Hope. Not at first, nor second, nor third, nor fourth, nor fifth; no, nor at the sixth time neither Chr. What did you do then? Hope. What! why I could not tell what to do. Chr. Had you not thoughts of leaving off praying? Hope. Yes, and a hundred times twice told. Chr. And what was the reason you did not? Hope. I believed that that was true, which hath been told me, to wit, That without the righteousness of this Christ, all the world could not save ine; and therefore thought I with myself, if I leave off, I die, and I can but die at the throne of grace. And withal this came into my mind, "If it tarry, "wait for it; because it will surely come, it will "not tarry (q)." So I continued praying until the Father showed me his Son. Chr. And how was he revealed unto you? Hope. I did not see him with my bodily eyes, but with the eyes of my understanding (r). And thus it was: One day I was very sad, I think sadder than at any one time of my life; and this sadness was through a fresh sight of the greatness and vileness of my sins. And as I was then looking for nothing but hell, and the everlasting damnation of my soul, suddenly, as I thought, I saw the Lord Jesus look down from Heaven upon me, and saying, "Believe "on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be "saved (s)." But I replied, Lord, I am a great, a very great simer: and he answered, "My grace is sufficient "for thee (t)." Then I said, But, Lord, what is believing? And then I saw from that saying, "He "that cometh to me shall never hunger, and be that believeth on me shall never thirst (u)," that believing and coming was all one; and that he that came, that is, ran out in his heart and affections after salvation by Christ, he indeed believed in Christ, (9) Hab. ii. 3. (r) Eph. i. 18. 19. (s) Acts xvi. 30, 31 (t) 2 Cor. xii. 9. (u) John vi. 35. Then the water stood in mine eyes, and I asked further, But Lord, may such a great sinner as I am, be indeed accepted of thee, and be saved by thee? And I heard him say, "And him that cometh to 66 me, I will in no wise c st out (x).” Then I said, But how, Lord, must I consider of thee in my coming to thee, that my faith may be placed aright upon thee? Then he said, Christ came into the world to save sinners: he is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth: he died for our sins, and rose again for our justification: he loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood; he is a mediator betwixt God and us: he ever liveth to make intercession for us (y). From all which I gathered, that I must look for righteousness in his person, and for satisfaction for my sins by his blood; that what he did in obedience to his Father's law, and in submitting to the penalty thereof, was not for himself, but for him that will accept it for his salvation, and be thankful. And now was my heart full of joy, mine eyes full of tears, and mine affections running over with love to the name, people, and ways of Jesus Christ. Chr. This was a revelation of Christ to your soul indeed: but tell me particularly what effect this had upon your Spirit. Hope. It made me see that all the world, notwithstanding all the righteousness thereof, is in a state of condemnation: it made me see that God the Father, though he be just, can justly justify the coming sinner: it made me greatly ashamed of the vileness of my former life, and confounded me with the sense of mine own ignorance; for there never came a thought into my heart before now, that showed me so the beauty of Jesus Christ: it made me love a holy life, and long to do something for the honour and glory of the name of the Lord Jesus: (x) John vi. 37. (y) 1 Tim. i. 15. Rom. x. 4. chap. iv. Heb. vii. 24, 25. yea, I thought that if I had now a thousand gallons of blood in my body, I could spill it all for the sake of the Lord Jesus. EXPLANATORY NOTES. VARIOUS are the dispositions and artifices of those who oppose the Christian: The Pilgrims, having escaped the Flatterer's net, are now accosted by an avowed enemy of revelation Yet (awful to think) he too had been a professor. None become so vile and profane as apostates. Because there was no reality in their religion, they conclude there is no reality in religion at all. But experienced christians are not to be persuaded out of their spiritual senses." The plainest believer is possessed of a demonstration of unseen things, which surpasses all the arguments in the world. Christian and Hopeful now enter on the Enchanted Ground; by which we are to understand this present evil world, especially in a season of ease and prosperity. Many are the worldly enchantments