THE
PILGRIM'S PROGRESS
Part
II
Section
6
Discourse
with Old Honest - character and history of Mr Fearing - Mr Self-will and
some professors - Gaius' house - conversation - the supper - Old Honest and
Great-Heart's riddles and discourse - Giant Slay-good killed - Mr
Feeble-mind's history - Mr Ready-to-halt - Vanity Fair - Mr Mnason's house
- cheering entertainment and converse - a Monster
MR
SELF-WILL AND SOME PROFESSORS
Now I saw that they still went
on in their talk; for after Mr. GREAT-HEART had made an end with Mr.
FEARING, Mr. HONEST began to tell them of another, but his name was Mr.
SELF-WILL. "He pretended himself to be a pilgrim," said Mr.
Honest; "but I persuade myself he never came in at the gate that stands
at the head of the way."
Great-heart.
Had you ever any talk with him about it?
Honest.
Yes, more than once or twice; but he would always be like himself,
self-willed. He neither cared for man, nor argument, nor yet example; what
his mind prompted him to, that he could do, and nothing else could he be got
to.
Great-heart.
Pray, what principles did he hold--for I suppose you can tell?
Honest.
He held that a man might follow the vices as well as the virtues of the
pilgrims; and that if he did both, he should be certainly saved.
Great-heart.
How? If he had said, 't is possible for the best to be guilty of the vices
as well as to partake of the virtues of pilgrims, he could not much have
been blamed; for, indeed, we are exempted from no vice absolutely, but on
condition that we watch and strive. But this I perceive is not the thing.
But, if I understand you right, your meaning is that he was of that opinion
that it was allowable so to be.
Honest.
Aye, aye, so I mean; and so he believed and practised.
Great-heart.
But what ground had he for his so saying?
Honest.
Why, he said he had the Scripture for his warrant.
Great-heart.
Prithee, Mr. HONEST, present us with a few particulars.
Honest.
So I will. He said--to have to do with other men's wives had been practised
by David, God's beloved; and therefore he could do it. He said--to have more
women than one was a thing that Solomon practised; and therefore he could do
it. He said--that Sarah and the godly midwives of Egypt lied, and so did
saved Rahab; and therefore he could do it. He said--that the disciples went
at the bidding of their Master, and took away the owner's ass; and therefore
he could do so too. He said--that Jacob got the inheritance of his father in
a way of guile and dissimulation; and therefore he could do so too.
Great-heart.
High bass, indeed! and you are sure he was of this opinion?
Honest.
I have heard him plead for it; bring Scripture for it; bring argument for
it, etc.
Great-heart.
An opinion that is not fit to be, with any allowance, in the world.
Honest.
You must understand me rightly. He did not say that any man might do this;
but, that those that had the virtues of those that did such things, might
also do the same.
Great-heart.
But what more false than such a conclusion? For this is as much as to say,
that because good men heretofore have sinned of infirmity, therefore he had
allowance to do it of a presumptuous mind. Or if because a child, by the
blast of the wind, or for that it stumbled at a stone, fell down and defiled
itself in mire--therefore he might wilfully lie down and wallow like a boar
therein. Who could have thought that anyone could so far have been blinded
by the power of lust? But what is written must be true: "They stumble
at the Word, being disobedient; whereunto also they were appointed".
"And
a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which
stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were
appointed." 1 Peter 2:8
His supposing that such may have the godly
man's virtues who addict themselves to their vices, is also a delusion as
strong as the other. 'T is just as if the dog should say, "I have, or
may have, the qualities of the child; because I lick up its stinking
excrements." To eat up the sin of God's people is no sign of one that
is possessed with their virtues.
"They
eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their
iniquity." Hosea 4:8
Nor can I believe that one that is of this
opinion can at present have faith or love in him. But I know you have made
strong objections against him; prithee, what can he say for himself?
Honest. Why, he says, "To do this by way of opinion, seems
abundance more honest than to do it, and yet hold contrary to it in
opinion."
Great-heart.
A very wicked answer; for though to let loose the bridle to lusts while our
opinions are against such things is bad: yet to sin, and plead a toleration
so to do, is worse. The one stumbles beholders accidentally; the other leads
them into the snare.
Honest.
There are many of this man's mind that have not this man's mouth; and that
makes going on pilgrimage of so little esteem as it is.
Great-heart.
You have said the truth; and it is to be lamented. But he that fears the
King of Paradise shall come out of them all.
Chris.
There are strange opinions in the world; I know one that said, 't was time
enough to repent when they come to die.
