The Character of Self-will.

HON. He held, that a man might follow the vices as well as the virtues of pilgrims; and that if he did both, ae should be certainly saved.

GREAT. HOW? If he had said, it is possible for the best to be guilty of the vices, as well as to partake of the virtues of pilgrims, he could not much have been blamed; for indeed we are exempted from no vice absolutely, but on condition that we watch and strive. But this I perceive is not the thing; but if I understand you right, your meaning is, that he was of opinion, that it was allowable so to be.

HON. Ay, ay, so I mean, and so he believed and practised.

GREAT. But what grounds had he for his so saying?

HON. Why, he said he had the scripture for his

warrant.

GREAT. Prithee, Mr. Honest, present ns with a few particulars.

HON. So I will. He said, to have to do with other men's wives had been practised by David, God's beloved; and therefore he could do it. He said, to have more women than one was a thing that Solomon practised, and therefore he could do it. He said, that Sarah and the godly midwives of Egypt lied, and so did Rabab, and therefore he could do it. He said, that the disciples went at the bidding of their Master, and took away the owner's ass, and therefore he could do so too. He said, that Jacob got the inheritance of his father in a way of guile and dissimulation, and therefore he could do the same.

GREAT. Most base indeed! And are you sure he was of this opinion?

HON. I have heard him plead for it, bring scripture for it, bring arguments for it, &c.

GREAT. An opinion that is not fit to be with any allowance in the world!

HON. You must understand me rightly; he did not

The Character of Self-wil

say that any man might do this; but that they who had the virtues of those that did such things, might also do the same.

GREAT. But what more false than such a conclusion? For this was as much as to say, that because good men heretofore have sinned of infirmity, therefore he had allowance to do it of a presumptuous mind or that if, because a child, by the blast of the wind, or for that it stumbled at a stone, fell down and defiled itself in the mire, therefore he might wilfully lie down and wallow like a boar therein. Who could have thought that any one could so far have been blinded by the power of lust? But what is written must be true; they "stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed. (1 Peter ii. 8.) Again; his supposing that such may have the godly men's virtues, who addict themselves to their vices, is also a delusion as strong as the other. It is just as if the dog should say, I have, or may have the qualities of the child, because I lick up its excrements. To eat up the sin of God's people, (Hos. iv. 8.) is no sign of one that possesses their virtues. Nor can I believe, that one who is of this opinion, can at present have faith or love in him.-But I know you have made some strong objections against him; prithee what could he say for himself?

HON. Why, he said, that to do this by way of opinion, seemed abundantly more honest than to do it, and yet hold contrary to it in opinion.

GREAT. A very wicked answer. For though to let loose the bridle to lusts, while our opinions are against such things, is bad; yet to sin, and plead a toleration so to do, is worse: the one stumbles beholders accidentally, the other leads them into the

snare.

HON. There are many of this man's mind, who have not this man's mouth; and it is this which makes going on pilgrimage of so little esteem as it is.

and of others who turn back from the good Way.

GREAT. You have said the truth, and it is to be amented: but he that feareth the King of paradise shall come out of them all.

CHRIST. There are strange opinions in the world. I know one who said, that it was time enough to repent when we come to die.

GREAT. Such are not over-wise; that man would have been loath, might he have had a week to run twenty miles for his life, to defer his journey to the last hour of that week.

HON. You say right; and yet the generality of them who count themselves pilgrims do indeed act thus. I am, as you see, an old man, and have been a traveller in this road many a day; and I have taken. notice of many things.

I have seen some that have set out as if they would

As a perfect contrast to the last character, we have now introduced to us a self-willed professor, a person of loose principles and corrupt morals, representing a large class of professors, who, though they will not many of them speak out, yet all act out their system; studying what will gratify their " self-will," and not what will accord with the will of God. They will indulge their lusts; after which they endeavour to justify their conduct from the word of God, urging those sins of God's people which they had deeply lamented, as arguments for the vindication of their own ungodly conduct. Having assumed without evidence that they are believers in Christ, they conclude without authority that they may use their liberty as an occasion to the flesh. Blinded by the power of lust, they will receive no advice, listen to no reproof, and abstain from no sensual indulgence. There is too much reason to conclude, that such professors, though they may have even obtained eminence in the church, are not regenerated persons, but are destitute of that faith which worketh by love to the Saviour and his laws. There is a great and real difference between the sinful conduct into which some believers have been surprised by the power of temptation, and the deliberate actions of those who devise mischief upon their beds, that they may practise it when it is in the Dower of their hand to do it. In the one case believers sin through nfirmity, and are brought to bitter repentance for it; in the other, Antinomians sin because they love it, and attempt to justify it. These are the religious people who cause the way of truth to be evil spoken of, and who are the greatest stumbling-blocks to prevent others from becoming christians

