The Childrens Hour, v 5 | Page 6

a man that was never
sanctified by the sweet Grace of the Gospel: the dust is his Original Sin and inward

Corruptions, that have defiled the whole Man. He that began to sweep at first, is the Law;
but She that brought water, and did sprinkle it, is the Gospel. Now, whereas thou sawest
that so soon as the first began to sweep, the dust did so fly about that the Room by him
could not be cleansed, but that thou wast almost choaked therewith; this is to shew thee,
that the Law, instead of cleansing the heart (by its working) from sin, doth revive, put
strength into, and increase it in the soul, as it doth discover and forbid it, but doth not
give power to subdue.
Again, as thou sawest the Damsel sprinkle the room with Water, upon which it was
cleansed with pleasure; this is to shew thee, that when the Gospel comes in the sweet and
precious influences thereof to the heart, then I say, even as thou sawest the Damsel lay
the dust by sprinkling the floor with Water, so is sin vanquished and subdued, and the
soul made clean, through the Faith of it, and consequently fit for the King of Glory to
inhabit.
I saw moreover in my Dream, that the Interpreter took him by the hand, and had him into
a little room, where sat two little Children, each one in his chair. The name of the eldest
was Passion, and the name of the other Patience. Passion seemed to be much discontent;
but Patience was very quiet. Then Christian asked, What is the reason of the discontent
of _Passion_? The Interpreter answered, The Governour of them would have him stay for
his best things till the beginning of the next year; but he will have all now; but Patience is
willing to wait.
Then I saw that one came to Passion, and brought him a bag of Treasure, and poured it
down at his feet, the which he took up and rejoyced therein; and withall, laughed
Patience to scorn. But I beheld but a while, and he had lavished all away, and had
nothing left him but Rags.
_Chr._ Then said Christian to the Interpreter, Expound this matter more fully to me.
_Inter._ So he said, These two Lads are Figures: Passion, of the Men of this World; and
Patience of the Men of that which is to come; for as here thou seest, Passion will have all
now this year, that is to say, in this world; so are the men of this world: they must have all
their good things now, they cannot stay till next year, that is, until the next world, for
their portion of good. That proverb, A Bird in the Hand is worth two in the Bush, is of
more authority with them then are all the Divine testimonies of the good of the World to
come. But as thou sawest that he had quickly lavished all away, and had presently left
him nothing but Raggs; so will it be with all such Men at the end of this World.
_Chr._ Then said Christian, Now I see that Patience has the best wisdom, and that upon
many accounts. 1. Because he stays for the best things. 2. And also because he will have
the Glory of his, when the other has nothing but Raggs.
_Inter._ Nay, you may add another, to wit, the glory of the next world will never wear out;
but these are suddenly gone. Therefore Passion had not so much reason to laugh at
Patience, because he had his good things first, as Patience will have to laugh at Passion,
because he had his best things last; for first must give place to last, because last must

have his time to come: but last gives place to nothing; for there is not another to succeed.
He therefore that hath his portion first, must needs have a time to spend it; but he that
hath his portion last, must have it lastingly; therefore it is said of _Dives, In thy Lifetime
thou hadest or receivedst thy good things, and likewise_ Lazarus _evil things; but now he
is comforted, and thou art tormented_.
_Chr._ Then I perceive 'tis not best to covet things that are now, but to wait for things to
come.
_Inter._ You say the Truth: For the things which are seen are Temporal; but the things
that are not seen are Eternal. But though this be so, yet since things present and our
fleshly appetite are such near neighbours one to another; and, again, because things to
come and carnal sense are such strangers one to another; therefore it is that the first of
these so suddenly fall into amity, and that distance