CHR. Why, what did he say to you? FAITH. What! why, he objected against religion itself. He said it is a pitiful, low, sneaking business, for a man to mind religion; he said that a tender conscience was an unmanly thing; and that for a man to watch over his words and ways, so as to tie himself up from that hectoring liberty which the brave spirits of the times accustom themselves unto, would make him the ridicule of the times. He objected also, that few of the mighty, rich, or wise were ever of my opinion. He, moreover, objected to the base and low estate and condition of those that were chiefly the pilgrims of the times in which they lived; also their ignorance and want of understanding in all natural sciences. Yea, he did hold forth to me, in the same way, about a great many more things than here I relate; as that it was a shame to sit whining and mourning under a sermon, and a shame to come sighing and groaning home; that it was a shame to ask my neighbour forgiveness for petty faults, or to make restitution where I have stolen from any. He said also, that religion made a man grow strange to the great, because of a few vices (which he called by finer names), and made him own and respect the base, because of the same religious fraternity: and is not this, said he, a shame ? CHR. And what did you say to him? FAITH. Say! I could not tell what to say at first. Yea, he put me so much about, that my blood rushed up to my face; even this Shame fetched it up, and almost beat me quite off. But at last I began to consider, that "that which FAITHFUL AND SHAME. 79 is highly esteemed among men is held in abomination with God." And I thought again, this Shame tells me what men are; but he tells me nothing what God, or the word of God, is. And I thought, moreover, that at the day of doom we shall not be doomed to death or life according to the hectoring spirits of the world, but according to the wisdom and law of the Highest. Therefore, thought I, what God says is best, is best, though all the men in the world are against it. Seeing, then, that God prefers His religion; seeing God prefers a tender conscience; seeing they that make themselves fools for the kingdom of heaven are wisest; and that the poor man that loveth Christ is richer than the greatest man in the world that hates Him: Shame, depart; thou art an enemy to my salvation! Shall I entertain thee against my sovereign Lord? How then shall I look Him in the face at His coming? Should I now be ashamed of His way and servants, how can I expect the blessing? But, indeed, this Shame was a bold villain; I could scarce shake him out of my company; yea, he kept haunting me, and continually whispering in my ear some one or other of the infirmities that attend religion. But at last I told him it was vain to attempt more in this business; for those things that he disdained, in those did I see most glory: and so at last I got past this importunate one. And when I had shaken him off, then I began to sing "The trials that those men do meet withal, That now, or some time else, we by them may Be taken, overcome, and cast away. Oh, let the pilgrims, let the pilgrims then, Be vigilant, and quit themselves like men!" CHR. I am glad, brother, that thou didst withstand this villain so bravely; for of all, as thou sayest, I think he has the wrong name; for he is so bold as to follow us in the street, and to attempt to put us to shame before all men; that is, to make us ashamed of that which is good; but if he was not himself audacious, he would never attempt to do as he does: but let us still resist him; for, notwithstanding all his bravadoés, he promoteth the fool, or none else. "The wise shall inherit glory," saith Solomon ; "but shame shall be the promotion of fools." FAITH. I think we must cry to Him for help against Shame that would have us be valiant for truth upon the earth. CHR. You say true. But did you see nobody else in that valley? FAITH. No, not I; for I had sunshine all the rest of the way through that, and also through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. CHR. It was well for you; I am sure it fared far otherwise with me; for I had for a long season, as soon almost as I entered into that valley, a dreadful combat with that foul fiend Apollyon; yea, I thought verily he would have killed me, especially when he got me down, and crushed me under him, as if he would have crushed me to pieces. For as he threw me, my sword flew out of my hand; nay, THE PILGRIMS AND TALKATIVE. 81 he told me he was sure of me: but I cried to God, and He heard me, and delivered me out of my troubles. Then I entered into the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and had no light for almost half the way through it. I thought I should have been killed there, again and again; but at last day broke, and the sun arose; then I went through that which was behind with far more ease and quiet. Morever, I saw in my dream, that as they went on, Faithful, as he chanced to look on one side, saw a man whose name was Talkative, walking at a distance beside them, (for in this place there was room enough for them all to walk). He was a tall man, and something more comely at a distance than at hand. To this man Faithful addressed himself in this manner : "Friend, whither away? Are you going to the heavenly country?" TALK. I am going to that same place. FAITH That is well; then I hope we may have your good company. TALK. With a very good will, I will be your companion. FAITH. Come on then, and let us go together, and let us spend our time discoursing on things that are profitable. TALK. To talk of things that are good, to me is very acceptable, with you or with any other; and I am glad that I have met with those that incline to so good a work; for, to tell the truth, there are but few that care thus to spend their time as they are in their travels, but choose much rather to be speaking of things to no profit; and this hath been a trouble to me. FAITH. This is, indeed, a thing to be lamented; for what thing is so worthy of the use of the tongue and mouth of men on earth, as are the things of the God of heaven ? TALK. I like you wonderfully well, for your sayings are full of conviction; and I will add, what things are so pleasant, and what so profitable, as to talk of the things of God? What things so pleasant (that is, if a man hath any delight in things that are wonderful)? For instance, if a man doth delight to talk of the history or the mystery of things; or if a man doth love to talk of miracles, wonders, or signs, where shall he find things recorded so delightful, and so sweetly penned, as in the Holy Scripture ? FAITH. That's true; but to be profited by such things in our talk should be our chief design. TALK. That is what I said; for to talk of such things is most profitable; for, by so doing, a man may get knowledge of many things; as the vanity of earthly things, and the benefit of things above. Thus in general; but more particularly, by this a man may learn the necessity of the new birth, the insufficiency of our works, the need of Christ's righteousness, &c. Besides, by this a man may learn what it is to repent, to believe, to pray, to suffer, or the like; by this also a man may learn what are the great promises and consolations of the gospel to his own comfort. Further, by this a man may learn to refute false opinions, to vindicate the truth, and also to instruct the ignorant. |