16

TALK WITH GOODWILL.

low you, to persuade you to go back?

CHR. Yes, both Obstinate and Pliable but when they saw that they could not prevail, Obstinate went railing back, but Pliable came with me a little way.

went to find out Mr. Legality, until I thought that the mountain that stands by his house would have fallen upon my head; wherefore there I was forced to stop.

GOOD. That mountain has been the death of many: it is well

GOOD. But why did he not come you escaped being by it dashed in through?

CHR. We indeed came both together until we came to the Slough of Despond, into the which we also suddenly fell. And then was my neighbour Pliable discouraged, and would not adventure farther. Wherefore getting out A man may again on the side next have company to his own house, he when he sets out for heaven, told me I should pos- and yet go thisess the brave country alone for him: so he went his way, and I came mine; he after Obstinate, and I to this gate.

ther alone.

pieces.

CHR. Why truly I do not know what had become of me there, had not Evangelist happily met me again as I was musing in the midst of my dumps; but it was God's mercy that he came to me again, for else I had never come hither. But now I am come, such a one as I am, more fit indeed for death by that mountain, than thus to stand talking with my Lord. But, oh! what a favour is this to me, that yet I am admitted entrance here!

GOOD. We make no objections against any, notwithstanding all that they have done before they come hither: they in no wise are

GOOD. Then said Goodwill, Alas, poor man! is the celestial glory or so little esteem with him, that he counteth it not worth running the hazard of a few difficulties to ob-cast out, John vi. 37. And theretain it?

Christian ac

CHR. Truly, said Christian, I have said the truth of Plicuseth himself able; and it I should before the man also say the truth of at the gate. myself, it will appear there is no betterment betwixt him and myself. 'Tis true, he went back to his own house, but I also turned aside to go into the way of death, being persuaded thereto by the carnal argument of one Mr. Worldly Wiseman.

fore, good Christian, come a little way with me, and I will teach thee about the way thou must go. Look before thee; dost thou see this narrow way? That is the way thou must go. It was cast up by the patriarchs, prophets, Christ and his apostles, and it is as straight as a rule can make it: this is the way thou must go.

CHR. But, said Christian, are there no turnings nor wind- Christian alings, by which a stran- fraid of losing ger may lose his way.

his way.

GOOD. Oh! did he light upon you? What! he would have had GOOD. Yes, there are many ways you seek for ease at the hands of abut down upon this; and they are Mr. Legality! They are both of crooked and wide: but thus thou them a very cheat. But did you mayest distinguish the right from take his counsel? the wrong, the right only being CHR. Yes, as far as I durst. Il strait and narrow, Matt. vii. 14.

CHRISTIAN REACHES THE INTERPRETER'S HOUSE.

Then I saw in my dream, that Christian wea- Christian asked him ry of his bur- further, if he could den. not help him off with his burden that was upon his back. For as yet he had not got rid thereof, nor could he by any means get it off without help.

Then Christian began to gird up his loins, and to address himself to his journey. So the other told him, that by that he was gone some distance from the gate, he would come at the house of the Interpreter, at whose door he should knock, and he would show him excellent things. Then Christian took his leave of his friend, and he again bid him Godspeed.

17

such as would be helpful to me on my journey.

tained.

INTER. Then said the Interpreter, Come in; I will Illumination. show thee that which He is enterwill be profitable to thee. So he commanded his man to light the candle, and bid Christian follow him; so he had him into a private room, and bid his man open a door; the which when he had done, Christian Christian sees saw the picture of a a brave picture. 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, 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 meaneth this?

INTER. The man whose picture this is, is one of a thousand. He Then he went on till he came at can say in the words of the apostle, Christian comes the house of the In-" Though ye have ten thousand to the house o terpreter, where he instructers in Christ, yet have ye the Interpreter. knocked over and not many fathers; for in Christ Jeover. At last one came to the door, sus I have begotten you through and asked who was there. the gospel.-My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you," 1 Cor. iv. 15; Gal. iv. 19. And whereas thou seest him with his eyes lift up to heaven, the best of Meaning of the books in his hand, picture. and the law of truth writ on his lips; it is to show 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 show thee, that slighting and despising things that are pre

CHR. Sir, here is a traveller, who was bid by an acquaintance of the good man of this house to call here for his profit; I would therefore speak with the master of the house. So he called for the master of the house, who, after a little time, came to Christian, and asked him what he would have.

