THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
FROM THIS WORLD, TO THAT WHICH IS TO COME
CHAPTER 12
WEEK 4 – MONDAY
Christian and Faithful Meet Talkative
In Talkative we see the true portrait of many false teachers of Religion, who make it consist in many words and no deeds.
The two pilgrims were in the midst of an important conversation when I saw in my dream that Faithful, looking to the side of the road, spotted a man named Talkative, who was walking a little way off, for the road was wide enough for everyone. He was a tall man, more impressive from a distance than up close. Faithful called out to him, asking if he was headed to the Celestial Country.
Talkative – Indeed. That is exactly where I am going.
Faithful – So are we. And if you’d like to go with us, we would enjoy your pleasant company.
Talkative – I will gladly accompany you.
Faithful – Then let us walk together and make good use of the time with profitable conversations.
Talkative – Profitable conversations are very pleasant to me, and I truly rejoice in meeting people who dedicate themselves to such a good endeavor, for in truth, few are those who use their time this way when traveling; most prefer to talk about frivolous things, which always trouble me deeply.
Faithful – That is indeed regrettable, for nothing is more worthy of our conversation than the things that pertain to God and heaven.
Talkative – How I love to hear you speak like that! Your words show deep conviction. For what can compare to the delight and benefit of speaking about the things of God? If one enjoys wonders—history, mysteries, miracles, signs and wonders—where can we find more delightful and sweetly written accounts than in the Holy Scriptures?
Faithful – That’s true, but our conversation should always bring benefit.
Talkative – I agree entirely. Speaking of such things is very profitable, for they lead us to understand many others, such as the vanity of worldly things and the value of heavenly ones. That’s in general; and in particular, one may learn the need for the new birth, the insufficiency of our own works, the necessity of Christ’s righteousness, etc.
In such conversations, one may also learn what repentance is, belief, prayer, suffering, and similar matters. We may also learn the great promises and consolations of the Gospel for our benefit, and finally come to know how to refute false opinions, defend the truth, and instruct the ignorant.
Faithful – All this is very true, and I rejoice to hear you speak this way.
Talkative – The lack of such practices is the reason why so few understand the need for faith and the work of grace in the soul, in order to obtain eternal life; and why so many live, in ignorance, according to the works of the law, by which no man can ever enter the kingdom of heaven.
Faithful – I must tell you that the spiritual understanding of these things seems to me to be a gift from God. No one attains it merely by talking or through human effort.
Talkative – I know that perfectly well, for we can receive nothing unless it is given from above. It is all by grace, not by works; hundreds of verses confirm it.
Faithful – Very well. Let us now limit our conversation to a specific topic.
Talkative – What topic do you choose? Would you like me to speak of earthly or heavenly things? Moral or evangelical? Sacred or profane? Past or future? Foreign or local? Essential or secondary? Choose, and I shall speak on whatever you like, always provided it brings profit.
Faithful – (Amazed, and drawing near to Christian, who until then had remained a bit distant): What a fine companion we’ve found; he must be an excellent pilgrim!
Christian – (Smiling modestly) – This man, with whom you sympathize so much, is capable of deceiving twenty people who don’t know him.
Faithful – You know him?
Christian – Do I know him? Better than he knows himself.
Faithful – Then who is he?
Christian – His name is Talkative, and he lives in the city where we were born; I’m surprised you don’t know him.
Faithful – Who is his father? Where does he live?
Christian – He is the son of one Mr. Saywell, who lived on the Street of Fair-Words; but for all his silver tongue, he is little better than average.
Faithful – But he seems a very respectable man.
Christian – Yes, to those who don’t know him; he looks better when traveling—at home, it’s a different story. When you said he seemed like a decent man, I thought of those paintings that look better from a distance than up close.
Faithful – I don’t know whether to take your words as jest, for I see you smiling.
Christian – God forbid I should jest in this matter, though I smiled; nor may the Lord allow me to accuse anyone falsely. Let me now tell you what I know about this man. All company suits him; all conversations please him; what he said to you just now, he would say in a tavern. The more he drinks, the more he talks of such things. True religion is neither in his heart, nor in his house, nor in his life; all he has is at the tip of his tongue, and his religion consists in declaring he has one.
Faithful – Are you serious? Then I’ve been very mistaken about this man!
Christian – I am serious. You can trust what I say: you’re very mistaken about him. Remember the proverb: “They say and do not do,” for the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power (Matthew 23:3; 1 Corinthians 4:20). He speaks of prayer, repentance, faith, the new birth, but feels none of it; he only talks. I have studied and observed him very carefully, both in his house and outside, and I know what I’m saying is the plain truth. His house is as devoid of religion as egg white is of flavor.
There is no prayer there, nor any sign of repentance from sin; even brute beasts, in their own way, serve God better than he does. Moreover, he is a blot [reputation], a disgrace and shame to religion, for all who know him (Romans 2:23–24). In the neighborhood where he lives, you will scarcely hear a word in favor of religion, and that is his fault: people often say he is a saint in the street and a devil at home. His own family knows him well, for he is so rude and hot-tempered with everyone that they don’t know how to please him or even how to speak to him.
Those who have dealings with him say openly they’d rather deal with a Mahometan, being sure to find more honesty in a follower of Mafoma¹. It is only when he cannot help it that he refrains from deceiving, defrauding, and abusing those with whom he deals. Worst of all, if he detects in someone a timid conscience (as he calls the first signs of spiritual sensitivity), he mocks them as dull, foolish, and stupid beyond measure. He refuses to employ them, and won’t even recommend them to others.
As for me, I firmly believe that his scandalous life has caused many to stumble and fall, and if God doesn’t stop him, he will be the ruin of many more.
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¹ Mafoma is an archaic and Portuguese form of referring to Muhammad, the founding prophet of Islam. This term was used in the Middle Ages and old texts, often with pejorative or distorted meaning, especially in Christian contexts. Today, the use of “Mafoma” is considered obsolete and disrespectful — the correct and respectful name is Muhammad in Arabic, or Mahomet in older English texts.
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