The Narrated Puritan

Whence came you, and what would you have? He answered, I have eat and drank in the presence of the King, and he has taught in our streets. Then 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, Have you 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.

May we infer, that creatures, thus formed for action, and thus laborious and unwearied in these inferior pursuits, are proportionably vigorous and in earnest in matters of infinitely greater importance? May we con· elude, that they proportion their labor and activity to the nature of things, and that they are most in earnest where they are most concerned? A stranger to our world, that could conclude nothing concerning the conduct of mankind but from the generous presumptions of his own charitable heart, might persuade himself that this is the case. But one that has been but a little while conversant with them, and taken the least notice of their temper and practice with regard to that most interesting thing, Religion, must know it is quite otherwise. For look round you, and what do you see?

The story of Christian and Hopeful's detour into By-path Meadow serves as a poignant warning against seeking easy shortcuts in the face of hardship. Driven by physical discomfort, the pilgrims allowed a seemingly parallel path and false assurances to blind them to the gradual dangers of straying from their true course. Ultimately, their choice illustrates how small, seemingly harmless compromises can subtly lead one away from safety, leaving them vulnerable to the paralyzing grip of doubt, guilt, and despair when trials inevitably arise.

Question #5 QUESTION. It was queried by some, how we may make our application unto Christ; not in general, but under what notion and apprehension of the person of Christ? ANSWER. Because some seem to apprehend there might be danger in terminating our worship upon the nature of Christ as a creature, I shall give you my thoughts and directions in it. First. You must observe we are to have no conceptions, in our acting of any duty, towards Christ or about him, but with respect unto his person as he is God and man in one person.

Counsel I - Cleave fast to Christ, and the profession you have formerly made of him, what aspect so ever the times have upon you. Psalm 44:18, 19, 20, 21. "Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from your way, though you have sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death. If we have forgotten the name of the Lord, or stretched out our hands to a strange God: shall not God search this out? for he knows the secrets of the heart." Hence those new converts, who were turned to the Lord in a time of great temptation and persecution, were so earnestly persuaded, Acts 11:23. "That with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord;" that is as they had made a good choice, so now to stick to their choice, and not repent of it, whatever afterward they should meet with.

Before I mention how we should approach unto and lie at this well-head of life, let me observe to you this one thing,—that when there is a general contagious disease (the plague, or the like), every man will look to his health and safety with reference to other occasions, but will be most careful in regard to the general contagion. Now, if forsaking this spring of life be the plague of the age, and the plague of the place where we live, and the plague of Christians, we ought to be very careful lest this general contagion should reach us.

Practical Cases of Conscience #12 The Scripture doth everywhere, upon all such occasions, call expressly unto us for a special preparation, by the exercise of grace, in reformation and holiness: "Judgment must begin at the house of God;" and "what will be the end of them that obey not the gospel?" What, then, is our duty? Why, saith he, "Seeing that all these things shall be dissolved" (all this outward frame of things), "what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" Brethren, we ought at all times to attend unto "all holy conversation and godliness;" but saith the apostle, "The approach of judgment is a peculiar motive thereunto; -- seeing that all these things are to be dissolved.

Practical Cases of Conscience #13 The Scripture doth everywhere, upon all such occasions, call expressly unto us for a special preparation, by the exercise of grace, in reformation and holiness: "Judgment must begin at the house of God;" and "what will be the end of them that obey not the gospel?" What, then, is our duty? Why, saith he, "Seeing that all these things shall be dissolved" (all this outward frame of things), "what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" Brethren, we ought at all times to attend unto "all holy conversation and godliness;" but saith the apostle, "The approach of judgment is a peculiar motive thereunto; -- seeing that all these things are to be dissolved.'?"

Practical Cases of Conscience #14 First. Whether do you think there are extraordinary calls and warnings of God towards this nation at this time? Secondly. If there be, what is the voice of these calls? Thirdly. Whether any sort of men, believers, or churches, are exempted from attending unto and complying with these calls of God? For there lies a reserve in our hearts. The nation is very wicked (I shall not repeat the sins of the nation), the warning is general to the nation, the body of the people, and God testifies his displeasure against them. Now, the inquiry is, Whether there be any rule that we, who profess ourselves believers, and a church, should count ourselves exempted from a particular compliance with these extraordinary calls of God, -- that they are for others, and not for us? "If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent," Job 9:23. And the good figs went first into captivity.