Christian and Hopeful meet Ignorance - Turn-away - Little-Faith - the Flatterer - the net - chastised by a Shining One - Atheist - Enchanted Ground - Hopeful's account of his conversion - discourse of Christian and Ignorance
Ignorance From Conceit
nd I slept, and dreamed again; and saw the same
two pilgrims going down the mountains, along the highway towards the City.
Now, a little below these mountains, on the left hand, lies the country
of "Conceit"; from which country there comes a little crooked lane into
the way in which the pilgrims are walking. So here they met with a very
brisk lad, that came out of that country; and his name was IGNORANCE. So
CHRISTIAN asked him, "From what parts he had come from? and where he was
going?"
Ignorance. Sir, I was born in the country that lies off there, a little on the left hand side; and I am going to the Celestial City.
Chr. But how do you think to get in at the gate; for you may find some difficulty there?
Ign. "As other good people do," he said.
Chr. But what have you got to show at that gate that may cause the gate to be opened to you?
Ign. I know my Lord's will, and I have led a good life: I pay every man his own; I pray, fast, pay tithes, and give alms, and have left my country for where I am going.
Chr. But you did not come in at the wicket gate that is at the start of this way; you came in here through this crooked lane: and therefore I fear, whatever you may think of yourself, when the day of reckoning comes, you will have laid to your charge, that you are a thief and a robber, instead of getting admittance into the City.
Ign. Gentlemen, you are utter strangers to me, I do not know you; be content to follow the religion of your country, and I will follow the religion of mine. I hope all will be well. And as for the gate that you talk of, all the world knows that that is a great way off from our country. I doubt that any man in all our parts knows so much as the way to it; nor need they worry whether they do or not, since we have, as you see, a fine pleasant green lane, that comes down from our country the nearest way into it.
When CHRISTIAN saw that the man was wise in his own conceit, he said to HOPEFUL whisperingly, "There is more hope for a fool than for him".
"Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him." Proverbs 26:12
And said, as well, "When he that is a fool walks along the way, his wisdom fails him; and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
"Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows everyone that he is a fool." Ecclesiastes 10:3
What! shall we talk further with him? or go ahead of him at present, and so leave him to think of what he has heard already; and then stop again for him afterwards, and see if by degrees we can do any good for him?" Then HOPEFUL answered:
"Let IGNORANCE a little while now muse
On what is said; and let him not refuse
Good counsel to embrace, lest he remain
Still ignorant of what's the chiefest gain.
God saith 'Those that no understanding have
(Although he made them) them he will not save.'"
Hope. He further added, "It is not good, I think, to say all to him at once; let us pass him by if you will, and talk to him later, even as he is able to bear it."
So they both went on; and IGNORANCE came after. Now when they had passed him a little way, they entered into a very dark lane; where they met a man whom seven devils had bound with seven strong cords, and were carrying of him back to the door that they saw in the side of the hill.
"Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation." Matthew 12:45
"His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin." Proverbs 5:22
Now good CHRISTIAN began to tremble, and so did HOPEFUL his companion;
yet as the devils led away the man, CHRISTIAN looked to see if he knew him,
and he thought it might be one TURN-AWAY, that dwelt in the town of Apostasy.
But he did not perfectly see his face, for he hung his head like a thief
that is found; but having gone past, HOPEFUL looked behind him, and noticed
a paper on his back with this inscription, "Wanton professor, and damnable
apostate."
The Story of Little-Faith
hen CHRISTIAN
said to his fellow, "Now I call to remembrance that which was told me
of a thing that happened to a good man around here. The name of the man
was LITTLE-FAITH; but a good man, and he dwelt in the town of Sincere. The
thing was this: at the entering in of this passage, a lane comes down from
Broadway gate called Deadman's Lane; so called because of the murders that
are commonly commited there. And this LITTLE-FAITH going on pilgrimage,
as we do now, happened to sit down there, and slept. Now there happened,
at that time, to come down the lane from Broadway gate three sturdy rogues,
and their names were FAINT-HEART, MISTRUST, and GUILT (three brothers);
and they, noticing where LITTLE-FAITH was, came galloping up to him with
speed. Now the good man had just awaken from his sleep, and was getting
up to go on his journey; so they all came up to him, and, with threatening
language, told him to stand still. At this, LITTLE-FAITH looked as white
as a clout; and had neither the power to fight nor run. Then said FAINT-HEART,
'Deliver your purse;' but because he did not rush to do it (for he was loath
to lose his money), MISTRUST ran up to him, and thrusting his hand into
his pocket, pulled out a bag of silver. Then he cried out, 'Thieves! thieves!'
With that, GUILT, struck LITTLE-FAITH on the head with a great club that
was in his hand, and with that blow felled him flat to the ground; where
he lay bleeding, as one that would bleed to death. All this while the thieves
stood by; but at last, hearing that others were on the road, and fearing
lest it should be one GREAT-GRACE, that dwells in the city of Good-confidence,
took to their heels, and left this good man to move himself. Now, after
a while, LITTLE-FAITH came to himself; and getting up, clamboured on his
way. This was the story."
Hope. But did they take from him all that ever he had?
Chr. No; they never ransacked the place where his jewels were, so he still kept those; but, as I was told, the good man was much afflicted because of his loss, for the thieves got most of his spending money. That which they did not get (as I said) were jewels; also he had a little odd money left, but scarcely enough to bring him to his journey's end;
"Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" 1 Peter 4:18
no (unless I was misinformed), he was forced to beg as he went, to keep himself alive (for he could not sell his jewels). But beg, and do what he could, he went (as we say) "with many a hungry belly" the most part of the rest of the way.
