when they have lost their sense of hell and the wrath to come, they return again to their former course. 4. Guilt, and to meditate terror, are grievous to them; they like not to see their misery before they come into it; though perhaps the sight of it at first, if they loved that sight, might make them fly whither the righteous fly, and are safe; but because they do, as I hinted before, even shun the thoughts of guilt and terror, therefore, when once they are rid of their awakenings about the terrors and wrath of God, they harden their hearts gladly, and choose such ways as will harden them more and more. CHR. You are pretty near the business, for the bottom of all is, for want of a change in their mind and will.* And therefore they are but like the felon that standeth before the judge; he quakes and trembles, and seems to repent most heartily but the bottom of all is, the fear of the halter: not that he hath any detestation of the offence, as it is evident; because, let but this man have his liberty, and he will be a thief, and so a rogue still; whereas, if his mind was changed, he would be otherwise. HOPE. Now I have showed you the reason of their going back, do you show me the manner thereof. Now, when we read of the dog turning to his own vomit, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire, 2 Pet. ii. 22. it gives us an idea, that persons may receive somewhat of the doctrines of the gospel, so as to set their stomachs against, and cause them to loathe their former filthy ways, and, like the dog, to cast them off; and, like the swine, to be washed from their former filthy courses. But what then? There is only an outward change in conduct, without an internal change of heart; they are the same old creatures, unclean creatures, dogs and swine still, therefore they manifest it by acting as such. They are like the ass in the lion's skin, in the fable, and soon display what they naturally are. CHR. So I will willingly: 1. They draw off their thoughts, all that they may, from the remembrance of God, death, and judgment to come. HOW THE APOSTATE 2. Then they cast off by degrees private duties, as closet prayer, curbing their lusts, watching, sorrow for sin, and the like. 3. Then they shun the company of lively and warm Christians. 4. After that they grow cold to public duty; as hearing, reading, godly conference, and the like. 5. Then they begin to pick holes, as we say, in the coats of some of the godly, and that devilishly, that they may have a seeming colour to throw religion (for the sake of some infirmities they have espied in them) behind their backs. 6. Then they begin to adhere to, and associate themselves with, carnal, loose, and wanton men. 7. Then they give way to carnal and wanton discourses in secret; and glad are they if they can see such things in any that are counted honest, that they may the more boldly do it through their example. 8. After this they begin to play with little sins openly. 9. And then, being hardened, they show themselves as they are. Thus, being launched again into the gulf of misery, unless a miracle of grace prevent it, they everlastingly perish in their own deceivings.* See how gradually, step by step, apostates go back. It begins in the unbelief of the heart, and ends in open sins in the life. Why is the love of this world so forbidden? why is covetousness called idolatry? Because, whatever draws away the heart from God, and prevents enjoying close fellowship with him, naturally tends to apostasy from him. Look well to your hearts and affections. Daily learn to Now I saw in my dream, that by this time the pilgrims were got over the Enchanted Ground, and entering into the country of Beulah,' whose air was very sweet and pleasant; the way lying directly through it, they solaced themselves there for a season. Yea, here they heard continually the singing of birds, and saw every day the flowers appear in the earth, and heard the voice of the turtle in the land. In this country the sun shineth night and day: wherefore this was beyond the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and also out of the reach of Giant Despair; neither could they from this place so much as see Doubting Castle. Here they were within sight of the City they were going to also here met them some of the inhabitants thereof; for in this land the shining ones commonly walked, because it was upon the borders of heaven. land also the contract between the Bride and the Bridegroom was renewed: yea, here, "as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so doth their God rejoice over them." Here they had no want of corn and wine; for in this place they met with abundance of what they had sought for in all their pilgrimage. Here they heard voices from out of the city, loud voices, saying, "Say x Isa, lxii. 4-12. Song ii. 10-12. ANGELS. In this obey that command, " Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life," Prov. iv. 23. If you neglect to watch, you will be sure to smart-under the sense of sin on earth, or its curse in hell. "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil," Eph. v. 15, 16. * O what a blessed state, what a glorious frame of soul, is this! Job speaks of it, as the candle of the Lord shining upon his head, ch. xxix. 3. The church in a rapture, cries out, "Sing, O heavens, and be joyful, O earth, break forth into singing, O mountains, for the Lord hath comforted his people," Isa. xxix. 13. Paul calls this, "the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of peace" Rom. xv. 29. O rest not short of enjoying the full blaze of gospel peace and spiritual joy. ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh! Behold, his reward is with him!" Here all the inhabitants of the country called them, "the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord, sought out," &c. Now, as they walked in this land, they had more rejoicing than in parts more remote from the kingdom to which they were bound; and, drawing near to the City, they had yet a more perfect view thereof. It was builded of pearls and precious stones, also the streets thereof were paved with gold; so that, by reason of the natural glory of the City, and the reflection of the sunbeams upon it, Christian with desire fell sick. Hopeful also had a fit or two of the same disease. Wherefore here they lay by it a while, crying out because of their pangs, "If you see my beloved, tell him that I am sick of love."* But, being a little strengthened, and better able to bear their sickness, they walked on their way, and came yet nearer and nearer, where were orchards, vineyards, and gardens, and their gates opened into the highway. Now, as they came up to these places, behold the gardener stood in the way; to whom the pilgrims said, Whose goodly vineyards and gardens are these? He answered, They are the King's, and are planted here for his own delight, and also for the solace of pilgrims. So the gardener had them into the vineyards, and bid them refresh themselves with the dainties; he also y Deut. xxiii. 24. *See what it is to long for the full fruition of Jesus in glory. Some have been so overpowered hereby, that their earthen vessels were ready to burst their frail bodies have been so overcome, that they have cried, Lord, hold thine hand, I faint, I sink, I die, with a full sense of thy precious, precious love. Covet earnestly this best gift, love. Lord, shed it more abundantly abroad in these cold hearts of ours! showed them there the King's walks and arbours where he delighted to be: and here they tarried and slept. Now I beheld in my dream, that they talked more in their sleep at this time than ever they did in all their journey; and, being in a muse thereabout, the gardener said even to me, Wherefore musest thou at the matter? it is the nature of the fruit of the grapes of these vineyards, "to go down so sweetly as to cause the lips of them that are asleep to speak." So I saw that when they awoke, they addressed themselves to go up to the City. But, as I said, the reflection of the sun upon the City (for the City was pure gold') was so extremely glorious, that they could not as yet with open face behold it, but through an instrument made for that purpose. So I saw that, as they went on, there met them two men in raiment that shone like gold, also their faces shone as the light. These men asked the pilgrims whence they came; and they told them. They also asked them where they had lodged, what difficulties and dangers, what comforts and pleasures, they had met with in the way; and they told them. Then said the men that met them, You have but two difficulties more to meet with, and then you are in the City.* Christian then and his companion asked the men to go along with them so they told them that they would. But, said they, you must obtain it by your own faith. z Rev. xxi. 18. 2 Cor. iii. 18. What are these two difficulties? are they not death without, and unbelief within? It is through the latter, that the former is at all distressing to us. O for a strong, world-conquering, sin-subduing, death-overcoming faith, in life and in death! Jesus, Master, speak the word-unbelief shall flee, our faith shall not fail, and our hope shall be steady. |