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THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.

THE ELEVENTH BOOK.

CHRISTIAN AND HOPEFUL REACH THE ENCHANTED

GROUND, WHICH THEY PASS OVER IN

HOPEFUL

RIENCE

SAFETY

EXPE

NARRATES HIS CONVERSION AND

THEY ARRIVE AT THE CHARMING COUNTRY
WHENCE THEY HAVE A DELIGHTFUL

OF BEULAH

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PROSPECT OF THE CELESTIAL CITY.

WITH hopes of glory now their songs abound When, presently, they reach th' Enchanted Ground.* The narrow way with caution due they keep, But Hopeful found himself inclin'd to sleep, Some drowsy property the air possess'd,

Which strangely prompted men to wish for rest. 'Christian,' said he, your company I prize,

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But find I cannot open keep my eyes;

'Let us lie down and rest, while here we can,

For sleep is pleasant to a labouring man.'

*

By the Enchanted Ground, the author seems to intend such a state of prosperity and ease, as may incline the Christian to slumber, and neglect the concerns of the soul and eternity. Innumerable facts concur to prove how extremely dangerous such a state is to professors of religion. Happy are they who enjoy the counsel and faithful admonitions of a Christian friend; for, indeed, two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour.-Eccl. iv. 9.

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"To prevent sleep, let us fall into good discourse."

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'By no means,' answer'd Christian, "if we do, "Some mischief sure will come to me or you. "For still, methinks, the shepherds' words I hear"You pass the Enchanted Ground, O sleep not there! "Shake off dull sloth; resist the sleepy air,

"And let us sober be, and watch to prayer."

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Thank you, good brother, thank you,' Hopeful

'Your salutary counsel much I prize.

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Alone, unto what danger had I run,

'But two, I see, are better far than one,

Now then, lest drowsiness prevail again,

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'Let good discourse the moments entertain.

'What subject,' Hopeful adds, shall we discuss?— 'Let us begin, where God began with us.

6

'Too long,' said he, 'I tarried in the Fair,

Delighting in the follies practis'd there:

I first began to think about my state,

• When pious Faithful met his cruel fate.
'Some horror, then upon my conscience fell,
And sin, I saw the certain road to hell:
'Yet I rebell'd against the growing light,
• And love of sin would with conviction fight:
Against those fears how often did I spurn!
And yet, convictions would again return:
'If when abroad, I only chanc'd to meet
A godly neighbour walking in the street;

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'Or, if at night, I heard the tolling bell,

'My dismal thoughts would run on death and hell. 'If sudden death was mention'd, then thought I,

'What will become of me, if I should die?

6

'Well then,' said I, I must reform my life,
'And put an end to all this inward strife.
This would not do, for presently I saw
'I still remain'd a debtor to the law;

'If all were good, and all that good should last,
I saw it would not cancel what was pass'd:
In short, I found no righteousness I have,
In whole or part a guilty soul to save.
'Twas then I first began indeed to pray,
And God be merciful, in truth to say.
To Jesus now my helpless soul inclin’d,
• Thankful, in him, my righteousness to find;
Trusting in him, from guilt my mind was free,
I saw the Saviour liv'd and died for me:

My heart was fill'd with joy, my eyes with tears, 'And Jesus banish'd all my doubts and fears.'

Thus sweet discourse beguil'd the tedious way, Which long across the ground Enchanted lay. This danger past, the country now before The beauteous face of happy Eden bore. The cheerful birds were always singing there— Unwith'ring flow'rs perfum'd the wholesome air.

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