Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

The House of the Interpreter.

45

tinguish the right from the wrong, that only being straight and narrow. (b)

Then I saw in my dream, That Christian asked him further, if he could not help him off with his 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 itself.' (c)

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 to the house of the Interpreter, at whose door he should knock; and he would shew him excellent things. Then Christian took his leave of his friend, and he again bid him God speed.

(b) Christian, when 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 may be sure of company agreeable to his taste. But Christians must follow one another in the narrow way on the same tract, facing enemies, and bearing hardships, without attempting to evade them ; nor is any indulgence given to different states, habits, or propensities. It is, therefore, a straitened, or, as some render the word, an afflicted way; being indeed an habitual course of repentance, self-denial, patience, and mortification to sin and the world, according to the rule of the holy Scriptures. Christ himself is the Way, by which we come to the Father and walk with him; but true faith works by love, and "sets us in the way of his steps.' This path is also straight as opposed to the crooked ways of wicked 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, and keep up their credit, to deceive others or impose on themselves. The question proposed by Christian implies, that believers are more afraid of missing the way than of encourtering hardships: and Good-will's answer, that many ways butted down on it, or opened into it in various directions, shews that the careless and self-willed are extremely liable to be deceived. But 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.

(c) A general reliance on the mercy of God by faith in Christ, accompanied with a con sciousness of sincerity in seeking his salvation, gives some encouragement to the convinced sinner's hope; and transient lively joys are often vouchsafed to unestablished believers : but more distinct views of the glory of the gospel are necessary to abiding peace.-The young convert's consolations resemble the breaking forth of the sun in a cloudy and tempestuous day; those of the experienced Christian, his more constant light in settled weather, which is not long together interrupted, though it be sometimes dimmed by intervening clouds. Believers should not, therefore, rest in transient glimpses, but press forward to abiding peace and joy: and, as Christ does not in general bestow this blessing on the unestablished, the endeavours of ministers to do so must prove vain.

* Psalm lxxxv. 13. +Psalm cxxv. 5.

46

Christian is admitted. The Picture of the

Then he 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 ? (d)

per 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 shew me excellent things, such as would be an help to me in my journey.

Then said the Interpreter, Come in; I will shew thee that which will be profitable to thee. So he commanded his man to light the 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 his hand, the Law of truth was written upon its lips, the world was behind his back, it stood as if it pleaded with men, and a crown of gold did hang over its head.'

Then said Christian, What means this?

Inter. The man whose picture this is, is one of a thousand; he can beget children,* travail in birth with children,† and nurse them himself when they are born. And whereas thou seest him with his eyes lift up to heaven, the best of Books in his hand, and the Law of truth writ on his lips,' it is to shew thee, that his work is to know, and unfold dark things

+ Gal. iv. 19.

1 Thess. ii. 7.

1 Cor. iv. 15. (d) We continually meet with fresh proofs of our author's exact acquaintance with the Scripture, his sound judgment, deep experience, and extensive observation. With great propriety he places the house of the Interpreter beyond the Strait Gate: for the knowledge of divine things, which precedes conversion to God by faith in Christ, is very scanty, compared with the diligent Christian's subsequent attainments. A few leading truths deeply impressed on the heart, and producing efficacious fears and hopes, with warm desires and affections, characterize the state of a new born babe: but reliance on the mercy of God through Jesus Christ prepares him for further instruction; and "having tasted that the Lord is gracious, he desires the sincere milk of the word, that he may grow thereby."The Interpreter emblematically represents the teaching of the Holy Spirit according to the Scripture, for while believers read, hear, and meditate, and endeavour to profit by their daily experience and observation; they also depend on this promised teaching, and by constant prayer look to the Fountain of Wisdom, to deliver them from prejudice, preserve them from error, and enable them to profit by the ministry of the word.

