THE PILGRIMS, &c.

METHOUGHT I was once upon a time trave [...] ⯑ling through a certain land which was ver [...] full of people, but, what was rather odd, not o [...] of all this multitude was at home; they were a bound to a far diſtant country. Though it w [...] permitted by the Lord of the land that theſe P [...] ⯑grims might aſſociate together for their preſe [...] mutual comfort and convenience; and each w [...] not only allowed, but commanded to do the othe [...] all the ſervices he could upon their journey, [...] it was decreed, that every individual travell [...] muſt enter the far country ſingly. There was [...] great gulf at the end of the journey which eve [...] ⯑one muſt paſs alone, and at his own riſk, and t [...] friendſhip of the whole united world could be no uſe in ſhooting that gulf. The exact time wh [...] each was to paſs was not known to any, this the Lo [...] always kept a cloſe ſecret out of kindneſs, [...] ſtill they were as ſure that the time muſt come, a [...] that at no very great diſtance, as if they w [...] informed of the very moment. Now, as they kn [...] they were always liable to be called away at [...] hour's notice, one would have thought they wo [...] have been chiefly employed in packing up, a [...] preparing, and getting every thing in order. [...] they indeed. It was almoſt the only thing wh [...] they did not think about.

Now I only appeal to you, my readers, if any [3] [...] [...]ou are ſetting out upon a little common journey, [...]f it is only to London or York, is not all your lei⯑ſure time employed in ſettling your buſineſs at [...]ome, and packing up every little neceſſary for [...]our expedition? And does not the fear of neglecting [...]ny thing you ought to remember or may have oc⯑ [...]aſion for, haunt your mind, and ſometimes even [...]trude upon you unſeaſonably? And when you [...]re actually on your journey, eſpecially if you [...]ave never been to that place before, or are likely [...] remain there, don't you begin to think a little [...]out the pleaſures and the employments of the [...]ace, and to wiſh to know a little what ſort of a [...]y London or York is? Don't you wonder what [...] doing there, and whether you are properly qua⯑ [...]f [...]ed for the buſineſs or the company you expect [...] be engaged in? Do you never look at the map [...] conſult Brookes's Gazetteer? And don't you try [...] pick up from your fellow paſſengers in the ſtage [...]ach any little information you can get? And [...]ough you may be obliged, out of civility, to [...]nverſe with them on common ſubjects, yet do [...] your ſecret thoughts ſtill run upon London or [...]ork, its buſineſs, or its pleaſures? And above all, [...] you are likely to ſet out early, are you not afraid [...] overſleeping, and does not that fear keep you [...] on the watch, ſo that you are commonly up and [...]ady before the porter comes to ſummon you? [...]ader! if this be your caſe, how ſurpriſed will [...] be to hear that the Travellers to the far coun⯑ [...] have not half your prudence, though bound [...] a journey of infinitely more importance, to a [...]d where nothing can be ſent after them, and [...] which when they are once ſettled, all errors [...] irretrievable.