The Character of some who turn back from the good Way.

drive all the world before them, who yet have in a few days died as they in the wilderness, and so never got sight of the promised land.--I have seen some that have promised nothing at first setting out to be pilgrims, and who one would have thought could not have lived a day, that have yet proved very good pilgrims. I have seen some who have run hastily forward, that have, after a little time, run as fast back again. I have seen some who have spoken very well of a pilgrim's life at first, that after a while have spoken as much against it.-I have heard some, when they first set out for paradise, say positively there is such a place, who, when they have been almost there, have come back again, and said there is none.-Lastly, I have heard some vaunt what they should do in case they should be opposed, who have, even at a false alarm, fled faith, the pilgrim's way, and all.'

Now as they were thus in their way, there came one running to meet them, who said, "Gentlemen, and you of the weaker sort, if you love life, shift for yourselves, for the robbers are before you

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GREAT. Then said Mr. Great-heart, They are the three that set upon Little-Faith heretofore. Well,

It is an awful delusion which all wicked people, and especially wicked professors, indulge, that before they die they shall repent, and that there then will be no danger but they will be saved. The unregenerate, whether professors or not, are all bent upon the present gratification of their lusts; and they will rather run the risk of finding hell at last, than part with their lusts now.-Old christians who have had opportunity for many years to make remarks upon professors, especially if they have lived at a time when religious profession exposed men to persecution, must have seen many awful instances of apostasy, and must have been greatly disappointed respecting the character and the end of many whose setting out they had witnessed. They have found, that they who have talked most, nave often done the last; and that they who have been most confident about their perseverance, have been the most ready to give up religion when they apprehended difficulty on account of it: as say the proverbs of the ancients, "Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked," 1 Sam. xxiv. 13. but "the righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger," Job xvii. 9.

The Pilgrims arrive at the House of Gaius.

continued he, we are ready for them: so they went on their way. Now they looked at every turning when they should meet with the villains; but whether they heard of Mr. Great-heart, or whether they had some other game, they came not up to the pilgrims.'

Christiana then wished for an inn for herself and her children, because they were weary. Then said Mr. Honest, "There is one a little before us, where a very honourable disciple, one Gaius, dwells." (Rom. xvi. 23.) So they all concluded to turn in thither; and the rather, because the old gentleman gave him so good a report. When they came to the door, they went in, not knocking, for folks use not to knock at the door of an inn. Then they called for the master of the house, and he came to them. "So they asked if they might lie there that night."

GAIUS. Yes, gentlemen, if you are true men; for my house is for none but pilgrims. Then were Christiana, Mercy, and the boys, the more glad, for that the innkeeper was a lover of pilgrims. So they called for rooms, and he showed them one for Christiana, and her children, and Mercy, and another for Mr. Great-heart and the old gentleman.

GREAT. Then said Mr. Great-heart, Good Gaius, what hast thou for supper? for these pilgrims have come far to-day, and are weary.

GAIUS. It is late, said Gaius, so we cannot conveniently go out to seek food; but such as we have you shall be welcome to, if that will content you.

GREAT. We will be content with what thou hast

It is no wonder that weak christians should be much stumbled by such awful instances of apostasy as are often witnessed among professors; and there is much danger that in these cases the minds of those who are weak in the faith will be assaulted by "Faintheart, Mistrust, and Guilt," and that they will thus be robbed of their confidence and comfort by the way.-The instructions and the courage of an established evangelical minister are exceedingly useful in supporting and encouraging timid christians to go forward in the path of duty, which they will always find to be the path of safety.