CH 27 - 29

 27 CHRISTIAN AND HOPEFUL FIRST ENCOUNTER IGNORANCE

AND I slept and dreamed again, and saw the same two pilgrims going down the Mountains along the highway toward the Celestial City. Now a little below these Mountains on the left-hand side lies the country of Conceit, and from it originates a little crooked lane along which pilgrims walk since it enters into the straight way. Therefore, here they met a very brisk lad [lively young man] named Ignorance. So Christian asked him, “From where have you come? And where are you going?”

IGNORANCE: Sir, I was born in the country that lies on our left-hand side, and I am going to the Celestial City.

CHRISTIAN: But how do you imagine that you shall gain entrance at the gate? Will you not encounter some difficulty there?

IGNORANCE: Just as other good people have gained entrance there, so will I.

CHRISTIAN: But what acceptable qualification can you show at the gate so that it will be opened for you to enter?

IGNORANCE: I know my Lord’s will and I have lived a good life; I have repaid every man to whom I was in debt; I frequently pray, fast, pay tithes [tenths], and give alms to the poor, and have forsaken the land of my birth so that I might arrive as a pilgrim.

CHRISTIAN: But you did not enter in at the Wicket-gate, that is at the commencement of this straight way. Rather you came in here by means of that crooked lane, and therefore I fear, whatever you may think about yourself, that when the day of final reckoning [judgment] comes, you will be accused of being a thief and a robber instead of qualifying as a legitimate entrant for the City.

IGNORANCE: Gentlemen, you are utter strangers to me; I do not know you, so be content to follow your religion and I will be content to follow mine. I do hope that all will be well. And as for the gate that you talk about, all the world knows that it is a great distance away from our country. I cannot imagine that any man in our regions knows anything about the way to it. Furthermore, there is no need for them to be concerned about it since we have, as you can plainly see, a fine, pleasant, green lane that leads from our country down into the way right here.

When Christian understood that this man was wise in his own conceit, he whispered to Hopeful, “There is more hope for a fool than him.” He further added, “When he who is a fool walks along the way, wisdom is lacking in him, and so he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool. So shall we talk any more with him? Or shall we walk ahead of him for the present and give him time to think about what he has already heard? And then shall we wait for him further on and see if a gradual approach can more effectually benefit him?” Then Hopeful responded:

HOPEFUL:
Let Ignorance a little while now muse
On what is said, and let him not refuse
Good counsel to embrace, lest he remains
Still ignorant of what’s the chiefest gain.
God says, Those that no understanding have,
(Although he made them) them he will not save.

HOPEFUL: I do not think that it is wise to tell him everything at once. Rather, if you agree, let us leave him for a while and then talk to him later, that is when he is better prepared to receive it.

 

28 THE TERRIFYING END OF TURN-AWAY

SO the two pilgrims went on while Ignorance followed after them. Now when they had put some distance ahead of him, they entered into a very dark lane where they met a man who seven devils had bound with seven strong cords; they were carrying him back to the door that they had earlier seen in the side of the Hill, when being escorted by the Shepherds.

Now good Christian began to tremble and so did his companion Hopeful. Yet as the devils led the man away, Christian looked to see if he could identify him, and he thought it might be a certain Turn-away who resided in the Town of Apostasy [Departure from the Faith]. But he was not able to clearly see his face because he hung his head down like a thief who has been discovered. However, after he had passed by, Hopeful watched as he was taken away and noticed on his back a label with the inscription, “Wanton [licentious] professor [believer], and damnable [Hell consigned] apostate.”

 

 

29 THE COLORLESS TESTIMONY OF LITTLE-FAITH

THEN Christian said to his companion, “Now it comes to my mind what was told to me about something that happened to a good man in this region. The name of this man was Little-faith, as I said a good man, and he lived in the Town of Sincere. What happened to him was this; there is an entrance to the straight way here that comes down from Broad-way-gate by means of a lane called Dead-man’s Lane; this lane is so-called because of the murders that are frequently committed there.”

