CHR. Ah, my brother! this is a seasonable sight: it came opportunely to us after the invitation which Demas gave us to come over to view the hill Lucre; and had we gone over, as he desired us, and as thou wast inclined to do, my brother, we had, for aught I know, been made like this woman, a spectacle for those that shall come after to behold. HOPE. I am sorry that I was so foolish, and am made to wonder that I am not now as Lot's wife; for wherein was the difference betwixt her sin and mine? She only looked back, and I had a desire to go see: let grace be adored, and let me be ashamed that ever such a thing should be in mine heart.* CHR. Let us take notice of what we see here, for our help for time to come: this woman escaped one judgment, for she fell not by the destruction of Sodom, yet she was destroyed by another, as we see she is turned into a pillar of salt. HOPE. True, and she may be to us both caution and example: caution, that we should shun her sin; or a sign of what judgment will overtake such as shall not be prevented by this caution: so Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, with the two hundred and fifty men that perished in their sin, did also become a sign or example to others to beware. But, above all, I muse at one thing, to wit, how Demas and his fellows can stand so confidently yonder to look for that treasure, which this woman but 1 Num. xxvi. 9, 10, Such is the effect of the grace of God in the heart of a pilgrim while on one hand he sees the propensity of his evil nature to every sin which has been committed by others, and is humbled; he also confesses, that by no power of his own, he is preserved, but ever gives all the glory to the God of all grace, by whose power alone he is kept from falling: "Thou standest by faith; be not high-minded, but fear," Rom. xi. 20. for looking behind her after, (for we read not that she stepped one foot out of the way,) was turned into a pillar of salt; especially since the judgment which overtook her, did make her an example within sight of where they are for they cannot choose but see her, did they but lift up their eyes. CHR. It is a thing to be wondered at, and it argueth that their hearts are grown desperate in the case; and I cannot tell who to compare them to so fitly, as to them that pick pockets in the presence of the judge, or that will cut purses under the gallows. It is said of the men of Sodom, that " they were sinners exceedingly," because they were sinners "before the Lord," that is, in his eye-sight, and notwithstanding the kindnesses that he had showed them; for the land of Sodom was now like the garden of Eden heretofore." This, therefore, provoked him the more to jealousy, and made their plague as hot as the fire of the Lord out of heaven could make it. And it is most rationally to be concluded, that such, even such as these are, that shall sin in the sight, yea, and that too in despite of such examples that are set continually before them to caution them to the contrary, must be partakers of severest judgments. HOPE. Doubtless thou hast said the truth; but what a mercy is it, that neither thou, but especially I, am not made myself this example! This ministereth occasion to us to thank God, to fear before him, and always to remember Lot's wife. I saw then that they went on their way to a pleasant river, which David the king called "the river A RIVER. of God;" but John, "the river of the water of life."* m Gen. xiii. 10, 13. n Psalm xlvi. 4. Ezek. xlvii. Rev. xxii. 1. By this river, which is called " a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb," TREES BY THE Now, their way lay just upon the bank of this river: here, therefore, Christian and his companion walked with great delight; they drank also of the water of the river, which was pleasant and enlivening to their weary spirits. Besides, on the banks of this river, on either side, were green trees with all manner of fruit; and the leaves they ate to prevent surfeits, and other diseases that are incident to those that heat their blood by travels. On either side of the river was also a meadow, curiously beautified with lilies; and it was green all the year RIVER. THE FRUIT AND LEAVES ОР THE TREES. A MEADOW, IN WHICH THEY LIE DOWN TO SLEEP. long. In this meadow they lay down and slept, for here they might lie down safely. When they awoke, they gathered again of the fruit of the trees, and drank again of the water of the river, and then lay down again to sleep. Thus they did several days and nights. Then they sang o Psalm xxiii. Isa, xiv. 30. Rev. xxii. 1, we may understand, the clear and comfortable views which they were favoured with, of God's everlasting love and electing grace. This river of God, this water of life, was clear as crystal. They could see in it God's glory shining in the face of Jesus Christ, and view their own faces in it to their inexpressible joy. This is the river," the streams whereof make glad the city of God," Psalm xlvi. 4. The streams which flow from this river of electing love, are vocation to Christ, justification by Christ, sanctification in Christ, perseverance through Christ, glorification with Christ, and all joy and peace in believing on Christ, from the Spirit of Christ. All this these pilgrims now enjoyed, and all this every fellow-citizen of the saints are called to enjoy, in their pilgrimage to Zion. These are their precious privileges. This river of life proceedeth out of the throne of God and the Lamb for God hath chosen us in Christ, and blessed us with all spiritual blessings in him; and they are all freely communicated from electing love to us, out of Christ's fulness. O how happy, peaceful, and joyful are pilgrims, when the Spirit takes of the things of Christ, shows them to us, and blesses us with a sense of interest in all the love of God, and finished salvation of Jesus! Behold ye how these crystal streams do glide, What pleasant fruit, yea, leaves, these trees do yield, So when they were disposed to go on, (for they were not as yet at their journey's end,) they ate, 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 sorry; yet they durst not go out of the way. Now the way from the river was rough, and their feet tender by reason of their travels; so the souls of the pilgrims were much discouraged because of the way. 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 stile to go over into it, and that meadow is called By-path meadow.† Then said Christian to his fellow, If this meadow lieth along by our way-side, let us go over into it. Then he went to p Num. xxi. 4. * BY-PATH MEADOW. * Pilgrims have their discouragements as well as their joys; they cannot help complaining as well as rejoicing, yet they take their way as they find it, sometimes rough, at others smooth; though they may at times be sorry to part with their comforts, and wish the way was smoother; so they did here. Lo! their wishes were answered; but mark the consequences. Lord, lead me in the way everlasting! ↑ Beware of this By-path meadow, it is on the left-hand. O how many are walking securely, confidently, and comfortably in it, while every step they take endangers their destruction. The transition into it is easy, for it lies close to the right way, only you must get over a style; that is, you must quit Christ's imputed righteousness, and trust in your own inherent righteousness, and then you are in By-path meadow directly. ONE TEMPTATION MAKES WAY FOR AN- the stile to see, and behold a path lay along by the way on the other side of the fence. 'Tis according to my wish, said Christian; 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 is not likely, said the other. STRONG CHRISTIANS MAY LEAD WEAK ONES OUT OF THE WAY. Look, doth it not go along by the way-side? So Hopeful, being persuaded 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: so they called after him, and asked him whither that led. He way said, To the Celestial Gate. Look, said Christian, did not I tell you so? by this you may see we are right. So they followed, and he went before them. But behold the night came on, and it grew very dark; so that they that went behind lost the sight of him that went before. SEE WHAT IT IS TOO SUDDENLY TO FALL IN WITH STRANGERS. He therefore that went before, (Vain-Confidence by A PIT TO CATCH THE VAIN-GLORIOUS IN. 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.† q Isa. ix. 16. * Ah! how easily are our eyes deceived, our hearts mistaken, and our feet perverted from the right way! Shepherd of Israel, thou knowest to err is human; keep us from erring-guide us continuallyand when we do stray, Lord, reclaim us. + “ There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death," Prov. xiv. 12. Vain confidence is this very way. O how easily do professors get into it; yea, real pilgrims |