Hope. But is it not a wonder they did not get his certificate from him by which he was to receive his admittance at the Celestial Gate?
Chr. It is a wonder that they did not get it, though it was not through any good cunning of his that they missed it; for being dismayed with their coming upon him, he had neither power nor skill to hide anything: so it was more by good providence than by his endeavour that they missed that good thing.
"With the help of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard what has been entrusted to you." 2 Timothy 1:14
"So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while punishing the wicked right up until the day of judgment." 2 Peter 2:9
Hope. But it must be a comfort to him that they did not get his jewels from him.
Chr. It might have been great comfort to him, had he used them as he should; but they that told me the story, said, That he made but little use of them all the rest of the way; and that because of the dismay that he had in their taking away of his money: indeed, he forgot them a great part of the rest of the journey. And besides, when at any time it came into his mind, and he began to be comforted with this, then fresh thoughts of his loss would come upon him again; and those thoughts would swallow up everything else.
Hope. Alas, poor man, this could not be but a great grief to him.
Chr. Grief! Yes, a grief indeed; would it not have been so to any of us, had we been treated as he, to be robbed and wounded too, and that in a strange place, as he was? It is a wonder he did not die with grief, poor heart! I was told, that he spread nothing but doleful and bitter complaints almost all the rest of the way. Also telling all that overtook him, or that he overtook in the way as he went, where he was robbed, and how; who they were that did it, and what he lost; how he was wounded, and that he hardly escaped with his life.
Hope. But it is a wonder that his necessities did not cause him to sell or pawn some of his jewels, that he might have whatever to relieve himself in his journey.
Chr. You talk like one whose head is in the shell to this very day; for how should he pawn them? or to whom should he sell them? In all that country where he was robbed his jewels were of no account, nor did he want that relief which could be administered to him from there; besides, had his jewels been missing at the gate of the Celestial City, he would (and that he knew well enough) have been excluded from an inheritance there; and that would have been worse to him than the appearance and villainy of ten thousand thieves.
Hope. Why are you so sour with me, my brother? Esau sold his birthright, and that for a bowl of stew; and that birthright was his greatest jewel:
"Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau. He traded his birthright as the oldest son for a single meal." Hebrew 12:16
and if he did it, why might not LITTLE-FAITH do so too?
Chr. Indeed, Esau did sell his birthright, and so do many besides; and by so doing, exclude themselves from the chief blessing, as also that knave did. But you must put a difference between Esau and LITTLE-FAITH; and also between their estates. Esau's birthright was typical; but LITTLE-FAITH'S jewels were not so. Esau's belly was his god; but LITTLE-FAITH'S belly was not so.
"'Look, I’m dying of starvation!' said Esau. 'What good is my birthright to me now?'" Genesis 25:32
Esau's desire lay in his fleshly appetite; but LITTLE-FAITH'S did not. Besides, Esau could not see further than to the fulfilling of his lusts: "For I am about to die," he said; "and what good will this birthright do me?" But LITTLE-FAITH, though it was his lot to have but a little faith, was by his little faith kept from such extravagances, and made to see and prize his jewels more than to sell them, as Esau did with his birthright. You do not read anywhere that Esau had faith, no, not so much as a little: therefore do not marvel, if where only the flesh bears sway (as it will in the man where no faith is to resist), if he sells his birthright, and his soul and all, and that to the devil of hell; for it is with such as it is with the ass, who in her time of mating cannot be turned away.
"A wild donkey used to the wilderness, That sniffs at the wind in her desire; In her time of mating, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves; In her month they will find her." Jeremiah 2:24
When their minds are set upon their lusts, they will have them, whatever they cost. But LITTLE-FAITH was of another temper, his mind was on things divine; his livelihood was upon things that were spiritual, and from above: therefore, to what end should he that is of such a temper sell his jewels (had there been any that would have bought them), to fill his mind with empty things? Will a man give a penny to fill his belly with hay? or can you persuade the turtledove to live upon carrion, like the crow? Though faithless ones can, for carnal lusts, pawn, or mortgage, or sell what they have, and themselves outright to boot; yet they that have faith, saving faith, though but a little of it, cannot do so. Here, therefore, my brother, is your mistake.
Hope. I acknowledge it; but even so, your severe reproach had almost made me angry.
Chr. Why, I only compared you to some of the birds that are of the brisker sort, who will run to and fro in trodden paths with a shell on their heads; but leave that and consider the matter under debate, and all shall be well between you and me.
Hope. But, CHRISTIAN, those three fellows, I am persuaded in my heart, are but a company of cowards: otherwise why do you think they would have run as they did at the noise of one that was coming on the road? Why did not LITTLE-FAITH pluck up more courage? He might, I think, have stood one brush with them, and have yielded when there had been no other remedy.
Chr. Many have said that they are cowards, but few have found it so in the time of trial. As for more courage, LITTLE-FAITH had none; and I perceive by you, my brother, had you been the man concerned, you are but for a brush with them, and then to yield. And, truly, since this is the height of your stomach now they are at a distance from us, should they appear to you, as they did to him, they might cause you to have second thoughts as well.
But consider again--they are but journeymen-thieves, they serve under the king of the bottomless pit; who, if need be, will come to their aid himself, and his voice is like that of a roaring lion.