Great-heart.
Such are not over wise. That man would have been loath, might he have had a
week to run twenty miles in for his life, to have deferred that journey to
the last hour of that week.
Honest.
You say right; and yet the generality of them that count themselves
pilgrims, do indeed do thus. I am, as you see, an old man, and have been a
traveller in this road many a day; and I have taken notice of many things.
I have seen some that have set out as if
they would drive all the world afore them; who yet have, in a few days, died
as they in the wilderness, and so never got sight of the promised land.
I have seen some that have promised nothing at first setting out to be
pilgrims, and that one would have thought could not have lived a day, that
have yet proved very good pilgrims.
I have seen some that have run hastily forward, that again have, after a
little time, run just as fast back again.
I have seen some who have spoken very well
of a pilgrim's life at first, that, after awhile, have spoken as much
against it.
I have heard some, when they first set out
for paradise, say positively there is such a place; who, when they have been
almost there, have come back again, and said there is none.
I have heard some vaunt what they would do in case they should be opposed,
that have, even at a false alarm, fled faith, the pilgrim's way, and all.
Now as they were thus in their way, there
came one running to meet them, and said, "Gentlemen, and you of the
weaker sort, if you love life, shift for yourselves; for the robbers are
before you."
Great-heart.
Then said Mr. GREAT-HEART, "They be the three that set upon
LITTLE-FAITH heretofore. Well," said he, "we are ready for
them"; so they went on their way. Now they looked at every turning when
they should have met with the villains; but whether they heard of Mr.
GREAT-HEART, or whether they had some other game, they came not up to the
pilgrims.
At the House of Gaius
CHRISTIANA then wished
for an inn for herself and her children, because they were weary. Then said
Mr. HONEST, "There is one a little before us, where a very honourable
disciple, one GAIUS, dwells".
"Gaius
mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of
the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother." Romans 16:23
So they all concluded to turn in thither;
and the rather, because the old gentleman gave him so good a report. So when
they came to the door, they went in; not knocking, for folks used not to
knock at the door of an inn. Then they called for the master of the house;
and he came to them. So they asked if they might lie there that night.
Gaius.
"Yes, gentlemen, if you be true men; for my house is for none but
pilgrims." Then was CHRISTIANA, MERCY, and the boys the more glad; for
that the innkeeper was a lover of pilgrims. So they called for rooms: and he
showed them one for CHRISTIANA, and her children, and MERCY; and another for
Mr. GREAT-HEART and the old gentlemen.
Great-heart.
Then said Mr. GREAT-HEART, "Good GAIUS, what hast thou for supper ? for
these pilgrims have come far today, and are weary."
Gaius.
"It is late," said GAIUS, "so we cannot conveniently go out
to seek food; but such as we have, you shall be welcome to, if that will
content."
Great-heart.
We will be content with what thou hast in the house; for as much as I have
proved thee, thou art never destitute of that which is convenient.
Then he went down and spake to the cook,
whose name was TASTE-THAT-WHICH-IS-GOOD, to get ready supper for so many
pilgrims. This done, he comes up again, saying, "Come, my good friends,
you are welcome to me, and I am glad that I have a house to entertain you;
and while supper is making ready, if you please, let us entertain one
another with some good discourse." So they all said,
"Content."
Gaius.
Then said GAIUS, "Whose wife is this aged matron? and whose daughter is
this young damsel?"
Great-heart.
The woman is the wife of one CHRISTIAN, a pilgrim of former times; and these
are his four children. The maid is one of her acquaintance, one that she
hath persuaded to come with her on pilgrimage. The boys take all after their
father, and covet to tread in his steps. Yea, if they do but see any place
where the old pilgrim hath lain, or any print of his foot, it ministers joy
to their hearts, and they covet to lie or tread in the same.
Gaius. Then said GAIUS, "Is this CHRISTIAN'S wife, and are these
CHRISTIAN'S children? I knew your husband's father; yea, also his father's
father. Many have been good of this stock; their ancestors dwelt first at
Antioch.
"And
when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass,
that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much
people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch."
Acts 11:26
CHRISTIAN'S progenitors (I suppose you have
heard your husband talk of them) were very worthy men. They have, above any
that I know, showed themselves men of great virtue and courage for the Lord
of the pilgrims, his ways, and them that loved him. I have heard of many of
your husband's relations that have stood all trials for the sake of the
truth. STEPHEN, that was one of the first of the family from whence your
husband sprang, was knocked o' the head with stones.
