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he got up, the sun went down upon Christian; and this made him again recall the vanity of his sleeping to his remembrance; and thus he again began to condole with himself: O thou sinful sleep! how for thy sake am I like to be benighted in my journey! I must walk without the sun, darkness must cover the path of my feet, and I must hear the noise of the doleful creatures, because of my sinful sleep! Now also he remembered the story that Mistrust and Timorous told him of, how they were frighted with the sight of the lions. Then said Christian to himself again, These beasts range in the night for their prey; and if they should meet with me in the dark, how should I shift them? how should I escape being by them torn in pieces? Thus he went on his way. But while he was bewailing his unhappy miscarriage, he lift up his eyes, and behold there was a very stately palace before him, the name of which was Beautiful, and it stood by the highway-side.*

So I saw in my dream, that he made haste, and went forward, that if possible he might get lodging there. Now before he had gone far, he entered into a very narrow passage, which was about a furlong off of the Porter's lodge; and looking very narrowly before him as he went, he espied two lions in the way. Now,

for them to be happy, and to rejoice in the Lord, without a real scriptural assurance of his love and favour. It is this which adds wings to faith, liveliness to hope, joy to love, and cheerfulness to obedience. Plead the precious promises: be not content without the enjoyment of the blessings contained in them. Says our Lord, "Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full," John xvi. 24.

This means a visible church of Christ, to which he might be joined, and enjoy the blessing and comfort of the communion of saints.

†The two lions may signify to us, the roaring of the devil and the world against us: but both are chained, they cannot go one link

thought he, I see the dangers that Mistrust and Timo

(The lions were chained, Then he was afraid, and back after them, for he

rous were driven back by. but he saw not the chains.) thought also himself to go thought nothing but death was before him. But the Porter at the lodge, whose name is Watchful, perceiving that Christian made a halt as if he would go back, cried unto him, saying, Is thy strength so small? Fear not the lions, for they are chained, and are placed there for trial of faith where it is; and for discovery of those that have none: keep in the midst of the path, and no hurt shall come unto thee.

Then

Then I saw that he went on, trembling for fear of the lions; but taking good heed to the directions of the Porter, he heard them roar, but they did him no harm. Then he clapped his hands, and went on till he came and stood before the gate where the Porter was.* said Christian to the Porter, Sir, what house is this? and may I lodge here to-night? The Porter answered, This house was built by the Lord of the hill, and he built it for the relief and security of pilgrims. The Porter also asked whence he was, and whither he was going?

CHR. I am come from the city of Destruction, and am going to Mount Zion; but because the sun is now set, I desire, if I may, to lodge here to-night.

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beyond what our God permits. Sometimes we may not see the chain, and unscriptural fears may beset us. But this is the watch-word of our Lord, Fear not.

A minister of Christ, one who is watchful for the good of souls. O how precious are they to pilgrims' hearts! See the sweet encouragement and blessed advice Pilgrim obtained from him.

CHR. My name is now Christian, but my name at the first was Graceless ;* I came of the race of Japheth," whom God will persuade to dwell in the tents of Shem. PORT. But how doth it happen that you come so late? the sun is set.

CHR. I had been here sooner, but that, wretched man that I am! I slept in the arbour that stands on the hillside! Nay, I had, notwithstanding that, been here much sooner, but that in my sleep I lost my evidence, and came without it to the brow of the hill; and then feeling for it, and not finding it, I was forced with sorrow of heart to go back to the place where I slept my sleep; where I found it, and now I am come.‡

PORT. Well, I will call out one of the virgins of this place, who will, if she likes your talk, bring you in to the rest of the family, according to the rules of the house. So Watchful the Porter rang a bell, at the sound of which came out of the door of the house a grave and beautiful damsel, named Discretion,§ and asked why she was called?

The Porter answered, This man is on a journey from the city of Destruction to Mount Zion; but being weary

u Gen. ix. 27.

* O soul, did you ever know that this was your name? Hast thou tasted that the Lord is rich in grace to graceless sinners? Oh, then sing of free grace, and unmerited love, every step of thy pilgrimage.

+ Look well to your roll. Beware of losing your assurance. See the evil of it; it keeps the soul back. Many have lost it, and have never found it till at the end of their life.

None ought to be admitted into a church of Christ, but such as can give good evidence that they are the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, and are sincere pilgrims in the way to the heavenly city.

§ Admitting members into churches, should be done with discretion.

and benighted, he asked me if he might lodge here to-night so I told him I would call for thee, who, after discourse had with him, mayest do as seemeth thee good, even according to the law of the house.

Then she asked him whence he was, and whither he was going? and he told her. She asked him also, how he got into the way? and he told her. Then she asked him what he had seen and met with in the way? and he told her. And at last she asked his name? So he said, It is Christian; and I have so much the more a desire to lodge here to-night, because, by what I perceive, this place was built by the Lord of the hill for the relief and security of pilgrims. So she smiled, but the water stood in her eyes; and after a little pause she said, I will call forth two or three more of the family. So she ran to the door, and called out Prudence, Piety, and Charity, who, after a little more discourse with him, had him into the family; and many of them meeting him at the threshold of the house, said, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; this house was built by the Lord of the hill, on purpose to entertain such pilgrims in. Then he bowed his head, and followed them into the house. So when he was come in and sat down, they gave him something to drink, and consented together that, until supper was ready, some of them should have some particular discourse with Christian, for the best improvement of time; and they appointed Piety, Prudence, and Charity to discourse with him: and thus they began.*

PIETY. Come, good Christian, since we have been so loving to you to receive you into our house this night, let us, if perhaps we

PIETY DISCOURSES

WITH HIM.

*

The blessedness of savoury, experimental conversation with fellow-pilgrims.

may better ourselves thereby, talk with you of all things that have happened to you in your pilgrimage.

CHR. With a very good will; and I am glad that you are so well disposed.

PIETY. What moved you at first to betake yourself to a pilgrim's life?

CHR. I was driven out of my native country by a dreadful sound that was in mine ears;

HOW CHRISTIAN WAS DRIVEN OUT OF HIS OWN COUNTRY.

to wit, that unavoidable destruction did attend me, if I abode in that place where I was.

PIETY. But how did it happen that you came out of your country this way?

weep

HOW HE GOT INTO THE WAY TO ZION.

CHR. It was as God would have it; for when I was under the fears of destruction, I did not know whither to go; but by chance there came a man, even to me, as I was trembling and ing, whose name is Evangelist, and he directed me to the Wicket-gate, which else I should never have found, and so set me into the way that hath led me directly to this house.

PIETY. But did you not come by the house of the Interpreter ?

A REHEARSAL OF WHAT HE SAW IN THE WAY.

CHR. Yes, and did see such things there, the remembrance of which will stick by me as long as I live, especially three things; to wit, how Christ, in despite of Satan, maintains his work of grace in the heart; how the man had sinned himself quite out of hopes of God's mercy, and also the dream of him that thought in his sleep the day of judgment

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PIETY. Why, did you hear him tell his dream?

Hope and fear should accompany us every step of our journey. Without true piety there can be no real Christianity. The Lord shows us many things in our way concerning the cases of others, to

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