lovingly accepted the motion; so they had them to the top of a high hill, called Clear, and gave them their glass to look. The Hill Clear. Then they essayed to look, but the remembrance of that last thing that the Shepherds had showed them, made their hands shake; by means of which impediment, they The fruits of sercould not look steadily through the glass; yet vile fear. they thought they saw something like the gate, and also some of the glory of the place." Then they went away, and sang this song Thus, by the Shepherds, secrets are reveal'd, When they were about to depart, one of the Shepherds gave them a note of the way. Another of them bid them beware of the Flatterer. The third bid them take heed that they sleep not upon the Enchanted Ground. And the fourth bid them God-speed. So I awoke from my dream." A twofold Caution. And I slept, and dreamed again, and saw the same two Pilgrims going down the mountains along the highway towards "Such mountains round about this house do stand As one from thence may see the Holy Land." [40] "What a gallery of solemn REALITIES is here, what a system of divine truth, commending itself to all men's consciences! It is not so much the richness of imagination, nor the tenderness of feeling here exhibited, nor the sweetness and beauty of the imagery with which this book is filled, as it is the presence of these REALITIES that constitutes the secret of its unbounded power over the soul. In this light the walls of this gallery seem moving with celestial figures speaking to the soul. They are acting the drama of a life which is the reality; it is the spectators only who are walking in a vain show. "Because I would have thee think of my directions how to run to the Kingdom, take all in short in this little bit of paper:-1. Get into the way. 2. Stay on it. 3. Strip and lay aside every weight that would hinder. 4. Beware of by-paths. 5. Do not stare much about thee, but ponder the path of thy feet. 6. Do not stop for those who call after thee. 7. Be not daunted with discouragements. 8. Take heed of stumbling at crosses. 9. Cry hard to God; and God give thee a prosperous journey. Yet let me give thee a pair of spurs to urge on thy lumpish heart in this rich journey: if thou winnest, then heaven, God, Christ, glory eternal is thine; if thou lose, thou procurest eternal death." [57] The Country of which came Igno Conceit, out of rance. the city. Now, a little below these mountains, on the left hand, lieth the country of Conceit; from which country there comes into the way in which the Pilgrims walked, a little crooked lane. Here, therefore, they met with a very brisk lad, that came out of that country; and his name was Ignorance. So Christian asked him from what parts he came, and whither he was going. Christian and Ignorance have some talk. IGNOR. Sir, I was born in the country that lieth off there a little on the left hand, and I am going to the Celestial City. CHR. But how do you think to get in at the gate ? for you may find some difficulty there. IGNOR. As other good people do, said he. CHR. But what have you to show at that gate, that may cause that the gate should be opened to you? I IGNOR. I know my Lord's will, and I have been a good liver; The ground of pay every man his own; I pray, fast, pay Ignorance's hope. tithes, and give alms, and have left my country for whither I am going. CHR. But thou camest not in at the wicket-gate that is at the head of this way; thou camest in hither through that same crooked lane, and therefore, I fear, however thou mayest think of thyself, when the reckoning day shall come, thou wilt have laid to thy charge that thou art a thief and a robber, instead of getting admittance into the city. He saith to every fool. IGNOR. Gentlemen, ye be utter strangers to me, I know you not; be content to follow the religion of your country, and I will follow the religion of mine. I hope all will one that he is a be well. And as for the gate that you talk of, all the world knows that that is a great way off of our country. I cannot think that any man in all our parts doth so much as know the way to it, nor need they matter whether they do or no, since we have, as you see, a fine, pleasant green lane, that comes down from our country, the next way into the way. When Christian saw that the man was conceit," he said to Hopeful whisperingly, hope of a fool than of him." Prov. xxvi. 12. "wise in his own " There is more And said, more over, "When he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom Let Ignorance a littte while now muse God saith, those that no understanding have, Although he made them, them he will not save. a fool. HOPE. He further added, It is not good, I think, to say all to him at once; let us pass him by, if you will, and talk to him anon, even as he is able to bear it. So they both went on, and Ignorance he came after. Now when they had passed him a little way, they entered into a very dark lane, where they met a man whom seven devils had bound with seven strong cords, and were carrying of him back to the door that they saw on the side of the hill. Matt. xii. 45; Prov. v. 22. Now good Christian began to tremble, and so did Hopeful his companion; yet as the devils led away the man, Christian looked to see if he knew him; and he thought it might be one Turn-away, that dwelt The destruction of in the town of Apostasy. But he did not per- one Turn-away. fectly see his face, for he did hang his head like a thief that is found. But being once past, Hopeful