When the evening came on, the shepherds gave them shelter in their tents, and there the pilgrims went to their rest for the night. In the morning the shepherds told them to be careful to avoid turning into a lane which they would pass on their left, which, though it looked shady and pleasant, led them to the town of Conceit.
They then bade them Godspeed, and the pilgrims went on their way. Just as they got to the lane they noticed a youth coming up who seemed to wish to join them. His name, they soon learned, was Ignorance, and when asked where he came from and where he was going, he replied, "I was born in the good old town of Conceit, and like yourselves I am going to the Celestial City."
"But why," asked Christian, "did you not enter by the Wicket-Gate?" "Oh," said Ignorance, "it is too far out of the way and not worth the trouble it would take to get there. Besides, I am not sure that any of my townsmen even know the way to it. I am sure I did not."
"But," asked Hopeful, "do you not fear that when you come to the Gate of the City, you may be counted as a thief and a robber?"
Ignorance replied, "I have never done any harm, and have always been a good-living, moral young man. I read my Bible, pray and give money to the poor. I think you had better go your way and I will go mine, so good day."
So the pilgrims went on, Ignorance a short distance behind them.
Hopeful whispered to Christian, " `Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him' (Prov. 26:1212Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him. (Proverbs 26:12))."
Christian and Hopeful, happy in each other's society, went on their way, and though sometimes they began to feel weary, they encouraged one another by speaking of the welcome that awaited them in the home to which they were going. There they would see the King in His beauty, and the trials and sufferings of the way would seem as nothing compared with the glory they would then behold.
Not far from Broad-Way Gate they saw a dark, winding lane, which they were told was called Dead-Man's Lane, so many dark deeds having been committed thereabouts. "Ah," said Christian, "I am reminded of what I once heard happened to a poor pilgrim whose name was Little-Faith and who, not far from where we now are, was attacked by three thieves who, after beating him with a heavy club, tried to take from him his money and jewels. Poor Little-Faith was sorely tempted to give way and think that his end had come, but just at the moment of his greatest need, the thieves hearing someone coming and thinking it might be one whom they did not wish to meet, Great-Grace, who lived in the town of Good-Confidence, lost no time in running away, and Little-Faith, though sore from his bruises, was able to get up and continue the journey."
Dangers were not all past for our pilgrims, who were nearing the end of their journey, for a little further on they were met by a man whose name was Flatterer, against whom the shepherds had given them a friendly warning. With many soft and honeyed words he tried to persuade them to leave just for a little the king's highway, and he offered to show them a much easier path to Mount Zion, but paying no attention to his evil counsel they kept on their way.
Soon after parting company with the Flatterer, they met a very dangerous person whose name was Atheist. His back was turned to the Celestial City, and he told the pilgrims that at the end of their long and toilsome journey they would meet with nothing but disappointment, as there was no Celestial City. But on turning to their guidebook, the holy Scriptures, they found written, "He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Heb. 11:66But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)). So taking a firmer hold of the shield of faith, they were able to turn aside the fiery darts of the wicked one.