My approach when writing this short book was unusual. You see, I was working on a book that was nearing completion when I was compelled to take it in an entirely new direction. I had been writing about the customs and lives of saints in the time given to us to receive the gift of salvation when I began to write, instead, of a symbolic journey and the path to salvation. As soon as I had written twenty ideas down did twenty more come to me! More and more came to mind again and again like sparks from a hearth, and I considered separating these thoughts from the page they were trying to end up on, lest there was never an end to them and they overpowered my book on saints.
I attempted to prevent my thoughts from ending up on the page; however, you should know that I did not plan to publish this allegory. I knew I would create something but did not know exactly what it would turn out to be. Furthermore, I did not want to cater this book to the public – I wanted to write this book for me and me alone.
What is more, I only worked on this collection of scribbles in my spare time. I was writing for the mere pleasure of it and this prevented my ideas from becoming even of more inferior quality as well as faulty.
With this in mind, I happily put my thoughts on paper. This was the way I wrote and the ideas kept coming. Finally, the book was finished and it was quite something – long and sweeping.
After the book was completed, I showed it to others, curious whether they would call my thoughts valid or invalid. As it turns out, some supported my ideas and others not. Some wanted the book published and others did not. Some thought my book would benefit society and others said it would not.
Well, I had come to a crossroads and wondered what I should do with the book. In the end, I decided to publish it and let the people judge for themselves: I knew in my heart publishing it was the right thing to do, so, I tested the public’s ability to know right from wrong by publishing it. I also realized that not putting the book in the hands of an eager reader was wrong – how could I deny an eager reader the great pleasure of reading my book? Some had advised against its publication, but I told them, not meaning to offend them, to hold off on critique of the book until they had observed their peers’ critical acclaim.
Well, those who don’t want to read my book are not forced to do so: do not some love to tear flesh and others gnaw on bone? To my harsh critics I said: What’s wrong with writing an allegory if its purpose, to benefit mankind, is still fulfilled? Why not? There are storm clouds that bring rain and other clouds that do not. Gloomy days have rain and sunny days have sun – both the rain and the sun help crops grow, and Mother Earth only concerns herself with the end result, not whether rain is falling or the sun is shining. Yes, she truly values that which the sun and the rain made together. In valuing both the rain and the sun simultaneously, the crops harvested offer no signs of whether the sun or the rain provided more nourishment. When Mother Earth needs the rain and sun, she is blessed sufficiently. When she is satisfied yet still receives sun and rain, she will vomit water and heat and the blessing of sun and rain is no blessing whatsoever.
Consider the fisherman. His complex inventions in addition to his cleverness are the key to his success. Snares, lines, angles, hooks, and nets are available to him, yet, some fish are beyond his power to catch. Some fish can only be caught without a single tool: feel around blindly for them, grab hold of them, and then engross them.
Consider the fowler and all the many ways he uses to trap his prey. He uses a gun, a net, the branch of a lime tree, a light, a bell – just to name a few. He sneaks, he sallies forth, and he stands in place; who could name all the ways he poses his body? But, could any pose or weapon guarantee his success? He has to whistle and play his pipe to be successful but even doing so is no guarantee of success.
A gem can be found in both the head of a toad and the shell of an oyster[1]. The methods of extracting them have no guarantee of success, but if the treasure is acquired, who could complain? Who would not, with even a vague sense of extraction, attempt to do so?
As for this short novel, while it lacks noteworthy illustrations, there are some bold but pointless ideas therein. Some might argue that if fully examined, it will not stand on its own in a completely satisfactory manner. I would say to such persons I see nothing wrong with that. Some might argue that the subject matter is dark and to them I say their argument is weak. Some might argue that it is a novel and to them I say there is nothing wrong with that, that others lie, are as gloomy, and yet make the star of truth shine radiantly. Some might argue the story is too intense, but they ought to speak their mind and not be weak themselves. Some might argue a story that is too intense loses readers not up to the challenge and that the use of metaphors can detract from truth.
