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Chr. Yes, verily, for it was made by him that cannot lie (Tit. i. 2.)

Pli. Well said; what things are they?

Chr. There is an endless kingdom to be inhabited, and everlasting life to be given us, that we may inhabit that kingdom forever (Isa. xiv. 17; John x. 27-29.)

Pli. Well said; and what else?

Chr. There are crowns of glory to be given us; and garments that will make us shine like the sun in the firmament of heaven (2 Tim. iv. 8; Rev. xxii. 5; Matt. xiii. 43.)

Pli. This is very pleasant; and what else? Chr. There shall be no more crying nor sorrow; for he that is owner of the place will wipe all tears from our eyes (Isa. xxv. 8 ; Rev. vii. 16, 17; xxi. 4.).

Pli. And what company shall we have there ?

Chr. There we shall be with seraphim and cherubim, creatures that will dazzle your eyes to look on them (Isa. vi. 2; 1 Thess. iv. 16, 17.) There also you shall meet with thousands and ten thousands that have gone before us to that place; none of them are hurtful, but loving and holy; every one walking in the sight of God, and standing in his presence with acceptance for ever. In a word, there we shall see the elders with their golden crowns (Rev. iv. 4 ;) there we shall see holy virgins with their golden harps (Rev. xiv. 1-5;) there we shall see men that by the world were cut in pieces, burnt in flames, eaten of beasts, drowned in the seas, for the

love that they bare to the Lord of the place; all well, and clothed with immortality as with a garment (John xii. 25; 2 Cor. v. 2-4.)

Pli. The hearing of this is enough to ravish one's heart; but are these things to be enjoyed? How shall we get to be sharers thereof?

Chr. The Lord the governor of the country hath recorded that in this book; the substance of which is, if we be truly willing to have it he will bestow it upon us freely (Isa iv. 1-3; John vi. 37; vii. 37; Rev. xxi. 6; xxii. 17.)

Pli. Well, my good companion, glad am I to hear of these things; come on, let us mend our pace.

Chr. I cannot go so fast as I would, by reason of this burthen that is on my back.

Now I saw in my dream, that just as they had ended this talk, they drew nigh to a very miry slough that was in the midst of the

* Miry slough'-The slough of Despond represents those discouraging fears which often harass new converts. It is distinguished from the alarms which induced Christian to leave the city, and flee from the wrath to come:' for the anxious apprehensions of one who is diligently seeking salvation are very different from those which excited him to inquire after it. The latter are reasonable and useful, and arise from faith in God's word: but the former are groundless, they result from remaining ignorance, inattention, and unbelief, and greatly retard the pilgrim in his progress. They should also be carefully distinguished from those doubts and discouragements, which assault the established Christian; for these are generally the consequence of negligence, or yielding to temptation; whereas new converts fall into their despondings, when most diligent according to the light they have received: and, if some conscientious persons seem to meet with this slough in every part of their pilgrimage, it arises from an

plain, and they, being heedless, did both fall The name of the suddenly into the bog.

inmature judgment, erroneous sentiments, or peculiar tempt ations. When the diligent student of the Scriptures obtain such an acquaintance with the perfect holiness of God, the spirituality of his law, the inexpressible evil of sin, and his own obligations and transgressions, as greatly exceeds the measure in which he discerns the free and full salvation of the Gospel, his humiliation will verge nearer and nearer to desDondency. This, however, is not essential to repentance, but arises from misapprehension; though few in proportion whol y escape it. The mire of the slough represents that idea which desponding persons entertain of themselves and their situation, as altogether vile and loathsome; and their confessions and self-abasing complaints, which render them conAs every attempt to restemptible in the opinion of others. cue themselves discovers to them more of the latent evil of their hearts, they seem to grow worse and worse; and, for want of a clear understanding of the Gospel, they have no firm ground to tread on, and know neither where they are, or what they must do. But how could Pliable fall into this slough, seeing he had no such views of God or his law, of himself, or of sin, as this condition seems to pre-suppose? To this it may be answered, that men can hardly associate with religious persons, and hear their discourse, confessions, and complaints, or become acquainted with any part of Scripture, without making some alarming and mortifying discoveries concerning themselves. These transien: convictions taking place when they fancied they were about to be come very good, and succeeding to great self-complacency, constitute a grievous disappointment; and they ascribe their uneasiness to the new doctrine they have heard. But, though Pliable fell into the slough, Christian by reason of his burthen' sank the deepest; for the true believer's humiliation for sin tends greatly to increase his fear of wrath. Superfi cial professors, expecting the promised happiness without trouble or suffering, are often very angry at those who were the means of inducing them to think of religion; as if they had deceived them: and, being destitute of true faith, their only object is, at any rate to get rid of their uneasiness This is a species of stony-ground hearers abounding in every part of the church, who are offended and fall away, by means of a little inward disquietude, before any outward tribula tion arises because of the word.

slough was Despond. Here therefore they wallowed for a time, being grievously bedaubed with dirt; and Christian, because of the burthen that was on his back, began to sink in the mire.

Then said Phable, Ah! neighbour Christian, where are you now?

Truly, said Christian I do not know.

At that Pliable began to be offended, and angrily said to his fellow, Is this the happiness you have told me all this while of? If we have such ill speed at our first setting out, what may we expect betwixt this and our journey's end? May I get out again with my life, you shall possess the brave country alone for me. And with that he gave a desperate struggle or two, and got out of the mire on that side of the slough which was next his own house; so away he went, and Christian saw him no

more.

Wherefore Christian was left to tumble in

Wherefore'-Christian dreaded the doom of his city more than the slough. Many persons, under deep distress, of conscience, are afraid of relief, lest it should prove delusive. Deliverance from wrath and the blessings of salvation appear to them so valuable, that all else is comparatively trivial: desponding fears may connect with their religious diligence; but despair would be the consequence of a return to their former course of sin if they perish, therefore, it shall be whilst earnestly struggling, under deep discouragement, after that salvation, for which their souls even faint within them. Their own efforts, indeed, fail to extricate them: but in due time the Lord will send them assistance. This is described by the allegorical person nained Help, who may represent the instruments by which they receive encourage ment: a service in which it is a privilege to be employed !~~ Fear is also personified: in the midst of the new convert's discourse on the joys of heaven, fears of wrath often cast him

the slough of Despond alone; but still he endeavoured to struggle to that side of the slough that was farthest from his own house, and next to the wicket-gate the which he did, but could not get out because of the burthen that was upon his back. But I beheld in my dream, that a man came to him, whose name was Help, and asked him, What he did there?

Sir, said Christian, I bas bid to go this way by a man called Evangelist, who directed me also to yonder gate, that I might escape the wrath to come. And as I was going thither, I fell in here.

Help. But why did you not look for the steps?

Chr. Fear followed me so hard that I fled the next way, and fell in.

Help. Then said he, Give me thy hand; so he gave him his hand, and he drew him out and set him upon sound ground, and bid him go on his way (Psal. xi. 2.)

Then I stepped to him that plucked him out

into despondency, while he so thinks of the terrors of the Lord, as to overlook his precious promises.

Then I stepped-This account of the slough, which our author in his vision received from Help, coincides with the preceding explanation. Increasing knowledge produces deeper self-debasement: hence discouraging fears arise in men's minds lest they should at last perish; and objections against themselves continually accumulate, till they fall into habitual despondency, unless they constantly attend to the encouragements of the Scripture, or, in the apostle's language, nave their 'fect shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. As this state of mind is distressing and enfeebling in itself, and often furnishes enemies with a plausible objec tion to religion, the servants of God have always attempted to preserve humble inquirers from it, by various scriptural in

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