Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/140

136 also forgotten to read, and have not kept ourselves from the "paths of the destroyer." Here David was wiser than we; for saith he, "Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer." (Ps. xvii. 4.)

Thus they lay bewailing themselves in the net. At last they espied a Shining One coming towards them with a whip of small cords in his hand. When he was some to the place where they were, he asked them whence they came, and what they did there. They told him that they were poor pilgrims going to Zion, but were led out of their way by a black man clothed in white, who bid us, said they, follow him, for he was going thither too. Then said he with the whip, It is Flatterer, "a false apostle, that hath transformed himself into an angel of light." (2 Cor. xi. 14, 15. Dan. xi. 32.) So he rent the net, and let the men out. Then said he to them, Follow me, that I may set you in your way again. So he led them back to the way they had left to follow the Flatterer. Then he asked them, saying, Where did you lie the last night? They said, With the Shepherds upon. the Delectable Mountains. He asked them then if they had not of the Shepherds a note of directions for the way. They answered, Yes. But did you not, said he, when you were at a stand, pluck out and read your note? They answered, No. He asked them, Why? They said they forgot. He asked, more over, if the Shepherds did not bid them beware of the Flatterer. They answered, Yes; but we did not imagine, said they, that this fine-spoken man had been he. (Rom. xvi, 17,18.)

Then I saw in my dream that he commanded them to lie down; which when they did, he chastised them sore to teach them the good way wherein they should walk (2 Chron. Vi. 27); and as he chastised them, he said, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealots therefore, and repent." (Rev iii 19.) This done, he bids them go on their way, and