AND CONVINCED OF HIS ERROR. 67 Thou art the man that art running into this misery thou hast begun to reject the counsel of the Most High, and to draw back thy foot from the way of peace; even almost to the hazarding of thy perdition.* Then Christian fell down at his feet as dead, crying, "Woe is me, for I am undone !" At the sight of which Evangelist caught him by the right hand, saying, “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men:" "be not faithless, but believing." Then did Christian again a little revive, and stood up trembling, as at first, before Evangelist.f Then Evangelist proceeded, saying, Give more earnest heed to the things that I shall tell thee of. I will now show thee who it was that deluded thee, and who it was also to whom he sent thee. The man that met thee is one Worldly-wiseman, and rightly is he so called; partly because he savoureth only the doctrine. of this world, (a) (therefore he always goes to the town of Morality to church,) and partly because he loveth that doctrine best, for it saveth him best from the cross:(b) and because he is of this carnal temper, therefore he seeketh to pervert my ways, though right. Now there are three things in this man's counsel that thou must utterly abhor :-his turning thee out of the way; his labouring to render the cross odious to thee; and his setting thy feet in that way that leadeth unto the ministration of death.‡ See the danger of turning from the faith of Christ, to trust in any degree to our own works for justification and eternal life. Beware of legal teachers, and of thy own legal spirit. + See the glory of gospel grace to sinners. See the amazing love of Christ in dying for sinners. O remember the price with which Christ ob tained the pardon of your sins; at nothing less than his own most precious blood! Believe his wonderful love. Rejoice in his glorious salvation. Live in the love of him, in the hatred of your sins, and in humbleness of mind before him. Gospel comfort cannot be enjoyed, till the soul is convinced of the evil, and rejects the doctrine of Legality, or trust in any dependance upon our own works for justification. This detestable heresy abounds greatly in the present day. 68 THE FALLACIES OF WORLDLY-WISEMAN DETECTED. First, thou must abhor his turning thee out of the way, yea, and thine own consenting thereto; because this is to reject the counsel of God for the sake of the counsel of a worldly-wise man. The Lord says, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate" (the gate to which I send thee,)" for strait is the gate that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."(a) From this little Wicket-gate, and from the way thereto, hath this wicked man turned thee, to the bringing of thee almost to destruction. Hate, therefore, his turning thee out of the way, and abhor thyself for hearkening to him. 66 Secondly, thou must abhor his labouring to render the cross odious unto thee; for thou art to prefer it before the treasures in Egypt."(b) Besides, the King of Glory hath told thee, that "he that will save his life shall lose it :" and, "He that comes after me, and hates not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, cannot be my disciple."(c) I say, therefore, for a man to labour to persuade thee that that shall be thy death, without which the truth hath said thou canst not have eternal life: this doctrine thou must abhor. Thirdly, thou must hate his setting of thy feet in the way that leadeth to the ministration of death. for this thou must consider to whom he sent thee, and also how unable that person was to deliver thee from thy burden. And He to whom thou wast sent for ease, being by name Legality, is "the son of the bond-woman which now is, and is in bondage with her children;"(d) and is, in a mystery, this mount Sinai which thou hast feared will fall on thy head. Now if she with her children are in bondage, how canst thou expect by them to be made free? This Legality, therefore, is not able to set thee free from thy burden. No man was as yet ever rid of (a) Luke xiii. 24. e) Matt. x. 37-39. Matt. vii. 13, 14. (b) Heb. xi. 25, 26. Luke xiv. 26, 27. John xii. 25. (d) Gal. iv. 21-27. THE PRETENSIONS OF LEGALITY CONFUTED. 69 "Ye his burden by him; no, nor ever is like to be. cannot be justified by the works of the law; for by the deeds of the law no man living" can be rid of his burden: therefore, Mr. Worldly-wiseman is a liar, and Mr. Legality a cheat: and for his son Civility, notwithstanding his simpering looks, he is but a hypocrite, and cannot help thee. Believe me, there is nothing in all this noise that thou hast heard of these sottish men, but a design to beguile thee of thy salvation, by turning thee from the way in which I had set thee.