THE WICKEDNESS OF IMITATING THE VICES OF GOOD MEN.
[The following, from part second of the Pilgrim’s Progress, is worthy of thoughtful perusal at the present time. Probably not a few will reach perdition from cherishing in their hearts the doctrine of Mr. Self-will. It is very likely that the recent case of “Apostasy and Crime,” of which the readers of the REVIEW have been informed, was caused by this very doctrine.] “Now I saw that they still went on in their talk. For after Mr. Great-heart had made an end with Mr. Fearing, Mr. Honest began to tell them of another, but his name was Mr. Self-will. He pretended himself to be a pilgrim, said Mr. Honest; but I persuade myself he never came in at the gate that stands at the head of the way. “Great. Had you ever any talk with him about it? “Hon. Yes, more than once or twice; but he would always be like himself, self-willed. He neither cared for man, nor argument, nor yet example; what his mind prompted him to, that he would do, and nothing else could he be got to do. “Great. Pray, what principles did he hold? for I suppose you can tell. “Hon. He held that a man might follow the vices, as well as the virtues, of pilgrims; and that if he did both, he should be certainly saved. “Great. How? If he had said it is possible for the best to be guilty of the vices, as well as to partake of the virtues of pilgrims, he could not much have been blamed; for, indeed, we are exempted from no vice absolutely, but on condition that we watch and strive. But this, I perceive, is not the thing: but if I understand you right, your meaning is, that he was of opinion that it was allowable so to be. “Hon. Ay, ay, so I mean, and so he believed and practiced. “Great. But what grounds had he for his so saying? “Hon. Why, he said he had Scripture for his warrant. “Great. Prithee, Mr. Honest, present us with a few particulars.59 “Hon. So I will. He said, to have other men’s wives had been practiced by David, God’s beloved, and therefore he could do it. He said, to have more women than one, was a thing that Solomon practiced, and therefore he could do it. He said that the disciples went, at the bidding of their Master, and took away the owner’s ass, and he could do so too. He said that Jacob got the inheritance of his father in a way of guile and dissimulation, and therefore he could do so too. “Great. High base indeed! And are you sure he was of this opinion? “Hon. I have heard him plead for it, bring Scripture for it, bring arguments for it, &c. “Great. An opinion that is not fit to be, with any allowance, in the world! “Hon. You must understand me rightly. He did not say that any man might do this; but that they who had the virtues of those that did such things, might also do the same. “Great. But what more false than such a conclusion? For this is as much as to say, that because good men, heretofore, have sinned of infirmity, therefore, he had allowance to do it of a presumptuous mind; or that if, because a child, by the blast of the wind, or for that it stumbled at a stone, fell down and defiled itself in the mire, therefore, he might willfully lie down and wallow like a bear therein. Who could have thought that any one could so far have been blinded by the power of lust? But what is written must be true; they “stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they are appointed.” 1 Pet. ii. 8. Again, his supposing that such may have the godly men’s virtues, who addict themselves to their vices, is also a delusion as the other. To eat up the sin of God’s people, Hos. iv, 8, as a dog licks up filth, is no sign of one that is possessed with their virtues. Nor can I believe that one who is of this opinion, can, at present, have faith or love in him. But I know you have made some strong objections against him; prithee what can he say for himself? “Hon. Why, he says, to do this by way of opinion, seems abundantly more honest than to do it, and yet hold contrary to it in opinion. “Great. A very wicked answer. For though to let loose the bridle to lusts, while our opinions are against such things, is bad; yet to sin, and plead a toleration so to do, is worse: the one stumbles beholders accidentally, the other leads them into the snare. “Hon. There are many of this man’s mind, that have not this man’s mouth; and that makes going on pilgrimage of so little esteem as it is.”