CHAPTER X.

Thoughtful. The times are much changed since the pilgrim Christian passed this way.

Prudence. They are, indeed, changed in many respects. Very few could go on pilgrimage then without exposing themselves to the loss of their goods, and many suffered bonds and imprisonments, and some even death itself.

Ard. All such dangers are past, I trust, forever.

Pr. Perhaps not forever. It is as true now, as then, that "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution." It is not persecution, indeed, in the same form now. Most civil governments now find it for their interest to protect the life, liberty, and property of their subjects, let their religious opinions and practices be what they may. But the same spirit of opposition to all true pilgrims, still exists, and is manifested in a great variety of ways.

Ard. But I suppose that the influence of true religion is now so extensively felt, and so rapidly increasing, that it would be impossible to bring any civil government to authorize a persecution for conscience' sake.

Pr. Perhaps it may be ascribed to this, in part. I think it is also to be ascribed, in part, to the change which has taken place in the views of civilized nations, in regard to the political rights of men. This change of views in regard to the political rights of men, may have been a consequence of the influence of real religion in former generations; and the effect may have remained where the cause has ceased. The advocates of licentiousness also, who have been so numerous within the last century, have found it for their interest to favor the cause of civil and religious liberty, at least, in profession, in order the better to forward their own designs. These things may account for there being now no persecutions unto death for conscience' sake, without supposing there is any less enmity of heart against true religion now, than there was in the days of the pilgrim Christian.

Ard. Do you think, then, that there is not now much more true religion in the world than there was then?

Pr. Perhaps there is. But, as religion of some kind is quite fashionable now, there may not be so much in reality as there is in appearance. Great numbers do indeed assume the pilgrim's dress and name, but many, by their walk, give reason

to fear that they are not true pilgrims. Our neighbors, who have set up the new house, and call themselves by our names, entertain many more than we do. If true religion has had some increase, as we hope it has, of late years, it is evident that false religion has had a great increase also. Several new denominations of errorists have sprung up, since Christian's time, which now number their thousands, and some their hundreds of thousands. And many of the children of those who were renowned pilgrims in those days, have been carried away with prevailing errors, and never call at our house. And some, who we hope are real pilgrims at heart, stay with us but a short time, and seem to be afraid to lay open their hearts

to us.

Ard. I had supposed that true religion was greatly on the increase, and that no period had been so distinguished as the present for revivals of religion.

Pr. Revivals of religion are probably more frequent at the present day, than they have been for many years before. And every genuine revival is an increase of true religion. But, as every single Christian grace has its counterfeit, so doubtless that collection of graces, which constitutes a revival of religion, may have its counterfeit also. And the more revivals of religion prevail, and the higher the esteem which is felt for them, the more is it to be apprehended that the great deceiver will employ his art in endeavoring to imitate them. It would not be safe, therefore, to conclude that every religious excitement is a genuine revival, any more than that all the money in circulation is genuine coin. But as counterfeits are never attempted where there is nothing genuine to be counterfeited, the frequent recurrence of what are called revivals, (though many of them should prove revivals of false religion,) affords reason to conclude there is an increase of true religion, as well as of false. And when we come to compare the fruits they produce, this conclusion receives additional confirmation; for the fruit of some of them is undeniably good.

Th. I perceive that it is necessary to distinguish the chaff from the wheat. But many complain of those who attempt to do so, as if they wished to destroy the wheat as well as the chaff.

Pr. Such complaints are highly unreasonable; and no prudent man would be deterred by them from carefully separating his wheat from the chaff before he lays it up in his granary for Those who wish to vend their chaff under the name of wheat, may indeed complain of such as attempt to distinguish them; but those who really value the wheat for its excellent quality, will wish to have it separated from every worthless

use.

material which which it may be mixed. Or, to use the other figure, none but those who have an interest in the circulation of counterfeit money will be likely to complain of those who try to assist the public in distinguishing the counterfeit from

the true.

Ard. I have not only supposed that true religion is greatly on the increase, but that it would continue to increase and prevail, till the whole world shall become true pilgrims, and that that happy day cannot be far distant.