[4] I obſerved that theſe pilgrims, inſtead of bein [...] upon the watch, leſt they ſhould be ordered o [...] unprepared, inſtead of laying up any proviſion [...] or even making memorandums of what they would be likely to want, ſpent moſt of their time i [...] crowds, either in the way of traffic or diverſion▪ At firſt, when I ſaw them ſo much engaged in co [...] ⯑verſing with each other, I thought it a good ſig [...] and liſtened attentively to their talk, not doubtin [...] but the chief turn of it would be about the cl [...] ⯑mate, or treaſures, or ſociety they ſhould pr [...] ⯑bably meet with in the far country. I ſuppoſ [...] they might be alſo diſcuſſing about the beſt an [...] ſafeſt road to it, and that each was availing hi [...] ⯑ſelf of the knowledge of his neighbour, on a ſubje [...] of equal importance to all. I liſtened to eve [...] party, but in ſcarcely any did I hear one wo [...] about the land to which they were bound, thou [...] it was their home, where their whole intereſt, [...] ⯑pectation, and inheritance lay; to which alſo gr [...] part of their friends were gone before, and w [...] ⯑ther they were ſure all the reſt would follo [...]. Their whole talk was about the buſineſs, or [...] pleaſures, or the faſhions, of the ſtrange co [...] ⯑try which they were merely paſſing through, and which they had not one foot of land which th [...] were ſure of calling their own for the next quar [...] of an hour. What little eſtate they had was perſo [...] and not real, and that was a mortgaged, life-hold [...] ⯑nement of clay, not properly their own, but only [...] to them on a ſhort uncertain leaſe, of which thr [...] ſcore years and ten was conſidered as the long period, and very few indeed lived in it to the [...] of the term; for this was always at the will of [...] [5]Lord, part of whoſe prerogative it was, that he [...]ould take away the leaſe at pleaſure, knock [...]own the ſtouteſt tenement at a ſingle blow, and [...]urn out the poor, ſhivering, helpleſs tenant naked, [...]o that far country for which he had made no [...]roviſion. Sometimes, in order to quicken the [...]ilgrim in his preparations, the Lord would break [...]own the tenement by ſlow degrees, ſometimes he [...]ould let it tumble by its own natural decay, for as it [...]as only built to laſt a certain term, it would ſome⯑ [...]es grow ſo uncomfortable by increaſing dilapida⯑ [...]ons even before the ordinary leaſe was out, that [...]e lodging was hardly worth keeping, though the [...]nant could ſeldom be perſuaded to think ſo, but [...]ng to it to the laſt. Firſt the thatch on the top of [...]e tenement changed colour, then it fell off and left [...] roof bare, then "the grinders ceaſed becauſe [...]ey were few;" then the windows became ſo dark⯑ [...]ed that the owner could ſcarcely ſee through [...]m, then one prop fell away, then another, then [...] uprights became bent, and the whole fabric [...]mbled and tottered, with every other ſymptom [...] a falling houſe. On ſome occaſions the Lord [...]dered his meſſengers, of which he had a great va⯑ [...]ty, to batter, injure, deface, and almoſt demoliſh [...] frail building even while it ſeemed new and [...]ong; this was what the landlord called giving [...]rning; but many a tenant would not take it, and [...]s ſo fond of ſtaying where he was, even un⯑ [...] all theſe inconveniences, that at laſt he was [...] out by ejectment, not being prevailed on to [...]ve his dwelling in a proper manner, though one [...]uld have thought the fear of being turned out [...]uld have whetted his diligeace in preparing for [6] a better and more enduring inheritance▪ For thoug [...] the people were only tenants at will in theſe cra [...] [...]enements, yet through the goodneſs of the ſa [...] Lord, they were aſſured that he never turned the [...] out of theſe habitations before he had on his pa [...] provided for them a better, ſo that there was not ſu [...] another landlord in the world; and though their pr [...] ⯑ſent dwelling was but frail, being only ſlightly [...] up to ſerve the occaſion, yet they might hold the [...] future poſſeſſion by a moſt certain tenure, the wo [...] of the Lord himſelf, which was entered in a c [...] ⯑venant, or title-deed, conſiſting of many ſhee [...] and becauſe a great many good things were give [...] away in it, a book was made of which eve [...] ſoul might get a copy. This indeed had not a [...] ⯑ways been the caſe, becauſe, till a few ages bac [...] there had been a ſort of monopoly in the caſe, an [...] "the wiſe and prudent," that is, the cunning an [...] fraudful had hid theſe things from the "babes an [...] ſucklings," that is, from the low and ignorant, an [...] many frauds had been practiſed, and the poor ha [...] been cheated of their right, ſo that not being allo [...] ⯑ed to read and judge for themſelves, they had be [...] ſadly impoſed upon; but all theſe tricks had be [...] put an end to more than two hundred years when [...] paſſed through the country, and the meaneſt ma [...] who could read might then have a copy, ſo that [...] might ſee himſelf what he had to truſt to, and eve [...] thoſe who could not read, might hear it read on [...] or twice every week at leaſt without pay. But [...] ſurpriſed me to ſee how few comparatively ma [...] uſe of theſe vaſt advantages. Of thoſe who had [...] copy, many laid it careleſsly by, expreſſed a gen [...] ⯑ral belief in the truth of the title-deed, a gener [...] [7]ſatisfaction that they ſhould come in for a ſhare of the inheritance, a general good opinion of the Lord whoſe word it was, and a general diſpoſition to take his promiſe upon truſt, always however intending at a convenient ſeaſon to inquire farther into the matter, and this neglect of theirs was con⯑ſtrued into a forfeiture of the inheritance.