* After this Evangelist called aloud to the heavens for confirmation of what he had said; and with that there came words and fire out of the mountain under which poor Christian stood, that made the hair of his flesh stand up. The words were thus pronounced: "As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them."+(a) Now Christian looked for nothing but death, and began to cry out lamentably; even cursing the time in which he met with Mr. Worldly-wiseman; still calling himself a thousand fools for hearkening to his counsel. He also was greatly ashamed to think that this gentleman's arguments, flowing only from the flesh, should have the prevalency with him as to cause him to forsake the right way. This done, he applied himself again to Evangelist in words and sense as follow: * The gospel pays no respect to demure looks, and a sanctified face; but pronounces such cheats, hypocrites, and beguilers, who turn souls from the cross of Christ, and the way of salvation by him, to trust in any wise to their own works for justification and salvation. Legality is as great an enemy to the cross of Christ, as Licentiousness: for it keeps the soul from coming to, believing in, and trusting wholly to the blood of Christ, for pardon, and the righteousness of Christ for justification; so that it keeps the soul in bondage, and swells the mind with prâle, while Licentiousness brings a scandal on the cross. (a) Gal. iii. 10. 70 CHRISTIAN ENCOURAGED BY EVANGELIST. Sir,* what think you? Is there any hope? May 1 now go back, and go up to the Wicket-gate? Shall I not be abandoned for this, and sent back from thence ashamed? I am sorry I have hearkened to this man's counsel; but may my sin be forgiven? Then said Evangelist to him, Thy sin is very great, for by it thou hast committed two evils; thou hast forsaken the way that is good, to tread in forbidden paths: yet will the man at the gate receive thee, for he has good will for men; only, said he, take heed that thou turn not aside again, "lest thou perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little."(a)-Then did Christian address himself to go back, and Evangelist, after he had kissed him, gave him one smile and bid him God speed.† So he went on with haste, neither spake he to any man by the way; nor if any asked him would he vouchsafe them an answer. like one that was all the while treading on forbidden ground, and could by no means think himself safe, till again he was got into the way ‡ which he left to follow Mr. Worldly-wiseman's counsel. He went Christian inquires if he may yet be happy. Legal hopes will bring on distress of soul, and despondency of spirit, as well as outward sins: there is no hope of a sinner's being comforted by the cross of Christ, till he is made sensible of this. Nothing but the gospel of Christ can direct our steps in the right way, and bring peace and comfort to our souls. It salutes us with a cheering smile, a kiss of peace, and a blessing of consolation; and hence it wings our peace to Christ and holiness. The faithful minister must warn young converts not to turn aside; nor can any soul ever find confidence or comfort, till they are conscious of hav ing regained the way they had forsaken. (a) Psal. ii. 12. HE IS ADMITTED AT THE WICKET-GATE. 71 CHAPTER IV. CHRISTIAN ARRIVES AT THE WICKET-GATE, WHERE HE KNOCKS, AND IS KINDLY RECEIVED. SO in process of time Christian got up to the gate. Now over the gate there was written, Knock, and it shall be opened unto you."(a) He knocked therefore more than once or twice,* saying "May I now enter here? Will he within An undeserving rebel! Then shall I Not fail to sing his lasting praise on high."(a) At last there came a grave person to the gate, named Good-will, who asked him who was there? and whence he came? and what he would have? CHR. Here is a poor burdened sinner. I come from the city of Destruction, but am going to Mount Zion, that I may be delivered from the wrath to come. I would, therefore, Sir, since I am informed that by this gate is the way thither, know if you are willing to let me in. I am willing with all my heart,† said he. And with that he opened the gate. So when Christian was stepping in, the other gave him a pull.‡ Then said Christian, What means that? The other told him, "A little distance from this gate This is praying and pleading in faith with God for mercy and forgiveness of sin through the blood of Jesus Christ. The gate will be open to broken-hearted sinners. Here behold the love of Jesus, in freely and heartily receiving every poor sinner who comes unto him. No matter how vile they have been nor what things they have committed; he loves them freely and receives them graciously. For he has nothing but good-will towards men. Luke ii. 14. Every saved sinner is a brand plucked out of the fire by the loving arm of Christ, Zech. iii. 2. (a) Matt. vii. 7, 8. |