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thee, that when the gospel comes, in the fweet and precious influences thereof, to the heart; just as thou fawest the damfel lay the duft by fprinkling the floor with water, fo fin is vanquished and fubdued, and the foul made clean, through faith, and confequently fit for the King of Glory to inhabit.

I faw, moreover, in my dream, That the Interpreter took him by the hand, and had him into a little room, where fat two little children, each one in his chair d. The name of the eldeft was Paffion, and the name of the other Patience. Paffion feemed to be much discontented, but Patience was very quiet. Then Christian asked, What was the reason of the difcontent of Paffion? The Interpreter anfwered, 'The governor of them would have him stay for his beft things till the beginning of the next year; but he will have all now: but Patience is willing to wait. Then I faw that one came to Paffion and brought him a bag of treasure, and poured it down at his feet; which he took up and rejoiced therein, and withal laughed Patience to fcorn. It was but a little while and I beheld that he had lavifhed all away, and had nothing left him but rags. Then faid Chriftian to the Interpreter, Expound this matter more fully to me. So he faid, Thefe

d Paffion represents the rebellion and difobedience of the carnal mind: Patience reprefents that true obedience which confists in fubmiffion to the will of God. When Patience has the perfect work of Jesus to lean upon, then the foul can fee itfelf perfect and entire in him, lacking nothing.

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two lads are figures; Paffion, of the men of this world, and Patience, of the men of that which is to come; for, as here thou feeft Paffion will have all now, this year; that is to fay, in this world: fo are the men of this world; they must have all their good things now, they cannot ftay 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 all the divine teftimonies of the good to be enjoyed in the world to come. As thou faweft, that he had quickly lavished all away, and had presently left himself nothing but rags; fo will it be with all fuch men at the end of this world.

Chr. Now I fee that Patience has the best wif

dom, and that upon many accounts. 1. Because he stays for the best things. 2. Because he will have the glory of his, when the other has nothing

but rags.

Int. Nay, you may add another, viz. That the glory of the next world will never wear out; but the glory of this is fuddenly gone. Therefore Paffion had not fo much reafon to laugh at Patience, because he had his good things firft, as Patience will have to laugh at Paffion, because he had his best things laft: for first must give place to laft, because last must have its time to come: but laft gives place to nothing; for there is not another to fucceed it. He therefore that hath his portion firft, muft needs have a time to spend it; but he that has his portion

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laft, must have it laftingly; therefore it is faid of Dives, "In thy lifetime thou receivedft thy good

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things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now "he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”

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

come.

Int. You fay truth: "For the things that are "feen are temporal; but the things that are not "feen are eternal." But though this be fo, yet, fince things prefent, and our fleshly appetites, are fuch near neighbours one to another; and again, because things to come and carnal fenfe, are fuch ftrangers one to another; therefore it is, that the first of these do fo fuddenly fall in love with each other, and that there is fuch a distance continually between the fecond.

Then I faw, in my dream, that the Interpreter took Chriftian by the hand, and led him into a place where was a fire burning against a wall, and one standing by it, always cafting much water upon it, to quench it; yet did the fire burn higher and hotter.

Then faid Chriftian, What means this?

• The fecurity of the faints lies in their connexion with Jefus, their living head; their happiness lies in communion with him; their life is maintained by communication from him, out of whofe fullness they receive grace for grace; thus nourishment is administered, and the flame of divine love is kept alive, fo that many waters cannot quench it.

The

The Interpreter anfwered, This fire is the work of grace which is wrought in the heart; he who cafts water upon it, to extinguish and put it out, is the Devil: but, in that thou seeft the fire notwithstanding burning higher and hotter, thou fhalt alfo fee the reafon of that. So he had him to the backfide of the wall, where he saw a man with a veffel of oil in his hand, fome of which he did alfo continually caft (but fecretly) into the fire.

Then faid Chriftian, What means this?

The Interpreter anfwered, This is Chrift, who continually, with the oil of his grace, maintains the work already begun in the heart: by means of which, notwithstanding all that the devil can do, the fouls of his people prove gracious still. Thou faweft that the man ftood behind the wall to maintain the fire; this is to teach thee, that it is hard for the tempted to see how the work of grace is maintained in the foul.

I faw also, that the Interpreter took him again by the hand, and led him into a pleasant place; where was built a ftately palace, beautiful to behold: at the fight of which Chriftian was greatly delighted. He saw also upon the top thereof certain perfons walking, who were clothed all in gold.

Then faid 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 defirous to go in, but durft not. There alfo fat a man at a litD 3

tle

tle distance from the door, at a table, with a book, and his inkhorn before him; to take the name of him who fhould enter therein: there stood also, in the door-way, many men in armour to keep it, being refolved to do to the men that would enter what hurt and mischief they could. Now was Christian fomewhat in amaze: at laft, when every man started back for fear of the armed men, Chriftian faw a man of a very ftout countenance come up to the man that fat there to write, faying, Set down my name, Sir; when this was done, he faw the man draw his fword, and put an helmet upon his head, and rush toward the door upon the armed men, who laid upon him with deadly force: but the man, not at all difcouraged, fell to, cutting and hacking moft fiercely. After he had received and given many wounds to those who attempted to keep him out, he cut his way through them all, and preffed forward into the palace. Upon this there was a pleasant voice heard from those who were within, even from those who walked upon the top of the palace, faying,

Come in, come in;

Eternal glory thou shalt win.

So he went in, and was clothed with the fame garments as theirs. Then Chriftian fmiled, and faid, I think verily I know the meaning of this.

f The fight of faith lies in forcing our way through a crowd of oppofers, and seeking reft and refuge in Chrift, who is a ftrong tower, into which the righteous fly and are fafe.

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Now,

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