A Short History of a Long Travel from Babylon to Bethel by Stephen Crisp
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Stephen Crisp >> A Short History of a Long Travel from Babylon to Bethel
I then made haste, and got pretty near the light, and up I went the
second mountain; and when I came almost to the top of it, I saw many
serpents' dens and vipers' holes, both on the right hand and on the
left; and the venomous beasts drew near me, and hissed at me, and I
began to be in great fear, and trembled exceedingly. But many times,
when they were ready to sting me, the light would step in, or appear
betwixt me and them, and they were affrighted, and ran away into their
holes and dens.
[Illustration: I saw many serpents' dens and vipers' holes, both on
the right hand and on the left: and the venomous beasts drew near
me, and hissed at me, and I began to be in great fear, and trembled
exceedingly.]
Oh! when I perceived this, how did my heart leap for joy within me!
My joy abounded,--my fear of the serpents abated,--my love to my
kind and tender guide increased,--and my courage and confidence were
renewed,--and I began to believe I was in the right way to attain my
desire. So on I went, keeping my eye to the light through them all,
without harm, till I came to the top of the mountain; and then I saw
an exceeding large valley, so that I could not see the farther side of
it: it seemed to be all moors, or places of water, and bogs and mire
all over the valley, which began again to dishearten me; but, thought
I, what shall I do? All is well hitherto. I was strangely delivered
from the serpents; and whatever comes of it, if this light leave me
not, I will follow it, if it be through fire and water.
[Illustration: So that sometimes the light shined round about me, and
I walked in the shinings of it with great fulness of spirit.]
So I kept on, and went down the mountain, a gentle easy pace, and saw
many of those cruel creatures by the way, who put out their stings
at me, but none hurt me. And I took notice the nearer I kept to the
light, the more they kept from me. So I got down to the bottom of the
mountain, into the large valley, which was very green and pleasant
for a little way; but by and by, the light went toward a great moorish
ground full of water, and that I thought was very dangerous; but
coming just to the side of the place, I saw a small narrow path
through the middle of it, just broad enough for a man to go upon it;
and into that narrow way the light led me, and went before me. Whilst
I kept my eye steady to it, I went on safely: but if at any time I
began to gaze about, my feet slipt into the mire and puddles; and then
I had much ado to get into my way again. Had not the light kindly and
tenderly waited for me, I had lost sight of it, and had perished in
the way; for sometimes it was so far before me, that I could hardly
discern it; and then I would quicken my diligence, and be more careful
of my goings, and keep as close to it as I could; so that sometimes
the light shined round about me, and I walked in the shinings of it
with great fulness of spirit.
After a long time walking in this narrow way, I lifted up my eyes to
the farther side of the moorish valley, and saw beyond, that there was
a very high mountain, and on the top of it there was a great house:
at the sight of which I was greatly comforted, supposing that might be
the house I had for a long time sought.
[Illustration: For there were many who I perceived had been travelling
in that narrow way, and had fallen into the mire; some on the right
hand and some on the left, and they lay wallowing full of envy; some
plucking at me, to pull me in; others throwing mire and dirt upon me
to discourage me.]
But after this I met with another sore exercise: for there were many
who I perceived had been travelling in that narrow way, and had fallen
into the mire; some on the right hand and some on the left, and they
lay wallowing full of envy; some plucking at me, to pull me in; others
throwing mire and dirt upon me to discourage me: others would speak
very fair, on purpose to draw me into discourse with them, that whilst
thus spending my precious time, I might be cast so far behind, as to
lose the sight of my good guide. But I saw their evil designs, and was
aware of them. So, keeping in my narrow way till I came to the end of
the boggy valley, I then found firm ground under my feet, to my great
comfort. I had gone but a little way, when my guide, the light, went
into a narrow lane, well hedged on both sides; at which I was glad,
thinking I could not go wrong, and need not now take so much care. But
alas! I quickly found so many by-lanes, and ways, which lay almost as
straight forward as that I went in, that if it had not been for the
light, which went a little before me, I might certainly many times
have gone wrong; but by carefully keeping to my good guide, I at last
got up the mountain, and saw the house again. I then discerned a
man of that country a pretty way off, and called to him, friend, ho!
friend, what is the name of yonder great house? He told me the name of
it was BETHEL. Then I presently remembered that that was the name by
which the house of God was called in my father's country, where I had
heard the reports of it, and so earnestly set out to find it.
