{The Pilgrim's Progress, Second Part, in which Christian's wife, Christiana, follows her husband on a pilgrimage to the Celestial City, together with their two sons:}
So when they were come again into the house and supper as yet was not ready, CHRISTIANA again desired that the INTERPRETER would either show or tell of some other things that are profitable.
Then the INTERPRETER began, and said, "The fatter the sow is, the more she desires the mire; the fatter the ox is, the more gamesomely he goes to the slaughter; and the more healthy the lusty man is, the more prone he is unto evil.
"There is a desire in women to go neat and fine; and it's a comely thing to be adorned with that which in God's sight is of great price.
"'Tis easier watching a night or two, than to sit up a whole year together: so 'tis easier for one to begin to profess well, than to hold out as he should to the end.
"Every shipmaster, when in a storm, will willingly cast that overboard that is of the smallest value in the vessel. But who will throw the best out first? none but he that fears not God.
"One leak will sink a ship: and one sin will destroy a sinner.
"He that forgets his friend, is ungrateful unto him: but he that forgets his Saviour, is unmerciful to himself.
"He that lives in sin, and looks for happiness hereafter, is like him that sows cockle, and thinks to fill his barn with wheat or barley.
"If a man would live well, let him fetch his last day to him, and make it always his company keeper.
"Whispering and change of thoughts, prove that sin is in the world.
"If the world, which God sets light by, is counted a thing of that worth with men; what is heaven, which God commends!
"If the life that is attended with so many troubles is so loath to be let go by us, what is the life above!
"Everybody will cry up the goodness of men; but who is there that is, as he should be, affected with the goodness of God?
"We seldom sit down to meat, but we eat and leave; so there is in Jesus Christ more merit and righteousness than the whole world has need of."
When the INTERPRETER had done, he takes them out into his garden again, and had them to a tree, whose inside was all rotten and gone, and yet it grew and had leaves. Then said MERCY, "What means this?"
"This tree," said he, "whose outside is fair, and whose inside is rotten, it is to which many may be compared that are in the garden of God; who, with their mouths, speak high in behalf of God, but indeed will do nothing for him; whose leaves are fair, but their heart good for nothing but to be tinder for the devil's tinderbox."
Now supper was ready, the table spread, and all things set on the board. So they sat down, and did eat, when one had given thanks. And the INTERPRETER did usually entertain those that lodged with him with music at meals; so the minstrels played. There was also one that did sing; and a very fine voice he had. His song was this:
"The Lord is only my support
And he that doth me feed:
How can I, then want anything
Where of I stand in need?"
John Bunyan (1628-1688, English Separatist preacher)