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8
I myself have been engaged as this LITTLE-FAITH was; and I found it a terrible thing. These three villains set upon me; and I beginning like a Christian to resist, they gave but a call, and in came their master: I would, as the saying is, have given my life for a penny; but, as God would have it, I was clothed with armour that had been proven. Yes, and yet, though I was so well equipped, I found it hard work to stand up and fight like a man; no man can tell what happens in that kind of combat, but he that has been in the battle himself.
Hope. Well, but they ran, you see, when they only supposed that one GREAT-GRACE was in the way.
Chr. True, they have often fled, both they and their master, when GREAT-GRACE has simply appeared; and no wonder, for he is the King's champion: but I believe you will put some difference between LITTLE-FAITH and the King's champion; all the King's subjects are not his champions; nor can they, when tried, do such feats of war as he. Is it right to think that a little child should handle Goliath as David did? or that there should be the strength of an ox in a wren? Some are strong, some are weak; some have great faith, some have little: this man was one of the weak; and therefore he went to the wall.
Hope. I wish it had been GREAT-GRACE for their sakes.
Chr. If it had been he, he might have had his hands full: for I must tell you, that though GREAT-GRACE is excellent with his weapons, and has done--and can do, so long as he keeps them at sword's point--well enough with them; yet if they get within him, even FAINT-HEART, MISTRUST, or the other, it shall go hard with him and they will throw up his heels. And when a man is down, you know--what can he do?
Whoever looks closely upon GREAT-GRACE'S face, shall see those scars and cuts there, that clearly demonstrate what I say. Yes, once I heard that he said (and that when he was in the battle), "We despaired even of life." Did not these sturdy rogues and their fellows make David groan, moan, and roar? Yes, Heman and Hezekiah too, though champions in their day, were forced to stir themselves up when assaulted by these; and yet, that notwithstanding, they had their coats soundly brushed by them. Peter once willed to go and try what he could do; but, though some do say of him that he is the Prince of the Apostles, they handled him so that they made him at last afraid of a sorry girl.
Besides, their king is at their whistle, he is never out of hearing; and if at any time they are put to the worst, he, if possible, comes in to help them. And of him it is said, "The sword of him that lays at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the coat of mail. He esteems iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee; slingstones are turned with him into stubble. Darts are counted as stubble; he laughs at the shaking of a spear".
"Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail; Nor does spear, dart, or javelin. He regards iron as straw, And bronze as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee; Slingstones become like stubble to him. Darts are regarded as straw; He laughs at the threat of javelins." Job 41:26-29
What can a man do in this case? It is true, if a man could at every turn have Job's horse, and had skill and courage to ride him, he might do notable things. For "his neck is clothed with thunder; he will not be afraid as the grasshopper; the glory of his nostrils is terrible. He paws in the valley, rejoices in his strength, and goes out to meet the armed men. He mocks at fear, and is not frightened, neither turns back from the sword. The quiver rattles against him; the glittering spear, and the shield. He swallows the ground with fierceness and rage; neither believes he that it is the sound of the trumpet. He says among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smells the battle afar off, the thundering of the captains, and the shouting".
"“Have you given the horse strength? Have you clothed his neck with thunder? Can you frighten him like a locust? His majestic snorting strikes terror. He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; He gallops into the clash of arms. He mocks at fear, and is not frightened; Nor does he turn back from the sword. The quiver rattles against him, The glittering spear and javelin. He devours the distance with fierceness and rage; Nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet has sounded. At the blast of the trumpet he says, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle from afar, The thunder of captains and shouting." Job 39:19-25
But for such footmen as you and I are, let us never desire to meet with an enemy, nor brag as if we could do better, when we hear of others that have been foiled; nor be tickled at the thoughts of our own manhood, for such commonly come off the worst when tried. Witness Peter, of whom I made mention before. He would swagger, yes he would: he would, as his vain mind prompted him to say, do better, and stand more for his Master, than all men; but who was so foiled and run down by these villains as he?
Therefore, when we hear that such robberies are done on the king's highway, two things become us to do; first, to go out dressed for battle, and to be sure to take a shield with us; for it was for lack of that, that he who so lustily attacked Leviathan, could not make him yield. For, indeed, if that is missing, he fears us not at all. Therefore he that had skill has said, "Above all, take the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked".
"above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." Ephesians 6:16
It is also good that we desire a convoy of the King, even that he will go with us himself. This made David rejoice when in the Valley of the Shadow of Death; and Moses was for dying where he stood, rather than to go one step without his God.
"Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here." Exodus 33:15
Oh, my brother, if he will but go along with us, what need we be afraid of ten thousands that shall set themselves against us? but without him, the proud helpers fall under the slain.
"I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah" Psalm 3:5-8
"The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war should rise against me, In this I will be confident." Psalm 27:1-3
"'Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners, And they shall fall among the slain.' For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still." Isaiah10:4
I, for my part, have been in the fray before now; and though (through the goodness of him that is best) I am, as you see, alive, yet I cannot boast of my manhood. I shall be glad if I meet with no more such brunts; though I fear we are not yet beyond all danger. However, since the lion and the bear has not as yet devoured me, I hope God will also deliver us from the next uncircumcised Philistine.
Then sang Christian:
"Poor LITTLE-FAITH! hast been among the thieves?
Wast robbed? Remember this: whoso believes,
And gets more faith, shall then a victor be
Over ten thousand, else scarce over three."