[Illustration: Drawing nearer to it. I saw it had a large outward
court, and a pretty large gate to go into it, so that a man might go
in with a large burden on his back.]
Oh! the joy and consolation that I felt in my soul, no tongue
can express,--to think that now after all my travels, perils and
disappointments, I had found what I sought for. So on I went,
journeying with joy unspeakable; and as I went, I viewed the outside
of the house: it was very large, and had but one tower; there was no
carved work about it, no paintings, nor any kind of device that could
be discerned; but all the stones were curiously joined together from
the top to the bottom. I also took notice, that all the stones of
the building were transparent, some more and some less; and I saw no
windows to let in light from without; and, drawing nearer to it, I saw
it had a large outward court, and a pretty large gate to go into it,
so that a man might go in with a large burden on his back. So, coming
to it, in I went; and there I saw many people that were very cheerful,
and appeared to live very pleasant lives. Some of them told me,
they had lived there many years, were well contented, and wanted for
nothing; for there was a mighty tree grew in the midst of the court,
and the fruit thereof was good, and the leaves also, and it bore fruit
all the year long. And many of them were so kind as to invite me to
sit down and eat with them; but that I refused; and they showed me a
great cistern, which they had hewn out to themselves, to catch water
from the elements; and they had made themselves convenient lodgings in
the sides of the court, to lodge in.
[Illustration: And when I was stripped stark naked as ever I was born,
I tried to enter, and found no great difficulty.]
But all this did not satisfy me; for I saw my beloved guide pass
through them all, and enter in at a little narrow door at the farther
side of it. Whereupon I left them, and made haste to the door, where
I saw my guide had entered; and I attempted to enter in thereat, but
could not, it was so strait; which put me in great sorrow of mind,
and what to do I knew not; my thoughts troubled me on every side, and
all ways I tried, but in vain. Oh! thought I, are all my troubles and
labours come to this? Must I be shut out at the last? What shall I do?
As I was thus perplexing myself, I thought I heard a voice, but knew
not from whence it came, which said, "Young man, strip thee of thy old
garments, and so thou mayest enter." This occasioned yet more trouble
of mind; for I was loth to go naked: but at last thought it better
to go in naked, than not at all. So I at last fell to stripping,
thinking that a few pitiful rags should not hinder me of so great an
enjoyment.--And when I was stripped stark naked as ever I was born,
I tried to enter, and found no great difficulty; and so soon as I was
entered, one met me, and cast a garment of pure white linen over me,
which reached to my feet; and he brought me into a narrow room and
said, "Rest here awhile." Then I lay me down in so much joy and
comfort as is impossible to be expressed; all things were so pleasant
about me, and my resting place was so delightful, and my heart was so
fully satisfied, that it overcame me with songs of joy. But I found
it my business to be still and quiet in my happy condition, that I was
come to enjoy.
[Illustration: As I was entered, one met me, and cast a garment of
pure white linen over me, which reached to my feet; and he brought me
into a narrow room and said, "Rest here awhile."]
I had not been long in this room, before I was called out to see the
beauty and comeliness of the house. As I walked through it, I found
every thing so clean and bright, that I was ravished in an admirable
manner. I also met with some people that welcomed me to the house
of God with such kindness as refreshed my heart: and as I came to
be acquainted with them, I marked their conversation, and their
discourses were exceedingly comfortable to me; no quarrelling, no
contention, no high nor hot words, but all passed with meekness and
reverence, and due respect one for another. The young men waited for
the words of the ancients, and the virgins carried a reverent respect
to the matrons; and there was an universal concord and unity, so that
I wondered greatly. One day as I was opening my mind to an ancient, I
told him I admired much, and wondered greatly at the universal concord
that I had taken notice of, beyond all I had met with in my life. He
said it must needs be so, and could not be otherwise, for that was
the guide to lead me hither, which had been the guide to them all. And
further told me, there could be no contention, but where two spirits
strove for mastery; but it was not so in this house. His answer was so
full and satisfactory to me, that I said no more to him at that time,
but went on viewing, and beholding the order of every thing I saw,
till my soul was filled, and I might say my cup did overflow. So that
my former labours and disappointments, sorrows and perils, did signify
nothing to me, having now a full reward, an hundred fold.
