" The Interpreter answered, "The governor of them Passion will have would have him stay for his best it now. things till the beginning of next year; have all now; but Patience is willing to wait."

but he will

Patience is for

waiting.

Then I saw that one came to Passion, and brought him a bag of treasure, and

Passion hath his

lavishes all away.

poured it down at his feet: the which desire, and quickly he took up and rejoiced therein, and withal laughed Patience to scorn.

But I beheld

but a while, and he had lavished all away, and had nothing left him but rags.

CHR. Then said Christian to the Interpreter, Expound this matter more fully to me.

D