"Come in, come in; Eternal glory thou shalt win."
So he went in, and was clothed in such garments as they. Then Christian smiled, and said, "I think verily I know the meaning of this."
"Now," said Christian, "let me go hence." "Nay, stay," said the Interpreter, "until I have showed thee a little more; and after that thou shalt go on thy way." So he took him by the hand again, and led him into a very dark room, where there sat a man in an iron cage.
Now, the man, to look on, seemed very sad. He sat with his eyes looking down to the ground, his hands folded together; and he sighed as if he would break his heart. Then said Christian, "What means this?" At which the Interpreter bid him talk with the man.
Then said Christian to the man, "What art thou?" The man answered, "I am what I was not once."
MAN. The man said, "I was once a fair and flourishing Christian, both in mine own eyes, and also in the eyes of others; I was once, as I thought, fair for the Celestial City, and had even joy at the thoughts that I should get thither."
MAN. I am now a man of despair, and am shut up in it, as in this iron cage. I cannot get out. Oh, _now_ I cannot!
CHRIS. But how camest thou in this condition?
MAN. I left off to watch and be sober. I gave free reins to sin; I sinned against the light of the Word and the goodness of God; I have grieved the Spirit, and He is gone; I tempted the devil, and he has come to me; I have provoked God to anger, and He has left me; I have so hardened my heart that I _cannot_ turn.
Then said Christian to the Interpreter, "But are there no hopes for such a man as this?" "Ask him," said the Interpreter.
CHRIS. Then said Christian, "Is there no hope, but you must be kept in the iron cage of despair?"
CHRIS. Why? the Son of the Blessed is very pitiful.
MAN. I have crucified Him to myself afresh. I have despised His person. I have despised His holiness; I have counted His blood an unholy thing; I have shown contempt to the Spirit of mercy. Therefore I have shut myself out of all the promises of God, and there now remains to me nothing but threatenings, dreadful threatenings, fearful threatenings of certain judgment and fiery anger, which shall devour me as an enemy.
CHRIS. For what did you bring yourself into this condition?