Explain How the Pilgrims Again Get Off the Road by Pointing Out Where They Are at Fault.

The Flatterer

So they went on, and Ignorance followed. They went so till they came at a identify where they saw a way put itself into their way, and seemed withal to lie every bit strait as the manner which they should become; and hither they knew not which of the 2 to accept, for both seemed strait before them: therefore hither they stood notwithstanding to consider. And as they were thinking about the way, behold a human being blackness of mankind, but covered with a very light robe, come up 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 thither that I am going." So they followed him in the mode that but at present came into the road, which by degrees turned, and turned them so far from the city that they desired to get to, that in a footling fourth dimension their faces were turned away from information technology; however they follow him. But by and by, before they were aware, he led them both within the compass of a internet, in which they were both then entangled that they knew non what to exercise; and with that the white robe fell off the black homo'due south back. So they saw where they were. Wherefore there they lay crying some time, for they could not go themselves out.

Christian: Then said Christian to his boyfriend, Now do I see myself in an error. Did not the shepherds bid us beware of the Flatterer? Equally is the saying of the wise man, so we have plant it this 24-hour interval: "A man that flattereth his neighbour, spreadeth a cyberspace for his feet" (Prov. 29:5).

Hopeful: They as well gave usa a note of directions about the mode, for our more sure finding thereof; but therein nosotros have also forgotten to read, and have not kept ourselves from the paths of the destroyer. Hither David was wiser than nosotros; for saith he, "Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I take kept me from the paths of the Destroyer" (Psa. 17:4). Thus they lay bewailing themselves in the net. At last they espied a Shining One coming towards them with a whip of small cords in his hand. When he was come to the place where they were, he asked them whence they came, and what they did at that place. They told him that they were poor pilgrims going to Zion, but were led out of their way past a black homo clothed in white, who bid us, said they, follow him, for he was going thither too. Then said he with the whip, It is Flatterer, a false campaigner, that hath transformed himself into an angel of light (Dan. 11:32; 2 Cor. eleven:13, fourteen). Then he rent the net, and let the men out. And then said he to them, Follow me, that I may set you lot in your manner over again. So he led them dorsum to the way which they had left to follow the Flatterer. Then he asked them, saying, Where did you prevarication the terminal night? They said, With the shepherds upon the Delectable Mountains. He asked them so if they had not of the shepherds a note of management for the way. They answered, Yeah. But did you not, said he, when you lot were at a stand, pluck out and read your note? They answered, No. He asked them, Why? They said they forgot. He asked, moreover, if the shepherds did not bid them beware of the Flatterer. They answered, Yes; but nosotros did not imagine, said they, that this fine-spoken man had been he (Rom. 16:17, eighteen).

And then I saw in my dream, that he commanded them to prevarication down; which when they did, he chastised them sore, to teach them the practiced way wherein they should walk (Deut. 25:2; ii Chron. 6:27), and as he chastised them, he said, "As many as I dear, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent." (Rev. 3:19). This washed, he bids them to proceed their way, and take proficient mind to the other directions of the shepherds. So they thanked him for all his kindness, and went softly forth the correct way, singing,

"Come hither, you that walk along the way,
Meet how the pilgrims fare that get astray:
They catched are in an entangling net,
Cause they good counsel lightly did forget:
'Tis true, they rescued were; only nevertheless, you see,
They're scouged to kick; permit this your circumspection be."

Atheist

Atheist.

Now, after awhile, they perceived afar off, one coming softly, and alone, all along the highway, to run across them. And so said Christian to his swain, Yonder is a human being with his back towards Zion, and he is coming to meet us.

Hopeful: I run across him; let u.s.a. take heed to ourselves now, lest he should prove a Flatterer also. So he drew nearer and nearer, and at last came up to them. His proper noun was Atheist, and he asked them whither they were going.

Christian: Nosotros are going to Mount Zion.

And then Atheist barbarous into a very great laughter.

Christian: What's the pregnant of your laughter?

Atheist: I laugh to run across what ignorant persons you lot are, to have upon you so tedious a journey, and yet are like to have nothing but your travel for your pains.

Christian: Why, man, do you think we shall not be received?

Atheist: Received! There is non such a place as you dream of in all this world.

Christian: Just there is in the world to come.

