THE
PILGRIM'S PROGRESS
JOHN
BUNYAN
Section
10
Talk
of Christian and Hopeful - Temporary - the backslider - the
land of Beulah - Christian
and Hopeful pass the River - welcome
to the Celestial city - Conclusion
RIGHT
FEAR
So
I saw in my dream
that they went on apace before, and IGNORANCE he came hobbling after. Then
said CHRISTIAN to his companion, "It pities me much for this poor man;
it will certainly go ill with him at last."
Hope.
Alas, there are abundance in our town in his condition: whole families, yea,
whole streets (and that of pilgrims too); and if there be so many in our
parts, how many, think you, must there be in the place where he was born?
Chr.
Indeed the Word saith, "He hath blinded their eyes, lest they should
see," etc. But now we are by ourselves, what do you think of such men?
Have they at no time, think you, convictions of sin; and so, consequently,
fears that their state is dangerous?
Hope.
Nay, do you answer that question yourself; for you are the elder man.
Chr.
Then I say sometimes (as I think) they may; but they, being naturally
ignorant, understand not that such convictions tend to their good; and
therefore they do desperately seek to stifle them, and presumptuously
continue to flatter themselves in the way of their own hearts.
Hope.
I do believe as you say, that fear tends much to men's good, and to make
them right, at their beginning, to go on pilgrimage.
Chr.
Without all doubt it doth, if it be right; for so says the Word, "The
fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.''
"And
unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and
to depart from evil is understanding." Job 28:28
"The
fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding
have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for
ever." Psalm 111:10
"The
fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools
despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:7
"The
fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the
holy is understanding." Proverbs 9:10
Hope.
How will you describe right fear?
Chr.
True, or right fear, is discovered by three things:
1.
By its rise. It is caused by saving convictions for sin.
2. It drives the soul to lay fast hold of Christ for salvation.
3. It begets and continues in the soul a great reverence of God, His Word,
and ways; keeping it tender, and making it afraid to turn from them, to the
right hand or to the left; to anything that may dishonour God, break its
peace, grieve the Spirit, or cause the enemy to speak reproachfully.
Hope.
Well said; I believe you have said the truth. Are we now almost got past the
Enchanted Ground?
Chr.
Why, are you weary of this discourse?
Hope.
No, verily; but that I would know where we are.
Chr.
We have not now above two miles farther to go thereon. But let us return to
our matter. Now the ignorant know not that such convictions that tend to put
them in fear are for their good; and therefore they seek to stifle them.
Hope.
How do they seek to stifle them?
Chr.
1. They think that those fears are wrought by the devil (though indeed they
are wrought of God); and thinking so, they resist them, as things that
directly tend to their overthrow.
2.
They also think that these fears tend to the spoiling of their faith (when,
alas for them, poor men that they are, they have none at all); and therefore
they harden their hearts against them.
3.
They presume they ought not to fear; and therefore, in despite of them, wax
presumptuously confident.
4.
They see that these fears tend to take away from them their pitiful old self
holiness; and therefore they resist them with all their might.
Hope.
I know something of this myself; for before I knew myself, it was so with
me.
BACKSLIDING
Chr. Well,
we will leave at this time our neighbour IGNORANCE by himself,
and fall upon another profitable question.
Hope.
With all my heart; but you shall still begin.
Chr.
Well then, did you not know, about ten years ago, one TEMPORARY in your
parts, who was a forward man in religion then?
Hope.
Know him? Yes; he dwelt in Graceless, a town about two miles off to Honesty,
and he dwelt next door to one TURNBACK
Chr.
Right; he dwelt under the same roof with him. Well, that man was much
awakened once. I believe that then he had some sight of his sins, and of the
wages that was due thereto.
Hope. I am of your mind; for (my house not being above three miles
from him) he would oft times come to me, and that with many tears. Truly, I
pitied the man, and was not altogether without hope of him; but one may see
it is not everyone that cries, "Lord, Lord !"
Chr.
