and criminal amusements; how often you have drunk deep of the streams of sensual pleasure, not only contrary to my advice, but on purpose to get rid of my unwelcome company.

Sin. Oh the precious moments that I have murdered! The recollection of each plants a dagger in my bosom. What a fool have I been, to trifle, as I have done, upon the brink of eternal burnings! I cannot bear to hold my finger in the candle for one minute; how then can I bear the torments of the pit through the countless ages of eternity! Oh! that wordEternity! How it rings in my ears! Could I hope that the torments of the pit would ever have an end, the anticipation of them would be less intolerable! But who can dwell with the devouring fire? Who can inhabit everlasting burnings?

Then I saw that Sincere was in great agony of mind; and although he threw himself upon his bed, he found no rest, but spent the night in meditating terror, and looking frequently for the pit to open beneath him and swallow him up. And if he fell into a momentary slumber, he would presently start, and scream as if the fiends of the pit were already seizing him for their prey. In the morning he rose, and attempted to attend to some business; but his mind was so disturbed with the thoughts of his present situation, that he found it impossible. In the afternoon he resolved to go to his minister, Dr. Soothing, (for he belonged to his parish,) and obtain his instructions. and directions about setting out on pilgrimage, as he was determined to set out without any more delay. Accordingly, he went to the house of Dr. Soothing, who received him with great kindness, and inquired in the tenderest manner what was the cause of his distress.

Sincere. It is the fear, sir, of the wrath of the King, that makes me tremble. I see myself exposed to fall into the burning pit while I remain in this city; and I fear it is too late for me to escape. Do, sir, tell me if there is any hope that I yet escape from the wrath to come.

may

Dr. Soothing. There is every ground of hope that can be wished. If the King has given you a desire to escape, it is an evidence that he intends to gratify that desire. It gives me sincere pleasure to see you thus anxious for your safety, because I consider it an indication that the King has designs of mercy towards you. It is the King himself that has given you this view of your danger, and excited these desires to escape it; and where the King has begun a good work in any, he will carry it on.

Sin. But I have heard that it is necessary for me to repent of my sins, to enter in at the wicket-gate, and go on pilgrimage; and I fear I have not that repentance which is unto life.

Dr. S. Do you not desire to repent? and are you not greatly distressed to think of the folly and wickedness of your past life?

Sin. I am indeed greatly distressed to think that I have, by my own folly and wickedness, exposed myself to the wrath of the King; and I think I do sincerely desire to have that repentance which is necessary to my being delivered from the punishment to which I am exposed.

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Dr. S. He that desires to repent, does it already in some measure. And it must needs be very pleasing to the King to see you thus distressed, and grieving that you have offended him.

Sin. Your words are full of consolation, sir; and I think myself happy in having the privilege of your instructions. But I understand, sir, that I must leave the city and go on pilgrimage, if I would secure the favor of the King.

Dr. S. You must ultimately leave the city and go on pilgrimage; but you cannot go yet. You must wait the King's time. No one can enter the gate, which is at the head of the way, by any act of his own. The King must send a messenger to carry you through the gate. You must wait, therefore, the good pleasure of the King. All that you can do is, to reform your life, to use the means of obtaining the King's favor, and to remain in the city until he shall see fit to send his messenger to carry you through the gate. But if you faithfully persevere in the use of means, and in this way do what you can, antecedently to passing the gate, there is no fear but that the King will accomplish all the rest.

Sin. What are the means which I must use to obtain the King's favor?

Dr. S. You must pray to him, go constantly to church, read good books, and lead a strictly moral life.

Sin. Is it certain that if I use these means I shall obtain his favor?

Dr. S. Yes. For he has said, "Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

Then I observed that Sincere appeared to be greatly relieved from his distress; and though his countenance still had the appearance of deep thoughtfulness, it was evident that the conversation of Dr. Soothing had kindled a strong hope in his mind. So he went home, resolved to pursue the course pointed out to him by his minister, and to be very diligent in it, that he might not fail of success.

Upon this, I turned my attention again towards the gate, and saw Evangelist engaged in conversation with a man, whose

countenance indicated a sedate, but deeply anxious mind. So I drew near and listened to their discourse. Then said Evangelist to the man, whose name was Thoughtful:

Evangelist. What is the cause of your distress?

Thoughtful. I see that I am, indeed, a sinner, and that I am exposed to the wrath of the King.

Ev. You are, no doubt, a greater sinner than you are sensible of, and are justly condemned; but this is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that the Prince Immanuel came into the world to save sinners. Only comply with the prescribed conditions, and you may be delivered.

Th. What are the conditions which I must perform?

Ev. You must cordially justify the King and condemn yourself. You must remember your own evil ways, and your doings that have not been good, and loathe yourself in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations. You must approve of the method which the King has provided of bestowing pardon upon his rebellious subjects, through the atoning blood of the Prince Immanuel. In short, you must enter the gate, and walk in the narrow way that leads to life.

