The excellent

them; and of him it is said,The sword of him Leviathan's that layeth at him cannot hold; the sturdiness. spear, the dart, nor the habergeon: he esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee; sling stones are turned with him into stubble. Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.' Job xli. 26-29. What can a man do in this case? It is true, if a man could, at every turn, have Job's horse, and had skill and courage to ride him, he might do notable things; for his neck is clothed with thunder, he will not be afraid of mettle that is the grasshopper; the glory of his nostrils is terrible; he paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength, he goeth on to meet the armed men. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted, neither turneth he back from the sword. The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear, and the shield. He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage, neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha! and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.' Job xxxix. 19–25.

in Job's horse.

But for such footmen as thee and I are, let us never desire to meet with an enemy, nor vaunt as if we could do better, when we hear of others that they have been foiled, nor be tickled at the thoughts of our own manhood; for such commonly come by the worst when tried. Witness Peter, of whom I made mention before. He would swagger, aye, he would; he would, as his vain mind prompted him to say, do better, and stand more for his Master than all men; but who so foiled, and run down by these villains, as he ??

When, therefore, we hear that such robberies are done on the King's highway, two things become us to do: 1. To go out harnessed, and to be sure to take a shield with us; for it was for want of that, that he that laid so lustily at Leviathan could not make him yield; for, indeed, if that be want

1 If we saw our own weakness, we should never court dangers, nor run in the way of temptation; yet, if our temptations be ever so sharp and strong, and our dangers ever so great, if the Lord is our strength, we need not fear.—(J. B.) > From this sweet and edifying conversation, learn not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think; but to think soberly, according to the measure of faith which God hath dealt to you. Ro. xii. 3. Now, it is of the very essence of faith to lead us out of all self-confidence and vain vaunting. For we know not how soon Faint-heart, Mistrust, and Guilt may spring up in us, and rob us of our comforts, and spoil our joys. (Mason.)

Instead of saying, Though all men deny thee, yet will not I,' it behoves us to use all means of grace diligently, and to be instant in prayer, that the Lord himself may protect us by his power, and animate us by his presence, and then only shall we be enabled to overcome both the fear of man and the temptations of the devil.-(Scott.)

4 But how contrary to this is the walk and conduct of some who profess to be pilgrims, and yet can wilfully and deliberately go upon the devil's ground, and indulge themselves in carnal

3

2. It is good, also, that we desire of the King a convoy, yea, that he will go with It is good to us himself. This made David rejoice have a convoy. when in the Valley of the Shadow of Death; and Moses was rather for dying where he stood, than to go one step without his God. Ex. xxxiii. 15. O my brother, if he will but go along with us, what need we be afraid of ten thousands that shall set themselves against us? Ps. iii. 5–8; xxvii. 1–8. But, withcut him, the proud helpers fall under the slain.'

Is. x. 4.

I, for my part, have been in the fray before now; and though, through the goodness of him that is best, I am, as you see, alive; yet I cannot boast of my manhood. Glad shall I be, if I meet with no more such brunts; though, I fear, we are not got beyond all danger. However, since the lion and the bear have not as yet devoured me, I hope God will also deliver us from the next uncircumcised Philistine. Then sang Christian

Poor Little-faith! Hast been among the thieves?
Wast robb'd? Remember this, whoso believes,
And gets more faith, shall then a victor be

way.

Over ten thousand, else scarce over three. So they went on, and Ignorance followed. They went then till they came at a place where they saw a way put itself into their way, Away, and a and seemed withal to lie as straight as the way which they should go; and here they knew not which of the two to take, for both seemed straight before them; therefore, here they stood still to consider. And as they were thinking about the way, behold a man, black of flesh, but covered with a very light robe, came to them, and asked them why they stood there. They answered, they were going to the

5

The flatterer finds them.

pleasures and sinful diversions! Such evidently declare in plain language, that they desire not the presence of God, but that he should depart from them; but a day will come which will bring on terrible reflections of mind for such things.— (Mason.)

Mr. Ivimey's opinion is, that this way which put itself into their way,' and the flatterer, relates to Autinomianism. Of this I can form no accurate judgment, never having met with an Antinomian, or one who professed to be against the law of God. I have met with those who consider that believers are bound to prefer the law of God as revealed by Jesus Christ, in Mat. xxii. 37-40, to be their rule of life, instead of limiting themselves to the law of God as given by Moses, in Ex. xx.; but it has been for this reason, that the law proclaimed by Christ unites in it the law given by Moses, and ALL the law and the prophets. This law, as given by Christ, is in a few words of beautiful simplicity, which can neither be misunderstood nor be forgotten. Mason says, 'It is plain the author means the way of self-righteousness,' into which the flatterer enticed the pilgrims, out of the Scripture highway to heaven, in the righteousness of Christ. When ministers differ, private Christians must think for themselves. My judgment goes with Mr. Mason.-(ED.) This

Christian and

luded.

