Passion and Patience.

him a bag of treasure, and poured it down at his feet the which he took up, and rejoiced therein, and withal laughed Patience to scorn. But I beheld but a while, and he had lavished all away, and had nothing left him but rags.

CHR. Then said Christian to the Interpreter, Expound this matter more fully to me.

INTER. So he said, These two lads are figures: Passion, of the men of this world; and Patience, of the men of that which is to come. For as here thou seest Passion will have all now this year, that is to say, in this world; so are the men of this world: they must have all their good things now, they cannot stay till next year, that is, until the next world, for their portion of good. That proverb, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," is of more authority with them than are all the divine testimonies of the good of the world to come. But as thou sawest, that he had quickly lavished all away, and had presently left him nothing but rags; so will it be with all such men at the end of this world.

CHR. Then said Christian, Now I see that Patience has the best wisdom, and that upon many accounts:because he stays for the best things; and also be cause he will have the glory of his, when the other has nothing but rags.

INTER. Nay, you may add another, to wit-the glory of the next world will never wear out; but these are suddenly gone. Therefore Passion had not so much reason to laugh at Patience, because he had his good things at first, as Patience will have to

* Carnal men seek nothing more than the gratification of their senses: their end will be the loss of all things, and the destruction of their own souls. But the just live by faith on Jesus, and in hope of joys to come: their end will be glorious; for they shall receive the end of their faith, the salvation of their souls, an inheritance in corruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, 1 Pet. i. 3-9.

The Fire.

laugh at Passion because he had his best things last; for first must give place to last, because last must have its time to come; but last gives place to nothing, for there is not another to succeed: he, therefore, that hath his portion first, must needs have a time to spend it; but he that hath his portion last, must have it lastingly: therefore it is said of Dives, "in thy lifetime thou receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented"."

CHR. Then I perceive it is not best to covet things that are now, but to wait for things to come.

INTER. You say truth ; "for the things that are seen are temporal; but the things that are not scen are eternal" but, though this be so, yet, since things present and our fleshly appetite are such near neighbours one to another; and, again, because things to come and carnal sense are such strangers one to another: therefore it is that the first of these so suddenly fall into amity, and that distance is so continually between the second.

Then I saw in my dream, that the Interpreter took Christian by the hand, and let him into a place where was a fire burning against a wall, and one standing by it, always casting much water upon it to quench it yet did the fire burn higher and hotter. Then said Christian, What means this?

The Interpreter answered, This fire is the work of grace that is wrought in the heart; he that casts water upon it to extinguish and put it out, is the

9 Here see the preciousness and glory of faith: it causeth the soul to make a proper estimate, and set a true value on things; it pierceth through the objects of time and sense, and fixes upon glory and eternity. This is the proper character of every heaven-born soul; "the just shall live by faith," Heb. x. 38. This is a life of heaven upon earth.

The Palace.

Devil: but in that thou seest the fire notwithstanding burns higher and hotter, thou shalt also see the reason of that. So he had him about to the backside of the wall, where he saw a man with a vessel of oil in his hand, of which he did continually cast (but secretly) into the fire'.

Then said Christian, What means this?

The Interpreter answered, This is Christ, who continually with the oil of his grace maintains the work already begun in the heart: by the means of which, notwithstanding what the Devil can do, the souls of his people prove gracious still'. And in that thou sawest that the man stood behind the wall to maintain the fire; this is to teach thee, that it is hard for the tempted to see how this work of grace is maintained in the soul*.

I saw also that the Interpreter took him again by the hand, and led him into a pleasant place, where was builded a stately palace, beautiful to behold; at the sight of which Christian was greatly delighted : he saw also upon the top thereof certain persons walking, who were clothed all in gold,

This beautifully shews how the principle of grace is kept up in the souls of the humble faithful followers of Christ, notwithstanding the continual attempts of Satan to destroy it. Frequently when the enemy's efforts are strongest, the Lord pours more abundant consolation into his people, which enables them to say with Paul, " When I am weak, then am I strong."

2 A time of severe temptation is not the most proper time for a Christian to examine himself; he should rather give himself to prayer, Psal. cix. 4. In a time of ease, prosperity, or tranquillity of mind, when the judgment is not clouded, or when the heart is in danger of being drawn away from God, then should a man search his heart, and compare his tempers and practice with the word of God; should mark with the greatest exactness what are his attainments, and what his wants. And he should remember, that there is an inexhaustible fulness in Christ, from whence he may receive till his joy is full.

The Palace.

Then said Christian, May we go in thither?

Then the Interpreter took him and led him up towards the door of the palace; and, behold, at the door stood a great company of men, as desirous to go in, but durst not. There also sat a man at a little distance from the door, at a table-side, with a book and his inkhorn before him, to take the name of him that should enter therein; he saw also, that in the door-way stood many men in armour to keep it, being resolved to do to the men that would enter what hurt and mischief they could. Now was

"Set

Christian somewhat in amaze at last, when every man started back for fear of the armed men, Christian saw a man of a very stout countenance come up to the man that sat there to write, saying, down my name, Sir:" the which when he had done, he saw the man draw his sword, and put a helmet upon his head, and rush toward the door upon the armed men, who laid upon him with deadly force; but the man was not all discouraged, but fell to cutting and hacking most fiercely. So after he had received and given many wounds to those that attempted to keep him out, he cut his way through them all, and pressed forward into the palace; which there was a pleasant voice heard from those that were within, even those that walked upon the top of the palace, saying,

"Come in, come in ;

Eternal glory thou shalt win."

at

So he went, in, and was clothed with such garments as they. Then Christian smiled, and said, I think verily I know the meaning of this *.

We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God, Acts xiv. 22.

4 Such is the spirit and disposition of a soul who is determined to win hrist and enjoy the kingdom of glory. In spite of all opposition, he resolutely forces his way, and presses towards the

The Man in the iron Cage.

Now, said Christian, let me go hence. Nay, stay, said the Interpreter, till I have shewed thee a little more, and after that thou shalt go on thy way. So he took him by the hand again, and led him into a very dark room, where there sat a man in an iron cage.

Now the man, to look on, seemed very sad. He sat 'with his eyes looking down to the ground, his hands folded together, and he sighed as if he would break his heart. Then said Christian, What means this? At which the Interpreter bid him talk with the man3. CHR. Then said Christian to the man, What art thou? The man answered, I am what I was not once. CHR. What wert thou once?

MAN. The man said, I was once a fair and flourishing professor, both in mine own eyes, and also in the eyes of others: I once was, as I thought, fair for the celestial City, and had then even joy at the thoughts that I should get thithers".

CHR. Well, but what art thou now?

MAN. I am now a man of despair, and am shut up in it as in this iron cage. I cannot get out; oh, now I cannot R !

mark for the prize of his high calling of God in Christ Jesus, Phil. iii. 14. He is not content with a few lazy wishes, or languid hopes; for the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force, Matt. xi. 12.

5 The Holy Spirit would have us take warning by the sad examples of others. Hence he sets before us in the holy scriptures the dreadful things which have befallen professors, that we may see our danger, be humble and watchful, and pray to the Lord to keep us from falling away.

• Most dreadful change! Think of it with trembling. Thou standest by faith: be not high minded, but fear.

7 Soaring professors, beware! See how far this man went; see what he thought of himself; see what others thought of him; yea, he felt great joy in himself at the thought of getting to heaven: but despair seized on him. Let us watch and be sober."

• A more dreadful state on this side of hell cannot be.