At the end of this country lay the vaſt gulf men⯑tioned before; it was ſhadowed over by a broad [...]nd thick cloud, which prevented the pilgrims from ſeeing in a diſtinct manner what was doing behind it▪ yet ſuch beams of brightneſs now and [...]hen darted through the cloud as enabled thoſe who [...]ſed a teleſcope provided for that purpoſe, to [...]ee the ſubſtance of things hoped for; but it was not [...]very one who could make uſe of this teleſcope; [...]o eye indeed was naturally diſpoſed to it; but an [...]arneſt deſire of getting a glimpſe of the inviſible [...]ealities, gave ſuch a ſtrength and ſteadineſs to the [...]ye, as enabled it to diſcern many things which [...]ould not be ſeen by the natural ſight. Above the [...]loud was this Inſcription, The things which are [...] are temporal, but the things which are not [...]n are eternal. Of theſe laſt many glorious de⯑ [...]riptions had been given, but as thoſe ſplendors [...]ere at a diſtance, and as the pilgrims in general [...]d not care to uſe the teleſcope, theſe diſtant [...]ances made little impreſſion. The glorious [...]heritance which lay beyond the cloud, was [...]alled The things above, while a multitude of tri⯑ [...]ing objects, which appeared contemptibly ſmall [...]hen looked at through the teleſcope were called The things below. Now as we know it is nearneſs which gives ſize and bulk to any object, it was [8]not wonderful that theſe ill'-judging pilgrims were more ſtruck with theſe baubles and trifles, which by lying cloſe at hand, were viſible and temp [...] ⯑ing to the naked eye, and which made up th [...] ſum of The things below, than with the remo [...] glories of The things above: but this was chief [...] owing to their not making uſe of the teleſcope through which, if you examined thoroughly T [...] things below, they ſeemed to ſhrink almoſt down t [...] nothing, while The things above appeared the mo [...] beautiful and vaſt the more the teleſcope was uſed▪ But the ſurpriſing part of the ſtory was this, no [...] that the pilgrims were captivated at firſt ſight wit [...] The things below, for that was natural enough, bu [...] that when they had tried them all over and over and found themſelves deceived and diſappointed in almoſt every one of them, it did not at a [...] leſſen their fondneſs, and they graſped at the [...] again with the ſame eagerneſs as before. Ther [...] were ſome gay fruits which looked alluring, but o [...] being opened inſtead of a kernel they were found to contain rottenneſs, and thoſe which ſeemed th [...] fulleſt often proved on trial to be quite hollow an [...] empty. Thoſe which were moſt tempting to the ey [...] were often found to be wormwood to the taſte, o [...] poiſon to the ſtomach, and many flowers that ſeem⯑ed moſt bright and gay had a worm gnawing at th [...] root.

Among the chief attractions of The things below were certain little lumps of yellow clay, on which almoſt every eye and every heart was fixed. Whe [...] I ſaw the variety of uſes to which this clay could be converted, and the reſpect which wa [...] ſhewn to thoſe who could ſcrape together the greate [...] number of pieces, I did not much wonder at the gene⯑ral [9]deſire to pick up ſome of them. But when I be⯑ [...]eld the anxiety, the wakefulneſs, the competitions, be contrivances, the tricks, the frauds, the ſcuffling, [...]e puſhing, the turmoiling, the kicking, the ſhov⯑ [...]g, the cheating, the circumvention, the envy, the [...]alignity, which was excited by a deſire to poſſeſs [...]is article; when I ſaw the general ſcramble among [...]oſe who had little to get much, and of thoſe who [...]d much to get more, then I could not help apply⯑ing to theſe people a Proverb in uſe among us, [...]at gold may be bought too dear. Though I ſaw [...]at there were various ſorts of baubles which en⯑ [...]ged the hearts of different Travellers, ſuch as an [...] of red or blue ribbon, for which ſome were [...]ntent to forfeit their future inheritance, commit⯑ [...]g the ſin of Eſau without his temptation of hun⯑ [...]r; yet the yellow clay I found was the grand ob⯑ [...]ct for which moſt hands ſcrambled and moſt ſouls [...]re riſked. One thing was extraordinary, that the [...]arer theſe people were to being turned out of [...]ir tenement, the fonder they grew of theſe pieces [...] clay, ſo that I naturally concluded they meant [...] take the clay with them to the far country; but [...]oon learnt this clay was not current there, the [...]rd having declared to theſe pilgrims, that as [...]y had brought nothing into this world, they could [...]ry nothing out.

