fo? Chr. What! did your Neighbours talk 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 faid, a great Talk thereabout, yet I do not think they did firmly believe it. For in the Heat of the Difcourfe, I heard fome of them deridingly fpeak of you and of your defperate Journey (for fo they called this your Pilgrimage): But I did believe, and do ftill, 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, Chriftian, I heard that he followed you 'till he came to the Slough of Defpond, where, as fome faid, he fell in: But he would not be known to have fo done: but I am fure he was foundly bedaubed with that Kind of Dirt. Chr. And what faid the Neighbours to him? got Home. Faith. He hath, fince his going back, How Pliable been had greatly in Derifion, and that was accounted among all Sorts of People; fome do mock of, when he and defpife him, and fcarce will any fet him on work. He is now feven Times worfe than if he had never gone out of the City. Chr. But why fhould they be so set against him, fince they alfo defpife the Way that he forfook ? G Faith. Faith. O, they fay, Hang him; he is a Turn-coat! he was not true to his Profeffion; I think God has ftirred up even Jer. 29. 18, his Enemies to his at him, and make him a Proverb, because he hath forfaken the Way. 19. 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 afhamed of what he had done: So I fpaket not to him. Chr. Well, at my firft fetting out, I had Hopes of that Man; but now I fear he will perish in the Overthrow of the City. 2 Pet. 2. 22. For it has happened to him according to The Dog and the true Proverb, The Dog is turned to his Vomit again; and the Sow that was washed, to her Wallowing in the Mire. the Sorv. + Faithful faulted by Wanton. Gen. 12, 13. 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 met with in the Way as you came: For I know you have met with fome Things, or elfe it may be writ for a Wonder. Faith. I efcaped the Slough that I perceived you fell into, and got up to the Gate without that Danger; only I met with one whofe Name was + Wanton, that had like to have done me a Mischief. Chr. It was well you efcaped her Net: Jofeph was hard put to it by her, and he efcaped her as you did; but it had like to to have cost him his Life. But what did The do to you? Faith. You cannot think (but that you know fomething) what a flattering Tongue fhe had; fhe lay at me hard to turn aside with her, promifing me all Manner of Content. Chr. Nay, fhe did not promife you the Content of a good Conscience. Faith. You know what I mean all carnal and fleshy Content. Chr. Thank God you have efcaped her : The Abhorred of the Lord fhall fall into Prov. 22. 14. her Ditch. Faith. Nay, I know not whether I did wholly escape her, or no. Chr. Why, I trow, you did not confent to her Defire? Faith. No, not to defile myfelf, for I remembered an old Writing that I had feen, Prov. 5. 5. which faid, Her Steps take hold of Heil. Job. 31. 1. So I fhut mine Eyes, because I would not be bewitched with her Looks: Then she railed on me, and I went my Way. Chr. Did you meet with no other Affault as you came? Faith. When I came to the Foot of the Hill called Difficulty, I met with a very aged Firft. Man, who afked me what I was? and whi- t He was ther bound? I told him, that I was a Pil- affaulted by grim, going to the Coeleftial City. Then Adam the faid the old Man, thou lookeft like an honest Fellow; wilt thou be content to dwell with me, for the Wages that I fhall give thee? Then I afked him his Name, and where he dwelt? He faid his Name was Adam the First, and that he dwelt in the G 2 Town Ephef. 4. 22. Town of Deceit. I asked him then, What was his Work? and what the Wages tha he would give? He told me, That his Work was many Delights; and his Wages, that I should be his Heir at laft. I farther afked, him, What House he kept, and what other Servants he had? So he told me, That his Houfe was maintained with all the Dainties in the World; and that his Servants were thofe of his own begetting. Then I asked how many Children he had? He faid, That he had but three Daugh1 John 2.16. ters, The Luft of the Flesh, The Luft of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life; and that I should marry one of them, if I would. Then I afked, How long Time he would have me live with him? And he told me, As long as he lived himself. Chr. Well, and what Conclufion came the old Man and you to at last? Faith. Why, at firft I found myself fomewhat inclinable to go with the Man, for I thought he spake very fair; but looking-in his Forehead, as I talked with him, I faw there written, Put off the old Man with his Deeds. Chr. And how then? Faith. Then it came burning hot into my Mind, whatever he faid, and however, he flattered, when he got me home to his House, he would fell me for a Slave. So I bid him forbear to talk, for I would not come near the Door of his Houfe. Then he reviled me, and told me, that he would fend fuch a one after me, that fhould-make my Way bitter to my Soul. So I turned to go away from him; but just as I turn red myself to go thence, I felt him take hold of my Flefh, and give me fuch a deadly Twitch back, that I thought he had pulled Part of me after himself: This made me cry, O wretched Man! So I went Rom. 7.24. on my Way up the Hill. Now when I had got above half way up I looked behind me, and faw one coming after me, swift as the Wind; fo he overtook me just about the Place where the Settle ftands. Chr. Juft there (faid Chriftian) did I set down to reft me; but being overcome with Sleep, I there loft this Roll out of my Bosom. Faith. But, good Brother, hear me out: So foon as the Man overtook me, he was but a Word and a Blow, for down he knocked me, and laid me for dead. But when I was a little come to myfelf again, I afked him, Wherefore he ferved me fo? He faid, Because of my fecret inclining to Adam the First: And with that he struck me another deadly Blow on the Breast, he beat me down backward; fo I lay at his Foot as dead as before. When I came to myself again, I cried him Mercy: But he said, I know not how to fhew Mercy; and with that knocked me down again. He had doubtless made an End of me, but that one came by, and bid him forbear. Chr. Who was that that bid him forbear? Faith. I did not know him at first; but as he went by I perceived the Holes in his Hands and in his Side: Then I concluded that he was our Lord. So I went up the Hill. G3 Chr. |