Faith is an intense subject, and he who discusses it is equally intense. As for the use of metaphor, am I a serious author because I use them? Did not God speak indirectly at times, using symbols, hints, and metaphors? Could any man find the word of God fallible, criticizing the use of such methods? No, men instead look for the meaning behind graphic symbols and behind calves, sheep, heifers, rams, birds, herbs, and the blood of lambs; they look for how God is speaking to them through these creatures and these graphics and are pleased when the light and salvation present in them are discovered.
It would not be too bold to say that I wish to be intense but also discourteous. Not everything that seems intense actually is. Do not loathe the use of parables because something seriously detrimental could make us laugh and something seriously beneficial could make us cry. My words, though akin to a stormy sky, contain truth like gold securely contained in a cabinet.
Did not the prophets use metaphors to speak truth? Yes, he who believes in Christ and his apostles will learn that the truths are not revealed directly; they are veiled. Dare I say that despite the Bible’s style and phrasing being above and beyond clever turns-of-phrase, it is crowded with wicked characters and symbolic tales? That aforementioned book is radiant and its beams brighten our darkest days.
The critic of my book ought to realize that life can be bleaker than anything found within this book. Even his best days have more unfortunate series of events than can be found in my book.
Let us stand before men with no opinion one way or the other of my book and for every one of such men I boldly wager there will be ten who comprehend my meaning far better than Demetrius, builder of silver shrines for the goddess Diana.
Truth, swaddled like an infant, leads us to cast judgment, improves our minds, satisfies our sense of reason, and humbles us. Truth can bring to mind anything we imagine and truth can ease our troubles.
Now, we know that Timothy was practical when choosing his words and never relied on old wives’ tales to make his point. Paul on the other hand, though a serious man, never scoffed at the use of parables to explain oneself; within such parables were pieces of gold, pearls, and precious gems worth mining and worth mining with the utmost dedication.
O Christian, one last matter. Have I offended you? Do you wish I had made my point another way? Do you wish I had come to the point more quickly? Well, allow me to make three points and then I shall, as is right, leave my book to be critiqued by my betters.
First, it would seem that I am allowed to write any way I choose, and so, I will not abuse vocabulary, items, or my audience. I will not insult my method of dealing with a person or his likeness. I am merely advancing the cause of truth, one way or another. Yes, I have permission and can do as those who have pleased God more than I (or anyone else alive today) in what they said or did have done. Thus, I am speaking my mind for the sake of declaring that which is excellent.
Second, it seems to me that men more wicked than I write dialogues and are not criticized. Yes, they do not speak truth and use writing to tell lies; such men are accused of God. Instead, let truth freely affect you and me as God sees fit. God was the one who taught us how to till the fields of our minds and how to speak for him by putting pen to paper, did He not? He is the one who turns that which is base into that which is holy.
Finally, time and time again, it seems to me that the way in which sacred texts are written parallels my own – to begin writing one thing and end up with another entirely! So, I am allowed to write in this fashion. May nothing impede the golden rays of truth and may my method enable those beams to shine like the sun.
Just before I stop writing, I’ll reveal how successful my novel is. I’ll offer it to you and to the hand of the One who humbles the strong and empowers the weak.
This book, before your very eyes, will paint a picture of a man seeking salvation, illustrating his origins and his destination. It will illustrate his complete and incomplete deeds. It will illustrate how he never stops racing towards the pearly gates. Those who try their best in life to earn eternal salvation are also illustrated – you will know why they lose their chance and die fools.
Because of my book, you will want to travel if you take its advice and seek the land of Jesus Christ’s birth. Those who take my lead if indolent will leap into action and, if blind, see delights.
Is your purpose to find a rarity, something lucrative? Is your purpose to find a truth hidden within a tale? Do you easily forget or do you remember each day of the year? If so, read this whimsical tale; its ideas will cling to you like burs. Such notions may also be, however, comforting words for the helpless.
I have written this book in such a way that even dull minds will become fervent. It may seem like something new that is here today and gone tomorrow, but within it are nothing but sensible, true Christian teachings.
Do you wish to forget your unhappiness for a while? Do you wish to amuse yourself but not forget yourself? Do you wish to hear riddles and their solutions or suffer, never settling them in your mind? Do you wish to focus on a slab of meat or focus on a man in the heavens, listening to what he has to say to you? Do you wish to feel like you are in a dream? Do you wish to laugh or cry at the drop of a hat? Do you, without using magic, wish to let it all go without penalty? Do you wish to read a book you’re not sure what to make of? Do you wish to read such a book but still know if you are sanctified or not? Well, then, come; take this book and engage your mind and your heart in tandem.
