fhall be opened unto you."-He knocked therefore more than once or twice, saying, May I now enter here? Will he within Not fail to fing his lasting praise on high. At laft there came a grave perfon to the gate, named Good-will, who asked, Who was there? and whence he came? and what he would have? Chr. Here is a poor burdened finner. I come from the city of Destruction, and am going to mount Zion, that I may be delivered from the wrath to come; I would therefore, Sir, fince I am informed that by this gate is the way thither, know if you are willing to let me in. Good. I am willing with all my heart. With that he opened the gate; and, as Chriftian was stepping in, he gave him a pull.-Then faid Christian, What means that? The other told him, At a little distance from this gate there is erected a ftrong castle, of which Belzebub is the captain; from thence both he, and they who are with him, shoot arrows at those who come up to the gate, if haply they may die before they can enter in, * Chriftian goes up to the gate and knocks ;-that is, he cries unto the Lord in earnest prayer, as the poor publican did, God be merciful to me a finner! y Good-will, the porter, opens the gate, and pulls Christian in, fnatching him as a brand out of the fire. Then Then faid Chriftian, I rejoice and tremble. So, when he was got in, the man of the gate asked him who directed him thither? Chr. Evangelift bid me come hither and knock (as I did), and he said, that you, Sir, would tell me what I must do 2. Good. An open door is before thee, and no man can fhut it. Chr. Now I begin to reap the benefits of my hazards. Good. But how is it that you come alone? Chr. Because none of my neighbours faw their danger, as I faw mine, Good. Did any of them know of your coming? Chr. Yes, my wife and children faw me fet out, and called after me to turn again: alfo fome of my neighbours stood crying and calling after me to return; but I put my fingers in my ears, and fo came on my way. Good. But did none of them follow you, in order to perfuade you to go back? Chr. Yes, both Obftinate and Pliable: but when they faw that they could not prevail, Obftinate went z Difcourfe between Christian and Good-will; in which Christian gives an account of Obftinate and Pliable, and afcribes all the difference betwixt him and them to free difcriminating grace; and Good-will directs Christian in the way he should go; a way which never can be found out by the wisdom of man, without particular directions from above, by the special teachings of the Holy Spirit. railing railing back, but Pliable came with me a little way. Good. But why did he not come through? Chr. Indeed we came both together until we came to the Slough of Defpond, into which we fuddenly fell. Then was my neighbour Pliable difcouraged, and would not adventure farther. Wherefore, geting out again on that fide next to his own house, he told me, I should poffefs the brave country alone for him: fo he went his way, and I came mine. He went after Obftinate, and I came on to this gate. Good. Alas, poor man, was the celestial glory of fo fmall efteem with him, that he counted it not worth running the hazard of a few difficulties to obtain it? Chr. Truly, I have faid the truth of Pliable, and, if I should also fay all the truth of myself, it will appear that there is no difference betwixt him and myfelf. 'Tis true, he went back to his own house, but I alfo turned afide into the way of death, being perfuaded thereto by the carnal arguments of one Mr. Worldly Wiseman, Good. Oh! did he light on you? He would have had you fought for ease at the hands of Mr. Legality; they are both of them very cheats. But, did you take his counfel? Chr. Yes, as far as I durft; I went to find out Mr. Legality, until I thought the mountain which ftands by his house would have fallen upon my head; wherefore I was forced to ftop there. Good |
