20

Evangelist meets and instructs Christian.

distressed in his mind; and as he read, he burst out, as he had done before, crying, "What shall I do to be saved?"*

I saw also that he looked this way and that way, as if he would run; yet he stood still, because (as I perceived) he could not tell which way to go. I looked then, and saw a man named Evangelist coming to him, and he asked, 'Wherefore dost thou cry?' He answered, Sir, I perceive by the book in my hand that I am condemned to die, and after that to come to judgment; and I find that I am not willing to do the first, nor able to do the second.†

Then said Evangelist, Why not willing to die, since this life is attended with so many evils? The man answered, Because I fear that this burden that is upon my back will sink me lower than the grave, and I shall fall into Tophet. And, Sir, if I be not fit to go to prison, I am not fit to go to judgment, and from thence to execution and the thoughts of these things make me cry.(d)

:

Then said Evangelist, If this be thy condition, why standest thou still? He answered, Because I know not whither to go. Then he gave him a parchment roll; and there was written within, "Flee from the wrath to come."§ (e)

The man therefore read it, and, looking upon Evangelist very carefully, said, Whither must I flee? Then said Evangelist, pointing with his finger over a very wide field, Do you

*Acts xvi. 30, 31. Isaiah xxx. 33.

† Heb. ix. 27. Job xvi. 21, 22. Ezek. xxii. 14. ¿ Matt. iii. 7.

(d) The Scriptures are indeed sufficient to make us wise unto salvation, as well as to show us our guilt and danger: yet the Lord commonly uses the ministry of his servants, to direct into the way of peace, even those who have previously discovered their lost condition.-Though convinced of the necessity of escaping from impending ruin, they hesitate, not knowing what to do; till Providence brings them acquainted with some faithful preacher of the gospel, whose instructions afford an explicit answer to their secret inquiries after the way of salvation.

(e) The able minister of Christ will deem it necessary to enforce the warning,"Flee from the wrath to come," even upon those who are alarmed about their souls; because this is the proper way of exciting them to diligence and decision, and of preserving them from procrastination. They, therefore, who would persuade persons under convictions, that their fears are groundless, their guilt far less than they suppose, and their danger imaginary, use the most effectual means of soothing them into a fatal security. And no discoveries of heinous guilt or helpless ruin in themselves can produce despondency, provided the salvation of the gospel be fully exhibited and proposed to them.

Christian begins to run from home.

21

see yonder Wicket-gate ?* The man said, No. Then said the other, Do you see yonder shining Light ?† He said, I think I do. Then said Evangelist, Keep that light in your eye, and go up directly thereto, so shalt thou see the Gate; at which when thou knockest it shall be told thee what thou shalt do.

So I saw in my dream that the man began to run. Now he had not run far from his own door, but his wife and children perceiving it, began to cry after him to return; but the man put his fingers in his ears, and ran on, crying Life! life! eteral life! So he looked not behind him,§ but fled towards the middle of the plain.(ƒ)

The neighbours also came out to see him run: and as he ran, some mocked, others threatened, and some cried after him to return; and among those that did so, there were two that were resolved to fetch him back by force. The name of the one was Obstinate, and the name of the other Pliable. Now by this time the man was got a good distance from them; but however they were resolved to pursue him, which they did, and in a little time they overtook him. Then said the man, Neighbours, wherefore are you come? They said, To persuade you to go back with us; but he said, That can by no means be you dwell, said he, in the City of Destruction, the

*Matt. vii. 13, 14.

xiv. 26.

+ Psalm cxix. 105. 2 Pet. i. 19. Gen. xix. 17. 2 Cor. iv. 18.

+ Luke

(f) The awakened sinner may be incapable, for a time, of perceiving the way of Salvation by faith in Christ; for divine illumination is often very gradual: as the Pilgrim could not see the Gate, when Evangelist pointed it out to him. Yet he thought he could discern the Shining Light; for upright inquirers attend to the general instructions and encouragements of Scripture, and the declarations of the pardoning mercy of God, which by degrees lead them to the knowledge of Christ and to faith in him; as our author says in a marginal note, Christ and the way to him, cannot be found without the Word.'-The Pilgrim being thus instructed, began to run:' for no persuasions or considerations can induce the man, who is duly in earnest about salvation, to neglect those things which he knows to be his present duty: yet when this is the case, it must be expected that carnal relations will oppose this new course of conduct; especially as it appears to them destructive of all prospects of worldly advantage.

The following lines are here subjoined to a very rude engraving;'Christian no sooner leaves the world, but meets

Evangelist, who lovingly him greets

With tidings of another; and doth show

Him how to mount to that from this below.'

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Obstinate and Pliable attempt to fetch him back.

place also where I was born; I see it to be so; and dying there, sooner or later, you will sink lower than the

grave, into a place that burns with fire and brimstone: be content, good neighbours, and go along with me. (g)

What, said Obstinate, and leave our friends and our comforts behind us!"

Yes, said Christian, (for that was his name,) because, that all is not worthy to be compared with a little of that that I am seeking to enjoy; and if you will go along with me, and hold it, you shall fare as I myself; for there, where I go, is enough and to spare:* come away, and prove my words.

Obst. What are the things you seek, since you leave all the world to find them?

Chr. I seek an "inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away;" and it is "laid up in heaven," and safe there, to be bestowed at the time appointed on them that diligently seek it. Read it so, if you will, in my book.

Tush, said Obstinate, away with your book will you go back with us, or no?