Atheist: When I was at home in mine own land I heard as yous now affirm, and from that hearing went out to see, and have been seeking this metropolis these twenty years, but find no more of information technology than I did the first day I set out (Eccles. 10:15; Jer. 17:15).

Christian: We have both heard, and believe, that in that location is such a identify to exist constitute.

Atheist: Had not I, when at habitation, believed, I had non come thus far to seek; but finding none, (and however I should, had there been such a place to be found, for I have gone to seek it farther than you,) I am going back over again, and will seek to refresh myself with the things that I and so bandage away for hopes of that which I at present see is not.

Christian: And so said Christian to Hopeful his companion, Is it true which this man hath said?

Hopeful: Take heed, he is one of the Flatterers. Remember what it cost usa one time already for our hearkening to such kind of fellows. What! no Mountain Zion? Did we not see from the Delectable Mountains the gate of the city? Too, are we non now to walk by faith (two Cor. v:7)? Let united states go on, lest the man with the whip overtake united states of america again. You should take taught me that lesson, which I will sound you in the ears withal: "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge" (Prov. 19:27). I say, my blood brother, end to hear him, and allow us believe to the saving of the soul.

Christian: My blood brother, I did not put the question to thee, for that I doubted of the truth of our belief myself, but to prove thee, and to fetch from thee a fruit of the honesty of thy heart. Equally for this man, I know that he is blinded by the god of this world. Let thee and me go on, knowing that we have belief of the truth; and no lie is of the truth (one John v:21).

Hopeful: Now do I rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And then they turned away from the human; and he, laughing at them, went his style.

The Enchanted Ground

I so saw in my dream, that they went on until they came into a certain country whose air naturally tended to make one drowsy, if he came a stranger into it. And hither Hopeful began to be very irksome, and heavy to sleep: wherefore he said unto Christian, I exercise at present begin to grow and so drowsy that I tin scarcely hold open mine eyes; let us lie down here, and take one nap.

Christian: Past no ways, said the other; lest, sleeping, nosotros never awake more.

Hopeful: Why, my brother? sleep is sweet to the laboring man; we may be refreshed, if we have a nap.

Christian: Do you not remember that one of the shepherds bid us beware of the Enchanted Footing? He meant past that, that we should beware of sleeping; wherefore "permit united states of america non sleep, every bit exercise others; simply allow united states watch and be sober" (1 Thess. 5:6).

Hopeful: I admit myself in a fault; and had I been here alone, I had by sleeping run the danger of death. I see it is true that the wise human saith, "Two are better than one" (Eccl. four:9). Hitherto hath thy company been my mercy; and 1000 shalt have a skillful reward for thy labor.

Christian: Now, and so, said Christian, to preclude drowsiness in this place, let us fall into skilful soapbox.

Hopeful: With all my heart, said the other.

Christian: Where shall nosotros begin?

Hopeful: Where God began with us. But do you begin, if you please.

Christian: I will sing you offset this song:

"When saints practice sleepy grow, let them come hither,
And hear how these two pilgrims talk together;
Yea, let them learn of them in whatever wise,
Thus to keep ope their drowsy, slumb'ring optics.
Saints' fellowship, if information technology be managed well,
Keeps them awake, and that in spite of hell."

Then Christian began, and said, I will ask you a question. How came yous to call back at offset of doing what you do at present?

Hopeful: Do you mean, how came I at starting time to wait after the good of my soul?

Christian: Yes, that is my meaning.

Hopeful: I continued a peachy while in the delight of those things which were seen and sold at our fair; things which I believe now would have, had I continued in them still, drowned me in perdition and destruction.

Christian: What things were they?

Hopeful: All the treasures and riches of the globe. Also I delighted much in rioting, reveling, drinking, swearing, lying, uncleanness, Sabbath-breaking, and what non, that tended to destroy the soul. Merely I found at last, by hearing and considering of things that are divine, which, indeed, I heard of y'all, as besides of beloved Faithful, that was put to death for his faith and good living in Vanity Fair, that the end of these things is decease (Rom. 6:21-23), and that for these things' sake, the wrath of God cometh upon the children of defiance (Eph. 5:half-dozen).

Christian: And did yous presently fall under the power of this conviction?

Hopeful: No, I was not willing soon to know the evil of sin, nor the damnation that follows upon the commission of information technology; but endeavored, when my mind at first began to be shaken with the word, to shut mine eyes against the light thereof.

Christian: But what was the cause of your carrying of it thus to the first workings of God's blest Spirit upon you?

