Bible Stories and Religious ClassicsWells, Philip P. (Philip Patterson)
Religion
Bible Stories and Religious Classics
Wells, Philip P. (Philip Patterson)
Bible stories, English -- Juvenile literature; Christian literature for children
Yes, said Mistrust, for just before us lie a couple of lions in the
way, whether sleeping or waking we know not, and we could not think, if
we came within reach, but they would presently pull us to pieces.
_Chr._ Then said Christian, you make me afraid; but whither shall I fly
to be safe? If I go back to my own country, that is prepared for fire
and brimstone, and I shall certainly perish there; if I can get to the
Celestial City, I am sure to be in safety there: I must venture. To go
back is nothing but death; to go forward is fear of death and life
everlasting beyond it. I will yet go forward. So Mistrust and Timorous
run down the hill, and Christian went on his way. But thinking again of
what he heard from the man, he felt in his bosom for his roll, that he
might read therein and be comforted; but he felt and found it not. Then
was Christian in great distress, and knew not what to do; for he wanted
that which used to relieve him, and that which should have been his pass
into the Celestial City. Here, therefore, he began to be much perplexed,
and knew not what to do. At last he bethought himself that he had slept
in the arbor that is on the side of the hill; and falling down upon his
knees, he asked God forgiveness for that his foolish act, and then went
back to look for his roll. But all the way he went back, who can
sufficiently set forth the sorrow of Christian's heart? Sometimes he
sighed, sometimes he wept, and oftentimes he chid himself for being so
foolish to fall asleep in that place, which was erected only for a
little refreshment from his weariness. Thus, therefore, he went back,
carefully looking on this side and on that, all the way as he went, if
happily he might find his roll that had been his comfort so many times
in his journey. He went thus till he came within sight of the arbor
where he sat and slept; but that sight renewed his sorrow the more, by
bringing again even afresh, his evil of sleeping unto his mind. Thus,
therefore, he now went on, bewailing his sinful sleep, saying, Oh,
wretched man that I am, that I should sleep in the daytime! that I
should sleep in the midst of difficulty! that I should so indulge the
flesh as to use that rest for ease to my flesh which the Lord of the
hill hath erected only for the relief of the spirits of pilgrims! How
many steps have I taken in vain! Thus it happened to Israel: for their
sin they were sent back again by the way of the Red Sea; and I am made
to tread those steps with sorrow, which I might have trod with delight
had it not been for this sinful sleep. How far might I have been on my
way by this time! I am made to tread those steps thrice over, which I
needed not to have trod but once: yea, also now I am like to be
benighted, for the day is almost spent. Oh, that I had not slept!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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