believed I had not come thus far to seek But finding none and yet I should had there been such a place to be found for I have gone to seek it further then you I am going back again and will seek to refresh my self with the things that I then cast away for hopes of that which I now see is not Chr. Then said Christian to Hopeful his Fellow Is it true which this man hath said Hopef. Take heed he is one of the Flatterers remember what it hath cost us once already for our harkning to such kind of Fellows What! no Mount Sion Did we not see from the delectable Mountains the Gaâ—… of the City Also are we not now to walk by Faith Let us go on said Hopeful left the man with the Whip overtakes us again You should have taught me that Lesson which I will round you in the â—…ars w. thall Cease my Son to hear the Instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge I say my Brother cease to hear him and lot us believe to the saving of the Soul Chr. My Brother I did not put the question to thee for that I doubted of the Truth of our belief my self But to prove thee and to fetch from thee a fruit of the honesty of thy heart As for this man I know that he is blinded by the god of this World Let thee and I go on knowing that we have belief of the Truth and no lie is of the Truth Hopef. Now do I rejoyce in hope of the Glory of God So they turned away from the man and he Laughing at them went his way I saw then in my Dream that they went till they came into a certain Countrey whose Air naturally tended to make one drowsie if he came a stranger into it And here Hopeful began to be very dull and heavy of sleep wherefore he said unto Christian I do now begin to grow so drowsie that I can scâ—…cely hold up mine eyes let us lie down here and take one Nap. Chr. By no means said the other lest sleeping we never awake more Hopef. Why my Brother sleep is sweet to the Labouring man we may be refreshed if we take a Nap. Chr. Do you not remember that one of the Shepherds bid us beware of the 〈◊〉 ground He meant by that that we should beware of sleeping wherefore let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober Hopef. I acknowledge my self in fault and had I been here alone I had by sleeping run the danger of of death I see it is true that the wise man saith Two are better then one Hitherto hath thy Company been my mercy and thou shalt have a good reward for thy labour Chr. Now tâ—…en said Christian to prevent drowsiness in this place let let us fall into good discourse Hopef. With all my heart said the other Chr. Where shall we begin Hopef. Where God began with us But do you begin if you please When Saints do sleepy grow let them come hither And hear how these two Pilgrims talk together Ye a let them learn of them in any wise Thus to keep ope their drowsie slumbring eyes Saints fellowship if it be manag'd well Keeps them awake and that in spite of hell Chr. Then Christian began and said I will ask you a question How came you to think at first of doing as you do now Hopef. Do you mean How came I at first to look after the good of my Soul Chr. Yes that is my meaning Hopef. I continued a great while in the delight of those things which were seen and sold at our fair things which as I believe now would have had I continued in them still drownded me in perdition and destruction Chr. What things were they Hopef. All the Treasures and Riches of the World Also I delighted much in Rioting Revelling Drinking Swearing Lying Uneleanness Sabbath-breaking and what not that tended to destroy the Soul But I found at last by hearing and considering of things that are Divine which indeed I heard of you as also of beloved Faithful that was put to death for his Faith and good-living in Vanityfair That the end of these things is death And that for these things sake the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience Chr. And did you presently fall under the power of this conviction Hopef. No I was not willing presently to know the evil of sin nor the damnation that follows upon the commission of it but endeavoured when my mind at first began to be shaken with the word to shut mine eyes against the light thereof Chr. But what was the cause of your carrying of it thus to the first workings of Gods blessed Spirit upon you Hopef The causes were 1. I was ignorant that this was the work of God upon me I never thought that by awaknings for sin God at first begins the conversion of a sinner 2. Sin was yet very sweet to my flâ—…sh and I was loth to leave iâ—… 3. I could not tell how to part with mine old Companions their presence and actions were so desirable unto me 4. The hours in which convictions were upon me were such troublesome and such heart-affrighting hours that I could not bear no not so much as the remembrance of them upon my heart Chr. Then asâ—…it seems sometimes you got rid of your trouble