The Man in the Fron Cage.

25

So he went in, and was clothed with such garments as they. Then Christian smiled, and said, I think verily I know the meaning

of this.

Now, said Christian, let me go hence. Nay, stay, said the Interpreter, till I have showed thee a little more, and, after that, thou shalt go on thy way. So he took him by the hand again, and led him into a very dark room, where there sat a man in an iron cage.

1

Now, the man, to look on, seemed very sad: he sat with his eyes looking down to the ground, his hands folded together, and he sighed as if he would break his heart. Then said Christian, What means this? At which the Interpreter bid him talk with the man.

Then said Christian to the man, What art thou? the man answered, I am what I was not once.

Chr. What wast thou once?

The man said, I was once a fair and flourishing professor, both in mine own eyes, and also in the eyes of others. I was once, as I thought, fair for the celestial city, and had even joy at the thoughts that I should get thither. (Luke viii. 13.)

Chr. Well, but what art thou now?

Man. I am now a man of Despair, and am shut up in it, as in this
I cannot get out; O! now I cannot.

iron cage.
Chr. But how camest thou into this condition?

Man. I left off to watch and be sober; I laid the reins upon the neck of my lusts; I sinned against the light of the word, and the goodness of God; I have grieved the Spirit, and he is gone; I tempted the Devil, and he is come to me; I have provoked God to anger, and he has left me; I have so hardened my heart, that I cannot repent.

Then said Christian to the Interpreter, But are there no hopes for such a man as this? Ask him, said the Interpreter.

Then said Christian, Is there no hope, but you must be kept in the iron cage of Despair?

Man. No, none at all.

Chr. Why? the Son of the Blessed is very pitiful.

1 The time spent in acquiring knowledge and sound judgment is far from lost, though it may seem to retard a man's progress, or interfere with his more active services; and the next emblen is admirably suited to teach the convert watchfulness and caution.

D

26

The Dream of Final Judgment.

Man. I have crucified him to myself afresh; I have despised his person; I have despised his righteousness; I have counted his blood an unholy thing; I have done despite to the Spirit of grace: therefore I shut myself out of all the promises; and there now remains to me nothing but threatenings, dreadful threatenings, faithful threatenings, of certain judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour me as an adversary. (Heb. vi. 6. Luke xix. 14. Heb. x. 28, 29.)

Chr. For what did you bring yourself into this condition?

Man. For the lusts, pleasures, and profits of this world; in the enjoyment of which I did then promise myself much delight; but now every one of those things also bite me, and gnaw me like a burning worm.

Chr. But canst thou not now repent and turn?

Man. God hath denied me repentance. His word gives me no encouragement to believe; yea, himself hath shut me up in this iron cage, nor can all the men in the world let me out! O Eternity! Eternity! How shall I grapple with the misery that I must meet with in eternity!

Then said the Interpreter to Christian, Let this man's misery be remembered by thee, and be an everlasting caution to thee.

Well, said Christian, this is fearful! God help me to watch and be sober, and to pray that I may shun the cause of this man's misery. Sir, is it not time for me to go on my way now?1

Int. Tarry till I shall show thee one thing more, and then thou shalt go on thy way.

So he took Christian by the hand again, and led him into a chamber, where there was one rising out of bed: and, as he put on his raiment, he shook and trembled. Then said Christian, Why doth this man thus tremble? The Interpreter then bid him tell to Christian the reason of his so doing. So he began and said, This night as I was in my sleep, I dreamed, and behold the heavens grew exceeding black; also it thundered and lightened in most fearful wise, that

1 Christian's discourse with the man in the iron cage sufficiently explains the author's meaning; but it has been often observed, that the man's opinion of his own case does not prove that it was indeed desperate.

The Dream of Final Judgment.

27

it put me into an agony. So I looked So I looked up in my dream, and saw the clouds rack at an unusual rate; upon which I heard a great sound of a trumpet, and saw also a Man sitting upon a cloud, attended with the thousands of heaven: They were all in flaming fire; also the heavens were on a burning flame. I heard then a great voice, say. ing, "Arise, ye dead, and come to judgment!" and with that the rocks rent, the graves opened, and the dead that were therein came forth: some of them were exceeding glad, and looked upward; and some sought to hide themselves under the mountains. Then I saw the Man that sat upon the cloud open the book, and bid the World draw near; yet there was, by reason of a fierce flame which issued out, and came before him, a convenient distance betwixt him and them, as betwixt the judge and the prisoners at the bar. I heard it also proclaimed to them that attended on the Man that sat on the cloud, "Gather together the tares, the chaff, and stubble, and cast them into the burning lake;" and with that the bottomless pit opened, just whereabout I stood; out of the mouth of which there came, in an abundant manner, smoke and coals of fire, with hideous noises. It was also said to the same persons, "Gather my wheat into the garner." And with that I saw many catched up, and carried away into the clouds; but I was left behind. I also sought to hide myself, but I could not; for the Man that sat upon the cloud still kept his eye upon me. My sins also came into my mind, and my conscience did accuse me on every side. Upon this I awakened from my sleep. (1 Cor. xv. 1 Thes. iv. Jude ver. 15. John v. 28. 2 Thes. i. 8. Rev. xx. 11-14. Isaiah xxvi. 21. Micah vii. 16, 17. Psalm v. 4, 5. Mal. iii. 2, 3. Dan. vii. 9, 10. Matt. iii. 12. and xiii. 30. Mal. v. 1. Luke iii. 17. 1 Thes. iv. 16, 17. Rom. ii. 14, 15.)

Chr. But what was it that made you so afraid of this sight? Man. Why, I thought that the Day of Judgment was come, and that I was not ready for it: But this frighted me most, that the Angels gathered up several, and left me behind; also the Pit of Hell opened her mouth just where I stood. My conscience, too, afflicted me; and, as I thought, the Judge had always his eye upon me, showing indignation in his countenance.

Then said the Interpreter to Christian, Hast thou considered all these things?