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Gr.-H. and Valiant-for-truth discourse.

Gr.-H. Said they any thing more to discourage you?

Val. Yes; they told me of one Mr. Fearing, who was a Pil. grim; and how he found his way so solitary, that he never had a comfortable hour therein also that Mr. Despondency had like to have been starved therein: yea, and also (which I had almost forgot) Christian himself, about whom there has been such a noise, after all his ventures for a Celestial Crown, was certainly drowned in the black river, and never went a foot furtner, however it was smothered up.

Gr H. And did none of these things discourage you?
Val. No; they seemed as so many nothings to me
Gr.-H. How came that about?

Val. Why, I still believed what Mr. Tell-true had said, and that carried me beyond them all.

Gr.-H. Then this was your victory, even your faith?

Val. It was so: I believed, and therefore came out, got into the way, fought all that set themselves against me, and, by believing, am come to this place.

Who would true valour see

Let him come hither;

One here will constant be,

Come wind, come weather;
There's no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avow'd intent
To be a Pilgrim.

Whoso beset him round
With dismal stories,
Do but themselves confound,
His strength the more is.
No lion can him fright;
He'll with a giant fight
But he will have a right
To be a Pilgrim.

stow pains to no purpose. This frivolous sophistry is frequently employ. ed, after all other arguments have been silenced.—But it is vain to deny the existence of hypocrites and deceivers; or to excuse the evils to which they object: on the contrary, we should allow these representations, as far as there is any appearance of truth in them; and then show that this teaches us to beware lest we be deceived, and to try every doctrine by the touchstone of God's word; that counterfeits prove the value of the thing counterfeited; that we should learn to distinguish between the precious and the vile; and, finally, that while danger may attend a religious profession, irreligion ensures destruction.

Dangers of the Enchanted Ground.

Hobgoblin nor foul fiend
Can daunt his spirit ;
He knows, he at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then, fancies, fly away,

He'll not fear what men say,
He'll labour night and day
To be a Pilgrim.

349

By this time, they were got to the Enchanted Ground, where the air naturally tended to make one drowsy :* and that place was all grown over with briers and thorns, excepting here and there, where was an Enchanted Arbour, upon which if a man sits, or in which if a man sleeps, 'tis a question, say some, whether ever he shall rise or wake again in this world. Over this forest therefore they went, both one and another; and Mr. Great-heart went before, for that he was the guide, and Mr. Valiant-for-truth came behind, being rear-guard; for fear lest peradventure some fiend, or dragon, or giant, or thief, should fall upon their rear, and so do mischief. They went on here, each man with his sword drawn in his hand, for they knew it was a dangerous place. Also they cheered up one another, as well as they could; Feeble-mind, Mr. Great-heart commanded, should come up after him, and Mr. Despondency was under the eye of Mr. Valiant-for-truth.

Now they had not gone far, but a great mist and darkness fell upon them all; so that they could scarce, for a great while, one see the other : wherefore they were forced, for some time, to feel for one another by words, for they walked not by sight. But any one must think, that here was but sorry going for the best of them all; but how much the worse was it for the women and children, who both of feet and heart also were but tender! Yet nevertheless so it was, that through the encouraging words of him that led in the front, and of him that brought them up behind, they made a pretty good shift to wag along.

The way was also here very wearisome, through dirt and flabbiness. Nor was there, on all this ground, so much as one inn or victualling-house, wherein to refresh the feebler sort. Here therefore was grunting, and puffing, and sighing; while one tumbled over a bush, another sticks fast in the dirt; and the children, some of them lost their shoes in the mire; while one cries out, I am down ;' and another, Ho, where are you?'

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They come to an Arbour.

And a third, The bushes have got such fast hold on me, I think I cannot get away from them.'

Then they came to an arbour, warm, and promising much refreshing to the Pilgrims: for it was finely wrought abovehead, beautified with greens, furnished with benches and settles. It had in it a soft couch, where the weary might lean. This, you must think, all things considered, was tempting; for the Pilgrims already began to be foiled with the badness of the way; but there was not one of them that made so much as a motion to stop there. Yea, for aught I could perceive, they continually gave so good heed to the advice of their guide; and he did so faithfully tell them of dangers, and of the nature of dangers, when they were at them, that usually, when they were nearest to them, they did most pluck up their spirits, and hearten one another to deny the flesh.-The arbour was called the Slothful's Friend, on purpose to allure, if it might be, some of the Pilgrims there to take up their rest when weary. (2)

I saw then in my dream, that they went on in this their soli

(3) This view of the Enchanted Ground seems to vary from that which has been considered in the First Part. The circumstances of believers who are deeply engaged in business, and constrained to spend much time among worldly people, may here be particularly intended. This may sometimes be unavoidable; but it is enchanted ground: many professors, fascinated by the advantages and connexions thus presented to them, fall asleep, and wake no more: and others are entangled by those thorns and briars, which "choke the word, and render it unfruitful." The more soothing the scene the greater the danger, and the more urgent need is there for watchfulness and circumspection: the more vigilant believers are, the greater uneasiness will such scenes occasion them; as they will be so long out of their proper element: and the weaker and more unestablished men are, the more apt will they be, in such circumstances, to yield to discouragement. The society and counsel of faithful ministers and Christian friends may help them to get on: but they will often feel that their path is miry and slippery, entangling and perplexing, dark and wearisome to their souls. Yet if this be the case, their sighs, complaints, and prayers. are hopeful symptoms: but when worldly employments and connexions, which perhaps at first were in a sense unavoidable, induce prosperity; and men seek comfort from this prosperity, instead of considering it as a snare cr burden, or improving it as a talent; then the professor falls asleep in the enchanted arbour. It behooves, however, all who love their souls, to shun that hurry of business, and multiplicity of affairs and projects, into which many are betrayed by degrees, in order to supply increasing expenses, that might be avoided by strict frugality and more moderate desires: for these things lade the soul with thick clay; are a heavy weight to the most upright; render a man's way doubtful and joyless; and "drown many in destruction and perdition."