As there are trees and herbs that are wholly right and noble, fit indeed for the vineyard, so there are also their semblance, but wild; not right, but ignoble.  There is the grape, and the wild grape; the vine, and the wild vine; the rose, and the canker-rose; flowers, and wild flowers; the apple, and the wild apple, which we call the crab.  Now, fruit from these wild things, however they may please the children to play with, yet the prudent and grave count them of little or no value.  There are also in the world a generation of professors that, notwithstanding their profession, are wild by nature; yea, such as were never cut out or off from the wild olive-tree, nor ever yet planted into the good olive-tree.  Now these can bring forth nothing but wild olive-berries; they cannot bring forth fruit unto God.  Such are all those that have lightly taken up a profession, and crept into the vineyard without a new birth and the blessing of regeneration.

The porch [Footnote:  This passage is from “The House of the Forest of Lebanon,” which Bunyan regarded as a type of the church in her persecuted state.] is but the entrance of the house, whither many go that yet step not into the house, but make their retreat from thence; but it is because they are non-residents:  they only come to see; or else, if they pretended more, it was not from the heart.  “They went out from us,” said John, “but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us; but they went out that it might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

And forasmuch as this porch was fifty cubits long, men may take many a step straightforward therein, and be but in the porch yet; even as we have seen men go as one would think till they are out of view, in the porch of this church in the wilderness; but presently you have them without the door again.

True, this porch was made of pillars; and so to every one, at first entrance, it seemed the power of the place.  The church in the wilderness also is so builded, that men may see that it is ordained for defence.  Men also, at their first offer to step over the threshold there, with mouth profess that they will dwell as soldiers there.  But words are but wind:  when they see the storm coming, they will take care to shift for themselves.  This house or church in the wilderness must see to itself for all them.

The church also in the wilderness, even in her porch or first entrance into it, is full of pillars—­apostles, prophets, and martyrs of Jesus.  There also hang up the shields that the old warriors have used, and there are plastered upon the walls the brave achievements which they have done.  There also are such encouragements there for those that stand, that one would think none that came thither with pretence to serve there, would for very shame attempt to go back again; and yet not to their credit be it spoken, they will forsake the place without blushing, yea, and plead for this their so doing.