CHRISTIAN Speaks of it to his family.

able to contain, he broke out with a lamentable cry, saying, "What shall I do?" Acts ii. 37.

In this plight therefore, he went home, and refrained himself as long as he could, that his wife and children should not perceive his distress: but he could not be silent long, because his troubles increased; wherefore at length he broke his mind to his wife and children; and thus he began to talk to them: O! my dear wife, said he, and you the chil'dren of my bowels, I, your dear friend, am in myself ' undone, by reason of a burden that lieth hard upon

me; moreover, I am certainly informed, that this

our city will be burnt by fire from heaven

in

' which fearful overthrow, both myself, with thee my ' wife, and you my sweet babes, shall miserably come ' to ruin, except (the which I yet see not) some way of escape may be found whereby we may be delivered.' At this his relations were sore amazed; not for that they believed that what he said to them was true, but because they thought that some phrensy distemper had got into his head; therefore, it drawing towards night, and they hoping that sleep might settle his brains, with all haste they got him to bed; but the night was as troublesome to him as the day; wherefore instead of sleeping, he spent it in sighs and tears. So when the morning was come, they would know how he did; and he told them worse and worse. He also set a talking to them again; but they began to be hardened. They also thought to drive away his distemper by harsh and surly carriage

Meets EVANGELIST.

to him; sometimes they would deride, sometimes they would chide, and sometimes they would quite neglect him; wherefore he began to retire himself to his chamber to pray for and pity them, and also to condole his own misery: he would also walk solitary in the fields, sometimes reading, and sometimes praying; and thus for some days he spent his time.

Now I saw, upon a time, when he was walking in the fields, that he was (as he was wont) reading in his book, and greatly distressed in his mind; and as he read, he burst out as he had done before, crying, "What shall I do to be saved?" Acts xvi. 30.

I saw also, that he looked this way and that way, as if he would run: yet he stood still, because (as I perceived) he could not tell which way to go. I looked then and saw a man named EVANGELIST coming to him, and asked, Wherefore dost thou cry? He answered, Sir, I perceive by the book in my hand that I am condemned to die, and after that to come to judgment; and I find that I am not willing to do the first nor able to do the second.†

Then said EVANGELIST, why not willing to die, since this life is attended with so many evils? The man answered, Because I fear that this burden that

* It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment. Heb. ix. 27. When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return. Job xvi. 22.

+ Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee. I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it. Ezek. xxii. 14.

EVANGELIST instructs CHRISTIAN.

is upon my back will sink me lower than the grave, and I shall fall into Tophet.* And, sir, if I be not fit to go to prison, I am not fit to go to judgment, and from thence to execution: and the thoughts of these things make me cry.

Then, said EVANGELIST, if this be thy condition, why standest thou still? He answered, Because I know not whither to go. Then he gave him a parchment-roll; and there was written within, "Flee "from the wrath to come." Mat. iii. 7.

The man therefore read it and looking upon EVANGELIST very carefully, said, Whither must I flee? Then, said EVANGELIST, pointing with his finger over a very wide field, Do you see yonder WICKET-GATE!† The man said, No. Then, said the other, do you see yonder shining light? He said, I think I do. Then said EVANGELIST, Keep that light in your eye, and go up directly thereto, so shalt thou see the Gate; at which, when thou knockest, it shall be told thee what thou shalt do.

* Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared he hath made it deep and large; the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, kindleth it. Isa. xxx. 33.

Enter ye in at the strait gate for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in thereat Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matt. vii. 13, 14.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psal. cxix. 105. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that he take heed, as unto a light that shincth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. 2 Pet. i. 15.

He begins to run.

So I saw in my dream that the man began to run. Now he had not run far from his own door but his wife and children* perceiving it, began to cry after him to return: but the man put his fingers in his ears, and ran on, crying, Life! life! eternal life! So he looked not behind him,† but fled towards the middle of the plain.

The neighbours also came out to see him run: and as he ran, some mocked, others threatened, and some cried after him to return; and among those that did so, there were two that were resolved to fetch him back by force. The name of one was OBSTINATE, and the name of the other PLIABLE.

Now

by this time the man had got a good distance from them; but however they were resolved to pursue him, which they did, and in a little time they overtook him. Then said the man, Neighbours, wherefore are you come! they said, To persuade you to go back with us; but he said, That can by no means be: you dwell, said he, in the city of DESTRUCTION, the place also where I was born; I see it to be so ; and dying there sooner or later, you will sink lower than the grave, into a place that burns with fire and

* If any man come to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Luke xiv. 26.

† And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad that he said, Escape for thy life: look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. Gen. xix. 17.

OBSTINATE and PLIABLE attempt to fetch him back.

brimstone: be content, good neighbours, and go along with me.

What, said OBSTINATE, and leave our friends and our comforts behind us?

Yes, said CHRISTIAN (for that was his name) because that all is not worthy to be compared with a little of that that I am seeking to enjoy ;* and if you will go along with me, and hold it, you shall fare as I myself; for there where I go is enough and to spare† come away and prove my words.

OBST. What are the things you seek, since you leave all the world to find them?

CHR. I seek an "inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away ;" and it is "laia up in heaven," 1 Pet. i. 4. and safe there, to be bestowed at the time appointed on them that diRead it so, if you will in my book. Tush, said OBSTINATE, away with your book : will you go back with us or no?

ligently seek it. Read it so, if

No, not I, said the other, because I have laid my hand to the plough.‡

OBST. Come then, neighbour PLIABLE, let us

* While we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Cor. iv. 18.

† And when he came to himself he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough, and to spare, and I perish with hunger! Luke xv. 17.

And Jesus said unto him, No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God. Luke ix. 68.