Christian in trou. ble, seeks still to get farther from his own house. pond alone; but still he endeavoured to struggle to that side of the slough that was farthest from his own house, and next to the wicket-gate; the which he did, but could not get out because of the burden that was upon his back. But I beheld, in my dream, that a man came to him, whose name was Help, and asked him, What he did there? Sir, said Christian, I was bid to go this way by a man called Evangelist, who directed me also to yonder gate, that I might escape the wrath to come; and, as I was going thither, I fell in here. The promises. Help. But why did not you look for the steps? next way, and fell in. Then said he, Give me thine hand! So he gave him his hand, and he drew him out, and set him, upon sound ground, and bid him go on his way.* Help lifts him out. Then I stepped to him that plucked him out, and said, Sir, wherefore, since over this place is the way from the city of Destruction to yonder gate, is it that this plat is not mended, that poor travellers might go thither with more security? And he said unto me, This miry slough is such a place as cannot be mended: it is the descent whither the scum and filth that attends conviction for sin doth continually run; and therefore it is called the slough of Despond; for still as the sinner is awakened about his lost condition, there arise in his soul many fears and doubts, and discouraging apprehensions, which all of them get together, and settle in this place; and this is the reason of the badness of this ground. What makes the slough of Despond. It is not the pleasure of the King that this place should remain so bad:† his labourers also have, by the direction of his Majesty's surveyors, been for above these sixteen hundred years employed about this patch of ground, if perhaps it might have been mended: yea, and to my knowledge, said he, here have been swallowed up at least twenty thousand cart-loads, yea, millions, of wholesome instructions, that have at all seasons been brought from all places of the King's dominions, (and they that can tell, say they are the best materials to make good ground of the place,) if so be it might have been mended; but it is the slough of Despond still, and so will be, when they have done what they can. very The promise of for. giveness and acceptance to life, by faith in Christ. True, there are, by the direction of the Lawgiver, certain good and substantial steps placed even through the midst of this slough; but at such time as this place doth much spew out its filth, as it doth against change of weather, these steps are hardly seen; or, if they be, men, through the dizziness of their heads, step beside; and then they are bemired to purpose, notwithstanding the steps be there but the ground is good, when they are once got in at the gate. ‡ Pliable is visited by his neighbours. Now I saw in my dream, that, by this time, Pliable was got home to his house. So his neighbours came to visit him; and some of them called him wise man for coming back, and some called him fool for hazarding himself with Christian; others again did mock at his cowardliness, saying, Surely, since you began to venture, I would not have been so base as to have given out for a few difficulties. So Pliable sat • Psalm xl. 2. tIsaiah, xxxv. 3, 4, +1 Sam. xii. 23 Worldly Wiseman meets with Christian. sneaking among them. But at last he got more confidence; and then they all turned their tales, and began to deride poor Christian behind his back. And thus much concerning Pliable. Now as Christian was walking solitary by himself, he espied one afar off, come crossing over the field to meet him; and their hap was to meet just as they were crossing the way of each other. The gentleman's name that met him was Mr. Worldly Wiseman; he dwelt in the town of Carnal Policy, a very great town, and also hard by from whence Christian came. This man, then, meeting with Christian, and having some inkling of him, for Christian's setting forth from the city of Destruction was much noised abroad, not only in the town where he dwelt, but also it began to be the town-talk in some other places; Mr. Worldly Wiseman, therefore, having some guess of him, by beholding his laborious going, by observing his sighs and groans, and the like, began thus to enter into some talk with Christian. Wor. How now, good fellow; whither away after this burdened manner? Talk between Mr. Chr. A burdened manner indeed, as ever, I think, Worldly Wiseman poor creature had! And whereas you ask me, and Christian. Whither away? I tell you, sir, I am going to yonder wicket-gate before me; for there, as I am informed, I shall be put in a way to be rid of my heavy burden Wor. Hast thou a wife and children? Chr. Yes; but I am so laden with this burden, that I cannot take that pleasure in them as formerly; methinks I am as if I had none.