"And
they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord,
lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell
asleep." Acts 7:59, 60
JAMES, another of this generation, was
slain with the edge of the sword.
"And
he killed James the brother of John with the sword." Acts 12:2
To say nothing of PAUL and PETER, men
anciently of the family from whence your husband came. There were--
IGNATIUS, who was cast to the lions; ROMANUS, whose flesh was cut by pieces
from his bones; and POLYCARP, that played the man in the fire. There was he
that was hanged up in a basket in the sun, for the wasps to eat; and he whom
they put into a sack, and cast him into the sea, to be drowned. 'T would be
impossible utterly to count up all of that family that have suffered
injuries and death for the love of a pilgrim's life. Nor can I but be glad
to see that thy husband has left behind him four such boys as these. I hope
they will bear up their father's name; and tread in their father's steps;
and come to their father's end.
Great-heart.
Indeed, sir, they are likely lads: they seem to choose heartily their
father's ways.
Gaius. That is it that I said, wherefore CHRISTIAN'S family is like
still to spread abroad upon the face of the ground, and yet to be numerous
upon the face of the earth. Wherefore let CHRISTIANA look out some damsels
for her sons, to whom they may be betrothed; that the name of their father,
and the house of his progenitors, may never be forgotten in the world.
Honest.
'T is pity this family should fall and be extinct.
Gaius.
"Fall, it cannot, but be diminished it may; but let CHRISTIANA take my
advice, and that's the way to uphold it. And, CHRISTIANA," said this
innkeeper, "I am glad to see thee and thy friend MERCY together here, a
lovely couple. And may I advise, take MERCY into a nearer relation to thee.
If she will, let her be given to MATTHEW, thy eldest son. 'T is the way to
preserve you a posterity in the earth." So this match was concluded;
and in process of time they were married. But more of that hereafter.
GAIUS also proceeded, and said, "I
will now speak on the behalf of women, to take away their reproach. For as
death and the curse came into the world by a woman, so also did life and
health: 'God sent forth his Son made of a woman'.
"Now
the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God
had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat
of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat
of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is
in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither
shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye
shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then
your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was
pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she
took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with
her; and he did eat.
And
the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were
naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And
they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of
the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD
God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and
said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the
garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And
he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the
tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man
said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the
tree, and I did eat.
And
the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast
done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the
LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art
cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly
shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will
put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it
shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Unto the woman he
said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou
shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband,
and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast
hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I
commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the
ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of
thy life;
Thorns
also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb
of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou
return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art,
and unto dust shalt thou return. And Adam called his wife's name Eve;
because she was the mother of all living. Unto Adam also and to his wife did
the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. And the LORD God said,
Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest
he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live
for ever:" Genesis 3:1-22
Yea, to show how much those that came after
did abhor the act of their mother, this sex, in the Old Testament, coveted
children, if happily this or that woman might be the mother of the Saviour
of the world. I will say again, that, when the Saviour was come, women
rejoiced in him before either man or angel.
"And
Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a
city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted
Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of
Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy
Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art
thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is
this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon
as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my
womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a
performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
And
Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God
my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for,
behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that
is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his
mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath
shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination
of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and
exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and
the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in
remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and
to his seed for ever." Luke 1:39-55
I read not that ever any man did give unto
Christ so much as one coin; but the women followed him, and ministered to
him of their substance. 'T was a woman that washed his feet with tears; and
a woman that anointed his body to the burial. They were women that wept when
he was going to the cross; and women that followed him from the cross; and
that sat by his sepulchre when he was buried. They were women that were
first with him at his resurrection morn; and women that brought tidings
first to his disciples that he was risen from the dead.
"And,
behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus
sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet
with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed
his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee
which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This
man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this
is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto
him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five
hundred pence, and the other fifty.
And
when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me
therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I
suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou
hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest
thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my
feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the
hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I
came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not
anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say
unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but
to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with
him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." Luke
7:37-50
"And
certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary
called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of
Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto
him of their substance." Luke 8:2, 3
"And
there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also
bewailed and lamented him." Luke 23:27
"Yea,
and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early
at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that
they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. Luke
24:22, 23
"And
when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no
wine." John 2:3
"(It
was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his
feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)" John 11:2
"Then
answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our
children. Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged
Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the
governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole
band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet
robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon
his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him,
and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and
took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked
him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and
led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man
of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. And when
they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a
skull,
They
gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof,
he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting
lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They
parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And
sitting down they watched him there; And set up over his head his accusation
written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves
crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they
that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that
destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself.