He told me once, that he was resolved to go on pilgrimage, as we do now; but
all of a sudden he grew acquainted with one SAVE-SELF, and then he became a
stranger to me.
Hope.
Now, since we are talking about him, let us a little inquire into the reason
of the sudden backsliding of him and such others.
Chr.
I may be very profitable; but do you begin.
Hope.
Well, then, there are in my judgment four reasons for it.
1.
Though the consciences of such men are awakened, yet their minds are not
changed; therefore, when the power of guilt wears away, that which provoked
them to be religious ceaseth. Wherefore, they naturally turn to their own
course again; even as we see the dog that is sick of what he hath eaten, so
long as his sickness prevails, he vomits and casts up all; not that he doth
this of a free mind (if we may say a dog has a mind), but because it
troubles his stomach.; but now, when his sickness is over, and so his
stomach eased, his desires being not at all alienate from his vomit, he
turns him about and licks up all. And so it is true which is written,
"The dog is turned to his own vomit again".
"But
it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is
turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing
in the mire." 2 Peter 2:22
This,
I say, being hot for heaven, by virtue only of the sense and fear of the
torments of hell, as their sense of hell and the fear of damnation chills
and cools, –
so their desires for heaven and salvation cool also. So then it comes
to pass, that when their guilt and fear are gone, their desires for heaven
and happiness die and they return to their course again.
2.
Another reason is, they have slavish fears that do overmaster them. I speak
now of the fears that they have of men: "For the fear of man brings a
snare".
"The
fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall
be safe." Proverbs 29:25
So
then, though they seem to be hot for heaven so long as the flames of hell
are about their ears, yet when that terror is a little over, they betake
themselves to second thoughts; namely, that 'tis good to be wise, and not to
run (for they know not what) the hazard of losing all, or at least of
bringing themselves into unavoidable and unnecessary troubles: and so they
fall in with the world again.
3.
The shame that attends religion lies also as a block in their way. They are
proud and haughty, and religion in their eye is low and contemptible;
therefore, when they have lost their sense of hell and wrath to come, they
return again to their former course.
4.
Guilt and to meditate terror are grievous to them; they like not to see
their misery before they come into it. Though perhaps the sight of it first,
if they loved that sight, might make them fly whither the righteous fly and
are safe: but because they do, as I hinted before, even shun the thoughts of
guilt and terror; therefore, when once they are rid of their awakenings
about the terrors and wrath of God, they harden their hearts gladly, and
choose such ways as will harden them more and more.
Chr.
You are pretty near the business; for the bottom of all is, for want of a
change in their mind and will. And therefore they are but like the felon
that stands before the judge: he quakes and trembles, and seems to repent
most heartily. But the bottom of all is, the fear of the halter, not of any
detestation of the offence; as is evident, because, let but this man have
his liberty, and he will be a thief, and so a rogue still; whereas if his
mind was changed he would be otherwise.
Hope.
Now I have showed you the reasons of their going back, do you show me the
manner thereof.
Chr.
So I will willingly:
1.
They draw off their thoughts all that they may from the remembrance of God,
death, and judgment to come.
2.
Then they cast off by degrees private duties: as closet prayer, curbing
their lusts, watching, sorrow for sin, and the like.
3.
Then they shun the company of lively and warm Christians.
4.
After that they grow cold to public duty: as hearing, reading, godly
conference, and the like.
5.
Then they begin to pick holes, as we say, in the coats of some of the godly;
and that devilishly, that they may have a seeming colour to throw religion
(for the sake of some infirmity they have spied in them) behind their backs.
6.
Then they begin to adhere to, and associate themselves with, carnal, loose,
and wanton men.
7.
Then they give way to carnal and wanton discourses in secret; and glad are
they if they can see such things in any that are counted honest, that they
may the more boldly do it through their example.
8.
After this they begin to play with little sins openly.
9.
And then, being hardened, they show themselves as they are. Thus, being
launched again into the gulf of misery, unless a miracle of grace prevent
it, they everlastingly perish in their own deceivings.
The
Pilgrim's Progress - the land of Beulah
The
Pilgrim's Progress - Contents
