第6章
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  {330}

  ThenIsawinmydreamthathecommandedthemtoliedown;which,whentheydid,hechastisedthemsore,toteachthemthegoodwaywhereintheyshouldwalk[Deut。25:2];andashechastisedthemhesaid,\"AsmanyasIlove,Irebukeandchasten;bezealous,therefore,andrepent。\"[2Chron。6:26,27,Rev。3:19]Thisdone,hebidthemgoontheirway,andtakegoodheedtotheotherdirectionsoftheshepherds。Sotheythankedhimforallhiskindness,andwentsoftlyalongtherightway,singing——

  Comehither,youthatwalkalongtheway;

  Seehowthepilgrimsfarethatgoastray。

  Theycatchedareinanentanglingnet,’Causetheygoodcounsellightlydidforget:

  ’Tistruetheyrescuedwere,butyetyousee,They’rescourgedtoboot。Letthisyourcautionbe。

  {331}

  Now,afterawhile,theyperceived,afaroff,onecomingsoftlyandalone,allalongthehighwaytomeetthem。ThensaidChristiantohisfellow,YonderisamanwithhisbacktowardsZion,andheiscomingtomeetus。

  HOPE。Iseehim;letustakeheedtoourselvesnow,lestheshouldproveaflattereralso。Sohedrewnearerandnearer,andatlastcameupuntothem。HisnamewasAtheist,andheaskedthemwhithertheyweregoing。

  CHR。WearegoingtoMountZion。

  ThenAtheistfellintoaverygreatlaughter。

  CHR。Whatisthemeaningofyourlaughter?

  {332}

  ATHEIST。Ilaughtoseewhatignorantpersonsyouare,totakeuponyousotediousajourney,andyouareliketohavenothingbutyourtravelforyourpains。

  CHR。Why,man,doyouthinkweshallnotbereceived?

  ATHEIST。Received!Thereisnosuchplaceasyoudreamofinallthisworld。

  CHR。Butthereisintheworldtocome。

  {333}

  ATHEIST。WhenIwasathomeinmineowncountry,Iheardasyounowaffirm,andfromthathearingwentouttosee,andhavebeenseekingthiscitythistwentyyears;butfindnomoreofitthanIdidthefirstdayIsetout。[Jer。22:12,Eccl。10:15]

  CHR。Wehavebothheardandbelievethatthereissuchaplacetobefound。

  ATHEIST。HadnotI,whenathome,believed,Ihadnotcomethusfartoseek;butfindingnone,(andyetIshould,hadtherebeensuchaplacetobefound,forIhavegonetoseekitfurtherthanyou),Iamgoingbackagain,andwillseektorefreshmyselfwiththethingsthatIthencastaway,forhopesofthatwhich,Inowsee,isnot。

  {334}

  CHR。ThensaidChristiantoHopefulhisfellow,Isittruewhichthismanhathsaid?

  Hope。Takeheed,heisoneoftheflatterers;rememberwhatithathcostusoncealreadyforourhearkeningtosuchkindoffellows。

  What!noMountZion?Didwenotsee,fromtheDelectableMountainsthegateofthecity?Also,arewenotnowtowalkbyfaith?

  Letusgoon,saidHopeful,lestthemanwiththewhipovertakeusagain。[2Cor。5:7]Youshouldhavetaughtmethatlesson,whichIwillroundyouintheearswithal:\"Cease,myson,toheartheinstructionthatcausethtoerrfromthewordsofknowledge。\"[Prov。19:27]Isay,mybrother,ceasetohearhim,andletus\"believetothesavingofthesoul\"。[Heb。10:39]

  {335}

  CHR。Mybrother,IdidnotputthequestiontotheeforthatIdoubtedofthetruthofourbeliefmyself,buttoprovethee,andtofetchfromtheeafruitofthehonestyofthyheart。

  Asforthisman,Iknowthatheisblindedbythegodofthisworld。

  LettheeandIgoon,knowingthatwehavebeliefofthetruth,\"andnolieisofthetruth\"。[1John2:21]

  HOPE。NowdoIrejoiceinhopeofthegloryofGod。Sotheyturnedawayfromtheman;andhe,laughingatthem,wenthisway。

  {336}

  Isawtheninmydream,thattheywenttilltheycameintoacertaincountry,whoseairnaturallytendedtomakeonedrowsy,ifhecameastrangerintoit。

  AndhereHopefulbegantobeverydullandheavyofsleep;

  whereforehesaiduntoChristian,IdonowbegintogrowsodrowsythatIcanscarcelyholdupmineeyes,letusliedownhereandtakeonenap。

  CHR。Bynomeans,saidtheother,lestsleeping,weneverawakemore。

  HOPE。Why,mybrother?Sleepissweettothelabouringman;

  wemayberefreshedifwetakeanap。

  CHR。DoyounotrememberthatoneoftheShepherdsbidusbewareoftheEnchantedGround?Hemeantbythatthatweshouldbewareofsleeping;\"Thereforeletusnotsleep,asdoothers,butletuswatchandbesober。\"[1Thess。5:6]

  {337}

  HOPE。Iacknowledgemyselfinafault,andhadIbeenherealoneIhadbysleepingrunthedangerofdeath。Iseeitistruethatthewisemansaith,Twoarebetterthanone。Hithertohaththycompanybeenmymercy,andthoushalthaveagoodrewardforthylabour。[Eccl。9:9]

  CHR。Nowthen,saidChristian,topreventdrowsinessinthisplace,letusfallintogooddiscourse。

  HOPE。Withallmyheart,saidtheother。

  CHR。Whereshallwebegin?

