CH20-21 (Eng)

 

20 EVANGELIST REAPPEARS TO GIVE TIMELY WARNING

THUS they went on talking about what they had seen along the way, and this discussion made their travel easier, otherwise their journeying would undoubtedly have been tedious, for now they passed through a Wilderness.

Now when they had almost passed out of this Wilderness, Faithful happened to look behind and on doing so he noticed someone coming after them, who he suddenly recognized.
“Oh!” said Faithful to his brother. “Who is it that approaches us from behind?”
Then Christian looked and exclaimed, “It is my good friend Evangelist.”
“Yes, and my good friend as well,” said Faithful, “for it was he who directed me along the way that leads to the Wicket-gate.”
Then did Evangelist reach them and offer his greeting.

EVANGELIST: Peace be with you, dearly beloved, and may there be peace upon those who have helped you.
CHRISTIAN: Welcome, welcome, my good Evangelist; the sight of your face reminds me of your earlier kindness as well as your untiring labor for my eternal good.
FAITHFUL: And let me add a thousand welcomes. Oh sweet Evangelist, how desirable is your fellowship to us who are such needy pilgrims.
EVANGELIST: How have you managed, my friends, since the time of our last meeting? What have you encountered, and how have you behaved yourselves?

Then Christian and Faithful told him of all the things that had happened to them along the way, and how they had passed through many difficulties up to this point in their journey.

EVANGELIST: How glad I am, not so much that you met with trials, but rather that you have proved to be victors over them. And for this reason you have been enabled to continue thus far, notwithstanding your many weaknesses.

Again I say just how pleased I am of this matter, and that for my own sake as well as yours. I have sowed, and you have reaped, and the day is coming when both he that sowed and they that reaped shall rejoice together, that is if you hold out [to the end]. For in due time you shall reap if you do not faint.

The crown [of reward] is before you, and it is an incorruptible one; so run that you may obtain it. There are some that have set out for this crown, and after they have traveled a great distance, another steps in and takes it from them. Therefore hold fast what you have and do not let any man take away your crown; you are not yet beyond the gunshot of the Devil; you have not resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

So always let the kingdom be before you, and steadfastly believe concerning the things that are invisible. Let nothing in this life come between yourself and the world to come.
Above all, pay attention to your own hearts with their indwelling lusts, for they are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Set your face with flint-like resolve since you have all power in Heaven and Earth on your side.

Then Christian thanked him for his exhortation, but added that they would prefer that he speak some more, that is, something helpful about the rest of the way ahead. Since they knew that he was a prophet, they were anxious to know about the things that might happen to them, and also how they might resist and overcome them. So Evangelist agreed to speak further.

EVANGELIST: My sons, you have heard in the words of the truth of the gospel that you must enter the kingdom of Heaven through many tribulations. And again you have heard that imprisonment and afflictions will accompany you. And therefore you cannot expect that you should travel far on your pilgrimage without encountering them in one way or another. You have already experienced a measure of the truth of this testimony, and more will immediately follow.

For now, as you see, you are almost out of this Wilderness, and therefore you will eventually come to a Town that will appear directly in front of you. Now in that Town you will be severely assaulted by enemies who will make every attempt to kill you. Now you may be sure that one or both of you will seal the testimony which you profess with blood. Nevertheless, be faithful unto death and the King will give you a crown of life.

Whoever shall die there, although his death will be unnatural and his pain probably great, yet he will have the advantage over his companion; this will be, not only because he will arrive at the Celestial City sooner, but also because he will escape the many miseries that the other will meet with in the rest of his journey.

But when you have come to this Town, and all that I have spoken about has been fulfilled, then remember your friend and quit [behave] yourselves as men; and commit the keeping of your souls to your God, as unto a faithful Creator.

 

21 CHRISTIAN AND FAITHFUL ON TRIAL AT VANITY FAIR

THEN I saw in my dream that when Christian and Faithful had come out of the Wilderness, they immediately saw ahead of them a Town which was named Vanity. Now at this Town, a fair is promoted there that is known as Vanity Fair. It is maintained all the year long and bears the name Vanity Fair because the Town where it is located is regarded as lighter than vanity; and also, because all that is sold there, as well as those who come to buy, is vanity [worthless]. As is the saying of the wise man, “All that this world promotes is vanity.”

