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CHRISTIAN SEES THE DANGERS HE HAD ESCAPED. 127

ley, the way was all along set so full of snares, traps, gins, and nets, here, and so full of pits, pitfalls, deep holes, and shelvings down, there; that had it been dark, as it was when he came the first part of the way, had he had a thousand souls, they had in reason been cast away: but, as I said, just now the sun was rising. Then said he, "His candle shineth on my head, and by his light I go through darkness."(a)

In this light therefore he came to the end of the valley. Now I saw in my dream, that at the end of this valley lay blood, bones, ashes, and mangled bodies of men, even of pilgrims that had gone this way formerly and while I was musing what should be the reason, I spied a little before me a cave, where two giants, Pope and Pagan,* dwelt in old time; by whose power and tyranny the men, whose bones, blood, ashes, &c. lay there, were cruelly put to death. But by this place Christian went without much danger, whereat I somewhat wondered; but I have learnt since, that Pagan has been dead many a day; and, as for the other, though he be yet alive, he is, by reason of age, and also of the many shrewd brushes that he met with in his younger days, grown so crazy and stiff in his joints, that he now can do little more than sit in his cave's mouth, grinning at pilgrims as they go by, and biting his nails because he cannot come at them.

So I saw that Christian went on his way: yet, at the sight of the old man that sat in the mouth of the cave,

• The inhabitants of this kingdom are not thought to be in any immediate danger, either from Pope or Pagan Yet something like the philosophical part of paganism seems to be rising from the dead, while popery grows more infirm than ever: and as, even by the confession of the late King of Prussia, who was a steady friend to the philosophical infidels, 66 they are by no means favourable to general toleration;" it is not improbable (says the Rev. Mr. Scott) but Pagan persecution may also in due time revive. Our author, however, has described no other persecution than what Protestants in his time carried on against each other with very great alacrity.

(a) Job xxix. 3.

128

CHRISTIAN'S SONG.

he could not tell what to think; especially because he spake to him, though he could not go after him, saying, "You will never mend till more of you be burned." But he held his peace, and set a good face on it, and so went by and catched no hurt.* Christian,

Then sang

"O world of wonders! (I can say no less)
That I should be preserv'd in that distress
That I have met with here! O blessed be
That hand that from it hath deliver'd me!
Dangers in darkness, devils, hell, and sin,
Did compass me while I this vale was in:
Yea, snares, and pits, and traps, and nets, did lie

My path about, that worthless silly I

Might have been catch'd, entangled, and cast down:
But since I live, let Jesus wear the crown.”

Nothing shall harm us while we are followers of that which is good. This every faithful soul can testify-for the Lord will give grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly. Such are the inestimable blessings consequent on steadfastly fighting the good fight of faith-The real Christian, amidst all his temptations, shall hold on his way, while his whole soul sings-" Let Jesus wear the crown."

Then let my soul arise,

And tread the tempter down >
My captain leads me forth

To conquest and a crown.

A feeble saint shall win the day,
Tho' death and hell obstruct the way.

WATTS..

CHRISTIAN OVERTAKES FAITHFUL.

129

CHAPTER XI.

CHRISTIAN MEETS WITH AN EXCELLENT COMPANION IN FAITHFUL, WITH WHOM HE HAS MUCH PROFITABLE CONVERSATION.

Now as Christian went on his way, he came to a little 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! so ho! stay, and "I will be your companion." At that Faithful looked behind him; to whom Christian cried, "Stay, stay, till I come 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 over-run him; so the last was first. Then did Christian vain-gloriously 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.‡

Then I saw in my dream they went very lovingly on together, and had sweet discourse of all things that had happened to them in their pilgrimage: and thus Christian began :

My honoured and well-beloved brother Faithful, I am glad that I have overtaken you; and that God has

* The Lord cares for his people: he has cast up, by means of his word and promises, many a little hill of prospect and comfort in their way, that they may look forward with pleasure and delight.

† It is good to beware and be jealous of what company we fall into. Many have joined hurtful professors instead of profitable pilgrims.

How soon doth spiritual pride shew its cursed head, in thinking we have outstripped another! Then danger is near, a fall is at hand, if we hum ble not ourselves before the Lord. The very person's hand we need to help ns, whom we had frequently undervalued.

130

THEY CONVERSE ABOUT THEIR CITY.

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.

CHR. What! and 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 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 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; but I am sure he was soundly bedaubed with that kind of dirt.

CHR. And what said the neighbours to him?

* This episode, so to speak, with others of the same kind, gives our author a happy advantage of varying the characters and experiences of Christians, as found in real life; and of thus avoiding the common fault of making one man a standard for others, in the circumstances of his religious progress.

This is the case with every pilgrim. From the powerful convictions which he has from above, of his state and danger, he is urged by necessity to flee from the wrath to come.

CHRISTIAN INQUIRES CONCERNING PLIABLE. 131

FAITH. He hath since his going back been had greatly in derision, and that among all sorts of people; some do mock and despise him, and scarce will any set him on work. He is now seven times worse than if he had never gone out of the city.

CHR. But why should they be so set against him, since they also despised 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.(a)

CHR. Had you no talk with him before you came out?

FAITH. I met him once in the streets, but he leered 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 hath happened to him according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his vomit again; and the sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire."(b)

FAITH. They are my fears of him too but who can hinder that which will be?

Well, neighbour Faithful, said Christian, let us leave him, and talk of things that more immediately concern ourselves. Tell me now what you have met 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 dan

Apostates from the profession of Christ cannot look his followers bold. ly in the face, some convictions will follow them, till their hearts are har dened, and their consciences seared.

(a) Jer. xxix. 18, 19.

(b) 2 Pet. ii. 22.

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