Hopef. Yes verily but it would come into my mind again and then I should be as bad nay worse then I was before Chr. Why what was it that brought your sins to mind again Hopef. Many things As 1. If I did but meet a good man in the Streets or 2. If I have heard any read in the Bible or 3. If mine Head did begin to Ake or 4. I were told that some of my Neighbours were sick or 5. If I heard the Bell Toull for some that were dead or 6. If I thought of dying my self or 7. If I heard that suddain death happened to others 8. But especially when I thought of my self that I must quickly come to Judgement Chr. And could you at any time with â—…ase get off the guilt of sin when by any of these wayes it came upon you Hopef. No not latterly for then they got faster hold of my Conscience And then if I did but think of going back to sin though my mind was turned against it it would be double torment to me Chr. And how dâ—…dyou you do then Hopef. I thought I must endeavour to mend my lâ—…e for else thought I I am sure to be damned Chr. And did you indeavour to mend Hopef. Yes and flâ—…d from not only my sins but sinful Company too and betook me to Religious Duties as Praying Reading wâ—…eping for Sin speaking Truth to my Neighbours c. Thâ—…se things I did with many others too much hâ—…e to relate Chr. And did you think your self well
is sufficient for thee Then I said But Lord what is believing And then I saw from that saying He thâ—… cometh to me shâ—…l never hunger and 〈◊〉 that believeth on 〈◊〉 shall never thirst That believing and coming was all one and that he that came that is run out in his heart and affections after salvation by Christ he indeed believed in Christ. 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 me I will in no wise cast out 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 Jesus 〈◊〉 into the World to save sinners He is the 〈◊〉 of the Law for righteousness to every one that believes He died for 〈◊〉 sins and rose again for our justification He loved us and washed us frâ—… our siâ—…s in his own blood He is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 between God and us He ever liâ—… to 〈◊〉 intercession for us 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 Fathers 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 hâ—…d upon your spirit Hopef. 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 justifie the coming sinner It made me greatly ashamed of the vileness of my former life and confounded me with the sence of mine own Ignorance for there never came thought into mine heart before now that shewed 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 Yea I thought that had I now a thousand gallons of blood in my body I could spill it all for the sake of the Lord Jesus I then saw 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 lâ—…reth behind Chr. Ay Ay I see him he careth not for our Company Hopef. But I tro it would not have hurt him had he kept pace with us hitherto Chr. That 's true but I 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 Igno. I take my pleasure in walking alone even more a great deal then in Company unless I like it the better Then said Christian to Hopeful but softly Did I not tell you he cared â—…t for our Company But however 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 al ways â—…ull of good motions that come into my mind to comfort me as I walk Chr. What good motions pray tell us Ignor. Why I think of God and Heaven Chr. So do the Devils and damned Souls Ignor. But I think of them and desire them Chr. So do many that are never like to come there The Soul of the Sluggard desires and hath nothing Ignor. But I think of them and leave all for them Chr. That I doubt for leaving of all is an hard matter yea a harder matter then many are aware of But why or by what art thou perswaded that thou hast left all for God and Heaven Ignor. My heart tells me so Chr. The wise man sayes He that trusts his own heart is a fool 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 the hopes of Heaven Chr. That may be through its deceitfulness for a mans heart may 〈◊〉 ster comfort to him in the hopes of that thing for which he yet has no ground to hope Ignor. But my heart and life agree together and therefore my hope is well grounded Chr. Who told thee that thy heart and life agrees together Ignor. My heart tells me so Chr. Ask 〈◊〉 Fellow if I be a Thief Thy heart tells thee so Except the word of God beareth witness in this matter other Testimony is of no value Ignor. But is it not a good heart that has good thoughts And is not that a good liâ—…e that is according to Gods Commandments Chr. Yes That is a good heart that hath good thoughts and that is a good life that is according to Gods Commandments But it is one thing indeed to have 〈◊〉 and another thing only to think so Ignor. Pray what count you good thoughts and