[1] In the Middle Ages, stones formed by fossils of ancient fish were believed to be pearls from a toad’s head with curative properties.
As I walked across the untamed lands, I found a jail cell and lay down to rest there. As I slept, I dreamed. In my dream, I saw a man in ragged clothes carrying a heavy pack on his back and a book in his hand, leaving home. I looked at him and saw him open the book. As he read, he burst into tears, shaking. Woeful, he cried out: “What can I do?”
The man, in such a state, turned back and kept silent as much as possible in order that his wife and children not detect any change in him. However, when he became even more troubled, he finally broke and told his wife and children what was on his mind: “Oh, dear wife – O dear ones created by her and me – O one to whom I am a dear friend – I am bearing a heavy burden and, because of it, I’ve come undone. What is more, trustworthy sources say our city will erupt in flames due to God’s wroth. In a terrifying show of power, me, you, wife, and you, my sweet children, will all die unless I can think of some way to save ourselves.”
At this, the man’s wife and family were stricken with awe – not because they believed a word of what he said (they didn’t), but because they thought he’d been bitten by a rabid animal and now had distemper. So, because it was close to dark, they hurried the man into bed, hoping a good night’s sleep would calm him.
That night, the man was just as agitated and continued sighing and weeping, never once shutting his eyes. The following morning, his wife and children asked him how he felt, to which he replied that he was feeling worse all the time. He tried discussing the matter again, but they began to become cynical and tried treating him with cruelty and rudeness to quell his febrile mind, teasing him, scolding him, or ignoring him.
At this, the man began cloistering himself in his room to pray for and forgive his family; he also began forgiving himself for such grief, walking alone through the fields, reading, or praying. Yes, that is how he spent his time.
One day, as he was wandering through the fields, something he was accustomed to, reading his book and still quite agitated in his mind, he burst into tears as he had before, wondering aloud how he would find salvation. The man looked left and right as if he planned to sprint away, but, in the end, he remained frozen to the spot, as if his indecision rendered him as such.
Then, I spied a second man, whose name was Evangelist, approaching.
“Why are you weeping?” Evangelist asked.
“According to this book, sir, I have been sentenced to die and sentenced to ascend into Heaven or sink into Hell. I do not want such a punishment and I do not have the strength to stand before a judge.”
“When evil is all around us, who would not gladly welcome death?” Evangelist told him.
“I carry this heavy pack upon my back and it will ensure I sink into Hell for an eternity of suffering and punishment for my sins. Oh sir, I am too wicked to even be arrested, sent to prison, sentenced, and, in the end, die by execution. That is why I am sorrowful.”
“If that is the case, why are you just standing here?”
“I do not know where to go.”
Evangelist handed the man a scroll upon which was written a verse from the book of Matthew: Flee the wrath of God that is to come. The man read the scroll and eyed Evangelist very carefully.
“If I flee, where can I flee to?”
Evangelist pointed to a small gate across a distant field and asked the man if he saw it. He did not, so Evangelist asked the man if he saw the bright beam casting its light in the distance and the man admitted that he thought he saw something in that direction.
“Use the beam to guide you, and never stray from it as you head for the small gate. If you approach the gate and ask for entry, you will advised what to do next.”
The man in my dream began to sprint away towards the small gate when his wife and children, since he had not been far from home, spied him and began calling him back. The man plugged his ears and kept running, crying: “Life! Life! Eternal life!” He did not turn back once, and came midway between his door and his destination.
The man’s neighbors watched him sprint towards his destination and they teased him, threatened him, or shouted at him to come back.
Now, two of the man’s neighbors had made up their minds to escort him back to his home by force. One was named Stubborn and the other Pushover. The man had a head start, but they were determined to catch up to him, which they eventually did in a short time.
“What are you doing here, neighbors?”
“We’re here to persuade you to return,” they replied, but the man told them: “I shall never return. We both come from Destruction; I was born there. Well, that is my name for our city and one of these days you will sink in Hell and live for eternity in a place of fire and brimstone. Why don’t you join me, good neighbors?”
