enter therein he saw also that in the doorway stood many men in armour, to keep it, being resolved to do to the men that would enter what hurt and mischief they could. Now was Christian somewhat in amaze at last, when every man started back, for fear of the armed men, Christian saw a man of a very stout countenance come up to the man that sat there to write, saying, "Set down my name, sir:" the which when he had done, he saw the man draw his sword, and put an helmet upon his head, and rush toward the door upon the armed men, who laid upon him with deadly force; but the man, not at all discouraged, fell to cutting and hacking most fiercely. So, after he had received and given many wounds to those that attempted to keep him out, he cut F 34 CHRISTIAN AND THE MAN IN THE IRON CAGE. his way through them all, and pressed forward into the palace (Acts xiv. 22); at which there was a pleasant voice heard from those that were within, even of those that walked upon the top of the palace, saying, "Come in, come in; Eternal glory thou shalt win." So he went in, and was clothed with such garments as they. Then Christian smiled, and said, "I think, verily, I know the meaning of this." "Now," said Christian, "let me go hence." "Nay, stay," said the Interpreter, "till I have shewed thee a little more, and after that thou shalt go on thy way." So he took him by the hand again, and led him into a very dark room, where there sat a man in an iron cage. Now, the man, to look on, seemed very sad. He sat with his eyes looking down to the ground, his hands folded together, and he sighed as if he would break his heart. Then said Christian, "What means this?" At which the Interpreter bid him talk with the man. CHR. Then said Christian to the man, "What art thou?" MAN. The man said, "I was once a fair and flourishing professor, both in mine own eyes and also in the eyes of others: I once was, as I thought, fair for the Celestial City, and had then even joy at the thoughts that I should get thither" (Lu. viii. 13). CHR. Well, but what art thou now? MAN. I am now a man of despair, and am shut up in it, as in this iron cage. I cannot get out; oh, now I cannot. 38 36 CHRISTIAN AND THE MAN IN THE IRON CAGE. CHR. But how camest thou in this condition? MAN. I left off to watch and be sober; I laid the reins upon the neck of my lusts; I sinned against the light of the word, and the goodness of God; I have grieved the Spirit, and he is gone; I tempted the devil, and he is to come to me; I have provoked God to anger, and he has left me; I have so hardened my heart, that I cannot repent. Then said Christian to the Interpreter, "But is there no hopes for such a man as this ?" "Ask him," said the Interpreter. CHR. Then said Christian, "Is there no hope, but you must be kept in the iron cage of despair?" MAN. No, none at all! CHR. Why? the Son of the Blessed is very pitiful. MAN. I have crucified him to myself afresh (Heb. vi. 6), I have despised his person (Lu. xix. 14), I have despised his righteousness, I have counted his blood an unholy thing, I have done despite to the Spirit of grace (Heb. x. 26-29): therefore I have shut myself out of all the promises, and there now remains to me nothing but threatenings, dreadful threatenings, fearful threatenings of certain judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour me as an adversary. CHR. For what did you bring yourself into this condition? MAN. For the lusts, pleasures, and profits of this world; in the enjoyment of which I did then promise myself much delight : but now every one of those things also bite me and gnaw me like a burning worm. CHR. But canst thou not now repent and turn? MAN. God hath denied me repentance. His word gives me no encouragement to believe: yea, himself hath shut me up in this iron cage; nor can all the men in the world let me out. O eternity! eternity! how shall I grapple with the misery that I must meet with in eternity! INTERP. Then said the Interpreter to Christian, "Let this man's misery be remembered by thee, and be an everlasting caution to thee." CHR. "Well," said Christian, "this is fearful! God help me |