thofe fteps with forrow which I might have trod with delight, had it not been for this finful fleep. How far might I have been on my way by this time! I am made to tread thofe fteps thrice over, which I needed not to have trod but once: yea, now alfo I am like to be benighted, for the day is almoft fpent: O that I had not flept! Now, by this time, he was come to the arbour, where, for a while, he fat down and wept; but at laft (as Providence would have it) looking forrowfully down under the fettle, there he efpied his roll; which, with trembling and hafte, he catched up and put into his bofom. Who can tell how joyful this man was when he had gotten his roll again? For this roll was the affurance of his life, and acceptance at the defired haven. He therefore laid it up in his bofom, gave God thanks for directing his eye to the place where it lay, and with joy and tears betook himself again to his journey. O how nimbly did he now go up the reft of the hill! Yet, before he got up, the fun went down upon Christian: this made him again recal the vanity of his fleeping to his remembrance; and thus he began again to condole with himself. O thou finful fleep! For thy fake how am I like to be benighted in my journey! I must walk without the fun; darkness must coyer the path of my feet; I must hear the noife of doleful creatures, because of my finful fleep. Now alfo he remembered the story * He loft his comfort, not his confidence. which which Miftruft and Timorous had told him; how they had been affrighted with the fight of the lions. Then faid Chriftian to himself, Thefe beafts range in the night for their prey, and if they should meet with me in the dark, how fhall I fhift them? How fhall I efcape being torn in pieces by them? Thus he went on his way; but while he was bewailing his unhappy miscarriage, he lift up his eyes, and behold, there was a very ftately palace before him, the name of which was Beautiful, and it stood just by the high-way fide. So I faw, in my dream, that he made hafte and went forward, that, if poffible, he might get lodging there. But, before he had gone far, he entered into a very narrow paffage, which was about a furlong off the porter's lodge, and looking very narrowly before him, as he went, he efpied two lions in the way. Now, thought he, I see the danger that Mistrust and Timorous were driven back by. He too was afraid, and thought to go back himself, for though the lions were chained, yet he faw not the chains, and therefore thought that nothing but death y The palace called Beautiful not unfitly represents a visible church, where the gospel is preached, and the ordinances are administered by a faithful minifter of the New Testament; fuch as Watchful, the porter, here spoken of. One calls a visible church a fociety of regenerate perfons: I do not believe that such a church is to be found upon the face of this earth: all wheat and no tares. Judas was numbered with the twelve apoftles; Nicholas was chofen to be one of the first seven deacons. was was before him. But the porter at the lodge, whofe name is Watchful, perceiving that Christian made a halt, as if he would go back, cried unto him, faying, Is thy ftrength fo fmall? Fear not the lions, for they are chained, and are placed there for the trial of faith, where it is; and for the difcovery of those who have none: keep in the midst of the path, and no hurt fhall come unto thee. Then I faw that he went on trembling for fear of the lions; but, taking good heed to the directions of the porter, he heard them roar, but they did him no harm. He then clapt his hands, and went on till he came and stood before the gate where the porter was. Then faid Chriftian to the porter, Sir, what houfe is this? May I lodge here to night? The porter anfwered, This house was built by the Lord of the hill. He built it for the relief and fecurity of pilgrims. The porter also asked him whence he was, and whither he was going? Chr. I am come from the city of Destruction, and am going to Mount Zion; but because the fun is now fet, I defire, if I may, to lodge here to night. Porter. What is your name? Chr. My name is now Christian, but my nante at the first was Gracelefs: I came of the race of Japheth, whom God will perfuade to dwell in the tents of Shem. Port. But how doth it happen that you came fo late? The fun is fet. Chr. Chr. I had been here fooner, but, wretched man that I am, I flept in the arbour which stands on the hill-fide. Nay, I had, notwithstanding that, been here much fooner, but in my fleep I loft my evidence, and came without it to the brow of the hill, and then, feeling for it, and finding it not, I was forced, with forrow of heart, to go back to the place where I flept my fleep; there I found it, and now I am come. Port. Well, I will call out one of the virgins of this place, who, if she likes your talk, will bring you to the rest of the family, according to the rules of the house. So Watchful the porter rang a bell, at the found of which came out of the door of the house a grave and beautiful damfel, named Discretion, and asked why she was called? The porter answered, This man is on a journey from the city of Destruction to Mount Zion; but, being weary and benighted, he asked me if he might lodge here to-night: I told him I would call for thee, who, after discourse had with him, mayeft do as feemeth thee good, even according to the law of the house. Then she asked him z Before Watchful the porter admits Christian into the palace, he first rings the bell to call Discretion, that she might have fome difcourfe with him. Notwithstanding all the care and caution that the most watchful minifter can take, there is no doubt but fome will creep into the church who are ungodly, and who never felt the power of God's grace and truth upon their hearts. whence whence he was, and whither he was going? and he told her. She asked him also how he got into the way? and he told her. Then fhe asked him what he had seen and met with in the way? and he told her. And at last she asked his name. He faid, It is Chriftian; and I have so much the more a defire to lodge here to night, because, by what I perceive, this place was built by the Lord of the hill for the relief and fecurity of pilgrims. She smiled, but the water stood in her eyes: and, after a little paufe, fhe faid, I will call forth two or three more of my family. So fhe ran to the door, and called out Prudence, Piety, and Charity, who, after a little more difcourse with him, had him into the family; and many of them, meeting him at the threshold of the houfe, faid, Come in, thou bleffed of the Lord; this houfe was built by the Lord of the hill on purpofe to entertain fuch pilgrims as yourself. He then bowed his head, and followed them into the house. When a Such a fociety as this, how beautiful! How profitable! The Apostle, in writing to the Hebrews, exhorts them, not to forfake the affembling of themfelves together; but to provoke one another to love and to good works. Wherefore has God given to his church pastors and teachers? but, for the perfecting of the faints, the work of the ministry, the edifying of the body of Chrift. How beautiful muft that church be, where Watchful is the porter; where Difcretion admits the members; where Prudence takes the overfight; where Piety conducts the worship; and where Charity endears the mem-bers one to another! he |