Page:The pilgrims progress as originally published by John Bunyan ; being a facsimile of the first edition (1878).djvu/21

Rh By Calves; and Sheep; by Heifers, and by Rams By Birds, and Herbs, and by the blood of Lambs,

''God ſpeaketh to him. And happy is he''

That finds the light, and grace that in them be.

Be not too forward therefore to conclude,

That I want ſolidneſs, that I am rude:

All things ſoild in ſhew, not ſolid be;

All things in parables deſpiſe not we,

Leſt things moſt hurtful lightly we receive,

And things that good are, of our ſouls bereave,

My dark and cloudy words they do but hold

The Truth, as Cabinets incloſe the Gold. The Prophets uſed much by Metaphors To ſet forth Truth; Yea, who so considers Chriſt, his Apoſtles too, shall plainly ſee, That Truths to this day in such Mantles be.

Am I afraid to ſay that holy Writ Which for its Stile, and Phraſe puts down all Wit Is every where ſo full of all theſe things, (Dark Figures, Allegories) yet there ſprings From that ſame Book that lustre, and thoſe rayes Of light, that turns our darkeſt nights to days.

Come, let my Carper, to his Life now look, And find There darker lines then in my Book ''He findeth any. Tea, and let him know,'' That in his beſt things there are worse lines too. May we but stand before impartial men, To his poor One, I durſt adventure Ten, That they will take my meaning in theſe lines Far better then his Lies in Silver Shrines. Come,