HOW THE APOS TATE GOES BACK. from the remembrance of God, death and judgement to come. 2. Then they cast off by degrees private duties, as closet-prayer, curbing their lusts, watching, sorrow for sin, and the like. 3. Then they shun the company of lively and warm Christians. 4. After that, they grow cold to public duty, as hearing, reading, godly conference, and the like. 5. They then begin to pick holes, as we say, in the coats of some of the godly, and that devilishly, that they may have a seeming colour to throw religion (for the sake of some infirmities they have spied in them) behind their backs. 6. Then they begin to adhere to and associate themselves with carnal, loose, and wanton men. 7. Then they give way to carnal and wanton discourses in secret; and glad are they, if they can see such things in any that are counted honest, that they may the more boldly do it through their example. 8. After this they begin to play with little sins openly. 9. And then, being hardened, they shew themselves as they are. Thus being launched again into the gulph of misery, unless a miracle of grace prevent it, they everlastingly perish in their own deceivings. Now I saw in my dream, that by this time the Pilgrims were got over the Enchanted Ground, and entering into the country of Beulah,7 whose air was very sweet and pleasant, the way lying directly through it, they solaced themselves there for a season; yea, here 7 Isaiah, lxii. 4. ANGELS. they heard continually the singing of birds, and saw every day the flowers appear in the earth, and heard the voice of the turtle in the land. In this country, the sun shineth night and day; wherefore this was beyond the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and also out of the reach of Giant Despair; neither could they from this place so much as see Doubting-castle. Here they were within sight of the City they were going to; also here met them some of the inhabitants thereof; for in this land the Shining Ones commonly walked, because it was upon the borders of Heaven. In this land also, the contract between the bride, and the bridegroom was renewed; yea, here, "as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so doth their God rejoice over them." Here they had no want of corn and wine; for in this place they met with abundance of what they had sought for in all their pilgrimage. Here they heard voices from out of the city; loud voices, saying, "Say ye to the daughter of Zion, behold, thy salvation cometh! Behold, his reward is with him!"2 Here all the inhabitants of the country called them "The holy people, the redeemed of the Lord; sought out," &c. Now, as they walked in this land, they had more rejoicing than in parts more remote from the Kingdom to which they were bound; and drawing near to the City, they had yet a more perfect view thereof: It was builded of pearls and precious stones, also the streets thereof were paved with gold; so that, by reason of the natural glory of the City, and the re 9 Isaiah, lxii. 5. 8 Cant. ii. 12. 1 1 Ibid. 8, 9. 2 Ibid. 11, 12. flection of the sun-beams upon it, Christian with desire fell sick. Hopeful also had a fit or two of the same disease; wherefore here they lay by it a while, crying out, because of their pangs, "If you see my beloved, tell him that I am sick of love." But being a little strengthened, and better able to bear their sickness, they walked on their way, and came yet nearer and nearer, where were orchards, vineyards, and gardens, and their gates opened into the highway. Now, as they came up to these places, behold the Gardener stood in the way; to whom the Pilgrims said, Whose goodly vineyards and gardens are these? He answered, They are the King's, and are planted here for his own delight, and also for the solace of Pilgrims! So the Gardener had them into the vineyards, and bid them refresh themselves with the dainties; he also shewed them there the King's walks and the arbours, where he delighted to be; and here they tarried and slept. Now I beheld in my dream that they talked more in their sleep at this time, than ever they did in all their journey; and being in a muse thereabout, the Gardener said even to me, Wherefore musest thou at the matter? It is the nature of the fruit of the grapes of these vineyards "to go down so sweetly, as to cause the lips of them that are asleep to speak.4 So I saw that, when they awoke, they addressed themselves to go up to the City. But, as I said, the reflection of the sun upon the City, (for the City was pure gold,5) was so extremely glorious, that they could not, as yet, with open face, behold it, but through an 3 Deut. xxiii. 24. 4 Cant. vii. 9. 5 Rev. xxi. 18. instrument made for that purpose. So I saw that, as they went on, there met them two Men in raiment that shone like gold, also their faces shone as the light. These Men asked the Pilgrims whence they came? and they told them. They also asked them, where they had lodged, what difficulties and dangers, what comforts and pleasures, they had met with in the way? and they told them. Then said the Men that met them, You have but two difficulties more to meet with, and then you are in the City. Christian then, and his companion, asked the Men to go along with them: so they told them that they would: But, said they, you must obtain it by your own faith. So I saw in my dream that they went on together, till they came in sight of the Gate. DEATH. Now, I further saw, that between them and the Gate was a River, but there was no bridge to go over, and the River was very deep. At the sight, therefore, of this River, the Pilgrims were much stunned; but the Men that went with them said, You must go through, or you cannot come at the Gate. The Pilgrims then began to enquire, if there was no other way to the Gate? to which they answered, Yes; but there hath not any, save two, to wit, Enoch and Elijah, been permitted to tread that path, since the foundation of the world, nor shall until the last trumpet shall sound. The Pilgrims DEATH NOT WELthen, especially Christian, began to despond, and looked this way and COME TO NATURE, that, but could find no way by which WORLD INTO GLORY. 6 2 Cor. iii. 18. ANGELS HELP US to escape the River. Then they asked the Men, if the waters were all of the same depth? They said, No: yet they could not help them in NOT COMFORTABLY that case: For, said they, you shall THROUGH DEATH. find it deeper or shallower, as you believe in the King of the place. Then they addressed themselves to the water, and, entering, Christian began to sink; and crying out to his good friend Hopeful, he said, "I sink in deep waters; the billows go over my head; all the waves go over me." Selah. CHRISTIAN'S DEATH. Then said the other, Be of good cheer, my brother, I feel the bottom, and it is good. Then said Christian, Ah! my friend, "the sorrow of death hath compassed me about:" I shall not see the Land that floweth with milk and honey! and with that a great darkness and horror fell upon THE HOUR OF Christian, so that he could not see before him. Also here he, in a great measure, lost his senses, so that he could neither remember nor orderly talk of any of these sweet refreshments that he had met with in the way of his Pilgrimage. But all the words that he spoke still tended to discover that he had horror of mind, and heart-fears, that he should die in that River, and never obtain entrance in at the Gate. Here, also, as they who stood by perceived, he was much in the troublesome thoughts of the sins he had committed, both since and before he began to be a Pilgrim. "Twas also observed, that he was troubled with apparitions of Hobgoblins and Evil Spirits; for ever and anon he would intimate so much by words. Hopeful, therefore, here had much ado to |