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CHRISTIAN MEETS

WITH MISTRUST AND

TIMOROUS.

was Timorous,* and of the other Mistrust: to whom Christian said, Sirs, what's the matter? you run the wrong way. Timorous answered, That they were going to the city of Zion, and had got up that difficult place: but, said he, the farther we go, the more danger we meet with, wherefore we turned, and are going back again.

Yes, said Mistrust, for just before us lie a couple of lions in the way, whether sleeping or waking we know not; and we could not think, if we came within reach, but they would presently pull us in pieces.

CHR. Then said Christian, You make me afraid; but whither shall I fly to be safe? If I go back to mine own country, that is prepared for fire and brimstone, and I shall certainly perish there; if I can get to the celestial city, I am sure to be in safety there:† I must

CHRISTIAN SHAKES OFF FEAR.

venture. To go back is nothing but death; to go forward is fear of death, and life everlasting beyond it: I will yet go forward. So Mistrust and Timorous ran down the hill, and Christian went on his way. But thinking again of what he had heard from the men, he felt in his bosom for his roll, that he

* Timorous and Mistrust are great enemies to the Christian's faith, and bring up an evil report of his way. Listen not to them, but look to God's truth and faithfulness: rely on his precious promises, and have your feet shod with the gospel of peace. Who or what shall harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

+ Christian shakes off fear, by sound scriptural reasoning; even the reasoning of faith, against the fear of the flesh, and mistrust or unbelief. We have always a sure word of prophecy, whereunto we shall do well to take heed. When dangers beset, and fears assault, remember whose ye are, and whom ye serve: look to the way you are in, and to the end of your faith, even the salvation of your soul. Study the word of God, and obey it.

might read therein and be comforted: but he felt, and found it not. Then was Christian in great distress, and knew not what

CHRISTIAN MISSES HIS ROLL, WHEREIN HE USED TO BE COMFORTED.

to do; for he wanted that which used to relieve him, and that which should have been his pass into the celestial city. Here, therefore, he began to be much perplexed, and knew not what to do. At

HE IS PERPLEXED FOR HIS ROLL.

last he bethought himself that he had slept. in the arbour that is on the side of the hill; and, falling down upon his knees, he asked God forgiveness for that foolish fact, and then went back to look for his roll. But all the way he went back, who can sufficiently set forth the sorrow of Christian's heart? Sometimes he sighed, sometimes he wept, and oftentimes he chid himself for being so foolish to fall asleep in that place, which was erected only for a little refreshment for his weariness. Thus, therefore, he went back, carefully looking on this side and on that, all the way as he went, if happily he might find his roll, that had been his comfort so many times in his journey. He went thus till he came again within sight of the arbour where he sat and slept; but that sight renewed his sorrow the more, by bringing again, even afresh, his evil of sleeping into his mind. Thus, therefore,

CHRISTIAN

BE

WAILS HIS FOOLISH
SLEEPING.

*He is perplexed for his roll: this is right. If we suffer spiritual loss, and are easy and unconcerned about it, it is a sad sign that we indulge carnal security and vain confidence. Many go on so, till they sink into a downright antinomian spirit. O beware of this; for many, who abhor the name, yet have drunk into the spirit of it, and hence live and walk without spiritual communion with God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, and rest contented without the witness of the Spirit with their spirits, that they are the children of God.

Look to your spirits, Christian. See if you have not aftersorrow for former indulgences. But it is far better to be crying, "O wretched man that I am," than to be alive to carnal confidence, and dead to the desire of spiritual comforts.

he now went on, bewailing his sinful sleep, saying, O wretched man that I am! that I should sleep in the day-time that I should sleep in the midst of difficulty! that I should so indulge the flesh, as to use that rest for ease to my flesh, which the Lord of the hill hath erected only for the relief of the spirits of pilgrims! How many steps have I taken in vain! Thus it happened to Israel; for their sin they were sent back again by the way of the Red Sea; and I am made to tread those steps with sorrow, which I might have trod with delight, had it not been for this sinful sleep. How far might I have been on my way by this time! I am made to tread those steps thrice over, which I needed not to have trod but once yea, now also I am like to be benighted, for the day is almost spent. O that I had not slept!

Now by this time he was come to the arbour again, where for a while he sat down and wept;

CHRISTIAN FINDETH HIS ROLL

WHERE HE LOST IT.

but at last, (as Providence would have it,) looking sorrowfully down under the settle, there he espied his roll, the which he with trembling and haste catched up and put into his bosom. But who can tell how joyful this man was when he had gotten his roll again! For this roll was the assurance of his life, and acceptance at the desired haven. Therefore he laid it up in his bosom, gave thanks to God for directing his eye to the place where it lay, and with joy and tears betook himself again to his journey.* But, O how nimbly did he go up the rest of the hill! Yet before

s 1 Thess. v. 7, 8. Rev. ii. 4, 5.

*This means a fresh sense of the love and power of God, and joy in the Holy Ghost, through faith in Christ Jesus. Mind with what alacrity and speed Pilgrim now pursues his journey. Oh, this rich blessing of assurance is not enough prized, and is too little sought for by professors! But how can any be content without it? It is impossible

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