Page:The pilgrims progress as originally published by John Bunyan ; being a facsimile of the first edition (1878).djvu/237

Rh but one may ſee it is not every one that cries, Lord, Lord.

Chr. He told me at once, That he was reſolved to go on Pilgrimage as we do now; but all of a ſudden he grew acquainted with one Save-ſelf, and then he became ſtranger to me.

Hope. Now ſince we are talking about him, let us a little enquire into the reaſon of the ſuddain backſliding of him and ſuch others.

Chr. It may be very profitable, but do you begin.

Hope. Well then, there are in my judgement four reaſons for it.

1. Though the Conſciences of ſuch men are awakened, yet their minds are not changed: therefore when the power of guilt weareth away, that which provoked them to be Religious, ceaſeth. Wherefore they naturally turn to their own courſe again: even as we ſee the Dog that is ſick of what he hath eaten, ſo long as his ſicknefs prevails, he vomits and caſts up all; not that he doth this of a free mind (if we may ſay a Dog has a mind) but becauſe it troubleth his Stomach; but now when his ſicknefs is over, and ſo his Rh