248 IGNORANCE FERRIED OVER BY VAIN-HOPE.

"Enter ye into the joy of your Lord." I also heard the men themselves, that they sang with a loud voice, saying, "Blessing, honour, and glory, and power, be to him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever.”(a)—

Now, just as the gates were opened to let in the men, I looked in after them, and, behold, the city shone like the sun; the streets also were paved with gold; and in them walked many men with crowns on their heads, palms in their hands, and golden harps, to sing praises withal.

There were also of them that had wings, and they answered one another without intermission, saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord." And after that they shut up the gates: which when I had seen, I wished myself among them.

Now, while I was gazing upon all these things, I turned my head to look back, and saw Ignorance come up to the river side: but he soon got over, and that without half that difficulty which the other two men met with. For it happened that there was then in that place one Vain-hope,* a ferry-man, that with his boat helped him over: so he, as the other I saw, did ascend the hill, to come up to the gate; only he came alone; neither did any man meet him with the least encouragement. When he was come up to the gate, he looked up to the writing that was above, and then began to knock, supposing that entrance should have been quickly administered to him: but he was asked by the man that looked over the top of the gate, "Whence come you? and what would you have?" He answered, “I have eat and drank, in the presence

* Vain-hope ever dwells in the bosom of fools, and is ever ready to assist Ignorance. He wanted him at the last, and he found him. He had been his companion through life, and will not forsake him in the hour of death. You see Ignorance had no bands in his death; no fears, doubts, and sorrows, no terror from the enemy, but all appeared serene and happy. Vain-hope was his ferry-man, and he, as the good folks say, died like a lamb; ah, but did such lambs see what was to follow, when Vain-hope had wafted them over the river, they would roar like lions.

(a) Rev. v. 13, 14,

IGNORANCE IS CARRIED BACK TO HELL.

249

Then

of the King, and he has taught in our streets.' they asked him for his certificate, that they might go in and show it to the King:-So he fumbled in his bosom for one, and found none. Then said they, You have none: but the man answered never a word. So they told the King, but he would not come down to see him, but commanded the two shining ones, that conducted Christian and Hopeful to the city, to go out and take Ignorance, and bind him hand and foot, and have him away. Then they took him up, and carried him through the air to the door that I saw in the side of the hill, and put him in there. Then I saw that there was a way to hell, even from the gates of heaven, as well as from the city of Destruction.f-So I awoke, and beheld it was a dream.

Hence see, that ignorant, vain confident professors, may keep up a profession, even unto the end; yea, and maintain a self-righteous hope to the very last, without any internal operation of the Spirit upon their hearts, quickening them to a life of faith on the Son of God. Such when they are called upon for their certificate, find themselves destitute of one. They set out in nature, and have nothing more about them than what their natural notions furnish them with. Spiritual revelations of Christ to the heart, through faith in the word, they despised: and therefore, when searched to the bottom, behold they are speechless. They could talk of their moral powers, faithfulness in life, but they have not one word to say of precious Christ, and his full salvation; what he hath wrought in them, whereby he becomes altogether lovely in their eyes; and his truths, promises, and commands, the choice, the delight, and the glory of their hearts. O without this, the profession of being a pilgrim will end in awful delusion!

This is a most awful conclusion. Consider it deeply. Weigh it attentively, so as to get good satisfaction from the word, to these important ques. tions. Am I in Christ the way, the only way to the kingdom, or not? Do I see that all other ways, whether of sin or self-righteousness, leads to hell? does Christ dwell in my heart by faith? am I a new creature in him? do I renounce my own righteousness, as well as abhor my sins? do I look to Christ alone for mercy, and depend only on him for holiness? is he the only hope of my soul, and the only confidence of my heart? and do I desire to be found in him, knowing by the word, and feeling by the teaching of his Spirit, that I am totally lost in myself? Thus is Christ formed in me, the only hope of glory? Do I study to please him, as well as hope to enjoy him? Is fellowship with God the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, so prized by me, as to seek it and to esteem it above all things? If so, though I may find all things in nature, in the world, and from Satan continually opposing this, yet I am in Christ the way, and he is in me the truth and the life. I am one with him, and he is one with me.

THE CONCLUSION.

NOW Reader, I have told my dream to thee,
See if thou canst interpret it to me,

Or to thyself, or neighbour; but take heed
Of misinterpreting; for that, instead
Of doing good, will but thyself abuse;
By misinterpreting, evil ensues.

Take heed also that thou be not extreme,
In playing with the outside of my dream:
Nor let my figure or similitude

Put thee into a laughter, or a feud :

Leave this for boys and fools; but as for thee,

Do thou the substance of my matter see.

Put by the curtains, look within my veil,

Turn up my metaphors, and do not fail;

There, if thou seekest them, such things thou'lt find
As will be helpful to an honest mind.

What of my dross, thou findest here, be bold

To throw away, but yet preserve the gold.
What if my gold be wrapped up in ore?
None throw away the apple for the core.
But if thou shalt cast all away as vain,
I know not but 'twill make me dream again.

END OF THE FIRST PART.