Page:The pilgrims progress as originally published by John Bunyan ; being a facsimile of the first edition (1878).djvu/20

Rh Yea, he muſt Pipe, and Whiſtle to catch this Yet if he does ſo, that Bird he will miss.

If that a Pearl may in a Toads-head dwell,

And may be found too in an Oiſter-ſhell,

If things that promiſe nothing, do contain

What better is then Gold; who will diſdain.

(That have an inkling of it,) there to look,

''That they may find it. Now my little Book,''

(Tho void of all thoſe paintings that may make

It with thiſ or the other Man to take)

Is not without those things that do excel

What do in brave, but empty notions dwell. Well, yet I am not fully ſatisfied,

That this your Book will ſtand; when ſoundly try'd

''Why, what's the matter! it is dark what tho?''

''But it is feigned. What of that I tro?'' Some men by feigning words as dark as mine, Make truth to spangle, and its rayes to ſhine.

But they want ſolidneſs: Speak man thy mind. They drown'd the weak',Metaphors make us blind.

Solidity, indeed becomes the Pen Of him that writeth things Divine to men; But must I needs want ſolidneſs, becauſe By Metaphors I ſpeak; Was not Gods Laws, His Goſpel-Laws, in oldertime held forth ''By Types, Shadows and Metaphors? Yet loth'' Will any ſober man be to find fault With them, leſt he be found for to aſſault ''The higheſt Wiſdom. No, he rather ſtoops,'' And ſeeks to find out what by pins and loops, Rh