such and such a place; and so they meet with supplies.  Why, so are the sons of the great One; and he has allotted that we should travel beyond sea, or at a great distance from our Father’s house:  wherefore he has appointed that grace shall be provided for us, to supply at such a place, such a state or temptation, as need requires.  But withal, as my lord expeeteth his son should acquaint him with the present emptiness of his purse and with the difficulty he hath now to grapple with; so God our Father expects that we should plead by Christ our need at the throne of grace, in order to a supply of grace.  “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Then I saw in my dream that the Interpreter took Christian by the hand, and led him into a place where was a fire burning against a wall, and one standing by it always casting much water upon it to quench it; yet did the fire burn higher and hotter.

Then said Christian, “What means this?”

The Interpreter answered, “This fire is the work of grace that is wrought in the heart; he that casts water upon it to extinguish and put it out, is the devil; but in that thou seest the fire notwithstanding burn higher and hotter, thou shalt also see the reason of that.”  So he had him about to the backside of the wall, where he saw a man with a vessel of oil in his hand, of which he did also continually cast, but secretly, into the fire.

Then said Christian, “What means this?”

The Interpreter answered, “This is Christ, who continually with the oil of his grace maintains the work already begun in the heart; by the means of which, notwithstanding what the devil can do, the souls of his people prove gracious still. 2 Cor. 12:  9.  And in that thou sawest that the man stood behind the wall to maintain the fire; this is to teach thee that it is hard for the tempter to see how this work of grace is maintained in the soul.”

There is to be seen at the bottom of this holy river, the glory of God.  We are saved, saved by grace, saved by grace through the redemption that is in Christ, to the praise and glory of God.  And what a good bottom is here.  Grace will not fail, Christ has been sufficiently tried, and God will not lose his glory; therefore they that drink of this river, shall doubtless be saved; to wit, they that drink of it with a spiritual appetite to it.

It pleased God, for the glory of his wisdom, to make this the way; to wit, to set up grace to reign.  I have often thought, and sometimes said, If God will be pleased with any way, surely he will be pleased with his own.  Now this is the way of his own devising, the fruit and effect of his own wisdom.  Wherefore, sinner, please him, please him in that wherein he is well pleased; come to the waters, cast thyself into them and fear not drowning; let God alone to cause them to carry thee into his paradise, that thou mayest see his throne.