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 solitarily by himself, he espied one afar off, crossing over the field to meet him; and their hap was to meet, just as they were crossing the way to 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 knowledge 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. Worldly Wiseman. How now, good fellow, whither away after this burthened manner? Christian. A burthened manner, indeed, as ever I think poor creature had! And whereas you ask 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 burthen. Worldly Wiseman. Hast thou a wife and children? Christian. Yes; but I am so laden with this burthen, that I cannot take pleasure in them as formerly; methinks I am as if I had none.* Worldly Wiseman. Wilt thou hearken to me if I give thee counsel? Christian. If it be good, I will; for I stand in need of good counsel. Worldly Wiseman. I would advise thee then, that thou with all speed get thyself rid of thy burthen; 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. Christian. That is that which I seek for, even to be rid of this heavy burthen; but get it off myself I cannot; nor is there a man in my own 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 burthen. Worldly Wiseman. Who bade thee go this way to be rid of thy burthen? * 1 Cor. vii. 29. Christian. A man that appeared to me to be a very great and honorable person; his name, as I remember, is Evangelist. Worldly Wiseman. Beshrew him for his counsel. There is not in 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 counsel. Thou hast met with something, as I perceive, already; I see the dirt of the Slough of Despond is upon thee; but that slough is the beginning of the sorrows that 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, sword, lions, dragons, darkness, and, in a word, death, and what not. These things are certainly true, having been confirmed by many testimonies. And why should a man so carelessly cast away himself, by giving heed to a stranger? Christian. Why, sir, this burthen on 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 my way, if so be I can also meet with deliverance from my burthen. Worldly Wiseman. How camest thou by the burthen at first? Christian. By reading this book in my hand. Worldly Wiseman. I thought so; and it has 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. Christian. I know what I would obtain: it is ease for my heavy burthen. Worldly Wiseman. 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. Yes, and the remedy is at hand. Besides, I will add, that, instead of these dangers thou shalt meet with much safety, friendship, and content. Christian. Pray, sir, open the secret to me. Worldly Wiseman. Why, in yonder village, (the vil *Such is the frame of the heart of a young Christian. Note this.-Mr. Worldly Wiseman does not like that men should be serious in reading the Bible. lage is named Morality,) there dwells a gentleman whose name is Legality, a very judicious man, (and a man of very good name,) that has skill to help men off with such burthens as thine is, from their shoulder,* yea, to my knowledge, he hath done a great deal of good this way; and besides, he hath skill to cure those that are somewhat crazed in their wits with their burthen. To him, as I said, thou mayest 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 mayest be eased of thy burthen; and if thou art not minded to go back to thy former habitation, as indeed I would not wish thee; thou mayest send for thy wife and children to thee to this village, where there are houses now standing empty, one of which thou mayest have at a reasonable rate: provision is there also cheap and good; and that which will make thy life more happy is, to be sure, there thou shalt live by honest neighbors, in credit and good fashion. Now was Christian somewhat at a stand; but presently he concluded, If this be true which this gentleman hath said, my wisest course is to take his advice:† and with that he thus farther spake: "Sir, which is my way to this honest man's house?" Wordly Wiseman. Do you see yonder‡ high hill ? Worldly Wiseman. 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 way side, did hang so much over, that Christian was afraid to venture farther, lest the hill should fall on his head: wherefore there he stood still, and knew not what to do. Also his burthen 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 burned: here therefore he sweat and did quake *Note this.-The Worldly Wiseman prefers morality before the strait gate. Observe, how Christian is ensnared by the words of the Worldly Wise-one. + Mount Sinai. Well may the Christian tremble, and fear lest Mount Sinai should fall on his head, when he seeks to be rid of his burthen any other way than that pointed out by Evangelist. Exod. xix. 16. 18. 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 up to him, he looked upon him with a severe and dreadful countenance, and thus began to reason with Christian. "What dost thou here, Christian?" said he. At which words, Christian knew not what to answer; 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? Christian. Yes, dear sir, I am the man. Evangelist. Did not I direct thee the way to the little wicket-gate? Christian. Yes, dear sir. Evangelist. How is it then that thou art so quickly turned aside? For thou art now out of the way. Christian. I met with a gentleman so soon as I had got over the slough of Despond, who persuaded me that I might, in the village before me, find a man that could take off my burthen. Evangelist. What was he? Christian. He looked like a gentleman, and talked much to me, and got me at last to yield; so I came hither; but when I beheld this hill, and how it hangs over the way, I suddenly made a stand, lest it should fall on my head. Evangelist. What said that gentleman to you? Christian. Why, he asked me whither I was going. And I told him. Evangelist. And what said he then? Christian. He asked me if I had a family. And I told him. 'But (said I) I am so loaded with the burthen that is on my back, that I cannot take pleasure in them as formerly.' Evangelist. And what said he then? Christian. He bade me with speed get rid of my burthen: and I told him it was ease that I sought: And (said I) I am therefore going to yonder gate, to receive farther direction how I might get to the place of deliverance. So he said that he would show me a better way, and short, not so attended with difficulties, as the way, sir, that you set me in; which way, said he, will direct you to a gentleman's house that has skill to take off these burthens: So I believed him, and turned out of that way into this, if hap *Heb. xii. 21. pily I might be soon eased of my burthen. But when I came to this place, and beheld things as they are, I stopped for fear (as I said) of danger: But I now know not what to do.* Evangelist. Then stand still a little, that I may show thee the words of God. So he stood trembling. Then said Evangelist: See that you refuse not him that speaketh;† for, if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven. He said moreover, "Now the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." He also did thus apply them: Thou art the man that art running into this misery; thou hast begun to reject the counsel of the most High, and to draw back thy foot from the way of peace, even almost to the hazarding of thy perdition. Then Christian fell down at his feet as dead, crying, Wo is me, for I am undone! At the sight of which Evangelist caught him by the right hand, saying, " All manner of sin and blasphemies shall be forgiven unto men; be not faithless but believing." Then did Christian again a little revive, and stood up trembling, as at first, before Evangelist. Then Evangelist proceeded, saying, "Give more earnest heed to the things that I shall tell thee of. I will now show thee who it was that deluded thee, and who it was also to whom he sent thee. The man that met thee is one Worldly Wiseman, and rightly he is so called; partly because he savoreth only of the doctrine of this world; (therefore he always goes to the town of Morality to church;) and partly because he loveth that doctrine best; for it saveth him from the cross; and because he is of this carnal temper, therefore he seeketh to prevent my ways, though right. Now there are three things in this man's counsel, that thou must utterly abhor: 1. His turning thee out of the way.-2. His laboring to render the cross odious to thee.-3. And his setting thy feet in that way that leadeth unto the administration of death. "First, thou must abhor his turning thee out of the way: yea, and thine own consenting thereto; because this is to reject the counsel of God, for the sake of the counsel of a * When Christians unto carnal men give ear, Ø 1 John 4, 5. + Heb. x. 29. Gal, vi. 42. |