The Pilgrims welcomed to the Gate of the City. and when he shall sit upon the throne of judgment, you shall sit by him; yea, and when he shall pass sentence upon all the workers, of iniquity, let them be angels or men, you also shall have a voice in that judgment, because they were his and your enemies. Also, when he shall again return to the City, you shall go too with sound of trumpet, and be ever with him. (1 Thess. iv. 13-17. Jude 14, 15. Dan. vii. 9, 10. 1 Cor. vi. 2, 3.) Now while they were thus drawing towards the gate, behold a company of the heavenly host came out to meet them; to whom it was said by the other two shining ones, "These are the men that have loved our Lord, when they were in the world, and that have left all for his holy name; and he hath sent us to fetch them, and we have brought them thus far on their desired journey, that they may go in and look their Redeemer in the face with joy." Then the heavenly host gave a great shout, saying, "Blessed are they that are called to the marriage-supper of the Lamb." (Rev. xix. 9.) There came out also at this time to meet them several of the King's trumpeters, clothed in white and shining raiment, who with melodious noises and loud, made even the heavens to echo with their sound. These trumpeters saluted Christian and his fellow with ten thousand welcomes from the world; and this they did with shouting and sound of trumpet. This done, they compassed them round on every side; some went before, some behind, and some on the right hand, some on the left, (as it were to guard them through the upper region,) continually, sounding as they went, with melodious noise, in notes on high: so that the very sight was to them that could behold it as if heaven itself was come down to meet them. Thus therefore they walked on together; and, as they walked, ever and anon hese trumpeters, even with joyful sound, would, by Reception of the Pilgrims at the Gate. mixing their music with looks and gestures, still signify to Christian and his brother how welcome they were into their company, and. with what gladness they came to meet them. And now were these two men, as it were, in heaven, before they came at it, being swallowed up with the sight of angels, and with hearing their melodious notes. Here also they had the City itself in view; and they thought they heard all the bells therein to ring, to welcome them thereto. But, above all, the warm and joyful thoughts that they had about their own dwelling there with such company, and that for ever and ever, oh, by what tongue or pen can their glorious joy be expressed!-Thus they came up to the gate". Now when they were come up to the gate, there was written over it in letters of gold," Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may * The immediate blessedness of the departed spirit after it has left its mortal garments behind in the river, is described so scripturally, and with such fulness of beautiful imagery, that it needs neither explanation nor remark. Compared with this, the cold speculations of philosophical and rational Christians, who have endeavoured to prove the materiality of the soul, and that it will sleep with the body till the period of the resurrection, are dull, stupid, and atheistical. Under the care of, and receiving information from, those ministering spirits who are sent forth to minister for the heirs of salvation, and surrounded with the glories of their divine Lord, they rest from their labours, and their works follow them. For God is not unrighteous to forget their work and labour of love, which they have shewed towards his name, while performing the journey of life. The evidence of their justification, which they received "at the sight of the cross," is now received at the court of heaven, as the certificate or notice of what had taken place in the court of conscience upon earth and they are admitted as "the righteous," that had "kept the truth." Their right to the tree of life, arising from the righteousness of Christ, on account of whose merits they had been pardoned and accepted, is now publicly recognized; and their meetness for the employments of heaven, produced through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth, is as publicly declared, being represented as affixed to the gate of the city, and made known by a message from the King. The Pilgrims enter the Celestial City. have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." (Rev. xxii. 14.) Then I saw in my dream that the shining men bid them call at the gate: the which when they did, some from above looked over the gate, to wit, Enoch, Moses, and Elijah, &c. to whom it was said, "These pilgrims are come from the City of Destruction, for the love that they bear to the King of the place:" and then the pilgrims gave in unto them each man his certificate, which they had received in the beginning; these therefore were carried in unto the King, who, when he had read them, said, "Where are the men?" to whom it was answered, "They are standing without the gate." The King then commanded to open the gate, "that the righteous nation (said he) that keepeth truth may enter in." (Isa. xxvi. 2.) Now I saw in my dream, that these two men went in at the gate; and lo! as they entered, they were transfigured; and they had raiment put on that shone like gold. There were also that met them with harps and crowns, and gave them to them; the harps to praise withal, and the crowns in token of honour. Then I heard in my dream, that all the bells in the city rang again for joy, and that it was said unto them, "Enter ye into the joy of your Lord." I also heard the men themselves, that they sang with a loud voice, saying, "Blessing, honour, and glory, and power, be to Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever. (Rev. v. 13.) Now, just as the gates were opened to let in the men, I looked in after them, and behold the City shone like the sun; the streets also were paved with gold; and in them walked many men, with crowns on their heads, palms in their hands, and golden harps, to sing praises withal. There were also of them that had wings, and they answered one another without intermission, saying, Ignorance refused Admission. "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord." And after that they shut up the gates: which when I had seen, I wished myself among them". Now, while I was gazing upon all these things, I turned my head to look back, and saw Ignorance come up to the river side; but he soon got over, and that without half that difficulty which the other two men met with. For it happened that there was then in that place one Vain-Hope, a ferryman, that with his boat helped him over; so he, as the other I saw, did ascend the hill, to come up to the gate; only he came alone; neither did any man meet him with the least encouragement. When he was come up to the gate, he looked up to the writing that was above, and then began to knock, supposing that entrance should have been quickly administered to him; but he was asked by the men that looked over the top of the gate, "Whence come you? and what would you have?" He answered, "I have eat and drunk in the presence of the King, and he has taught in our streets." Then they asked him for his certificate, that they might go in and shew it to the King: so he fumbled in his bosom for one, and found none. Then said they, "You have none;" b We know but little of the heavenly glory, our highest conceptions of it being gross and earthly; but from the Scriptures we learn, that the redeemed enter into the joy of their Lord, and that they are constantly ascribing glory to the Son of God for their salvation. We just get a glimpse of the dignity and happiness of departed saints, and know that they are out of the reach of all their enemies. We know too that angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect, are alternately and constantly ascribing holiness to the Father, Son, and Spirit, and celebrating the wonders of redeeming love and sovereign Meditation upon this delightful theme warms the hearts of believers upon earth, and makes them desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Phil. i. 23. mercy. "Prepare me, Lord, for thy right hand, Then come the joyful day; Come death, and some celestial band, And fetch my soul away." Awful End of Ignorance. but the man answered never a word. So they told the King, but he would not come down to see him, but commanded the two shining ones, that conducted Christian and Hopeful to the City, to go out, and take Ignorance, and bind him, hand and foot, and have him away. Then they took him up, and carried him through the air, to the door that I saw in the side of the hill, and put him in there. Then I saw that there was a way to hell, even from the gates of heaven, as well as from the City of Destruction. So I awoke, and, behold it was a dream. CONCLUSION OF THE FIRST PART. NOW, Reader, 1 have told my dream to thee, See if thou canst interpret it to me, Or to thyself, or neighbour; but take heed Of misinterpreting, for that, instead Of doing good, will but thyself abuse: By misinterpreting, evil ensues. Take heed also that thou be not extreme In playing with the outside of my dream; Nor let my figure or similitude Put thee to laughter, or a feud; Leave this for boys and fools; but as for thee, Do thou the substance of my matter see. |