The Parable of the Pilgrim, Parable · Chapter 5
CAP. V.
The Opinion which others conceived of that Guide: and his addreſs to him.
YOu cannot imagine how much it pleaſed our Traveller (for ſo he was in his reſolution) to hear this news, and how much he thought himſelf beholden to God for bringing him ſo fortunately into this company which he ſtudied rather to avoid. Without any complements therefore, or waiting to hear what others would reply, he immediately offered himſelf to be conducted to the ſociety of this excellent Perſon; adding withall, that if the reſt pleaſed not now to go along, they might hear from him when he ſhould be able to make a judgment of him, in what eſteem he was to be held. To this they all gave their aſſent, and were not a little glad of this expedient to keep out of the acquaintance of him whoſe Character they nothing liked. But the ſtranger to whom he commited himſelf, would not ſtir from that place, till he had taken him a little aſide to ſpeak with him: Where he let him know how unworthy a thing he held it to deceive any mans expectations with partial relations, which made him that he could not endure to conceal from his notice a matter that he might think moſt worthy his conſideration, though he did not judge it fit before to declare it. This perſon (ſaid he) to whom you are about to repair, I muſt tell you, is generally decry'd by all parties, as no friend to Truth, becauſe he is no great ſtickler about the Queſtions that have vexed our unhappy daies. Some ſay that he is indifferent and lukewarm in Religion. Others will have the world believe, that he is only indued with a great meaſure of Moral Prudence, but hath nothing of the Spirit in him. And there are ſome who do not ſtick to brand him with the mark of Hereſie, though (to tell you the truth) I verily think the only reaſon is, becauſe they imagine he doth believe whatſoever he doth not fiercely oppoſe. His life indeed is ſo holy, and without blame, his carriage ſo ſweet and courteous, his converſation ſo profitable, that I am inclined to think ſuch good things cannot ſpring from a bad root; but yet there are that ſay, The poiſon is the more dangerous which is ſo finely gilded, and I muſt leave you to judge for your ſelf, and either to ſtop or purſue your reſolution of going to him as thoſe things well weighed, you ſhall ſee cauſe to incline. Here the good man made a pauſe, and ſeemed to be in a very pendulous condition, till the ſtranger added, I muſt be ſo juſt, as to remember to ſubjoyn this to the reſt that I have ſaid; That indeed all Parties next to themſelves are wont to commend him as the beſt of all. Now I thank you, preſently replied the other, that you did not omit to relate that obſervation, for it brings to my mind the ſtory of Themiſtocles, which I have often heard our Preacher uſe in the Pulpit, to whom every one of the Captains yielded the ſecond place after they had preferred themſelves to the firſt, and was therefore concluded to be the moſt worthy of all, if any thing but ſelf-love might be admitted to give the judgment. Let us go, I beſeech you, with all ſpeed, to this brave man, and not ſtay to deliberate any longer. For I remember alſo, that I have heard very wiſe men obſerve, That there was never any perſon that advanced excellent things in the World, but his credit and reputation was blaſted by thoſe who were unable or unwilling to be ſo good themſelves. I have a very great hope that this is the man whom Heaven hath deſigned to unſcale my eyes, and make me ſee the way to Jeruſalem. Or if it otherwiſe pleaſe, yet I nothing doubt, but being wholly bent to lead a pious life, God will have ſo much kindneſs for me, as not to let me be dangerouſly deceived, nor to ſuffer a greater film to grow over my ſight. Theſe words he uttered with that vehemency and reſolution of mind, that the ſtranger thought it was not fit to hold him in any longer conſultation about it, eſpecially ſince he ſaw his purpoſe founded upon ſo good an underſtanding. Taking leave therefore of the reſt, who were but too glad to be rid of them, he directed him to the houſe of this Guide, where he found, as he had been told before, that he was at home, and had not one creature in his company. After a very few civilities paſſed between them, and ſome excuſes that the Country-man made for his boldneſs in interrupting his Meditations, he plainly told him (for he would not permit any long Apologies) what the cauſe was of this addreſs, and of the trouble he was come to give him. I am, ſaid he, a true Lover of Jeruſalem, and have made a vow to take a journey to that place; but about the way thither I am ſo perplexed, that I account it a great bleſſing that I have not loſt my wits, and am not become unable to find my way to your houſe. One cries to me, Lo here, another, Lo there lyes the path of life. Some would have me go thorow the water, and be baptized again, telling me the Iſraelites paſſed thorow the Sea to go to duplicate page duplicate page Canaan; others ſeem to draw me thorow the air, and teach me to fly aloft in towring ſpeculations; and there are not wanting thoſe who would turn me into a ſtone, and render me at once as humble, and as lumpiſh and melancholy too as the earth it ſelf. But every one of theſe, me thought, did lead me into the fire, and I felt in the water it ſelf the flames of ſtrife and contention about my ears, which made me that I durſt not commit my ſelf to the hands of theſe, or any of their fellow-guides. But hearing, Sir, that you are of great abilities to direct me, and that you are a man of peace, and more than that, a man of good will, who hath a ſtrong propenſion to do good; I am come to make it my humble requeſt unto you, that if it be true which is reported of you, you will do me the favour to afford me ſome charitable inſtructions about the moſt paſſable way to Jeruſalem.