Christian. I have sworn allegiance to him; and how can I go from this, without being a traitor.
Apollyon. Thou didst the same to me; and yet I will pass by all, if thou wilt now return.
Christian. I tell thee, once for all, I like his service, his wages, his government, his servants, his company, and country, better than thine; and him only will I serve.
Apollyon. Yet consider in cool blood, what thou art like to meet with in the way that thou goest. How many of his servants came to ill ends? How many have been put to shameful deaths? And yet, as good a master as he is, he cometh not to deliver them out of my hands.
Christian. His delaying to deliver them, is on purpose to try their love. And as for their ill end, as thou callest it, that is their glory. For present deliverance they ask it not; being content to wait for their reward, till their Prince shall come.
Apollyon. But what reward shalt thou have, who hast already been unfaithful in thy service to him.
Christian. Wherein?
Apollyon. Thou didst faint at setting out, in the slough of Despond. Thou didst attempt wrong ways to be rid of thy burthen. Thou didst sinfully sleep, and lose thy choice things. Thou wast well nigh frighted back by the lions. And when thou talkest of thy journey, and of what thou hast seen and heard, there is pride in all thou sayest.
Christian. All this is true, and much more. But the King I serve is a merciful King; yea, I know, he is merciful to my unrighteousness, and my sins he remembreth no more.
Then Apollyon broke out into a rage, and said, “I am an enemy to thy King. I hate his person, his people, his laws. I am come out on purpose to withstand thee.”