So I saw in my dream, that they went on together till they came in sight of the gate. DEATH. Now I further saw, that betwixt them and the gate was a river; but there was no bridge to go over : the river was very deep. At the sight, therefore, of this river the pilgrims were much stunned; but the men that went with them said, You must go through, or you cannot come at the gate. * The pilgrims then began to inquire, if there was no other way to the gate? To which they answered, Yes; but there hath not any, save two, to wit, Enoch and Elijah, been permitted to tread that path since the foundation of the world, nor shall until the last trumpet shall sound. The pilgrims then, especially Christian, began to despond in his mind, and looked this way and that; but no way could be found by them, by which they might escape the river. Then they asked the men if the waters were all They said, No; yet they could not help them in that case; for, said they, you DEATH NOT WELCOME ΤΟ NATURE. THOUGH BY IT WE PASS OUT OF THIS WORLD INTO GLORY. of a depth? ΝΟΤ COMFORTABLY shall find it deeper or shallower, as you believe in the King of the place.† * Well, now the pilgrims must meet with and encounter their last enemy, death. When he stares them in the face, their fears arise. Through the river they must go. What have they to look at? What they are in themselves, or what they have done and been? No. Only the same Jesus who conquered death for us, and can overcome the fear of death in us. Faith builds a bridge across the gulf of death. From ev'ry clam'rous charge the guiltless tomb. For, faith views, trusts in, and relies upon the work of Christ for salvation, and the victory of Christ over sin, death, and hell. Therefore in every thing, we shall always prove the truth of our Lord's words, "According to your faith, be it unto you," Matt. ix. 29. O what sup They then addressed themselves to the water, and, entering, Christian began to sink, and, crying out to his good friend Hopeful, he said, I sink in deep waters; the billows go over my head; all his waves go over me. Selah. CHRISTIAN'S CONFLICT AT THE HOUR OF DEATH. Then said the other, Be of good cheer, my brother; I feel the bottom, and it is good. Then said Christian, Ah! my friend, the sorrows of death have compassed me about, I shall not see the land that flows with milk and honey. And with that a great darkness and horror fell upon Christian, so that he could not see before him.* Also here he in a great measure lost his senses, so that he could neither remember nor orderly talk of any of those sweet refreshments that he had met with in the way of his pilgrimage. But all the words that he spoke still tended to discover that he had horror of mind, and heart-fears that he should die in that river, and never obtain entrance in at the gate. Here also, as they that stood by perceived, he was much in the troublesome thoughts of the sins that he had committed, both since and before he began to be a pilgrim. It was also observed, that he was troubled with apparitions of hobgoblins and evil spirits; port in death, to have Jesus our triumphant conqueror to look unto, who has disarmed death of its sting, and swallowed up death in his victory! What! after all the past, blessed experience that Christian had enjoyed, of his Lord's peace, love, joy, and presence with him, his holy transports and heavenly consolations, is all come to this at the last? You know, "the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death," 1 Cor. xv. 26. In some sort he is an enemy, even to saints themselves, as he puts an end to their present existence, and destroys their body. But their souls fall asleep in Jesus, are delivered from the burden of the flesh, and enter into Christ's presence, to be for ever with him. Thus he is a blessed messenger of joy, and a sweet friend to the regenerate soul. for ever and anon he would intimate so much by words.* Hopeful therefore here had much ado to keep his brother's head above water; yea, sometimes he would be quite gone down, and then, ere a while, he would rise up again half dead. Hopeful did also endeavour to comfort him, saying, Brother, I see the gate, and men standing by to receive us; but Christian would answer, 'Tis you, 'tis you they wait for; for you have been hopeful ever since I knew you. And so have you, said he to Christian. Ah, brother, (said he,) surely if I was right, he would now arise to help me; but for my sins he hath brought me into the snare, and hath left me. Then said Hopeful, My brother, you have quite forgot the text, where it is said of the wicked, "There are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm; they are not troubled as other men, neither are they plagued like other men." These troubles and distresses that you go through in these waters, are no sign that God hath forsaken you; but are sent to try you, whether you will call to mind that which heretofore you have received of his goodness, and live upon him in your distresses.† Then I saw in my dream, that Christian was in a muse a while. To whom also Hopeful added these Satan is suffered to be very busy with God's people in their last moments: but he too, like death, is a conquered enemy by our Jesus; therefore, amidst all his attacks, they are safe. He cannot destroy them whom Jesus hath redeemed; for he is faithful to them, and almighty to save them. + When you visit a sick or death-bed, be sure that you take God's word with you, in your heart and in your mouth; it is from that only that you may expect a blessing upon and to the soul of the sick or the dying; for it is by the word of God, faith came at the first; it is by that, faith is strengthened at the last; and Jesus is the sum and substance of the scriptures. words, Be of good cheer, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole.* And with that Christian brake out with a loud voice, Oh, I see him again! and he tells CHRISTIAN DELIVERED FROM HIS FEARS IN DEATH. me, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee."* Then they both took courage, and the enemy was after that as still as a stone, until they were gone over. Christian therefore presently found ground to stand upon, and so it followed that the rest of the river was but shallow: thus they got over. Now, upon the bank of the river, on the other side, they saw the two shining men again, who there waited for them. Wherefore being come out of the river, they saluted them, saying, We are ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for those that shall be heirs of salvation. went along towards the gate. Thus they THE ANGELS DO WAIT FOR THEM SO SOON AS THEY ARE PASSED OUT OF THIS WORLD. THEY HAVE PUT OFF MORTALITY. Now, you must note, that the City stood upon a mighty hill: but the pilgrims went up that hill with ease, because they had these two men to lead them up by the arms they had likewise left their mortal garments behind them in the river; for though they went in with them, they came out without them. They therefore went up here with much agility and speed, though the foundation upon which the City was framed was higher than the clouds: they therefore went up through the region of the air, sweetly talking as they went, being comforted, because they a Isa. xliii. 2. * Jesus Christ; he is indeed the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last the beginning of our hope, and the end of our confidence. We begin and end the Christian pilgrimage with him; and all our temptations and trials speak loudly, and fully confirm to us that truth of our Lord, "Without me ye can do nothing," John xv. 5. safely got over the river, and had such glorious companions to attend them.* The talk that they had with the shining ones was about the glory of the place; who told them, that the beauty and glory of it was inexpressible. There, said they, is "Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect." You are going now, said they, to the paradise of God, wherein you shall see the tree of life, and eat of the never-fading fruits thereof: and when you come there, you shall have white robes given you, and your walk and talk shall be every day with the King, even all the days of eternity. There you shall not see again such things as you saw when you were in the lower region upon the earth; to wit, sorrow, sickness, affliction, and death; " for the former things are passed away.' You are going now to Abraham, to Isaac, and Jacob, and to the prophets, men that God hath taken away from the evil to come, and that are now "resting upon their beds, each one walking in his righteousness." The men then asked, What must we do in the holy place? To whom it was answered, You must there receive the comfort of all your toil, and have joy for all your sorrow; you must reap what you have sown, even the fruit of all your prayers, and tears, and sufferings for the King by the way. In that b Heb. xii. 22-24. c Rev. ii. 7. iii. 4. 5. xxii. 5. d Isa. lxv. 16, 17. e Gal. vi. 7, 8. Ah, Christian, none can conceive or describe what it is to live in a state separate from a body of sin and death. Surely, in some happy, highly-favoured moments, we have had a glimpse, a foretaste of this, and could realize it by faith. O for more and more of this, till we possess and enjoy it in all its fulness. If Jesus be so sweet to faith below, who can tell what he is in full fruition above? This we must die to know. |