to:

examples, that are fet continually before them to caution them to the contrary, must be partakers of the fevereft judgments.

Hope. Doubtless thou haft faid the truth; but what a mercy is it, that neither thou, but especially I, am not mad? myself this example? This miniftreth occafion to us to thank God, to fear before him, and always to remember Lot's wife.

I faw then, that they went on their way to a pleasant river, which David the king called the river of God; but John, the river of the water of life. Pfal. lxv. 9. Rev. xxii. 9. Now their way lay just upon the bank of this river: here therefore Christian and his companion walked with great delight; they drank alfo of the water of the river, which was pleafant, and enlivening to their weary fpirits: befides, on the banks of this river, on either fide, were green trees, for all manner of fruit; and the leaves they eat to prevent furfeits, and other diseases that are incident to those that heat their blood by travels. Ezek. xlvii, On either fide of the river was alfo a meadow, curiously beautified with lilies; and it was green all the year long. In this meadow they lay down and flept: for here they might lie down fafely, Pfal. xxiii. Ifa. xiv. 30. When they awoke, they gathered again of the fruit of the trees, and drank again of the

[Illuftrations from note b to c]

water

To illuftrate fully, and point out clearly, the Chriftian warfare, is alone peculiar to a fcribe ready inftructed into the kingdom of God:-And fuch furely was the writer of this excellent book, The Pilgrim's Progrefs. The Chriftian reader, however diverfified his experience, may here find particulars to comport both with his feelings and trials. And he may learn, from the pages now under confideration, that the Chriftian is to expect new and continued difficulties, day by day; nay, even when he thinks himself moft fecure. Our pilgrims are refreshed, as is the believer, by the comforting ftreams of God's precious love, which fweetly folaces the foul, and caufes

the

water of the river, and then lay down again to fleep. Thus they did several days and nights. Then they fang:

Bebold ye, how these crystal streams do glide,
To comfort pilgrims, by the highway fide.
The meadows green, befides their fragrant smell,
Yield dainties for them: And be that can tell
What pleasant fruit, yea, leaves, these trees do yield,
Will foon fell all, that he may buy this field.

So when they were difpofed to go on (for they were not as yet at their journey's end) they eat and drank, and departed.

Now I beheld in my dream, that they had not journeyed far, but the river and the way for a time parted, at which they were not a little forry, yet they durft not go out of the way. Now the way from the river was rough, and their feet tender by reafon of their travels: fo the fouls of the pilgrims were much difcouraged because of the way, Num. xxi.4. Wherefore still as they went on, they wished for a better way. Now a little before them, there was on the left hand of the road a meadow, and a ftile to go over into it; and that meadow is called By-pathmeadow. Then faid Chriftian to his fellow, If this meadow lieth along by our way-fide, let us go over into it. Then he went to the ftile to fee, and behold a path lay along by the way on the other fide of the fence. 'Tis according to my wish, said ChriStian,

the heart to leap for joy; but of this, the duration is fhort. The believer has his winter as well as fummer seasons; and therefore fresh difficulties will arife to harrafs and diftrefs the foul. But it is yet to be obferved, that the Lord never forfakes the believer, or withdraws his prefence from him, till he first forfakes God, and turns out of the way; forgets the Rock of his ftrength, and leans to his own under

standing.

ftian, here is the easiest going; come, good Hopeful, and let us go over.

Hope. But how if this path should lead us out of the way?

Chr. That's not likely, faid the other. Look, doth it not go along by the way-fide? So Hopeful, being perfuaded by his fellow, went after him over the stile. When they were gone over, and were got into the path, they found it very easy for their feet; and withal, they looking before them, espied a man walking as they did, (and his name was Vain-confidence) fo they called after him, and asked him, whither that way led? He faid, To the cœleftial gate. Look, faid Chriftian, did not I tell you fo? By this you may fee we are right; fo they followed, and he went before them. But behold, the night came on, and it grew very dark; fo that they that were behind loft the fight of him that went before.

