The Interpreter entertains Christian

INTER. Then said the Interpreter, Come in; I will shew thee that which will be profitable to thee. So he commanded his man to light a candle, and bid Christian follow him; so he had him into a private room, and bid the man open a door: the which when he had done, Christain saw the picture of a very grave person hang up against the wall; and this was the fashion of it: It had eyes lifted up to heaven, the best of books in its hand, and the law of truth was written upon its lips, the world was behind its back; it stood as if it pleaded with men, and a crown of gold did hang over its head.

CHR. Then said Christian, What means this?

INTER. The man whose picture this is, is one of a thousand; he can beget children”, travail in birth with children, and nurse them himself when they are born. And whereas thou seest him with his eyes lifted up to heaven, the best of books in his hand, and the law of truth written on his lips: it is to shew thee, that his work is to know and unfold dark things to sinners; even as also thou seest him stand as if he pleaded with men and whereas thou seest the world as cast behind him, and that a crown hangs over his head; that is to shew thee, that slighting and despising the things that are present for the love that he hath to his Master's service, he is sure in the world that comes next to have glory for his reward. Now, said the Interpreter, I have shewed thee this picture first, because the man whose picture this is, is the only man whom the Lord of the place whither thou art going hath authorized to be thy guide, in all difficult places thou mayest meet with in the way. Wherefore take good heed to what I have shewed thee, and bear well in thy mind what thou hast seen; lest in thy journey thou meet with some

with various emblematical Representations.

that pretend to lead thee right, but their way goes down to death".

Then he took him by the hand, and led him into a very large parlour that was full of dust, because never swept; the which, after he had reviewed a little while, the Interpreter called for a man to sweep. Now when he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly to fly about, that Christian had almost therewith been choked. Then said the Interpreter to a damsel that stood by, Bring hither water, and sprinkle the room; the which when she had done it was swept and cleansed with pleasure.

CHR. Then said Christian, What means this?

INTER. The Interpreter answered, This parlour is the heart of a man that was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the gospel: the dust is his original sin and inward corruptions that have defiled the whole man. He that began to sweep at first is the law; but she that brought water and did sprinkle it, is the gospel. Now whereas thou sawest that, so soon as the first began to sweep, the dust did so fly about, that the room by him could not be cleansed, but that thou wast almost choked therewith; this is to shew thee, that the law, instead of cleansing the heart, by its working, from sin, doth revive, put

This is a true picture of a gospel minister: one whom the Lord the Spirit has called and qualified for preaching the everlasting gospel. He is one who despises the world, is dead to its pleasures and joys his chief aim is to exalt and glorify the Lord Jesus, and his greatest glory is to bring sinners to Christ, to point him out as the only way to heaven, and to edify and build up saints in him, by preaching the whole truth, the promises and precepts, the privileges and duties, of the gospel. There are many who profess to do this, yet turn them out of the way, by preaching false doctrine, or mixing error with truth, or keeping back a part of the gospel of Christ. Of these the Spirit teaches us to beware; but the former he directs us to love and esteem highly for their works' sake. Take heed what you hear, Mark iv. 24.

Passion and Patience.

strength into, and increase it in the soul, even as it doth discover and forbid it; for it doth not give power to subdue it".

Again, as thou sawest the damsel sprinkle the room with water, upon which it was cleansed with pleasure; this is to shew thee, that when the gospel comes, in the sweet and precious influences thereof, to the heart, then, I say, even as thou sawest the damsel lay the dust by sprinkling the floor with water, so is sin vanquished and subdued, and the soul made clean through the faith of it, and consequently fit for the King of glory to inhabit 7.

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I saw, moreover, in my dream, that the Interpreter took him by the hand, and had him into a little room where sat two children, each one in his chair. The name of the eldest was Passion, and the name of the other Patience. Passion seemed to be much discontented, but Patience was very quiet. Then Christian asked, What is the reason of the discontent of Passion?-The Interpreter answered, The governor of them would have him stay for his best things, till the beginning of the next year: but he will have all now. But Patience is willing to wait.

Then I saw that one came to Passion, and brought

7 The heart of man in its unregenerate state, is full of evil, but, like dust in a room, where there is little or no motion, it is not much perceived. The application of the divine law to the conscience discovers the nature of sin, and, by its restraining influence, irritates and shews the strength of our corruptions. What a sink of iniquity! How unfit to be the residence of an infinitely holy Jesus! Rom. vii. 8. What can remove this evil from the soul? Nothing short of the blood and Spirit of Christ, Heb. ix. 14, 15, and x. 22. This is partly accomplished in justification, but is completely so in sanctification, whereby the heart is cleansed from all unrighteousness. Then Christ with the Father will come and abide with these happy souls, and they, if faithful till death, shall triumph in everlasting glory.

b Rom. v. 20. vii. 7-11. 1 Cor. xv. 56. 21–23. xv. 3. Acts xv. 9. Rom. xvi. 25, 26.

c John. xiv. Eph. v. 26.