Test page
continued... Be not too forward, therefore, to conclude That I want solidness--that I am rude. All things solid in show, not solid be: All things in parables despise not we; Lest things most harmful lightly we receive, And things that good are of our souls bereave. My dark and cloudy words they do but hold The truth, as cabinets enclose the gold. The prophets used much by metaphors To set forth truth; yea, whoso considers Christ, his apostles too, shall plainly see That truths to this day in such mantles be. Am I afraid to say that Holy Writ, Which for its style and phrase puts down all wit, Is everywhere so full of all these things-- Dark figures; allegories; yet there springs From that same book, that lustre, and those rays Of light that turn our darkest nights today's? Come, let my carper to his life now look, And find there darker lines than in my book He finds any; yea, and let him know That in his best things there are worse lines too. May we but stand before impartial men, To his poor one I dare adventure ten, That they will take my meaning in these lines Far better than his lies in silver shrines. Come: Truth, although in swaddling clouts, I find Informs the judgment; rectifies the mind; Pleases the understanding; makes the will Submit: the memory too it doth fill With what doth our imaginations please; Likewise it tends our troubles to appease. Sound words, I know, Timothy is to use, And old wives' fables he is to refuse; But yet grave Paul, he nowhere did forbid The use of parables, in which lay hid That gold, those pearls, and precious stones that were Worth digging for, and that with greatest care. Let me add one word more: O man of God, Art thou offended? Dost thou wish I had Put forth my matter in another dress? Or that I had in things been more express? Three things let me propound, then I submit To those that are my betters, as is fit. 1. I find not that I am denied the use Of this my method, so I no abuse Put on the words, things, readers; or be rude In handling figure or similitude In application: but, all that I may, Seek the advance of truth, this or that way. Denied, did I say? Nay, I have leave-- (Examples too and that from them that have God better pleased by their words or ways Than any man that breathes now-a-days)-- Thus to express my mind, thus to declare Things unto thee, that excellentest are. 2. I find that men (as high as trees) will write Dialogue wise; yet no man doth them slight For writing so: indeed, if they abuse Truth, cursed be they and the craft they use To that intent; but yet let truth be free To make her sallies upon thee and me Which way it pleases God: for who knows how Better than he that taught us first to plough, To guide our minds and pens for his design And he makes base things usher in divine. 3. I find that Holy Writ in many places Hath semblance with this method, where the cases Do call for one thing to set forth another. Use it I may then, and yet nothing smother Truth's golden beams; nay, by this method may Make it cast forth its rays as light as day. And now, before I do put up my pen, I'll show the profit of my book, and then Commit both thee and it unto that hand That pulls the strong down, and makes weak ones stand. This book it chalks out before thine eyes, The man that seeks the everlasting prize: It shows you whence he comes, whither he goes, What he leaves undone; also what he does: It also shows you how he runs, and runs Till he unto the gate of glory comes. It shows too who set out for life amain, As if the lasting crown they would attain: Here also you may see the reason why They lose their labour, and like fools do die. This book will make a traveller of thee, If by its counsel thou wilt ruled be; It will direct thee to the Holy Land, If thou wilt its directions understand: Yea, it will make the slothful active be; The blind also delightful things to see. Art thou for something rare and profitable? Wouldst thou see a truth within a fable? Art thou forgetful? Wouldst thou remember From New Year's day to the last of December? Then read my fancies; they will stick like burrs And may be, to the helpless, comforters. This book is writ in such a dialect, As may the minds of listless men affect: It seems a novelty, and yet contains Nothing but sound and honest gospel strains. Wouldst thou divert thyself from melancholy, Wouldst thou be pleasant, yet be far from folly? Wouldst thou read riddles, and their explanation Or else be drowned in thy contemplation? Dost thou love picking meat? Or wouldst thou see A man in the clouds, and hear him speak to thee? Wouldst thou be in a dream, and yet not sleep? Or wouldst thou in a moment laugh and weep? Wouldst thou lose thyself and catch no harm? And find thyself again without a charm? Wouldst read thyself, and read thou know'st not what, And yet know whether thou are blest or not, By reading the same lines? Oh then, come hither, And lay my book, thy head, and heart together. JOHN BUNYAN. |
Back to The Pilgrim's Progress