Hopeful: The causes were, 1. 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. 2. Sin was nonetheless very sweet to my flesh, and I was loth to leave it. 3. I could not tell how to part with mine former companions, their presence and actions were and so desirable unto me. 4. The hours in which convictions were upon me, were such troublesome and such heart-affrighting hours, that I could not conduct, no not so much as the remembrance of them upon my eye.

Christian: Then, as it seems, sometimes yous got rid of your trouble?

Hopeful: Yes, verily, simply it would come into my mind once again; and then I should be as bad, nay, worse than I was before.

Christian: Why, what was it that brought your sins to listen again?

Hopeful: Many things; equally,

i. If I did but encounter a adept homo in the streets; or,

2. If I have heard any read in the Bible; or,

3. If mine head did begin to ache; or,

4. If I were told that some of my neighbors were sick; or,

5. If I heard the bell toll for some that were dead; or,

6. If I thought of dying myself; or,

7. If I heard that sudden decease happened to others.

eight. Simply especially when I thought of myself, that I must quickly come to judgment.

Christian: And could you at any fourth dimension, with ease, get off the guilt of sin, when by any of these ways information technology came upon you?

Hopeful: No, not I; for so they got faster hold of my conscience; and then, if I did but think of going dorsum to sin, (though my mind was turned against it,) information technology would be double torment to me.

Christian: And how did y'all practise then?

Hopeful: I thought I must effort to mend my life; for else, idea I, I am sure to be damned.

Christian: And did you effort to mend?

Hopeful: Yes, and fled from, not only my sins, but sinful company too, and betook me to religious duties, as praying, reading, weeping for sin, speaking truth to my neighbors, etc. These things did I, with many others, as well much here to relate.

Christian: And did y'all call back yourself well then?

Hopeful: Yes, for a while; but at the last my trouble came tumbling upon me again, and that over the cervix of all my reformations.

Christian: How came that about, since you lot were now reformed?

Hopeful: At that place were several things brought it upon me, particularly such sayings every bit these: "All our righteousnesses are equally filthy rags" (Isa. 64:6). "By the works of the law shall no mankind exist justified" (Gal. 2:sixteen). "When ye have done all these things, say, We are unprofitable" (Luke 17:10), with many more than such similar. From whence I began to reason with myself thus: If all my righteousnesses are as filthy rags; if by the deeds of the constabulary no man tin be justified; and if, when nosotros have done all, we are notwithstanding unprofitable, then is it but a folly to call back of sky by the law. I farther thought thus: If a man runs a hundred pounds into the shopkeeper's debt, and later that shall pay for all that he shall fetch; yet if his quondam debt stands still in the volume uncrossed, the shopkeeper may sue him for information technology, and cast him into prison, till he shall pay the debt.

Christian: Well, and how did you employ this to yourself?

Hopeful: Why, I thought thus with myself: I take by my sins run a great way into God's book, and my now reforming will not pay off that score; therefore I should think still, under all my nowadays amendments, Just how shall I be freed from that damnation that I brought myself in danger of by my former transgressions?

Christian: A very good application: but pray continue.

Hopeful: Some other matter that hath troubled me ever since my late amendments, is, that if I expect narrowly into the all-time of what I do now, I nevertheless run into sin, new sin, mixing itself with the best of that I do; so that at present I am forced to conclude, that yet my former fond conceits of myself and duties, I have committed sin plenty in one 24-hour interval to ship me to hell, though my former life had been faultless.

Christian: And what did yous do and so?

Hopeful: Do! I could non tell what to practise, until I broke my listen 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 mine own, nor all the righteousness of the world, could save me.

Christian: And did yous think he spake true?

Hopeful: Had he told me and so when I was pleased and satisfied with my own amendments, I had called him fool for his pains; but now, since I meet my own infirmity, and the sin which cleaves to my best performance, I have been forced to exist of his stance.

Christian: Merely did you lot think, when at first he suggested it to you, that there was such a human being to be institute, of whom it might justly be said, that he never committed sin?

Hopeful: I must confess the words at outset sounded strangely; merely subsequently a footling more talk and visitor with him, I had full conviction most information technology.

Christian: And did you ask him what human this was, and how you lot must be justified by him?

