Conversation of Christian and Hopeful,

2. Another reason is, they have slavish fears that do overmaster them :-I speak now of the fears that they have of men: "for the fear of man bringeth a snare." (Prov. xxix. 25.) So then, though they seem to be hot for heaven so long as the flames of hell are about their ears, yet, when that terror is a little over, they betake themselves to second thoughts, namely, that it is good to be wise, and not to run (for they know not what) the hazard of losing all, or at least of bringing themselves into unavoidable and unnecessary tronbles; and so they fall in with the world again.

3. The shame that attends religion lies also as a block in their way: they are proud and haughty, and religion in their eye is low and contemptible: therefore when they have lost their sense of hell and wrath to come they return again to their for

mer course.

4. Guilt, and to meditate terror, are grievous to them; they like not to see their misery before they come into it; though perhaps the sight of it at first, if they loved that sight, might make them flee whither the righteous flee, and are safe; but because they do, as I hinted before, even shun the thoughts of guilt and terror; therefore, when once they are rid of their awakenings about the terrors and wrath of God, they harden their hearts gladly, and choose such ways as will harden them more and more.

CHR. You are pretty near the business, for the bottom of all is, for want of a change in their mind and will. And therefore they are but like the felon that standeth before the judge: he quakes and trembles, and seems to repent most heartily, but the bottom of all is, the fear of the halter; not that he hath any detestation of the offence, as it is evident; because, let but this man have his liberty, and he will be a thief, and so a rogue still; whereas, if his mind was changed he would be otherwise.

HOPE. Now I have shewed you the reason of

respecting the Manner of declining in Religion.

their going back, do you shew me the manner thereof.

CHR. So I will willingly:

1. They draw off their thoughts, all that they may, from the remembrance of God, death, and judgment to come.

2. Then they cast off by degrees private duties, as closet prayer, curbing their lusts, watching, sorrow for sin, &c.

3. Then they shun the company of lively and warm Christians.

4. After that, they grow cold to public duty; as hearing, reading, godly conference, and the like.

5. Then they begin to pick holes, as we say, in the coats of some of the godly, and that devilishly, that they may have a seeming colour to throw religion (for the sake of some infirmities they have spied in them) behind their backs.

6. Then they begin to adhere to, and associate themselves with, carnal, loose, and wanton men.

7. Then they give way to carnal and wanton dis courses in secret; and glad are they if they can see such things in any that are counted honest, that they may the more boldly do it through their example.

8. After this, they begin to play with little sins openly.

9. And then, being hardened, they shew themselves as they are. Thus, being launched again in the gulf of misery, unless a miracle of grace prevent it, they everlastingly perish in their own deceivings.

• Deep convictions of sin are no evidence of grace, as they may exist where there is no honest hatred of sin, and no objection to *urn back to its pleasures. Such persons may be forward in religion, but it will be for a while only; and in time of temptation they will fak away. While asking what they shall do to be saved, their state i nopetuï; but when they depend upon their own resolutions, they

The Pilgrims leave the Enchanted Ground.

Now I saw in my dream, that by this time the pilgrims were got over the Enchanted Ground, and entering into the country of Beulah, (Isa. Ixii. 4-12. Song ii. 10-12.) whose air was very sweet and pleasant; the way lying directly 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

very soon give up all respect for religion, and return to their former lusts and pleasures. The reason of this is, that as their hearts were never renewed, when they get rid of the fears of hell, there is nothing to restrain them from committing all iniquity with greediness. The carnal mind is enmity against God, and therefore it is not, and cannot be subject to the law of God. Then the fear of men, the shame that sometimes attends religion, and the misery of a terrified conscience, all lead them to shake off the restraints of religious feelings, principles, and connections. Though they feel convictions, yet they are not sorry for sin because they have offended God by it, but because it exposes them to his wrath and indignation. Had their hearts been changed, they would have hated sin as the greatest evil, and have fled from it as the greatest enemy. It is a saying of Mr. Bunyan's, which well applies here, "To be truly sensible of sin, is to sorrow for displeasing God; to be more afflicted that he is displeased by us, than that he is displeased with us." The gradual manner in which such backslide, is described in a very correct manner, and should be read by professors with serious attention, and honest self-examination. Mr. Bunyan was afraid, he tells us, of falling away, as he had known many do, who had given up religion. The following extract from his Life is very striking and instructive. "Then hath the tempter come upon me with such discouragements as these: You are very hot for mercy, but I will cool you; this frame shall not last always: many have been as hot as you for a spirit, but I have quenched their zeal.' And with this, such and such, who had fallen off, would be set before mine eyes. Then I would be afraid that I should do so too: but, thought 1, I am glad this comes into my mind. Well, I will watch, and take what care I can. Though you do, (said Satan,) I shall be too hard for you; I will cool you insensibly, by degrees, by little and little. What care I (said he) though I be seven years in chilling your heart, if I can do it at last? Continual rocking will lull a crying child to sleep I will ply it closer, but I will have my end accomplished. Though you are burning hot at present, I caa ull you from this fire; I shall have you cold before it be long