which dispose the soul to slumber, and become careless and slothful about the concerns of eternity. Happy are those who associate with lively and faithful christians; who, by example and reproof, prevent their sleeping, as do others." We have need to be much on our guard against this Enchanted Ground, in this day of outward ease and prosperity. .66 By singing hymns, and ke ping up spiritual conversation, the pilgrims were kept awake. The more we abound in using the means of grace, the more lively we shall be. Hopeful relates his own experience. He had been awakened to see the vanity of the world, and the danger of his natural state. But he had nothing to boast of: he could not ascribe any thing to free-will; for he tried to resist the light and convictions of the Spirit of God. But grace prevailed. If he saw a good man in the street, his uneasiness was renewed, This is a common case; for though carnal men affect to despise and ridicule the people of God, they have a secreʻ veneration for their character, and feel themselves condemned in their presence. By this and other means Hopeful was Id to amend his life, avoid his carnal companions, and abound in religious duties. To these he trusted for life, for a time. Bat God would not leave him here. He was at length Con Ainced, that notwithstanding his amendment, he was still unrighteous-a sinner-a condemned man, under the curse, and exposed to hell. Hence he was constrained to see the necessity of the righteousness of another, even of Christ, to justify him. The doctrine of imputed righteousness does not suit an whole-hearted boaster, but is desirable above all things, to a broken-hearted sinner. For this blessing Hopeful ardently prayed again and again, till Christ, in all the fulness of his grace, and love of his heart, as able and willing to save, was revealed to him. Then was his heart filled with joy, his eyes flowed with tears of repentance, and his affections ran over with love to the name, people, and ways of Jesus Christ. Then did he blush with shame for past sin; then was Jesus exceedingly precious to his soul; he even hungered and thirsted after holiness, and was willing both to live and die for Christ! O blessed scriptural experience! Not every sincere christian can trace the work of God in his soul with the regularity of Hopeful; but let every reader ask himself, whether, like him, he has been convinced of his own unrighteousness and danger on that account? Whether he has been led to renounce himself, and depend on Christ's righteousness alone? and whether his faith in that righte ousness has worked by love to Christ, producing a deep aversion to sin, and an earnest desire after holiness? Where these things are found, in any reader, let him know, that his name is Hopeful. CHAP. XIX. The Pilgrims have another conference with Ignorance. I SAW then in my dream, that Hopeful looked back, and saw Ignorance, whom they had left behind, coming after: Look, said he to Christian, how far yonder youngster loitereth behind. Chr. Ay, ay, I see him; he careth not for our company. Hope. But I trow it would not have hurt him had he kept with us hitherto. Chr. That's true, but I'll warrant you he thinketh otherwise. Hope. That I think he doth; but however let us tarry for him. So they did. Then Christian said to him, Come away, man, why do you stay so behind? Ignor. I take my pleasure in walking alone, even more a great deal than in company, unless I like it better. Then said Christian to Hopeful (but softly), Did I not tell you he cared not for our company? But, however, said he, Come up, and let us talk away the time in this solitary place. Then directing his speech to Ignorance, he said, Come, how do you? how stands it between God and your soul now? Ignor. I hope well, for I am always full of good motions, that come into my mind to comfort me as. I walk. Chr. What good m tions? pray tell us. Chr. So do many that are never like to come there. "The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing (a)." Ignor. But I think of them, and leave all for them. Chr. That I doubt; for to leave all is a very hard matter; yea, a harder matter than many are aware of: but why, or by what, art thou-persuaded, that thou has left all for God and Heaven ? Ignor. My heart tells me so. Chr. The wise man says, "heart is a fool." "He that trusts his own Ignor. That is spoken of an evil heart; but mine is a good one. Chr. But how dost thou prove that? Ignor. It comforts me in hopes of Heaven. Chr. That may be through its deceitfulness; for a man's heart may minister comfort to him in the (a) Prov. xiii. 4. |