I saw also that the Interpreter took him again by the hand, and led him into a pleasant place, where was built a stately palace, beautiful to behold, at the sight of which Christian was greatly delighted; he saw also upon the top thereof certain persons walking, who were clothed all in gold.

Then said Christian, May we go in thither?

Then the Interpreter took him, and led him up toward the door of the palace; and behold, at the door stood a great company of men, as desirous to go in, but durst not. There also sat a man at a little distance from the door, at a table-side, with a book and his ink-horn before him, to take the names of them that should enter therein; he saw also that in the door-way stood many men in armour to keep it, being resolved to do to the men that would enter what hurt and mischief they could. Now was Christian somewhat in amaze. At last, when every man started back for fear of the armed men, Christian saw a man of a very stout countenance THE VALIANT MAN. come up to the man that sat there to write, saying, Set down my name, sir; the which when he had done, he saw the man draw his sword, and put a helmet upon his head, and rush toward the door upon the armed men, who laid upon him with deadly force; but the man, not at all discouraged, fell to cutting and hacking most fiercely. So after he had received and given many wounds to those that attempted to keep him out, he cut his way through them all, and pressed forward into

quench, than Christ's oil and grace are to keep the fire burning. Poor sinner, believe this, and love, praise, and rejoice in thy Lord; for he loves with an everlasting love; he saves with an everlasting salvation.

* We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God, Acts xiv. 22.

the palace, at which there was a pleasant voice heard from those that were within, even of those that walked upon the top of the palace, saying,

"Come in, come in;

Eternal glory thou shalt win."

So he went in, and was clothed with such garments as they. Then Christian smiled, and said, I think verily I know the meaning of this.*

*

Now, said Christian, let me go hence. Nay, stay, said the Interpreter, till I have showed thee a little more, and after that thou shalt go on thy way. So he took him by the hand again, and led him into a very dark room, where there sat a man in an

DESPAIR LIKE AN

IRON CAGE.

iron cage.

Now the man, to look on, seemed very sad: he sat with his eyes looking down to the ground, his hands folded together; and he sighed as if he would break his heart. Then said Christian, What means this? At which the Interpreter bid him talk with the man.†

Then said Christian to the man, What art thou? The man answered, I am what I was not once?‡

*Such is the spirit and disposition of a soul who is determined to win Christ, and enjoy the kingdom of glory. In spite of all opposition, he resolutely forces his way, and presses towards the mark, for the prize of his high calling of God in Christ Jesus, Phil. iii. 14. He is not content with a few lazy wishes, or languid hopes; for the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force, Matt. xi. 12.

The Holy Spirit would have us take warning by the sad examples of others. Hence he sets before us, in the Scripture, the dreadful things which have befallen professors, that we may see our danger, be humble and watchful, and pray to the Lord to keep us from falling away.

Most dreadful change! Think of it with trembling. Thou standest by faith; be not high-minded, but fear.

CHR. What wast thou once?

MAN. The man said, I was once a fair and flourishing professor, both in mine own eyes, and also in the eyes of others: I once was, as I thought, fair for the celestial city, and had then even joy at the thoughts that I should get thither.**

CHR. Well, but what art thou now?

MAN. I am now a man of despair, and am shut up in it, as in this iron cage. I cannot get out; O now I cannot !†

CHR. But how camest thou into this condition?

MAN. I left off to watch and be sober; I laid the reins upon the neck of my lusts; I sinned against the light of the word, and the goodness of God; I have grieved the Spirit, and he is gone; I tempted the devil, and he is come to me; I have provoked God to anger, and he has left me: I have so hardened my heart, that I cannot repent.

Then said Christian to the Interpreter, But is there no hope for such a man as this? Ask him, said the Interpreter.

CHR. Then said Christian, Is there no hope, but you must be kept in the iron cage of despair?

MAN. No, none at all.