  HOPE。WhereGodbeganwithus。Butdoyoubegin,ifyouplease。

  CHR。Iwillsingyoufirstthissong:——

  Whensaintsdosleepygrow,letthemcomehither,Andhearhowthesetwopilgrimstalktogether:

  Yea,letthemlearnofthem,inanywise,Thustokeepopetheirdrowsyslumb’ringeyes。

  Saints’fellowship,ifitbemanagedwell,Keepsthemawake,andthatinspiteofhell。

  {338}

  CHR。ThenChristianbeganandsaid,Iwillaskyouaquestion。

  Howcameyoutothinkatfirstofsodoingasyoudonow?

  HOPE。Doyoumean,howcameIatfirsttolookafterthegoodofmysoul?

  CHR。Yes,thatismymeaning。

  HOPE。Icontinuedagreatwhileinthedelightofthosethingswhichwereseenandsoldatourfair;thingswhich,Ibelievenow,wouldhave,hadIcontinuedinthem,stilldrownedmeinperditionanddestruction。

  CHR。Whatthingsarethey?

  HOPE。Allthetreasuresandrichesoftheworld。Also,Idelightedmuchinrioting,revelling,drinking,swearing,lying,uncleanness,Sabbath—breaking,andwhatnot,thattendedtodestroythesoul。ButIfoundatlast,byhearingandconsideringofthingsthataredivine,whichindeedIheardofyou,asalsoofbelovedFaithfulthatwasputtodeathforhisfaithandgoodlivinginVanityFair,that\"theendofthesethingsisdeath\"。

  [Rom。6:21—23]Andthatforthesethings’sake\"comeththewrathofGoduponthechildrenofdisobedience\"。[Eph。5:6]

  CHR。Anddidyoupresentlyfallunderthepowerofthisconviction?

  {339}

  HOPE。No,Iwasnotwillingpresentlytoknowtheevilofsin,northedamnationthatfollowsuponthecommissionofit;

  butendeavoured,whenmymindatfirstbegantobeshakenwiththeWord,toshutmineeyesagainstthelightthereof。

  CHR。ButwhatwasthecauseofyourcarryingofitthustothefirstworkingsofGod’sblessedSpirituponyou?

  {340}

  HOPE。Thecauseswere,1。IwasignorantthatthiswastheworkofGoduponme。Ineverthoughtthat,byawakeningsforsin,Godatfirstbeginstheconversionofasinner。2。Sinwasyetverysweettomyflesh,andIwasloathtoleaveit。3。

  Icouldnottellhowtopartwithmineoldcompanions,theirpresenceandactionsweresodesirableuntome。4。Thehoursinwhichconvictionswereuponmeweresuchtroublesomeandsuchheart—affrightinghoursthatIcouldnotbear,nonotsomuchastheremembranceofthem,uponmyheart。

  CHR。Then,asitseems,sometimesyougotridofyourtrouble。

  HOPE。Yes,verily,butitwouldcomeintomymindagain,andthenIshouldbeasbad,nay,worse,thanIwasbefore。

  CHR。Why,whatwasitthatbroughtyoursinstomindagain?

  {341}

  HOPE。Manythings;as,1。IfIdidbutmeetagoodmaninthestreets;or,2。IfIhaveheardanyreadintheBible;or,3。Ifmineheaddidbegintoache;or,4。IfIweretoldthatsomeofmyneighboursweresick;or,5。IfIheardthebelltollforsomethatweredead;or,6。IfIthoughtofdyingmyself;or,7。IfIheardthatsuddendeathhappenedtoothers;

  8。Butespecially,whenIthoughtofmyself,thatImustquicklycometojudgment。

  {342}

  CHR。Andcouldyouatanytime,withease,getofftheguiltofsin,whenbyanyofthesewaysitcameuponyou?

  HOPE。No,notI,forthentheygotfasterholdofmyconscience;

  andthen,ifIdidbutthinkofgoingbacktosin,(thoughmymindwasturnedagainstit),itwouldbedoubletormenttome。

  CHR。Andhowdidyoudothen?

  HOPE。IthoughtImustendeavourtomendmylife;forelse,thoughtI,Iamsuretobedamned。

  {343}

  CHR。Anddidyouendeavourtomend?

  HOPE。Yes;andfledfromnotonlymysins,butsinfulcompanytoo;

  andbetookmetoreligiousduties,asprayer,reading,weepingforsin,speakingtruthtomyneighbours,&c。ThesethingsdidI,withmanyothers,toomuchheretorelate。

  CHR。Anddidyouthinkyourselfwellthen?

  HOPE。Yes,forawhile;butatthelast,mytroublecametumblinguponmeagain,andthatovertheneckofallmyreformations。

  {344}

  CHR。Howcamethatabout,sinceyouwerenowreformed?