I inquired of the different people who were raiſ⯑ [...]g the various heaps of clay, ſome of a larger, [...]e of a ſmaller ſize, why they diſcovered ſuch [...]remitting anxiety, and for whom? Some whoſe [...]es were immenſe, told me they were heaping up [...] their children; this I thought very right, till on [...]ting my eyes round, I obſerved many of the chil⯑ [...]en of theſe very people had large heaps of their [10]own. Others told me it was for their grand-childre [...] but on enquiry I found theſe were not yet born, a [...] in many caſes there was little chance that they ev [...] would. The truth, on a cloſe examination, prov [...] to be, that the true genuine heapers really heap [...] for themſelves; that it was in fact neither for frie [...] or child, but to gratify an inordinate appetite [...] their own. Nor was I much ſurpriſed after this [...] ſee theſe yellow hoards at length canker, and [...] ruſt of them become a witneſs againſt the hoarde [...] and e [...]t their fleſh as it were fire.

Many however who had ſet out with a high he [...] of their father's raiſing, before they had got o [...] third of their journey had ſcarcely a ſingle pie [...] left. As I was wondering what had cauſed the enormous piles to vaniſh in ſo ſhort a time, I ſpi [...] ſcattered up and down the country all ſorts of o [...] inventions, for ſome or other of which the va [...] poſſeſſors of the great heaps of clay had truck [...] and bartered them away in fewer hours than th [...] anceſtors had ſpent years in getting them togeth [...]. O what a ſtrange unaccountable medley it wa [...] and what was ridiculous enough, I obſerved th [...] the greateſt quantity of the clay was always e [...] ⯑changed for things that were of no uſe that I cou [...] diſcover, owing I ſuppoſe to my ignorance of [...] manners of that country.

In one place I ſaw large heaps exhauſted [...] order to ſet two idle pampered horſes a runnin [...] but the worſt part of the joke was, the horſes [...] not run to fetch or carry any thing, but merely let the gazers ſee which could run faſteſt. N [...] this gift of ſwiftneſs, exerciſed to no one uſe [...] purpoſe, was only one out of many inſtances [...] talents uſed to no end. In another place I [...] [11] [...]hole piles of the clay ſpent to maintain long [...]anges of buildings full of dogs, on proviſions [...]hich would have nicely fattened ſome thouſands [...]f pilgrims who ſadly wanted fattening, and whoſe [...]agged tenements were out at elbows, for want of little [...] help to repair them. Some of the piles [...]ere regularly pulled down once in ſeven years [...] order to corrupt certain needy pilgrims to [...] their conſciences. Others were ſpent in play⯑ [...]ng with white ſtiff bits of paper painted over [...]ith red and black ſpots, in which I thought there [...]uſt be ſome conjuring, becauſe the very touch of [...]eſe painted paſteboards made the heaps fly from [...]e to another, and back again to the ſame, in a [...]ay that natural cauſes could not account for. [...]here was another proof that there muſt be ſome [...]agic in this buſineſs, which was that if a paſteboard [...]th red ſpots fell into a hand which wanted a black [...]e, the perſon changed colour, his eyes flaſhed [...]e, and he diſcovered other ſymptoms of madneſs, [...]hich ſhowed there was ſome witchcraft in the caſe. [...]heſe clean little paſteboards, as harmleſs as they [...]oked, had the wonderful power of pulling down [...]e higheſt piles in leſs time than all the other [...]ſes put together. I obſerved many ſmall piles [...]re given in exchange for an enchanted liquor, [...]hich when the purchaſer had drank to a little ex⯑ [...]ſs, he loſt all power of managing the reſt of his [...]ap without loſing the love of it.

