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Though they meet with rough winds and swelling tides, How brave a calm they will enjoy at last, Who to their Lord, and by his ways hold fast.
Perhaps with heart and hand they will embrace Thee, as they did my firstling; and will grace Thee and thy fellows with such cheer and fare, As show well, they of Pilgrims lovers are.
Objection i But how if they will not believe of me That I am truly thine. ‘cause some there be That counterfeit the Pilgrim and his name, Seek, by disguise, to seem the very same; And by that means have wrought themselves into The hands and houses of I know not who.
answer ’Tis true, some have, of late, to counterfeit My Pilgrim, to their own my title set; Yea, others half my name, and title too, Have stitched to their books, to make them do.
But yet they, by their features, do declare Themselves not mine to be, whose’er they are.
If such thou meet’st with, then thine only way Before them all, is, to say out thy say In thine own native language, which no man Now useth, nor with ease dissemble can.
If, after all, they still of you shall doubt, Thinking that you, like gypsies, go about, In naughty wise the country to defile; Or that you seek good people to beguile With things unwarrantable; send for me, And I will testify you pilgrims be; Yea, I will testify that only you My Pilgrims are, and that alone will do.
Objection ii But yet, perhaps, I may enquire for him Of those who wish him damned life and limb.
What shall I do, when I at such a door For Pilgrims ask, and they shall rage the more.
answer Fright not thyself, my Book, for such bugbears 93 John Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress
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