The Pilgrims reach the Land of Beulah.

if they can see such things in any that are counted honest, that they may the more boldly do it through their example. After this, they begin to play with little sins openly and then, being hardened, they show themselves as they are. Thus, being launched again into the gulph of misery, unless a miracle of grace prevent it, they everlastingly perish in their own deceivings.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE LAND OF BEULAH-THE FORDS OF THE RIVER-AT-HOME.

"Methinks I feel the balmy air

Breathe on a pleasant land

'Mid joys so great and scenes so fair,

In Beulah's plains I stand.

A land of everlasting spring,

Of seasons bright and gay

Where birds are ever on the wing,

And night is lost in day.

The turtle sings the whole day long,

The birds in chorus sing

Their matin-hymn and even-song,

To God, their God and King.

From gloom, and doubt, and dark despair,

An endless rest is given ;

The shining ones are walking there,

The border-land of heaven!"

THE Enchanted Ground has been passed in safety; the Pilgrims are now in the Land of Beulah. Peace! it is a marriage scene! far from APOLLYON'S wrath, far from the darkness of Death's shadow, far from even the sight of Doubting Castle-away upon the heights, embowered in vineyards and orchards of the choicest fruits, is the Land of Beulah

Bright and blissful are the visions of their sleep, as now, released from the toil and travail of the way, they rest upon their peaceful pillow. "They are come unto Mount Sion and unto the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem." Yet, one step more; one more ordeal must be passed. A flowing River, dark and deep, touches the base of the mount, and divides things present from things to come. This River must be forded, and it is only buoyant Faith that can overpass it safely.

The "Glorious Dreamer" dreams great visions now-of earnest hope, and struggling faith, and dying fears, and death-bed consolations, and promises all blooming into full fruition, and the last conflict with the last enemy, and heaven's bright seraphs helping in the fight, and the final triumph, when, as men for ever free, the Pilgrims leap upon the heavenly shore! And there are shining ones in waiting, to conduct them to the gates of bliss; and after these, a company of the heavenly host arrive, the escort of their triumph, with trumpeters and heralds, greeting them with ten thousand welcomes. And now, heaven's gates lift up their heads, and the once Pilgrims enter into the presence of their Lord, and straightway are transfigured before Him-wearing crowns of shining gold, and clad in robes of everlasting light. The Progress is ended; the Pilgrims are at rest!

n

OW I saw in my dream that by this time the pilgrims were got over the Enchanted Ground; and, entering into the country of Beulah, whose air was very Sol. Song 2. 10-12. sweet and pleasant, the way lying directly

Isa. 62. 4-12.

through it, they solaced themselves there for a season.

Yea, here they heard continually "the singing of birds," and saw every day "the flowers" appear in the earth, and heard "the voice of the turtle" in the land. In this country the sun shineth night

and day wherefore this was beyond the valley of the shadow of Death, and also out of the reach of Giant Despair; neither could they from this place so much as see Doubting Castle. Here they were within sight of the city they were going to: also here met them some of the inhabitants thereof; for in this land the shining ones commonly walked, because it was upon the borders of heaven. In this land also the contract between the Bride and the Bridegroom was renewed: yea, here, "as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so doth their God rejoice over them." Here they had no want of corn and wine for in this place they met with abundance of what they had sought for in all their pilgrimage. Here they heard voices from out of the City, loud voices, saying, “Say ye to the daughters of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh! Behold, his reward is with him!" Here all the inhabitants of the country called them "the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord, sought out," &c

Now, as they walked in this land, they had more rejoicing than in parts more remote from the kingdom to which they were bound; and drawing near to the City they had yet a more perfect view thereof. It was built of pearls and precious stones; also the streets thereof were paved with gold: so that, by reason of the natural glory of the City, and the reflection of the sun-beams upon it, Christian with desire fell sick. Hopeful also had a fit or two of the same disease. Wherefore here they lay by it awhile, crying out because of their pangs, "If ye see my Beloved, tell him that I am sick of love."

But, being a little strengthened, and better able to bear their sickness, they walked on their way, and came yet nearer and nearer, where were orchards, vineyards, and gardens; and their gates opened into the highway. Now, as they came up to these places, behold the gardener stood in the way to whom the pilgrims said, Whose

suburbs of the land, and nigh unto the gates of the Celestial City.