Hopeful: Yes, and he told me it was the Lord Jesus, that dwelleth on the correct hand of the Most High (Heb. 10:12-21). And thus, said he, you lot must be justified by him, even by trusting to what he hath done by himself in the days of his flesh, and suffered when he did hang on the tree (Rom. iv:5; Col. 1:xiv; 1 Pet. 1:19). I asked him further, how that homo's righteousness could be of that efficacy, to justify another earlier God. And he told me he was the mighty God, and did what he did, and died the expiry also, non for himself, but for me; to whom his doings, and the worthiness of them, should be imputed, if I believed on him.

Christian: And what did you do and then?

Hopeful: I made my objections against my believing, for that I thought he was not willing to relieve me.

Christian: And what said True-blue to you then?

"He said, No; for I was invited to come."

Hopeful: He bid me become to him and come across. And so I said it was presumption. He said, No; for I was invited to come (Matt. 11:28). Then he gave me a book of Jesus' inditing, to encourage me the more freely to come; and he said concerning that book, that every jot and tittle thereof stood firmer than sky and earth (Matt. 24:35). Then I asked him what I must practice when I came; and he told me I must entreat upon my knees (Psa. 95:6; Dan. 6:x), with all my centre and soul (Jer. 29:12, 13), the Father to reveal him to me. Then I asked him further, how I must make my supplications to him; and he said, Go, and thou shalt notice him upon a mercy-seat, where he sits all the year long to give pardon and forgiveness to them that come (Exod. 25:22; Lev. 16:2; Num. 7:89; Heb. 4:16). I told him, that I knew not what to say when I came; and he bid say 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 religion in that righteousness, I am utterly cast away. Lord, I have heard that one thousand art a merciful God, and hast ordained that thy Son Jesus Christ should be the Saviour of the world; and moreover, that g art 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 thy grace in the salvation of my soul, through thy Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

Christian: And did y'all practice equally yous were bidden?

Hopeful: Yes, over, and over, and over.

Christian: And did the Begetter reveal the Son to you lot?

Hopeful: Non at the get-go, nor 2d, nor third, nor fourth, nor 5th, no, nor at the sixth fourth dimension neither.

Christian: What did you do and so?

Hopeful: What? why I could non tell what to do.

Christian: Had you not thoughts of leaving off praying?

Hopeful: Yep; an hundred times twice told.

Christian: And what was the reason you did not?

Hopeful: I believed that it was truthful which hath been told me, to wit, that without the righteousness of this Christ, all the globe could not relieve me; and therefore, thought I with myself, if I leave off, I die, and I tin can simply die at the throne of grace. And withal this came into my mind, "If it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, and will not tarry" (Hab. two:3). So I continued praying until the Male parent showed me his Son.

Christian: And how was he revealed unto y'all?

Hopeful: I did not encounter him with my bodily optics, only with the eyes of my understanding (Eph. 1:18, 19), and thus it was. One day I was very sad, I recollect sadder than at any once in my life; and this sadness was through a fresh sight of the greatness and vileness of my sins. And equally I was then looking for nothing simply hell, and the everlasting damnation of my soul, suddenly, as I thought, I saw the Lord Jesus looking downwards from heaven upon me, and saying, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thousand shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).

But I replied, Lord, I am a groovy, a very great sinner: and he answered, "My grace is sufficient for thee" (2 Cor. 12:ix). Then I said, Only, Lord, what is assertive? And then I saw from that maxim, "He that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (John half dozen:35), that believing and coming was all one; and that he that came, that is, that ran out in his heart and affections after conservancy past Christ, he indeed believed in Christ. Then the water stood in mine optics, and I asked further, But, Lord, may such a great sinner every bit I am be indeed accustomed of thee, and exist saved by thee? And I heard him say, "And him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out" (John six:37). So I said, But how, Lord, must I consider of thee in my coming to thee, that my faith may be placed aright upon thee? Then he said, "Christ Jesus came into the world to salve sinners" (i Tim. 1:fifteen). He is the finish of the police for righteousness to every one that believes (Rom.10:4; four). He died for our sins, and rose over again for our justification (Rom. four:25). He loved usa, and washed us from our sins in his own blood (Rev. 1:v). He is the Mediator between God and us (i Tim. 2:5). He ever liveth to make intercession for united states of america (Heb. 7:25). From all which I gathered, that I must await 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 thereof, was not for himself, but for him that volition accept it for his conservancy, and be thankful. And now was my heart full of joy, mine eyes full of tears, and mine affections running over with love to the proper noun, people, and ways of Jesus Christ.