The Flatterer
o they
went on, and IGNORANCE followed. They went then till they came to a
place where they saw a way joined itself into their way, and also seemed
to lie as straight as the way which they should go; and here they knew not
which of the two to take, for both seemed straight before them; therefore
they stood still here to consider. And as they were thinking about the way,
behold a man, black of flesh, but covered with a very light robe, came to
them and asked them, "Why they stood there?" They answered, "They were going
to the Celestial City, but knew not which of these ways to take." "Follow
me!" said the man; "it is there that I am going." So they followed him in
the way that now came into the road, which by degrees turned and turned
them from the city that they desired to go to, that in a little time their
faces were turned away from it; yet they followed him. But by and by, before
they were aware, he led them both within the compass of a net, in which
they were both so entangled that they knew not what to do; and with that
the white robe fell off the black man's back: then they saw where they were.
So there they lay crying some time; for they could not get themselves out.
Chr. Then said CHRISTIAN to his fellow, "Now I see myself in an error. Did not the shepherds warn us to beware of the flatterers? As is the saying of the wise man, so we have found it this day: 'A man that flatters his neighbour spreads a net for his feet'".
"A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet." Proverbs 29:5
Hope. They also gave us a map of directions about the way, for our more certain finding of it; but we have also forgotten to read that, and have not kept ourselves from the paths of the destroyer. Here David was wiser than we; for he said, "Concerning the works of men, by the word of Your lips I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer."
"Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer." Psalms 17:4
Thus they lay bewailing themselves in the net. At last they saw a shining one coming towards them, with a whip of small cord in his hand.
When he came to the place where they were, he asked them where they came from? and what they were doing there? They told him, "That they were poor pilgrims going to Zion; but were led out of their way by a black man clothed in white, who bid us," they said, "follow him; for he was going there too." Then he with the whip said, "It is FLATTERER, a false apostle, that has transformed himself into an angel of light".
"A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet." Proverbs 29:5
"Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. " Daniel 11:32
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light." 2 Corinthians 11:13, 14
So he tore open the net, and let the men out. Then he said to them, "Follow me, that I may set you in your way again." So he led them back to the way which they had left to follow the Flatterer. Then he asked them, saying, "Where did you stay the last night?" They said, "with the shepherds upon the Delectable Mountains." He asked them then, "If they had received from those shepherds a map for the way?" They answered, "Yes." "But did you," he asked, "when you were at a standstill, take out and read your map?" They answered, "No." He asked them why? They said they forgot. He also asked, "If the shepherds warned them to beware of the Flatterer?" They answered, "Yes; but we did not imagine," said they, "that this fine spoken man could be him."
"For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple." Romans 16:18
Then I saw in my dream that he commanded them to lie down;
"Then it shall be, if the wicked man deserves to be beaten, that the judge will cause him to lie down and be beaten in his presence, according to his guilt, with a certain number of blows." Deuteronomy 25:2
which when they did, he chastised them sorely to teach them the good way in which they should walk.
"When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them, then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance." 2 Chronicles 6:26, 27
And as he chastised them, he said "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; therefore be zealous, and repent".
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: therefore be zealous , and repent." Revelation 3:19
This done, he told them to go on their way, and take notice of the other directions of the shepherds. So they thanked him for all his kindness; and went softly along the right way, singing:
"Come hither, you that walk along the way;
See how the pilgrims fare that go astray!
They catched are in an entangling net,
'Cause they good counsel lightly did forget.
'Tis true they rescued were; but yet you see
They're scourged to boot. Let this your caution be!"
Atheist
ow after
awhile, they noticed afar off one coming softly and alone, all along
the highway, to meet them. Then CHRISTIAN said to his fellow, "Ahead is
a man with his back toward Zion; and he is coming to meet us."
Hope. I see him; let us pay attention now, lest he should prove a flatterer also.
So he drew nearer and nearer; and at last came up to them. His name was ATHEIST; and he asked them where they were going?
Chr. We are going to the Mount Zion.
Then ATHEIST fell into a very great laughter.
Chr. What is the meaning of your laughter?
Atheist. I laugh to see what ignorant persons you are, to take upon yourselves so tedious a journey, and yet are likely to end up with nothing but your travel for your pains.
Chr. Why, man; do you think we shall not be received?
Ath. Received! There is no such place as you dream of in all this world.
Chr. But there is in the world to come.
Ath. When I was at home in my own country, I heard as you now affirm, and from that hearing went out to see; and have been seeking this city these twenty years, but I have found no more of it than I did the first day I set out.
"Indeed they say to me, “Where is the word of the Lord? Let it come now!" Jeremiah 17:15
"The labor of fools wearies them, For they do not even know how to go to the city!" Ecclesiastes 10:15
Chr. We have both heard and believe that there is such a place to be found.
Ath. Had I not believed when at home, I would not have come this far to seek; but finding none (and yet had there been such a place to be found, I should have found it, for I have gone to seek it further than you). I am going back again, and will seek to refresh myself with the things that I then cast away for hopes of that which I now see are not.
Chr. Then CHRISTIAN said to HOPEFUL, his fellow, "Is it true what this man has said?"
Hope. "Take heed, he is one of the flatterers; remember what it has cost us once already for listening to such kind of fellows. What! no Mount Zion! did we not see from the Delectable Mountains the gate of the city? Also, are we now not to walk by faith? Let us go on," said HOPEFUL; "lest the man with the whip overtake us again. You should have taught me that lesson, which I will now pound into your ears: 'Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causes to err from the words of knowledge.' I say, my brother, cease to hear him, and let us believe to the saving of the soul".
