Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/94

90 of the devil: "you have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." Let the kingdom be always before you, and believe steadfastly concerning the things that are invisible; let nothing that is on this side the other world get within you; and, above all, look well to your own hearts and to the lusts thereof, for they are "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." Set your faces like a flint; you have all power in heaven and earth on your side.

Chr. Then Christian thanked him for his exhortation; but told him, withal, that they would have him speak further to them for their help the rest of the way; and the rather, for that they well knew that he was a prophet, and could tell them of things that might happen unto them, and also how they might resist and overcome them. To which request Faithful also consented. So Evangelist began as followeth:

Evan. My sons, you have heard, in the words of the truth of the gospel, that you must "through many tribulations enter into the kingdom of heaven;" and, again, that "in every city bonds and afflictions abide you:" and therefore you cannot expect that you should long,r go on your pilgrimage without them, in some sort or other. You have found something of the truth of these testimonies upon you already, and more will immediately follow: for now, as you see, you are almost out of this wilderness, and therefore you will soon come-into a town that you will by-and-by see before you; and in that town you will be hardly beset with enemies, who will strain hard but they will kill you: and be you sure that one; or both of you must seal the testimony which you hold With blood; but be you faithful unto death, and the King will give you a crown of life. He that shall die there, although his death twill-be unnatural; and his pains perhaps great; will yet have the better of his fellow; not only because he will be arrived at the Celestial City soonest, but because he escape many miseries that the other will meet with in the rest of his journey. But when you are come to the town,