The Interpreter anfwered, This is Christ, who continually with the oil of his grace maintains the work already begun in the heart; by the means of which, notwithstanding what the devil can do, the souls of his people prove gracious still. And in that thou sawest that the man stood behind the wall to maintain the fire; this is to teach thee that it is hard for the tempted to see how this work of grace is maintained in the soul. 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 thereof 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 durst not. There also sat a man at a little distance from the door, at a table side, with a book and his inkhorn before him, to take the name of him that should enter therein: he also saw that in the door way stood many men in armour to keep it, being resolved to do 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 man draw his sword, and put an helmet upon his head, and rush toward the door upon the armed men, who laid upon him with deadly force; but the man was not at all discouraged, but fell to cutting and hacking most fiercely. So after he had received and given many wounds to those who attempted to keep him out, 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 who walked upon the top of the palace, saying, 1 1 Cor. xii. 9. D Come in; come in; Eternal glory thou shalt win.' So he went in, and was clothed in 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 showed 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 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 meaneth this? At which the Interpreter bid him talk with the man. Then said Christian to the man, Who art thou? The man answered, I am what I was not once. Chr. What wert thou once? The man said, I was once a fair and flourishing professor, both in mine own eyes, and also in the eyes of others: I once was, as I thought, fair for the Celestial City, and had then even joy at the thoughts that I should get thither.' 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; O now 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 it 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. Then said Christian, Is there no hope but you must be kept in the iron cage of despair ? Man, No, none at all. 1 Luke viii. 13. Chr. Why? the Son of the blessed is very pitiful. Man. I have crucified him to myself afresh; I have despised his person, I have despised his righteousness, I have counted his blood an unholy thing, I have done despite to the Spirit of grace: 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 lust, 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 also bite me and gnaw me like a burning worm. Chr. But canst thou not repent and turn? Man. God hath denied me repentance. His word gives me no encouragement to believe: yea, himself 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? Then said the Interpreter to Christian, Let this man's misery be remembered by thee, and be an everlasting caution to thee. 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? Int. Tarry till I shew thee one thing more, and then thou shalt go on thy way. 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 to 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 1 Luke xix. 14. Heb. vi. 4---6. x. 28, 29. so I most fearful wise, that it put me into an agony : 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 flaming fire, also the heavens were on 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 upwards; and some sought to hide themselves under the mountains:2 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 came before him, a convenient distance betwixt him and them, as betwixt the judge and the prisoners at the bar.3 I heard it also proclaimed to them that attended on the man that sat on the cloud, 'Gather together the tares, the chaff, and stubble, and cast them into the burning lake' 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 24 wheat into the garner." my And with that I saw many caught up and carried away into the clouds, but I was left behind. 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 in my mind, and my conscience did accuse me on every side. 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 this frighted me most, that the angels gathered up several, and left 1 John v. 28, 29. 1st Cor. xv. 51---58. 2d Thess. i. 7---10. Jude 14, 15, Rev. xx. 11---15. 2 Ps. l. 1.---3. 22. Isa. xxvi. 20, 21. Mic. vii. 16, 17. 3 Dan, vii. 9, 10. 4 Mal. iv. 1, 13---18. Matt, iii. 12. xiii. 30. Luke iii. 17. 6 Rom. ii. 14, 15. Mal, iii. 2, 3. 5 1st Thess. iv. 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, showing 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. Int. 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, and to address himself to his journey. Then said the Interpreter, The Comforter be always with thee, good Christian, to guide thee in the way that leads to the city. So Christian went on his way, saying- Here I have seen things rare and profitable; Things pleasant, dreadful, things to make me stable In what I have begun to take in hand : Then let me think on them, and understand Wherefore they show'd me were; and let me be CHAP. VI. Christian loses his burden at the Cross, and is met by three N° shining Ones. OW I saw in my dream, that the highway up which Christian was to go, was fenced on either side with a wall, and that wall was called Salvation'. Up this way therefore did burthened Christian run, but not: without great difficulty, because of the load on his back. He ran thus till he came at a place somewhat ascending, and upon that place stood a Cross, and a little below, in the bottom, a Sepulchre. I saw also in my dream. that just as Christian came up with the cross, his burden loosed from his shoulders, and fell from off his back, andbegan to tumble, and so continued to do, till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre, where it fell in, and I saw it no more. Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said with a merry heart,' He hath given me rest by his sorrow, 1 Isa. xxvi. 1, |