“And so this Little-faith, while going on pilgrimage just as we are, happened to sit down for a while and then fell asleep. It also happened at that time that three sturdy rogues came down the lane from Broad-way-gate; and their names were Faintheart, Mistrust, and Guilt (three brothers), and when they saw where Little-faith was snoozing beside the way, they immediately made a quick approach toward him. Now the good man was just awakening from his slumber and preparing to continue on his journey. So they all approached him with threatening language and ordered him to stand still. At this Little-faith turned as white as a sheet since he had neither the strength to fight nor to flee. Then Faint-heart said, ‘Hand over your purse.’”

“But when Little-faith hesitated to comply, for he was very reluctant to lose his money, Mistrust came close to him and, thrusting his hand into one of his pockets, pulled out of there a bag of silver. Then he [Little Faith] cried out, ‘Thieves! Thieves!’ At this Guilt struck Little-faith on his head with a large club in his hand, so that the blow felled him flat on the ground; and there he lay, bleeding profusely in danger of dying.”

“During this assault, the thieves simply stood by. But eventually they heard the sound of another coming along the way, and fearing that it could be Great-grace who lives in the city of Good-confidence, they quickly departed and left the poor victim to fend for himself. Now after a while, Little-faith began to revive; so he scrambled to his feet and staggered along as best he could. This was the story.”

HOPEFUL: But did the robbers take from him everything that he had?

CHRISTIAN: No, they never ransacked his chest pocket where his jewels were; he was able to keep these. But I was told that this good man was sorely troubled over what he lost. For the thieves took most of his spending money. As I have already mentioned, they did not get his jewels; other than these he was left with a small amount of money, but hardly enough to support him through to his journey’s end. Sad to say, if I have not been misinformed, he was forced to beg along the way in order to have enough to stay alive, for he was not able to sell his jewels. So he continued to beg and scrape around; yes, he went forward, but often with an empty stomach for most of the remaining journey.

HOPEFUL: But is it not remarkable that they did not rob him of his certificate, that which he must have to gain entrance into the Celestial City?

CHRISTIAN: Yes, it is a wonder; but they did not get it. Though they did not miss it on account of the cunning of Little-faith, for since he was so dismayed by their onslaught, he had neither the strength nor the skill to hide anything. So it was more a question of good providence rather than his ingenuity that caused them to miss such a vital item.

HOPEFUL: Nevertheless, it must have been a comfort to him that they did not take away his jewels.

CHRISTIAN: It could have been a great comfort to him if he had rightly appreciated this fact. But they that related this story to me explained that he made little reference to this matter for the rest of his journey, the reason being his dismay that they had taken his money away. Yes, he forgot about his jewels for a great part of the remainder of his journey; and besides, when at times his mind was comforted with the contemplation of his jewels, yet thoughts about his monetary loss would rise up again and overwhelm his previous comfort.

HOPEFUL: How sad for this man! Such a situation must have been the cause of great grief to him.

CHRISTIAN: Yes, he was deeply distressed, and would we not have been like him if we had similarly been robbed and wounded in a strange place such as he was? It is surprising that he did not die with grief, poor soul! I was told that, for the remainder of his journey, he chiefly spread abroad melancholy and bitter complaints concerning his misfortune. He would also explain in detail to other pilgrims encountered in the way where and how he was robbed, who they were who assaulted him, what he lost, the severity of his wounds, and the closeness of his brush with death.

HOPEFUL: But what a wonder it is that the demands of traveling did not compel him to sell or pawn some of his jewels so that pressures along the way might be relieved.

CHRISTIAN: You talk with about as much wisdom as that of a newborn chicken with some shell still stuck on its head! Why would he ever want to pawn his jewels? And to whom would he sell them? In that region where he was robbed his jewels were not even considered valuable, nor did he desire the sort of relief that the citizens there might offer. Besides, had his jewels been discovered as missing at the gate of the Celestial City, he well knew that he would certainly be excluded from receiving an inheritance there; and for him, such a consequence would have been regarded as worse than meeting with the belligerence of ten thousand thieves.

HOPEFUL: My brother, why are you so sharp with me? Esau sold his birthright for a mere mess of pottage; and surely that birthright was his most precious jewel. So if he sold such a treasure, then why could not Little-faith do the same?

