Christian meets with Faithful. Yea, snares, and pits, and traps, and nets, did lic Might have been catch'd, entangled, and cast down: Now as Christian went on his way, he came to a ittle ascent, which was cast up on purpose that pilgrims might see before them up there, therefore, Christian went; and looking forward, he saw Faithful before him upon his journey. Then said Christian aloud, "Ho, ho; soho; stay, and I will be your companion." At that Faithful looked behind him; to whom Christian cried again, "Stay, stay, till I come up to you." But Faithful answered, "No, I am upon my life, and the avenger of blood is behind me." At this Christian was somewhat moved, and putting to all his strength, he quickly got up with Faithful, and did also overrun him; so the last was first. Then did Christian vaingloriously smile, because he had gotten the start of his brother; but not taking good heed to his feet, he suddenly stumbled and fell, and could not rise again until Faithful came up to help him.c Employment, by twelve years imprisonment. Well might he say, when allegorically describing such an afflicted and trying situation, "Had it now been dark, as it was when Christian came the first part of his way, had he had a thousand souls, they had in reason been cast away: but as I said, just now, (or before this period of Mr. Bunyan's life,) the sun was rising. Then said he, His candle shineth on my head, and by his light I walk through darkness." The expressive lines which follow, are the retrospect of the various dangers to which Mr. Bunyan had been exposed. In these also he expressed the grateful feelings of his heart to the all-sufficient grace of Jesus, by which he had been supported, preserved, and delivered. All christians who feel properly will join him in singing, upon a recollection of the numerous instances of divine care and goodness which have been displayed in their protection, "But since I live, let Jesus wear the crown." b The contemplations of a deliverance from such dangers furnished M. Bunvan with a song of praise, which may be appropriately wing by those who have been brought out of the Valley of the Shadow of Death. • When a consciousness of superiority to other christians leads to Their Conversation. Then I saw in my dream, that they went very lov. ingly on together, and had sweet discourse of all things that had happened to them in their pilgrimage; and thus Christian began. CHR. My honoured and well beloved brother Faithful, I am glad that I have overtaken you, and that God has so tempered our spirits, that we can walk as companions in this so pleasant a path. FAITH. I had thought, dear friend, to have had your company quite from our town; but you did get the start of me: wherefore I was forced to come thus much of the way alone. CHR. How long did you stay in the City of Destruction, before you set out after me on your pilgrimage? FAITH. Till I could stay no longer; for there was great talk presently after you were gone out, that our city would, in a short time, with fire from heaven be burned down to the ground. CAR. What did your neighbours talk so? FAITH. Yes, it was for a while in every body's mouth. CHR. What! and did no more of them but you come out to escape the danger? FAITH. Though there was as I said, a great talk vainglory, a fall will be the consequence. But such a circumstance may be the occasion of exciting the compassion of others, and of leading them to acts of christian friendship; proving the truth of the maxim, "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour: for if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up," Eccles. iv. 9, 10. By bringing christians into company and conversation with each other, Mr. Bunyan has contrived to show the diversity which exists in their experiences, trials, and dispositions; and also that the prominent feature of a christian is "faithfulness," and that his chief duty is to be “faithful unto death," that he may receive "a crown of life," Rev. ii. 10. We have hitherto had the history of an individual and solitary christian; we shai: now see him acting out his character, as a "faithful" christian, a social and public life. The subsequent pages, ending with the asath of Faithful, exemplify the "work of faith;" and the remainder, to the end of the first part the " tience of hope," 1 Thess. i. 3. pati Conversation of Christian and Faithful. thereabout, yet I do not think they did firmly believe it. For in the heat of the discourse, I heard some of them deridingly speak of you, and of your desperate journey; for so they called this your pilgrimage. But I did believe, and do still, that the end of our city will be with fire and brimstone from above; and therefore I have made my escape." CHR. Did you hear no talk of neighbour Pliable? FAITH. Yes, Christian, I heard that he followed you till he came to the Slough of Despond; where, as some said, he fell in; but he would not be known to have so done; yet I am sure he was soundly bedaubed with that kind of dirt. CHR. And what said the neighbours to him FAITH. He hath since his going back, been had greatly ir derision, and that among all sorts of people: some de Lock and despise him, and scarce will any set him on work. He is now seven times worse off than if he had never gone out of the city. CHR. But why should they be so set against him, since they also despise the way that he forsook FAITH. O, they say, hang him; he is a turncoat; he was not true to his profession! I think God has stirred up even his enemies to hiss at him, and make him a proverb, because he hath forsaken the way. Jer. xxix. 18, 19. CHR. Had you no talk with him before you came out? d The exclamation of heathens respecting primitive believers will apply here; "See how these christians love one another."