Christian congratulates Faithful The trials that those men do meet withal, And come, and come, and come again afresh ; O let the pilgrims, let the pilgrims then Be vigilant, and quit themselves like men CHR. I am glad, my brother, that thou didst withstand this villain so bravely; for of all, as thou sayest, I think he has the wrong name; for he is so bold as to follow us in the streets, and to attempt to put us to shame before all men; that is, to make us ashamed of that which is good. But if he were not himselt audacious, he would never attempt to do as he does. But let us still resist him; for notwithstanding all his bravadoes, he promoteth the fool, and none else: "The wise shall inherit glory," said Solomon: "but shame shall be the promotion of fools." (Prov. iii. 35.) FAITH. I think we must cry to him for help against Shame, that would have us be valiant for truth upon the earth. * Humiliating and trying outward circumstances do not affect all christians in the same manner. Pride will produce "discontent," when fleshly considerations prevail; but christian humility will be willing to go through trials in the way to honour. To feel ashamed of Christ is a most distressing frame of mind to a christian; but it is a temptation, especially to some persons who are peculiarly situated, which it is very difficult to shake off and resist. The poverty, illiteracy, and obscurity of many christians may be urged by "shame," as reasons why the rich, and learned, and noble should not keep them company; and why but few such, and these not till they became downright fools, ever did associate with them. They who resist "shame" with effect, must derive their arguments from religious considerations; recollecting that the things which are highly esteemed among men, are abomination in the sight of God. But nothing will succeed so effectually as fervent prayer; and they who conquer "shame" so far as not to be prevented from walking in the path of obedience, whatever it may expose them to, may be thankful themselves, and be congratulated by their fellowchristians. on his overcoming Shame. CHR. You say true; but did you meet with nobody else in that valley? FAITH. No, not I; for I had sunshine all the rest of the way through it, and also through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. CHR. It was well for you; I am sure it fared far otherwise with me. I had for a long season, as soon almost as I entered into that valley, a dreadful combat with that foul fiend Apollyon; yea, I thought verily he would have killed me, especially when he got me down, and crushed me under him, as if he would have crushed me to pieces; for as he threw me, my sword flew out of my hand; nay, he told me he was sure of me; but I cried to God, and he heard me, and delivered me out of all my troubles. Then I entered into the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and had no light for almost half the way through it. I thought I should have been killed there over and over; but at last day brake, and the sun rose, and I went through that which was behind with far more ease and quiet.' It is well for those christians whose faith is so strong as to en⚫ able them to overcome the world, and its chief temptations, without being entangled by its snares; to resist the corruptions of the heart, without being brought into captivity to the law of sin and death; to pass through the most afflictive circumstances, and the most trying dispensations, without dejection of mind, or overwhelming distress of soul; who constantly walk in the light of God's countenance, and in the enjoyment of his salvation; and who have sunshine almost all the way of their painful pilgrimage. Such highly favoured believers are represented in the experience of Faithful. But there are others who, like Christian, are exercised by heavy temptations, and who, though they struggle through them by the power of divine grace, can never forget "their affliction and their misery, the wormwood and the gall, but their souls have them still in remembrance, and are humbled in them," Lam. iii. 19, 20. We may say of the one, and the other, "Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted; but the rich, in that he is made low. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him," James ¡. 9-12. Christian and Faithful meet with Talkative. Moreover I saw in my dream, that as they went on, Faithful as he chanced to look on one side, saw a man whose name was Talkative, walking at a distance beside them; for in this place there was room enough for them all to walk. He was a tall man,. and something more comely at a distance than at hand. To this man Faithful addressed himself in this manner." FAITH. Friend, whither away? Are you going to the heavenly country? TALK. I am going to the same place. FAITH. That is well; then I hope we may have your good company? TALK. With a very good will, will I be your companion. FAITH. Come on then, and let us go together, and let us spend our time in discoursing of things that are profitable. TALK. To talk of things that are good, to me is very