a life according to Gods Commandments Chr. There are good thoughts of divers kinds some respecting our selves 〈◊〉 God some Christ and some other things Ignor. What be good thoughts respecting our selves Chr. Such as agree with the Word of God Ignor. When does our thoughts of our selves agree with the Word of God Chr. When we pass the same Judgement upòn our selves whâ—…ch the Word passes To explain my self The Word of God saith of persons in a natâ—…ral condition There is none Righteous there is none that doth good It saith also That every imagination of the heart of man is only evil and that continually And again The imagination of mans heart is evil from his Youth Now then when we think thus of our selves â—…aving sense thereof then are our thoughts good ones because according to the Word of Gâ—…d Ignor. I will never believe that my heart is thus bad Chr. Therefore thou never badst one good thought concerning thy self in thy life But let me go on As the Word passeth a 〈◊〉 upon our HEART so it 〈◊〉 a Judgement upon 〈◊〉 WAYS and when our thoughts of our HEARTS and WAYS agree with the Judgmâ—…nt which the Wâ—…rd giveth of both then are both good because agreeing thereto Ignor. Make out your meaning Chr. Why the Word of God saith That mans ways are crooked ways not good but perverse It saith they are naturally out of the good way that they have not known it Now when 〈◊〉 man thus thinketh of his ways I say when 〈◊〉 doth sensibly and with heaâ—…d-â—…militation thus think then hath 〈◊〉 good thoughts of his own ways because his thoughts now
agree with the judgment of the Word of God Ignor. What are good thoughts concerning God Chr. Even as I have said concerning our selves when our thoughts of God do agree with what the Word saith of him And that is when we think of his 〈◊〉 and Attributâ—…r at the Word hath taught Of which I cannot now discourse at large But to speak of him with reference to us Then we have right thoughts of God when we think that he knows us better then we know our selves 〈◊〉 can see 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 when and where we can see none in our selves when we think he knows 〈◊〉 in-most thoughts and 〈◊〉 our heart with all its depths is alwayes open unto his eyes Also when we think that all our Righteousness 〈◊〉 in his Nostrils and that therefore 〈◊〉 cannot abide to see us stand before â—…im in any confidence even of all our best performances Ignor. Do you think that I am such a fool as to think God can see no further then I or that I would come to God in the best of my performances Chr. Why how dost 〈◊〉 think on this matter Ignor. Why to be short I think I must believe in Christ for Justification Chr. How think thou 〈◊〉 believe in Christ when thou seest not thy need of him Thou neither seest thy original or actual 〈◊〉 but hast such an opinion of thy self and of 〈◊〉 thou doest as plainly renders thee to be one that did never ses a necessity of Christs personal righteousness to justifie thee before God How then dost thou say I believe in Christ Ignor. I believe well enough for all that Chr. How doest thou believe Ignor. I believe that Christ died for sinners and that I shall be justified before God from the curse through his gracious acceptance of my obedience to his Law Or thus Christ makes my Duties that are Roligious acceptable to his Father by vertue of his Merits and so shall I be justified Chr. Let me give an answer to this confession of thy faith 1. Thou believest with a Fantastical Faith for this faith is no where described in the Word 2. Thou believest with a False Faith because it taketh Justification from the personal righteousness of Christ and applies it to thy own 3. This faith maketh not Christ a Justifier of thy person but of thy actions and of thy person for thy actions sake which is false 4. Therefore this faith is deceitful eâ—…en such as will leave thee under wrath in the day of God Almi â—…ty For true Justifying Faâ—…th puts the soul as sensible of its lost condition by the Law upon flying for refuge unto Christs righteousness Which righteousness of his is not an act of grace by which he maketh for Justification thy obedience acâ—…epted with God but his personal obedience to the Law in doing and suffering for us what that required at our hands This righteousness I say true faith accepteth under the skirt of which the soul being shrouded and by it presented as spotless before God it is accepted and acquit from condemnation Ignor. What! would you have us trust to what Christ in his own person has done without us This conceit would loosen the reines of our lust and tollerate us to live as we list For what matter how we live if we may be Justified by Christs personal righteousness from all when we believe it Chr. Ignorance is thy name and as thy name is so art thou even this thy answer demonstrateth what I say Ignorant