“What do you mean?” Stubborn said, taken aback. “Abandon our friends and the comforts of home?”
Christian, the man in my dream, said, “Our eternal reward would pale in comparison to all that you would leave behind. Let us go together and find this treasure; we shall both be rewarded and you shall have just as much of the treasure as I. Let us go together and see if all I say is true.”
“What are these treasures you speak of? What are you abandoning this world to find?” Stubborn wondered.
“According to this book, there is a treasure that is rightfully mine which is perfect, pure, and everlasting. It awaits me in Heaven and is stored safely therein. He who seeks such a reward diligently shall earn it when the time is right. You may read about it in my book if you wish.”
Stubborn scoffed at him and told Christian to put his book aside and tell him whether he wanted to return with him or not. Christian refused, quoting from the third chapter of Luke in which a man who wished to turn his attention to plowing a field instead of following Jesus was unfit to ascend into Heaven.
“Let us go home then without him, Pushover. He is just another selfish lunatic on a fool’s errand, and his reasoning is seven times more logical to him than seven voices of reason,” Stubborn said, but Pushover said, “Mind your tongue. If Christian is telling the truth, the treasures awaiting him are better than anything in this world. I feel it would be best to follow him.”
“I am surrounded by idiots!” Stubborn cried. “Listen to me. Go back! Can you trust a lunatic to lead you in the right direction? Go back with me! Don’t be a fool.”
“Oh, Pushover, come with me. All that I say is true and there are more treasures to be found. If you do not think I am an honest man, read this book – the truth behind that which is within it is validated by the blood shed by Jesus Christ which validates all.”
“Oh Stubborn – O neighbor of mine – I am thinking of joining this good man, come what may,” Pushover said to Stubborn, and then inquired, “O good friend, how do we find this wonderful place?”
“Evangelist showed me, telling me to hurry directly towards a small gate and then we shall be further instructed what to do next.” Christian replied.
“Let us go then, good neighbor,” Pushover declared, and Christian headed off with Pushover.
Stubborn, on the other hand, chose to return home, wishing to be no friend to misguided men who behaved so strangely.
In the next part of my dream, Stubborn was on his way back to Destruction when Christian and Pushover, as they crossed the plains, began conversing with each other.
“Oh, neighbor – O Pushover – how are you? I am glad I have convinced you to join me. If only Stubborn had sensed the great horrors to come, he would not have laughed at us.”
“Oh, neighbor – O Christian – now that it is just you and me, tell me more. What is in store for us? What can we do with such treasures? Where are we going?”
“Well, I can imagine them better than I can speak of them, however, since you are curious, I will tell you what my book has to say.”
“Do you think every word in your book is true?”
“God, who is infallible, created this book, and so, nothing in it is a lie.”
“Well put. What can we look forward to?”
“We shall live in a kingdom that lasts forever and we ourselves shall live forever.”
“Well put. Anything else?”
“We shall be given crowns of glory and wear clothing that shines like the sun in the heavens.”
“That sounds truly lovely. Anything else?”
“There, there is no weeping or sorrow – the Lord of Heaven will ensure we shed no tears.”
“Will we be alone there?”
“We will see seraphim and cherubim; beings that cannot be examined directly. We will see thousands and tens of thousands of men who have died before our time and not one is there to harm us; rather, they are all loving, holy beings. We will see them walking in the sight of God, in His welcoming presence for all time. To be brief, we will see those known as the Sanhedrin of Heaven wearing crowns of gold. We shall see the virgins of Heaven mentioned in my book playing their harps. We shall see men who loved the Lord of Heaven but hated their earthly lives and bore dismemberment, death by fire, death by animal consumption, or drowning now happy, healthy, and donning the robe of eternal life.”
“This description has truly taken my heart. Can we truly enjoy such treasures? How can we partake of them?”
“According to my book, in which the Lord, Jesus Christ, ruler of this land, says this himself, if we truly welcome these treasures, we may freely partake of them, his gift to us.”
“O good friend, I am glad to hear about the rewards to come. Let us hurry!”
“I wish I could, Pushover, but this pack on my back hinders me.”