  HOPE。Therewereseveralthingsbroughtituponme,especiallysuchsayingsasthese:\"Allourrighteousnessesareasfilthyrags。\"[Isa。64:6]\"Bytheworksofthelawshallnofleshbejustified。\"[Gal。2:16]\"Whenyeshallhavedoneallthosethings,say,Weareunprofitable\",[Luke17:10]withmanymoresuchlike。FromwhenceIbegantoreasonwithmyselfthus:

  IfALLmyrighteousnessesarefilthyrags;if,bythedeedsofthelaw,NOmancanbejustified;andif,whenwehavedoneALL,weareyetunprofitable,thenitisbutafollytothinkofheavenbythelaw。

  Ifurtherthoughtthus:Ifamanrunsahundredpoundsintotheshopkeeper’sdebt,andafterthatshallpayforallthatheshallfetch;yet,ifthisolddebtstandsstillinthebookuncrossed,forthattheshopkeepermaysuehim,andcasthimintoprisontillheshallpaythedebt。

  CHR。Well,andhowdidyouapplythistoyourself?

  HOPE。Why;Ithoughtthuswithmyself。Ihave,bymysins,runagreatwayintoGod’sbook,andthatmynowreformingwillnotpayoffthatscore;thereforeIshouldthinkstill,underallmypresentamendments,ButhowshallIbefreedfromthatdamnationthatIhavebroughtmyselfindangerofbymyformertransgressions?

  {345}

  CHR。Averygoodapplication:but,pray,goon。

  HOPE。Anotherthingthathathtroubledme,evensincemylateamendments,is,thatifIlooknarrowlyintothebestofwhatIdonow,Istillseesin,newsin,mixingitselfwiththebestofthatIdo;sothatnowIamforcedtoconclude,thatnotwithstandingmyformerfondconceitsofmyselfandduties,Ihavecommittedsinenoughinonedutytosendmetohell,thoughmyformerlifehadbeenfaultless。

  CHR。Andwhatdidyoudothen?

  {346}

  HOPE。Do!Icouldnottellwhattodo,untilIbrakemymindtoFaithful,forheandIwerewellacquainted。Andhetoldme,thatunlessIcouldobtaintherighteousnessofamanthatneverhadsinned,neithermineown,noralltherighteousnessoftheworldcouldsaveme。

  CHR。Anddidyouthinkhespaketrue?

  HOPE。HadhetoldmesowhenIwaspleasedandsatisfiedwithmineownamendment,Ihadcalledhimfoolforhispains;

  butnow,sinceIseemineowninfirmity,andthesinthatcleavestomybestperformance,Ihavebeenforcedtobeofhisopinion。

  {347}

  CHR。Butdidyouthink,whenatfirsthesuggestedittoyou,thattherewassuchamantobefound,ofwhomitmightjustlybesaidthathenevercommittedsin?

  HOPE。Imustconfessthewordsatfirstsoundedstrangely,butafteralittlemoretalkandcompanywithhim,Ihadfullconvictionaboutit。

  CHR。Anddidyouaskhimwhatmanthiswas,andhowyoumustbejustifiedbyhim?

  HOPE。Yes,andhetoldmeitwastheLordJesus,thatdwellethontherighthandoftheMostHigh。Andthus,saidhe,youmustbejustifiedbyhim,evenbytrustingtowhathehathdonebyhimself,inthedaysofhisflesh,andsufferedwhenhedidhangonthetree。

  Iaskedhimfurther,howthatman’srighteousnesscouldbeofthatefficacytojustifyanotherbeforeGod?AndhetoldmehewasthemightyGod,anddidwhathedid,anddiedthedeathalso,notforhimself,butforme;towhomhisdoings,andtheworthinessofthem,shouldbeimputed,ifIbelievedonhim。[Heb。10,Rom。

  6,Col。1,1Pet。1]

  {348}

  CHR。Andwhatdidyoudothen?

  HOPE。Imademyobjectionsagainstmybelieving,forthatIthoughthewasnotwillingtosaveme。

  CHR。AndwhatsaidFaithfultoyouthen?

  HOPE。Hebidmegotohimandsee。ThenIsaiditwaspresumption;

  buthesaid,No,forIwasinvitedtocome。[Matt。11:28]

  ThenhegavemeabookofJesus,hisinditing,toencouragemethemorefreelytocome;andhesaid,concerningthatbook,thateveryjotandtittlethereofstoodfirmerthanheavenandearth。

  [Matt。24:35]ThenIaskedhim,WhatImustdowhenIcame;andhetoldme,Imustentreatuponmyknees,withallmyheartandsoul,theFathertorevealhimtome。[Ps。95:6,Dan。6:10,Jer。29:12,13]

  ThenIaskedhimfurther,howImustmakemysupplicationtohim?

  Andhesaid,Go,andthoushaltfindhimuponamercy—seat,wherehesitsalltheyearlong,togivepardonandforgivenesstothemthatcome。ItoldhimthatIknewnotwhattosaywhenIcame。

  Andhebidmesaytothiseffect:

  Godbemercifultomeasinner,andmakemetoknowandbelieveinJesusChrist;forIsee,thatifhisrighteousnesshadnotbeen,orIhavenotfaithinthatrighteousness,Iamutterlycastaway。

  Lord,IhaveheardthatthouartamercifulGod,andhastordainedthatthySonJesusChristshouldbetheSaviouroftheworld;

  andmoreover,thatthouartwillingtobestowhimuponsuchapoorsinnerasIam,(andIamasinnerindeed);Lord,takethereforethisopportunityandmagnifythygraceinthesalvationofmysoul,throughthySonJesusChrist。Amen。

  [Exo。25:22,Lev。16:2,Num。7:89,Heb。4:16]

  {349}

  CHR。Anddidyoudoasyouwerebidden?