Now I found it was the opinion of ſober pilgrims, [...]at either hoarding the clay or trucking it for any [...]ch purpoſes as the above, was thought exactly [...]e ſame offence in the eyes of the Lord, and it is expected that when they ſhould come under [...] more immediate juriſdiction in the far country, [12]the penalty annexed to hoarding and ſquanderi [...] would be nearly the ſame. While I examined t [...] countenances of the owners of the heaps, I o [...] ⯑ſerved that thoſe who I well knew never intend [...] to make any uſe at all of their heap, were f [...] more terrified at the thought of loſing it, or of bei [...] torn from it, than thoſe were who were employi [...] it in the moſt uſeful manner. Thoſe who [...] knew what to do with it, ſet their hearts leaſt upo [...] it, and were always moſt willing to leave it. B [...] ſuch riddles were common in this odd country.

Now I wondered why theſe Pilgrims, who we [...] naturally made erect with an eye formed to loo [...] up to The things above, yet had their eyes almo [...] conſtantly bent in the other direction rivetted [...] the earth, and faſtened on things below, juſt lik [...] thoſe animals who walk on all four. I was to [...] they had not always been ſubject to this weakne [...] of ſight and proneneſs to earth: That they ha [...] originally been upright and beautiful, having be [...] created after the image of the Lord who was him⯑ſelf the perfection of beauty, that he had place [...] them in a far ſuperior ſituation which he had give [...] them in perpetuity, but that their firſt anceſto [...] fell from it through pride and careleſſneſs; th [...] upon this the freehold was taken away, they lo [...] their original ſtrength, brightneſs and beauty, an [...] were driven out into this ſtrange country; whe [...] however they had every opportunity given them [...] recovering their health, and the Lord's favo [...] and likeneſs, for they were become ſo disfigured, an [...] were grown ſo unlike him, that you would hard [...] believe they were his own children, though, in ſom [...] the reſemblance was become again viſible. Th [...] Lord, however, was ſo merciful, that inſtead [...] [13] [...]iving them up to the dreadful conſequences of [...]eir own folly, as he might have done without any [...]peachment of his juſtice, he gave them immedi⯑e comfort, and promiſed them, that in due time, [...] own Son ſhould come down and reſtore them [...] the future inheritance which he ſhould purchaſe [...]r them. And now it was that in order to keep up [...]ir ſpirits, after they had loſt their eſtate through [...]e folly of their anceſtors, that he began to give [...]em a part of their former Title Deed. He con⯑ [...]ued to ſend them portions of it from time to [...]e by different faithful ſervants, whom, however, [...]eſe ungrateful people generally uſed ill, and [...]me of whom they murdered. But for all this [...] Lord was ſo very forgiving, that he at length [...] theſe mutineers a Proclamation of full and free [...]rdon by his Son, who, though they uſed him in [...] more cruel manner than they had done any of [...] ſervants, yet after having finiſhed the work his [...]ther had given him to do, went back into [...] country to prepare a place for all them who [...]lieve in him; and there he ſtill lives, begging [...]d pleading for thoſe unkind people whom he [...]ll loves and forgives, and will reſtore to the [...]chaſed inheritance on the eaſy terms of their [...]ing heartily ſorry for what they have done, tho⯑ [...]ghly deſirous of pardon and convinced that He [...] able and willing to ſave to the utmoſt all them that [...] unto him.

I ſaw indeed that many old offenders appeared [...] be ſorry for what they had done; that is, they did [...] like to be puniſhed for it. They were willing [...]ough to be delivered from the penalty of their [...], but they did not heartily wiſh to be delivered [...] the power of it. Many declared, in the moſt [14]public manner, once every week, that they we [...] very ſorry they had done amiſs; but it was [...] enough to declare their ſorrow ever ſo often [...] they gave no other ſign of their penitence. [...] there was ſo little truth in them, that the Lord r [...] ⯑quired other proofs of their ſincerity beſide the [...] own word, for they often lied with their lips an [...] diſſembled with their tongue. But thoſe who pr [...] ⯑feſſed to be penitents were neither allowed [...] raiſe heaps of clay, by circumventing their neig [...] ⯑bours, or to have great piles lying by them uſele [...] nor muſt they barter them for any of theſe id [...] vanities, which reduced the heaps on a ſudden for I found that among the grand articles of futu [...] reckoning, the uſe they had made of the hea [...] would be a principal one.

