Now I saw in my dream, that, by this time, Pliable PLIABLE IS VISITED BY HIS 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 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. WORLDLY WISE CHRISTIAN. Now as Christian was walking solitarily by himself, he espied one afar off, come crossing over the field to meet him; and their hap was to meet MAN MEETS WITH 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? Chr. A burdened manner indeed, as ever, I think, poor creature had! And whereas you ask me, Whither away? I tell you, Sir, I am going to TALK BETWEEN MR. WORLDLY CHRISTIAN. yonder Wicket-Gate before me; for there, as I am informed, I shall be put into 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.9 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, WORLDLY WISE TO CHRISTIAN. that thou with all speed get thyself rid MAN'S COUNSEL of thy burden; for thou wilt never be settled in thy mind till then; nor canst thou enjoy the benefits of the blessings which God hath bestowed upon 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 honourable person; his name, as I remember, is Evangelist. 9 1 Cor. vii. 29. Wor. Beshrew him for his counsel! there is not a more dangerous and troublesome way MR. WORLDLY 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 some thing, 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? THE FRAME OF Chr. Why, Sir, this burden upon my back is more terrible to me than are all these 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. Wor. How camest thou by the burden at first? HE DOES NOT 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 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. 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. HE PREFERS FORE THE 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 way. Aye, and besides, he MORALITY BEhath skill to cure those that are somewhat crazed in their wits with their 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 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 C 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. CHRISTIAN SNARED Now was Christian somewhat at a BY MR. WORLDLY stand; but presently he concluded, if WISEMAN'S WORDS. this be true which this gentleman hath said, my wisest course is to take his advice; and with that he thus further spake. Chr. Sir, which is my way to this honest man's house? Wor. Do you see yonder high hill? Chr. Yes, very well. Wor. By that hill you must go; and MOUNT SINAI. 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 CHRISTIAN AFRAID that side of it that was next the wayside did hang so much over, that 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 1 Exod. xix. 16, 18. Heb. xii. 21. |