  HOPE。Yes;over,andover,andover。

  CHR。AnddidtheFatherrevealhisSontoyou?

  HOPE。Notatthefirst,norsecond,northird,norfourth,norfifth;

  no,noratthesixthtimeneither。

  CHR。Whatdidyoudothen?

  HOPE。What!whyIcouldnottellwhattodo。

  CHR。Hadyounotthoughtsofleavingoffpraying?

  HOPE。Yes;anhundredtimestwicetold。

  CHR。Andwhatwasthereasonyoudidnot?

  HOPE。Ibelievedthatthatwastruewhichhadbeentoldme,towit,thatwithouttherighteousnessofthisChrist,alltheworldcouldnotsaveme;andtherefore,thoughtIwithmyself,ifIleaveoffIdie,andIcanbutdieatthethroneofgrace。

  Andwithal,thiscameintomymind,\"Thoughittarry,waitforit;

  becauseitwillsurelycome,itwillnottarry。\"[Heb。2:3]

  SoIcontinuedprayinguntiltheFathershowedmehisSon。

  {350}

  CHR。Andhowwasherevealeduntoyou?

  HOPE。Ididnotseehimwithmybodilyeyes,butwiththeeyesofmyunderstanding;[Eph。1:18,19]andthusitwas:

  OnedayIwasverysad,Ithinksadderthanatanyonetimeinmylife,andthissadnesswasthroughafreshsightofthegreatnessandvilenessofmysins。AndasIwasthenlookingfornothingbuthell,andtheeverlastingdamnationofmysoul,suddenly,asIthought,IsawtheLordJesusChristlookdownfromheavenuponme,andsaying,\"BelieveontheLordJesusChrist,andthoushaltbesaved。\"

  [Acts16:30,31]

  p351——p403

  Page351——Page403

  {351}

  ButIreplied,Lord,Iamagreat,averygreatsinner。

  Andheanswered,\"Mygraceissufficientforthee。\"[2Cor。12:9]

  ThenIsaid,But,Lord,whatisbelieving?AndthenIsawfromthatsaying,\"Hethatcomethtomeshallneverhunger,andhethatbelievethonmeshallneverthirst\",thatbelievingandcomingwasallone;andthathethatcame,thatis,ranoutinhisheartandaffectionsaftersalvationbyChrist,heindeedbelievedinChrist。[John6:35]Thenthewaterstoodinmineeyes,andIaskedfurther。But,Lord,maysuchagreatsinnerasIambeindeedacceptedofthee,andbesavedbythee?AndIheardhimsay,\"Andhimthatcomethtome,Iwillinnowisecastout。\"[John6:37]ThenIsaid,Buthow,Lord,mustIconsideroftheeinmycomingtothee,thatmyfaithmaybeplacedarightuponthee?Thenhesaid,\"ChristJesuscameintotheworldtosavesinners。\"[1Tim。1:15]\"Heistheendofthelawforrighteousnesstoeveryonethatbelieveth。\"[Rom。

  10:4]

  \"Hediedforoursins,androseagainforourjustification。\"

  [Rom。4:25]\"Helovedus,andwashedusfromoursinsinhisownblood。\"[Rev。1:5]\"HeismediatorbetwixtGodandus。\"

  [1Tim。2:5]\"Heeverlivethtomakeintercessionforus。\"

  [Heb。7:24,25]FromallwhichIgathered,thatImustlookforrighteousnessinhisperson,andforsatisfactionformysinsbyhisblood;thatwhathedidinobediencetohisFather’slaw,andinsubmittingtothepenaltythereof,wasnotforhimself,butforhimthatwillacceptitforhissalvation,andbethankful。

  Andnowwasmyheartfullofjoy,mineeyesfulloftears,andmineaffectionsrunningoverwithlovetothename,people,andwaysofJesusChrist。

  {352}

  CHR。ThiswasarevelationofChristtoyoursoulindeed;

  buttellmeparticularlywhateffectthishaduponyourspirit。

  HOPE。Itmademeseethatalltheworld,notwithstandingalltherighteousnessthereof,isinastateofcondemnation。

  ItmademeseethatGodtheFather,thoughhebejust,canjustlyjustifythecomingsinner。Itmademegreatlyashamedofthevilenessofmyformerlife,andconfoundedmewiththesenseofmineownignorance;fortherenevercamethoughtintomyheartbeforenowthatshowedmesothebeautyofJesusChrist。

  Itmademeloveaholylife,andlongtodosomethingforthehonourandgloryofthenameoftheLordJesus;yea,IthoughtthathadInowathousandgallonsofbloodinmybody,IcouldspillitallforthesakeoftheLordJesus。

  {353}

  IsawtheninmydreamthatHopefullookedbackandsawIgnorance,whomtheyhadleftbehind,comingafter。Look,saidhetoChristian,howfaryonderyoungsterloiterethbehind。

  CHR。Ay,ay,Iseehim;hecarethnotforourcompany。

  HOPE。ButItrowitwouldnothavehurthimhadhekeptpacewithushitherto。

  CHR。Thatistrue;butIwarrantyouhethinkethotherwise。

  HOPE。That,Ithink,hedoth;but,however,letustarryforhim。

  Sotheydid。

  {354}

  ThenChristiansaidtohim,Comeaway,man,whydoyoustaysobehind?