"Cease listening to instruction, my son, And you will stray from the words of knowledge." Proverbs 19:27
"But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul." Hebrews 10:39
Chr. My brother, I did not put the question to you because I doubted the truth of our belief myself; but to prove you, and to fetch from you a fruit of the honesty of your heart. As for this man, I know that he is blinded by the god of this world: let you and I go on, knowing that we have belief of the truth, and "no lie is of the truth".
"I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth." 1 John 2:21
Hope. Now do I rejoice in hope of the glory of God!
So they turned away from the man; and he, laughing at them, went his way.
The Enchanted Ground
saw then
in my dream, that they went till they came into a certain country, whose
air naturally tended to make one drowsy, if he came as a stranger into it.
And here HOPEFUL began to be very dull and heavy of sleep; and so he said
to CHRISTIAN, "I am beginning to grow so drowsy, that I can scarcely keep
my eyes open; let us lie down here and take a nap."
Chr. "By no means," said the other; "lest sleeping, we never again awake."
Hope. Why, my brother, sleep is sweet to the labouring man; we may be refreshed if we take a nap.
Chr. Do you not remember that one of the shepherds directed us to beware of the Enchanted Ground? He meant by that, that we should beware of sleeping; therefore let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober.
"Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober." 1 Thessalonians 5:6
Hope. I acknowledge myself in a fault; and had I been here alone, I had, by sleeping, run the danger of death. I see it is true what the wise man said, "Two are better than one".
"Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor." Ecclesiastes 4:9
Up till now your company has been my mercy; and you shall have a good reward for your labour.
Chr. "Now," then said CHRISTIAN, "to prevent drowsiness in this place, let us fall into some good discussion."
Hope. "With all my heart," said the other.
Chr. Where shall we begin?
Hope. Where God began with us. But you begin, if you please.
Chr. I will first sing you this song.
"When saints do sleepy grow, let them come hither,
And hear how these two pilgrims talk together;
Yea, let them learn of them, in any wise,
Thus to keep open their drowsy, slumbering eyes.
Saint's fellowship, if it be managed well,
Keeps them awake; and that in spite of hell."
Chr. Then CHRISTIAN began, and said, "I will ask you a question. How did you at first think to do what you are now doing?"
Hope. Do you mean, how did I first come to look after the good of my soul?
Chr. Yes, that is my meaning.
Hope. I continued a great while in the delight of those things which are seen and sold at our fair; things which, as I believe now, would have (had I continued in them still) drowned me in perdition and destruction.
Chr. What things were they?
Hope. All the treasures and riches of the world. Also I delighted much in rioting, revelling, drinking, swearing, lying, uncleanness, Sabbath-breaking, and what not, that tended to destroy the soul. But I found at last, by hearing and considering things that are divine, which indeed I heard of you--as also of beloved FAITHFUL, that was put to death for his faith and good living in Vanity Fair--that the end of these things is death; and that because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience.
"What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:21-23
"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience." Ephesians 5:6
Chr. And did you immediately fall under the power of this conviction?
Hope. No: I was not willing to know the evil of sin right away, nor the condemnation that follows when one commts it; but endeavoured, when my mind at first began to be shaken with the word, to shut my eyes against the light of it.
Chr. But why did you behave in such a manner when the first workings of God's blessed Spirit came upon you?
Hope. The reasons were,--
- I was ignorant that this was the work of God upon me. I never thought that, by awakenings for sin, God at first begins the conversion of a sinner.
- Sin was yet very sweet to my flesh; and I was loath to leave it.
- I could not tell how to part with my old companions; their presence and actions were so desirable to me.
- The hours in which convictions were upon me were so troublesome and frightening that I could not bear, no, not so much as the remembrance of them upon my heart.
Chr. Then, as it seems, sometimes you got rid of your trouble.
Hope. Yes, surely; but it would come into my mind again, and then I would be as bad--no, worse--than I was before.
Chr. Why, what was it that brought your sins to mind again?
Hope. Many things: as,--
- If I simply met a good man in the streets; or,
- If I heard anything read in the Bible; or,
- If my head began to ache; or,
- If I was told that some of my neighbours were sick; or,
- If I heard the bell toll for someone that had died; or,
- If I thought of dying myself; or,
- If I heard that sudden death happened to others.
- But especially, when I thought that I myself must soon come to Judgment.
Chr. And could you at any time easily get off the guilt of sin, when it came upon you by any of these ways?
Hope. No, not in the end; for then they got such a hold of my conscience. And then, if I simply thought of going back to sin (though my mind was turned against it), it would be double torment to me.
Chr. So what did you do then?
Hope. I thought I must endeavour to reform my life; or else, I thought, I am sure to be damned.
Chr. And did you endeavour to change?
Hope. Yes; and not only fled from my sins, but sinful company too; and took up religious duties, such as praying, reading, weeping for sin, speaking truth to my neighbours, and so on. These things I did, and many others, too much to relate here.
Chr. And did you think you was in the right then?
Hope. Yes, for a while; but at last my trouble came tumbling upon me again, and that over the neck of all my reformations.
Chr. How did that come about, since you were now reformed?
Hope. There were several things that brought it to my attention, especially such sayings as these: "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." "By the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." "When you have done all things, say, We are unprofitable:"
"But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away." Isaiah 64:6
"knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified." Galatians 2:16
"So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’" Luke 17:10
and many more like them. From these I began to reason with myself this way: If all my righteousnesses are filthy rags; if by the deeds of the law no man can be justified; and if, when we have done all, we are yet unprofitable: then it is but folly to think of heaven by the law. I further thought thus: If a man runs up a debt of 100 pounds with a shopkeeper, and after that pays for all that he takes; yet if his old debt still stands uncrossed in the book, the shopkeeper may sue him for that, and cast him into prison until he has paid the debt.
