A short history of a long travel from Babylon to BethelCrisp, Stephen
Religion
A short history of a long travel from Babylon to Bethel
Crisp, Stephen
Society of Friends -- Doctrines -- Early works to 1800
Then it came into my mind, that I had heard of false lights, as _ignis
fatuus_, and such like, that would lead people out of their way. Then
thought I again, how shall I be led out of my way, that know no way
of safety? And whilst I sat down to let these striving thoughts have
their course, I took notice, and beheld the light as near me as at the
first, as if it had waited for me. At which I was strongly affected,
and thought within myself, maybe some good spirit has come to take
pity on me, and to lead me out of this miserable condition. And so
a resolution arose in my mind that I would get up and follow it,
concluding in myself, that I could not be brought into a much worse
condition, than I was now in. So I arose and followed it; and it went
a gentle, easy pace at first, and I kept my eye straight to it. But
afterwards, I found a great part of the luggage and provision I had
got together, did but burden me in my journey; so I threw away one
thing, and then another, that I thought I could best spare; but kept a
great bundle of clothes still by me, not knowing whether I should need
them.
[Illustration: And whilst I sat down to let these striving thoughts
have their course, I took notice, and beheld the light as near me as
at the first, as if it had waited for me.]
As I thus went on, and the light before me, it led me out of the
wilderness, along a plain country, without trees or inhabitants; only
it appeared as if some few had gone that way;--and the light kept in
that strait path, without any winding or turning, till I came to the
foot of a great mountain; and, going up that mountain, I found it very
hard getting up, and began to consider my large bundle of clothes and
garments, and that several of them were of no use for a traveller as I
was, that did not know how far I should go, nor whether I should want
them, if ever I was so happy as to attain what I aimed at; nor whether
the fashions would suit the place I was going to. So I threw away
some, and anon other some, till none was left but what I wore.
[Illustration: Going up that mountain, I found it very hard getting
up.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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