Christian: This was a revelation of Christ to your soul indeed. But tell me particularly what effect this had upon your spirit.

Hopeful: It made me run across that all the world, all the same all the righteousness thereof, is in a state of condemnation. Information technology made me see that God the Begetter, though he be just, can justly justify the coming sinner. It made me greatly aback of the vileness of my former life, and confounded me with the sense of mine ain ignorance; for in that location never came a thought into my heart before at present that showed me then the beauty of Jesus Christ. It made me love a holy life, and long to do something for the honor and celebrity of the proper name of the Lord Jesus. Yea, I thought that had I now a thousand gallons of claret in my trunk, I could spill it all for the sake of the Lord Jesus.

Ignorance Again

I saw then in my dream, that Hopeful looked back, and saw Ignorance, whom they had left behind, coming after. Wait, said he to Christian, how far yonder youngster loitereth backside.

Christian: Aye, aye, I see him: he careth non for our company.

Hopeful: But I trow it would not have hurt him, had he kept footstep with us hitherto.

Christian: That is truthful; only I warrant yous he thinketh otherwise.

Hopeful: That I think he doth; just, withal, permit u.s. tarry for him. (Then they did.)

So Christian said to him, Come abroad, man; why do you stay then behind?

Ignorance: I accept my pleasure in walking lonely, even more than a bully deal than in visitor, unless I like it the better.

"I am e'er full of good motions."

Then said Christian to Hopeful, (merely softly,) Did I not tell you he cared not for our company? Only, even so, said he, come up up, and allow us talk away the time in this solitary identify. Then, directing his speech to Ignorance, he said, Come, how do you lot exercise? How stands it between God and your soul now?

Ignorance: I hope, well; for I am always full of skilful motions, that come into my heed to condolement me every bit I walk.

Christian: What practiced motions? Pray tell us.

Ignorance: Why, I retrieve of God and sky.

Christian: So practice the devils and damned souls.

Ignorance: But I call back of them, and desire them.

Christian: Then do many that are never like to come in that location. "The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath zero" (Prov. 13:iv).

Ignorance: Only I think of them, and leave all for them.

Christian: That I doubt: for to leave all is a very difficult matter; yea, a harder matter than many are aware of. But why, or by what, art thou persuaded that thou hast left all for God and sky?

Ignorance: My heart tells me so.

Christian: The wise man says, "He that trusteth in his ain heart is a fool" (Prov. 28:26).

Ignorance: That is spoken of an evil heart; but mine is a good one.

Christian: Only how dost thou prove that?

Ignorance: Information technology comforts me in hopes of heaven.

Christian: That may be through its deceitfulness; for a human's eye may minister condolement to him in the hopes of that thing for which he has nevertheless no ground to hope.

Ignorance: But my heart and life agree together; and therefore my hope is well-grounded.

Christian: Who told thee that thy heart and life agree together?

Ignorance: My heart tells me so.

Christian: "Inquire my boyfriend if I be a thief." Thy heart tells thee then! Except the discussion of God beareth witness in this affair, other testimony is of no value.

Ignorance: Just is it non a good middle that hath practiced thoughts? and is not that a proficient life that is according to God'southward commandments?

Christian: Yes, that is a good eye that hath practiced thoughts, and that is a good life that is according to God'due south commandments; merely information technology is one thing indeed to have these, and another affair only to recollect so.

Ignorance: Pray, what count you lot good thoughts, and a life according to God'southward commandments?

Christian: There are good thoughts of divers kinds; some respecting ourselves, some God, some Christ, and another things.

Ignorance: What be practiced thoughts respecting ourselves?

Christian: Such as agree with the word of God.

Ignorance: When do our thoughts of ourselves concord with the word of God?

Christian: When we laissez passer the same judgment upon ourselves which the give-and-take passes. To explain myself: the word of God saith of persons in a natural condition, "There is none righteous, in that location is none that doeth good." It saith besides, that, "every imagination of the middle of man is only evil, and that continually" (Gen. six:5; Rom. iii). And over again, "The imagination of man'due south center is evil from his youth" (Gen. 8:21). Now, then, when we recall thus of ourselves, having sense thereof, and then are our thoughts skillful ones, because according to the word of God.

Ignorance: I will never believe that my heart is thus bad.

