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But if thou yet shalt slight it, thou wilt be The loser, Ignorance, I’ll warrant thee." THE TENTH STAGE Then Christian addressed himself thus to his fellow: CHRISTIAN: 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 ill with him at last.
HOPEFUL: 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.
CHRISTIAN: 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.
HOPEFUL: Nay, do you answer that question yourself, for you are the elder man.
CHRISTIAN: 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.
HOPEFUL: 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.
CHRISTIAN: 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 28:28; Psalm 111:10; Prov. 1:7; 9:10.
HOPEFUL: How will you describe right fear.
CHRISTIAN: True or right fear is discovered by three things: 1. By its rise; it is caused by saving convictions for sin.
2. It driveth the soul to lay fast hold of Christ for salvation.
3. It begetteth and continueth 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 any thing that may dishonor God, break its peace, grieve the Spirit, or cause the enemy to speak reproachfully.
HOPEFUL: Well said; I believe you have said the truth. Are we now almost got past the Enchanted Ground.
CHRISTIAN: Why. are you weary of this discourse.
HOPEFUL: No, verily, but that I would know where we are.
CHRISTIAN: We have not now above two miles further to go thereon. But let us return to our matter.
Now, the ignorant know not that such conviction as tend to put them in fear, are for their good, and therefore they seek to stifle them.
HOPEFUL: How do they seek to stifle them.
84 John Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress
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