Pilgrim's Guide. The dusty Parlour cleansed. 47

to sinners, even as also thou seest him 'stand as if he pleaded with men :' And whereas thou seest the world as cast behind him, and that a crown hangs over his head; that is to shew thee, that slighting and despising the things that re present, for the love that he hath to his Master's service, he is sure in the world that comes next, to have glory for his reward. Now said the Interpreter, I have shewed thee this picture first, because the man whose picture this is, is the only man whom the Lord of the place whither thou art going, hath authorised to be thy guide in all difficult places thou mayest meet with in the way: wherefore take good heed to what I have shewed thee, and bear well in thy mind what thou hast seen; lest, in thy journey, thou meet with some that pretend to lead thee right, but their way goes down to death. (e)

Then he took him by the hand, and led him into a very large Parlour that was full of dust, because never swept; the which after he had reviewed a little while, the Interpreter called for a man to sweep. Now when he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly to fly about, that Christian had almost therewith been choked. Then said the Interpreter to a Damsel that stood by, 'Bring hither the water, and sprin

(e) The condescending love of the Holy Spirit, in readily granting the desires of those who apply for his teaching, notwithstanding their sins, prejudices, and slowness of heart to understand, can never sufficiently be admired!* He employs men as his instruments, who, by explaining the Scriptures, may be said to 'light the candle:' while he efficaciously opens the mind to instruction. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him" the Interpreter leads them into retirement that he may impart that heavenly wisdom, which is hidden from the most sagacious of worldly men.-The first lesson here inculcated relates to the character of the true minister: for nothing can be more important to every one who inquires the way to heaven, than the capacity of distinguishing faithful pastors from hirelings and false teachers, who are Satan's principal agents in deceiving mankind, and in preventing the stability, consistency, and fruitfulness of believers. This portrait and its key need no explanation; but all who sustain, or mean to assume, the sacred office, should seriously examine it, clause by clause, with the Scriptures from which it is deduced; inquiring impartially how far they resemble it, and praying earnestly for more exact conformity: and every one should be extremely careful not to entrust his soul to the guidance of those who are wholly unlike this emblematical representation. For surely a dissipated, ambitious, profane, or contentious man, in the garb of a minister, cannot safely be trusted as a guide to heaven! He who never studies, or who studies any thing in preference to the Bible, cannot be qualified to ‘unfold dark things to sinners!' and he, who is abundantly more careful about his income, ease, or consequence, than about the souls of his flock, cannot be followed without the most evident danger and the most inexcusable folly! For who would employ an ignorant, indolent, or fraudulent lawyer or physician, merely because he happened to live in the same parish ?

[blocks in formation]

48

The Heart cleansed by the Gospel.

kle the room;' which when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with pleasure.

Then said Christian, What means this?

The Interpreter answered; This Parlour is the heart of a man, that was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the gospel: The dust is his original sin, and inward corruptions that have defiled the whole man. He that began to sweep at first is the law; but she that brought water, and did sprinkle it, is the gospel. Now, whereas, thou sawest, that so soon as the first began to sweep, the dust did so fly about, that the room by him could not be cleansed, but that thou wast almost choked therewith: This is to shew thee, that the law instead of cleansing the heart (by its working) from sin,* doth revive, put strength into,† and increase it in the soul, as it doth discover and forbid it, but doth not give power to subdue. Again, as thou sawest the Damsel sprinkle the room with water, upon which it was cleansed with pleasure; this is to shew thee, that when the gospel comes in the sweet and precious influences thereof to the heart, then, I say, even as thou sawest the Damsel lay the dust, by sprinkling the floor with water, so is sin vanquished and subdued, and the soul made clean, through the faith of it: and consequently fit for the King of glory to inhabit.§ (ƒ)

* Rom. vii. 6. † 1 Cor. xv. 56.

Rom. v. 20..

John xv. 3. Acts xv. 9. Rom. xvi. 25, 26. Eph. v. 26.