  IGNOR。Itakemypleasureinwalkingalone,evenmoreagreatdealthanincompany,unlessIlikeitthebetter。

  ThensaidChristiantoHopeful,(butsoftly),DidInottellyouhecarednotforourcompany?But,however,saidhe,comeup,andletustalkawaythetimeinthissolitaryplace。

  ThendirectinghisspeechtoIgnorance,hesaid,Come,howdoyou?

  HowstandsitbetweenGodandyoursoulnow?

  {355}

  IGNOR。Ihopewell;forIamalwaysfullofgoodmotions,thatcomeintomymind,tocomfortmeasIwalk。

  CHR。Whatgoodmotions?pray,tellus。

  IGNOR。Why,IthinkofGodandheaven。

  CHR。Sodothedevilsanddamnedsouls。

  IGNOR。ButIthinkofthemanddesirethem。

  CHR。Sodomanythatareneverliketocomethere。

  \"Thesoulofthesluggarddesireth,andhathnothing。\"[Prov。

  13:4]

  IGNOR。ButIthinkofthem,andleaveallforthem。

  CHR。ThatIdoubt;forleavingallisahardmatter:yea,ahardermatterthanmanyareawareof。Butwhy,orbywhat,artthoupersuadedthatthouhastleftallforGodandheaven。

  {356}

  IGNOR。Myhearttellsmeso。

  CHR。Thewisemansays,\"Hethattrustshisownheartisafool。\"

  [Prov。28:26]

  IGNOR。Thisisspokenofanevilheart,butmineisagoodone。

  CHR。Buthowdostthouprovethat?

  IGNOR。Itcomfortsmeinhopesofheaven。

  CHR。Thatmaybethroughitsdeceitfulness;foraman’sheartmayministercomforttohiminthehopesofthatthingforwhichheyethasnogroundtohope。

  IGNOR。Butmyheartandlifeagreetogether,andthereforemyhopeiswellgrounded。

  CHR。Whotoldtheethatthyheartandlifeagreetogether?

  IGNOR。Myhearttellsmeso。

  CHR。AskmyfellowifIbeathief!Thyhearttellstheeso!

  ExcepttheWordofGodbearethwitnessinthismatter,othertestimonyisofnovalue。

  {357}

  IGNOR。Butisitnotagoodheartthathathgoodthoughts?

  andisnotthatagoodlifethatisaccordingtoGod’scommandments?

  CHR。Yes,thatisagoodheartthathathgoodthoughts,andthatisagoodlifethatisaccordingtoGod’scommandments;

  butitisonething,indeed,tohavethese,andanotherthingonlytothinkso。

  IGNOR。Pray,whatcountyougoodthoughts,andalifeaccordingtoGod’scommandments?

  CHR。Therearegoodthoughtsofdiverskinds;somerespectingourselves,someGod,someChrist,andsomeotherthings。

  IGNOR。Whatbegoodthoughtsrespectingourselves?

  CHR。SuchasagreewiththeWordofGod。

  {358}

  IGNOR。WhendoourthoughtsofourselvesagreewiththeWordofGod?

  CHR。WhenwepassthesamejudgmentuponourselveswhichtheWordpasses。Toexplainmyself——theWordofGodsaithofpersonsinanaturalcondition,\"Thereisnonerighteous,thereisnonethatdoethgood。\"[Rom。3]Itsaithalso,that\"everyimaginationoftheheartofmanisonlyevil,andthatcontinually。\"[Gen。6:5]Andagain,\"Theimaginationofman’sheartisevilfromhisyouth。\"[Rom。8:21]Nowthen,whenwethinkthusofourselves,havingsensethereof,thenareourthoughtsgoodones,becauseaccordingtotheWordofGod。

  IGNOR。Iwillneverbelievethatmyheartisthusbad。

  CHR。Thereforethouneverhadstonegoodthoughtconcerningthyselfinthylife。Butletmegoon。AstheWordpassethajudgmentuponourheart,soitpassethajudgmentuponourways;andwhenOURthoughtsofourheartsandwaysagreewiththejudgmentwhichtheWordgivethofboth,thenarebothgood,becauseagreeingthereto。

  {359}

  IGNOR。Makeoutyourmeaning。

  CHR。Why,theWordofGodsaiththatman’swaysarecrookedways;

  notgood,butperverse。[Ps。125:5,Prov。2:15]Itsaiththeyarenaturallyoutofthegoodway,thattheyhavenotknownit。

  [Rom。3]Now,whenamanthusthinkethofhisways,——Isay,whenhedothsensibly,andwithheart—humiliation,thusthink,thenhathhegoodthoughtsofhisownways,becausehisthoughtsnowagreewiththejudgmentoftheWordofGod。

  {360}

  IGNOR。WhataregoodthoughtsconcerningGod?