[Illustration: Then he that talked with me, told me it was my work to
teach the children so far as I knew, and had learned, and as far as I
should from time to time be further instructed.]
So I returned to my rest again, in a larger room than before, singing
praises to my God, and setting forth the praises of the house, and of
them that dwelt therein. And awhile after, I was called forth from
the room where I was, and told I was not brought to that place only
to take pleasure and delight therein; but there was work to be done,
and I must take my part of it, and be faithful and diligent in my
employment, to which I answered, it was enough that I had attained
my desires in being admitted into this heavenly place; but if there
was any business that I could do, I was willing to do it, be it what
it would; for it would be my greatest joy to do anything to the
advancement of the honour of the house of God, and them that dwell
therein. Then he that talked with me, told me it was my work to teach
the children so far as I knew, and had learned, and as far as I
should from time to time be further instructed. I was a little amazed
thereat, knowing my inabilities: but having a little pondered that
part of the sentence, that I should be from time to time further
instructed, I took courage in my work, and made some progress in it,
with great fear and reverence; waiting daily for those instructions I
was to receive, and which I did receive in an abundant manner; and the
work prospered in my hand, and the children loved me, and I loved them
entirely, as though they had been my own children: and many of them
grew up to a good understanding, and observed their places and orders
to my great delight.
[Illustration: And let none of them say, it happened better with me
than with many; for I have understood, since coming into this house,
that the same Light that appeared to me, doth appear to any poor
distressed soul in the whole world.]
After I had thus continued a while, he that talked with me came and
told me I must take the charge of part of the household, and give them
their meat in due season; and suit every one's meat, in dividing to
every one's state and condition, and not feed strong men with milk,
and babes with strong meat; for which purpose he gave me a key that
led into the treasury or store-house; which, when I came to see and
behold, was abundantly filled with all sorts of nourishments, that
never could be exhausted, or spent, while the world endured. And I
observed that whatever I and others took out to distribute daily
among the household of God, the store-house was still full as at the
beginning, and so continues to this day, and forever.
And now, having continued a long time in this heavenly habitation, it
comes into my mind to let my countrymen, and the children of my old
father, whom I left in Babylon, hear of me; for I suppose they judge
me lost or devoured; but I could be glad if any, yea, all of them,
were here to behold, and taste and feel what I do. And let none
of them say, it happened better with me than with many; for I have
understood, since coming into this house, that the same Light that
appeared to me, doth appear to any poor distressed soul in the whole
world; but the reason that so few come here is, because they fear the
perils and dangers that are in the way, more than they love the Light
that would lead them through them; and so turn aside, and shelter
themselves in an old rotten building, that at one time or other, will
fall on their heads, and they perish in the ruins.
[Illustration: So I went not, but sought a city whose builder is God;
and now I have found it; Hallelujah in the Highest; glory, honour,
and renown to his worthy Name and power, throughout all ages and
generations. Amen.]
Now if any have a mind to know my name, let them know I had a name
in my father's country, but in this long and tedious journey I have
lost it. But since I came hither I have a "new name," but have no
characters to signify it by, that I can write, or they can read. Yet
if any will come where I am, they shall know my name. But for further
satisfaction, I was born in Egypt, spiritually called; and my father
went and lived in Babylon, about the time the true children of Israel
were in captivity; there I became acquainted with some of the stock
of the Jews, about the time they were returning to their own land;
and they told me wonderful things of the glory of the house they had
at Jerusalem, and would have had me go with them. And I understood
that Solomon, with many thousands of carpenters and masons had built
it; upon which I considered within myself, that if Solomon and the
carpenters and masons had built it, carpenters and masons might at one
time or another pull it down again. So I went not, but sought a city
whose builder is God; and now I have found it; Hallelujah in the
Highest; glory, honour, and renown to his worthy Name and power,
throughout all ages and generations. _Amen_.