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Thanks due to God for our preservation.

of the judge, or that will cut purses under the gallows. It is said of the men of SODOм, that," they

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were sinners exceedingly," because they were sinners before the LORD, that is in his eye-sight, and notwithstanding the kindness that he had shewed them; for the land of SODOM was now like the garden of EDEN heretoforc.* This therefore provoked him the more to jealousy, and made their plague as hot as the fire of the LORD out of heaven could make it. And it is most rationally to be concluded, that such, even such as these are, that shall sin in the sight, yea, and that too in despite of such examples that are set continually before them to caution them to the contrary, must be partakers of severest judgments.

HOPE. Doubtless thou hast said the truth; but what a mercy is it, that neither thou, but especially I, am not made myself this example! This ministereth occasion to us to thank God, to fear before him, and always to "remember LoT's wife."

I saw then that they went on their way to a pleasant River, which DAVID the king called "the "River of GOD;" but John, "the River of the "water of life." Psalm lxv. 9. Rev. xxii. 1. Now their way lay just upon the bank of the River: here therefore CHRISTIAN and his companion walked

And he lifted up his eyes and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as thou comest unto Zoar. But the men of Sodom were wicked, and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. Gen. xiii. 10, 13

The River of the water of life.

with great delight; they drank also of the water of the River, which was pleasant and enlivening to their weary spirits. Besides, on the banks of this River, on either side, were green trees for all manner of fruit; and the leaves they ate to prevent surfeits and other diseases that are incident to those that heat their blood by travels. On either side of the River was also a meadow, curiously beautified with lilies; and it was green all the year long. In this meadow they laid down and slept: for here they might lie down safely.* When they awoke they gathered again of the fruit of the trees, and drank again of the waters of the River, and then lay down again to sleep. Thus they did several days and nights. Then they sang :

'Behold ye how these crystal streams do glide,
To comfort Pilgrims by the high-way side.
The meadows green, besides their fragrant smell
Yield dainties for them: and he that can tell

What pleasant fruit, yea leaves, these trees do yield,
Will soon sell all that he may buy this field.'

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Psa. xxiii. And the first born of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety. Isa. xiv. 30.

The Pilgrims turn into BY-PATH-MEADOW.

So when they were disposed to go on (for they were not yet at their journey's end,) they ate, and drank, and departed.

Now I beheld in my dream, that they had not journeyed far but the River and the way for a time parted; at which they were not a little sorry, yet they durst not go out of the way. Now the way from the River was rough, and their feet tender by reason of their travels: so "the souls of the Pilgrims

were much discouraged because of the way." Num. xxi. 4. Wherefore still as they went on, they wished for better way. Now a little before them, there was on the left hand of the road a Meadow, and a stile to go over into it; and that Meadow is called BY-PATH-MEADOW. Then said CHRISTIAN to his fellow, If this Meadow lieth along by our way side let's go over into it. Then he went to the stile to see, and behold a path lay along by the way on the other side of the fence. 'Tis according to my wish, said CHRISTIAN, here is the easiest going; come, good HOPEFUL, and let us go over.

HOPE. But how if this path should lead us out of the way?

That's not like said the other. Look, doth it not go along by the way-side ?-So HOPEFUL being persuaded by his fellow went after him over the stile. When they were gone over, and were got into the path, they found it very easy to their feet; and withal, they looking before them espied a man walking as they did, and his name was VAIN-CONFIDENCE;

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VAIN-CONFIDENCE falls into a pit.

so they called after him, and asked him whither that way led? He said to the Celestial Gate. 'Look 'said CHRISTIAN, did I not tell you so? by this you may see we are right.' So they followed, and he went before them. But behold the night came n, and it grew very dark; so that they that were behind lost the sight of him that went before.

*

He therefore that went before, (VAIN-CONFIDENCE by name,) not seeing the way before him, fell into a deep pit, which was on purpose there made by the prince of those grounds to catch vain-glorious fools withal, and was dashed in pieces with his fall.

Now CHRISTIAN and his fellow heard him fall; so they called to know the matter; but there was none to answer, only they heard a groaning. Then said HOPEFUL, where are we now? Then was his fellow silent, as mistrusting that he had led him out of the way; and now it began to rain and thunder, and lighten, in a very dreadful manner; and the water rose amain.

Then HOPEFUL groaned in himself, saying, 'Oh 'that I had kept on my way!'

CHR. Who could have thought that this path should have led us out of the way?

HOPE. I was afraid on't at the very first, and therefore gave you that gentle caution. I would have spoke plainer but that you are older than I.

CHR. Good brother, be not offended, I am sorry

For the leaders of this peeple cause them to err: and thev that are led of them are destroyed. Isa. ix. 16.

HOPEFUL encourages CHRISTIAN.

I have brought thee out of the way, and that I have put thee into such imminent danger: pray my brother, forgive me; I did not do it of an evil intent. HOPE. Be comforted, my brother, for I forgive

thee

good.

and believe too that this shall be for our

CHR. I am glad I have with me a merciful brother; but we must not stand thus; let us try to go back again.

HOPE. But, good brother, let me go before.

CHR. No if you please, let me go first, that if there be any danger I may be first therein: because by my means we are both gone out of the way.

No, said HOPEFUL, you shall not go first; for your inind being troubled may lead you out of the way again. Then, for their encouragement, they heard the voice of one saying, "Let thine heart be towards "the highway; even the way that thou wentest turn "again," Jer. xxxi. 21. But by this time the waters were greatly risen, by reason of which the way of going back was very dangerous. (Then I thought that it is easier going out of the way when we are in, than going in when we are out.) Yet they adventured to go back; but it was so dark, and the flood was so high, that in their going back they had like to have been drowned nine or ten times.

Neither could they, with all the skill they had, get again to the stile that night. Wherefore at last lighting under a little shelter, they sat down there till the day-break but being weary they fell asleep.

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