If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief
priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved
others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now
come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
He
trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I
am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the
same in his teeth. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the
land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud
voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God,
why hast thou forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that,
said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ran,
and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a
reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias
will come to save him. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice,
yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain
from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And
the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy
city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were
with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were
done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. And many
women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee,
ministering unto him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of
James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children. When the even was
come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself
was Jesus' disciple: He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then
Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the
body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb,
which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door
of the sepulchre, and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other
Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre." Matthew 27:25-61
Women, therefore, are highly favoured; and
show by these things that they are sharers with us in the grace of
life."
Now the cook sent up to signify that supper
was almost ready; and sent one to lay the cloth, the trenchers, and to set
the salt and bread in order.
Then said MATTHEW, "The sight of this
cloth, and of this forerunner of a supper, begets in me a greater appetite
to my food than I had before."
Gaius.
So let all ministering doctrines to thee in this life beget in thee a
greater desire to sit at the supper of the great King in his Kingdom; for
all preaching, books, and ordinances here, are but as the laying of the
trenchers, and as setting of salt upon the board, when compared with the
feast that our Lord will make for us when we come to his house.
So supper came up, and first a heave
shoulder and a wave breast was set on the table before them, to show that
they must begin their meal with prayer and praise to God
"And
the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for an heave
offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings. He among the sons of
Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall
have the right shoulder for his part. For the wave breast and the
heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the
sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the
priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of
Israel." Leviticus 7:32-34
"And
the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and
thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they be thy due, and thy
sons' due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings
of the children of Israel. The heave shoulder and the wave breast shall they
bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a
wave offering before the LORD; and it shall be thine, and thy sons' with
thee, by a statute for ever; as the LORD hath commanded." Leviticus
10:14, 15
"Unto
thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul." Psalms 25:1
"By
him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that
is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." Hebrews
13:15
With the heave shoulder David lifted up his
heart to God; and with the wave breast, where his heart lay, with that he
used to lean upon his harp when he played. These two dishes were very fresh
and good; and they all ate heartily well thereof.
The next they brought up was a bottle of
wine, red as blood. So GAIUS said to them, "Drink freely; this is the
juice of the true vine, that makes glad the heart of God and man." So
they drank and were merry.
"Butter
of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of
Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink
the pure blood of the grape." Deuteronomy 32:14
"And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth
God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?" Judges 9:13
"I
am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman." John 15:1
The next was a dish of milk well crumbed.
But GAIUS said, "Let the boys have that, that they may grow
thereby".
"Wherefore
laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all
evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that
ye may grow thereby:" 1 Peter 2:1, 2
Then they brought up in course a dish of
butter and honey. Then said GAIUS, "Eat freely of this; for this is
good to cheer up and strengthen your judgments and understandings. This was
our Lord's dish when he was a child: 'Butter and honey shall he eat; that he
may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good'".
"Butter
and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the
good." Isaiah 7:15
Then they brought them up a dish of apples;
and they were very good tasting fruit. Then said MATTHEW, "May we eat
apples, since they were such by and with which the serpent beguiled first
our mother?"
Then said GAIUS:
"Apples were they with which we were beguiled;
Yet sin, not apples, hath our souls defiled.
Apples forbid, if ate, corrupts the blood;
To eat such, when commanded, does us good.
Drink of his flagons, then, thou Church, his dove,
And eat his apples, who are sick of love."
Then said MATTHEW, "I made the scruple, because I, awhile since, was
sick with eating of fruit."
Gaius.
Forbidden fruit will make you sick; but not what our Lord has tolerated.
While they were thus talking, they were
presented with another dish, and 't was a dish of nuts.
"I
went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and
to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates
budded." Song of Solomon 6:11
Then said some at the table, "Nuts
spoil tender teeth, especially the teeth of children." Which when GAIUS
heard, he said:
"Hard texts are nuts (I will not call them cheaters),
Whose shells do keep their kernels from the eaters.
Ope, then, the shells; and you shall have the meat,-
They here are brought for you to crack and eat."
Then were they very merry, and sat at the table a long time, talking of many
things. Then said the old gentleman, "My good landlord, while we are
cracking your nuts, if you please, do you open this riddle:
"A man there was, though some did count him mad,
The more he cast away, the more he had."
Then they all gave good heed, wondering what good GAIUS would say; so he sat
still awhile, and then thus replied:
"He that bestows his goods upon the poor,
Shall have as much again and ten times more."
