Page:The pilgrims progress as originally published by John Bunyan ; being a facsimile of the first edition (1878).djvu/53

Rh Man, What art thou? The Man anſwered, I am what I was not once?

Chr. What waſt thou once?

Man. The Man ſaid, I was once a fair and flouriſhing Profeſſor, both in mine own eyes, and alſo in the eyes of others: I once was, as I thought, fair for the Celeſtial City, and had then even joy at the thoughts that I mould get thither.

Chr. Well, but what art thou now?

Man, I am now a Man of Deſpair, and am ſhut up in it, as in this Iron Cage. I cannot get out; O now I cannot.

Chr. But how cameſt thou in this condition?

Man. I left off to watch, and be ſober; I laid the reins upon the neck of my luſts; I ſinned againſt the light of the Word, and the goodneſs of God: I have grieved the Spirit, and he is gone; I tempted the Devil, and he is come to me; I have provoked God to anger, and he has left me; I have ſo hardened my heart, that I cannot repent.

Then ſaid Chriſtian to the Interpreter, But is there no hopes for such a Man as this? Ask him, ſaid the ter-