  CHR。EvenasIhavesaidconcerningourselves,whenourthoughtsofGoddoagreewithwhattheWordsaithofhim;andthatis,whenwethinkofhisbeingandattributesastheWordhathtaught,ofwhichIcannotnowdiscourseatlarge;buttospeakofhimwithreferencetous:ThenwehaverightthoughtsofGod,whenwethinkthatheknowsusbetterthanweknowourselves,andcanseesininuswhenandwherewecanseenoneinourselves;

  whenwethinkheknowsourinmostthoughts,andthatourheart,withallitsdepths,isalwaysopenuntohiseyes;also,whenwethinkthatallourrighteousnessstinksinhisnostrils,andthat,therefore,hecannotabidetoseeusstandbeforehiminanyconfidence,eveninallourbestperformances。

  {361}

  IGNOR。DoyouthinkthatIamsuchafoolastothinkGodcanseenofurtherthanI?or,thatIwouldcometoGodinthebestofmyperformances?

  CHR。Why,howdostthouthinkinthismatter?

  IGNOR。Why,tobeshort,IthinkImustbelieveinChristforjustification。

  CHR。How!thinkthoumustbelieveinChrist,whenthouseestnotthyneedofhim!Thouneitherseestthyoriginalnoractualinfirmities;

  buthastsuchanopinionofthyself,andofwhatthoudost,asplainlyrenderstheetobeonethatdidneverseeanecessityofChrist’spersonalrighteousnesstojustifytheebeforeGod。

  How,then,dostthousay,IbelieveinChrist?

  {362}

  IGNOR。Ibelievewellenoughforallthat。

  CHR。Howdostthoubelieve?

  IGNOR。IbelievethatChristdiedforsinners,andthatIshallbejustifiedbeforeGodfromthecurse,throughhisgraciousacceptanceofmyobediencetohislaw。Orthus,Christmakesmyduties,thatarereligious,acceptabletohisFather,byvirtueofhismerits;

  andsoshallIbejustified。

  {363}

  CHR。Letmegiveananswertothisconfessionofthyfaith:——

  1。Thoubelievestwithafantasticalfaith;forthisfaithisnowheredescribedintheWord。

  2。Thoubelievestwithafalsefaith;becauseittakethjustificationfromthepersonalrighteousnessofChrist,andappliesittothyown。

  3。ThisfaithmakethnotChristajustifierofthyperson,butofthyactions;andofthypersonforthyactions’sake,whichisfalse。

  4。Therefore,thisfaithisdeceitful,evensuchaswillleavetheeunderwrath,inthedayofGodAlmighty;fortruejustifyingfaithputsthesoul,assensibleofitsconditionbythelaw,uponflyingforrefugeuntoChrist’srighteousness,whichrighteousnessofhisisnotanactofgrace,bywhichhemakethforjustification,thyobedienceacceptedwithGod;buthispersonalobediencetothelaw,indoingandsufferingforuswhatthatrequiredatourhands;

  thisrighteousness,Isay,truefaithaccepteth;undertheskirtofwhich,thesoulbeingshrouded,andbyitpresentedasspotlessbeforeGod,itisaccepted,andacquitfromcondemnation。

  {364}

  IGNOR。What!wouldyouhaveustrusttowhatChrist,inhisownperson,hasdonewithoutus?Thisconceitwouldloosenthereinsofourlust,andtolerateustoliveaswelist;forwhatmatterhowwelive,ifwemaybejustifiedbyChrist’spersonalrighteousnessfromall,whenwebelieveit?

  CHR。Ignoranceisthyname,andasthynameis,soartthou;

  eventhisthyanswerdemonstratethwhatIsay。Ignorantthouartofwhatjustifyingrighteousnessis,andasignoranthowtosecurethysoul,throughthefaithofit,fromtheheavywrathofGod。

  Yea,thoualsoartignorantofthetrueeffectsofsavingfaithinthisrighteousnessofChrist,whichis,tobowandwinoverthehearttoGodinChrist,tolovehisname,hisword,ways,andpeople,andnotasthouignorantlyimaginest。

  HOPE。AskhimifeverhehadChristrevealedtohimfromheaven。

  {365}

  IGNOR。What!youareamanforrevelations!Ibelievethatwhatbothyou,andalltherestofyou,sayaboutthatmatter,isbutthefruitofdistractedbrains。

  HOPE。Why,man!ChristissohidinGodfromthenaturalapprehensionsoftheflesh,thathecannotbyanymanbesavinglyknown,unlessGodtheFatherrevealshimtothem。

  {366}

  IGNOR。Thatisyourfaith,butnotmine;yetmine,Idoubtnot,isasgoodasyours,thoughIhavenotinmyheadsomanywhimsiesasyou。

  CHR。Givemeleavetoputinaword。Yououghtnotsoslightlytospeakofthismatter;forthisIwillboldlyaffirm,evenasmygoodcompanionhathdone,thatnomancanknowJesusChristbutbytherevelationoftheFather;[Matt。11:27]yea,andfaithtoo,bywhichthesoullayethholduponChrist,ifitberight,mustbewroughtbytheexceedinggreatnessofhismightypower;

  theworkingofwhichfaith,Iperceive,poorIgnorance,thouartignorantof。[1Cor。12:3,Eph。1:18,19]Beawakened,then,seethineownwretchedness,andflytotheLordJesus;

  andbyhisrighteousness,whichistherighteousnessofGod,forhehimselfisGod,thoushaltbedeliveredfromcondemnation。

  {367}

  IGNOR。Yougosofast,Icannotkeeppacewithyou。

  Doyougoonbefore;Imuststayawhilebehind。

  Thentheysaid——

  Well,Ignorance,wiltthouyetfoolishbe,Toslightgoodcounsel,tentimesgiventhee?