This Fair is not some newly constructed business, but an enterprise going back into antiquity. Let me tell you about its origin. Almost five thousand years ago, even then there were pilgrims walking toward the Celestial City, just as these two honest persons are doing. So Beelzebub, Apollyon, and Legion, along with their associates, noticing that the path along which pilgrims traveled toward the City passed through this Town of Vanity, they determined to construct a fair; it was to be a festive market in which there would be sold every sort of vanity, and it would be open all the year long. Therefore at this Fair every type of merchandise was sold, including houses, lands, trades, places, honors, promotions, titles, countries, kingdoms, lusts, and pleasures; there were also delights of all sorts such as prostitutes, madams, wives, husbands, children, masters, servants, lives, blood, bodies, souls, silver, gold, pearls, precious stones, and much more.

And moreover, at this Fair there is the constant entertainment of jugglers, cheats, games, plays, clowns, mimics, tricksters, rogues, and many other amusements. Here also are to be found a number of free offerings including thefts, murders, adulteries, perjurers, all available in various shades of blood [scarlet]. And as in other fairs of lesser importance, there are several lanes and streets with representative names where certain categories of merchandise are marketed; so here it is the same, for you have places, lanes, and streets named after countries and kingdoms where the goods of this Fair are to be found. There is the Britain Row, the French Row, the Italian Row, the Spanish Row, the German Row, where a variety of vanities is sold.

But as in other fairs, where one commodity group tends to dominate over all others, so the merchandise of Rome is lavishly promoted in this Fair. However, our English nation, along with some others, has expressed a disliking for this flaunted huckstering. Now as I said, the way to the Celestial City runs directly through this Town with its lusty Fair; and he who would go to that City, and yet not pass through this Town, must necessarily go out of the world.

The Prince of Princes himself, when traveling in this region, passed through this Town when heading toward his own country, and at a time when the Fair was in full operation. Yes, and I believe it was Beelzebub, the chief Lord of this Fair, who personally invited him to buy some of his vanities; yes, he would have even made him a Lord of this Fair if only the Prince had bowed to his overall authority while passing through the Town. Further, because he was such a person of honor, Beelzebub escorted him from street to street and showed him, in a short space of time, all the kingdoms of the world so that he might lure the Blessed One to lower himself and buy some of his vanities. But this Stranger had no desire whatsoever for this merchandise, and therefore he departed from the Town without spending so much as one cent on these worthless goods. Therefore, this Fair is certainly an antiquity of long standing, and a very great Fair at that.

Now as I said, these pilgrims must necessarily pass through this Fair. Well, so they did; but especially note that even as they entered the Fair, all of the people there became disturbed, and the whole Town itself was turned into a commotion around them. There were several reasons for this, namely:

First, the pilgrims were dressed with a type of clothing that was quite different from the attire of those who traded at that Fair. Therefore the people of the Fair stared at them with astonishment. Some of them said that they were fools, and some called them bedlams [madmen], while others derided them as outlandish men [foreigners].

Second, as the great crowd wondered at their clothing, so they were similarly curious about their speech, for few could understand what they said. The pilgrims spoke their native tongue, the language of Canaan; but those who managed and frequented the Fair were the men who spoke the language of this world. So that throughout the Fair their foreign speaking made them appear as barbarians in their midst.

Third, and this did especially amuse the merchants, these pilgrims placed little value on all of their goods; they did not even care to browse at them; and if they were solicited to buy such items, they would put their fingers in their ears and cry out, “Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity;” at the same time they would look upward signifying that their trade and commerce were with Heaven.

So beholding the strange behavior of these men, one scornful trader happened to address them: “What will you buy?” But the pilgrims soberly replied, “We buy the truth.” At this, opportunity was taken all the more to pour contempt upon these men. Some mocked, some taunted, some spoke reproachfully, and some called upon others to strike them. Eventually things came to a great commotion and disturbance in the Fair, so much so that disorder was everywhere. As a result, word was brought to the governor of the Fair who quickly came down and appointed deputies, some of his most trusted friends, to examine these pilgrims concerning why they had brought about this disturbance of the Fair.

