Now the man, to look on, seemed very sad; he sat with his eyes looking down to the ground, his hands folded together, and he sighed as if he would break his heart. Then said Christian, What means this? At which the Interpreter bid him talk with the man.
Then said Christian to the man, What art thou? The man
answered, I am what I was not once.
Christian: What wast thou once? The 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 should get thither.
Christian: Well, but what art thou now?
The Man: I am now a man of despair, and am shut up in it, as
in this iron cage. I cannot get out; Oh now I cannot!
Christian: But how camest thou into this condition?
The 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 hope
for such a man as this? Ask him, said the Interpreter.
Christian: Then said Christian, Is there no hope, but you
must be kept in the iron cage of despair?
The Man: No, none at all.
Christian: Why, the Son of the Blessed is very pitiful.
The Man: I have crucified him to myself afresh, I have
despised his person, I have despised his
righteousness; I have counted his blood an unholy thing; I have done despite to
the spirit of grace, therefore I have shut myself out
of all the promises and there now remains to me nothing but threatenings,
dreadful threatenings, faithful threatenings of certain judgment and fiery
indignation, which shall devour me as an adversary.
Christian: For what did you bring yourself into this
condition?
The Man: For the lusts, pleasures, and profits of this
world; in the enjoyment of which I did then promise myself much delight: but
now every one of those things also bite me, and gnaw me like a burning worm.
Christian: But canst thou not now repent and turn?
The Man: God hath denied me repentance. His word gives me no
encouragement to believe; yea, himself hath shut me up in this iron cage: nor
can all the men in the world let me out. Oh eternity! eternity! how shall I
grapple with the misery that I must meet with in eternity?
Interpreter: Then said the Interpreter to Christian, Let
this man’s misery be remembered by thee, and be an everlasting caution to thee.
Christian: Well, said Christian, this is fearful! God help
me to watch and to be sober, and to pray that I may shun the cause of this
man’s misery. Sir, is it not time for me to go on my way now?
Interpreter: Tarry till I shall show thee one thing more,
and then thou shalt go on thy way.
