The Pilgrim's Progress (Part I)

Section 6-Evangelist Overtakes Christian And Faithful

EVANGELIST'S EXHORTATION AND PROPHESY

Now when they were got almost quite out of this wilderness, FAITHFUL chanced to east his eye back, and espied one coming after them, and he knew him. "Oh," said FAITHFUL to his brother, "who comes yonder?" Then CHRISTIAN looked, and said, "It is my good friend, EVANGELIST." "Aye, and my good friend too," saith FAITHFUL; "for 'twas he that set me the way to the gate." Now was EVANGELIST come up unto them, and thus saluted them:

Evan. Peace be with you, dearly beloved; and peace be to your helpers!

Chr. Welcome, welcome, my good EVANGELIST! the sight of thy countenance brings to my remembrance thy ancient kindness and unwearied labouring for my eternal good.

Faith. "And a thousand times welcome," said good FAITHFUL; "thy company, O sweet EVANGELIST, how desirable is it to us poor pilgrims!"

Evan. Then said EVANGELIST, "How hath it fared with you, my friends, since the time of our last parting? what have you met with, and how have you behaved yourselves?"

Then CHRISTIAN and FAITHFUL told him of all things that had happened to them in the way; and how, and with what difficulty, they had arrived to that place.

Evan. "Right glad am I," said EVANGELIST - "not that you met with trials, but that you have been victors; and for that you have (notwithstanding many weaknesses) continued in the way to this very day. I say, right glad am I of this thing, and that for mine own sake and 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: for in due time ye shall reap, if you faint not. The crown is before you; and it is an incorruptible one: so run that you may obtain it. Some there be that set out for this crown; and after they have gone far for it, another comes in and takes it from them! Hold fast, therefore, that you have: let no man take your crown;

"And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together." John 4:36

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Galatians 6:9

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." 1 Corinthians 9:24 -27

"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." Revelation 3:11

you are not yet out of the gunshot of the devil; you have not resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Let the Kingdom be always before you; and believe steadfastly concerning things that are invisible. Let nothing that is on this side the other world get within you; and, above all, look well to your own hearts, and to the lusts thereof, for they are deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Set your faces like a flint; you have all power in heaven and earth on your side."

Then CHRISTIAN thanked him for his exhortation, but told him withal, that they would have him speak further to them, for their help the rest of the way; and the rather, for that they well knew that he was a prophet, and could tell them of things that might happen unto them; and also how they might resist and overcome them. To which request, FAITHFUL also consented. So EVANGELIST began as followeth:

Evan. My sons, you have heard in the words of the truth of the Gospel, that you must "through many tribulations enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." And again, that in every city bonds and afflictions abide on you; and therefore you cannot expect that you should go long on your pilgrimage without them, in some sort or other. You have found something of the truth of these testimonies upon you already, and more will immediately follow; for now, as you see, you are almost out of this wilderness, and therefore you will soon come into a town that you will by and by see before you; and in that town you will be hardly beset with enemies, who will strain hard but they will kill you. And be you sure that one or both of you must seal the testimony which you hold with blood; but be you faithful unto death, and the King will give you a crown of life. He that shall die there, although his death will be unnatural, and his pain perhaps great, he will yet have the better of his fellow; not only because he will be arrived at the Celestial City soonest, but because he will escape many miseries that the other will meet with in the rest of his journey. But when you are come to the town, and shall find fulfilled what I have here related, then remember your friend, and quit yourselves like men; and commit the keeping of your souls to your God in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.