thou art of what Justifying righteousness is and as ignorant how to secure thy soul through the faith of it from the heavy wrath of God Yea thou also art ignorant of the true effects of saving faith in this righteousness of Christ which is to bow and win over the heart to God in Christ to love his Name his Word Ways and People and not as thou ignorantly imaginest Hop Ask him if ever he had Christ revealed to him from Heaven Ignor. What! you are a man for revelations I believe that what both you and all the rest of you say about that matter is but the fruit of distracted braines Hop Why man Christ is so hid in God from the natural apprehensions of all flesh that he cannot by any man be savingly known unless God the Father reveals him to them Ignor. That is your faith but not mine yet mine I doubt not is as good as yours Though I have not in my head so many whimzies as you Chr. Give me leave to put in a word You ought not so slightly to speak of this matter for this I will boldly affirm even as my good ComCompanion hath done that no man can know Jesus Christ but by the Reâ—… of the Father yea and saith too by which the soul layeth hold upon Christ if it be right must be wrought by the exceeding greatness of his mighty power the working of which faith I perceive poor Ignorance thou art ignorant of Be awakened thâ—…n see thine own wretchedness and flie to the Lord Jesus and by his righteousness which is the righteousness of God for he himsâ—…lf is God thou shalt be deliâ—… from condâ—…mnation Igno. You go so fast I cannot keep pace with you do you go on before I must stay a while behind Well Ignorance wilt thou yet foolish be To flight good Counsel ten times given thee And if thou yet refuse it thou shalt know Ere long the evil of thy doing so Remember man in time stoop do not fear Good Counsel taken well saves there sore hear But if thou yet shalt slight it thou will be The loser Ignorance 〈◊〉 warrant 〈◊〉 Chr. Well come my good Hopeful I perceive that thou and I must walk by our selves again So I saw in my Dâ—…eam that they went on a pace before and Iâ—…norance he came hobling after Then said Christian to his companion It pâ—…ties me much for this poor man it will certainly go ill with him at last Hope Aâ—…as there are abundance in our Town in his condition whole Families â—…ea whole Streets and that of Pilgrims too and if there be so many in our parts how many think you must there be in the place where he was born Chr Indeed the Word saith He hath blinded their eyes lest they should see c. But now we are by our selves what do you think of such men Have they at no time think you convictions of sin and so consequently fears that their state is dangerous Hopef. Nay do you answer that question your self for you are the elder man Chr. Then I say sometimes as I think they may but they being naturally ignorant understand not that such convictions tend to their good and therefore they do desperately seek to stifle them and presumptuously continue to flatter themselves in the way of their own hearts Hopef. I do believe as you say that fear tends much to Mens good and to make them right at their beginning to go on Pilgrimage Chr.
Without all doubt it dot 〈◊〉 if it be right for so says the word The fear of thâ—… Lord is the beginning of Wisdom Hopef. How will you describe right fear Chr. True or right fear is discovered by three things 1. By its rise It is caused by saving convictions for sin 2. It driveth the soul to lay fast hold of Christ for Salvation 3. It begetteth and continueth in the soul a great reverence of God his word and ways keeping 〈◊〉 tender and making it afraid to turn from them to the right hand or to the left to any thing that may dishonour God break its peace grieve the Spirit or cause the Enemy to speak reproachfully Hopef. Well said I believe you have said the truth Are we now almost got past the Inchanted ground Chr. Why are you weary of this discourse Hopef. No verily but that I would know where we are Chr. We have not now above two Miles further to go thereon But let us return to our matter Now the Ignorant know not that such convictions that tend to put them in fear are for their good and therefore they seek to stifle them Hopef. How do they seek to stifle them Chr. 1. They think that those fears are wrought by the Devil though indeed they are wrought of God and thinking so they resist them as things that directly tend to their overthrow 2. They also think that these fears tend to the spoiling of their faith when alas for them poor men that they are they have none at all and therefore they harden their hearts against them 3. They presume they ought not to fear and therefore in despite of them wax presumptuously confident 4. They see that these 〈◊〉 tend to take away from them theâ—… pitiful old self-holiness and therefore they resist them with all their might