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GOOD-WILL DISCOURSES WITH CHRISTIAN.

there is erected a strong castle, of which Beelzebub is the captain; from thence both he and they that are with him shoot arrows at those that come up to this gate, if haply they may die before they can enter in."

So

Then said Christian, I rejoice and tremble. when he was got in, the man of the gate asked him who directed him thither.

CHR. Evangelist bid me come hither and knock, as I did; and he said that you, Sir, would tell me what I must do.

GOOD. "An open door is before thee, and no man can shut it."

CHR. Now I begin to reap the benefits of my ha

zards.

GOOD. But how is it that you come alone?

CHR. Because none of my neighbours saw their danger, as I saw mine.

GOOD. Did any of them know of your coming?

CHR. Yes, my wife and children saw me at the first, and called after me to turn again: also some of my neighbours stood crying and calling after me to return; but I put my fingers in my ears and so came on my

way.

GOOD. But did none of them follow 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 Piable came with me a little way.

GOOD. But why did he not come through?

Where

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 further.* fore getting out again on that side next to his own house, he told me I should possess the brave country alone for him so he went his way, and I came mine; he after Obstinate, and I to this gate.

*A man may have company when he sets out for heaven, and yet go thither alone. Many be called, but few chosen." Matt. xx. 16.

GOOD-WILL CONTINUES HIS DISCOURSE.

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Then said Good-will, Alas, poor man! is the celestial glory of so small esteem with him, that he counteth it not worth running the hazard of a few difficulties to obtain it?

Truly, said Christian, I have said the truth of Pliable; and if I should also say all the truth of myself, it will appear there is no difference betwixt him and myself. It is 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.*

GOOD. Oh! did he light upon you? What, he would have had you have sought for ease at the hands of Mr. Legality! they are both of them very cheats. But did you take his counsel ?

CHR. Yes, as far as I durst. I 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, and will be the death of many more. It is well you escaped being dashed in pieces by it.

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!

Where there is true grace in the heart, it will take shame to itself, and give all the glory to God's sovereign grace, for any difference there is between us and others. Free grace destroys pride, and lays the sinner low, while it exalts Christ, and causes the believer to triumph in his righteousness and salvation.

Though Jesus knows what is in man, and all his ways, yet he will bring the soul to confession unto him. See the loving heart of Christ to sinners, and the free communications he admits them to with himself Oh! ye his people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us, Psal. Ixii. 8.

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CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTED IN THE WAY.

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 cast out;"(a) and therefore, 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.

But, said Christian,† are there no turnings nor windings, by which a stranger may lose his way?

GOOD. Yes, there are many ways butt down upon this, and they are crooked and wide: but thus thou must distinguish the right from the wrong, the right only being straight and narrow.(b)

It is a sure sign of a genuine work of grace, when the heart ascribes all to grace. Here is no ascribing any thing to his own wisdom or power: but his escape from destruction, and being yet in the way of salvation, are wholly resolved into the grace of the gospel, the mercy of God, and in his free favour, and almighty power. It is sweet to converse with Jesus, of his free grace to wretched and unworthy sinners. Do not you find it so ?

Christian is afraid of losing his way; a blessed sign of a gracious heart, when it possesses godly jealousy.

#Christian, being admitted at the strait gate, is directed in the narrow way. In the broad road every man may choose a path suited to his inclinations, shift about to avoid difficulties, or accommodate himself to circumstances; and he will be sure of company agreeably to his taste. But Christians must follow one another, in the narrow way along the same track, surmounting difficulties, facing enemies, and bearing hardships, without any room to evade them: nor is any indulgence given to different tastes, habits, or propensities. It is therefore a straitened, or, as some render the word, an afflicted way; being indeed an habitual course of repentance, faith, love, self-denial, patience; in a word, a full conformity to the will of God, according to the scriptures. Christ himself is the way, by which we come to the Father; and by living faith which works by love, we are "set in the way of his steps." This path is also straight, as opposed to the crooked ways of men; for it consists in an uniform regard to piety, integrity, sincerity, and kindness, at a distance from all the hypocrisies, frauds, and artifices, by which ungodly men wind about to avoid detection, keep up their credit, deceive others, or impose on themselves. The question proposed by Christian im

CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTED IN THE WAY.

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Then I saw in my dream that Christian asked him further, if he could not help him off with the 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.

He told him, As to thy burden, be content to bear it until thou comest to the place of deliverance ;* for there it will fall from thy back of itself.

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 God speed.

plies that believers are more afraid of missing the way than of encountering hardships in it: and Good-will's answer, that many ways butted down on it, or opened into it, in various directions, shows, that the careless and selfwilled are extremely liable to be deceived: but it follows that all these ways are crooked and wide; they turn aside from the direct line of living faith and holy obedience, and are more soothing, indulgent, and pleasing to corrupt nature, than the path of life: which lies straight forward, and is every where contrary to the bias of the carnal mind.

There is no deliverance from the guilt and burden of sin, but by the death of Christ. Here observe, that though a sinner, at his first coming to Christ, find some comfort and encouragement, yet he may not for some time have a clear sense of pardon and assurance of the forgiveness of his sins, but he may still feel the burden of them. But by faith in Jesus he shall be adopted into the family of heaven.

THEN Christian went on till he came to the house of the Interpreter,* where he knocked over and over: at last one came to the door, and asked who was there?

CHR. Sir, here is a traveller, who was bid by an acquaintance of the good man of this house to call here for my 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?

Sir, said Christian, I am a man that am come from the city of Destruction, and am going to the 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, such as would be a help to me in my journey.

Then said the Interpreter, Come in; I will show thee that which will be profitable to thee.† So he commanded his man‡ to light a 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 saw the picture of a 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

*Christian comes to the house of the Interpreter: which means the Lord the Spirit, the teacher of his people-The Interpreter is an emblem of the divine teaching of the Holy Spirit, according to the Scripture, by means of reading, hearing, praying and meditating, accompanied by daily experience and observation. Believers depend on this teaching, and are not satisfied with human instruction, but look to the fountain of wisdom, that they may be delivered from prejudice, preserved from error, and ena bled to profit by the ministry of the word.

O how loving, how condescending is the Spirit of God to poor misera. ble sinners! + Illumination is here signified,