I saw then in my dream that Hopeful looked back, and saw Ignorance, whom they had left behind, coming after. "Look," said he to Christian, "how far yonder youngster loitereth behind."TPP 183.1

Chris. Ay, ay, I see him: he careth not for our company.TPP 183.2

Hope. But I think it would not have hurt him, had he kept pace with us hitherto.TPP 183.3

Chris. That is true; but I warrant you he thinks otherwise.TPP 183.4

Hope. That I think he doth; but, however, let us tarry for him. So they did.TPP 183.5

Chris. Then Christian said to him, "Come away, man; why do you stay so behind?"TPP 183.6

Ignor. I take my pleasure in walking alone, even more a great deal than in company, unless I like it the better.TPP 183.7

Then said Christian to Hopeful (but softly), "Did I not tell you he cared not for our company? But, however," said he, "come up, and let us talk away the time in this solitary place." Then, directing his speech to Ignorance, he said, "Come how do you? How stands it between God and your soul now?"TPP 183.8

Ignor. I hope well; for I am always full of good thoughts, that come into my mind to comfort me as I walk. Chris. What good motions? pray tell us.TPP 183.9

Ignor. Why, I think of God and heaven.TPP 184.1

Chris. So do the devils and lost souls.TPP 184.2

Ignor. But I think of them and desire them.TPP 184.3

Chris. So do many that are never like to come there. "The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing."TPP 184.4

Ignor. But I think of them, and leave all for them.TPP 184.5

Chris. That I doubt, for leaving of all is a very hard matter; yea, a harder matter than many are aware of. But why, or by what, art thou persuaded that thou hast left all for God and heaven?TPP 184.6

Ignor. My heart tells me so.TPP 184.7

Chris. The Wise Man says, "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool."TPP 184.8

Ignor. This is spoken of an evil heart; but mine is a good one.TPP 184.9

Chris. But how dost thou prove that?TPP 184.10

Ignor. It comforts me in the hopes of heaven.TPP 184.11

Chris. That may be through its deceitfulness; for a man's heart may minister comfort to him in the hopes of that thing for which he has yet no ground to hope.TPP 184.12

Ignor. But my heart and life agree together; and therefore my hope is well grounded.TPP 184.13

Chris. Who told thee that thy heart and life agree together?TPP 184.14

Ignor. My heart tells me so.TPP 184.15

Chris. Ask my fellow if I be a thief! Thy heart tells thee so! Except the Word of God telleth thee in this matter, other testimony is of no value.TPP 184.16

Ignor. But is it not a good heart that hath good thoughts? and is not that a good life that is according to God's commandments?TPP 185.1

Chris. Yes, that is a good heart that hath good thoughts, and that is a good life that is according to God's commandments; but it is one thing, indeed, to have these, and another thing only to think so.TPP 185.2

Ignor. Pray, what count you good thoughts, and a life according to God's commandments?TPP 185.3

Chris. There are good thoughts of many kinds: some respecting ourselves, some God, some Christ, and some other things.TPP 185.4

Ignor. You go so fast, I cannot keep pace with you. Do you go on before: I must stay awhile behind.TPP 185.5

Then they said:TPP 185.6

"Well, Ignorance, wilt thou yet foolish be,
To slight good counsel, ten times given thee?
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."TPP 185.7

Then Christian addressed himself thus to his fellow:TPP 185.8

Chris. Well, come, my good Hopeful; I perceive that thou and I must walk by ourselves again.TPP 185.9

So I saw in my dream that they went on apace before, and Ignorance he came hobbling after. Then said Christian to his companion, "It pities me much for this poor man: it will certainly go ill with him at last."TPP 186.1

Hope. 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?TPP 186.2

Chris. Indeed, the Word saith, "He hath blinded their eyes, lest they should see."TPP 186.3

Hope. Well said; I believe you have said the truth. Are we now almost got past the Enchanted Ground?TPP 186.4

Chris. Why, art thou weary of our talking?TPP 186.5

Hope. No, verily; but that I would know where we are.TPP 186.6

Chris. We have not now above two miles farther to go thereon. Well, we will leave at this time our neighbor Ignorance by himself, and fall upon another subject.TPP 186.7

Hope. With all my heart; but you shall still begin.TPP 186.8

Chris. Well, then, did you not know, about ten years ago, one Temporary in your parts, who was a forward man in religion then?TPP 186.9

Hope. Know him! yes; he dwelt in Graceless, a town about two miles off of Honesty, and he dwelt next door to one Turnback.TPP 186.10

Chris. Right, he dwelt under the same roof with him. Well, that man was much awakened once: I believe that then he had some sight of his sins, and of the punishment that was due thereto.TPP 187.1

Hope. I am of your mind; for (my house not being above three miles from him) he would oft-times come to me, and that with many tears. Truly, I pitied the man, and was not altogether without hope of him; but one may see, it is not every one that cries "Lord! Lord!"TPP 187.2

Chris. He told me once that he was resolved to go on pilgrimage as we do now; but all of a sudden he grew acquainted with one Save-self, and then he became a stranger to me, for at that time he gave up going on pilgrimage.TPP 187.3

CHAPTER IX

CHAPTER XI