Hope I know something of this my self for before I knew my self it was so with me Chr. Well we will leave at this tim eour Neighbour Ignorance by him-himself and fall upon another profit able question Hopef. With all my heart but you shall still begin Chr. Well then Did you not know about ten years ago one Temporary in your parts who was a forward man in Religion then Hope Know himâ—… Yes he dwelt in Graceless a Town about two miles off of Honesty and he dwelt next door to one Turn-back Chr. Right he dwelt under the saâ—… roof with him Well that man was much awakened once I believe that then he had some fight of his sins and of the wages that was 〈◊〉 thereto Hâ—…e I am of your mind for my Hâ—…se not being above three mileâ—… from him he would ost times come to me and that with many tears Truly I pitied the man and was not altogether without hope of him 〈◊〉 one may 〈◊〉 it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one that cries Lorâ—… 〈◊〉 Chr. He told me 〈◊〉 That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 resolved to go on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but all of a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Hope Now 〈◊〉 we are 〈◊〉 about him let us a little enquire into the reason of the 〈◊〉 backâ—…ding of him and such others Chr. It 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 proâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yoâ—… 〈◊〉 Hope Well then there are in my judgement four reasons for it 1. Though the 〈◊〉 of such 〈◊〉 are awakenâ—…d yet their 〈◊〉 are not changed thereâ—… when the powâ—… of guilt 〈◊〉 away that which provoked them to be Religious ceaseth Wherefore they 〈◊〉 turn to their own course again even 〈◊〉 we see the Dog that is sick of what he hath eaten so 〈◊〉 as his sickness 〈◊〉 he vomits and 〈◊〉 up all not that he doth this of a free mind if we may say a Dog has a mind but because it troubleth his Stomach but now 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 over and so his Stomach eased his desires being not at all alienate from his vomit he turns him about and licks upall And so it is true which is written The Dog is turned to his own vomit again This I say being hot for Heaven by virtue only of the sense and fear of the torments of Hell as their sense of Hell and the fears of damnation chills and cools so their desires for Heaven and Salvation cool also So then it comes to pass that when their guilt and fear is gone their desires for Heaven and Happiness die and they return to their course again 2ly Another reason is They have slavish fears that do over-master them I speak now of the fears that they have of men For the fear of mâ—…n bringeth a snare So then though they seem to be hot for Heaven so long as the flames of Hell are about their ears yet when that terrour is a little over they betake themselves to second thoughts namely that 't is good to be wise and not to run for they know not what the hazard of loosing all or at least of bringing themselves into unavoidable and un-necessary troubles and so they fall in with the world again 3ly The shame that attends Religion lies also as a block in their way they are proud and haughty and Religion in thâ—…ir eye is low and contemptible Therefore when they have lost their sense of Hell and wrath to come they return again to their former course 4ly Guilt and to meditate terrour are grievous to them they like not to see their misery before they come into it Though perhaps the sight of it first if they loved that sight might make them flie whither the righteous flie and are safe but because they do as I hinted before even shun the thoughts of guilt and terrour therefore when once they are rid of their awakenings about the terrors and wrath of God they harden their hearts gladly and chuse such ways as will harden them more and more Chr. You are pretty near the business for the bottom of all is for want of a change in their mind and will And therefore they are but like the Fellon that standeth before the Judge he quakes and trembles and seems to repent most heartily but the bottom of all is the fear of the 〈◊〉 not of any detestation of the offence as is evident because let but this man have his liberty and he will be a Tâ—…ief and so a Rogue still whereas if his mind was changed he would be otherwise Hope Now I have shewed you the reasons of their going back do you shew me the manner thereof Chr. So I will willingly 1. They draw off their thoughts all that they may from the remembrance of God Death and Judgement to come 2. Then they cast off by degrees private Duties as Closet-Prayer curbing their lusts watching sorrow for sin and the like 3. Then they shun the company of lively and warm Christians 4. After that they grow cold to publick Duty as Hearing Râ—…ading Godly Confeâ—…ence and the like 5. Then they beginto pick holes as we say in the