272 THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS.

But come, landlord,” said he, “I will, if you please, leave my part to you: do you
expound it, and I will hear what you say.”
“No,” said Gaius, “it was put to you, and it is expected you should answer it.”
Then said the old gentleman :

He first by grace must coriquered be,
That sin would mortify ;

And who that lives would convince me,
Unto himself must die.’

“Tt is right,” said Gaius; “good doctrine and experience teach this. For, first,
until grace displays itself, and overcomes the soul with its glory, it is altogether without
heart to oppose sin. Besides, if sin is Satan’s cord; by which the soul lies bound, how
should it make resistance before it is loosed from that infirmity? Secondly, nor will
any one that knows either reason or grace believe that such a man can be a living
monument of grace that is a slave to his own corruptions. And, now it comes into
my mind, I will tell you a story worth the hearing. There were two men that went
on pilgrimage; the one began when he was young, the other when he was old. The
young man had strong corraptions to grapple with; the old man’s were decayed with
the decays of nature. The young man trod his steps as even as did the old one, and
was every way as light as he. Who now, or which of them, had their graces shining
clearest, since both seemed to be alike?

Hon. The young man’s doubtless; for that which heads it against the greatest
opposition, gives best demonstration that it is strongest ; specially when it also holdeth
pace with that which meets not with half go much, as, to be sure, old age does not.
Besides, I have observed that old men have blessed themselves with this mistake ;
namely, taking the decays of nature for a gracious conquest over corruptions, and so
have been apt to beguile themselves. Indeed, old men that are gracious are best able
to give advice to them that are young, because they have seen most of the emptiness
of things; but yet, for an old and a young [man] to set out both together, the young

ne has the advantage of the fairest discovery of a work of grace within him, though
the old man’s corruptions are naturally the weakest.

Thus they sat talking till break of day. Now, when the family were up, Christiana
bade her son James read a chapter; so he read the fifty-third of Isaiah. When he
had done, Mr. Honest asked why it was said that the Saviour was to come out of a
dry ground; and also that He had no form nor comeliness in Him.

Great. Then said Mr. Great-heart, “To the first I answer, because the Church of