The king, who knew the thoughtless temper of the travellers, and how apt they were to forget their journey's end, had thought of a thousand little kind attentions to warn them of their dangers. And as we sometimes see in our gardens written on a board in great letters, BEWARE OF SPRING GUNS-TRAPS ARE SET HERE : so had this king caused to be written and stuck up before the eyes of the travellers, several like notices and cautions, such as broad is the way that leadeth to destruction-Take heed lest ye also perish-Woe to them that rise up early to drink wine-The pleasures of sin are but for a season, &c. Such were the notices directed to the broad way travellers, but they were so busily engaged in plucking the flowers, sometimes before they were blown, and in devouring the fruits, often before they were ripe, and in loading themselves with yellow clay, under the weight of which millions perished, that they had no time so much as to look at the king's directions. Many went wrong, because they preferred a merry journey to a safe one, and were terrified by certain notices, chiefly intended for the narrow-way travellers, such as, ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; but had these foolish people allowed themselves time or patience to read to the end, which they seldom would do, they would have seen these comfortable words added, but your sorrows shall be turned into joy, also, your joy no man taketh from you, and they that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

Now I also saw in my dream, that many travellers, who had a strong dread of ending at the land of misery, walked up to the Strait Gate, hoping, that though the entrance was narrow, yet if they could once get in, the road would widen; but what was their grief when on looking more closely, they

saw written on the inside, narrow is the way; this made them take fright, they compared the inscriptions with which the whole way was lined, such as be ye not conformed to this world—deny yourselves —take up your cross, with all the tempting pleasures of the wilderness. Some indeed recollected the fine descriptions they had read of the happy land, the golden city, and the rivers of pleasure, and they sighed but then, those joys were distant, and from the faintness of their light, they soon got to think that what was remote might be uncertain, and while the present good increased in bulk by its nearness, the distant good receded, diminished, disappeared! Their faith failed, they would trust no farther than they could see; they drew back and got into the broad-way, taking a common but sad refuge in the number and gaiety of their companions. When these faint-hearted people, who yet had set out well, turn ed back, their light was quite put out, and then they became worse than those who had made no attempt to get in. For it is impossible, that is, it is next to impossible, for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance.

A few honest humble travellers, not naturally stronger than the rest, but strengthened by their trust in the king's word, came up by the light of their lamps, and meekly entered in at the Strait Gate; as they advanced farther, they felt less heavy, and though the way did not in reality grow wider, yet they grew reconciled to the narrowness of it, especially when they saw the walls here and there studded with certain jewels, called promises, such as he that endureth to the end shall be saved. And

my grace is sufficient for you. Some, when they were almost ready to faint, were encouraged by seeing that many niches in the narrow-way were filled with statues and pictures of Saints and Martyrs, who had borne their testimony at the stake, that the narrow-way was the safe way; and these travellers, instead of sinking at the sight of the painted wheel and gibbet, the sword and the furnace, were animated by these words written under them, those that wear white robes came out of great tribulation; and, be ye followers of those, who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises.

In the mean time, there came a great multitude of travellers, all from Laodicea; this was the largest party I had yet seen; these were neither hot nor cold, they would not give up future hope, they could not endure present pain; so they contrived to deceive themselves by fancying that they resolved to keep the happy land in view, yet that there must needs be many different ways which led to it, no doubt all equally sure, without being all equally rough; so they set on foot little contrivances to attain the end without using the means, and softened down the spirit of the king's directions, to fit them to their own practice. Sometimes they would split a direction in two, and only use that half which suited them. For instance, when they met with the following rule-Trust in the Lord and be doing good, they would take the first half, and make themselves easy with a general sort of trust, that through the mercy of the king all would go well with them, though they themselves did nothing; and on the other hand, many made sure that a few good works of their own would do their business, and carry them safely to the happy land, though they did not trust

in the Lord, nor place any faith in his word. Thus, some perished by a lazy faith, and others by a working pride. A large party of Pharisees now appeared, who had so neglected their lamp, that they did not see their way at all, though they fancied themselves to be full of light; they kept up appearances so well as to delude others, and most effectually to delude themselves with a notion that they might be found in the right way at last. In this dreadful delusion they went on to the end, and till they were finally plunged in the dark valley, never discovered the horrors which awaited them on the dismal shore. It was remarkable, that while these Pharisees were often boasting how bright their light burnt, in order to get the praise of men, the humble travellers, whose steady light showed their good works to others, refused all commendation, and the brighter their light shined before men, so much the more they insisted that they ought to glorify not themselves, but their Father which is in Heaven.

I now set myself to observe what was the particular let, molestation, and hindrance, which obstructed particular travellers in their endeavors to enter in at the Strait Gate. I remarked a huge portly man who seemed desirous of getting in, but he carried about him such a vast provision of bags full of gold, and had on so many rich garments, which stuffed him out so wide, that though he pushed and squeezed, like one who had really a mind to get in, yet he could not possibly do so. Then I heard a voice crying, woe to him that loadeth himself with thick clay. The poor man felt something was wrong, and even went so far as to change some of his more cumbersome vanities into others which seemed less bulky, but still he and his pack were

much too wide for the gate. He would not, however, give up the matter so easily, but began to throw away a little of the coarser part of his baggage, but still I remarked that he threw away none of the vanities which lay near his heart. He tried again, but it would not do; still his dimensions were too large. He now looked up and read these words, how hardly shall those who have riches enter into the Kingdom of God. The poor man sighed to find it was impossible to enjoy his fill of both worlds, and went away sorrowing. If he ever afterwards cast a thought towards the happy land, it was only to regret that the road which led to it was too narrow to admit any but the meagre children of want, who were not so encumbered by wealth as to be too big for the passage. Had he read on, he would have seen that with God all things are possible.

Another advanced with much confidence of success, for having little worldly riches or honors, the gate did not seem so strait to him. He got to the threshold triumphantly, and seemed to look back with disdain on all that he was quitting. He soon found, however, that he was so bloated with pride, and stuffed out with self-sufficiency, that he could not get in. Nay, he was in a worse way than the rich man just named; for he was willing to throw away some of his outward luggage, whereas this man refused to part with a grain of that vanity and self-applause which made him too big for the way. The sense of his own worth so swelled him out, that he stuck fast in the gateway, and could neither get in nor out. Finding now that he must cut off all those big thoughts of himself if he wished to be reduced to such a size as to pass the gate, he gave up all thoughts of it. He scorned that- humility and self