vision is cheap and good, where there are houses that stand empty to be had at a very reasonable rate, where Christian can get good and comfortable garments, and withal fashionable, instead of those rags that he has on his back; where also he can get rid of his burden, for Mr. Legality hath great skill to take off the Pilgrim's burdens, and also to cure those that are somewhat crazed in their wits on account of them. He hath also a pretty young man to his son, Mr. Civility, who can take off a burden, if need be, as well as the old gentleman; and moreover, to this very respectable village Christian can remove his wife and children, and so not be separated from them; and Mr. Worldly Wiseman would have him do this by all means, and so not go back to the City of Destruction at all. Now, is not all this very pleasant, a most comfortable prospect, rather than to forsake all that he hath, and go on in a pilgrimage began with so many dangers? Here you see that Christian need no longer be in fear on account of the City of Destruction, for the town of Morality would keep him safe, even if that Sodom, which Mr. Worldly Wiseman would certainly not advise him any longer to live in, should be burned up with fire on account of the sins of its inhabitants. Nevertheless, the comfort and respectability of this place would not have tempted Christian, had it not been for the advantage which Mr. Worldly Wiseman had over him, because of his great desire and eagerness to be rid of his burden. The very first thing, when Mr. Worldly Wiseman met him, and asked him whither he was going after this burdened manner, groaning and sighing so heavily, Christian made answer that he was going to get rid of his burden, and for that purpose was going to the Wicket Gate. Now see the advice of Mr. Worldly Wiseman, and how it chimes in with the soul's desire for comfort rather than holiness. Christian was very impatient to get rid of his burden. Well, said Mr. Worldly Wiseman, wilt thou hearken to me, if I give thee counsel? Certainly, said Christian, I stand in great need of good counsel. Well then, said Mr. Worldly Wiseman, I would advise thee that with all speed thou get rid of thy burden; for thou wilt never be settled in thy mind till then; nor canst thou enjoy the benefit of the blessings which God hath bestowed upon thee till then. Get rid of thy bur- This was counsel indeed! den, get rid of thy burden! of the teachings of morality, this the perilous voice of all teachers that do not point the sinner to Christ, and his atoning sacrifice. Get rid of thy burden, it is a foolish thing; secure thy comfort by going to the town of Morality, and placing thyself under the pastoral care of that very judicious man and civil gentleman, Mr. Legality. Evangelist had directed Christian to Christ; he had not told him to get rid of his burden, but to go to Christ, and Christ Now that was good would remove it in good time. counsel, all the counsel that Christian needed; but still he was very impatient to be rid of his burden, and so Mr. Worldly Wiseman's counsels pointed to the same thing, and with great ingenuity he tried to prejudice Christian against Evangelist, and the strait and narrow way. Mr. Worldly Wiseman, and all his connections, dislike the atonement; the Cross of Christ is foolishness unto them, except to make signs with it, and put it on the roofs of their houses and the outside of their churches. In all likelihood Mr. Legality's own chapel, in that town of Morality, had a cross on the top of it; for so do men, who deny the atonement, cover up that denial by mingling the atonement and morality together, which answers the same purpose as denying it utterly; for if a man seeks to get rid of his burden by morality in part, he does not rest on the atonement at all. And just so, the men who hate the great truth of justification by faith, because that cuts off all worldly pride, and kills sin and self utterly, will often not avow that hatred plainly, but say that men must be justified by faith and works together; whereas, it is the blood of Christ alone, and no works, though a man had a universe full of them to present to God, that can cleanse the soul from sin. However, Mr. Worldly Wiseman was very plump and bold in his condemnation of Evangelist and his doctrine. "Beshrew him for his counsel! there is not a more dangerous and troublesome way in the world, than is that into which he hath directed thee; and that thou shalt find, if thou wilt be ruled by his counsel. Thou hast met with something, as I perceive, already, for I see the dirt of the Slough of Despond is upon thee; but that Slough is the beginning of the sorrows that do attend those that go on in that way. Hear me, I am older than thou; thou art like to meet with in the way which thou goest, wearisomeness, painfulness, hunger, perils, nakedness, swords, lions, dragons, darkness, and in a word, death and what not. These things are certainly true, having been confirmed by many testimonies. And should a man so carelessly cast away himself by giving heed to a stranger?" Mr. Worldly Wiseman had read his Bible to some purpose, after all, for he almost gives Paul's exact catalogue of the evils he had met with in his pilgrimage. But Paul said, None of these things move me, and these things are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed. Mr. Worldly Wiseman could understand the catalogue of evils, and he thought to frighten Christian with them; but he could not understand the glory, and he had not calculated the power of genuine conviction of sin, to make a man despise death itself for the sake of deliverance from it. See now, says Bunyan in the margin, the frame of the heart of a young Christian. Why, sir, said Christian, this burden upon my back is more terrible to me than are all those things which you have mentioned; nay, methinks I care not what I meet with in the way, if so be I can also meet with deliverance from my burden. How camest thou by thy burden at first? By reading this book in my hand, said Christian. And now, Mr. Worldly Wiseman goes further, and shows, as Bunyan says in the margin, that he does not like that men should be serious in reading the Bible. I thought so, said he, and it is happened unto thee as to other weak men, who, meddling with things too high for them, do suddenly fall into thy distractions; which distractions do not only unman men, as thine I perceive have done thee, but they run them upon desperate ventures, to obtain they know not what. This conversation of Mr. Worldly Wiseman is almost the exact counterpart of the dealings of those teachers who deny the Divinity and Atonement of Christ, and the truth of everlasting punishment. One of the most celebrated of those teachers in his day had been himself in early life under deep conviction of sin, had set out from the City of Destruction, but had turned into the town of Morality, and established himself as a preacher there. He used to say to those whom he ever saw in distress on account of Christian's burden, or Evangelist's counsel, I have been that way myself, and know all about it; I have passed through all that experience, and know that it is all nonsense. These distresses on account of sin are pure fanaticism, they are unmanly superstitions, which pleasant company, exercise and recreation will drive away. Why wilt thou seek for ease this way of the Cross, said Mr. Worldly Wiseman, 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; beside, I will add that instead of these dangers thou shalt meet with much safety, friendship and content. Now was Christian snared by these counsels, and taking Mr Worldly Wiseman's direction to Mr. |