So the men were taken aside for investigation; and those who presided at this enquiry asked them from where they came, and where they were going, and why they were so unusually dressed. Christian and Faithful told them that they were pilgrims and strangers in this world, and that they were traveling to their own country, which is called the Heavenly Jerusalem, and that they had not given any cause for the men of the Town or the merchants to abuse them, and to delay them in their journey. The only possible exception could be that when asked to buy some goods there, they responded that they would only buy the truth.

But the appointed examiners did not believe them, though they did regard them as madmen and lunatics, and likely to be the sort who would bring confusion to the Fair. Therefore they were detained to be beaten, then besmeared with dirt and caged in such a way as to be made a spectacle to all the men of the Fair. And there they lay for some time while being made the objects of any man’s sport or malice or revenge. Meanwhile, the governor of the Fair only continued to laugh at their plight.

But the pilgrims remained patient and never returned abuse for abuse received; on the contrary, they only blessed while speaking good words for bad, and acted kindly in the face of brutal treatment. However, some men at the Fair, who were more discerning and less prejudiced than most, began to restrain the more degraded types and accuse them of continual abuse of the captives. In response, these baser sort let fly at their challengers and began to regard them as bad as the caged pilgrims; they accused them of being accomplices and worthy of receiving the same mistreatment. The others then replied that as far as they could see, the two transients were quiet, sober, and harmless in nature; further they regarded many who attended the Fair as being much more worthy of being caged, yes, and pilloried as well, than the men presently being assailed. So after an exchange of a variety of opinions on both sides, while at the same time the pilgrims themselves behaved both wisely and soberly, the opposing groups began to physically assault and injure each other.

Then the two prisoners were again brought before their examiners and charged with being guilty of causing the recent disturbance at the Fair. As a result they beat them unmercifully, hung them in irons, and paraded them in chains up and down the streets of the Fair; this being intended to make them an example and warning to the citizens lest any should be tempted to defend the pilgrims or associate themselves with them. But Christian and Faithful behaved themselves with increasing wisdom while continuing to have humiliation and shame cast upon them; yet with so much meekness and patience, they did begin to win to their side a comparative few of the men at the Fair. This caused the more militant opponents to only rage all the more, so much so that they now sought the death penalty for the prisoners. Therefore they announced that not merely the cage and irons were sufficient to satisfy them, but that the strangers should die on account of the damage they had caused and the deception of some of the men of the Fair.

Then Christian and Faithful were remanded to the cage again until the process of law could deal with them. Here they were incarcerated with their feet fastened in the stocks. Here also they recalled to mind what they had formerly heard from their faithful friend Evangelist; this caused them to be confirmed in their acceptance of the conditions and trials of the way since they had been told about them before they actually occurred. Now they also comforted each other by reasoning that whoever was chosen to suffer [unto death], he would indeed have the advantage. Therefore each man secretly desired that he might have the preference here; yet they both committed themselves to the all-wise and sovereign purposes of the Almighty; so being full of content, they rested in the condition in which they found themselves waiting to see how they would be disposed of.

When a convenient time had been determined, the prisoners were brought forth to be tried in order that they might be found guilty and condemned. So that time having come, they were brought before their enemies to be formally accused; the name of the appointed judge was Lord Hate-good. The accusation was essentially the same as what had already been declared, though it included some minor variation. The contents were as follows:

“That they [Christian and Faithful] were enemies of, and disturbers of the trading at the Fair; that they had caused both commotions and divisions in the Town, and had gained supporters for their most dangerous opinions, in contempt of the law of their Prince [Beelzebub].”

Then Faithful gave his answer, explaining that he had only spoken against that which had asserted itself against the Highest. He further said, “As for causing a disturbance, I made none since I am a man of peace; the party that began to support us were persuaded through their recognition of our truth and innocence, and thus they turned from a worse condition to a better. And as for the king that you talk about, since he is Beelzebub, the enemy of our Lord, I defy him and all his hellish angels.”

