The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

Him the slip, and return again to me. If you do so also, then all shall be
well for you.”
CHRISTIAN: "I have sworn my allegiance to Him. How, then, can I go
back, and not be hanged as a traitor?"
APOLLYON: "You did the same to me, and yet I am willing to overlook
that — if now you will yet turn again and come back.”
CHRISTIAN: "What I promised to you was from my youthful
foolishness. Besides, the King under whose banner I now stand is able
to absolve me — yes, and to pardon my former compliance with you.
Besides, O destroying Apollyon, to speak the truth, I like His service,
His wages, His servants, His government, His company, and His
country, better than yours. Therefore, cease trying to persuade me
further. I am His servant, and I will follow Him!"
APOLLYON: "Consider again, what you are likely to meet with along the
way that you are now going. You know that, for the most part, His
servants come to a wretched end, because they are transgressors
against me and my ways. How many of them have been put to shameful
deaths! And, besides, you count His service better than mine — but He
never delivers any who serve Him out of my hands. But as for me, how
many times, as all the world very well knows, have I delivered those
who have faithfully served me from Him — either by power or fraud.
Just so, I will deliver you."
CHRISTIAN: "His refraining to deliver His servants at present, is on
purpose to test their love — whether they will cleave to Him to the end.
You say that they will come to a wretched ending — but in fact, it is most
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