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in his hand. When he was come to the place where they were, he asked them whence they came, and what they did there? They told him, that they

too.

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Then he

THEY ARE EXAMINED AND CONVICTED OF FORGETFULNESS.

were poor pilgrims going to Zion, but were led out of their way by a black man clothed in white, who bid us, said they, follow him, for he was going, thither Then said he with the whip, It is Flatterer, a false apostle, that hath transformed himself into an angel of light." So he rent the net, and let the men out. Then said he to them, Follow me, that I may set you in your way again: so he led them back to the way which they had left to follow the Flatterer. asked them, saying, Where did you lie the last night? They said, With the Shepherds upon the Delectable Mountains. He asked them then, if they had not of the Shepherds a note of direction for the way? They answered, Yes. But did you not, said he, when you were at a stand, pluck out and read your note? They answered, No. He asked them, Why? They said they forgot. He asked, moreover, if the Shepherds did not bid them beware of the Flatterer? They answered, Yes; but we did not imagine, said they, that this finespoken man had been he."*

DECEIVERS FINE

SPOKEN.

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By this shining one, understand the loving Lord the Holy Ghost, the leader and guide of Christ's people. When they err and stray from Jesus the way, and are drawn from him as the truth, the Spirit comes with his rod of conviction and chastisement, to whip souls, for their self-righteous pride and folly, back to Christ, to trust wholly in him, to rely only on him, and to walk in sweet fellowship with him. So he acted by the Galatian church, which was flattered into a notion of self-righteousness and self-justification. So David, when he found himself nearly lost, cries out—" HE restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake," Ps. xxiii. 3.

Then I saw in my dream, that he commanded them to

THEY ARE WHIPPED,

AND SENT ON THEIR
WAY.

lie down; which when they did, he chastised them sore, to teach them the good

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way wherein they should walk and as he chastised them, he said, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent." This done, he bids them go on their way, and take good heed to the other directions of the Shepherds. So they thanked him for all his kindness, and went softly along the right way, singing

Come hither, you that walk along the way,
See how the pilgrims fare that go astray:
They catched are in an entangled net,

'Cause they good counsel lightly did forget:
"Tis true, they rescued were; but yet, you see,

They're scourg'd to boot: let this your caution be.

Now, after a while they perceived, afar off, one coming softly, and alone, all along the highway, to meet them. Then said Christian to his fellow, Yonder is a man with his back towards Zion, and he is coming to

meet us.

THE ATHEIST MEETS THEM.

HOPE. I see him; let us take heed to ourselves now, lest he should prove a Flatterer also. So he drew nearer and nearer, and at last came up to them. His name was Atheist; and he asked them whither they were going?

CHR. We are going to Mount Zion.

HE LAUGHS AT THEM.

Then Atheist fell into a very great laughter. CHR. What is the meaning of your laughter? ATH. I laugh to see what ignorant persons you are, to take upon you so tedious a journey; and yet are like to have nothing but your travel for your pains.

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CHR. Why, man, do you think we shall

not be received?

THEY REASON TOGETHER.

ATH. Received! there is not such a place as you dream of in all this world.

CHR. But there is in the world to come.

ATH. When I was at home, in mine own country, I heard as you now affirm, and from that hearing went out to see, and have been seeking this city these twenty years, but find no more of it than I did the first day I

set out."

CHR. We have both heard, and believe that there is such a place to be found.

АTH. Had not I, when at home, believed, I had not come thus far to seek; but finding none (and yet I should, had there been such a place to be found, for I have gone to seek it far

THE ATHEIST TAKES

UP HIS CONTENT IN
THIS WORLD.

ther than you,) I am going back again, and will seek to refresh myself with the things that I then cast away for hopes of that which I now see is not.

CHR. Then said Christian to Hopeful his companion, Is it true which this man hath said?

CHRISTIAN PROV ETH HIS BROTHER.

HOPEFUL'S GRA

CIOUS ANSWER.

