I saw
moreover in my dream, that the Interpreter took him by the hand, and had
him into a little room, where sat two little children, each one in his chair.
The name of the eldest was Passion, and the name of the other Patience. Passion
seemed to be much discontented, but Patience was very quiet. Then Christian
asked, “What is the reason of the discontent of Passion?” The Interpreter
answered, “The governor of them would have him stay for his best things till
the beginning of the next year, but he will have all now; but Patience is
willing to wait.”
Then I saw that one came to Passion, and brought him a bag
of treasure, and poured it down at his feet: the which he took up, and rejoiced
therein, and withal laughed Patience to scorn. But I beheld but a while, and he
had lavished all away, and had nothing left him but rags.
Christian: Then said Christian to the Interpreter, Expound
this matter more fully to me.
Interpreter: So he said, These two lads are figures; Passion
of the men of this world, and Patience of the men of that which is to come;
for, as here thou seest, passion will have all now, this year, that is to say,
in this world; so are the men of this world: They must have all their good
things now; they cannot stay till the next year, that is, until the next world,
for their portion of good. That proverb, “A bird in the hand is worth two in
the bush,” is of more authority with them than are all the divine testimonies
of the good of the world to come. But as thou sawest that he had quickly
lavished all away, and had presently left him nothing but rags, so will it be
with all such men at the end of this world.
Christian: Then said Christian, Now I see that Patience has
the best wisdom, and that upon many accounts. 1. Because he stays for the best
things. 2. And also because he will have the glory of his, when the other has
nothing but rags.
Interpreter: Nay, you may add another, to wit, the glory of
the next world will never wear out; but these are suddenly gone. Therefore
Passion had not so much reason to laugh at Patience because he had his good
things first, as Patience will have to laugh at Passion because he had his best
things last; for first must give place to last, because last must have his time
to come: but last gives place to nothing, for there is not another to succeed.
He, therefore, that hath his portion first, must needs have a time to spend it;
but he that hath his portion last, must have it lastingly: therefore it is said
of Dives, “In thy lifetime thou receivedst thy good things, and likewise
Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.”
Christian: Then I perceive it is not best to covet things
that are now, but to wait for things to come.
Interpreter: You say truth: for the things that are seen are
temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal. But though this be so, yet since
things present and our fleshly appetite are such near neighbors one to another;
and again, because things to come and carnal sense are such strangers one to
another; therefore it is, that the first of these so suddenly fall into amity,
and that distance is so continued between the second.
