BUNYAN'S "PILGRIM'S PROGRESS" VERSIFIED,
BY THE LATE GEORGE BURDER.
(Continued from page 141.)
Thus rid of Talkative, they forward went,(a)
With good discourse their time they sweetly spent,
"But what comes here, (said Faithful,) Christian, see
Oh, 'tis my friend Evangelist, cries he;
'Twas he, good man, first put me in the way,"
"And my friend too, (adds Faithful,) I may say."
Evangelist comes up with smiling face,
"My friends, (said he,) I wish you joy and
Tell me, dear Pilgrims, where your lot was cast,
And how yo've fared e'er since I saw you last.'
They told him all they met with by the way,
And how the Lord had helped them to that day.
"Blessed be God, (Evangelist replied,)
That though you both have been severely tried;
Yet grace and strength have been so freely given,
And still you're travelling on the road to heaven.
Press forward then, celestial things pursue,
And ever keep the Conqueror's crown in view:
Watch well your hearts, in Christ alone confide;
Nor fear, for heaven itself is on your side:
But mark! trials expect-keep that in mind;
Some heavy trials yet you both will find;
You're almost through the wilderness, but soon
You'll reach a large, a vain, a wicked town-
There, if your enemies can have their will,
They'll persecute, and if permitted, kill.
(a) The character of Talkative is too common; such men abound in the present day; they can talk fluently about religion, but there is no true Godliness in their hearts or houses.
One of you there must seal the truth with blood,
And die a martyr for the living God,
But know, whose lot soe'er that trial proves,
Will soonest see the God he sees and loves."
Our pilgrims now their grand design pursue,
And soon the famous Town appeared in view:
A town of ancient date, and wealth, and fame,
And vanity its just descriptive name.
A fair was kept for many ages here,
And kept on every day throughout the year.
All sorts of merchandise were sold,
Silver and pearls, and precious stones, and gold.
Crowns, kingdoms, titles, places, churches, trades,
Husbands and wives, and children, whores, and maids.
Bargains were made for health, and lives, and souls,
And here were jugglers, players, knaves, and fools.
Sins of all sorts, and kinds abounded here,
And men that lived to cheat, and game, and swear.
Through this bad place, the pilgrim's journey lay,
And none could shun it in a different way:
Our Lord himself once passed through this fair,
And laid out not a single farthing there. (a)
Our pilgrims enter then this wicked place,
And soon perceive it destitute of grace.
With proud disdain the scorned townsmen gazed,
Some at their homely garments seem amazed:
Some at their dialect were more surprised,
But most, because these men their wares despised,
What will ye buy? some taunting wretches cryed;
"We buy the truth with meekness they replied;
We count your vanities as light as air,
We look above-our hearts-our treasures, there.
This gave offence, and soon a tumult rose;
They looked upon the pilgrims as their foes:
(a) Under the notion of a fair, the author beautifully describes this present evil world; well deserving the name of vanity, for if the testimony of the wisest men be accredited :—“ All is vanity and vexation of spirit."
Charged them as enemies of public peace,
As fools, and madmen, worthy of disgrace:
Led them in heavy chains about the fair,
And in the chains, and stocks, exposed them there:
Like wretched outcasts, friendless, and forlorn,
Objects of laughter, raillery, and scorn, (a)
Meanwhile, some few from prejudice more free,
No evil in these Christian men could see:
The conduct of the baser rabble blamed,
And said their enemies might be ashamed:
Condemned their furious, persecuting, rage,
And owned that others more deserved the cage:
Their enemies with greater malice filled,
Exclaim the pilgrims must and shall be killed:
From that day forth their blood and lives were sought,
And they, for form's sake, soon to trial brought;
Each carnal heart owed them a secret grudge,
And Hate-good was appointed for their judge.
Th' indictment stated, "They were foes to trade-
Schisms and commotions in the town had made;
That many to their party they had won,
And this against their law and prince had done."
Then Faithful answered, "Him that is Most High!
My spirit serves; while Satan I defy :
Commotions I abhor-a friend to peace;
If men are won, it is to righteousness."
The crier then proclaimed, "Let all draw near,
Who mean against the pris'ners to appear."
Envy came forward first, and first was sworn:
(He long had vowed to do him some ill turn.)
"My Lord, (said he,) this man I long have known,
And long has he disloyal notions sown.
Vile man he is, for all he canting saith,
And talks so plausibly about his faith.
My lord, he cries our ancient customs down-
Customs revered by every man in town;
(a) Those who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution. Not to love the world, &c., stirs up opposition.
Before his God, he says, they all must fall,
And saying thus, no doubt condemns us all."
Next, Superstition came and kissed the Book,
Fixing upon Faithful a most murdrous look:
"I know this fellow well; for t'other day,
In company, my lord, I heard him say,
That our religion, if to Scripture brought,
Was good for nothing, and would come to naught.
Against the light he thinks we all rebel-
In short, he says, we all shall go to hell."
Next, Pickthank rose, and said, "My noble lord,
And you, good gentlemen, observe my word:
I know the pris'ner, know how he defames
You, my good lord, and all the worthy names
Of our chief gentry; O, he hates the town,
And could he have his will, he'd pull it down."
Then spake the judge, "Base traitor, dost thou hear
The witness these good men against thee bear?
Speak for yourself, if aught you wish to say;
You don't deserve the favour, yet you may.'
Faithful replied, "My answer, sir, is this:
"Against my God, I've nothing done amiss;
Customs and laws against his Holy Word,
I must oppose, as hateful to my Lord;
Your reigning vices I must deem disgrace,
And fitter far for hell, than for this place."
The wicked jury join the judge, and cry,
"Faithful is guilty, let the traitor die."
With savage cruelty, his flesh they tear,
Lance it with knives, and prick it with a spear;
Then sorely scourged, he's fastened to a stake,
And burned to ashes, for his Saviour's sake.
Thus Faithful dies; his spirit dear to God,
Mounts swift to heaven, along the shining road. (a)
(a) Such characters as Hategood, Envy, Superstition and Pickthanks will readily be found, especially in time of persecution; such is the en mity of the carnal mind against God and his people; but how illustriously does the grace of God shine forth in supporting his suffering saints, and making them faithful unto death.
Christian in prison for a time retained,
Escapes their violence, so God ordained.
His liberty resumed, he moves along ;
The way beguiling with a cheerful song:
"Well, Faithful, thou hast faith fully professed
Unto thy Lord, with whom thou shalt be blessed
When faithless ones, whose joys are false and vain,
Are crying out with agony and pain.
Sing, Faithful, sing, and let thy name survive,
For though killed, truly thou art yet alive."
To be continued.
HAPPY DEATH OF MRS. BLAND.
THE Baptist Messenger gave the following cheering account of a painful dispensation:
On Wednesday morning, July 9th, Deborah, the beloved wife of Mr. S. K. Bland, Baptist Minister, of Cheshunt, fell asleep, aged 31 years.
The mysterious providence which has thus swiftly removed the wife and mother from that circle of promising happiness and usefulness-not one year since entered upon-is truly a dark cloud; but through the partings of the veil, the heavenly glory irradiates the prospect, and bids the monrners' hearts be still, for "God is his own interpreter, and he will make it plain."
After about six weeks' grievous suffering, her mind became alive to the solemn truth that her days were few upon the earth. Still the bonds of time were precious, and the lingering hopes of recovery remained and seemed to trammel the free resignation to the will of the Master.
But "His people shall be willing in the day of his power." That day came, and so came the will. On the Saturday preceding her removal, she feelingly told her husband, "I feel I cannot last long,
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