and enter the Land Beulah.

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 in 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 did their God rejoice over them." Here they had no want of corn and wine; for in this place they met 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 daughter 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.

The land of " Beulah," which signifies "married," the predicted residence of the church in its most prosperous and happy state, and the figure of the union with himself into which God has brought his people, and of the delight which he takes in them, is selected by our ingenious author to set forth the extacies which believers enjoy in divine ordinances, while in the full assurance of hope, they are living in the anticipation of heaven. This is intimated by the scriptures referred to in the Song of Solomon, chap. vii. 10. I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me. Realizing their dignity and safety, as united to Christ, and walking in the light of God's countenance, they are relieved from all apprehensions of eternal death, and from all their doubts and fears. Experiencing such extatic pleasures in the communion of the church, believers feel as if they had arrived at the heavenly Jerusalem, and were associated with the spirits of just men made perfect, and with an innumerable company of angels. Thus walking as on the very borders of heaven, their fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. Satisfied with the abundance of Sion's consolations, all their desires are granted; and as they are happy themselves, they contribute to the happiness of others, who behold the manifestation of the divine favour towards those who are enewed, redeemed, and sanctified.

The Pilgrims arrive within Sight of the Celestial City,

Now, as they walked in this land, they had more rejoicing than in parts more remote from the king

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick. Such were the strong feelings of Paul, when he felt a desire to depart and be with Christ, which would be far better, and was willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord, 2 Cor. v. 6-8. By the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit, they receive the first fruits of the land of Canaan, the grapes of Eshcol; and these spiritual dispositions and enjoyments are the earnest of their glorious inheritance. The unspeakable enjoyments which believers sometimes express, fill beholders with surprise; but they are satisfactorily accounted for by the language of divine inspiration as the effects of faith and love: yet believing ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your soul, 1 Pet. i. 8. Mr. Flavel relates in his Pneumatologia, p. 210, 2nd ed. 4to. (though with great modesty, using the third person, as the apostle did when speaking of his extraordinary revelations, when he himself was the person intended,) that being on a journey, he set himself to improve his time by meditation; when his mind grew intent, till at length he had such ravishing tastes of heavenly joys, and such full assurance of his interest therein, that he utterly lost the sight and sense of this world and all its concerns, so that for hours he knew not where he was. At last, perceiving himself faint by a great loss of blood from his nose, he alighted from his horse and sat down at a spring, where he washed and refreshed himself; earnestly desiring, if it were the will of God, that he might there leave the world. His spirits reviving, he finished his journey in the same delightful frame; and all that night passed without a wink of sleep, the joy of the Lord still overflowing him, so that he seemed an inhabitant of the other world. After this, a heavenly serenity and sweet peace continued long with him; and for many years he called that day one of the days of heaven, and professed he understood more of the life of heaven by it, than by all the discourses he had heard, or the books he ever read. See Nonconformists' Memorial, article FLAVEL. The glories of heaven are not to be conceived of in the present world, and can only be imperfectly beheld by faith, through the medium of divine revelation. Pure gold like unto clear glass, may be intended to represent the purity and knowledge to be enjoyed in the celestial city. It is highly probable that angels are employed, especially when believers are near death, to minister comfort and support to their happy minds, as they go out of time into eternity. Such comforts are earnestly desired by dying christians; but it is only by faith in the promises that they can be enjoyed. An angel from heaven strengthened the Saviour in his agony in the garden just before his death, Luke xxii. 43. Angels are spoken of as conveying the soul of Lazarus into Abraham's bosom, Luke xvi. 22. And an angel was