In the next part of my dream, I saw that as soon as they’d finished talking, a swamp full of muck came into view. As Christian and Pushover were reckless, they fell into it, a place called Hopeless. It was difficult to move through the swamp, and Christian and Pushover became quite dirty. What is more, Christian’s pack weighed him down and he began to sink deeper in the muck.
“Christian! Neighbor of mine! Where are you?” Pushover called.
“I really don’t know!” Christian called back.
At this, Pushover began to feel insulted and told Christian angrily: “Is this what you call a reward? We have hardly begun our journey, and at this rate, we will take a very long time to come to the end of our journey. Let me get out of this swamp alive; go on without me and conquer the land on your own!”
Pushover tried with all his might a little longer and then, he was out of the swamp. He headed home and Christian would never see his neighbor again. And so, Christian was left to struggle in Hopeless Swamp alone, but he tried to head towards the small gate and move away from his home. Yet, the pack on his back prevented him from doing just that.
Then, in my dream, I saw a man appear before Christian whose name was Helper.
“How did you fall into the swamp?” Helper asked.
“Well, sir, a man named Evangelist told me to head for the small gate in the distance to avoid the coming wrath of God. I was doing so when I stumbled into the swamp.”
“When you saw the swamp, why didn’t you look for the way around it?”
“I was being so hotly pursued by Fear that I went off the path and that is what caused me to fall in.”
Helper asked Christian for his hand, Christian did so, and Helper pulled him out of the swamp, setting him on firm ground.
“Journey on,” Helper told Christian, but Christian walked up to the man who had saved him and said, “Sir, if this path is the way out of Destruction and the way towards the small gate, why has no one repaired this hazardous patch so that poor travelers can journey on safely?”
“That muddy swamp cannot be repaired. The scum and filth attached to a taste for sin endure. That was Hopeless Swamp; a man may realize he is a lost soul but also feel fear, doubt, and discouraging dread. In this swamp, fear, doubt, and discouragement unite and make this a wicked place.”
“It displeases our Lord that the swamp remains a hazard. Those who work for him have tried for hundreds of years to repair it! To the best of my knowledge, twenty-thousand wagons have been lost – millions have been shown the way – people from all over the Lord’s realm have come here any time of the year – yes, any one of such persons could have repaired this place, but it remains just as it has always been and shall always be,” Christian said.
“But,” said Helper, “Jesus has built good, sturdy steps that lead one through the swamp directly. The scum it vomits – the weather patterns therein – such things make such steps difficult to find; men’s heads spin, take other paths therein, and sully themselves with other plans, despite the path leading out of the swamp available to them. Once they have crossed through the small gate, however, they will find the way much easier.”
Meanwhile, as I saw in my dream, Pushover returned home. His neighbors greeted him, either saying he was wise not to follow Christian, that it was too risky for him to do so, or that he’d behaved like a coward. “You had only just begun your journey and you return at the first sign of danger?”
When Pushover felt sure of himself once more, his neighbors turned their attention to Christian and gossiped about him, which troubled Pushover.
Christian was walking alone now, but now he spotted a man crossing the field to greet him in passing. This man’s name was Urbane and he came from the populous town of Hedonism. News had reached Hedonism and beyond of Christian and his journey, so Urbane knew who he was. Urbane noted how difficult Christian’s journey was for him and how he sighed, groaned, and voiced his displeasure in like kind.
“Good sir, why are you hurrying along with this heavy pack upon your back?”
“Oh yes, my burden is the worst in existence! You ask me where I am going, sir? Do you see that small gate in the distance? I am headed there as instructed to be told how to unburden myself.”
“Do not you have a wife and children?” Urbane wondered. “I do, but this burden is so weighty that they do not make me as happy as they used to; it is as if I have returned to bachelorhood.”
“If I gave you advice, would you take it?” Urbane asked him.
“Only if it is goodly advice – and I need good advice at this point.”
“If your burden is the problem, why not remove it now on your own, as soon as possible? Your mind would be at rest and you would be able to enjoy God’s blessings.”
“No,” replied Christian, “although my goal is to unburden myself of this heavy burden, no man, not even myself, can remove it. As I said, I must pass through the small gate in order to do so.”