Christian: Therefore g never hadst one proficient thought concerning thyself in thy life. Only permit me go along. As the word passeth a judgment upon our hearts, so information technology passeth a judgment upon our means; and when the thoughts of our hearts and ways agree with the judgment which the word giveth of both, then are both good, considering agreeing thereto.

Ignorance: Brand out your significant.

Christian: Why, the word of God saith, that man's means are crooked ways, non good but perverse; it saith, they are naturally out of the adept way, that they have not known it (Psa. 125:5; Prov. 2:15; Rom. 3:12). Now, when a man thus thinketh of his means, I say, when he doth sensibly, and with heart-humiliation, thus retrieve, then hath he good thoughts of his ain ways, because his thoughts now agree with the judgment of the word of God.

Ignorance: What are practiced thoughts concerning God?

Christian: Even, as I have said concerning ourselves, when our thoughts of God do agree with what the word saith of him; and that is, when nosotros recall of his being and attributes as the discussion hath taught, of which I cannot now discourse at large. Only to speak of him with reference to u.s.: and then have nosotros correct thoughts of God when we recollect that he knows u.s. improve than we know ourselves, and can run across sin in united states of america when and where we can see none in ourselves; when nosotros think he knows our inmost thoughts, and that our middle, with all its depths, is always open up unto his eyes; also when we remember that all our righteousness stinks in his nostrils, and that therefore he cannot abide to run into us stand up before him in any conviction, even in all our best performances.

Ignorance: Do you recollect that I am such a fool equally to call back that God tin can run into no further than I; or that I would come to God in the best of my performances?

Christian: Why, how dost yard think in this thing?

Ignorance: Why, to be short, I recollect I must believe in Christ for justification.

Christian: How! think g must believe in Christ, when thou seest not thy demand of him! 1000 neither seest thy original nor bodily infirmities; but hast such an opinion of thyself, and of what thou doest, equally plainly renders thee to be ane that did never run across the necessity of Christ's personal righteousness to justify thee before God. How, and so, dost thou say, I believe in Christ?

Ignorance: I believe well enough, for all that.

Christian: How dost 1000 believe?

Ignorance: 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 laws. Or thus, Christ makes my duties, that are religious, adequate to his Male parent by virtue of his merits, and and so shall I exist justified.

Christian: Permit me give an answer to this confession of thy faith.

one. Thousand believest with a fantastical faith; for this faith is nowhere described in the word.

2. 1000 believest with a false faith; because it taketh justification from the personal righteousness of Christ, and applies it to thy own.

3. This religion maketh non Christ a justifier of thy person, merely of thy actions; and of thy person for thy activity's sake, which is fake.

4. Therefore this religion is mendacious, even such equally will go out thee under wrath in the day of God Almighty: for true justifying organized religion puts the soul, every bit sensible of its lost condition by the law, upon flying for refuge unto Christ's righteousness; (which righteousness of his is non an act of grace by which he maketh, for justification, thy obedience accepted with God, but his personal obedience to the law, in doing and suffering for us what that required at our easily;) this righteousness, I say, truthful faith accepteth; under the skirt of which the soul being shrouded, and by it presented as spotless earlier God, it is accustomed, and acquitted from condemnation.

Ignorance: What! would yous have us trust to what Christ in his ain person has done without us? This conceit would loosen the reins of our lust, and tolerate united states of america to live as we listing: for what matter how nosotros alive, if we may be justified past Christ's personal righteousness from all, when we believe it?

Christian: Ignorance is thy name, and as thy name is, so fine art yard: even this thy answer demonstrateth what I say. Ignorant thou fine art of what justifying righteousness is, and as ignorant how to secure thy soul, through the faith of it, from the heavy wrath of God. Yea, thou too art ignorant of the truthful furnishings of saving faith in this righteousness of Christ, which is to bow and win over the heart to God in Christ, to dearest his name, his give-and-take, ways, and people, and not as thou ignorantly imaginest.

Hopeful: Ask him if ever he had Christ revealed to him from heaven.

Ignorance: What! y'all are a man for revelations! I do believe, that what both yous and all the rest of you say about that thing, is but the fruit of distracted brains.

Hopeful: Why, man, Christ is then hid in God from the natural apprehensions of the mankind, that he cannot by whatever man be savingly known, unless God the Begetter reveals him to him.