-The conversion of one notorious sinner in a town may lead to much serious talk for a time; but if persons continue in sin, they will very Boon despise those who profess religion. They who really believe that the wrath of God will come upon the children of disobedience will escape for their lives. Some persons are led into the ways of God by an abiding impression on their minds that they are exposed to danger, though they do not feel those deep convictions of sin which others have felt. It does not appear that Faithful had a “burden upon his back," as Christian had; but he was equally in the "narrow way which leadeth unto life." Conversation of Christian and Faithful. FAITH. I met him once in the street, but he leerea away on the other side, as one ashamed of what he had done; so I spake not to him. CHR. Well, at my first setting out, I had hopes of that man; but now I fear he will perish in the overthrow of the city. For it has happened to him according to the true proverb, "The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." 2 Pet. ii. 22. FAITH. They are my fears of him too; but who can hinder that which will be? CHR. Well, neighbour Faithful, said Christian, let us leave him, and talk of things that more immediately concern ourselves. Tell me now what you have inet with in the way, as you came; for I know you have met with some things, or else it may be writ for a wonder. FAITH. I escaped the slough that I perceived you fell into, and got up to the gate without that danger; only I met with one whose name was Wanton, who had like to have done me a mischief.. CHR. It was well you escaped her net: Joseph was hard put to it by her, and he escaped her as you did; but it had like to have cost him his life. Gen. xxxix. 11-13. But what did she do to you? FAITH. You cannot think (but that you know some * Pliable is again introduced, that the end of stony-ground hearers may be seen, and their conduct avoided. Ashamed of their former profession, and rendered seven times worse than ever by their apostasy, they are despised even by their companions in wickedness, and are made monuments of the divine displeasure. Afraid of meeting religious people, lest their sins should be brought to remembrance by faithful warnings and expostulations, they shun their company, and thus prove the truth of our Lord's proverb; they " are neither fit for the land nor yet for the dunghill. It had been Detter for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them," 2 Pet. ii. 21. The destruction of such persons, unless God give them repentance, will be so certain that none can prevent it. Faithful gives an Account of himself. thing) what a flattering tongue she had; she ay at me hard to turn aside with her, promising me all manner of content. CHR. Nay, she did not promise you the content of a good conscience. FAITH. You know that I mean all carnal and fleshly content. CHR. Thank God you have escaped her; the abhorred of the Lord shall fall into her pit. Prov. xxii. 14. FAITH. Nay, I know not whether I did wholly escape her, or not. CHR. Why, I trow, you did not consent to her desire? FAITH. No, not to defile myself; for I remembered an old writing that I had seen, which said, "Her steps take hold on hell." Prov. v. 5. So I shut my eyes, because I would not be bewitched with her looks. (Job xxxi. 1.) Then she railed on me, and I went my way.' CHR. Did you meet with no other assault as you came: FAITH. When I came to the foot of the hill called Difficulty, I met with a very aged man, who asked me what I was, and whither bound. I told him that I was a pilgrim, going to the Celestial City. Then said the old man, Thou lookest like an honest fellow; wilt thou be content to dwell with me, for the wages that I shall give thee? Then I asked him his name, and where he dwelt. He said his name was Adam the first, and that he dwelt in the town of Deceit. (Eph. iv. 22.) I asked him then, what was his work, and what the wages that he would give. He told me, that his work The experiences of real christians differ as to the means by which they are brought to a knowledge of their sinfulness and depravity. And they who, by their knowledge of the gospel, are led to trust in the Saviour without falling into despondency, may be exposed to defilements of a worse description. A wanton, alluring, and enticing woman is often the agent of the devil to draw the young convert into temptation; but all her flatteries and promises are in vain; for "whoso pleaseth God, shall escape from her," Eccles. vii. 26. |