Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/57

Rh way as I came, with irons upon their heels; but do you think I could awake them? I saw also Formalist and Hypocrisy come tumbling over the wall, to go, they pretended, to Zion; but they were quickly lost, even myself did tell them, but they would not believe. But, above all, I found it hard work to get up this hill, and as hard to come by the lions' mouths; and, truly, if it had not been for the good man the porter, that stands at the gate, I do not know but that, after all, I might have gone back again: but now I thank God I am here, and I thank you for receiving of me.

Then Prudence thought good to ask him a few questions, and desired his answer to them.

Pru. Do you not think sometimes of the country from whence you came?

Chr. Yes, but with much shame and detestation: truly, if I had been mindful of that country from whence I came out, I might have had opportunity to have returned; but now I desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. (Heb. xi. 15, 16.)

Pru. Do you not yet bear away with you some of the things that then you were conversant withal?

Chr. Yes, but greatly against my will, especially my inward and carnal cogitations, With which all my countrymen, as well as myself, were delighted: but now all those things are my grief; and might I but choose mine own things, I would choose never to think of those things more; but, when I would be doing of that which is best, that which is worst is with me. (Rom. vii. 21.)

Pru. Do you not find, sometimes as if those things were vanquished, which, at other times are your perplexity?

Chr. Yes, but that is but seldom; but they, are, to me golden hours in which such things happen to me.

Pru. Can you remember by what means, you find your annoyances, at times, as if they were vanquished?

Chr. Yes: when I think what saw at the Cross, that will