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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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i " Then ^ atd Charity to Christian , Hs >* e you a family ? Are ye * i a uaaiiried man ? " ** Chr . I have a ? yife and four small children . * " Char . And why did not you bring them along with you ? * ' Chr . Tfcen Christian wept , and said , Oh ! how wittingly would I have done it \ But they wre all of them utterly averse to my going on pilgrimage . < c Char . But you should have talked to them , and have endeavoured to shew them the danger of being left behind .
" Chr . So I did ; and told them also what God had shewn to me of the destruction of our city ; but I seemed to them as one that mocked , and they believed « ae not * " Char . And did you pray to God , that he would bless your counsel to them ?
" Chr . Yes , and that with much affection ; for you must think my wife and poor children were rery deaf unto me . " Char . But did you tell them of your own sorrow , and fear of destruction ? For I suppose that destruction was visible enough to you .
" Chr . Yes , over and over and over . They might also see my fears in my countenance , in my tears , and also in my trembling , under the apprehension of the judgment that did hang over our heads ; but all was not sufficient to prevail with them to come with me .
* ' Char . But what could they say for themselves , why they came not ? " Chr . Why , my wife was afraid of losing this world , and my children were given to the foolish delights of youth ; so what by one thing and what by another , they left me to wander in this manner alone /'
What was Christian to do } It would have been extreme folly , however great hk attachment , to remain and perish with them . The resolution he adopted , and in which he persisted , by no means justly exposes him to Mr . Dunlop ' s charge of selfishness and
hard-heartedness . As to there being " little or no display of charity , bene ^ licence , or even benevolence , " it should be remembered , that Christian was in humble life , and is presented by Mr . Bunyan as an example chiefly for those
who are placed by providence in that condition . He possessed not thp means of displaying : that beneficence which consists in supplying the worldly necessities of the indigent . On various occasions , however , he urged others to seek for that happiness which be was pursuing . , Surely there is some bene-
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volence in thi * . When Obstinate and Pliaijle followed him with a view % & bring him back , he said all he could to prevail on them to go with hinv , that they might escape the evils which
threatened their native place , and be * come candidates for the glories of Mount Zion . On bis journey he sees three men fast asleep with fetters upon their heels , Simple , Sloth and
Presumption . Christian feels compassion for them , endeavours to awake them , and kindly offers to help them off with their irons . Yet our critic represents ** his struggles and exertions to be wholly selfish "
In the persecutions which befel Christian and Faithful in Vanity Fair , they are described as €€ patient , not rendering railing for railing , but , contrariwise , blessing , and giving good words for bad , and kindness for inju-, lies done . " Yet , ' * with the exception of faith and perseverance , Christian is a mere negative character without one gfcod quality to recommend him . " When he and his companion were invited by Deiuas to go a little out of the way to share in the productions of
a silver mine , Hopeful being disposed to make the trial , was prevented by Christian , who was awaxe of the danger of turning aside from the right path for worldly gain . Other instances
of thi $ Pilgrim ' s displaying virtues suitable to the name he bore , might be produced , * but these ate sufficient to shew the injustice of Mr . Dunlop ' s censure . The character of Christian .
as designed by the author , is that of a man in common life , sincerely engaged in a course of Christian faith and holiness , which he generally pursues , with benevolent wishes that others would 1 *>
persuaded to adopt the same means of providing for their peace and salvation . Subject , however * to the imperfection * and infirmities of human nature , and not entirely free from the habits he had formerly contracted , he is represented as chargeable with occasional deviations , which bring him into great dangers and perplexing difficulties . These convince him of his want of
watchfulness and caution , and induce him to retrace his steps to the right way , wherein he finall y persevere , till he haa obtained the object of his ardei > t exertions . Should you , Mr . Editor , deem these observations on the character of Chris-
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The Character of Chr& 4 ia # 9 in Mmgm * , Pilgrim ' s Progress . 17
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VOfc . XVI . D
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Jan. 2, 1821, page 17, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2496/page/17/
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