Hopeful: But
it is a wonder that his necessity did not put him upon selling or
pawning some of his jewels, that he might have wherewith to relieve himself in
his journey.
Christian: Thou talkest like one upon whose head is the
shell to this very day. For what should he pawn them? or to whom should he sell
them? In all that country where he was robbed, his jewels were not accounted
of; nor did he want that relief which could from thence be administered to him.
Besides, had his jewels been missing at the gate of the Celestial City, he had
(and that he knew well enough) been excluded from an inheritance there, and that
would have been worse to him than the appearance and villany of ten thousand
thieves.
Hopeful: Why art thou so tart, my brother? Esau sold his
birthright, and that for a mess of pottage, and that birthright was his
greatest jewel: and if he, why might not Little-Faith do so too?
Christian: Esau did sell his birthright indeed, and so do
many besides, and by so doing exclude themselves from the chief blessing, as
also that caitiff did; but you must put a difference betwixt Esau and
Little-Faith, and also betwixt their estates. Esau’s birthright was typical;
but Little-Faith’s jewels were not so. Esau’s belly was his god; but
Little-Faith’s belly was not so. Esau’s want lay in his fleshy appetite;
Little-Faith’s did not so. Besides, Esau could see no further than to the
fulfilling of his lusts: For I am at the point to die, said he: and what good
will this birthright do me? But Little-Faith, though it was
his lot to have but a little faith, was by his little faith kept from such
extravagances, and made to see and prize his jewels more than to sell them, as
Esau did his birthright. You read not any where that Esau had faith, no, not so
much as a little; therefore no marvel, where the flesh only bears sway, (as it
will in that man where no faith is to resist,) if he sells his birthright and
his soul and all, and that to the devil of hell; for it is with such as it is
with the ass, who in her occasion cannot be turned away, when their minds are set upon their
lusts, they will have them, whatever they cost. But Little-Faith was of another
temper; his mind was on things divine; his livelihood was upon things that were
spiritual, and from above: therefore, to what end should he that is of such a
temper sell his jewels (had there been any that would have bought them) to fill
his mind with empty things? Will a man give a penny to fill his belly with hay?
or can you persuade the turtle-dove to live upon carrion, like the crow? Though
faithless ones can, for carnal lusts, pawn, or mortgage, or sell what they
have, and themselves outright to boot; yet they that have faith, saving faith,
though but a little of it, cannot do so. Here, therefore, my brother, is thy
mistake.
Hopeful: I acknowledge it; but yet your severe reflection
had almost made me angry.
Christian: Why, I did but compare thee to some of the birds
that are of the brisker sort, who will run to and fro in untrodden paths with
the shell upon their heads: but pass by that, and consider the matter under
debate, and all shall be well betwixt thee and me.
