Page:The pilgrims progress as originally published by John Bunyan ; being a facsimile of the first edition (1878).djvu/18

Rh But to divert my ſelf in doing this,

From worſer thoughts, which make me do amiſs.

Thus I ſet Pen to Paper with delight,

And quickly had my thoughts in black and white.

For having now my Method by the end,

Still as I pull' d, it came; and ſo I penned

It down, until it came at laſt to be

For length and breadth the bigneſs which you ſee.

Well, when I had thus put mine ends together, I ſhew'd them others, that I might ſee whether They would condemn them, or them juſtifie: And some said, let them live some, let them die. Some ſaid, John, print it; others ſaid, Not ſo: Some ſaid, It might do good; others ſaid, No. Now was I in ſtraight, and did not ſee Which was the beſt thing to be done by me: At laſt I thought, Since you are thus divided, I print it will; and ſo the caſe decided.

For, thought I; Some, I ſee, would have it done, Though others in that Channel do not run; To prove then who adviſed for the beſt,'' Thus I thought fit to put it to the teſt.

I further thought, If now I did deny Those that would have it thus, to gratifie, I did not know but hinder them I might Of that which would to them be great delight.

For thoſe that were not for its coming forth, I said to them, Offend you I am loth; Yet ſince your Brethren pleased with it be, Forbear to judge, till you do further ſee. Rh