The travels of true godliness. From the beginning of the world to this present…

But lo, I looked, and behold a good Way off, I espied another glorious Train followed, in the midst of which I plainly discerned, amongst others (whose Glory was so great, I could not behold them) these following, viz. Immortality, Incorruption, Perfection, Glorious Victory, Heavenly-Triumph, the Beatific-Vision, Rivers of Pleasure, the Tree of Life, the King in his Beauty, a white Throne, Mansions of Glory, the Holy City New-Jerusalem, the Streets whereof were paved with pure Gold; a Crown of Righteousness, which so glistered that it dazzled mine Eyes in such a Sort, that I could not look downwards like some Men ever since: Moreover, I saw Millions of Millions of glorified Saints, coming amongst the holy Cherubim and Seraphim, and all the Host of Heaven, with Palms and Harps in their Hands, singing Alleluia, to God and the Lamb; they made such Melody, that it was enough to ravish one's Soul, and leave no Heart nor Spirit in us to the empty Things of this World.

But lo, I look'd, and behold a good Way off, I espy'd another glorious Train followed, in the midst of which I plainly discerned, amongst others (whose Glory was so great, I could not behold them) these following, viz. Immortality, Incorruption, Perfection, Glorious Victory, Heavenly-Triumph, the Beatifick-Vision, Rivers of Pleasure, the Tree of Life, the King in his Beauty, a white Throne, Mansions of Glory, the Holy City New-Jerusalem, the Streets whereof were pav'd with pure Gold; a Crown of Righteousness, which so glister'd that it dazled mine Eyes in such a Sort, that I could not look downwards like some Men ever since: Moreover, I saw Millions of Millions of glorified Saints, coming amongst the holy Cherubim and Seraphim, and all the Host of Heaven, with Palms and Harps in their Hands, singing Alleluia, to God and the Lamb; they made such Melody, that it was enough to ravish one's Soul, and leave no Heart nor Spirit in us to the empty Things of this World.

Now the two first glorious Companies, who attend true Godliness here, these entered in with him immediately; ⟨p. 141⟩and the other Glories Thoughtful was sure of possessing after a few Days; so that he was wonderfully fortified against all domestic Commotions, or foreign approaching Dangers whatsoever; for he could not but expect new Troubles would be raised against him, both from within and without: And so indeed it suddenly came to pass; for Apollyon, the cursed Prince of Darkness, first raised up all his scattered Forces, which still remained within, who lurked in Holes and secure Corners of his House; for particularly Old-man, tho' he was dangerously wounded, his Head broke, and he laid bleeding, yet it appears he was not quite dead, yet was committed close Prisoner, under the Charge of one of Godliness's Servants, called Holy Revenge; and tho' he had a strict Command to kill him, yet he saw he could not presently do it; by which Means it fell out, that in a little Time he seemed to revive again; and poor Thoughtful thereby was continually plagued with indwelling Sin to his dying Day, which was a great Grief to him, and a Hindrance also to True Godliness at all Times; and the worst of all was, that Inward Corruption, alias Old Man, alias Body of Sin, getting too great Power by the Treachery of Mrs. Heart, and Apollyon the Prince of Darkness; they laying before him the manifold Evils and Remissness in holy Duties, persuaded him, that he harboured in his House an Enemy to True Godliness, called Hypocrisy, and that he was like, upon that Account, to lose all his Hopes here, and that Happiness which Godliness assured him of hereafter; and had not Sincerity came in with Godliness, he had been utterly undone; but, as God would have it, Self-clearing, by the Help of poor Conscience, made it appear to him, that Hypocrisy was not hid in his House, nor in the least countenanced by him; for,