Chr. Well, and how did you apply this to yourself?
Hope. Why, I reasoned with myself: I have by my sins run a great debt in God's book, and that my reforming now will not pay off that score; therefore I should recognise, even with all my present amendments, how shall I be freed from the damnation that I have brought myself in danger of by my former transgressions?
Chr. A very good application; but pray go on.
Hope. Another thing that has troubled me, even since my late amendments, is, that if I look narrowly into the best of what I do now, I still see sin, new sin, mixing itself with the best of that I do. So that now I am forced to conclude, that notwithstanding my former fond conceits of myself and duties, I have committed enough sin in one day to send me to hell, even had my former life been faultless.
Chr. So what did you do then?
Hope. Do! I could not tell what to do, till I brought my mind to FAITHFUL; for he and I were well acquainted: and he told me, "That unless I could obtain the righteousness of a Man that never had sinned, neither my own nor all the righteousness of the world could save me."
Chr. And did you think he spoke true?
Hope. Had he told me this when I was pleased and satisfied with my own amendments, I would have called him a fool for his pains; but now, since I see my own infirmity, and the sin that cleaves to my best performance, I have been forced to agree with him.
Chr. But did you think, when he first suggested it to you, that there was such a man to be found, of whom it might justly be said, that he never committed sin?
Hope. I must confess the words sounded strange at first; but after a little more talk and company with him, I was fully convinced about it.
Chr. And did you ask him who this man was, and how you must be justified by him?
Hope. Yes; and he told me it was the Lord Jesus, who dwells at the right hand of the Most High
"And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 'This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,' then He adds, 'Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.' Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin." Hebrews 10:11-18
"What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:'Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.'Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, 'I have made you a father of many nations') in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, 'So shall your descendants be.' And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore 'it was accounted to him for righteousness.' Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him," Romans 4:1-23
"For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister." Colossians 1:9-23
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials," 1 Peter 1:3-6
"And so," he said, "you must be justified by him, even by trusting in what He has done by himself in the days of his flesh, and suffered when he hung on the tree." I asked him further, "How that Man's righteousness could be that effective, to justify another before God?" And he told me, "He was the mighty God, and did what he did, and died the death also, not for himself, but for me; to whom his actions, and the worthiness of them, should be imputed, if I believed on him."
Chr. And what did you do then?
Hope. I made my objections against my believing, for I thought he was not willing to save me.
Chr. And what did FAITHFUL say to you then?
Hope. He told me to go to him, and see. Then I said, "It was presumption;" but he said, "No; for I was invited to come".
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
Then he gave me a book of Jesus' writing, to encourage me the more freely to come; and he said concerning that book, That every jot and tittle of it stood firmer than heaven and earth.
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away." Matthew 24:35
Then I asked him, what must I do when I came; and he told me, I must enreat the Father upon my knees, with all my heart and soul, to reveal him to me.
"O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker." Psalm 95:6
"Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days." Daniel 6:10
"Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:12,13
Then I asked him further, "How can I make my request to him?" and he said, "Go, and you shall find him upon a mercy seat, where he sits all the year long to give pardon and forgiveness to them that come."
"And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel." Exodus 25:22
"and the Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat." Leviticus 16:2
"Now when Moses went into the tabernacle of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim; thus He spoke to him." Numbers 7:89
"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16
I told him that I did not know what to say when I came; and he told me to speak words to this effect, "God be merciful to me a sinner, and make me to know and believe in Jesus Christ; for I see that if his righteousness had not been, or I have not faith in that righteousness, I am utterly cast away. Lord, I have heard that You are a merciful God, and have ordained that Your Son Jesus Christ should be the Saviour of the world: and further, that You are willing to bestow him upon such a poor sinner as I am (and I am a sinner indeed); Lord, take therefore this opportunity, and magnify Your grace in the salvation of my soul, through Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen."
Chr. And did you do as you were directed?
Hope. Yes; over, and over, and over.
Chr. And did the Father reveal the Son to you?
Hope. No, not at first, nor second, nor third, nor fourth, nor fifth; no, nor at the sixth time either.
Chr. What did you do then?
Hope. What? why I could not tell what to do.
Chr. Had you no thoughts of leaving off praying?
Hope. Yes, and a hundred times twice told.
Chr. And what was the reason you did not?
Hope. I believed that which I had been told was true; That is, that without the righteousness of this Christ, all the world could not save me. And therefore, I thought to myself, if I leave off, I will die; and I can but die at the throne of grace. And this also came into my mind, "If it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, and will not tarry".
"For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry." Habakkuk 2:3
So I continued praying, until the Father showed me his Son.
Chr. And how was he revealed unto you?
Hope. I did not see him with my bodily eyes, but with the eyes of mine understanding;
"the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power" Ephesians 1:18, 19
and so it was: one day I was very sad, I think sadder than at anyone time in my life, and this sadness was through a fresh sight of the greatness and vileness of my sins. And as I was then looking for nothing but hell, and the everlasting damnation of my soul, suddenly, as I thought, I saw the Lord Jesus looking down from heaven upon me, and saying, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.
"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, and your household." Acts 16:31
But I replied, "Lord, I am a great, a very great sinner"; and he answered, "My grace is sufficient for you".
