182 THE RIVER OF THE WATER OF LIFE. CHAPTER XV. CHRISTIAN AND HOPEFUL MISTAKE THEIR WAY, AND FALL INTO THE HANDS OF GIANT DESPAIR. 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."*(a) Now their way lay just upon the bank of the river : here therefore Christian and his companion walked with great delight: they drank also of the water of the river, which was pleasant, and enlivening to their weary spi. rits. 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 lay down and slept for here they might lie down safely.(b) When they awoke, they gathered again of the fruits of the trees, and drank again of the water of the river, and By this river, which is called "a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb," Rev. xxii. 1. we may understand, the clear and comfortable views with which they were favoured of God's love and grace. This river of God, this water of life, was clear as crystal: They could see in it God's glory shining in the face of Jesus Christ, and view their own faces in it to their inexpressible joy. This is the river, "the streams whereof make glad the city of God." Psal. xlvi. 4. The streams which flow from this river of love, are justification by faith in Christ, sanctification, and all joy and peace in believing, from the Spirit of Christ. All this these pilgrims now enjoyed, and all this every fellow-citizen of the saints are called to enjoy, in their pilgrimage to Zion. This river of life proceedeth out of the throne of God and the Lamb. For God hath chosen those (who have fled for refuge) in Christ, and blessed us with all spiritual blessings in him; and they are all freely communicated to us out of Christ's fulness. O how happy, peaceful, and joyful are pilgrims, when the Spirit takes of the things of Christ, shows them to us, and blesses us with a constant sense of, and interest in the love of God, and salvation of Jesus! (a) Ps. lxv. 9. Ezek. xlvii. 1. Rev. xxii. 1. (b) Ps. xxiii. Isa. xiv. 30. ROUGH ROAD. BY-PATH-MEADOW. 183 then lay down again to sleep. Thus they did several days and nights. Then they sang : "Behold ye how those crystal streams do glide, So when they were disposed to go on (for they were not as 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.(a) Wherefore still as they went on, they wished for a 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 us 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 * Pilgrims have their discouragements as well as their joys: yet they should take their way as they find it, sometimes rough, at others smooth; they may at times be sorry to part with their comforts, and wish the way was smoother: so they did here. Lo, their wishes were answered; but mark the consequences. Lord lead me in the way everlasting! Beware of this by-path-meadow, it is on the left hand. Oh how many are walking securely, confidently, and comfortably in it, while every step they take endangers their destruction. The transition into it is easy, for it lies close to the right way, only you must get over a stile; that is, you must quit Christ's protection, trust in your own wisdom, and then you are în by-path-meadow directly. (a) Numb. xxi. 4. 184 VAIN-CONFIDENCE'S FALL. 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 likely, 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 for their feet; and, withal, they looking before them, spied a man walking as they did, and his name was Vain-confidence: so they called after him, and asked him whither that way led? He said, to the celestial gate. Look, said Christian, did not I tell you so? by this you may see we are right so they followed, and he went before them. But, behold, the hight came on, and it grew very dark; so that they that went 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, (a) 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, Ah! how easy are our eyes deceived, our hearts mistaken, and our feet perverted from the right way! Shepherd of Israel, thou knowest to err is human; keep us from erring, guide us continually, and when we do stray, Lord reclaim us. "There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Prov. xiv. 12. Vain confidence is this very way. O how easy do professors get into it; yea, pilgrims are prone also to take up with it, owing to that legality, pride and self-righteousness, which work in their fallen nature, till cleansed by the blood of Jesus. See the end of it and tremble. For it leads to darkness and ends in death. Lord humble our proud hearts, and empty us of self-righteousness, pride and vain-confi dence. (a) Isa. ix. 16. CHRISTIAN REPENTS OF HAVING MISLED HOPEFUL. 185 as mistrusting that he had led him out of the way. And now it began to rain, and thunder, and lighten, in a most dreadful manner; and the waters 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 you are older than I. CHR. Good brother, be not offended; I am sorry 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; and believe too, that this shall be for good. 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 mind 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."(a) But by this time the waters were greatly risen, by reason of which, the way of going back was • Getting into by-path-meadow, and walking in vain-confidence, will sure ly bring on terrors, thunderings and lightnings from mount Sinai. † Here see, that as Christians are made helpful, so also they are liable to prove hurtful to each other. But observe how grace works! it humbles, it makes the soul confess and be sorry for its misfortunes; here is no reviling one another, but a tender sympathy and feeling concern for each other. O the mighty power of that grace and truth which came by Jesus Christ! how does it cement souls in the fellowship of love? This is Christ: he is the way, the only way, the highway of justifica, tion and holiness, (a) Jer. xxxi. 21. 186 GIANT DESPAIR; DOUBTING CASTLE: very dangerous. (Then I thought that it is casier 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. Now there was, not far from the place where they lay, a castle, called Doubting Castle, the owner whereof, was Giant Despair:* and it was in his grounds they were now sleeping. Wherefore he getting up in the morning early, and walking up and down in his fields, caught Christian and Hopeful asleep in his grounds. Then with a grim and surly voice, he bid them awake, and asked them whence they were, and what they did in his grounds? They told him they were pilgrims, and that they had lost their way. Then said the giant, You have this night trespassed on me, by trampling in, and lying on my ground, and therefore you must go along with me. So they were forced to go, because he was stronger than they. They also had but little to say; for they knew themselves in a fault. The giant, therefore, drove them before him, and put them into his castle in a very dark dungeon, nasty and stinking to the spirits of these two men. Here then they lay, from Wednesday morning till Saturday night, without one bit of bread, or drop of drink, or light, or any to ask how they did: they were, therefore, here in evil case, and were far from friends and acquaintance.(a) Now in this place Christian had double sor Sooner or later Doubting Castle will be the prison, and Giant Despair the keeper of all those who turn aside from Christ, to trust in any wise in themselves," God is a jealous God;" ever jealous of his own glory, and of the honour of his beloved Son. (q) Ps. lxxxviii. § |