Celestial City, but knew not which of these ways to take. Follow me, said the man, it is thither that I am going. So they followed his fellow de- him in the way that but now came into the road, which by degrees turned, and turned them so from the city that they desired to go to, that, in little time, their faces were turned away from it; yet they followed him. But by and by, before they were aware, he led them both within the compass They are taken of a net, in which in a net. they were both so entangled, that they knew not what to do; and with that the white robe fell off the black man's back. Then they saw where they were. Wherefore, there they lay crying some time, for they could not get themselves out.1 CHR. Then said Christian to his fellow, Now do They bewail I see myself in an error. Did not the their condition. Shepherds bid us beware of the flatterers? As is the saying of the wise man, so we have found it this day, A man that flattereth his neighbour, spreadeth a.net for his feet.' Pr.

xxix. 5.

comes to them

HOPE. They also gave us a note of directions about the way, for our more sure finding thereof; but therein we have also forgotten to read, and have not kept ourselves from the paths of the destroyer. Here David was wiser than we; for, saith he, Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips, I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.' Ps. xvii. 4. Thus they lay bewailing themselves in the net. At last they espied A shining one a Shining One coming towards them, with a whip of small cord in his hand. When he was come to the place where they were, he asked them whence they came, and what they did there. They told him that they were poor pilgrims going to Zion, but were led out of their way by a black man, clothed in white, who bid us, said they, follow him, for he was going thither too. Then said he with the whip, It is Flatterer, a false apostle, that hath transformed himself into an angel of light. Pr. xxix. 5. Da. xi. 32. 2 Co. xỉ. 13, 14. So he rent the net, and let the men

with a whip in his hand.

way, which seemed as straight as the right way, and in entering on which there was no stile to be passed, must denote some very plausible and gradual deviation from the simplicity of the gospel, in doctrine or practice. If, in such a case, instead of a personal prayerful searching the Scripture, we rely upon the opinion of our friends, and listen to the flatterer, we shall certainly be misled.-(Scott.)

Luther was wont to caution against the white devil as much as the black one; for Satan transforms himself into au angel of light, and his ministers as ministers of righteousness. 2 Co. xi. 14, 15. And how do they deceive souls? By flattery. Leading poor sinners into a fine notion of some righteous character they have in themselves, what great advances they have made, and what high attainments they have arrived to, even to be perfect in themselves, to be free from sin, and full of nothing but love. These are black men clothed in white. -(Mason.)

of

out. Then said he to them, Follow me, that I may set you in your way again. So he led the back to the way which they had left to follow the Flatterer. Then he asked them, saying, Where did you lie the last night? They said, They are exWith the Shepherds, upon the Delect-amined, and able Mountains. He asked them then, forgetfuluess. if they had not of those Shepherds a note of direction for the way. They answered, Yes. But did you, said he, when you were at a stand, pluck out and read your note? They answered, No. He asked them, Why? They said, they forgot. He asked, moreover, if the Shepherds did not bid them beware of the Flatterer. They Deceivers fine answered, Yes, but we did not imagine, spoken. said they, that this fine-spoken man had been he." Ro. xvi. 18.

their way.

on

Then I saw in my dream, that he commanded them to lie down; which, when they They are whipt, did, he chastised them sore, to teach and sent them the good way wherein they should walk, De. xxv. 2; and as he chastised them, he said, 'As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent.' Re. iii. 19. 2 Ch. vi. 26, 27. This done, he bid them go on their way, and take good heed to the other directions of the Shepherds. So they thanked him for all his kindness, and went softly along the right way, singing

Come hither, you that walk along the way;
See how the pilgrims fare that go astray!
They catched are in an entangling net,
'Cause they good counsel lightly did forget:
"Tis true, they rescued were, but yet you see,

They're scourg'd to boot. Let this your caution be.

Now, after a while, they perceived, afar off, one coming softly and alone, all along the highway to meet them. Then said Christian to his fellow, Yonder is a man with his back toward Zion, and he is coming to meet us.

HOPE. I see him, let us take heed to ourselves now, lest he should prove a flatterer also. So he drew nearer and nearer, and at last came up unto them. His name was meets them.

The Atheist

2 By this shining one understand the loving Lord the Holy Ghost, the leader and guide of Christ's people. When they err and stray from Jesus the way, and are drawn from him as the truth, the Spirit comes with his rod of conviction and chastisement, to whip souls for their self-righteous pride and folly, back to Christ, to trust wholly in him, to rely only on him, and to walk in sweet fellowship with him. So he acted by the Galatian church, which was flattered into a notion of selfrighteousness, and self-justification. So David, when he found himself nearly lost, cries out, He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.' Ps. xxiii. 3.—(Mason.) The devil, in his attempts after our destruction, maketh use of the most suitable means. The serpent, Adam knew, was subtle, therefore Satan useth him, thereby to catch this goodly creature, man. Hereby the devil least appeared [this fine-spoken man], and least appearing, the temptation soonest took the tinder.-(Bunyan on Genesis, vol. ii. p. 428.)