  Andifthouyetrefuseit,thoushaltknow,Erelong,theevilofthydoingso。

  Remember,man,intime,stoop,donotfear;

  Goodcounseltakenwell,saves:thereforehear。

  Butifthouyetshaltslightit,thouwiltbeTheloser,(Ignorance),I’llwarrantthee。

  ThenChristianaddressedthushimselftohisfellow:——

  CHR。Well,come,mygoodHopeful,IperceivethatthouandI

  mustwalkbyourselvesagain。

  {368}

  SoIsawinmydreamthattheywentonapacebefore,andIgnorancehecamehobblingafter。ThensaidChristiantohiscompanion,Itpitiesmemuchforthispoorman,itwillcertainlygoillwithhimatlast。

  HOPE。Alas!thereareabundanceinourtowninhiscondition,wholefamilies,yea,wholestreets,andthatofpilgrimstoo;

  andiftherebesomanyinourparts,howmany,thinkyou,musttherebeintheplacewherehewasborn?

  CHR。IndeedtheWordsaith,\"Hehathblindedtheireyes,lesttheyshouldsee\",&c。Butnowwearebyourselves,whatdoyouthinkofsuchmen?Havetheyatnotime,thinkyou,convictionsofsin,andsoconsequentlyfearsthattheirstateisdangerous?

  HOPE。Nay,doyouanswerthatquestionyourself,foryouaretheelderman。

  CHR。ThenIsay,sometimes(asIthink)theymay;buttheybeingnaturallyignorant,understandnotthatsuchconvictionstendtotheirgood;andthereforetheydodesperatelyseektostiflethem,andpresumptuouslycontinuetoflatterthemselvesinthewayoftheirownhearts。

  {369}

  HOPE。Idobelieve,asyousay,thatfeartendsmuchtomen’sgood,andtomakethemright,attheirbeginningtogoonpilgrimage。

  CHR。Withoutalldoubtitdoth,ifitberight;forsosaystheWord,\"ThefearoftheLordisthebeginningofwisdom。\"

  [Prov。1:7,9:10,Job28:28,Ps。111:10]

  {370}

  HOPE。Howwillyoudescriberightfear?

  CHR。Trueorrightfearisdiscoveredbythreethings:——

  1。Byitsrise;itiscausedbysavingconvictionsforsin。

  2。ItdriveththesoultolayfastholdofChristforsalvation。

  3。ItbegettethandcontinuethinthesoulagreatreverenceofGod,hisWord,andways,keepingittender,andmakingitafraidtoturnfromthem,totherighthandortotheleft,toanythingthatmaydishonourGod,breakitspeace,grievetheSpirit,orcausetheenemytospeakreproachfully。

  HOPE。Wellsaid;Ibelieveyouhavesaidthetruth。

  ArewenowalmostgotpasttheEnchantedGround?

  CHR。Why,artthouwearyofthisdiscourse?

  HOPE。No,verily,butthatIwouldknowwhereweare。

  {371}

  CHR。Wehavenotnowabovetwomilesfurthertogothereon。

  Butletusreturntoourmatter。Nowtheignorantknownotthatsuchconvictionsastendtoputtheminfeararefortheirgood,andthereforetheyseektostiflethem。

  HOPE。Howdotheyseektostiflethem?

  {372}

  CHR。1。Theythinkthatthosefearsarewroughtbythedevil,(thoughindeedtheyarewroughtofGod);and,thinkingso,theyresistthemasthingsthatdirectlytendtotheiroverthrow。

  2。Theyalsothinkthatthesefearstendtothespoilingoftheirfaith,when,alas,forthem,poormenthattheyare,theyhavenoneatall!andthereforetheyhardentheirheartsagainstthem。

  3。Theypresumetheyoughtnottofear;and,therefore,indespiteofthem,waxpresumptuouslyconfident。

  4。Theyseethatthosefearstendtotakeawayfromthemtheirpitifuloldself—holiness,andthereforetheyresistthemwithalltheirmight。

  {373}

  HOPE。Iknowsomethingofthismyself;for,beforeIknewmyself,itwassowithme。

  CHR。Well,wewillleave,atthistime,ourneighbourIgnorancebyhimself,andfalluponanotherprofitablequestion。

  HOPE。Withallmyheart,butyoushallstillbegin。

  CHR。Wellthen,didyounotknow,abouttenyearsago,oneTemporaryinyourparts,whowasaforwardmaninreligionthen?

  HOPE。Knowhim!yes,hedweltinGraceless,atownabouttwomilesoffofHonesty,andhedweltnextdoortooneTurnback。

  {374}

  CHR。Right,hedweltunderthesameroofwithhim。Well,thatmanwasmuchawakenedonce;Ibelievethatthenhehadsomesightofhissins,andofthewagesthatwereduethereto。

  HOPE。Iamofyourmind,for,myhousenotbeingabovethreemilesfromhim,hewouldofttimescometome,andthatwithmanytears。

  TrulyIpitiedtheman,andwasnotaltogetherwithouthopeofhim;

  butonemaysee,itisnoteveryonethatcries,Lord,Lord。

  CHR。Hetoldmeoncethathewasresolvedtogoonpilgrimage,aswedonow;butallofasuddenhegrewacquaintedwithoneSave—self,andthenhebecameastrangertome。

