worldly wise man. The Lord says, Strive to enter in at the strait gate, the gate to which I send thee; for strait is the gate that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. From this little wicket-gate, and from the way thereto, hath this wicked man turned thee, to the bringing of thee almost to destruction: hate, therefore, his turning thee out of the way, and abhor thyself for hearkening to him. "Secondly. Thou must abhor his laboring to render the cross odious unto thee; for thou art to prefer it before the treasures in Egypt. Besides, the King of Glory hath told thee, that he that will save his life, shall lose it; and, he that comes after him, and hates not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. I say, therefore, for a man to labor to persuade thee that that shall be thy death, without which, the Truth has said thou canst not have eternal life: this doctrine thou must abhor.

"Thirdly. Thou must hate his setting of thy feet in the way that leadeth to the ministration of death. And for this thou must consider to whom he sent thee, and also how unable that person was to deliver thee from thy burthen. He to whom thou wast sent for ease, being by name Legality, is the son of the bond woman which now is, and is in bondage with her children, and is, in a mystery, this Mount Sinai, which thou hast feared will fall on thy head. Now, if she with her children are in bondage, how canst thou expect by them to be made free? This Legality, therefore, is not able to set thee free from thy burthen. No man was as yet ever rid of his burthen by him; no, nor ever is like to be: ye cannot be justified by the works of the law; for by the deeds of the law no man living can be rid of his burthen; therefore Mr. Worldly Wiseman is an alien, and Mr. Legality a cheat. As for his son Civility, notwithstanding his simpering looks, he is but a hypocrite, and cannot help thee. Believe me, there is nothing in all this noise that thou hast heard of these sottish men, but a design to beguile thee of thy salvation, by turning thee from the way in which I have set thee."

After this Evangelist called aloud to the heavens for confirmation of what he had said: and with that there came words and fire out of the mountain under which poor Christian stood, that made the hair of his flesh stand up. The words were thus pronounced: "As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse. For it is written,

* Luke xii. 21.

† Matt. iv. 13, 14. Mark viii. 35.-John xii. 25.-Matt. x. 39.

Gal. iv. 21. 27.

Heb. xi. 25, 26.
Luke xiv. 26.

cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them."*

Now Christian looked for nothing but death, and began to cry out lamentably even cursing the time in which he met with Mr. Worldly Wiseman; still calling himself a thousand fools for hearkening to his counsel; he also was greatly ashamed to think that this gentleman's arguments, flowing only from the flesh, should have the prevalency with him as to cause him to forsake the right way. This done, he applied himself again to Evangelist in words and sense as follow:

Christian. Sir, what think you? Is there hope? May 1 now go back, and go up to the wicket-gate? Shall I not be abandoned for this, and sent back from thence ashamed? I am sorry I have hearkened to this man's counsel: but may my sins be forgiven?

Evangelist. Thy sin is very great; for by it thou hast committed two evils: thou hast forsaken the way that is good, to tread in forbidden paths; yet will the man at the gate receive thee, for he has good-will for men: only take heed that thou turn not aside again, lest thou perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.f

Then did Christian address himself to go back; and Evangelist, after he had kissed him, gave him one smile, and bade him ' God speed.'

So Christian went on with haste; neither spake he to any man by the way; nor, if any asked him, would he vouchsafe them an answer; he went like one that was all the while treading on forbidden ground, and could by no means think himself safe, till again he was got into the way which he left, to follow Mr. Worldly Wiseman's counsel. So, in process of time, Christian got up to the gate. Now over the gate there was written, Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.' He knocked therefore more than once or twice, saying,

May I now enter here? Will he within
Open to sorry me, though I have been
An undeserving rebel? then shall I

Not fail to sing his lasting praise on high.

At last there came a grave person to the gate named Goodwill, who asked who was there, and whence he came, and what he would have.

Christian. Here is a poor burthened sinner. I came

*Gal. iii. 10.

† Psalm ii. 12.

+ Matt. vii. 9.
He that would enter in, must first without
Stand knocking at the gate, nor need he doubt
That is a knocker but to enter in;

For God can love him, and forgive his sin.

from he city of Destruction, but am going to Mount Zion, that may be delivered from the wrath to come: I would ther fore, sir, (since I am informed that by this gate is the way hither,) know if you are willing to let me in. Godwill. I am willing with all my heart.

Ar 1 with that he opened the gate.

So when Christian was stepping in, the other gave him a puli Then said Christian, What means that? The other told hm: A little distance from this gate, there is erected a stron castle, of which Beelzebub is the captain; from thence both he, and they that are with him, shoot arrows at those that come up to the gate, if happily they may die before they can enter in.

Then said Christian, "I rejoice and tremble." So when he was got in, the man of the gate asked him who directed him thither.

Christian. Evangelist bade me come hither and knock, as I did; and he said, that you, sir, would tell me what I must do.

Goodwill. An open door is before thee, and no man can shut it.*

Christian. Now I begin to reap the benefits of my hazards.