"And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
Then I said, "But, Lord, what is believing?" And then I saw from the saying, "He that comes to Me shall never hunger; and he that believes on Me shall never thirst",
"And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." John 6:35
that believing and coming were one: and that he that came, that is, that ran out in his heart and affections after salvation by Christ, he indeed believed in Christ. Then tears flooded my eyes, and I asked further: "But, Lord, may such a great sinner as I am be indeed accepted by You, and be saved by You?" And I heard him say, "And him that comes to Me, I will by no means cast out".
"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." John 6:37
Then I said, "But how, Lord, must I regard You in my coming to You, that my faith may be placed rightly upon You?" Then he said, "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners".
"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." 1 Timothy 1:15
"He is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes".
"And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, 'This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,' then He adds, 'Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.' Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin." Hebrews 10:11-18
"What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:'Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.'Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all (as it is written, 'I have made you a father of many nations') in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;" Romans 4:1-17
"He died for our sins, and rose again for our justification".
"who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification." Romans 4:25
"He loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood".
"and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood," Revelation 1:5
"He is Mediator between God and us".
"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus," 1 Timothy 2:5
"He ever lives to make intercession for us".
"Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7:25
From all which I gathered, that I must look for righteousness in his person, and for satisfaction for my sins by his blood; that what he did in obedience to his Father's law, and in submitting to the penalty of that law, was not for himself, but for him that will accept it for his salvation, and be thankful. And now my heart was full of joy; my eyes full of tears; and my affections running over with love for the name, people, and ways of Jesus Christ.
Chr. This was a revelation of Christ to your soul indeed; but tell me particularly what effect this had upon your spirit.
Hope. It made me see that all the world, notwithstanding all its own righteousness, is in a state of condemnation. It made me see that God the Father, because he is just, can justly justify the sinner who comes. It made me greatly ashamed of the vileness of my former life, and confounded me with the sense of my own ignorance; for thoughts never came into my heart before now that showed me so much the beauty of Jesus Christ. It made me love a holy life, and long to do something for the honour and glory of the name of the Lord Jesus. Yes, I thought, had I now a thousand gallons of blood in my body, I could spill it all for the sake of the Lord Jesus.
Ignorance Demonstrates His Ignorance
saw, then,
in my dream, that HOPEFUL looked back and saw IGNORANCE, whom they had
left behind, coming after. "Look," said he to CHRISTIAN, "how far yonder
youngster loiters behind."
Chr. Yes, I see him; he does not care for our company.
Hope. But I believe it would not have hurt him had he kept pace with us so far.
Chr. That's true; but I warrant you he thinks otherwise.
Hope. "That I think he does; but, however, let us wait for him." So they did.
Chr. Then CHRISTIAN said to him, "Come on, man; why do you keep so far behind?"
Ign. I take my pleasure in walking alone, even a great deal more than in company, unless I like it better.
Chr. Then CHRISTIAN said to HOPEFUL (but softly), "Did I not tell you he does not care for our company? but however," he said, "come up and let us talk away the time in this solitary place." Then directing his speech to IGNORANCE, he said, "Come, how are you? how stands it between God and your soul now?"
Ign. Well I hope; for I am always full of good intentions, that come into my mind to comfort me as I walk.
Chr. What good intentions? Pray tell us.
Ign. Why, I think of God and heaven.
Chr. So do the demons and condemned souls.
Ign. But I think of them, and desire them.
Chr. So do many that are never likely to come there; the soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing.
"The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich." Proverbs 13:4
Ign. But I think of them, and leave all for them.
Chr. That I doubt, for leaving all is a hard matter; yes, a harder matter than many are aware of. But why, or by what, are you persuaded that you have left all for God and heaven?
Ign. My heart tells me so.
Chr. The wise man says, "He that trusts his own heart is a fool".
"He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered." Proverbs 28:26
Ign. That is spoken of an evil heart; but mine is a good one.
Chr. But how can you prove that?
Ign. It comforts me in the hopes of heaven.
Chr. That may be through its deceitfulness; for a man's heart may minister comfort to him in the hopes of that thing for which he yet has no ground to hope.
Ign. But my heart and life agree together; and therefore my hope is well grounded.
Chr. Who told you that your heart and life agree together?
Ign. My heart tells me so.
Chr. "Ask my fellow if I am a thief." Your heart tells you so! Except the Word of God bears witness in this matter, other testimony is of no value.
Ign. But is it not a good heart that has good thoughts? and is not a good life one that is according to God's commandments?
Chr. Yes, it is a good heart that has good thoughts; and it is a good life that lives according to God's commandments: but it is one thing indeed to have these, and another thing only to think so.
Ign. Pray, what do you count as good thoughts, and a life according to God's commandments?
Chr. There are good thoughts of various kinds: some respecting ourselves, some God, some Christ, and some other things.
Ign. What are good thoughts respecting ourselves?
Chr. Such as agree with the Word of God.
Ign. When do our thoughts of ourselves agree with the Word of God?
Chr. When we pass the same judgment upon ourselves which the Word passes. To explain myself: the Word of God says of persons in a natural condition, "There is none righteous, there is none that does good." It also says, "That every imagination of the heart of man is only evil, and that continually".
"What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written:There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.
Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit;
The poison of asps is under their lips; Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways;
And the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes." Romans 3:9-18
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23
"Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Genesis 6:5
And again, "The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." Now then, when we think of ourselves in this way, having a sense of such things, then our thoughts are good ones, because they are according to the Word of God.
Ign. I will never believe that my heart is that bad.