CHR. Sir, said Christian, I am a man that am come from the city of Destruction, and am going to Mount Zion; and I was told by the man that stands at the gate at the head of this way, that if I called here you would show me excellent things,

B

18

THE INTERPRETER'S HOUSE.

so fly about, that the room could not by him be cleansed, but that thou wast almost choked there.

sent, for the love that he hath to his Master's service, he is sure in the world that comes next to have Why he showed glory for his reward. him this picture Now, said the Interfirst. preter, I have showed 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 showed thee, and bear well in thy mind what thou hast seen, lest in thy journey thou meet with some that pretend to lead thee right, but their | the heart, then, I say, even as thou way goes down to death.

with; this is to show thee, that the law, instead of cleansing the heart (by its working) from siri, doth revive, Rom. vii. 9, put strength into, 1 Cor. xv. 56, and increase it in the soul, Rom. v. 20, even as it doth discover and forbid it, for it doth not give power to subdue. Again, as thou sawest the damsel sprinkle the room with water, upon which it was cleansed with pleasure: this is to show thee, that when the gospel comes in the sweet and precious influences thereof to

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, John xv. 3; Eph. v. 26; Acts xv. 9; Rom. xvi. 25, 26; John xv. 13.

He showed

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 it a little while, the Interpreter called for a man to sweep. Now, when he began to sweep, the dust began so abund- I saw moreover in my dream, antly to fly about, that Christian that the Interpreter took him by had almost therewith been choked. the hand, and had him into a little Then said the Interpreter to a dam-room, where sat two sel that stood by, Bring hither little children, each him Passion water, and sprinkle the room;" the one in his chair. The and Patience. which when she had done, it was name of the eldest was Passion, and swept and cleansed with pleasure. the name of the other Patience. CHR. Then said Christian, What Passion seemed to be much dismeans this? contented, but Patience was very quiet. Then Christian asked, "What is the reason of the discontent of Passion?" The Interpreter answered, "The gover- Passion will nor of them would have it now. have him stay for his best things till the beginning of next year; but he will have all now; Patience is for but Patience is will- waiting. ing to wait."

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 as soon as the first began to sweep, the dust did

Then I saw that one came to Passion, and brought him a bag of

Passion hath

THE INTERPRETER'S HOUSE.

19

treasure, and poured it down at | because he had his good things his feet: the which he first, as Patience will have to laugh his desire, and took up and rejoiced at Passion, because he had his best quickly lavishes therein, and withal things last; for first must give place all away. laughed Patience to to last, because last must have his scorn. But I beheld but a while, time to come; but last gives place and he had lavished all away, and to nothing; for there is not another had nothing left him but rags. to succeed; he therefore that hath his portion first, must needs have a time to spend it; Dives had his but he that hath his good things first. portion last, must have it lastingly; therefore it is said of Dives, "In thy life-time thou receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented," Luke xvi. 25.

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 the next year, that is, until the next world, for their porThe worldly tion of good. That proman for a bird verb, 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.

in the hand.

66

CHR. Then said Christian, Now I Patience had see that Patience has the best wis- the best wisdom, and dom. that upon many accounts. 1. Because he stays for the best things. 2. And also because 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 Things that world will never wear are first must out; but these are give place; but things that are suddenly gone. Therelast are lasting. fore Passion had not.

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 The first things are temporal, but the are but temporal. things that are not seen are eternal, 2 Cor. iv. 18. 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 continued between the second, Rom. vii. 15-25.

Then I saw in my dream, that the Interpreter took Christian by the hand, and led 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

so much reason to laugh at Patience, fire is the work of grace that is

THE INTERPRETER'S HOUSE.