Ignorance: That is your faith, but non mine, notwithstanding mine, I doubt not, is as skilful every bit yours, though I accept non in my head so many whimsies as you lot.

Christian: Give me leave to put in a discussion. Y'all ought not so slightly to speak of this thing: for this I will boldly affirm, even equally my good companion hath washed, that no human tin can know Jesus Christ but by the revelation of the Father: yea, and religion too, by which the soul layeth agree upon Christ, (if it exist right,) must be wrought by the exceeding greatness of his mighty power (Matt. xi:27; 1 Cor. 12:three; Eph. 1:17-19), the working of which organized religion, I perceive, poor Ignorance, k fine art ignorant of. Be awakened, then, see thine ain wretchedness, and wing to the Lord Jesus; and by his righteousness, which is the righteousness of God, (for he himself is God,) thou shalt exist delivered from condemnation.

Ignorance: You get so fast I cannot keep pace with you lot; do y'all go on before: I must stay a while behind.

Then they said,

"Well, Ignorance, wilt thou yet foolish be,
To slight good counsel, 10 times given thee?
And if k yet decline it, k shalt know,
Ere long, the evil of thy doing so.
Remember, homo, in time: stoop, do not fright:
Good counsel, taken well, saves; therefore hear.
But if thou yet shalt slight it, thou wilt be
The loser, Ignorance, I'll warrant thee."

And so Christian addressed himself thus to his boyfriend:

Christian: Well, come up, my good Hopeful, I perceive that m and I must walk by ourselves once more. So I saw in my dream, that they went on apace earlier, and Ignorance he came hobbling later. So said Christian to his companion, I much pity this poor man: information technology volition certainly go ill with him at terminal.

Hopeful: Alas! there are affluence in our boondocks in his condition, whole families, yea, whole streets, and that of pilgrims too; and if at that place be so many in our parts, how many, retrieve you, must at that place be in the place where he was born?

Christian: Indeed, the give-and-take saith, "He hath blinded their eyes, lest they should see," etc. But, now we are past ourselves, what do yous think of such men? Take they at no time, think yous, convictions of sin, and so, consequently, fears that their land is dangerous?

Hopeful: Nay, practice yous answer that question yourself, for you are the elder man.

Christian: Then I say, sometimes (as I recollect) they may; but they being naturally ignorant, understand not that such convictions tend to their good; and therefore they practice badly seek to stifle them, and presumptuously go along to flatter themselves in the manner of their own hearts.

Hopeful: I practice believe, as yous say, that fright tends much to men's skilful, and to brand them right at their beginning to get on pilgrimage.

Christian: Without all doubt it doth, if information technology exist right; for then says the discussion, "The fear of the Lord is the get-go of wisdom" (Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10; Prov. one:vii; 9:x).

Hopeful: How will you lot describe right fear?

Christian: True or right fright is discovered past three things:

i. By its rise; it is caused by saving convictions for sin.

2. It driveth the soul to lay fast hold of Christ for salvation.

3. It begetteth and continueth in the soul a neat reverence of God, his word, and ways; keeping it tender, and making information technology afraid to turn from them, to the right paw or to the left, to whatever matter that may dishonor God, break its peace, grieve the Spirit, or cause the enemy to speak reproachfully.

Hopeful: Well said; I believe you have said the truth. Are we at present nigh got by the Enchanted Ground?

Christian: Why? are you weary of this discourse?

Hopeful: No, verily, but that I would know where we are.

Christian: We have not at present above 2 miles farther to go thereon. Merely permit u.s.a. render to our thing. Now, the ignorant know not that such confidence as tend to put them in fear, are for their adept, and therefore they seek to stifle them.

Hopeful: How do they seek to stifle them?

Christian: 1. They call back that those fears are wrought past the devil, (though indeed they are wrought of God,) and thinking so, they resist them, equally things that directly tend to their overthrow. 2. They as well think that these fears tend to the spoiling of their organized religion; when, alas for them, poor men that they are, they have none at all; and therefore they harden their hearts against them. 3. They assume they ought not to fearfulness, and therefore, in despite of them, wax presumptuously confident. 4. They encounter that those fears tend to take away from them their sorry old self-holiness, and therefore they resist them with all their might.

Hopeful: I know something of this myself; for before I knew myself information technology was so with me.

Continue reading with Department 10.

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Source: https://answersingenesis.org/answers/books/pilgrims-progress/section-9/

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