No, not I, said the other, because I have laid my hand to the plough.‡

Cost. Come then, neighbour Pliable, let us turn again, and go home without him: there is a company of these craz'dheaded coxcombs, that when they take a fancy by the end, are wiser in their own eyes than seven men that can render a

reason.

Then said Pliable, Don't revile; if what the good Christian says is true, the things he looks after are better than ours; my heart inclines to go with my neighbour.

Obst. What! more fools still! be ruled by me, and go back;

*Luke xv. 17. +1 Pet. i. 4-6. Heb. xi. 6, 16. Luke ix. 62.

(g) The attention of whole circles of careless sinners is generally excited, when one of their companions engages in religion, and forsakes the party. He soon becomes the topic of conversation; some ridicule, others rail or threaten, others use force or artifice to withdraw him from his purpose; according to their different dispositions, situations, or relations to him. Most of them, however, soon desist, and leave him to his choice. ' But two characters are not so easily shaken off: these our author has named Obstinate and Pliable, to denote their opposite propensities. The former, through a resolute pride and stoutness of heart, persists in attempting to bring back the new convert to his worldly pursuits; the latter, from a natural easiness of temper and susceptibility of impression, is pliant to persuasion, and readily consents to accompany him.

Pliable consents to go with him.

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who knows whither such a brain-sick fellow will lead you? Go back, go back, and be wise.

Chr. Come with me, neighhour Pliable, there are such things to be had which I spoke of, and many more glorious besides if you believe not me, read here in this book; and, for the truth of what is expressed therein, behold, all is confirmed by the blood of him that made it.‡

Well, neighbour Obstinate, saith Pliable, I begin to come to a point: I intend to go along with this good man, and to cast in my lot with him. But, my good companion, do you know the way to this desired place?

Chr. I am directed by a man, whose name is Evangelist, to speed me to a little Gate that is before us, where we shall receive instructions about the way.

Pli. Come then, good neighbour, let us be going. Then they went both together.

And I will go back to my place, said Obstinate: I will be no companion of such misled fantastical fellows. (h)

Now I saw in my dream that when Obstinate was gone back, Christian and Pliable went talking over the plain and thus they began their discourse.

:

Chr. Come, neighbour Pliable, how do you do? I am glad you are persuaded to go along with me; had even Obstinate himself but felt what I have felt, of the powers and terrors of what is yet unseen, he would not thus lightly have given us the back.

Pli. Come, neighbour Christian, since there are none but us two here, tell me now further, what the things are, and how to be enjoyed, whither we are going.

Chr. I can better conceive of them with my mind than speak

Heb. ix. 17-22.

(h) This dialogue admirably illustrates the characters of the speakers. Christian, (for so he is henceforth called,) is firm, decided, bold, and sanguine: Obstinate is profane, scornful, self-sufficient, and disposed to contemn even the Word of God, when it interferes with his worldly interests: Pliable is yielding, and easily induced to engage in things of which he understands neither the nature nor the consequences. Christian's plain warnings and earnest entreaties; and Obstinate's contempt of believers, as craz'd-headed corcombs,' and his exclamation, when Pliable inclines to be a Pilgrim, What! more fools stil!! are admirably characteristic; and show that such sarcasms and scornful abuse are peculiar to no age or place, but always follow serious godliness as the shadow does

tance.

24

Christian discourses with Pliable.

of them with my tongue but yet, since you are desirous to know, I will read of them in my book.

Pli. And do you think that the words of your book are certainly true?

Chr. Yes, verily, for it was made by him that cannot lie.* Pli. Well said; what things are they?

Chr. There is an endless kingdom to be inhabited, and everlasting life to be given us, that we may inhabit that kingdom for ever.†

Pli. Well said; and what else?

Chr. There are crowns of glory to be given us; and garments that will make us shine like the sun in the firmament of heaven.‡

Pli. This is excellent: and what else?

Chr. There shall be no more crying nor sorrow; for he that is owner of the place will wipe all tears from our eyes. § Pli. And what company shall we have there?

Chr. There we shall be with Seraphims and Cherubims, creatures that will dazzle your eyes to look on them. There also you shall meet with thousands and ten thousands that have gone before us to that place; none of them are hurtful, but loving and holy; every one walking in the sight of God, and standing in his presence with acceptance for ever. In a word, there we shall see the elders with their golden crowns;¶ there we shall see holy virgins with their golden harps .** there we shall see men that by the world were cut in pieces, burnt in flames, eaten of beasts, drowned in the seas, for the love that they bare to the Lord of the place, all well, and clothed with immortality as with a garment.tt

Pli. The hearing of this is enough to ravish one's heart: but are these things to be enjoyed? how shall we get to be sharers thereof?

Chr. The Lord, the Governor of the country, hath recorded that in this book; the substance of which is, if we be truly willing to have it, he will bestow it upon us freely.‡‡

Pli. Well, my good companion, glad am I to hear of these things. Come on, let us mend our pace.

*Tit.i. 2. + Isa. xlv. 17. Rev. iii. 4. Matth. xiii. 43. § Isa. vi. 2. I. Thess. iv. 16, 17. + John xii. 25. 2 Cor. v. 2—5. Rev. xxi. 6. xxii. 17.

John x. 27-29.
Isa. xxv. 8.

2 Tim. iv. &.

Rev. vii. 16, 17. xxi. 4. ¶ Rev. iv. 4. ** Rev. xiv, 1-5 Isa. lv. 1-3. Jolan vi. 37. vii. 37.