But it is before thee. Be
earnest, therefore, in the way. Look not behind thee. Go not into any
crooked way; and one day, before you know, and when you are not pulling
at it, your burden will fall off of itself. Be content to bear it till
then, says bold and honest Goodwill, speaking so true to pilgrim
experience. Yes; be content, O ye people of God, crying with this
pilgrim for release from your burden of guilt, and no less those of you
who are calling with Paul for release from the still more bitter and
crushing burden made up of combined guilt and corruption. Be content
till the place and the time of deliverance; nay, even under your burden
and your bonds be glad, as Paul was, and go up the narrow way, still
chanting to yourself, I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is
only becoming that a great sinner should tarry the Lord's leisure; all
the more that the greatest sinner may be sure the Lord will come, and
will not tarry. The time is long, but the thing is sure.
And now two lessons from Goodwill's gate:--
1. The gate was shut when Christian came up to it, and no one was
visible anywhere about it.
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