THE INTERPRETERS ALLEGORIES. 213

spider in his mouth. So the Interpreter said, “Look here.” So they looked, and
Mercy wondered; but Christiana said, “ What a disparagement is it to such a pretty
little bird as the robin-redbreast is; he being also a bird above many, that loveth to
maintain a kind of sociableness with man! I had thought they had lived upon crumbs
of bread, or upon other such harmless matter. I like him worse than I did.”

The Interpreter then replied, “This robin is an emblem very apt, to set forth some
professors by; for to sight they are as this robin, pretty of note, color, and carriage.
They seem also to have a very great love for professors that are sincere; and above
all other to desire to sociate with them, and to be in their company, as if they could
live upon the good man’s crumbs. They pretend, also, that therefore it is that they
frequent the house of the godly and the appointments of the Lord; but, when they are
by themselves, as the robin, they can catch and gobble up spiders; they can change
their diet, drink iniquity, and swallow down sin like water.

So, when they were come again into the house, because supper as yet was not ready,
Christiana again desired that the Interpreter would either show, or tell of, some other
things that were profitable.

Then the Interpreter began, and said, “The fatter the sow is, the more she desires
the mire; the fatter the ox is, the more gamesomely he goes to the slaughter; and
the more healthy the lusty man is, the more prone he is unto evil. There is a desire
in women to go neat and fine; and it is a comely thing to be adorned with that which
in God’s sight is of great price. “TI is easier watching a night or two than to sit up a
whole year together; so ’t is easier for one to begin to profess well than to hold out as
he should to the end. Every shipmaster, when in a storm, will willingly cast that
overboard which is of the smallest value in the vessel; but who will throw the best
out first? None but he that feareth not God. One leak will sink a ship, and one sin
will destroy a sinner. He that forgets his friend is ungrateful unto him; but he that
forgets his Saviour is unmerciful to himself. He that lives in sin, and looks for happi-
ness hereafter, is like him that soweth cockle, and thinks to fill his barn with wheat or
barley. If a man would live well, let him fetch his last day to him, and make it always
his company-keeper. Whispering, and change of thoughts, prove that sin is in the
world. If the world, which. God sets light by, is counted a thing of that worth with
men, what is heaven, that God commendeth! If the life that is attended with so many
troubles is so loth to be let go by us, what is the life above! LEverybody will cry up
the goodness of men; but who is there that is, as he should be, affected with the good-
ness of God? We seldom sit down to meat, but we eat and leave; so there are in
Jesus Christ more merit and righteousness than the whole world has need of.”