_Faith._ No; for I had sunshine all the rest of the way, and also through the _valley of the Shadow of Death_.
As they went on, _Faithful_ looking on one side, saw one walking at a distance. He was a tall man, and more comely at a distance than at hand. _Faithful_ accosted him in this manner:
_Faith._ Friend, whither away? Are you travelling toward mount _Zion_?
_Man._ To the very same.
_Faith._ I hope then we shall have your good company.
_Man._ With all my heart.
_Faith._ Come then, let us pass the time in discoursing of things profitable.
_Man._ It is very acceptable to me to talk of good things. I am glad I have met those that incline to so good a work. For, to speak the truth, there are but few that care thus to spend their time, but rather to speak of unprofitable things. And this hath been a trouble to me. For what is so pleasant as to talk of the things of God? Who would not delight to talk of miracles, wonders, and signs, which are so sweetly penned in the holy scripture?
_Faith._ But, to be profited by the things we talk of should be our chief design.
_Man._ Without doubt. And what so profitable as to talk of these things? Of the vanity of earthly things, and the excellency of things above? Or more particularly, of the insufficiency of our own, and the need of Christ’s righteousness? Of the necessity of the new birth, repentance, faith, and prayer, and all the graces of the holy Spirit?
_Faith._ I am glad to hear this from you.
_Man._ Alas, for want of this it is that so few understand the nature of faith, and the necessity of an inward change, in order to eternal life: but ignorantly live in the works of the law, by which no flesh can be justified. But indeed a man can receive nothing except it be given him from above. All is of grace, not of works.
_Faith._ Well then, what shall we discourse of now?
_Man._ What you will. I will talk of things heavenly or earthly, things moral or evangelical; things past or to come; provided that all be done to edifying.
Now did _Faithful_ begin to wonder, and stepping to _Christian_, said softly, What a brave companion have we got? At this _Christian_ smiled, and said, “This man’s tongue will beguile twenty of them that know him not.”
_Faith._ Do you know him then?
_Christian._ Yes, better than he knows himself. His name is _Talkative_; he comes from our town; his religion lies in his tongue, but has no place in his heart.
_Faith._ Then I am greatly deceived in him.
_Christian._ So you are. He is one of them that _say and do not_. He talks of faith, of prayer, and of the new birth. But he only talks of them. He is the stain and reproach of religion. It can scarce have a good word where he lives, thro’ him. “A saint abroad, (say his neighbours) and a devil at home.” His life has caused many to stumble and fall, and probably will cause many more.
_Faith._ Well, I see saying and doing are two things.
_Christian._ Indeed they are, but poor _Talkative_ is not aware of this: he thinks hearing and saying will make a good Christian, and so deceives his own soul.
_Faith._ I am not so fond of his company now. But how shall we get rid of him?
_Christian._ Why, begin a serious discourse on the _power of religion_: and when he has _approved of it_, (for that he will) ask him plainly, whether it be set up in his _heart_, in his _house_, and in his _conversation_?
Then _Faithful_ stepped forward again, and said, Come, what cheer? How is it now?
_Talk._ I thank you, I thought we should have had a great deal of talk by this time.
_Faith._ Well then, let us begin; and since you leave me to chuse the question, let it be this? How does the saving grace of God discover itself, when it is in the heart of man?
_Talk._ I perceive then our talk is to be about the power of things. Well, ’tis a very good question. I answer thus; first, where the grace of God is in the heart, it causes a great outcry against sin. Secondly,――
_Faith._ Nay, hold. Let us consider one at once. I think you should rather say, it causeth the soul to abhor sin.
_Talk._ Why, what difference is there between crying out against, and abhorring sin?
_Faith._ O, a great deal. I have heard many cry out against sin, who could abide it well enough in the heart, house, and conversation. Some cry out against sin, as a mother cries out against the child in her lap: when she calls it slut and naughty girl; and then falls to kissing and hugging it.
_Talk._ You lie at the catch, I perceive.
_Faith._ No, not I. I am only for setting matters right. But what is the second thing, which discovers a work of grace in the heart?
_Talk._ Great knowledge of gospel mysteries.