The application of all that is surely self-evident. For our way in a
holy life is always closely fenced up. It is far oftener a lonely way
than otherwise. And the steepness, sternness, and loneliness of our way
are all aggravated by the remembrance of our past sins and follies. They
still, and more and more, lie upon our hearts a heart-crushing burden.
But if we, like Christian, know how to keep our back to our former house
and our face to heaven, sooner or later we too shall surely come to the
cross. And then, either suddenly, or after a long agony, our burden also
shall be taken off our back and shut down into Christ's sepulchre. And I
saw it no more, says the dreamer. He does not say that its owner saw it
no more. He was too wise and too true a dreamer to say that.
It will be remembered that the first time we saw this man, with whose
progress to the Celestial City we are at present occupied, he was
standing in a certain place clothed with rags and with a burden on his
back. After a long journey with him, we have just seen his burden taken
off his back, and it is only after his burden is off and a Shining One
has said to him, Thy sins be forgiven, that a second Shining One comes
and strips him of his rags and clothes him with change of raiment.
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