so tempered our spirits,* that we can walk as companions in this so pleasant a path.

FAITH. I had thought, dear friend, to have had your company quite from our town, but you did get the start of me; wherefore I was forced to come thus much of the way alone.

CHR. How long did you stay in the city of Destruction, before you set out after me on your pilgrimage?

THE COUNTRY FROM

FAITH. Till I could stay no longer ;† for there was a THEIR TALK ABOUT great talk presently after you were gone WHENCE THEY CAME. Out, that our city would in a short time, with fire from heaven, be burned down to the ground.

CHR. What did your neighbours talk so?

FAITH. Yes, it was for a while in every body's mouth.

CHR. What! and did no more of them but you come out to escape the danger?

FAITH. Though there was, as I said, a great talk thereabout, yet I do not think they did firmly believe it ; for, in the heat of the discourse, I heard some of them deridingly speak of you and of your desperate journey, (for so they called this your pilgrimage.) But I did believe, and do still, that the end of our city will be with fire and brimstone from above; and therefore I have made my escape.

* Two cannot walk together, except they are agreed that they are poor miserable sinners; that Christ is a precious Saviour; and that they both alike expect salvation and eternal life from him only.

+ This is the case with every pilgrim. From the powerful convictions which he has from above, of his state and danger, he is urged by necessity to flee from the wrath to come. It is not in the day of man's free-will, but in the day of Christ's power, that any soul becomes a stranger and pilgrim. Therefore, O Christian, give Christ and free grace all the glory of your setting your face Zionward. Every step yon take, remember what a debtor you are to God's grace.

CHR. Did you hear no talk of neighbour Pliable? FAITH. Yes, Christian, I heard that he followed you till he came to the Slough of Despond, where, as some said, he fell in; but he would not be known to have so done; but I am sure he was soundly bedabbled with that kind of dirt.

CHR. And what said the neighbours to him?

FAITH. He hath, since his going back, been had greatly in derision, and that among all sorts of people: some do mock and despise

HOW PLIABLE WAS ACCOUNTED OF WHEN HE GOT HOME.

him, and scarce will any set him on work. He is now seven times worse than if he had never gone out of the city.

CHR. But why should they be so set against him, since they also despise the way that he forsook?

FAITH. Oh, they say, Hang him; he is a turncoat; he was not true to his profession! I think God has stirred up even his enemies to hiss at him, and make him a proverb, because he hath forsaken the way."

CHR. Had you no talk with him before you came out ?

FAITH. I met him once in the streets, but he leered away on the other side, as one ashamed of what he had done so I spake not to him.*

CHR. Well, at my first setting out I had hopes of that man; but now I fear he will perish in the overthrow of the city. For it has happened to him according to the true proverb, "The dog is turned to his vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."

THE DOG AND SOW.

* Apostates from the profession of Christ cannot look the followers of Christ boldly in the face: some convictions will follow them, till their hearts are hardened, and their conscience seared.

FAITH. These are my fears of him too: but who can hinder that which will be ?

CHR. Well, neighbour Faithful, said Christian, let us leave him, and talk of things that more immediately concern ourselves. Tell me now what you have met with in the way as you came; for I know you have met with some things, or else it may be writ for a wonder.

FAITH. I escaped the slough that I perceived you fell into, and got up to the gate without that danger;* only I met with one whose name was Wanton, that had like to have done me a mischief.

FAITHFUL ASSAULTED BY WANTON.

CHR. It was well you escaped her net: Joseph was hard put to it by her, and he escaped her as you did; but it had like to have cost him his life." But what did she do to you

?

FAITH. You cannot think, but that you know something, what a flattering tongue she had; she lay at me hard to turn aside with her, promising me all manner of content.†

CHR. Nay, she did not promise you the content of a good conscience.

FAITH. You know that I mean all carnal and fleshly

content.

CHR. Thank God you have escaped her "the abhorred of the Lord shall fall into the ditch."

* Though no sinner will flee from the wrath to come, to Christ for salvation, till the Spirit has convinced of sin, and deserved wrath and destruction yet all do not fall under the like dreadful despondency of soul at first setting out.

+ Fleshly lusts will plead hard, and promise fair. Happy to look to the Lord for power against them, and to eye his precious promises, that we may escape them.

FAITH. Nay, I know not whether I did wholly escape her, or no.*

CHR. Why, I trow you did not consent to her desires.

66

FAITH. No, not to defile myself, for I remembered an old writing that I had seen, which said, her steps take hold of hell." So I shut mine eyes, because I would not be bewitched with her looks:-then she railed on me, and I went my way.

CHR. Did you meet with no other assault as you came ?

HE WAS ASSAULTED BY ADAM THE FIRST.

FAITH. When I came to the foot of the hill called Difficulty, I met with a very aged man, who asked me what I was, and whither bound? I told him that I am a pilgrim going to the Celestial City. Then said the old man, Thou lookest like an honest fellow; wilt thou be content to dwell with me, for the wages that I shall give thee? Then I asked him his name, and where he dwelt. He said, his name was Adam the First, and that he dwelt in the town of Deceit." I asked him then what was his work, and what the wages that he would give? He told me, that his work was many delights; and his wages, that I should be his heir at last. I further asked him, what house he kept, and what other servants he had? So he told me, that his house was maintained with all the dainties of the world, and that his servants were those of his own begetting. Then I asked how many children

* A jealous conscience is grieved for the secret inclining of the flesh to lust, and can hardly acquit itself of guilt. This makes the cleansing blood of Christ exceedingly precious, while the soul is sunk into humility and self-loathing.

That is, original sin, or indwelling corruption, which has infected our whole nature.

he had? He said, that he had but three daughters, "the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life;" and that I should marry them if I would. Then I asked, how long time he would have me live with him? And he told me, as long as he lived himself.

CHR. Well, and what conclusion came the old man and you to at last?

FAITH. Why, at first I found myself somewhat inclinable to go with the man, for I thought he spoke very fair; but looking in his forehead as I talked with him, I saw there written, "Put off the old man with his deeds."*

CHR. And how then?

FAITH. Then it came burning hot into my mind, whatever he said, and however he flattered, when he got me home to his house he would sell me for a slave. So I bid him forbear to talk, for I would not come near the door of his house. Then he reviled me, and told me, that he would send such a one after me, that should make my way bitter to my soul. So I turned to go away from him; but just as I turned myself to go thence, I felt him take hold of my flesh, and give me such a deadly twitch back, that I thought he had pulled part of me after himself:† this made me cry, O wretched man!-So I went on my way up

the hill.

a 1 John ii. 16.

b Rom. vii. 24.

Blessed is the man who does not consult with flesh and blood, but looks to and obeys what is written by the Lord.

+ Though original sin is hard to be borne, it is good to be sensible of its evil. Though it makes us cry, "O wretched!" yet it tends to keep up a sense of our want of Christ, and of the worth of him, and that nothing less than the God-man Christ Jesus can be our salvation.