History of English Literature Volume 2 (of 3)Taine, Hippolyte
History
History of English Literature Volume 2 (of 3)
Taine, Hippolyte
English literature -- History and criticism
[Footnote 86: "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners."]
[Footnote 87: Ibid. sec. 12.]
[Footnote 88: Ibid. sec. 17.]
[Footnote 89: "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners," secs. 33, 34.]
[Footnote 90: Ibid. sec. 103.]
[Footnote 91: "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners," sec. 22.]
[Footnote 92: Ibid. secs. 27 and 28.]
[Footnote 93: This is an abstract of the events: from highest heaven a
voice has proclaimed vengeance against the city of destruction, where
lives a sinner of the name of christian. Terrified, he rises up amid the
jeers of his neighbors, and departs, for fear of being devoured by the
fire which is to consume the criminals. A helpful man, evangelist, shows
him the right road. A treacherous man, worldlywise, tries to turn him
aside. His companion, pliable, who had followed him at first, gets stuck
in the slough of despond, and leaves him. He advances bravely across the
dirty water and the slippery mud, and reaches the strait gate, where a
wise interpreter instructs him by visible shows, and points out the way
to the heavenly city. He passes before a cross, and the heavy burden of
sins, which he carried on his back, is loosened and falls off. He
painfully climbs the steep hill of difficulty, and reaches a great
castle, where watchful, the guardian, gives him in charge to his good
daughters piety and prudence, who warn him and arm him against the
monsters of hell. He finds his road barred by one of these demons,
apollyon, who bids him abjure obedience to the heavenly king. After a
long fight he conquers him. Yet the way grows narrow, the shades fall
thicker, sulphurous flames rise along the road: it is the valley of the
shadow of death. He passes it and arrives at the town of vanity, a vast
fair of business, deceits, and shows, which he walks by with lowered
eyes, not wishing to take part in its festivities or falsehoods. The
people of the place beat him, throw him into prison, condemn him as a
traitor and rebel, burn his companion, faithful. Escaped from their
hands, he falls into those of giant despair, who beats him, leaves him
in a poisonous dungeon without food, and giving him daggers and cords,
advises him to rid himself from so many misfortunes. At last he reaches
the delectable mountains, whence he sees the holy city. To enter it he
has only to cross a deep river, where there is no foothold, where the
water dims the sight, and which is called the river of death.]
[Footnote 94: Bunyan's "Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners," sec.
187.]
[Footnote 95: "Pilgrim's Progress," Cambridge, 1862, First Part, p. 64.]
[Footnote 96: "Pilgrim's Progress," First Part, p. 160.]
[Footnote 97: "Pilgrim's Progress," First Part, p. 26.]
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