HOPE. Take heed, he is one of the Flatterers: remember what it cost us once already for our hearkening to such kind of fellows. What! no Mount Zion? Did we not see from the Delectable Mountains the gate of the City? Also, now to walk by faith? Let us go on, lest the man with the whip overtake us again.* You should have taught me

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are we not

REMEMBRANCE OF

FORMER CHASTISE-
MENT IS A HELP
AGAINST PRESENT
TEMPTATION.

No sooner

* See how we are surrounded with different enemies. have they escaped the self-righteous flatterer, but they meet with the openly profane and licentious mocker. Ay, and he set out, and went far too, yea, farther than they; but, behold, he has turned his back

that lesson, which I will round you in the ears withal: "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge;" ;"w I say, my brother, cease to hear him, and let us believe to the saving of the soul.

A FRUIT OF AN HONEST HEART.

CHR. My brother, I did not put the question to thee for that I doubted of the truth of our belief myself, but to prove thee, and to fetch from thee a fruit of the honesty of thy heart. As for this man, I know that he is blinded by the god of this world. Let thee and me go on, knowing that we have belief of the truth; and "no lie is of the truth."*

HOPE. Now do I rejoice in hope of the glory of God. So they turned away from the man; and he, laughing at them, went his way.

THEY COME TO THE ENCHANTED GROUND.

I then saw in my dream, that they went on until they came into a certain country whose air naturally tended to make one drowsy, if he came a stranger. into it. And here Hopeful began to be very dull and heavy to sleep wherefore he said unto Christian, I do now begin to grow so drowsy, that I can scarcely hold open mine eyes let us lie down here, and take one nap.

HOPEFUL BEGINS

TO BE DROWSY.

CHRISTIAN KEEPS

HIM AWAKE.

By no means, said the other; lest, sleeping, we never wake more.

HOPE. Why, my brother? sleep is sweet to the labouring man; we may be refreshed, if we take a nap. CHR. Do you not remember, that one of the Shepherds bid us beware of the Enchanted Ground? He

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upon all; and though he had been twenty years a seeker, yet now he proves he has neither faith nor hope, but ridicules all as delusion. Awful to think of! Oh, what a special mercy to be kept believing and persevering, and not regarding the ridicule of apostates.

meant by that, that we should beware of sleeping;— "wherefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch, and be sober."y*

HE IS THANKFUL.

HOPE. I acknowledge myself in a fault; and, had I been here alone, I had by sleeping run the danger of death. I see it is true that the wise man saith, "Two are better than one."z Hitherto hath thy company been my mercy; and thou shalt have a good reward for thy labour.

CHR. Now then, said Christian, to prevent drowsiness in this place, let us fall into good dis

course.

HOPE. With all my heart, said the other.
CHR. Where shall we begin?

GOOD DISCOURSE PREVENTETH DROW

SINESS.

HOPE. Where God began with us but do you

begin, if you please.

CHR. I will sing you first this song

When saints do sleepy grow, let them come hither,
And hear how these two pilgrims talk together;
Yea, let them learn of them in any wise
Thus to keep ope their drowsy slumb'ring eyes.
Saints' fellowship, if it be managed well,
Keeps them awake, and that in spite of hell.†

THE

DREAMER'S
NOTE,

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* O Christian, beware of sleeping on this enchanted ground! When all things go easy, smooth, and well, we are prone to grow drowsy in soul. How many are the calls, in the word, against spiritual slumber! and yet how many professors, through the enchanting air of this world, are fallen into the deep sleep of formality! Be warned by them to cry to thy Lord to keep thee awake to righteousness, and vigorous in the ways of thy Lord.

+ Observation fully evinces this truth, that when the soul slumbers, the tongue is mute to spiritual converse, and the truths of Jesus freeze on the lips; while the man is all ear to hear, and all tongue to talk of vain, worldly, and trifling things. Beware of such sleepy professors. You are in danger of catching the infection: you are sure to get no

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