Christian passed through here in the night, and yet escaped without injury. Cheer up, brother. Only take heed to your steps, and trust in him who is able to save.

Ard. Oh, my brother, if I could trust in him, I know he is able to save. But I fear I never had any true faith in him. Those who got through in safety, of whom you speak, were true friends to the Lord of the way, and he delivered them by the strength of his arm. But I fear I never had any true regard for him, and that he will now cut me off, as Ĭ deserve, and cast me out of his sight, as an abominable branch. My sins stare me in the face. From yonder horrible pit, I hear the groanings of such as I, with whom I shall shortly have my portion.

Th. Well, brother, you must judge your own heart with yourself. I have taken you for a sincere friend to the Lord of the way; but I know that the judgment of man is a poor dependence. You may have deceived yourself, and I may have deceived myself, also. But this we know, brother, that our Lord and King will do us no injustice, if he does cast us off, and make us the monuments of his displeasure forever.

Ard. Oh no; he will do us no injustice. I deserve to perish; and if I do perish, he will be glorious forever. I think I rejoice in that.

Th. We know that it is written, "The Lord has made all things for himself; yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." He has made us for himself; and he will dispose of us as shall be most for his glory. And how suitable it is, that he should dispose of us as his glory requires. How unreasonable would it be for us to set up our own happiness as an object of more importance than his glory!

Ard. Oh yes; infinitely unreasonable. His glory is of more importance than my eternal salvation: and if one must be given up, he knows which is best; and I have nothing to say, if he thinks proper to reject me. I deserve to perish.

Th. We deserve to perish. But it is for his glory to save some, and to destroy others. He knows what is best, and will do what is best. He will save those whom it is for his glory to save; and he will destroy those whom it is for his glory to destroy. And ought we not to rejoice, that we, and all others are in the hands of one who knows how to dispose of us, for time and eternity, in the best possible manner?

Ard. We ought to rejoice to be in his hands, as the clay is in the hands of the potter. And I do rejoice that I am in his hands. And if he thus say, with respect to me, "I have no delight in thee; behold here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him."

Then I perceived that Ardent was greatly relieved in his mind, and they went on cheerfully, till they got past the mouth of the pit. Then said Ardent :

It was near this place that Christian was so confounded that he did not know his own voice, and mistook the blasphemous suggestions of the evil ones for the workings of his own heart. And I think I have just had something of the same nature, for it seemed as if some one whispered in my ear, "There is no Celestial City-all religion is a delusion-the King's book, as it is called, is a forgery-when we die, we shall perish like the brutes." Can you tell me, brother, what it means?

one.

Th. I conclude they must be the suggestions of the evil But take care that you do not make them your own, by entertaining them, and consenting to them in your heart. It is written, "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Ard. I do not think they are mine, for I abhor them. I do believe the King's book is true, for I have felt its power upon my heart, in such a way, as I think I never could have felt a mere forgery of men. But, since I have been troubled with such thoughts, I should like to converse with you a little upon the evidences we have that it is indeed the King's book.

Th. It is the word of the King, being written by his direction, or it is a forgery. If it is a forgery, it was made by good men, or by bad men. If it is a forgery, it could not have been the work of good men. Good men do not tell lies; but it is written in that book, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God-For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." If it is a forgery, then it was made by wicked men. Is not this plain?

Ard. Yes; but it is said, bad men might make such a book, to serve their own wicked purposes.

Th. Let those who say that, look into the book itself, and tell how such a book can be adapted to serve the purposes of wicked men. A book which condemns all dishonesty, and fraud, and hypocrisy; and teaches men to be honest and upright, even though they suffer for it; a book which requires us to do to others as we would that they should do to us, and forbids us to seek revenge of those that injure us; which requires us to bear patiently every injury and insult, and to return good for evil unto all men; such a book cannot be the work of wicked men, to serve their own wicked purposes. Its enemies themselves must admit, and are constrained to admit, that a universal compliance with its precepts would put an end to all wickedness, and promote the best happiness of mankind. Of

all the books which bad men have made, to serve their own wicked purposes, there is none like that, its enemies themselves being judges.

Ard. This argument seems to me conclusive; but there are many others, I suppose.

Th. Yes; the argument from prophecy is a good one, with those who have sufficient knowledge of history to feel its force. But some men are so ignorant that they are incapable of being benefited much by it.

Ard. How do you state the argument from prophecy?