CHR. We are going to the Mount Zion.

He laughs at them.

Then Atheist fell into a very great laughter.

CHR. What is the meaning of your laughter? ATHEIST. I laugh to see what ignorant persons you are, to take upon you so tedious a journey, and yet are like to have nothing but your travel for your pains. They reason to

A remembrance

of former chastisements, is a

the city?3 Also, are we not now to walk by faith? Let us go on, said Hopeful, lest the man with the whip help against overtake us again.* 2 Co. v. 7.

present temptations.

CHR. But there is in the world to come. ATHEIST. When I was at home in mine own country, I heard as you now affirm, and from that hearing went out to see, and have been seeking this city this twenty years; but find no more of it than I did the first day I set out. Je. xxii. 12. Ec. x. 15. CHR. We have both heard and believe that there is such a place to be found.

ATHEIST. Had not I, when at home, believed, I had not come thus far to seek; but finding none (and yet I should, had there been such a place to The Atheist be found, for I have gone to seek it takes up his further than you), I am going back again, and will seek to refresh myself with the things that I then cast away, for hopes of that which, I now sce, is not.2

content in this world.

1 The backsliding of a Christian comes through the overmuch persuading of Satan and lust; that the man was mistaken, and that there was no such horror in the things from which he fled; nor so much good in the things to which he hasted. Turn again, fool, says the devil. I wonder what frenzy it was that drove thee to thy heels, and that made thee leave so much good behind thee as other men find in the lusts of the flesh and the good of the world. As for the law, and death, and the day of judgment, they are but mere scarecrows, set up by politic heads, to keep the ignorant in subjection. Well, he goes back, fool as he is, conscience sleeps, and flesh is sweet; but, behold, he again sees his own nakedness-he sees the law whetting his axe-the world is a bubble. He also smells the brimstone which begins to burn within him. Oh! saith he, I am deluded! Have mercy upon me, O God!'-(Christ a Complete Saviour, vol. i. p. 223.)

2 A wicked man, though he may hector it at times with his proud heart, as though he feared neither God nor hell; yet again, at times, his soul is even drowned with terrors. If one knew the wicked, when they are under warm convictions, then the bed shakes on which they lie; then the proud tongue doth falter in their mouth, and their knees knock one against another. Then their conscience stares, and roars, and tears, and arraigns them. O! none can imagine what fearful plights a wicked man is in at times!-(Bunyan's Desires of the Righteous, vol. i. p. 746.)

honest heart.

myself, but to prove thee, and to fetch from thee a fruit of the honesty of thy heart. A fruit of an As for this man, I know that he is blinded by the god of this world. Let thee and I go on, knowing that we have belief of the truth, ́and no lie is of the truth.' 1 Jn. ii. 21.

HOPE. Now do I rejoice in hope of the glory of God. So they turned away from the man; and he, laughing at them, went his way.

ed Ground.

I saw then in my dream, that they went till they came into a certain country, whose air They are come naturally tended to make one drowsy, to the Enchantif he came a stranger into it. And here Hopeful began to be very dull and heavy of sleep; wherefore he said unto Christian, I do now begin to grow so drowsy that I can scarcely hold up mine eyes; let us lie down here, and take one nap.6

Hopeful begins

to be drowsy.

3 On the Delectable Mountains, the pilgrims had a sight of the Celestial City. No matter if it was but a glimpse; still they saw it, they really saw it, and the remembrance of that sight never left them. There it was in glory! Their hands trembled, their eyes were dim with tears, but still that vision was not to be mistaken. There, through the rifted clouds, for a moment, the gates of pearl were shining, the jasper walls, the endless domes, the jewelled battlements! The splendour of the city seemed to pour, like a river of light, down upon the spot where they were standing.-(Cheever.)

4 See how we are surrounded with different enemies! No sooner have they escaped the self-righteous flatterer, but they meet with the openly profane and licentious mocker-aye, and he set out, and went far too; yea, further than they. But, behold, he has turned his back upon all; and though he had been twenty years a seeker, yet now he proves, that he has neither faith nor hope, but ridicules all as delusion. Awful to think of! O what a special mercy to be kept believing and persevering, and not regarding the ridicule of apostates!— (Mason.)

To round;' to be open, sincere, candid. 'Maister Bland answered flatly and roundly.'-(Fox's Book of Martyrs.)

Upon the declaration for liberty of conscience, the church for a season was free from persecution. It was like enchanted ground; and some, who had been watchful in the storm, became careless and sleepy in this short deceitful calm. (ED.) 7 Ah, these short naps for pilgrims! The sleep of death,