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the best of books in his hand, and the law of Truth written on his lips; it is to show thee, that his work is to know and unfold dark things 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 show thee, that slighting and despising the things that are 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 showed 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 authorized to be thy guide in all difficult places thou mayest meet with in the way. Wherefore take good heed to what I have showed 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.

Then he took Christian by the hand, and led him into a large parlor, 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 abundantly to fly about, so that Christian had almost therewith been choaked. Then said the Interpreter to a damsel that stood by," Bring hither the water, and sprinkle the room :" the which when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with pleasure.

Then said Christian, "What means this?"

The Interpreter answered, "This parlor is the heart of a man that was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the Gospel: The dust is the 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 as 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 choaked therewith; this is to show 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, even as it doth discover and forbid it, for it doth not give power to subdue it. Again, as thou sawest the damsel sprinkle the room with water, upon which it was cleansed with pleasure; this is to show thee, that when the Gospel comes, in the sweet and precious influences thereof, to the heart; then, I say, even as thou sawest the

*The God-man, Jesus Christ. Rom. v. 20.

† Rom. vii. 6. + 1 Cor. xv. 56.

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 conseqently fit for the King of Glory to inhabit.

I saw, moreover, in my dream, that the Interpreter took him by the hand, and hand him into a little room, where sat two little children, each one in his chair. The name of the eldest was Passion, and the name of the other Patience. Passion seemed to be much discontented, 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 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 awhile, 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.

Interpreter. These two lads are figures; Passion, of the men of this world, and Patience of the men of that whic 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.

Christian. Now I see that Patience has the best wisdom, and that upon many accounts. 1. Because he stays for the best things. 2. And also because he will have the glory of his when the other hath nothing but rags.

Interpreter. Nay, you may add another; to wit, the glory of the next world will never wear out; but these are suddenly gone. Therefore Passion had not so much reason to laugh at Patience, bcause he had his good things first, as Patience will have to laugh at Passion, because he had his best things last: for, first must give place to last, because last must have its time to come: but last gives place to nothing; for there is not another to succeed: He therefore that hath his portion

*Rom. xvi. 25, 26.

† John xv. 2.-Eph. v. 26.-Acts xv. 9.

first, must needs have a time to spend it; but he that has his portion last must have it lastingly: Therefore it is said of Dives, In thy life-time thou receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.**

Christian. Then I perceive it is not best to covet things that are now; but to wait for things to come.

Interpreter. You say truth: For, the things that are seen are temporal: but the things that are not seen, eternal.† But though this be so, yet since things present, and our fleshly appetite, are such near neighbors one to another; and again, because things to come, and carnal sense, are such strangers one to another: therefore it is that the first of these so suddenly fall into amity, and that distance is so continually between the second.

Then I saw in my dream, that the Interpreter took Christian by the hand, and led him into a place where was a fire burning against a wall, and one standing by it, always casting much water upon it, to quench it: yet did the fire burn higher and hotter.

Then said Christian, What means this?

The Interpreter answered; "This fire is the work of grace that is wrought in the heart: he that casts water upon it, to extinguish and put it out, is the Devil: But in that thou seest the fire, notwithstanding, burn higher and hotter; thou shalt also see the reason of that."-So he had him about to the backside of the wall, where he saw a Man with a vessel of oil in his hand, of the which he did also continually cast (but secretly) into the fire.

Then said Christian, What means this?

The Interpreter answered: This is Christ, who continually, with the oil of his grace,‡ maintains the work already began 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?

* Luke xvi. 25.

† 2 Cor. iv. 18.

2 Cor. xii. 9,

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 tableside with a book, and his ink-horn before him, to take the name of him that should enter therein: he saw also that in the door-way stood many men in armor 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 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 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, 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 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 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.

Christian. What wast thou once?

Man. I was once a fair and flourishing professor, 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 even joy at the thoughts that I should get thither.

Christian. Well, but what art thou?

*Acts xiv. 22.

† Luke viii. 13.

Man. I am now a man of despair, and shut up in it, as in this iron cage. I cannot get out: O, now I cannot !

Christian. But how camest thou into 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 world, 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.

Then said Christian, "Is there no hope, but you must be kept in the iron cage of despair?"

Man. No, none at all.

Christian. Why? The Son of the Blessed is very pitiful. Man. I have crucified him to myself afresh:* Ì 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 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.

Christian. 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 also bite me, and gnaw me, like a burning worm.

Christian. 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."

Christian. Well, 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?

Interpreter. Tarry till I shall show thee one thing more; and then thou shalt go on thy way.

* Heb. vi. 6.

† Luke xix. 14.

Heb. x. 28, 29.

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