(f) Every attempt to produce conformity of heart and life to the divine law, by regarding its spiritual precepts, apart from the doctrines and promises of Scripture, discovers the evils which before lay dormant ; according to the significant emblem here adduced. Mere moral preaching indeed has no such effect: because it substitutes another rule of obedience, which is so vague that self-flattery will enable almost any man, not scandalously vicious, to deem himself justified according to it; so that he is pleased with the rule by which he is approved, and loves that idea of God which accords with his own character. But when the law of God is brought with energy to the conscience, its strictness, spirituality and scverity awaken the latent enmity of the heart: the absolute self-denial it demands even in the most plausible claims of self-love, and its express prohibition of the darling sin, with the experienced impracticability of adequate obedience, and the awful sentence it denounces against every transgressor, concur in exciting opposition to it, and even to Him who gave it and is determined to magnify and establish it in honour. The consciousness also of covering things prohibited, and the conviction that this concupisence is sinful, induce a anan to conclude that he is viler than ever; and indeed clearer knowledge must aggravate the guilt of every sin. A little discouragement of this kind induces numbers to cease from all endeavours, at least for a season; supposing that at present it is impossible for them to serve God but others, being more deeply hun.bled, and taken off from self-confidence, are thus prepared to understand and welcome the free salvation of the gospel. Then the law appears to them disarmed of its curse, as the rule and standard of holiness; encouraged by the truths and promises of the gospel; and animated to exertion by its motives, they delight in "cleansing themselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, and perfecting holiness in the fear of God," that they may be "an habitation of God through the Spirit."

Passion and Patience.

49

I saw moreover in my dream, that the Interpreter took him by the hand and had him into a little room, where sat two little children, each one in his chair. The name of the eldest was Passion, and of the other Patience: Passion seemed to be much discontent, but Patience was very quiet. Then Christian asked, What is the reason of the discontent of Passion? The Interpreter answered, The Governor of them would have him stay for his best things till the beginning of the next year; but he will have them all now: but Patience is willing to wait.

Then I saw that one came to Passion and brought him a bag of treasure, and poured it down at his feet; the which he took up and rejoiced therein, and withal laughed Patience to scorn. But I beheld but a while, and he had lavished all away, and had nothing left him but rags.

Then said Christian to the Interpreter, Expound this matter more fully to me.

So he said, 'These two lads are figures: Passion of the men of this world, and Patience of the men of that which is to come for as here thou seest, Passion will have all now, this year, that is to say in this world; so are the men of this world, they must have all their good things now, they cannot stay till next year, that is, until the next world, for their portion of good. That proverb, 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,' is of more authority with them, than are all the divine testimonies of the good of the world to come. But as thou sawest that he had quickly lavished all away, and had presently left him nothing but rags; so will it be with all such men at the end of this world. (g)

(g) In this instructive emblem, Passion represents the prevalence of the carnal affections over reason and religion. Whatever be the object, this dominion of the passions produces fretfulness and childish perverseness, when the imagined temporal good is withheld. This impatience of delay or disappointment is however succeeded by pride, insolence, and inor dinate though transient joy, when the man is indulged with the possession of his idol; yet he soon grows dissatisfied with success, and often speedily lavishes away his coveted adyantages. On the other hand, Patience is the emblem of those who quietly and meekly wait for future happiness, renouncing present things for the sake of it. True riches, honours and pleasures are intended for them, but not here; and, as young children well governed, they simply wait for them till the appointed season, in the way of patient obedience.~ Reason determines, that a greater and more permanent good hereafter is preferable to a less and fleeting enjoyment at present; faith realizes, as attainable, a felicity infinitely more valuable than all which this world can possibly propose; so that in this respect the life of faith is the reign of reason over passion, while unbelief makes way for the triumph of passion over reason. Nor can any thing be more essential to practical religion than an abiding conviction, that it is the only true wisdom, uniformly and cheerfully to part with every temporal good, whenever it interferes with the grand concerns of eternity.

E

« ZurückWeiter »