CHRISTIAN: It is true that Esau did sell his birthright, and besides this, so have many others; and by so doing they have excluded themselves from the chief blessing, as indeed that caitiff [indulgent coward] did. But you should recognize a fundamental difference between Esau and Little-faith, and also between their spiritual conditions. Esau’s birthright was typical, but Little-faith’s jewels were not so. Esau’s god was his belly, but Little-faith’s belly was not so. Esau’s lack lay in his fleshly appetite, but this was not true of Little-faith. Besides, Esau could see no further than the fulfilling of his lusts. He said, “For I am at the point of death, so what good will this birthright do me?” But Little-faith, though it was appointed for him to have only a little faith, yet by means of his little faith he was kept from many extremes. So by means of this same faith he was enabled to prize his jewels rather than sell them, as Esau did with his birthright. You will not read anywhere that Esau had faith, no not so much as a little.

Therefore it is not surprising in the case of Esau, when the flesh alone controls a man, and it undoubtedly does when faith that works resistance is absent; for he will then readily sell his birthright and his soul and everything, even to the Devil in his Hell. Such a person may be likened to the ass who in her periods of heat, cannot be made to change direction. When their minds are fastened upon their lusts, they will have them whatever the cost. But Little-faith was of a different temperament; his mind was focused on things divine; his livelihood was based upon spiritual things that originate from Heaven.

Therefore, for what purpose would a person of this temperament sell his jewels, supposing that someone might have bought them, so as to fill his mind with empty things? Will a man give a penny to fill his belly with hay? Or can you persuade the turtle-dove to live upon carrion [carcass meat] like the crow? Though faithless ones will pawn, or mortgage, or sell what they have, and even themselves outright as well, all for the sake of carnal lusts, yet they that have faith, true saving faith, though but a little of it, cannot do so. Therefore my brother, here is your mistake.

HOPEFUL: I frankly acknowledge it. But at the same time, your severe response has almost made me angry.

CHRISTIAN: Yes, I was rather harsh, but I did it to compare you with certain birds that are especially lively, and run to and fro in untrodden paths with the shell on their heads, like a newborn chick! But let us leave this matter behind and consider the matter under discussion, and all will be well between you and me.

HOPEFUL: But Christian, I am persuaded in my heart that these three fellows were nothing more than a company of cowards. Otherwise, do you think that they would have been so quick to run at the sound of someone else approaching along the way? So why did not Little-faith pluck up greater courage? It is my opinion that he could have resisted at least one skirmish with them, and then yielded when they overwhelmed him.

CHRISTIAN: Certainly many have called these assailants cowards, but in reality few have found this to be true during an actual period of trial. As for Little-faith having a great [courageous] heart, he had no such thing. And I believe that had you been the man concerned, after a short engagement you would have quickly yielded. To be truthful, while you are churned up about this matter when these opponents are distant from us, I believe you might have second thoughts about a brave confrontation if they should reappear to challenge you.

But consider again that these travelers are in fact hired thieves who serve under the King of the bottomless pit; he himself, when needed, will quickly come to their aid, and his voice is like the roaring of a lion. I myself have been engaged in a conflict like that of Little-faith, and I found it to be a terrifying experience. These three villains also set upon me, and while I began to resist them as a Christian ought, yet they were quick to call for their master’s assistance, which was immediately forthcoming. As the saying goes, I would have exchanged my life for a mere penny, but, as God would have it, I was clothed [accoutered] with armor of proof [tried armor]. Even so, though I was well equipped, I found it hard work to prove myself as a manly pilgrim. No one can possibly understand what it is like to experience such combat, except he who has been in the thick of the battle himself.

HOPEFUL: Well, of course, these rogues did retreat when they anticipated that Great-grace was possibly drawing close in the way.

CHRISTIAN: True, they were accustomed to fleeing, and even their master, when there was the prospect of Great-grace appearing; however, this is not surprising since he is renowned as the King’s champion. But I trust you will make some distinction between Little-faith and the King’s champion. All the King’s subjects are not his champions; nor can they, when tested by assailants, accomplish such valiant feats of war as he does. Is it reasonable to expect that a little child should confront Goliath as David did? Is it right to expect a wren [small bird] to have the strength of an ox? Some pilgrims are strong while others are weak; some have great faith, and others have little. This man Little-faith was one of the weaker kind, and therefore he went to the wall [suffered exhausting humiliation].

HOPEFUL: I still wish that Great-grace had appeared for the sake of those scoundrels.

