THE
PILGRIM'S PROGRESS
JOHN
BUNYAN
Section
9
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
THE
FLATTERER
So
they went on,
and IGNORANCE followed. They went then till they came to a place where they
saw a way put itself into their way, and seemed withal 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 here they stood still
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 thither that I am going." So they followed him in the way that but
now came into the road, which by degrees turned and turned them so 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. Wherefore
there they lay crying some time; for they could not get themselves out.
Chr.
Then said CHRISTIAN to his fellow, "Now do I see myself in an error.
Did not the shepherds bid us 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 that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet."
Proverbs 29:5
Hope.
They also gave us a note of directions about the way, for our more sure
finding thereof; but therein we have also forgotten to read, and have not
kept ourselves from the paths of the destroyer. Here David was wiser than
we; for, saith he, "Concerning the works of men, by the word of Thy
lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer."
"Concerning
the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the
paths of the destroyer." Psalms 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 cord in his hand.
When
he was come to the place where they were, he asked them whence they came?
and what they did 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," said they, "follow him; for he was going
thither too." Then said he with the whip, "It is FLATTERER, a
false apostle, that hath transformed himself into an angel of light".
"A
man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet."
Proverbs 29:5
"And
such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but
the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits."
Daniel 11:32
"For
such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves
into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed
into an angel of light." 2 Corinthians 11:13, 14
So
he rent the net, and let the men out Then said he 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 lie the last night?" They said, "with the
shepherds upon the
Delectable
Mountains
." He asked
them then, "If they had not of those shepherds a note of direction for
the way?" They answered, "Yes." "But did you," said
he, "when you 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 we did not imagine,"
said they, "that this fine spoken man had been he".
"For
they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and
by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."
Romans 16:18
Then
I saw in my dream that he commanded them to lie down;
"And
it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge
shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to
his fault, by a certain number." Deuteronomy 25:2
which
when they did, he chastised them sore to teach them the good way wherein
they should walk.
"When
the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned
against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy
name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them; Then hear thou
from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel,
when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send
rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an
inheritance." 2 Chronicles 6:26, 27
And
as he chastised them, he said "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten;
be zealous therefore, and repent".
"As
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and
repent." Revelation 3:19
This
done, he bade them go on their way, and take good heed to 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!"
The
Pilgrim's Progress - Atheist
The
Pilgrim's Progress - Contents
