The Parable of the Pilgrim, Parable · Chapter 7
CAP. VII.
The Guide diſcovers his ſincere and upright Intentions
I Cannot relate how much this devote perſon was over-joyed to hear this welcome language, but the Reply which he made him, did give no ſmall indications of a great contentment which he took in the Anſwer he had received. You cannot think it (ſaid he) a greater happineſs to be inſtructed by me, than I do to find a perſon both ſo deſirous, and ſo capable of inſtruction. It gratifies me very much, I aſſure you, to find ſuch a good will in you (which is no ſmall ſtep in your way to Jeruſalem) eſpecially ſince I ſee it ſo unmoveable, that it is not like by any thing which may happen to be ſo much as ſhaken. Your reſolution truly is admirable; and I cannot tell you what pleaſant emotions I felt within me to behold ſo little amazement appear in your ſoul at the dreadful noiſe of trouble, pains and danger. You are excellently qualified, I ſee, for this undertaking; and without flattery I tell you, there never was any in my opinion better appointed for this journey, if you can but maintain ſo much courage and patience as you promiſe; and will, without quarrelling, murmuring or troubling your ſelf about the affronts which may be put upon you, paſs on your way, as if you met with nothing that did diſpleaſe you. But above all, it highly pleaſes me to hear you ſay, That the place whither you would go, is ſo much in your heart, that you think of it more than any thing elſe; For ſomething relating to that, contains the greateſt part of the Advice which I am to give you. And as for my ſelf, ſince you will not be prepoſſeſſed and foreſtalled with the common opinions, and the voice of fame, I will be ſo juſt as to let you know the very worſt of me.…lin. l. 18. cap. 6. I remember that Furius Creſinius, a Peaſant that lived near to Rome, was defamed in ancient times by many people of that City, and accuſed for bewitching the Lands of his neighbours, which though of larger extent, were not wont to yield ſo fair a Crop as his few Acres. To ſuch an height did their jealouſies and envy ariſe, that a charge was drawn up againſt him, and ſtanding indicted of ſuch unlawful means to inrich himſelf, and undo others, a day of hearing was appointed, wherein he was to receive a publick trial. What courſe do you think now the poor man took to confute their calumnies, and juſtifie his own innocence? Truly no other but this would he reſolve upon; to bring along with him on the day of his appearance all the Inſtruments of Huſbandry, whereby he uſed to cultivate the ground, and ſpread them before his judges. So he did, and made his defence in this ſort. If I be guilty of any inchantment, behold I here ſet before you all the Tools of that wicked practice, and I call all the gods to witneſs, that I have not concealed one of them. If there be any faith in man you may believe me, that I never uſed any other Wizzardy to make my Land better than my neighbours, but what you will find to lye in theſe Spades, Ploughs, and Oxen, together with this my good Daughter. Unleſs you will reckon a great deal of pains, long watchings, and much ſweat to be ſuch unlawful druggs and poiſons, that none but Witches uſe them; and theſe I muſt confeſs I cannot produce in open Court, nor find any means to ſhew them to you. He ſaid no more, but it was enough; for he was preſently abſolved by the ſuffrage of all the Judges, and diſmiſſed with thoſe commendations of a good Huſband, which he had well deſerved. This, Sir, is the very picture of my ſelf, who intend now to make you my Judge, and hope for as favourable a ſentence from you before whom I have been accuſed, and as much miſ-reported as this honeſt man whom I now named. I am, it is true, a perſon of ſmall capacity, and leſs learning. There are many of my neighbours, to whom I freely yield the precedence, who enjoy far greater meaſures of wiſdom and knowledge, and exceed me as much in ſuch Talents as the compaſs of Furius his Land was exceeded by theirs that bordered upon it. But yet, ſo it is, that by the bleſſing of God upon my labours, there are many virtuous Minds and Souls truly large and generous, that acknowledge themſelves to ſtand indebted for what they are to my care; and that are eſteemed by thoſe that know them to be of a more excellent temper than thoſe who have been managed by many of my litigious neighbours. This hath gained me too many evil eyes, and I am thought to uſe ſome Arts of Faſcination whereby to allure the beſt diſpoſitions into my acquaintance and ſociety. Then they will have it, that I mingle ſubtil potions for them, and that they imbibe ſuch crafty Doctrines from me, as teach them all waies of rendring themſelves more fair and plauſible than any others in their whole behaviour, in order to the bewitching of more men to become their Diſciples. This is the beſt language they will allow to the good manners wherein I ſtudy to educate them; for their envy and vexation will not ſuffer them to give their holy life the name of Piety, though all acknowledge it carries the ſhew of better fruit than is brought forth by the lazy and idle pretenders to Faith and Devotion. But God knows how far I am from teaching any thing but the naked and undiſguiſed practice of real Godlineſs. And you ſhall know alſo how little I am guilty of evil deſign, or ſiniſter method of winning to my ſelf Diſciples. For I will lay before you the plain, ſimple and unartificial Rules that I give unto them; which will appear to be as far remote from all ſubtilty and craft, as the Plough, the Spade, and the Harrow are from incantation, ſpells, and ſociety with infernal ſpirits. All that I beg of you to the making of you profit under my hand, and to reap an abundant fruit by my labour to inſtruct you, is that you will contribute ſome of your own pains to be joyned with mine; and that you will uſe your beſt diligence both to receive and underſtand thoſe ſeeds of knowledge that I ſhall ſow in your mind; and to keep them ſafe, that they may not be loſt when they are entertained. A little more patience alſo I muſt not forget to require of you then Creſinius demanded (for I cannot ſo ſoon produce, as he did all the inſtruments I muſt uſe for your good) and then I nothing doubt; but if you purſue your deſign according to thoſe directions and marks that I ſhall give you, they will not fail at laſt to bring you to the Bleſſed place, on which you have ſet your heart.