Chapter 10: Apostasy and the Fleeing Professors

Showing how Godliness travelling further into the town (called Religion) saw abundance of people, who had been great professors, getting away out of the town as fast as they could. Showing also what discourse he had with one of them; wherein the nature and danger of apostasy is plainly opened.

Godliness had no sooner left Formalist's door, and gone a little further into the town Religion, but he espied a great number of people hastening out as fast as they could go: indeed, he observed some of them ran, though others of them went very softly. At first he wondered what the matter was; because the town was a little before looked upon to be a very safe and honorable place to dwell in, as any in all the country, and had as great and glorious privileges belonging to it; but upon inquiry, he was told there was a number of lions, evening-wolves, and other evil beasts (who had for a long time been shut up in their dens) getting out, and they having a great while been kept without prey, they were afraid they should be torn in pieces. But he observing which way they went, was the more amazed; for he perceived plainly they all steered their course directly towards the great city Babylon, which he saw likewise falling, and was sure would suddenly in one hour be utterly destroyed.

True Godliness at this seemed so mightily concerned, that he could not let them all pass without speaking to them; and minding one of them to look like a sober man, though he hung down his head as if he had been ashamed, resolved to have a little discourse with him, to whom he spoke after this manner.

Godliness: Sir, what is the matter you leave this town and haste away so fast? When you first took up your dwelling here, did you not intend to abide in it as long as you lived?

Apostate: (for that it seems was his name) truly, Sir, I did intend it; I had a great love for this poor town; but I must remove out and be gone now.

Godliness: Why must you? Is there a necessity laid upon you to acquit this place, this honorable town Religion?

Apostate: Sir I shall be destroyed else; for the walls of late are much gone to decay; I do not see that safety to reside here as formerly. Besides, they say there are a great number of lions, Romish wolves, and other beasts of prey breaking out upon us; and I am afraid if I should escape with my life, yet having a few sheep and lambs, they will devour them. Truly Sir, I do it to save what I have, yet I wish very well to the place.

Godliness: It is very like you speak the truth in this; but Sir, pray where are you going?

Apostate: I am going towards the confines of Babylon, that great city.

Godliness: I am heartily sorry for you; let me persuade you to return back, and rest in this town, Sir; do not fear those lions you speak of; for God has said he will break the teeth of the lions, the old lion, and the lion's whelps; but what though they should destroy your substance, is not your soul worth more than all the world? Come, go back again with me, and I will dwell with you and be a sure defense to you, so that you will not be hurt, let lions, wolves, and devils too do what they can. My name is True Godliness, Sir I have saved many thousands from ruin in as great danger as you can be in.

Apostate: Sir there will be no safe living for me, I must acquit the place, the town is besieged.

Godliness: What though it is besieged, God is able to defend it, and will be a wall of fire about it; but why Sir, do you choose that great city you speak of for your habitation? I perceive you intend to go far enough.

Apostate: Sir don't mistake me I do not intend to go so far; but to return again when the danger is over, at present I will go but a little way out of the town.

Godliness: Sir, you show yourself to be a naughty, and treacherous and hypocritical person; will you leave this town in its distress? If the danger be great which attends it, you had the more need to abide in it, to strengthen and encourage the poor inhabitants. Pray Sir, do not show so base and cowardly a spirit: what is this less than to betray the town to the enemies? Is not the strength of any place the people? Besides, your flying mightily encourages the adversaries; for by this means they may think to frighten all out, and then with much ease take the town, and utterly destroy it. Also you weaken the hands, and sadly grieve the hearts of all true Protestants, whose chief treasure lies in the town, and cannot be removed out; and it being also their spiritual native place, they resolve to abide in it to the last, let what will come. You say you intend to return again when the danger is over. What dangers you see above others, to move you to acquit the town, I know not; but let me tell you, few who leave this town out of fear of human loss or danger, do return again. You say, you intend to go but a little way; alas, you can't tell where you shall stop; when once you leave the true religion, you desert God's gracious protection; you may not only cleave to Papistry, but atheism, or anything. Come go back, let me save you from a fall: why will you leave that religion you have been so long established in?

Apostate: Sir, I retain the same principles that I formerly held, and my love is the same to the town as it was.

Godliness: Poor wretch, you own the principles of the true religion, and yet cleave to idolatry and superstition. The three worthies of old by your example might have retained faith and right principles in their hearts, of the true God, and yet have bowed down to the golden image, and so needed not to have exposed themselves to a hot fiery furnace. Indeed, by this doctrine, who needs suffer persecution? Besides, it renders all the martyrs of old to be mere fools and madmen. What do you say, will you return? My company one would think, might allure you.