I was ſorry to obſerve many of the fairer pa [...] of theſe Pilgrims ſpend too much of their hea [...] in adorning and beautifying their tenements [...] clay, in painting, and white waſhing, and ename [...] ⯑ling them. All thoſe tricks, however, did not pr [...] ⯑ſerve them from decay, and when they grew ol [...] they even looked worſe for all this coſt and va [...] ⯑niſh. Some, however, acted a more ſenſible pa [...] and ſpent no more upon their mouldering te [...] ⯑ments than juſt to keep them whole and clean, an [...] in good repair, which is what every tenant oug [...] to do; and I obſerved that thoſe who were mod [...] ⯑rate in the care of their own tenements, were mo [...] attentive to repair and warm the ragged tenements [...] others. But none did this with much zeal or acce [...] ⯑ance, but thoſe who had acquired a habit of ov [...] looking the things below, and alſo by the conſta [...] uſe of the Teleſcope, had got their natural we [...] and dim ſight ſo ſtrengthened, as to be able to [...] [15]pretty diſtinctly the nature of the things above. [...]e habit of fixing their eyes on theſe glories, [...]ade all the ſhining trifles which compoſed the [...] of things below at laſt appear in their own [...]minutive littleneſs. For it was in this caſe parti⯑ [...]ularly true, that things are only big or little by [...]mpariſon; and there was no other way of mak⯑ [...]g the things below appear as ſmall as they really [...]re, but by comparing them by means of the Tele⯑ [...]ope with the things above. But I obſerved that [...]e falſe judgment of the Pilgrims ever kept pace [...]th their wrong practices, for thoſe who kept their [...]es faſtened on the things below, were reckoned [...] in their generation, while the few who look⯑ [...] forward to the future glories, were account⯑ [...] by the buſtlers or heapers, to be either fools [...] mad.

Well—moſt of theſe Pilgrims went on in adorn⯑ [...]g their tenements, adding to their heaps, graſp⯑ [...]g the things below as if they would never let [...]em go, ſhutting their eyes inſtead of uſing their te⯑ [...]ſcope, and neglecting their Title Deed, as if it was [...] Parchment of another man's eſtate and not their [...]n; till one after another each felt his tenement [...]mbling about his ears.—O [...]! then what a buſy, [...]ſtling, anxious, terrifying, diſtracting moment was [...]at! What a deal of buſineſs was to be done, and [...]hat a ſtrange time was this to do it in! Now to [...]e the confuſion and diſmay occaſioned by having [...] every thing to the laſt minute. Firſt ſome [...] was ſent for to make over the yellow heaps to [...]other, which the heaper now found would be of [...] uſe to himſelf in ſhooting the gulf; a transfer [...]hich ought to have been made while the tenement [...]s ſound. Then there was a conſultation between [16]two or three maſons at once, perhaps to try to pat [...] up the walls, and ſtrengthen the props, and ſtop [...] decays of the tumbling tenement; but not till [...] maſons were forced to declare it was paſt repairing (a truth they were rather too apt to keep back) di [...] the tenant ſeriouſly think it was time to pac [...] up, prepare, and begone. Then what ſending [...] the wiſe men who profeſſed to explain the Tit [...] Deed! And oh, what remorſe that they had ne [...] ⯑lected to examine it till their ſenſes were too con⯑fuſed for ſo weighty a buſineſs! What reproache [...] or what exhortations to others to look better after their own affairs! Even to the wiſeſt of the inh [...] ⯑bitants the falling of their tenements was a ſolemn thing; ſolemn but not ſurpriſing; they had lo [...] been packing up and preparing; they praiſed the Lord's goodneſs that they had been ſuffered to ſta [...] ſo long; many acknowledged the mercy of thei [...] frequent warnings, and confeſſed that thoſe ver [...] dilapidations which had made the houſe uncomfor⯑table had been a bleſſing, as it had ſet them [...] diligent preparation for their future inheritance▪ had made them more earneſt in examining their titl [...] to it, and had ſet them on ſuch a frequent applica⯑tion to the teleſcope, that The things above ha [...] ſeemed every day nearer and nearer. Theſe de⯑ſired not to be uncloathed but to be cloathed upon for they knew that if their frail Tabernacle was dis⯑ſolved they had an houſe not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.