me leish PREFACE. R. BUNYAN, in his excellent M Apology prefixed to his Pil grim, has fully vindicated the Metaphorical Mode of conveying Inftruction: his Authorities are indubitablehis Arguments clear and conclufiveand the End he propofes, highly valuable and important: that is, that the Inftructions of Truth may ceived with Pleasure, and retained with an almost Impoffibility of Forgetfulness, through the deep Impreffion which Metaphor makes upon the Memory he fays, A 2 be re "Are "Art thou for fomething rare and profitable? This highly valuable and important End, is not likely to be anfwered in any great Degree, unless the Fable be well understood. Mr. BUNYAN was well aware of this, and being earnestly defirous to be fully understood, thus addreffes and counfels his Readers, in his admirable Conclufion of his Book, "Now, Reader, I have told my Dream to thee, "Put by the Curtains, look within my Veil, "Turn up my Metaphors, and do not fail: "There if thou seekeft them, such Things thoult find. "As will be helpful to an honest Mind." The Allegory often alludes to the Times in which the Author lived, and thofe which preceded it: alfo to the Maxims, Manners, Prejudices, and Big Bigotry of thofe Times, and the Sufferings of godly confciencious Perfons from these Sources. Readers who lived in, or foon after the Author's Day, could much better understand fuch Parts of his Allegory, than modern Readers can; unlefs it be thofe who have read and ftudied the Hiftory of those Times alluded to: to those who have not had thefe Advantage, it may be pleafing and profitable to be able to enter into the Author's Meanings. Many Parts of the Allegory, which have no fuch Allufion, are, however juft, very dark and mysterious; therefore difficult to understand, except by Perfons who were ufed to the Author's Miniftry, or who have ftudied his other Writings; by which Means, obtaining a Knowledge of his Mode of thinking, when he spoke or wrote without Metaphor, they became bet ter qualified than others to enter into his Similitudes. Let it be further obferved, that the Syftem of Chriftianity alluded to throughout the Allegory, is the Calviniftic, or as it is denominated in the prefent Day, Evangelic: and the Modes of Religion alluded to, are thofe of Nonconformity. Perfons unacquainted with the above Syftem of Doctrine, or Modes of Practice, must blunder exceedingly in attempting to explain the Author's Meaning. But the greatest and most important Bar to the Understanding of this Allegory, is, that the greater Part of it relates to Christian Experience, under different Difpenfations of Providence, and in different Situations of Mind. Shewing how the LORD, by his Spirit, instructs, leads, and guides his People; fupports and delivers them |