DISCOURSE OF CHRISTIAN AND IGNORANCE
I saw, then, in my dream, that HOPEFUL looked back and saw IGNORANCE, whom they had left behind, coming after. "Look," said he to CHRISTIAN, "how far yonder youngster loiters behind."
Chr. Aye, aye, I see him; he cares not for our company.
Hope. But I trow it would not have hurt him had he kept pace with us hitherto.
Chr. That's true; but I warrant you he thinks otherwise.
Hope. "That I think he doth; but, however, let us tarry for him." So they did.
Chr. Then CHRISTIAN said to him, "Come away, man; why do you stay so behind?"
Ign. I take my pleasure in walking alone, even more a great deal than in company, unless I like it the better.
Chr. Then said CHRISTIAN to HOPEFUL (but softly), "Did I not tell you he cared not for our company? but however," said he, "come up and let us talk away the time in this solitary place." Then directing his speech to IGNORANCE, he said, "Come, how do you? how stands it between God and your soul now?"
Ign. I hope well; for I am always full of good motions, that come into my mind to comfort me as I walk.
Chr. What good motions? Pray tell us.
Ign. Why, I think of God and heaven.
Chr. So do the devils and damned souls.
Ign. But I think of them, and desire them.
Chr. So do many that are never like to come there; the soul of the sluggard desires, and hath nothing.
"The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat." Proverbs 13:4
Ign. But I think of them, and leave all for them.
Chr. That I doubt, for leaving of all is a hard 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 heaven?
Ign. My heart tells me so.
Chr. The wise man says, "He that trusts his own heart is a fool".
"He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered." Proverbs 28:26
Ign. This is spoken of an evil heart; but mine is a good one.
Chr. But how dost thou prove that?
Ign. It comforts me in the hopes of heaven.
Chr. That may be through its deceitfulness; for a man's heart may minister comfort to him in the hopes of that thing for which he yet has no ground to hope.
Ign. But my heart and life agree together; and therefore my hope is well grounded.
Chr. Who told thee that thy heart and life agree together?
Ign. My heart tells me so.
Chr. "Ask my fellow if I be a thief." Thy heart tells thee so! Except the Word of God bears witness in this matter, other testimony is of no value.
Ign. But is it not a good heart that has good thoughts? and is not a good life one that is according to God's commandments?
Chr. Yes, that is a good heart that hath good thoughts; and that is a good life that is according to God's commandments: but it is one thing indeed to have these, and another thing only to think so.
YOU ARE READING
The Pilgrim's Progress (Part I)
SpiritualFrom This World to That Which is to Come. This Christian story is delivered under the resemblance of a dream in which a man sets out on a dangerous journey out of the City of Destruction and fights his way through many stumbling paths to arrive at...
