I saw then in my dream, that they went on in this their solitary ground, till they came to a place at which a man is apt to lose his way.  Now, though when it was light their guide could well enough tell how to miss those ways that led wrong, yet in the dark he was put to a stand; but he had in his pocket a map of all ways leading to or from the celestial city; wherefore he struck a light—­for he never goes without his tinder-box also—­and takes a view of his book or map, which bids him be careful in that place to turn to the right hand..  And had he not been careful to look in his map, they had in all probability been smothered in the mud; for just a little before them, and that at the end of the cleanest way too, was a pit, none knows how deep, full of nothing but mud, there made on purpose to destroy the pilgrims in.  Then thought I with myself, Who that goeth on pilgrimage but would have one of these maps about him, that he may look when he is at a stand which is the way he must take?

If we consider that our next state must be eternal, either eternal glory or eternal fire, and that this eternal glory or this eternal fire must be our portion according as the word of God revealed in the holy Scriptures shall determine, who will not but conclude that therefore the words of God are they at which we should tremble, and they by which we should have our fear of God guided and directed? for by them we are taught how to please him in every thing.

“Noah drank of the wine and was drunken.”  The Holy Ghost, when it hath to do with sin, loves to give it its own name; drunkenness must be drunkenness, murder must he murder, and adultery must bear its own name.  Nay, it is neither the goodness of the man, nor his being in favor with God, that will cause him to lessen or mince his sin.  Noah was drunken; Lot lay with his daughters; David killed Uriah; Peter cursed and swore in the garden, and also dissembled at Antioch.  But this is not recorded to the intent that the name of these godly should rot, but to show that the best men are nothing without grace, and that “he that standeth should not be high-minded, but fear.”  Yea, they are also recorded for the support of the tempted, who, when they are fallen, are oft raised up by considering the infirmities of others.  “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

God’s word has two edges; it can cut back-stroke and fore-stroke:  if it do thee no good, it will do thee hurt; it is the savor of life unto life to those that receive it, but of death unto death to them that refuse it.

I do find in most such a spirit of idolatry concerning the learning of this world and wisdom of the flesh, and God’s glory so much stained and diminished thereby, that had I all their aid and assistance at command, I durst not make use of aught thereof, and that for fear lest that grace and those gifts that the Lord hath given me, should be attributed to their wits, rather than to the light of the word and Spirit of God.  Wherefore I will not take of them from a thread to a shoe-latchet, lest they should say, We have made Abraham rich.