As there are trees and herbs that are wholly right and noble, fit
indeed for the vineyard, so there are also their semblance, but
wild; not right, but ignoble. There is the grape, and the wild
grape; the vine, and the wild vine; the rose, and the canker-rose;
flowers, and wild flowers; the apple, and the wild apple, which we
call the crab. Now, fruit from these wild things, however they may
please the children to play with, yet the prudent and grave count
them of little or no value. There are also in the world a generation
of professors that, notwithstanding their profession, are wild by
nature; yea, such as were never cut out or off from the wild
olive-tree, nor ever yet planted into the good olive-tree. Now these
can bring forth nothing but wild olive-berries; they cannot bring
forth fruit unto God. Such are all those that have lightly taken up
a profession, and crept into the vineyard without a new birth and
the blessing of regeneration.
The porch [Footnote: This passage is from "The House of the Forest
of Lebanon," which Bunyan regarded as a type of the church in her
persecuted state.] is but the entrance of the house, whither many go
that yet step not into the house, but make their retreat from
thence; but it is because they are non-residents: they only come to
see; or else, if they pretended more, it was not from the heart.
"They went out from us," said John, "but they were not of us; for if
they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but
they went out that it might be made manifest that they were not all
of us."
And forasmuch as this porch was fifty cubits long, men may take many
a step straightforward therein, and be but in the porch yet; even as
we have seen men go as one would think till they are out of view, in
the porch of this church in the wilderness; but presently you have
them without the door again.
True, this porch was made of pillars; and so to every one, at first
entrance, it seemed the power of the place. The church in the
wilderness also is so builded, that men may see that it is ordained
for defence. Men also, at their first offer to step over the
threshold there, with mouth profess that they will dwell as soldiers
there. But words are but wind: when they see the storm coming, they
will take care to shift for themselves. This house or church in the
wilderness must see to itself for all them.
The church also in the wilderness, even in her porch or first
entrance into it, is full of pillars--apostles, prophets, and
martyrs of Jesus. There also hang up the shields that the old
warriors have used, and there are plastered upon the walls the brave
achievements which they have done. There also are such
encouragements there for those that stand, that one would think none
that came thither with pretence to serve there, would for very shame
attempt to go back again; and yet not to their credit be it spoken,
they will forsake the place without blushing, yea, and plead for
this their so doing.
There is the wilfully ignorant professor, or he that is afraid to
know more for fear of the cross. He is for picking and choosing of
truth, and loveth not to hazard his all for that worthy name by
which he would be called. When he is at any time overset by
arguments or awakenings of conscience, he uses to heal all by, "I
was not brought up in this faith;" as if it were unlawful for
Christians to know more than hath been taught them at first
conversion. There are many scriptures that lie against this man, as
the mouths of great guns.
There is another professor; and he is for God and for Baal too: he
can be any thing for any company; he can throw stones with both
hands; his religion alters as fast as his company; he is a frog of
Egypt, and can live in the water and out of the water; he can live
in religious company, and again as well out. Nothing that is
disorderly comes amiss to him; he can hold with the hare and run
with the hound; he carries fire in one hand and water in the other;
he is a very, any thing but what he should be. This is also one of
the many that "will seek to enter in, and will not be able."
Christian and Hopeful, after their headstrong manner, (said Mr.
By-ends,) conclude that it is their duty to rush on their journey
all weathers; and I am for waiting for wind and tide. They are for
hazarding all for God at a clap; and I am for taking all advantages
to secure my life and estate. They are for holding their notions,
though all other men be against them; but I am for religion in what
and so far as the times and any safety will bear it. They are for
religion when in rags and contempt; but I am for him when he walks
in golden slippers, in the sunshine, and with applause.
Then I saw in my dream that Christian and Hopeful forsook him, and
kept their distance before him; but one of them looking back, saw
three men following Mr. By-ends; and behold, as they came up with
him he made them a very low congee, and they also gave him a
compliment. The men's names were, Mr. Hold-the-world, Mr,
Money-love, and Mr. Save-all; men that Mr. By-ends had formerly been
acquainted with, for in their minority they were schoolfellows, and
were taught by one Mr. Gripe-man, a schoolmaster in Love-gain, which
is a market-town in the county of Coveting, in the North. This
schoolmaster taught them the art of getting, either by violence,
cozenage, flattery, lying, or by putting on a guise of religion; and
these four gentlemen had attained much of the art of their master,
so that they could each of them have kept such a school themselves.
The Interpreter takes them out into his garden, and had them to a
tree whose inside was all rotten and gone, and yet it grew and had
leaves. Then said Mercy, "What means this?" "This tree," said he,
"whose outside is fair and whose inside is rotten, is it which may
be compared to them that are in the garden of God, who with their
mouths speak high in behalf of God, but in deed will do nothing for
him; whose leaves are fair, but their heart good for nothing but to
be tinder for the devil's tinder-box."
This is the reason of that evil-favoredness that you see attending
some men's lives and professions; they have been corrupted, as Adam
was, either by evil words or bad examples, even till the very face
of their lives and professions are disfigured as with the pox or
canker.
As the bramble said to the rest of the trees, so saith Christ to
feigned thanksgivers, who pretend to give thanks for liberty, but
rather use their liberty as an occasion for the flesh: If in truth
ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust under my
shadow; submit to my law, and be governed by my testament.