The man answered, I am what I was not once.
Christian: What were you once?
Man: The man said, I was once a fair and flourishing professor, both in mine own eyes, and also in the eyes of others I once was, as I thought, fair for the Celestial City, and had then even joy at the thoughts that I should get there.
Christian: Well, but what are you now?
Man: I am now a man of despair, and am shut up in this Iron Cage. I cannot get out; O, now I cannot.
Christian: But how did you come into this condition?
Man: I left off to watch, and be sober. I laid the reins upon the neck of my lusts. I sinned against the light of the Word and the goodness of God. I have grieved the Spirit, and He is gone. I tempted the devil, and he is come to me. I have provoked God to anger, and he has left me. I have so hardened my heart that I cannot repent.
Then said Christian to the Interpreter, But is there no hopes for such a man as this? Ask him, said the Interpreter.
Christian: Then said Christian, Is there no hope but you must be kept in the Iron Cage of Despair?
Man: No, none at all.
Christian: Why? The Son of the Blessed is very pitiful.
Man: I have crucified Him to myself afresh. I have despised His Person. I have despised His Righteousness. I have counted His Blood an unholy thing. I have done despite to the Spirit of Grace. Therefore I have shut myself out of all the promises, and there now remains to me nothing but threatenings, dreadful threatenings, fearful threatenings of certain judgment and fiery Indignation, which shall devour me as an adversary.
Christian: For what did you bring yourself into this condition?
Man: For the lusts, pleasures, and profits of this world; in the enjoyment of which, I did them promise myself much delight: But now every one of those things also bite me, and gnaw me, like a burning worm.
Christian But can you not now repent and turn?
Man: God has denied me repentance. His Word gives me no encouragement to believe; yea, Himself has shut me up in this Iron Cage. Nor can all the men in the world let me out. O Eternity! Eternity! How shall I grapple with the misery that I must meet with in Eternity!
Interpreter: Then said the Interpreter to Christian, Let this man's misery be remembered by you, and be an everlasting caution to you.
Christian: Well said Christian, this is fearful; God help me to watch and be sober, and to pray that I may shun the cause of this man's misery. Sir, is it not time for me to go on my way now?
Interpreter: Tarry till I shall show you one thing more, and you shall go on your way
"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 6:23