Faith. Yes: at the foot of the hill Difficulty, I met with a very aged man, who asked, “If I would be content to live with him?” I asked him his name; he said it was Adam the First. I asked what wages he would give? He told me, I should be his heir. Then I asked, how long time he would have me live with him? And he told me, “As long as he lived himself.”
Christian. And what conclusion did you come to?
Faith. At first I was inclined to go with him; but looking on his forehead, I saw there written, Put off the old man with his deeds.
Christian. And how then?
Faith. Then it came strongly into my mind, that however he flattered me now, when he got me home to his house, he would sell me for a slave. So I bade him say no more, for I would not come near the door of his house. Then he reviled me and said, “He would send such a one after me, as would make my way bitter to my soul.” So I turned away from him; but just as I turned, I felt him take hold of my flesh, and give me such a deadly twitch, that I thought he had pulled part of me after him. This made me cry, O wretched man! So I went on up the hill.
When I was but half-way up, I looked behind me and saw one coming after me, swift as the wind. So soon as he overtook me, down he knocked me, and laid me for dead. When I was come a little to myself I asked him, Why he used me so? He said, for inclining to Adam the First. And with that he struck me another blow on the breast, and beat me down backward. When I came to myself again, I cried for mercy. But he said, “I know not to shew mercy;” and knocked me down again. He had doubtless made an end of me; but that one came by, and bade him “forbear.”
Christian. Who was he that bid him forbear?
Faith. I did not know him at first; but as he went by, I saw the holes in his hands and in his side.
Christian. The man that overtook you was Moses. He spareth none that transgress his law. But did you not see the house on the top of the hill?
Faith. Yes; but it was about noon. So I past by.