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The Palace.

I saw also, that the Interpreter took him again by the hand, and led him into a pleasant place, where was built a stately palace, beautiful to behold; at the sight of which Christian was greatly delighted. He saw also upon the top certain persons walking, who were clothed all in gold.

Then said Christian, "May we go in thither?"

Then the Interpreter took him and led him up towards the door of the palace; and behold, at the door stood a great company of men, as desirous to go in, but they durst not. There also sat a man at a little distance from the door, at a table-side, with a book and an ink-horn before him, to take the names of them that should enter therein; he saw also that in the doorway stood many men in armour to keep it, being resolved to do to the men that would enter what hurt and mischief they could. Now was Christian somewhat in amaze. At last, when every man started back for fear of the armed men, Christian saw a man of a very stout countenance come up to the man that sat there to write, saying, "Set down my name, Sir;" the which when he had done, he saw the

mitted to endeavour to extinguish his zeal in the cause of Christ; but though weak in himself he was strong in Christ, whose grace was sufficient for him; so that instead of fainting, he took pleasure in his infirmities, and the strength of Christ was made perfect in weakness. The fire of grace thus burned "higher and hotter," in the midst of overwhelming afflictions, because of the abundant supply of the Spirit of Christ which was graciously communicated. Let believers then, when tempted by Satan to give up their hope. on account of the difficulties of the way, persevere in the use of the appointed means of grace, depending upon the protection of the Lord Jesus, the "merciful and faithful High Priest :" "for in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted," Heb. ii. 17, 18.

q"Am I a soldier of the cross,

A follower of the Lamb;

And shall I fear to own his cause,

Or blush to speak his name?

The Man in the iron Cage.

man draw his sword, and put a helmet upon his head, and rush toward the door upon the armed men, who laid upon him with deadly force; but the man, not at all discouraged, fell to cutting and hacking most fiercely. So after he had received and given many wounds to those that attempted to keep him out, (Matt. xi. 12. Acts xiv. 22.) he cut his way through them all, and pressed forward into the palace; at which there was a pleasant voice heard from those that were within, even of those that walked upon the top of the palace, saying,

"Come in, come in ;

Eternal glory thou shalt win."

So he went in, and was clothed with such garments as they. Then Christian smiled, and said, " I think verily I know the meaning of this."

Now, said Christian, "Let me go hence." "Nay, stay," said the Interpreter, "till I have shewed thee a little more, and after that thou shalt go on thy way." So he took him by the hand again, and led him into a very dark room, where there sat a man in an iron cage.

Now the man, to look on, seemed very sad; he sat with his eyes looking down to the ground, his hands folded together, and he sighed as if he would break his heart. Then said Christian, "What means this?" At which the Interpreter bid him talk with the man. Then said Christian to the man, "What art thou?" The man answered, "I am what I was not once." CHR. What wast thou once?

MAN. The man said, I was once a fair and flourishing professor, (Luke viii. 13.) both in my own eyes, and also in the eyes of others: I once was, as I thought, fair for the celestial city, and had then joy even at the thoughts that I should get thither.

"Must I be carried to the skies,

On flow'ry beds of ease,

While others fought to win the prize,
And sail'd through bloody seas?''

The Man in the iron Cage.

CHR. Well, but what art thou now?

MAN. I am now a man of Despair, and am shut up in it, as in this iron cage. I cannot get out. no. I cannot.

CHR. But how camest thou in this condition?

MAN. I left off to watch and be sober; I laid the reins upon the neck of my lusts; I sinned against the light of the word, and the goodness of God: I have grieved the Spirit, and he is gone; I tempted the devil, and he is come to me: I have provoked God to anger, and he has left me; I have so hardened my heart, that I cannot repent.

Then said Christian to the Interpreter, "But is there no hope for such a man as this?” “Ask him,” said the Interpreter.

CHR. Then said Christian, is there no hope, but you must be kept in the iron cage of despair? MAN. No, none at all.