Th. None but God can foretell future events. But the Old Testament does very particularly foretell many events, which have taken place exactly as they were foretold, long since the Old Testament was written. This proves that the Old Testament was from God. And the same is true of the New Testament. The argument from the miracles of Jesus Christ, and from his resurrection and ascension to heaven, is a conclusive one also.

Ard. How do you state that?

Th. It will not be denied by any man of the least acquaintance with the history of those times, that there were such men as the Apostles; and that they steadfastly affirmed that they saw the miracles they record, and especially, that they saw and conversed with Jesus after he had been crucified and buried; and that they saw him ascend towards heaven, till a cloud carried him out of their sight. Now, these men have told the truth, or they have not. If they have not told the truth, they were impostors who meant to deceive others, or they were themselves deceived. But they could not have been themselves deceived as to the miracles they affirm they saw, nor as to the fact of the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. The things they affirmed, then, were true, or they were deceivers. But if they were deceivers, they must have had some motive to act as they did. What motive could have induced them to sacrifice their goods, their liberty, and their lives, in affirming what they knew to be a falsehood, when they might have saved all by acknowledging the truth; and when, if they knew what they affirmed was false, they could have no hope of gaining any thing by such affirmation? No sufficient motive can be assigned. To suppose men to do as they did, in such circumstances, and to lay down their lives, not in support of a falsehood they believed to be true, but in support of what they knew to be false, would be more incredible than any of the miracles they record. No; they were not deceivers. They were honest men, and really saw what they say they did. And the facts respecting the life, and

death, and resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, are true; and the Gospel is true.

By this time, I perceived that they had got into that part of the valley which was full of snares, and traps, and nets, and pitfalls. But taking heed to their steps, they got along very well, till, at length, a dark cloud came over the sun, and a thick mist arose, so that they could not see. Now, they were hard put to it, and knew not what to do. But standing still, they cried unto him that is able to help, saying, "Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.' Then I perceived that the mist was soon dispersed, and the sun shone out again, so that they saw their way clearly. Then they said, "Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth, and with my song will I praise him." So they went on singing:

In this manner the pilgrims went on, till they had got out of the valley of the Shadow of Death, and came to that part of the road where Christian had seen the blood and bones of pilgrims who were formerly slain by the giants Pope and Pagan, who dwelt in a cave hard by. And as they approached the mouth of the cave, a genteel-looking man came out to

meet them, whose name was Free-thinking, and bowing to them, accosted them as follows:

Free-thinking. Your servant, gentlemen. I perceive, by your habit, that you are pilgrims. I am a friend to you, being equally a friend to all men. This cave was formerly occupied by the common enemies of the human race, by whom many were put to death, and many more held in the cruel bondage of tyranny and superstition. I have prevailed against these enemies of mankind, and have put an end to their cruelties. Pope is not, indeed, entirely dead; but I have bound him in chains, and keep him close prisoner in his own cave. Please to walk in, and gratify your eyes with a sight of your old enemy, and learn how much you are indebted to me for delivering you from his power.

Thoughtful. We acknowledge ourselves greatly indebted to the good providence of our Lord and King, for delivering us from the fear of persecution unto death for walking in his ways. Whatever instruments he has been pleased to make use of, to accomplish that object, our obligations to him are the same. And whenever he disposes any of our fellow-creatures to show kindness to us, we are willing to acknowledge our obligations to them also. Will you please to tell us your name, that we may know who it is that claims our gratitude at this time?

F. T. My name is Free-thinking. I have long been engaged in endeavoring to deliver mankind from the bondage of superstition, in all its forms. I have completely overcome this old enemy of religious freedom, and would gladly do you a further kindness; for I perceive you have still some superstitious notions. But, come in with me to my residence, that I may show you what I have done, and am still doing for the benefit of mankind; and may introduce you to some of my chosen friends. I have a goodly company of them now with me, who are all equally desirous with myself, of promoting religious freedom. Here is Voltaire, and Volney, and Hume, and Gibbon, and Paine, and Godwin, all champions in the cause; with many others who have distinguished themselves by their endeavors to deliver men from the tyranny of priestcraft and superstition, and secure to them the right of private judgment in matters of religion. We have strong claims upon the gratitude of mankind; and we expect our claims to be acknowledged.

Th. I have heard of you and your friends, and am not disposed to admit your high claims upon the gratitude of mankind. You have not only endeavored to destroy the tyranny of priestcraft and superstition; but, under that pretence, you have endeavored to destroy all religion, and rob mankind of