he asked them, saying, Where did you lie the last night?  They said, With the Shepherds upon the Delectable Mountains.  He asked them then, If they had not of them Shepherds a Note of direction for the way?  They answered, Yes.  But did you, said he, when you was 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, that 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.

  “Come hither, you that walk along the way,
  See how the Pilgrims fare that go astray;
  They catched are in an intangling Net,
  ’Cause they good Counsel lightly did forget;
  ’Tis true they rescu’d were, but yet you see
  They’re scourg’d to boot:  Let this your caution be.”

Now after a while, they perceived afar off one coming softly and alone all along the High-way to meet them.  Then said Christian to his fellow, Yonder is a man with his back toward Sion, 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 unto them.  His name was Atheist, and he asked them whither they were going?

Chr. We are going to Mount Zion.

Then Atheist fell into a very great Laughter.

Chr. What is the meaning of your Laughter?

Atheist. I laugh to see what ignorant persons you are, to take upon you so tedious a Journey, and yet are like to have nothing but your travel for your paines.

Chr. Why, man?  Do you think we shall not be received?

Atheist. Received!  There is no such place as you dream of in all this World.

Chr. But there is in the World to come.

Atheist. When I was at home in mine own Country, I heard as you now affirm, and from that hearing went out to see, and have been seeking this City this twenty years; but find no more of it than I did the first day I set out.

Chr. We have both heard and believe that there is such a place to be found.

Atheist. Had not I when at home believed, I had not come thus far to seek; but finding none, (and yet I should, had there been such a place to be found, for I have gone to seek it further than you) I am going back again, and will seek to refresh myself with the things that I then cast away, for hopes of that which I now see is not.