flough that was in the midft of the plain, and they being heedlefs, did both fall fuddenly into the bog. The name of the flough was Defpond. Here therefore they wallowed for a time, being grievously bedaubed with dirt; and Chriftian becaufe of the burden that was on his back, began to fink in the mire.

Pli. Then faid Pliable, ah! neighbour, Chriftian, where are you now.

Chr. Truly, faid Christian, I do not know.

Pli. At this Pliable began to be offended, and angrily faid to his fellow, is this the happiness you have told me all this while of? If we have fuch ill speed at our first fetting out, what may we expect betwixt this and our journey's end?May I get out again with my life, you shall poffefs the brave country alone for me. And with

that he gave a defperate ftruggle or two, and got out of the mire on that fide of the flough which was next to his own houfe; fo away he went, and Chriftian faw him no more.

Wherefore Chriftian was left to tumble in the flough of 1)efpond alone; but ftill he endeavoured to ftruggle to that fide of the flough that was fartheft from his own houfe, 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 whofe name was Help, came to him, and asked him, What he did there?

Chr. Sir, faid Chriftian, I was bid to go this way, by a man called Evangelift, who directed The alfo to yonder gate, that I might efcape the

to come. And as I was going thither, I fell

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Help. But why did you not look for the fteps.

The promises.

Chr. Fear followed me fo hard, that I fled the next way, and fell in.

Help. Then, faid he, give me thy hand. So he him his hand, and he drew him out, and fet gave him upon found ground, and bade him go on his -way, Pfalm xl. 2.

Then I stepped to him that plucked him out, and faid, Sir, wherefore, fince over this place is the way from the city of Destruction to yonder gate, is it, that this place is not mended, that poor travellers might go thither with more fecurity? And he faid unto me, What makes This miry flough is fuch a place the lough of

as cannot be mended: it is the

defcent whither the fcum and filth

Defpond.

that attends conviction for fin doth continually run, and therefore it is called the Slough of Def pand; for ftill as the finner is awakened about his loft condition, there arife in his foul many fears and doubts, and difcouraging apprehenfions, which all of them get together, and fettle in this place and this is the reafon of the badness of this ground.

It is not the pleasure of the King that this place fhould remain fo bad, Ifaiah xxxv. 3, 4. his labourers alfo have, by the directions of his Majefty's furveyors, been for above thefe fixteen. hundred years employed about this patch of ground, if perhaps it might have been mended; yea, and to my knowledge, faid he, here have been fwallowed up at least twenty thousand cartloads; yea millions of wholefome inftructions

Part I. that have at all feafons been brought from all places of the King's dominions, (and they that can tell, fay, They are the best materials to make good ground of the place,) if fo be it might have been mended; but it is the flough of Defpond ftill; and fo will be when they have done what they can.

The promifes of forgiveness and acceptance to

True, there are, by the direction of the Lawgiver, certain good and fubftantial fteps, placed even through the very midst of this flough; but at fuch time as this place doth much spue out its filth, as life by faith it doth against change of weather, in Chrift.

thefe fteps are hardly feen, or if they be, men, thro' the dizzinefs of their heads, ftep befides; and then they are bemired to purpofe, notwithstanding the fteps be there; but the ground is good when they are once got in at the gate, Sam. xii. 23.

Now I faw in my dream, that by this time Pliable was got home to his house. So his neighbours came to vifit him; and fome of them called him wife man for coming back, and some of them called him fool for hazarding himself with Chriftian, others again did mock at his cowardlinefs; faying, Surely fince you began to venture, I would not have been fo base to have given out for a few difficulties: So Pliable fat fneak. ing among them. But at laft 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.

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all himself, he efpied one afar off, croffing over the field to meet him, and their hap was to meet juft as they were croffing the way to each other. The gentleman's name that met him was Mr. Worldly Wifeman, he dwelt in the town of Carnal Policy, a very great town, and alfo hard by from whence Chriftian came. This man, then, meeting with Chriftian, and having fome knowledge of him, (for Chriftian's fetting forth from the city of Destruction, was much noised abroad, h; not only in the town where he dwelt, but alfo it began to be the town-talk in fome other 2 places), Mr. Worldly Wifeman, therefore, havhering fome guefs of him, by beholding his laborious going, by obferving his fighs and groans, and the like, began thus to enter into fome talk with Chriftian.

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World. How now, good fellow, whither away after this burdened manner?

Chr. A burdened manner indeed, as ever I think creature had? And whereas you ask poor me, 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.

World. Haft thou a wife and children?

Chr. Yes; but I am fo laden with this burden, that I cannot take that pleasure in them as formerly: methinks I am as if I had none, I Cor. vii. 29.

World. Wilt thou hearken to me if I give thee counfel?

Chr. If it be good I will; for I ftand in need of good counfel.

Part I. World. I would advife thee then, that thou with all fpeed get thyfelf rid of thy burden; for thou wilt never be fettled in thy mind till then; nor canft thou enjoy the benefits of the bleflings which God hath bestowed upon thee till then.

Chr. That is that which I feek for, even to be rid of this heavy burden; but to get it off myself 1 cannot: nor is there a man in our country that can take it off my fhoulders: therefore I am going this way, as I told you, that I may be rid of my burden.

World. 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 perfon: His name, as I remember, is Evangelift.

World. Befhrew him for his counfel! there is not a more dangerous and troublesome way in the world, than is that unto which he hath directed thee; and that thou shalt find, if thou wilt be ruled by his counfel. Thou haft met with fomething (as I perceive) already: for I fee the dirt of the flough of Defpond is upon thee; but that flough is the beginning of the forrows that do at tend those that go in that way. Hear me, I am older than thou: Thou art like to meet with, on the way which thou goeft, wearisomeness, painfulnefs, hunger, perils, nakedness, sword, lions, dragons, darkness, and in a word, death, and what not? These things are certainly true, 'having been confirmed by many teftimonies. And why fhould a man fo carelessly caft away himby giving heed to a stranger?