yet she was destroyed by another, as we see she is turned into a pillar of salt.

Hope. True; and she may be to us both caution and example; caution, that we should shun her sin; or a sign of what judgment will overtake such as shall not be prevented by this caution: so Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, with the two hundred and fifty men that perished in their sin, did also become a sign or example to others to beware, Numb. xxvi. 9, 10. But above all, I muse at one thing, to wit, how Demas and his fellows can stand so confidently yonder to look for that treasure, which this woman, but for looking behind her after (for we read not that she stepped one foot out of the way), was turned into a pillar of salt; especially since the judgment which overtook her did make her an example, within sight of where they are; for they cannot choose but see her, did they but lift up their eyes.

Chr. It is a thing to be wondered at, and it argueth that their hearts are grown desperate in the case; and I cannot tell who to compare them to so fitly as to them that pick pockets in the presence of the judge, or that will cut purses under the gallows. It is said of the men of Sodom, that they were 'sinners exceedingly,' because they were sinners 'before the Lord,'-that is, in his eyesight, and notwithstanding the kindnesses that he had showed them; for the land of Sodom was now like the garden of Eden heretofore, Gen. xiii. 10-13. This, therefore, provoked him the more to jealousy, and made their plague as hot as the fire of the Lord out of heaven could make it. And it is most rationally to be concluded, that such, even such as these are, that shall sin in the sight, yea, and that too in despite of such examples that are set continually before them, to caution them to the contrary, must be partakers of severest judg

ments.

Hope. Doubtless thou hast said the truth; but what a mercy is it, that neither thou, but especially I, am not made myself this example! This ministereth occasion to us to thank God, to fear before him, and always to remember Lot's wife.

A river.

I saw, then, that they went on their way to a pleasant river (l); which David the king called 'the river of God;' but John, 'the river of the water of life,' Ps. lxv. 9; Rev. xxii. 1; Ezek. xlvii. 1-9. Now their way lay just upon the bank of the river: here, therefore, Christian and his companion Trees by the walked with great delight; they drank also of the water of the river, which was pleasant, and enlivening to their weary spirits. Besides, on the banks of this river, on either side, were

river. The fruit and leaves of the trees.

(1) The River. - There is nothing to distinguish this river specifically, with its beautiful valley and its abundant fruits, from the other spiritual enjoyments of the pilgrims. Our pleasures are sometimes brief like the delicate plain Ease, and sometimes more prolonged like those in this valley of delights, but they are all derived from the same sources; from the Holy Scriptures, com. munion with God, and humble obedience to his will. The river, the valley, and the fruits, are harmonious parts of one picture of spiritual happiness. 'How excellent is thy loving kindness, O! God, therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures,' Ps. xxxvi. 7, 8.

These spiritual pleasures are fitly placed after the great trials of Vanity Fair and the resistance of the pilgrims to the temptations of Demas, as a reward for their fidelity.

Jonathan Edwards appears to have walked frequently in this happy valley. He tells us, 'I very frequently used to retire into a solitary place on the banks of Hudson's river, at some distance from the city, for contemplation of divine things, and secret converse with God, and had many sweet hours there. I had then, and at other times, the greatest delight in the Holy Scriptures of any book whatsoever. Oftentimes in reading it, every word seemed to touch my heart. I felt a harmony between something in my heart and those sweet and powerful words. I seemed often to see so much light exhibited by every sentence, and such a refreshing food communicated, that I could not get along in reading; often dwelling long on one sentence, to see the wonders contained in it; and yet every sentence seemed to be full of wonders.

'The sweetest joys and delights I have experienced have not been those that have arisen from a hope of my own good estate; but in a direct view of the glorious things of the Gospel. When I enjoy this sweetness, it seems to carry me above the thoughts of my own estate.

'Once I felt an ardency of soul, to be, what I know not how to express otherwise, emptied and annihilated; to be in the aust, and

green trees, that bore all manner of fruit; and the leaves of the trees were good for medicine: with the fruit of these trees they were also much delighted; and the leaves they ate to prevent surfeits, and other diseases that are incident to those that heat their blood by travels. On either side of the river was also a meadow, curiously beautified with lilies; and it was green all the year long. In this meadow they lay A meadow in down, and slept; for here they might lie which they lie down safely, Ps. xxiii. 2; Isa. xiv. 30. When down to sleep. they awoke, they gathered again of the fruit of the trees, and drank again of the water of the river, and then lay down again to sleep. Thus they did several days and nights. Then they sang

Behold ye how these crystal streams do glide,
To comfort pilgrims by the highway side.
The meadows green, beside their fragrant smell
Yield dainties for them; and he that can tell

What pleasant fruit, yea, leaves, these trees do yield,
Will soon sell all, that he may buy this field.

So when they were disposed to go on (for they were not, as yet, at their journey's end), they ate and drank, and departed.

Now, I beheld in my dream, that they had not journeyed far, but the river and the way for a time parted; at which they were not a little sorry; yet they durst not go out of the way. Now the way from the river was rough, and their feet tender, by reason of their travels; so the souls of the pilgrims were much discouraged because of the way, Num. xxi. 4. Wherefore, still as they went on, they wished for better way. Now, a little before them, there was on the left hand of the road a meadow, and a stile to go over into it; and that meadow is called By-path Meadow (m). Then said Christian to his fellow, If this

By-path meadow.

to be full of Christ alone; to love Him with a holy and pure love; to trust in Him; to live upon Him; to serve and follow Him; and to be perfectly sanctified and made pure with a divine and heavenly purity.'

(m) By-path Meadow. - Mercies and trials succeed each other in the pilgrim's life as night follows day. From the Cross, Christian