_Faith._ Till I could stay no longer; it being in every one’s mouth, that the city would shortly be destroyed with fire from heaven.
_Christian._ But why then did no more of them come with you?
_Faith._ I do not think they firmly believed it, else they could not have staid there.
_Christian._ Did you hear no talk of neighbour _Pliable_?
_♦Faith._ O yes: he is now despised of all. He is seven times worse than if he had never set out.
♦ “Christian” replaced with “Faith”
_Christian._ But why should they despise him, since they despise the way which he forsook?
_Faith._ They say, “O hang him: he is a turncoat; he was not true to his profession.” God _has stirred up his enemies to hiss at him, and make him a proverb, because he has forsaken the way_.
_Christian._ Did you escape the slough of _Despond_?
_Faith._ Yes, but I met with one, whose name was _Wanton_, that had like to have done me a mischief.
_Christian._ How did you avoid it?
_Faith._ I remembered an old writing, which said, _Her steps take hold of hell_. So I shut my eyes. Then she railed on me, and I went my way.
_Christian._ Did you meet with no other assault?
_Faith._ Yes: at the foot of the hill _Difficulty_, I met with a very aged man, who asked, “If I would be content to live with him?” I asked him his name; he said it was _Adam the First_. I asked what wages he would give? He told me, I should be his heir. Then I asked, how long time he would have me live with him? And he told me, “As long as he lived himself.”
_Christian._ And what conclusion did you come to?
_Faith._ At first I was inclined to go with him; but looking on his forehead, I saw there written, _Put off the old man with his deeds_.
_Christian._ And how then?
_Faith._ Then it came strongly into my mind, that however he flattered me now, when he got me home to his house, he would sell me for a slave. So I bade him say no more, for I would not come near the door of his house. Then he reviled me and said, “He would send such a one after me, as would make my way bitter to my soul.” So I turned away from him; but just as I turned, I felt him take hold of my flesh, and give me such a deadly twitch, that I thought he had pulled part of me after him. This made me cry, _O wretched man!_ So I went on up the hill.
When I was but half-way up, I looked behind me and saw one coming after me, swift as the wind. So soon as he overtook me, down he knocked me, and laid me for dead. When I was come a little to myself I asked him, Why he used me so? He said, for inclining to _Adam the First_. And with that he struck me another blow on the breast, and beat me down backward. When I came to myself again, I cried for mercy. But he said, “I know not to shew mercy;” and knocked me down again. He had doubtless made an end of me; but that one came by, and bade him “forbear.”
_Christian._ Who was he that bid him forbear?
_Faith._ I did not know him at first; but as he went by, I saw the holes in his hands and in his side.
_Christian._ The man that overtook you was _Moses_. He spareth none that transgress his law. But did you not see the house on the top of the hill?
_Faith._ Yes; but it was about noon. So I past by.
_Christian._ Did you meet no one in the valley of _Humiliation_?
_Faith._ Yes, I met with one _Shame_: but I think he bears the wrong name; for I could not get quit of him. He would never have done.
_Christian._ Why, what did he say to you?
_Faith._ He said, it was a low mean thing to mind religion; and that a tender conscience was an unmanly thing: that few of the _mighty_, or _rich_, or _wise_, regarded it; nor any of them, till they became fools; till they were persuaded to venture the loss of all, for no body knows what. He objected also, the base and low estate of most of those who minded religion; likewise their ignorance and want of learning, yea, of natural understanding. He said, It was a shame to sit whining under a sermon, and to come sighing and groaning home: that it was a shame to ask my neighbour forgiveness; to make restitution, if I had taken from any; and, above all, to renounce all the men of credit and reputation, and to consort only with the poor and base.
_Christian._ And what did you say?
_Faith._ I knew not what to say at first, till it came into my mind, _That which is highly esteemed of men, is had in abomination with God_. Then I saw what God says is best, is so, though all the men in the world are against it. Therefore they who are fools for Christ’s sake, are the wisest of men; and the poor man that loveth him, is richer than he who hath thousands of gold and silver. I then said with a loud voice, _Shame_, depart! Thou art an enemy to my salvation. _I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ_; neither of his ways, nor of his servants. I will confess them all before men. So shall he confess me before my Father which is in heaven.
_Christian._ Did you meet no body else in the valley?