  {375}

  HOPE。Now,sincewearetalkingabouthim,letusalittleinquireintothereasonofthesuddenbackslidingofhimandsuchothers。

  CHR。Itmaybeveryprofitable,butdoyoubegin。

  HOPE。Well,then,thereareinmyjudgmentfourreasonsforit:——

  {376}

  1。Thoughtheconsciencesofsuchmenareawakened,yettheirmindsarenotchanged;therefore,whenthepowerofguiltwearethaway,thatwhichprovokedthemtobereligiousceaseth,whereforetheynaturallyturntotheirowncourseagain,evenasweseethedogthatissickofwhathehaseaten,solongashissicknessprevailshevomitsandcastsupall;notthathedoththisofafreemind(ifwemaysayadoghasamind),butbecauseittroublethhisstomach;

  butnow,whenhissicknessisover,andsohisstomacheased,hisdesirebeingnotatallalienatefromhisvomit,heturnshimaboutandlicksupall,andsoitistruewhichiswritten,\"Thedogisturnedtohisownvomitagain。\"[2Pet。2:22]ThusIsay,beinghotforheaven,byvirtueonlyofthesenseandfearofthetormentsofhell,astheirsenseofhellandthefearsofdamnationchillsandcools,sotheirdesiresforheavenandsalvationcoolalso。Sothenitcomestopass,thatwhentheirguiltandfearisgone,theirdesiresforheavenandhappinessdie,andtheyreturntotheircourseagain。

  {377}

  2。Anotherreasonis,theyhaveslavishfearsthatdoovermasterthem;

  Ispeaknowofthefearsthattheyhaveofmen,for\"thefearofmanbringethasnare\"。[Prov。29:25]Sothen,thoughtheyseemtobehotforheaven,solongastheflamesofhellareabouttheirears,yetwhenthatterrorisalittleover,theybetakethemselvestosecondthoughts;namely,thatitisgoodtobewise,andnottorun(fortheyknownotwhat)thehazardoflosingall,or,atleast,ofbringingthemselvesintounavoidableandunnecessarytroubles,andsotheyfallinwiththeworldagain。

  {378}

  3。Theshamethatattendsreligionliesalsoasablockintheirway;

  theyareproudandhaughty;andreligionintheireyeislowandcontemptible,therefore,whentheyhavelosttheirsenseofhellandwrathtocome,theyreturnagaintotheirformercourse。

  {379}

  4。Guilt,andtomeditateterror,aregrievoustothem。

  Theylikenottoseetheirmiserybeforetheycomeintoit;

  thoughperhapsthesightofitfirst,iftheylovedthatsight,mightmakethemflywhithertherighteousflyandaresafe。

  Butbecausetheydo,asIhintedbefore,evenshunthethoughtsofguiltandterror,therefore,whenoncetheyareridoftheirawakeningsabouttheterrorsandwrathofGod,theyhardentheirheartsgladly,andchoosesuchwaysaswillhardenthemmoreandmore。

  {380}

  CHR。Youareprettynearthebusiness,forthebottomofallisforwantofachangeintheirmindandwill。Andthereforetheyarebutlikethefelonthatstandethbeforethejudge,hequakesandtrembles,andseemstorepentmostheartily,butthebottomofallisthefearofthehalter;notthathehathanydetestationoftheoffence,asisevident,because,letbutthismanhavehisliberty,andhewillbeathief,andsoaroguestill,whereas,ifhismindwaschanged,hewouldbeotherwise。

  {381}

  HOPE。NowIhaveshowedyouthereasonsoftheirgoingback,doyoushowmethemannerthereof。

  CHR。SoIwillwillingly。

  1。Theydrawofftheirthoughts,allthattheymay,fromtheremembranceofGod,death,andjudgmenttocome。

  2。Thentheycastoffbydegreesprivateduties,asclosetprayer,curbingtheirlusts,watching,sorrowforsin,andthelike。

  3。ThentheyshunthecompanyoflivelyandwarmChristians。

  4。Afterthattheygrowcoldtopublicduty,ashearing,reading,godlyconference,andthelike。

  5。Thentheybegintopickholes,aswesay,inthecoatsofsomeofthegodly;andthatdevilishly,thattheymayhaveaseemingcolourtothrowreligion(forthesakeofsomeinfirmitytheyhaveespiedinthem)behindtheirbacks。

  6。Thentheybegintoadhereto,andassociatethemselveswith,carnal,loose,andwantonmen。

  7。Thentheygivewaytocarnalandwantondiscoursesinsecret;

  andgladaretheyiftheycanseesuchthingsinanythatarecountedhonest,thattheymaythemoreboldlydoitthroughtheirexample。

  8。Afterthistheybegintoplaywithlittlesinsopenly。

  9。Andthen,beinghardened,theyshowthemselvesastheyare。

  Thus,beinglaunchedagainintothegulfofmisery,unlessamiracleofgracepreventit,theyeverlastinglyperishintheirowndeceivings。

  {382}

  NowIsawinmydream,thatbythistimethePilgrimsweregotovertheEnchantedGround,andenteringintothecountryofBeulah,whoseairwasverysweetandpleasant,thewaylyingdirectlythroughit,theysolacedthemselvesthereforaseason。Yea,heretheyheardcontinuallythesingingofbirds,andsaweverydaytheflowersappearontheearth,andheardthevoiceoftheturtleintheland。

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