they saw that they could not prevail, Obstinate went railing back, but Pliable came with me a little way. GOOD. But why did he not come through?

CHR. We indeed came both together, until we came to the Slough of Despond, into the which we also suddenly fell. And then was my neighbour Pliable discouraged, and would not adventure farther.* Wherefore, getting out again on the side next to his

own house, he told me,

I should possess

the brave country alone for him so he

A MAN MAY HAVE COMPANY WHEN HE SETS OUT FOR HEAVEN, AND YET GO THITHER ALONE.

went his way, and I came mine: he after Obstinate, and I to this gate.

GOOD. Then said Good-will, Alas, poor man! is the celestial glory of so little esteem with him, that he counteth it not worth running the hazard of a few difficulties to obtain it ?

CHRISTIAN ACCUSETH HIMSELF BEFORE THE MAN AT THE GATE.

true, he went

CHR. Truly, said Christian, I have said the truth of Pliable, and if I should also say all the truth of myself, it will appear there is no betterment betwixt him and myself. It is back to his own house, but I also turned aside to go into the way of death, being persuaded thereto by the carnal argument of one Mr. Worldly Wiseman.†

GOOD. Oh, did he light upon you? What, he would have had you seek for ease at the hands of Mr. Legality! they are both of them a very cheat. But did you take his counsel ?

* A man may have company when he sets out for heaven, and yet go thither alone. "Many be called, but few chosen," Matt. xx. 16.

+ Where there is true grace in the heart, it will take shame to itself, and give all the glory to God's sovereign grace, for any difference there is between us and others. Free grace kills free-will pride, and lays the sinner low, while it exalts Christ, and causes sinners to triumph in his righteousness and salvation.

F

CHR. Yes, as far as I durst, I went to find out Mr. Legality, until I thought that the mountain that stands by his house would have fallen upon my head; wherefore there was I forced to stop.*

GOOD. That mountain has been the death of many, and will be the death of many more: it is well you escaped being by it dashed in pieces.

CHR. Why, truly, I do not know what had become of me there, had not Evangelist happily met me again as I was musing in the midst of my dumps: but it was God's mercy that he came to me again, for else I had never come hither. But now I am come, such a one as I am, more fit indeed for death by that mountain, than thus to stand talking with my Lord. But, oh! what a favour is this to me, that yet I am admitted entrance here.†

GOOD. We make no objections against any, notwithstanding all that they have done before they come hither; they in no wise are cast out.a And therefore, good Christian, come a little way with me, and I will teach thee about Look before thee; dost thou see

CHRISTIAN IS COMFORTED AGAIN, AND DIRECTED YET ON HIS WAY.

the way thou must go.

q John vi. 37.

Though Jesus knows what is in man, and all his ways, yet he will bring the soul to confession unto him. See the loving heart of Christ to sinners, and the free communication he admits them to with himself. O ye his people, pour out your hearts before him; GodJesus is a refuge for us, Psalm lxii. 8.

It is a sure sign of a genuine work of grace, when the heart ascribes all to grace. Here is no talk of being faithful to grace—no ascribing any thing to his own free-will or power; but his escape from destruction, and being yet in the way of salvation, are wholly resolved into the grace of the Gospel, the mercy of God, and into his free favour and almighty power. It is sweet to converse with Jesus, of his free grace to wretched and unworthy sinners. Do not you find it so?

this narrow way? that is the way thou must go. It was cast up by the patriarchs, prophets, Christ, and his apostles, and it is as straight as a rule can make it: this is the way thou must go.

CHR. But, said Christian, are there no turnings nor windings, by which a stranger may lose

his way ?*

CHRISTIAN AFRAID OF LOSING HIS WAY.

GOOD. Yes, there are many ways butt down upon this, and they are crooked and wide: but thus thou mayest distinguish the right from the wrong, the right only being straight and narrow."

Then I saw in my dream, that Christian asked him further, if he could not help him off with

CHRISTIAN WEARY OF HIS BURDEN,

his burden that was upon his back; for as yet he had not got rid thereof, nor could he by any means get it off without help.