CHR. Why, the Son of the Blessed is very pitiful.

z Luke viii. 13.

Soaring professors, beware. See how far this man went; see what he thought of himself; see what others thought of him; yea, he felt great joy in himself at the thoughts of getting to heaven; but yet despair seized on him. "Let us watch and be sober," 1 Thess. v. 6.

A more dreadful state on this side hell cannot be.

↑ An awful warning to professors. O take heed of trifling with the God of truth, and the truths of God: he is a jealous God; jealous of his honour and glory: yea, our God is a consuming fire, Heb. xii. 29.

MAN. I have crucified him to myself afresh; I have despised his person, I have despised his righteousness, I have counted his blood an unholy thing, I have done despite to the Spirit of grace:" therefore I have shut myself out of all the promises, and there now remains to me nothing but threatenings, dreadful threatenings, faithful threatenings, of certain judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour me as an adversary.*

CHR. For what did you bring yourself into this condition ?

MAN. For the lusts, pleasures, and profits of this world; in the enjoyment of which I did then promise myself much delight: but now every one of those things also bite me, and gnaw me like a burning worm.

His word

CHR. But canst thou not now repent and turn? MAN. God hath denied me repentance. gives me no encouragement to believe; yea, himself hath shut me up in this iron cage: nor can all the men in the world let me out. O eternity! eternity! how shall I grapple with the misery that I must meet with in eternity!

INTER. Then said the Interpreter to Christian, Let this man's misery be remembered by thee, and be an everlasting caution to thee.

CHR. Well, said Christian, this is fearful! God help me to watch and be sober, and to pray that I may shun

a Luke xix. 14. Heb. vi. 4-6. x. 28, 29.

* It is exceeding difficult to draw the line here, so as not to encourage in sin, or not discourage broken-hearted sinners from entertaining hope in Christ. Many have written the same bitter things against themselves as here, but to whom they have in no wise belonged. A sight of sin, a sense of sin, and a sorrow for sin, with a desire to be saved by Jesus from all sin, as well as from wrath, do really bespeak the workings of the grace of Christ in the heart.

the cause of this man's misery.* Sir, is it not time for me to go on my way now ?†

INTER. Tarry till I shall show thee one thing more, and then thou shalt go on thy way.

So he took Christian by the hand again, and led him into a chamber, where there was one rising out of bed; and as he put on his raiment, he shook and trembled. Then said Christian, Why doth this man thus tremble? The Interpreter then bid him tell to Christian the reason of his so doing.

So he began, and said, This night, as I was in my sleep, I dreamed, and behold the heavens grew exceeding black also it thundered and lightened in most fearful wise, that it put me into an agony. So I looked up in my dream, and saw the clouds rack at an unusual rate; upon which I heard a great sound of a trumpet, and saw also a man sitting upon a cloud, attended with the thousands of heaven: they were all in flaming fire, also the heavens were on a burning flame. I heard then a voice, saying, "Arise, ye dead, and come to judgment;" and with that the rocks rent, the graves opened, and the dead that were therein came forth." Some of them

b John v. 28, 29. 1 Cor. xv. 51-58. 2 Thess. i. 7-10. Jude 14, 15. Rev. xx. 11-15.

* Reader, thou hast constant need to put up this prayer for thyself. Thou art in a body of sin, hast a most deceitful and desperately wicked heart, and art exposed to the world's snares and Satan's devices.

+ Why in such haste, Christian? Poor dear soul, he had yet got the burden of his sins upon his back; this urged his speed. He wanted to get to the cross, to be delivered of his burden: but the Spirit had many things to show him first, which would be profitable to him hereafter. "He who believeth shall not make haste," Isa. xxviii. 16. God has a set time to comfort his people with a sense of his pardoning love: till then, the Spirit leads us on step by step; shows us one thing after another, till the fulness of that time comes. Wait in God's way, for God's comforts. "The just shall live by faith," Heb. ii. 4.