“And who said this was the way to unburden yourself?” “A man who seemed truly great and honorable. His name is Evangelist, if I recall.”
“Shame on him! The road he directed you to is the most dangerous, troublesome one on earth! Look at your muddy clothes! I see you have had to deal with something already, Hopeless Swamp! That was only the first of many troubles you will meet going that direction. Listen – I am older than you, and trust me, you’re sure to meet with exhaustion, pain, starvation, dangers, exposure, swords, lions, dragons, darkness….death, basically. Those are just some of the things you will encounter. Many have said so, so it must be true. How can you thoughtlessly wander off alone, taking advice from a stranger?”
“But sir,” replied Christian, “I can face any of those dangers because my burden is worse than them all. I believe I can face anything, whatever and whenever, if it means I can leave my burden behind.”
“What or who placed this burden upon your back?” Urbane wondered.
“I was reading this book and took on this burden.” Christian replied.
“I thought as much; men like you are weaklings who involve themselves with things that are beyond their intellect and lose themselves in it. They lose their minds as you have, going off on fool’s errands on quests for they know not what.”
“I, on the other hand, know what I am on a quest to do – lift my heavy burden.”
“But why, when it is so risky, would you choose that way to lift your burden? You are ignoring my advice, advice which gives you what you want without encountering any of those situations. You could ease your mind sooner than later, and, instead of meeting with danger, you will meet with complete safety, friendship, and happiness.”
“And how could I do that?” Christian asked Urbane.
“Well, in a village below called Morale, there is a man named Authority who is quite sensible and of good repute. He is just the man to help unburden you, and, to the best of my knowledge, he has helped others like you before. Yes, he can take a man who has nearly lost his mind due to his burden and return him to his old self. Go to him and he will lift your burden as soon as possible. He lives not even a mile from here, and, if he’s not at home, his son, Courtesy, can help you as well. And, what is more, if you do not wish to return to Destruction, which is right, send for your wife and children – many houses in Morale lie unoccupied and surely one will be within your budget. You may eat and drink there inexpensively but well; you will at least be happier and surely have decent neighbors who are trustworthy and well-mannered.”
Christian didn’t know quite what to make of this, but he decided that if Urbane was telling the truth, he could be unburdened by Authority or Courtesy.“And how do I get to the home of this so-called honest man?”
“See that great hill in the distance?” Urbane asked him.
“Quite clearly,” Christian replied.
“Climb it and the first home on the hill belongs to him.”
Christian walked off the path, heading for Authority, but the hill seemed impossible to climb and his footing so unsure. He thought there might be an avalanche and ventured no further, wondering what to do next. Plus, his burden seemed heavier than when he was on the path Evangelist showed him. Flames burst from the hill and Christian sweated and trembled, fearing he would be burned. How sorry he was he had taken Urbane’s advice, flushed with shame as he saw Evangelist nearing.
A serious, terrible look on his face, Evangelist asked Christian what he was doing on this hill. Christian could do nothing but stand before him in silence.
“Aren’t you the one who wept just outside Destruction?”
“I am he, dear sir.”
“And didn’t I show you the way to the small gate?”
“Yes, dear sir.”
“You have gone off the path I have just shown you. Why did you do this?”
“Soon after I made my way out of Hopeless Swamp, I met a man who persuaded me to go down to Morale and find Authority, a man who could ease my burden.”
“What was the man who persuaded you like?”
“He dressed fashionably and was loquacious. I gave in at last and found the hill he spoke of, but when I saw it and how risky it would be to climb it, I stopped before I fell and hit my head.”
“What did the fashionable man say?”
“He asked me where I was going and I told him.”
“What else did he ask you?”
“He asked if I had a family and I told him I did but was weighed down greatly by this burden I carry upon my back; I told him my family did not make me as happy as they once did.”
“And what was his reply?”
“I told him I wanted my burden lifted and he urged me to remove it myself, as soon as possible. I told him I was headed to the gate in the distance in order to be shown the way to salvation, and he told me there was a better path that would not take as much time and not be so difficult to traverse. He scoffed at the one you had shown me. He told me he knew the way to a man’s home and that he knew how to lift my burden and I believed him. I abandoned your path and began to take his, since it meant an easy removal of my burden, but, when I came here and saw the dangers ahead, I paused, afraid of the perils of changing direction. Now I am at a loss of what to do.”