Th. I am convinced that the King is right, and that his sentence of condemnation upon me is just; for I have done nothing but rebel against him all the days of my life. But I find that it is one thing to be convinced of this in my conscience, and another thing to approve of it in my heart. I find my heart wholly opposed to the King, and to his law and government; and chiefly because he condemns me. If I could only be assured that he intends to show favor to me, I think I could love him; but while he condemns me, I cannot.

Ev. That is, you could love a sin-pardoning King, but not a sin-punishing King. And yet the King will pardon some and punish others. And he does perfectly right in both; and you ought to love him for doing right.

Th. I know I ought; but I do not; and this is my misery. For if I could only persuade myself that the King is unjust, it would be some support to me. I think I could bear up under the infliction of an unjust sentence; but, to be condemned by a just sentence, and to have no excuse, nor palliation of my conduct-to have no room to complain of the King-to have my own conscience condemn me: that is what I cannot bear. Under this, I feel my spirits wholly sink. Oh! what shall I do?

Ev. Submit yourself to the King. He has determined to pardon some, for the glory of his grace, and he has determined to punish others according to their deserts, for the glory of his justice. You know not which he has determined respecting you. But you know that his glory is of more importance than

your personal interest. Give up yourself into his hands, to be disposed of as he shall see best. Why should you wish the King to sacrifice his glory to secure your personal interest? His glory is of more importance than the interest of any creature; and he does right in making it his supreme object, and in disposing of every creature in that way which will best promote it.

Th. I know he does right in preferring his glory to my happiness. I know I deserve to perish forever. I know that I am altogether unreasonable and wicked in preferring my happiness to the glory of the King. Oh! what a vile creature I am! How glorious and excellent is the King, even in the execution of his threatenings! I deserve to be cast off: and if he does cast me off, he will be glorious in it, and I think I can praise him for it. How glorious is his mercy! how glorious is his justice! I will praise him for both. I will submit. I will put myself into his hands. "And if he thus say, I have no delight in thee, behold, here am I, let him do unto me as seemeth good unto him."

So saying, I beheld him enter the Wicket gate, with a composed countenance; and Goodwill said to him, “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." And observing in his hand a book which Evangelist had given him, he said, "Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me." "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." Then, having bid him call at the house of the Interpreter, where he should be more fully instructed in the King's statutes, he dismissed him to "Take on his way, saying,

heed that no man deceive you.'

go

So he went on his way, still keeping his book in his hand, and sometimes reading therein, and sometimes talking to him self, of the glorious character of the King, and of the might of his terrible acts. And presently I heard him sing:

"The Lord is God; 'tis he alone

Doth life, and breath, and being give;
We are his work, and not our own,
The sheep that on his pastures live.

"His truth and justice I'll proclaim;
His bounty flows an endless stream;
His mercy swift, his anger slow,
But dreadful to the stubborn foe.

"His works with sovereign glory shine,
And speak his majesty divine;
Let every realm with joy proclaim
The sound and honor of his name."

CHAPTER III.

WHILE Thoughtful thus went on with a moderate pace, observed another person coming after him, with a quicker step; and as he drew near, I perceived that Thoughtful knew him, and addressed him by name :

Thoughtful. How is this, neighbor Ardent? I understood that you had gone on pilgrimage long since.

Ardent. Oh, my friend, I can never be sufficiently thankful that I am here. I have been greatly deceived, and well nigh lost for ever.

Th. How did that happen? did you not take directions from Evangelist, and receive a book from him which contained a map of the way?

Ard. Yes. But I did not pay much regard to the directions of Evangelist, nor to the book which he gave me; for, to my shame be it spoken, I did not relish either.

Th. From whom then did you take directions?

Ard. From Mr. Blindguide. He goes about, you know, through our city and its suburbs, imitating Evangelist, and urging people to go on pilgrimage. Soon after I had heard Evangelist preach, and began to feel the danger of remaining in our city, I had an opportunity of hearing Mr. Blindguide, and was much better pleased with his preaching. So, after I had resolved to go on pilgrimage, being dissatisfied with the directions of Evangelist, which appeared to me exceedingly discouraging, I took an opportunity of speaking to Mr. Blind guide, from whom I hoped for something more agreeable.

Th. And what did he say to you?

Ard. He told me that the doctrines which Evangelist preached were gloomy and discouraging, and that it was no wonder that the inhabitants of our city disliked them. He said, that Evangelist gave such directions as were adapted to prevent people from setting out on pilgrimage, and likely to drive them to despair. And indeed, this was just as I had myself thought of them, and so I listened to him the more readily. So he told me that there was a way into the way, which was both