looked after him, and espied on his back a paper with this inscription, "Wanton professor, and damnable apostate." Then said Christian to his fellow, Now I call to remembrance, that which was told me of a thing that happened to a good man hereabout. The name of the man was Little-faith, but a good man, and he dwelt in the town of Sincere. The Christian telleth his companion a Little story of faith. ☛ "Oh, what a shaking, starting, timorous evil conscience is a sinful and guilty conscience; it could run its head into every hole. Why did Adam hide himself when he had on his apron? Oh! the approach of God consumed and burnt off his apron." [45] thing was this: At the entering in at this passage, there comes down from Broad-way Gate, a lane called Dead Broad-way Gate. Man's Lane; so called because of the murders Dead Man's Lane. that are commonly done there; and this Littlefaith going on pilgrimage, as we do now, chanced to sit down there, and slept. Now there happened, at that time, to come down the lane from Broad-way Gate, three sturdy rogues, and their names were Faint-heart, Mistrust, and Guilt (three brothers), and they espying Little-faith, where he was, came galloping up with speed. Now the good man was just awake from his sleep, and was getting up to go on his journey. So they came up all to him, and with threatening language bid him stand. At this Little-faith looked as white as a clout, and had neither power to fight nor fly. Then said Faintheart, Deliver thy purse. But he making no haste to do it (for he was loth to lose his money), Mistrust ran up to him, and thrusting his hand into his pocket, pulled out thence a bag of silver. Then he cried out, Thieves! Thieves! With that Guilt, with a great club that was in his hand, struck Little-faith on the head, and with that blow felled him flat to the ground, where he lay bleeding as one that would bleed to death." All this while the thieves stood by. But, at last, they hearing that some were upon the road, and fearing lest it should be one Great-grace, that dwells in the city of Good-confidence, they betook themselves to their heels, and left this good man to shift for himself. Now, after a while, Little-faith came to himself, and getting up made shift to scrabble on his way. This was the story. Little faith robbed by Faintheart, Mistrust, and Guilt. They got away his silver, and knocked down. him y "The fly in the spider's net is the emblem of the soul in such a condition. If the soul struggleth, Satan laboureth to hold it down. If it makes a noise, he bites it with blasphemous mouth; insomuch that it must needs die at last in the net, if the Lord Jesus help not. Believing is sure sweating work. Only strong faith can make Satan flee. Oh, the toil of a gracious heart in this combat, if faith be weak! The man can get no higher than his knees, till an arm from heaven help him up." [10+] * Determined at all hazards not to be a traitor to his God, Bunyan anticipated being hung; and was anxious, in such a cause, to meet death with firmness. When his fears prevailed, he dreaded lest he should make but a scrabbling shift to clamber up the ladder. [12+, 334] HOPE. But did they take from him all that ever he had? CHR. No; the place where his jewels were they never ransacked, so those he kept still. But, as I was told, Little-faith lost not the good man was much afflicted for his loss, for his best things. the thieves got most of his spending-money. That which they got not (as I said) were jewels, also he had a little odd money left, but scarce enough to bring him to his journey's end, 1 Pet. iv. 18; nay, if I was not misinformed, he was forced to beg as he went, to keep himself alive; for his jewels he might not sell. But beg, and do what he could, he went (as we say) with many a hungry belly the most part of the rest of the way." HOPE. But is it not a wonder they got not from him his certificate, by which he was to receive his admittance at the Celestial Gate ? Little-faith forced to beg to his journey's end. He kept not his best things by his Titus i. 14. own cunning. 2 CHR. It is a wonder; but they got not that, though they missed it not through any good cunning of his; for he, being dismayed with their coming upon him, had neither power nor skill to hide anything; so it was more by good Providence than by his endeavour, that they missed of that good thing. HOPE. But it must needs be a comfort to him, that they got not this jewel from him." CHR. It might have been great comfort to him, had he used it as he should; but they that told me the story said, that he made but little use of it all the rest of the way, and that because of the dismay that he had in the taking away his money; indeed, he forgot it a great part of the rest of his journey; and besides, when at any time it came into his mind, a "We are saved by Christ; brought to glory by Christ; and all our works are no otherwise made acceptable to God, but by the person and excellences of Christ. Therefore whatever the jewels are, and the bracelets and the pearls that thou shalt be adorned with, as a reward of service done to God in this world, for them thou must thank Christ, and, before all, confess that he was the meritorious cause thereof." [53] Hope, love, humility, meekness, patience, longsuffering, compassion, and mercy are gracious dispositions wrought in the heart by the Holy Ghost. These are the believer's jewels; and it is his duty to keep them clean, that their beauty and lustre may be apparent, |