And if thou yet refuse it, thou shalt know,
Ere long, the evil of thy doing so.
Remember, man, in time; stoop, do not fear:
Good counsel, taken well, saves; therefore hear.
But if thou yet shalt slight it, thou wilt be
The loser, Ignorance, I'll warrant thee.
Then Christian addressed himself thus to his fellow:—
Chr. Well, come, my good Hopeful, I perceive that thou and I must walk by ourselves again.
So I saw in my dream that they went on apace before, and Ignorance he came hobbling after. Then. said Christian to his companion, I much pity this poor man: it will certainly go hard With him at last.
Hope. Alas! there are abundance in our town in his condition—qhole 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." (Job xxviii. cxi. 10, Prov. i. 7.; ix. 10.)