acceptable, with you, or with any other; and I am glad that I have met with those that incline to so good a work; for to speak the truth, there are m From the introduction of Talkative, we learn, that amongst evangelical Nonconformists, and that too at a period of persecution, there were persons who made themselves conspicuous, "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof," 2 Tim. iii. 5. and who, with all their knowledge, "held the truth in unrighteousness," Rom. i. 18. Though Talkative was among Christians, yet he was not of them;" he was " on one side" of the road, and "walking at a distance" from them: he was a person of a specious and imposing address, but not of a solid and genuine character. That awful apostate, John Child, who has been noticed in a former note, was exactly such a person as Mr. Bunyan here describes; a great talker about the doctrines of free grace, but a loose liver in his family, when at the height of his religious profession. It is an affecting fact, that some such characters may still be found in religious communities; but in general the observation of the apostle John is made good by their conduct, "They went out from us, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us," 1 John ii, 19. Conversation of Faithful and Talkative. but few that care thus to spend their time as they are in their travels, but choose much rather to be speaking of things to no profit: and this hath been a trouble to me. FAITH. That is indeed a thing to be lamented: for what thing so worthy of the use of the tongue and mouth of men on earth, as are the things of the God of heaven? TALK. I like you wonderfully well, for your sayings are full of conviction; and I will add, What thing is so pleasant, and what so profitable, as to talk of the things of God? What things so pleasant? that is, if a man hath any delight in things that are wonderful. For instance: if a man doth delight to talk of the history, or the mystery of things; or if a man doth love to talk of miracles, wonders, or signs; where shall he find things recorded so delightful, and so sweetly penued, as in the holy Scripture? FAITH. That is true; but to be profited by such things in our talk, should be our chief design. TALK. That is it that I said; for to talk of such things is most profitable; for by so doing, a man may get knowledge of many things; as of the vanity of earthly things, and the benefit of things above. Thus in general: but more particularly; by this a man may learn the necessity of the new birth; the insufficiency of our works; the need of Christ's righteousness, &c. Besides, by this a man may learn what it is to repent, to believe, to pray, to suffer, or the like: by this also a man may learn what are the great promises and consolations of the gospel, to his own comfort. Farther, by this a man may learn to refute false opinions, to vindicate the truth, and also to instruct the ignorant. FAITH. All this is true; and glad am I to hear these things from you. TALK. Alas! the want of this is the cause that so Christian and Faithful's Discourse few understand the need of faith, and the necessity of the work of grace in their soul, in order to eternal life; but ignorantly live in the works of the law, by which a man can by no means obtain the kingdom of heaven. FAITH. But, by your leave, heavenly knowledge of these is the gift of God; no man attaineth to them by human industry, or only by the talk of them. TALK., All this I know very well. For a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven: all is of grace, not of works. I could give you a hundred scriptures for the confirmation of this. FAITH. Well then, said Faithful, what is that one thing that we shall at this time found our discourse upon? TALK. What you will: I will talk of things heavenly, or things earthly; things moral, or things evangelical; things sacred, or things profane; things past, or things to come; things foreign, or things at home; things more essential, or things circumstantial; provided that all be done to our profit. FAITH. Now did Faithful begin to wonder; and stepping to Christian, (for he walked all this while by himself,) he said to him, but softly, What a brave companion have we got! Surely this man will make a very excellent pilgrim." CHR. At this Christian modestly smiled, and said, n Conscious of his own integrity, the faithful christian does not suspect the integrity of others, and is therefore very liable to be imposed upon by loquacious and fawning hypocrites; especially if the doctrines of grace are exalted, and a knowledge of the Scriptures discovered. Nor is it wonderful that serious persons should feel delighted with spiritual conversation, and with the prospect of such surprising powers being employed in the service of the church. It reflects no disgrace to be deceived by those who wear a mask for the purpose of disguising their real characters; and evangelical sentiments, when held by one of an unsanctified heart, and uttered by a smooth and apparently humble tongue, are the most complete disguise in which a wicked man can appear. |