Apostate: No Sir, I have formerly had your company, and I don't find you so pleasant a companion; besides, the town is sadly divided among themselves, those who love you, do not agree.

Godli.: No Sir, now you are out; for you and I never dwelt together yet; for if I had ever took up my dwelling with you, I would have kept you from this great Fall: you will prove yourself a mere Hypocrite, one that never loved God nor this Town Religion in your heart. Sir, uprightness and sincerity of heart preserves from apostasy; and what though the Town is divided, it is my great grief to see it, but you had the more need to abide in it, to do what you can to persuade them to love and union, however to unite in affection. Come, humble yourself before God for this great sin, and let us dwell together now, and you shall abide secure, notwithstanding the divisions within, and troubles without, and have most sweet peace, and inward joy; indeed such as you never had in all your life. What do you say?

Apost.: Sir, hold your peace, and say no more; I am resolved to be gone.

Godli.: Well, since I see I cannot persuade you to return, but that you are resolved to leave Religion, and not receive True Godliness, I will tell you what your present state is, and what your future portion is like to be for ever hereafter. Apost.: Sir, pray be silent, I do not love to hear it.

Godli.: I do not care whether you do or no, I will show it. First, It appears (as I hinted before) that you were never truly converted, being no part of that good ground Christ [reconstructed: speaks] of (Matthew 13). Second, You are (it appears) forsaken of God; he has left you, or else you would never think of cleaving to Mystery Babylon. Third, Either God will let Conscience out against you to torment you (as he did upon Francis Spira) or else wholly give you up (as he did Israel of old) to your own hearts' Lusts, to walk in your own counsel. Fourth, Your sin tends towards the sin against the Holy Ghost, that shall never be forgiven, neither in this world nor in that which is to come: for you have been a person (I hear) much enlightened, and now wilfully cast off God, and Religion, pray read these Scriptures (Hebrews 6:4-5; Hebrews 10:26-28). Fifth, Jesus Christ will be ashamed of you at the last day, when he comes in the glory of the Father with all his holy Angels (Mark 8:38). Sixth, Those who set their hands to the Plough, and look back (remember) are not fit for the Kingdom of Heaven; nor will God's Soul take pleasure in them (Luke 9:62; Hebrews 10:37). Seventh, without you return back, you are like to have the hottest place in Hell (Revelation 14:10). Eighth, The place you are going to, is like suddenly to be destroyed. Do you not read how just at the time when her judgments come upon her, she says in her heart I sit a Queen, and shall see no sorrow, nor know widowhood, nor loss of Children any more. Ninth, Remember the fearful end, and what dreadful judgments God has many times in diverse ages, brought upon such false and traitorous persons as you are. Besides, who will trust you? For you that are false to your God, and to your own Soul, will never be faithful to men. Come, that very way you think to save all, you may lose all. Besides Sir, let me tell you, Light is sown for the righteous (though it is a dark time now) and Joy for the upright in heart. Indeed, and this precious Seed is sown (as I could show you) in this present dispensation; but I am in haste: What do you say to these things? Will you return?

Apost.: I dare not Sir, at present.

Godli.: Well then, I see you love the world above Christ. I have but little more to say to you; but Sir, what man in his right mind, would to prevent a few sparks, leap into the fire, or to save his hat, lose his head? Alas, while you seek to save your Estate, you are like eternally to lose your poor Soul.

Apost.: Well Sir, trouble not yourself; I will talk no more with you; Farewell.

Godli.: Adieu then poor deceived Soul. Away he went as fast as he could go towards the great City Babylon. Godliness having thus parted with him, at last he met a man travelling into the Town Religion, being not very rich nor very poor, but in a middle state, between both; and he looked as if he had a mind to take up his dwelling in this place; for he inquired where he might have a convenient House? Godliness was much pleased with this person, because when others were hasting to leave the Town, he was hasting into it; besides, he had a very serious countenance. Now he had no sooner settled himself in a habitation, but Godliness knocked immediately at his door, not doubting now but he should find his sweet Friend Consideration.

Farewell, Farewell, you Monster of Mankind, Look East and West, see, see, if you can find A man who may with this sad Soul compare: Will he return? or if he does, is there A ground to hope Repentance he may meet, Who treads the Truth, indeed Jesus under feet? Can any man on earth ere come to be A full, complete and just Epitome Of Sin and wrath? O then Sirs this is he. Who turns his back on Christ, to Babel flies. He to Falsehood cleaves, the Truth denies.