The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

FAITHFUL: "This brings to my mind that chapter of Moses, by which he
describes the clean animals for eating. They are such as part the hoof
and chew the cud — not which part the hoof only, or which chew the
cud only. The rabbit chews the cud — but yet is unclean, because it does
not part the hoof. And this truly resembles Talkative; he chews the cud
— that is, he seeks knowledge, he chews upon the Word. But he does not
divide the hoof — that is, he does not part with the way of sinners. He is
therefore unclean.”
CHRISTIAN: "For all that I know, you have spoken the true Gospel sense
of those texts. And I will add another thing: Paul calls some men, yes,
and those great talkers too, 'sounding brass and tinkling cymbals.' They
are 'things without life, giving sound.' Things without life, that is —
without the true faith and grace of the Gospel. Consequently, they are
those who shall never be placed in the kingdom of Heaven among those
who are the children of life — though their talk is, as if it were, the
tongue or voice of an angel."
FAITHFUL: "Well, I was not so fond of his company at first — but I am
sick of it now! What shall we do to get rid of him?"
CHRISTIAN: "Take my advice, and do as I tell you, and you shall find
that he will soon be sick of your company too — unless God touches his
heart, and converts it."
FAITHFUL: "What would you have me to do?"
CHRISTIAN: "Why, go to him, and enter into some serious discourse
about the power of religion. Then ask him plainly (when he has
Page
120 of 253