Then it was proclaimed that those who had anything to say in support of their Lord the King against the prisoner at the bar should immediately appear to so testify. So there came forward three witnesses, namely Envy, Superstition [formal religion, popery], and Pickthank [a self-serving tell-tale]. They were then asked if they knew the prisoner at the bar, and what they had to say in support of their Lord the King against him. Envy was first to testify, and he spoke this way, “My Lord, I have known this man a long time, and will attest under oath before this honorable bench that he is —”

JUDGE: Hold on a moment; first administer the oath to him. So he was sworn in to tell the truth.

Then Envy continued, “My Lord, this man, in spite of his plausible name, is one of the vilest men in our country; he regards neither our Prince nor his people, laws, or customs; rather he does all that he can to persuade the men of our Town concerning his subversive ideas, which in general he declares to be principles of faith and holiness. And in particular, I myself once heard him assert that Christianity and the customs of our Town of Vanity were diametrically opposite, and could not be reconciled. Now, my Lord, by this statement he not only condemns all of our praiseworthy good works, but also ourselves in our doing of them.”

JUDGE: Have you anything more to say?

ENVY: My Lord, I could say a great deal more, only I would not weary the court with this detail. Yet, if it is necessary, when the other gentlemen have given their evidence, to avoid any lack of testimony that might allow the prisoner to go free, I would be willing to declare further evidence.

So the Judge requested that he remain at the trial in case his further testimony was needed. Following this Superstition was called to the stand and told to look toward the prisoner; then he was also asked what he could say in defense of their Lord the King against him. Having been sworn in, then he commenced to testify.

SUPERSTITION: My Lord, I have had no great acquaintance with this man, nor do I desire to have any further knowledge of him. However, this I do know, that he is a very pestilent [troublesome] fellow, and from some discussion that I had with him in this Town the other day, I distinctly heard him declare that our religion was vain, and it was of the type by which it would be impossible for a man to please God. Now, my Lordship, you very well know what conclusively follows from such sayings; it is that we are presently continuing in this vain worship and as a result remain in our sins, and finally shall be damned. So this is what I have to say.

Then was Pickthank sworn in, and he was also asked what he knew, in support of their Lord the King, against the prisoner at the bar.

PICKTHANK: My Lord, and all of your gentlemen, I have known this fellow for a long time and heard him speak of things that ought not to be spoken. For he has denounced our noble Prince Beelzebub, and spoken contemptuously of his honorable friends, whose names are the Lord Old Man, the Lord Carnal Delight, the Lord Luxurious, the Lord Desire of Vain-glory, my old Lord Lechery [Lusty], Sir Having Greedy, with all of the rest of our nobility. Moreover, he has said that if it were possible for all men to be of his opinion, then not one of these noblemen would anymore reside in this Town. Besides, he has not been afraid of reviling even you, my Lord, who are now appointed to be his judge; he has called you an ungodly villain, along with many other slanderous names; most of the gentry of our Town have been similarly smeared.

Thus when this Pickthank had concluded giving his evidence, the Judge directed his speech toward the prisoner at the bar, saying, “You deserter of the truth, you heretic and traitor; have you heard what these honest gentlemen have testified against you?”

FAITHFUL: May I speak a few words in my own defense?

JUDGE: You contemptible fellow! You good-for-nothing vagrant! You do not deserve to live any longer, but rather to be immediately put to death here and now. Yet so that all men may recognize our gentleness toward you, let us hear what you have to say.

FAITHFUL: First, in reply to what Mr. Envy has declared, I never said anything except that whatever rules or laws or customs or people are plainly opposed to the Word of God, they are also diametrically opposite to Christianity. If anything that I have said in this regard is incorrect, then do persuade me of my error; I am more than willing to renounce my folly, if you can clearly prove it.

Second, as to the charge that Mr. Superstition brought against me, I can only say this, that in the true worship of God a divine faith is required; but there can be no divine faith without a divine revelation of the will of God. Therefore, whatever is employed in the worship of God, that is not in agreement with divine revelation, cannot be sourced in anything else than human faith, which faith will not result in eternal life.

Third, concerning what Mr. Pickthank had to say, while avoiding those abusive terms that I have been accused of using, nevertheless I say that the Prince of this Town, and all of the attending rabble that he has appointed, are more fit for being in Hell than in this Town and country; and so may the Lord have mercy upon me.