Pr. The time is no doubt approaching, perhaps it is near at hand, when the knowledge of the Lord shall fill the earth, as the waters cover the sea. But there may be a dark and trying day for true pilgrims before the time arrives.

Ard. You surprise me. I thought the Church had seen her darkest days long since; and that there now remained but little for her to do, but to take possession of the whole earth as her own.

Pr. If you will look into the predictions contained in the King's book, of the introduction of those happy days, you will find that they are almost uniformly connected with terrible and wasting judgments upon the enemies of the King. If all are about to become his friends, where will be the enemies that are to be destroyed from off the earth?

Ard. I had not attended to that fact. I recollect, indeed, that the Prince Immanuel says, in one place, "the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come." But is it not promised to the Prince Immanuel, in the second Psalm, that he shall have the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession?

Pr. Yes, they are to be delivered into his hands to be disposed of at his pleasure. But what has he to do with them? It is said in the next verse, "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." And the 19th chapter of Revelation contains a descrip tion of a most terrible destruction of the enemies of Immanuel, in which so many are to perish, that all the fowls of heaven are to be filled with their flesh; which is immediately followed by the binding of Satan for a thousand years. In this description, it is said of the Prince Immanuel, "and out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations : and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." This passage seems to refer to the aforementioned Psalm, and also to a passage in the 63rd chapter of the Prophet Isaiah, which chapter contains the verse you mentioned. In that chapter the church asks, "Who is this that cometh from

Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength?" And Immanuel answers, "I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Again the Church asks, “Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the wine-fat?" And he answers, "I have trodden the wine-press alone; and of the people there was none with me; for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.” The chapters connected with this contain promises of the happy days of the Church, which are to be introduced by this terrible destruction of her enemies. The enemies of the Church then, and of the great Head of the Church, are to be very numerous in the time immediately preceding the day of millennial glory and are not to be converted, but destroyed in a most terrible manner.

Th. Is there reason to expect a further increase of error and false religion, in order to prepare the way for that appearance of the Prince Immanuel, so glorious in the eyes of his friends, so terrible to his enemies?

Pr. I think there is. Connected with the drying up of the river Euphrates, in order to prepare the way of the kings of the East, the beloved disciple says: "And I saw three unclean spirits, like frogs, come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." I take this to mean, that error, and delusion, and false religion are to prevail, in order to gather men to the battle of the great day.

Th. Are there any prophecies which speak expressly of the prevalence of error in the last times ?

Pr. Yes; there are many. The following are some of them. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women, laden with sins, led away with divers lusts: ever learning and never

able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: "For men of corrupt minds, reprobate, concerning the faith." the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 'Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils: speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron." "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days, scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."

Th. Is it not reasonable to expect, that if error thus prevails, it will be accompanied with a more violent opposition to the truth than now appears, and even a persecution of its friends to banishment and death?

Pr. I think it is not unreasonable to expect such a consequence. Whenever civil governments have persecuted, it has been under the pretence that those they so treated were enemies to the state. When the number of the friends of truth shall have become small, and error greatly prevails, it will not be strange if laws should be enacted which true Christians cannot conscientiously obey; and must therefore submit to their penalties, or flee for their lives.

Th. I remember that the mistresses of the new house, where we staid last night, boasted that many of the King's ambassadors were acting under their influence, and propagating their maxims. If this is true, it doubtless contributes very much to accelerate the progress of error.

Pr. It is to be feared that some, whom the King has sent forth, have been imposed upon by them, and fallen too much under their influence. And there is no doubt that very many who call themselves the King's ambassadors, are heartily engaged in the same cause with themselves.

Ard. It is greatly to be lamented that any who maintain the character of the true ambassadors of the King, should lend their influence, in any way, to the propagation of error. I trust they cannot do it to any great extent, or they would themselves discover their fault and reform.

Pr. Perhaps they do it more extensively than they themselves are aware of. By complying with the maxims of Carnal Policy, under the name of Prudence, they exert a powerful influence against the cause of truth in many ways. And if