He therefore that went before (Vain-confidence by name) not seeing the way before him, fell into a deep pit, which was on purpose there made by the prince of those grounds, to catch vain-glorious fools withal, and was dashed in pieces with his fall. Ifa. ix. 16.

Now Chriftian and his fellow heard him fall. So they called to know the matter, but there was none to answer, only they heard a groaning. Then faid Hopeful, Where are we now? Then was his fellow filent, as miftrufting that he had led him out of the way; and now it began to rain, and thunder and lighten in a moft dreadful manner; and the waters rofe amain.

Then

ftanding. Overcome by the power of one temptation, the too eafy prey for a fecond. At such a season, how apt is the poor foul to apply to the wrong quarter for relief, by which it is plunged farther into bondage; for l'ain confidence, inftead of

re

Then Hopeful groaned in himself, faying, Oh, that I had kept on my way!

Chr. Who would have thought that this path fhould have led us out of the way?

Hope. I was afraid on't at the very first, and therefore gave you that gentle caution. I would have fpoke plainer, but that you are older than I.

Chr. Good brother, be not offended, I am forry I have brought thee out of the way, and that I have put thee into fuch imminent danger; pray, my brother, forgive me; I did not do it of an evil intent.

Hope. Be comforted, my brother, for I forgive thee; and believe too, that this fhall be for our good. Chr. I am glad I have met with a merciful brother but we must not ftand thus; let's try to go back again.

C..

Hope. But, good brother, let me go

before. Chr. No, if you pleafe, let me go first, that if there be any danger, I may be firft therein, because by my means we are both gone out of the way.

Hope. No, faid Hopeful, you fhall not go first; for your mind being troubled, may lead you out of the way again. Then for their encouragement, they heard the voice of one saying, Let thine heart be towards the highway; even the way that thou wenteft: turn again, Jer. xxxi. 21. But by this time the wa ters were greatly rifen, by reason of which, the way of going back was very dangerous. (Then I thought that it is eafier going out of the way when we are in, than going in when we are out.) Yet they adventured to go back, but it was fo dark, and the flood

was

relieving from difficulty, will increase the danger; make the profpect more gloomy, and the end more fatal. When the Chriftian, by reafon of unbelief, carelefnefs, or even of highmindedness, has made large ftrides of departure from God, fooner or later the arrows of the Lord will pierce his very foul.

Satan

was fo high, that in their going back, they had like to have been drowned nine or ten times.

Neither could they, with all the fkill they had, get again to the ftile that night. Wherefore at last, lighting under a little fhelter, they fat down there 'till the day-break: but being weary, they fell asleep. Now there was, not far from the place where they lay, a castle, called Doubting-castle, the owner whereof was Giant Defpair, and it was in his grounds they now were fleeping; wherefore he getting up in the morning early, and walking up and down his fields, caught Chriftian and Hopeful afleep in his grounds: then, with a grim and furly voice, he bid them awake, and asked them whence they were, and what they did in his grounds? They told him they were pilgrims, and that they had loft their way. Then faid the Giant, You have this night trefpaffed on me by trampling and lying on my ground, and therefore you mult go along with me. So they were forced to go because he was stronger than they. They also had but little to say, for they knew themfelves in a fault. The Giant therefore drove them before him, and put them into his caftle in a very dark dungeon, nafty and stinking to the fpirits of these two men: here then they lay from Wednesday morning till Saturday night, without one bit of bread, or drop of drink, or light, or any to ask how they did: they were therefore here in evil cafe, and were far from friends and acquaintance. Pf. lxxxviii. 16. Now

U

Satan will be watchful, as the fell giant of defpair, to distress them on every fide, and in every point of view. And if doubtings poffefs the mind, the conflict will be fevere indeed. Now, just lifting up the head amidst many forrows; anon, funk down under the preffure of grievous difficulties. And thus the tried foul will continue toffed to and fro with winds, ftorms and tempefts, till by faith it is enabled to plead the

pro