Chr. Then you have never had one good thought concerning yourself in your life. But let me go on. As the Word passes a judgment upon our heart, so it passes a judgment upon our ways: and when the thoughts of our hearts and ways agree with the judgment which the Word gives of both, then both are good, because of agreeing with it.
Ign. Explain your meaning to me.
Chr. Why, the Word of God says that man's ways are crooked ways; not good, but perverse. It says they are naturally out of the good way, that they have not known it.
"As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, The Lord shall lead them away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel!" Psalms 125:5
"Whose ways are crooked, And who are devious in their paths;" Proverbs 2:15
"What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written:There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.
Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit;
The poison of asps is under their lips; Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways;
And the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes." Romans 3:9-18
Now, when a man thinks this way of his ways--I say, when he does sensibly and with heart humiliation so think, then he has good thoughts of his own ways because his thoughts now agree with the judgment of the Word of God.
Ign. What are good thoughts concerning God?
Chr. Even (as I have said concerning ourselves) when our thoughts of God agree with what the Word says about Him; and that is, when we think of his being and attributes as the Word teaches, of which I cannot discuss at large right now. But to speak of him with reference to ourselves: then we have right thoughts of God when we think that he knows us better than we know ourselves, and can see sin in us when and where we can see none in ourselves; when we think he knows our inmost thoughts, and that our heart with all its depths is always open unto his eyes; also, when we think that all our righteousness stinks in his nostrils, and that therefore he cannot abide to see us stand before him in any confidence even with all of our best performances.
Ign. Do you think that I am such a fool as to think God can see no further than I? or that I would come to God in the best of my performances?
Chr. Why, how do you think in this matter?
Ign. Why, to be short, I think I must believe in Christ for justification.
Chr. How do you think you believe in Christ, when you do not see your need of him! You neither see your original nor actual failings; but have such an opinion of yourself and of what you do, that plainly renders you to be one that never did see any necessity for Christ's personal righteousness to justify you before God. How then can you say, "I believe in Christ?"
Ign. I believe well enough for all that.
Chr. How do you believe?
Ign. I believe that Christ died for sinners; and that I shall be justified before God from the curse, through his gracious acceptance of my obedience to his law. Put it this way, Christ makes my duties that are religious acceptable to his Father by virtue of his merits, and so shall I be justified.
Chr. Let me give an answer to this confession of your faith:
- You believe with a fanciful faith; for nowhere is this faith described
in the Word.
- You believe with a false faith; because it takes justification from
the personal righteousness of Christ, and applies it to your own.
- This faith does not make Christ the justifier of your person, but
of your actions; and your person on account of your actions, which is
false.
- Therefore this faith is deceitful, and as such will leave you under wrath in the day of God Almighty; for true justifying faith sets the soul (knowing its lost condition by the law) flying for refuge to Christ's righteousness--which righteousness of his is not an act of grace by which he makes for justification your obedience accepted with God; but his personal obedience to the law in doing and suffering for us what the law required at our hands. True faith, I say, accepts this righteousness; under the skirt of which, the soul being hidden, and by it presented as spotless before God, it is accepted, and acquitted from condemnation.
Ign. What! would you have us trust to what Christ in his own person has done without us? This conceit would loosen the reins of our lust, and tolerate us to live as we desire; for what does it matter how we live, if we may be justified by Christ's personal righteousness from all, when we believe it?
Chr. IGNORANCE is your name; and as your name is, so you are: even this your answer demonstrates what I say. You are ignorant of what justifying righteousness is; and equally ignorant as to how to secure your soul, through its faith, from the heavy wrath of God. Yes, you are also ignorant of the true effects of saving faith in this righteousness of Christ: which is, to bow and win over the heart to God in Christ, to love his name, his Word, ways, and people; and not as you ignorantly imagine.
Hope. Ask him if ever he had Christ revealed to him from heaven.
Ign. What! you are a man for revelations! I do believe that what both you and all the rest of you say about that matter is but the fruit of distracted brains.
Hope. Why, man, Christ is so hid in God from the natural apprehensions of the flesh, that he cannot by any man be savingly known, unless God the Father reveals him to them.
Ign. That is your faith, but not mine: yet mine, I doubt not, is as good as yours, though I have not so many whimsies in my head as you.
Chr. Allow me to put in a word. You ought not speak so slightly of this matter; for this I will boldly affirm (even as my good companion has done), that no man can know Jesus Christ but by the revelation of the Father; yes, and faith too, by which the soul lays hold upon Christ (if it be right), must be wrought by the exceeding greatness of his mighty power;
"All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." Matthew 11:27
"Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit." 1 Corinthians 12:3
"the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power" Ephesians 1:18,19
the working of which faith, I perceive, poor IGNORANCE, you are ignorant of. Be awakened, then, see your own wretchedness, and fly to the Lord Jesus; and by his righteousness, which is the righteousness of God (for He himself is God), you will be delivered from condemnation.
Ign. You go so fast, I cannot keep pace with you. Do go on ahead; I must stay awhile behind.
Then they said:
"Well, IGNORANCE, Wilt you yet foolish be,
To slight good counsel ten times given you?
And if you yet refuse it, you shalt know
Ere long the evil of your doing so.
Remember, man, in time; stoop, do no fear:
Good counsel taken well, saves; therefore hear
But if you yet shalt slight it, you wilt be
The loser, IGNORANCE, I'll warrant you."
Then CHRISTIAN addressed himself thus to his fellow:
Chr. Well, come, my good HOPEFUL; I perceive that you and I must walk by ourselves again.