CHRISTIAN: If he had arrived on that occasion, he might have had his hands full. For I have to tell you that although Great-grace is highly skilled with his weapons, as long as he maintains a sharp sword he can do very well against such opponents: yet if Faint-heart, Mistrust, or Guilt, can penetrate his armor, he will find the going hard and even take a fall. And as you know, when a pilgrim is down, what can he do?

Whoever looks very closely at the face of Great-grace will notice scars and cuts there that will clearly prove what I say to be true. Concerning one engagement that he had with the enemy, I heard it reported that he had exclaimed about this battle, “We despaired even of life.” Is it not true that these sturdy rogues and their accomplices were able to make even David groan and mourn and roar with anguish? Yes, and also Heman and Hezekiah, even though regarded in their day as champions, nevertheless they as well were forced to arouse themselves because of the severity of the assaults they faced. And in spite of taking a fearless stand, yet their soiled and torn coats indicated subjection to brutal handling. On one occasion Peter tried to do what he could in a similar confrontation; but though he has been acknowledged by some as the prince of the apostles, still these assailants so roughed him up that at the end he was afraid of a pitiful girl.

Besides, the King of these scoundrels is always at their beck and call; when they whistle, he is always within their hearing. So if at any time they are losing in battle, whenever possible, he comes to their rescue. And for this reason, it has been said of him, “The sword that attempts to strike him cannot succeed, nor can the spear, the dart, or the javelin. He regards iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee. Sling stones are turned by him into stubble. Darts are regarded as straw. He laughs at the rattling of the javelin.” Hence in this case, what can a pilgrim do?

It is true that if a man has full access to Job’s horse, and has the courage and skill to ride him, then he might accomplish notable deeds for his King. It has also been said about this stallion, “For his neck is clothed with thunder; he will not be afraid like the jumping locust; the snorting of his nostrils is terrifying; he paws in the valley while rejoicing in his strength, and then goes forth to engage the armed enemy. He mocks at fear and is frightened of nothing; he would never turn his back from a confronting sword. The quiver trembles at him, as do the flashing spear and javelin. He races over the ground as if devouring it, on account of his fierceness and rage; neither does the trumpet sound cause him to halt. Rather, at the sound of the trumpet he exclaims, ‘Aha,’ and is drawn by the smell of distant battle, the thundering of captains and the shoutings of conflict.”

But for such mere footmen [infantry] as you and I are, let us never eagerly desire to meet with an enemy, nor promote ourselves as if we could do so much better, that is when we hear about others who have suffered defeat or a bludgeoning; nor let us be tickled [proudly stimulated] with thoughts about our own spiritual manliness, for those who think this way usually suffer the worst when tried. Take Peter for example, concerning whom I earlier spoke about. How he would swagger [strut]; yes, he really would. Because of his vain attitude, he would promote himself as being more ready to stand in defense of his Master than all other men. But tell me, who was more foiled [defeated] and exhausted than he when these villains were on the attack?

Therefore when we hear that such robberies take place on the King’s highway, there are two things that we should do. First, let us be well harnessed [accoutered with weapons], and especially sure that we have a shield with us. For it was the lack of this item that made it impossible for the vigorous assailant of Leviathan [the ferocious monster] to make him yield. For it is certainly true that if this particular weapon is missing, then he [the King of the bottomless pit] will have no fear of us. That is why one of the King’s champions [Paul] has advised, “Above all take the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish the fiery darts of the wicked one.”

Second, as we travel, it is good for us to request the King that he provide shepherding guides, and that he go with us himself. This prospect made David rejoice when he was passing through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Also Moses expressed his preference for death rather than tread one more step without God. Oh my dear brother, if our King alone will go with us, why should we be afraid even though thousands shall plot to oppose us; but on the other hand, without him the proud can only find refuge under the corpses of the wicked who have been slain.

For my part, I have been in the thick of the battle before now, and though I am presently alive through the goodness of he who is best, yet I cannot boast in my spiritual manliness. I shall be ever so glad if I do not meet with any further clashes, though I fear we have not passed beyond all danger. However, since the lion and the bear have not yet devoured me, I have hope that God will deliver us from the next uncircumcised Philistine. Then Christian sang:

Poor Little-faith has been among the thieves!
Was robbed! Remember this, whoever so believes
And gets more faith, shall then a victor be
Over ten thousand, else scarce over three.