He told him, As to thy burden, be content to bear it, until thou comest to the place of deliverance; for there it will fall from thy back of itself.

THERE IS NO DELIVERANCE FROM THE GUILT AND BURDEN OF SIN, BUT BY THE DEATH AND BLOOD OF CHRIST.

loins, and to

So the other told him, distance from the gate,

Then Christian began to gird up his address himself to his journey. that by that he was gone some he would come at the house of the Interpreter, at whose door he should knock, and he would show him excellent

r Matt. vii. 14.

* Christian afraid of losing his way; a blessed sign of a gracious heart, when it possesses godly jealousy.

There is no deliverance from the guilt and burden of sin, but by the death and blood of Christ. Here observe, that though a sinner, at his first coming to Christ, finds some comfort and encouragement, yet he may not have a clear sense of pardon, and assurance of the forgiveness of his sins; but he may still feel the burden of them. But his faith in Jesus will be putting his Lord in mind of them.

things.

Then Christian took his leave of his friend, and he again bid him God speed.

CHRISTIAN COMES

Then he went on, till he came at the house of the Interpreter, where he knocked over and THE INTERPRETER. over. At last one came to the door, and asked who was there?

TO THE HOUSE OF

CHR. Sir, here is a traveller, who was bid by an acquaintance of the goodman of this house to call here for my profit; I would therefore speak with the master

of the house.

So he called for the master of the house, who, after a little time, came to Christian, and asked him what he would have.t

CHR. Sir, said Christian, I am a man that am come from the city of Destruction, and am going to the Mount Zion; and I was told by the man that stands at the gate at the head of this way, that, if I called here, you would show me excellent things, such as would be helpful to me on my journey.

ILLUMINATION.

INTER. Then said the Interpreter, Come in; I will HE IS ENTERTAINED. Show thee that which will be profitable to thee. So he commanded his man to light the candle, and bid Christian follow him; so he had him into a private room, and bid his man open a door; the which, when he had done, Christian saw the picture of a very grave person hang up against the wall; and this was the fashion of it it had eyes lifted up to

CHRISTIAN SEES

A BRAVE PICTURE.

THE FASHION OF

THE PICTURE.

* Christian comes to the house of the Interpreter, which means the Lord the Spirit, the teacher of his people.

+ Christians too often go to consult with men, instead of the Lord himself; this is a fault and a folly.

O how loving, how condescending, is the Spirit of God to poor miserable sinners!

;

heaven, the best of books in his hand, the law of truth was written upon its lips, the world was behind its back it stood as if it pleaded with men, and a crown of gold did hang over its head.

CHR. Then said Christian, What meaneth this?

t

MEANING OF THE PICTURE.

INTER. The man whose picture this is, is one of a thousand; he can beget children,' travail in birth with children, and nurse them himself when they are born. And whereas thon seest him with his eyes lift up to heaven, the best of books in his hand, and the law of truth writ on his lips: it is to show thee, that his work is to know and unfold dark things to sinners; even as also thou seest him stand as if he pleaded with men and whereas thou seest the world as cast behind him, and that a crown hangs over his head; that is to show thee, that slighting and despising the things that are present for the love that he hath to his Master's service, he is sure in the world that comes next to have glory for his reward. Now, said the Interpreter, I have showed thee this picture first, because the man whose picture this is, is the only man whom the Lord of the place whither thou art going hath authorized to be thy guide in all difficult places thou mayest meet with in the way. Wherefore take good heed to what I have showed thee, and bear well in thy mind what thou hast seen; lest in thy journey thou meet with some that pretend to lead thee right, but their way goes down to death.*

WHY HE SHOWED HIM THIS PICTURE

FIRST.

This is a true picture of a gospel minister, one whom the Lord the Spirit has called and qualified for preaching the everlasting gospel. He is one who despises the world-is dead to its pleasures and joys; his chief aim is to exalt and glorify the Lord Jesus, his atoning blood, justifying righteousness, and finished salvation; and his greatest glory