CHR. Why? the Son of the Blessed is very pitiful. MAN. I have crucified him to myself afresh; (Heb. vi. 6.) I have despised his person; (Luke xix. 14.) I have despised his righteousness; I have counted his blood an unholy thing; I have done despite to the. Spirit of grace: (Heb. x. 28, 29.) therefore I have shut myself out of all the promises, and there now remains to me nothing but threatenings, dreadful threatenings, fearful threatenings of certain judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour me as an adversary.

CHR. For what did you bring yourself into this condition?

MAN. For the lusts, pleasures, and profits of this world; in the enjoyment of which I did then promise myself much delight: but now every one of those, things bites me, and gnaws me, like a burning worm.

CHR. But canst thou not now repent and turn? MAN. God hath denied me repentance. His word gives me no encouragement to believe; yea, himself

The Dream..

hath shut me up in this iron cage: nor can all the men in the world let me out. O eternity! eternity!, how shall I grapple with the misery that I must meet with in eternity?

INTER. Then said the Interpreter to Christian, Let this man's misery be remembered by thee, and be an everlasting caution to thee.

CHR. Well, said Christian, this is fearful!. God help me to watch and be sober, and to pray that I may shun the cause of this man's misery. Sir, is it not time for me to go on my way now?

INTER. Tarry till I shall shew thee one thing more, and then thou shalt go on thy way.

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So he took Christian by the hand again, and led him into a chamber, where there was one rising out of bed; and as he put on his raiment, he shook and trembled. Then said Christian," Why doth this man thus tremble?" The Interpreter then bid him tell Christian the reason of his so doing. So he began, and said, "This night as I was in my sleep, I dreamed, and behold the heavens grew exceeding black: also it thundered and lightened in such fearful wise, that it put me into an agony. So I looked up in my dream, and saw the clouds rack at an unusual rate; upon which I heard a great sound of a trumpet, and saw also a man sit upon a cloud, attended with the thousands of heaven; they were all in a flaming fire; also the heavens were in a burning flame. I heard: then a voice, saying, 'Arise ye dead, and come to judgment.' And with that the rocks rent, the graves opened, and the dead that were therein came forth : some of them were exceeding glad, and looked upward; and some sought to hide themselves under the mountains. Then I saw the man that sat upon the cloud, open the book and bid the world draw near. Yet there was, by reason of a fierce flame which issued out and caine before him, a convenient distance betwixt him and them, as betwixt the judge and the

The Dream.

prisoners at the bar. (I Cor xv. 1 Thess. iv. 16. Jude 15. John v. 28, 29. 2 Thess. i. 8-10. Rev. xx. 11-14. Isa. xxvi. 21. Mic. vii. 16, 17. Psa. i. 1-3. Mal. iii. 2, 3. Dan. vii. 9, 10.) I heard it also proclaimed to them that attended on the man that sat on the cloud,' Gather together the tares, the chaff, and the stubble, and cast them into the burning lake.' (Matt, iii. 12. xiii. 30. xxiv. 30. Mal. iv. 1.) And with that the bottomless pit opened, just whereabout I stood; out of the mouth of which there came, in an abundant manner, smoke, and coals of fire, with hideous noises. It was also said to the same persons, Gather my wheat into the garner.' (Luke iii. 17.) And with that I saw many catched up and carried away in the clouds; but I was left behind. (1 Thess. iv. 16, 17.) I also sought to hide myself; but I could not; for the man that sat upon the cloud still kept his eye upon me: my sins also came into my mind; and my conscience did accuse me on every side. (Rom. ii. 14, 15.) Upon this I awaked from my sleep."

CHR. But what was it that made you so afraid of this sight?

MAN. Why I thought that the day of judgment was come, and that I was not ready for it: but what affrighted me most was, that the angels gathered up several, and left me behind: also the pit of hell opened her mouth just where I stood. My conscience too afflicted me; and as I thought, the Judge had always his eye upon me, shewing indignation in his

Countenance.

Then said the Interpreter to Christian, "Hast thou considered all these things?"

CHR. Yes, and they put me in hope and fear.

INTER. Well, keep all things so in thy mind, that they may be as a goad in thy sides, to prick thee forward in the way thou must go. Then Christian began to gird up his loins, aud to address himself to his journey. Then said the Interpreter, "The Comforter

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