Goodwill. But how is it that you come alone?

Christian. Because none of my neighbors saw their danger as I saw mine.

Goodwill. Did any of them know of your coming?

Christian. Yes, my wife and children saw me at the first, and called after me to turn again: also some of my neighbors stood crying and calling after me to return; but I put my fingers in my ears, and so came on my way.

Goodwill. But did none of them follow you to persuade you to go back?

Christian. Yes, both Obstinate and Pliable: but when they saw that they could not prevail, Obstinate went railing back, but Pliable came with me a little way.

Goodwill. But why did he not come through?

Christian. We indeed came both together, until we came to the slough of Despond, into the which we also suddenly fell: and then was my neighbor Pliable discouraged, and would not adventure farther: wherefore getting out again on that side next to his own house, he told me, 'I should possess the brave country alone for him:' so he went his way, and I came mine; he after Obstinate, and I to this gate.f

* Rev. iii. 8.

Note this.-A man may have company when he sets out for heaven, and yet go thither alone.

Goodwill. Alas! poor man: is the Celestial Glory of so small esteem with him, that he counteth it not worth running the hazard of a few difficulties to obtain it?

Christian. I have told you truly concerning Pliable; and if I should also say all the truth of myself, it will appear there is no difference betwixt him and myself. 'Tis true, he went back to his own house; but I also turned aside to go in the way of death, being persuaded thereto by the carnal argument of one Mr. Worldly Wiseman.

Goodwill. Oh! did he light upon you? What, he would have had you sought for ease at the hands of Mr. Legality: they are both of them very cheats: but, did you take his counsel?

Christian. Yes, as far as I durst; I went to find out Mr. Legality, until I thought that the mountain that stands by his house would have fallen upon my head: wherefore there I was forced to stop.

Goodwill. That mountain has been the death of many, and will be the death of many more: It is well you escaped being dashed in pieces by it.

Christian. Why, truly, I do not know what had become of me there, had not Evangelist happily met me again as I was musing in the midst of my dumps: But it was God's mercy that he came to me again, for else I had never come hither. But now, I am come, such a one as I am; more fit indeed for death by that mountain, than thus to stand talking with my Lord. But oh! what a favor is this to me, that yet I am admitted entrance here!

Goodwill. We make no objections against any; notwithstanding all that they have done before they came hither, they in no wise are cast out:† and therefore, good Christian, come a little way with me, and I will teach thee about the way thou must go. Look before thee; dost thou see this narrow way? That is the way thou must go. It was cast up by the Patriarchs, Prophets, Christ, and his Apostles; and it is as straight as a rule can make it: This is the way thou must go.

Christian. But, good sir, are there no turnings nor windings by which a stranger may lose his way?

Goodwill. Yes; there are many ways butt down upon this; and they are crooked and wide: but thus thou mayest distinguish the right from the wrong,―The right only being straight and narrow.

Then I saw in my dream, that Christian asked him far

* Mark, how Christian accuseth himself before the man at the gate. Such are the effects of true conviction.

i. e. bound or border upon.

† John vi. 37.
Matt. vii. 14.

ther, if he could not help him off with the burthen that was upon his back? For as yet he had not got rid thereof; nor could he by any means get it off without help.

He told him; "As to thy burthen, be content to bear it, until thou comest to the place of deliverance;* for there it will fall from thy back of itself."

Then Christian began to gird up his loins, and to address himself to his journey. So the other told him, that by that he was gone some distance from the gate, he would come at the house of the Interpreter; at whose door he should knock, and he would show him excellent things. Then Christian took his leave of his friend, and he again bade him God speed.'

Then went Christian on, till he came at the house of the Interpreter, where he knocked over and over: at last, one came to the door, and asked who was there.

Christian. Sir, here is a traveller, who was bid by an acquaintance of the good man of this house to call here for my profit: I would therefore speak with the master of the house.

So he called for the master of the house; who, after a little time, came to Christian, and asked him what he would have. Christian. Sir, I am a man that am come from the city of Destruction, and am going to the Mount Zion: and I was told by the man that stands at the gate at the head of this way, that, if I called here, you would show me excellent things, such as would be a help to me in my journey.

Interpreter. Come in; I will show thee that which will be profitable to thee.

So he commanded his man to light the candle,† and bade Christian follow him: So he had him into a private room, and bade his man open a door; the which when he had done, Christian saw the picture of a very grave person hang up against the wall; and this was the fashion of it; it had eyes lifted up to heaven, the best of books in his hand, the law of Truth was written upon his lips, the world was behind his back: it stood as if it pleaded with men; and a crown of gold did hang over its head.

Then said Christian, "What meaneth this?"

Interpreter. The man whose picture this is, is one of a thousand he can beget children, travail in birth with children, and nurse them himself when they are born.And whereas, thou seest him with his eyes lift up to heaven,

Note.-There is no deliverance from the guilt and burthen of sin, but by the death and blood of Christ. Of illumination.

1 Cor. iv. 15.

Ø Gal. iv. 19.

C