Then said JOSEPH, "I dare say, sir, I did not think you could have
found it out."
"Oh," said GAIUS, "I have
been trained up in this way a great while. Nothing teaches like experience;
I have learned of my Lord to be kind; and have found by experience that I
have gained thereby. 'There is that scatters, yet increases; and there is
that withholds more than is meet, but it tends to poverty.' 'There is that
makes himself rich, yet hath nothing; there is that makes himself poor, yet
hath great riches'".
"There
is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth
more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty." Proverbs 11:24
"There
is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that
maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches." Proverbs 13:7
Then SAMUEL whispered to CHRISTIANA his
mother, and said, "Mother, this is a very good man's house; let us stay
here a good while, and let my brother MATTHEW be married here to MERCY,
before we go any farther."
The which, GAIUS the host overhearing,
said, "With a very good will, my child."
So they stayed there more than a month; and
MERCY was given to MATTHEW to wife.
While they stayed here, MERCY, as her
custom was, would be making coats and garments to give to the poor; by which
she brought up a very good report about the pilgrims.
But to return again to our story. After supper, the lads desired a bed; for
that they were weary with travelling. Then GAIUS called to show them their
chamber; but said MERCY, "I will have them to bed." So she had
them to bed, and they slept well, but the rest sat up all night; for GAIUS
and they were such suitable company, that they could not tell how to part.
Then, after much talk of their Lord, themselves, and their journey, old Mr.
HONEST--he that put forth the riddle to GAIUS --began to nod. Then said
GREAT-HEART, "What, sir! you begin to be drowsy! come, rub up; now
here's a riddle for you."
Then said Mr. HONEST," Let's hear
it."
Then said Mr. GREAT-HEART:
"He that will kill must first be overcome;
Who live abroad would, first must die at home."
"Ha," said Mr. HONEST, "it is a hard one: hard to expound,
and harder to practise. But come, landlord," said he, "I will, if
you please, leave my part to you; do you expound it, and I will hear what
you say."
"No," said GAIUS, "'t was
put to you, and 't is expected that you should answer it."
Then said the old gentleman:
"He first by grace must conquered be
That sin would mortify;
And who that lives would convince me,
Unto himself must die."
"It is right," said GAIUS;
"good doctrine and experience teaches this.
For,
first, until grace displays itself, and overcomes the soul with its glory,
it is altogether without heart to oppose sin. Besides, if sin is Satan's
cords, by which the soul lies bound, how should it make resistance before it
is loosed from that infirmity?
"2. Nor will any that knows either reason or grace believe that such a
man can be a living monument of grace, that is a slave to his own
corruptions.
"And now it comes in my mind, I will
tell you a story worth the hearing. There were two men that went on
pilgrimage; the one began when he was young, the other when he was old. The
young man had strong corruptions to grapple with; the old man's were decayed
with the decays of nature. The young man trod his steps as even as did the
old one, and was every way as light as he: who now, or which of them, had
their graces shining clearest, since both seemed to be alike?"
Honest.
The young man's, doubtless. For that which heads it against the greatest
opposition, gives best demonstration that it is strongest: especially when
it also holds pace with that that meets not with half so much; as, to be
sure, old age does not.
Besides, I have observed that old men have
blessed themselves with this mistake: namely, taking the decays of nature
for a gracious conquest over corruptions; and so have been apt to beguile
themselves. Indeed, old men that are gracious, are best able to give advice
to them that are young; because they have seen most of the emptiness of
things. But yet, for an old and a young to set out both together, the young
one has the advantage of the fairest discovery of a work of grace within
him; though the old man's corruptions are naturally the weakest.
Thus they sat talking till break of day.
Now when the family was up, CHRISTIANA bade her son JAMES that he should
read a chapter: so he read the 53rd of Isaiah. When he had done, Mr. HONEST
asked why it was said, "That the Saviour is said to come out of a dry
ground; and also that he had no form nor comeliness in him?"
Great-heart.
Then said Mr. GREAT-HEART, "To the first I answer, Because the Church
of the Jews, of which Christ came, had then lost almost all the sap and
spirit of religion. To the second I say, The words are spoken in the person
of the unbelievers; who, because they want that eye that can see into our
Prince's heart, therefore they judge of him by the meanness of his outside.
"Just like those that know not that
precious stones are covered over with a homely crust; who, when they have
found one, because they know not what they have found, cast it away again,
as men do a common stone."
The
Pilgrim's Progress - Giant Slay-good killed
The
Pilgrim's Progress - Contents