Then the Judge addressed the jury who all this while had been watching and listening nearby. “Gentlemen of the jury, you see this man who has been the center of a violent controversy in this Town; you have also heard what these worthy gentlemen have testified against him; furthermore you have listened to his reply and confession. It now rests in your heartfelt decision as to whether he should live or die. Nevertheless, I believe it is proper that I should instruct you about the precedents of our law.”

“In the days of Pharaoh the Great, a servant of our Prince, there was an act made that addressed the danger of those who would promote false religion and cause it to multiply in our midst and thus overcome the whole realm. So it was decreed that the males of such false prophets should be thrown into the river. There was another act made in the days of King Nebuchadnezzar the Great, also a servant of our Prince; it declared that whoever would not fall down and worship his golden image should be thrown into a fiery furnace.”

“Yet another act was established in the days of King Darius, that whoever, for an appointed period of time, would call upon any other god than he himself should be cast into the lions’ den. Now this rebel has broken the substance of these laws, not only in thought, which is not an indictable offence, but also in word and deed; therefore these actions cannot be tolerated.”

“Concerning the law of Pharaoh, it was promulgated for the purpose of preventing trouble before it had actually happened. But in this instance, an actual crime is all too apparent. With regard to the second and third precedents, you will notice how the prisoner also argues against our religion in much the same way. Therefore on account of the treason which he has openly confessed to, he deserves to die as a criminal.”

Then the jury, whose names were Mr. Blind-man, Mr. No-good, Mr. Malice, Mr. Love-lust, Mr. Live-loose, Mr. Heady, Mr. High-mind, Mr. Enmity, Mr. Liar, Mr. Cruelty, Mr. Hate-light, and Mr. Implacable, retired to consider a verdict. In consultation amongst themselves, each individual concluded that the prisoner was guilty, and so their verdict proved to be unanimous; for each jury member had voiced his condemnation. First, the foreman of the jury, Mr. Blind-man said, “I clearly see that this man is a heretic.” Then Mr. No-good said, “Let us be rid of such a fellow from the face of the Earth.” “Yes,” said Mr. Malice, “for I hate the very appearance of this man.”

Then Mr. Love-lust said, “I could never tolerate him.” “Nor could I,” responded Mr. Live-loose, “for he would always be condemning my lifestyle.” “Hang him, hang him,” said Mr. Heady. “He is a sorry scrub [ruffian],” said Mr. High-mind. “My heart boils with anger against him,” said Mr. Enmity. “He is a rogue,” said Mr. Liar. “Hanging is too good for him,” said Mr. Cruelty. “Let us dispose of him immediately,” said Mr. Hate-light. Then Mr. Implacable said, “If I would be given the whole world, still I could not be reconciled to him; therefore, let us deliver our verdict and find him guilty of death.” So the Judge, having been advised of the jury’s agreement, delivered his sentence. Faithful was condemned to be returned to his prison cell, and there to be put to death by means of the most cruel method possible.

Therefore they brought the condemned prisoner out to execute him according to their law. First they scourged him, then they severely mauled [battered] him, after this they slashed his flesh with knives; further they stoned him and lanced him with their swords, and finally they burned him to ashes at the stake. So Faithful came to his earthly end. Now I noticed that behind the watching multitude there stood a chariot and a pair of horses waiting for Faithful; for as soon as his adversaries had executed him, he was immediately placed in it and transported up through the clouds, with trumpet accompaniment, by means of the shortest route, to the gate of the Celestial City.

But as for Christian, he had some relief in the midst of this agonizing situation in his being remanded back to prison. So there he remained for a period of time. Nevertheless, he that overrules all things, having the power of their rage in the palm of his hand, ordered events in such a way that Christian was enabled, on that occasion, to escape from the Town and continue on his way.

And as he went along, he sang:

Well Faithful, you have faithfully professed
Unto your Lord: with him you will be blessed;
When faithless ones, with all their vain delights,
Are crying out under their hellish plights.
Sing, Faithful, sing; and let your name survive;
For though they killed you, yet you are alive.