At this, Evangelist said, “Stand here a moment and let me reveal God’s word to you.” Christian stood there, trembling, and Evangelist continued:“Always listen to the word of God, since when Jesus spoke in this world, none could turn away, and when God Himself speaks from Heaven, we surely cannot likewise turn from Him. The righteous live by faith and any who turns away displeases the soul of our Lord. You have brought this misery upon yourself, you have scoffed at the advice of God, you have walked off the path of peace, and you have nearly secured a place in Hell.”
Christian collapsed by Evangelist’s feet, wailing, “Woe is me! I’m ruined!”
Evangelist grasped Christian’s right hand and told him, “There is no sin or blasphemy that cannot be forgiven. Be faithful and believe.”
Christian calmed somewhat and stood, still trembling whilst he faced Evangelist. Evangelist said, “Listen carefully as I tell you how you were deceived and who the deceivers were. You met Urbane, a man who is of the world, only concerns himself with the world, and those of this world listen to him. He worships in Morale and believes helping people in this world helps him avoid being challenged by the cross of Jesus. He is a hedonist and enjoys perversions, including my path, even though it’s the right one.
There are three pieces of advice he gave you which you must completely distance yourself from. First of all, recall that he led you off the path I showed you. Second, you should know that he was attempting to make the cross and its meaning repulsive to you. Finally, you should know that he was leading you to your death. You should have been repulsed instead by his attempt to lead you off the path instead of taking his advice – you would scoff at the advice of God and take the advice of an urbane individual? Jesus asks us to head directly for the way shown to us, the gateway to eternal life. Few find this entrance, and that wicked man turned you away from the little gate and the pathway to it, guiding you instead towards your doom. You should hate how he misguided you and hate yourself for taking his advice. Second, you should hate how he attempted to make you repulsed by the meaning of the cross. You should treasure it far more than you treasure the treasure of Egypt, for so the Book says. What is more, the Lord of Glory told you that focusing on saving yourself means certain death and that no disciple of Jesus can love his parents, wife, children, and brethren as well as his own life. So, it was wrong of the urbane individual to try and persuade you to believe that the path of righteousness meant death when, in actuality, one must die to gain eternal life – you ought to be repulsed by such a philosophy.
Finally, you should have been repulsed by his guiding you to the path that led to certain death. Think about the man he wanted you to see and how such a man could never have actually lifted your burden. The man who was supposed to help you is named Authority and his mother is Hagar, the slave of Abraham who birthed a son by him and future generations shall also be slaves. She represents Mount Sinai, that which you feared would crush you. If Hagar and her children are slaves, how could they break your chains? No, Authority could never have lifted your burden nor anyone else’s nor ever will, methinks. Does a law determine whether or not a man is reasonable? A law cannot render a burden lifted. No, this so-called urbane individual is actually inexperienced, this so-called authority who knows the law is a cheater, and Authority’s son, Courtesy, is discourteous, impish and hypocritical. He would never have been able to help you, either. You have been talking to blathering drunks, trying to turn you away from salvation, off the path I revealed to you.”
When he had finished, Evangelist asked the heavens if what he had said was accurate and something hair-raising occurred: disembodied voices and fire blasted from the mountain Christian stood beneath: He who abides in the laws of man is cursed; he who rejects the laws of God he is commanded to obey is cursed.
When Christian heard this, he wished for death and began lamenting pitiably, cursing his time with Urbane and calling himself a fool a thousand times over for taking his advice. To think he had abandoned his path after hearing such a man’s criticism that only pertained to the physical – it was quite shameful.
Eventually, he was able to speak to Evangelist again, wise once more: “What do you think, sir? Is there any hope for me now? Should I continue onward towards the small gate? Will you forsake me and send me home with my tail between my legs? I am sorry I took his advice. I ask your forgiveness.”
“What you have done is truly terrible – abandoned the goodly path for a forbidden one, which is committing two sins. However, the guardian of the gate shall still welcome you; he is a compassionate man. But, you must never abandon the path again or you shall die – the wrath of God, even when barely stirred, can still be the end of you.”