The Country of Beulah.-"Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate but thou "Let me die the death of the righteous! " shalt be called Beulah: for the Lord delighteth Here is a description of a Christian's sunin thee, and thy land shall be married" (Isa. setting in this world, and the rising gloriously lxii. 4). Beulah means "MARRIED"; and, in in the other and the better land. Here is the prophetic language, it speaks of the final blessed- peaceful quietude of the departing Christian, ness of the Church-the bride of Christ, when finishing his course with joy. Already does the Bridegroom shall return to his now widowed the communion of the skies commence ; spouse, and the marriage contract shall be re- heavenly messengers, with messages of love newed. Here, the allusion is appropriated to and peace, hover round the bed of the Pilthe advanced stage of the Christian pilgrimage, grims. The storms of the pilgrimage are which conducts the Pilgrims into the very hushed to silence; fierce tempests cease to

goodly vineyards and gardens are these? He answered, They are the King's, and are planted here for his own delights, and also for the solace of pilgrims. So the gardener had them into the vineyards,

Deut. 23. 24.

and bid them refresh themselves with the dainties: he also showed them there the King's walks and the arbours, where he delighted to be and here they tarried and slept.

Now I beheld in my dream, that they talked more in their sleep at this time than ever they did in all their journey: and being in a muse thereabouts, the gardener said even to me, Wherefore musest thou at the matter? It is the nature of the fruit of the grapes of these vineyards "to go down so sweetly as to cause the lips of them that are asleep to speak."

21. 18.

So I saw that when they awoke they addressed themselves to go up to the City. But, as I said, the reflection of the sun upon the City 2 Cor. 3. 18. Rev. (for the City was pure gold), was so extremely glorious that they could not as yet with open face behold it, but through an instrument made for that purpose. So I saw, that as they went on, there met them two men in raiment that shone like gold, also their faces shone as the light.

These men asked the pilgrims whence they came; and they told them. They also asked them where they had lodged, and what difficulties and dangers, what comforts and pleasures they had met in the way; and they told them. Then said the men that met them, You have but two difficulties more to meet with, and then you are in the City.

Christian then and his companion asked the men to go along with them so they told them that they would; but, said they, You must obtain it by your own faith. So I saw in my dream, that they went on together till they came in sight of the gate.

Now I further saw that between them and the gate was a river; but there was no bridge to go over, and the river was very deep. At the

blow; all here is blessed sunshine calm and sweet repose-here in the Land of Beulah.

A river. This is the River of Death; a river without a bridge to span it, and its waters Nearer and nearer! It is a Progress still, are very deep. The men shuddered at the and as yet they are not at home. The light sight. Yes, Death is the "king of terrors" now dazzles them with its exceeding glory; and still! The requirement is sternly exacted— they can yet behold it only "as through a glass," you must go through, or you cannot come darkly;" but they are advancing "nearer and at the gate." Yet, to believing faith is given nearer." They have, however, two difficulties a great reward—" you shall find it deeper or more to meet with, (1) the intervening river; shallower, as you believe in the King of the and (2) that river must be crossed. place."

ཤིན་

Christian in the Deep Waters.

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 - 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, and looked this way and that, but could find no way by which they might escape the river. Then they asked the men if the waters were all of the same depth? They said. no; yet they could not help them in that case: for, said they, you shall find it deeper or shallower, as you believe in the King of the place.

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 the waves go over me. Selah.".

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

The Pilgrims would avoid the crossing of this river, if they could. It is a cold flood; a stormy sea; at best it is a bitter pang, the residue of the curse of sin. Even STANDFAST, a brave and good comrade of the Second Pilgrimage, did with a shudder say, as he adventured himself into the flood, "The waters, indeed, are to the palate bitter, and to the stomach cold."

In these fords of the river are described two Christian death-beds: the one filled with fears and terrors, his faith feeble and faint, and therefore the waters in proportion deep; the

other, ever hopeful and still rejoicing, upholds his more feeble brother, and is himself upheld; his faith is firm, and therefore his footing is sure-"Be of good cheer, my brother; I feel the bottom, and it is good!" How long shall CHRISTIAN be thus pursued by the great enemy of souls? Would Satan have him even yet, and in death destroy him who in life had proved so faithful? Yea, even in the fords of the river Satan standeth at his right hand; as Bunyan elsewhere says "I find he is much for assaulting the soul when it begins to approach towards the grave."