* Wor. Wilt thou hearken to me, if I give thee counsel? Chr. If it be good, I will; for I stand in need of good counsel. Wor. I would advise thee, then, that with all speed get thyself Worldly Wise- rid of thy burden; for thou wilt never be settled in man's counsel to thy mind till then; nor canst thou enjoy the benefits of the blessings which God hath bestowed upon Christian. thee till then. Chr. That is that which I seek for, even to be rid of this heavy burden; but get it off myself I cannot; nor is there any man in our country that can take it off my shoulders; therefore am I going this way, as I told you, that I may be rid of my burden. Wor. Who bid thee go this way to be rid of thy burden? Chr. A man that appeared to me to be a very great and hon ourable person; his name, as I remember, is Evangelist. Wor. Beshrew him for his counsel! there is not a more danger 1 Cor. vii. 29. Mr. Worldly Wisa. man condemneth sel. ous and troublesome way in the world than is that Wor. How camest thou by the burden at first? The frame of the He does not like that men should be serious in reading Wor. I thought so; and it is happened unto thee as to other weak men, who, meddling with things too high for them, do suddenly fall into thy distraction; which distractions do not only unman men, (as thine I perceive have done thee,) but they run them upon desperate adventures, to obtain they know not what. the Bible. Chr. I know what I would obtain; it is ease for my heavy burden. Wor. But why wilt thou seek for ease this way, seeing so many dangers attend it, especially since (hadst thou but patience to hear me) I could direct thee to the obtaining of what thou desirest, without the dangers that thou, in this way, wilt run thyself into; yea, and the remedy is at hand. Besides, I will add, that, instead of these dangers, thou shalt meet with much safety, friendship, and content. Chr. Sir, I pray open this secret to me. Wor. Why, in yonder village, (the village is named Morality,) there dwells a gentleman, whose name is Legality, a very judicious man, and a man of a very good name, that has skill to help men off with such burdens as thine is from their shoulders; yea, to my knowledge, he hath done a great deal of good this He prefers Moraliway. Ay, and besides, he hath skill to cure those ty before the strait that are somewhat crazed in their wits with their gate. burdens. To him, as I said, thou mayst go and be helped presently. His house is not quite a mile from this place: and if he should not happen to be at home himself, he hath a pretty young man to his son, whose name is Civility, that can do it (to speak on) as well as the old gentleman himself. There, I say, thou mayst be eased of thy burden; and if thou art not minded to go back to thy former habitation, as indeed I would not wish thee, thou mayst send for thy wife and children to thee to this village, where there are houses now stand empty, one of which thou mayst have at a reasonable rate: provision is there also cheap and good; and that which will make thy life the more happy is, to be sure, there thou shalt live by honest neighbours, in credit and good fashion. Now was Christian somewhat at a stand; but by Mr. Worldly presently he concluded, if this be true which this Wiseman's words. gentleman hath said, my wisest course is to take his advice; and with that he thus farther spake. Christian snared Chr. Sir, which is my way to this honest man's house? Chr. Yes, very well. Mount Sinai. Christian afraid that Mount Sinai head. Wor. By that hill you must go; and the first house you come at is his. So Christian turned out of his way to go to Mr. Legality's house for help; but behold, when he was got now hard by the hill, it seemed so high, and also that side of it that was next the wayside did hang so much over, that would fall on his Christian was afraid to venture further, lest the hill should fall on his head: wherefore there he stood still, and wotted not what to do. Also his burden now seemed heavier to him than while he was in his way. There came also flashes of fire out of the hill, that made Christian afraid that he should be burnt;* here, therefore, he did sweat and quake for fear. And now he began to be sorry that he had taken Mr. Worldly Wiseman's counsel; and with that he saw Evangelist coming to meet him; at the sight also of whom he began to blush for shame. So Evangelist drew nearer and nearer, and, coming Evangelist findeth up to him, he looked upon him with a severe and Christian under dreadful countenance; and thus began to reason with Christian. Mount Sinai, What dost thou here, Christian? said he: at which words, Christian knew not what to answer. Evangelist reasons afresh with Chris tian. Wherefore at present he stood speechless-before him. Then said Evangelist farther, Art not thou the man that I found crying without the walls of the city of Destruction? Chr. Yes, dear sir, I am the man. Exod. xix. 16, 18. Heb. xii 21 |