Then said Christian to his fellow, Now do I see myself in an error.  Did not the Shepherds bid us beware of the Flatterer?  As is the saying of the wise man, so we have found it this day:  “A man that flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet.”

Hope. They also gave us a note of directions about the way, for our more sure finding thereof; but therein we have also forgotten to read, and not kept ourselves from the paths of the destroyer.  Here David was wiser than we, for, saith he, “Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.”  Thus they lay bewailing themselves in the net.  At last they espied a Shining One coming toward them with a whip of small cords in his hand.  When he was come to the place where they were, he asked them whence they came, and what they did there.  They told him that they were poor pilgrims going to Zion, but were led out of their way by a black man clothed in white, who bid us, said they, follow him, for he was going thither too.  Then said he with a whip, It Flatterer, a false apostle, that hath transformed himself into an angel of light.  So he rent the net, and let the men out.  Then said he to them, Follow me, that I may set you in your way again.  So he led them back to the way which they had left to follow the Flatterer.  Then he asked them, saying, Where did you lie the last night?  They said, With the Shepherds upon the Delectable Mountains.  He asked them if they had not a note of directions for the way.  They answered, Yes.  But did you not, said he, when you were at a stand, pluck out and read your note?  They answered, No.  He asked them, Why?  They said they forgot.  He asked, moreover, if the Shepherds did not bid them beware of the Flatterer.  They answered, Yes; but we did not imagine, said they, this fine-spoken man had been he.

Then I saw in my dream, that he commanded them to lie down; which when they did, he chastised them sore, to teach them the good way wherein they should walk; and as he chastised them, he said, “As many as I love I rebuke and chasten; be zealous, therefore, and repent.”  This done, he bids them go on their way, and take good heed to the other directions of the Shepherds.  So they thanked him for all his kindness, and went softly along the right way, singing: 

  Come hither, you that walk along the way,
  See how the pilgrims fare that go astray: 
  They catched are in an entangled net,
  ’Cause they good counsel lightly did forget. 
  ’Tis true they rescued were; but yet, you see,
  They’re scourg’d to boot:  let this your caution be.

Now, after awhile, they perceived afar off one coming softly and alone, all along the highway to meet them.  Then said Christian to his fellow, Yonder is a man with his back toward Zion, and he is coming to meet us.

Hope. I see him; let us take heed to ourselves now lest he should prove a flatterer also.  So he drew nearer and nearer, and at last came up to them.  His name was Atheist, and he asked them whither they were going.