Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

They fall in the Slough of DESPOND.

PLI. Well, my good companion, glad am I to hear of these things. Come on, let us mend our pace.

CHR. I cannot go so fast as I would by reason of this burden that is upon my back.

Now I saw in my dream, that just as they had ended this talk, they drew nigh to a very MIRY SLOUGH that was in the midst of the plain, and they being heedless did both fall suddenly into the bog. The name of the Slough was DESPOND. Here therefore they wallowed for a time, being grievously bedaubed with the dirt; and CHRISTIAN, because of the burden that was on his back, began to sink in the mire.

Then said PLIABLE, Ah, neighbour CHRISTIAN, where are you now?

Truly, said CHRISTIAN, I do not know.

At that PLIABLE began to be offended, and angrily said to his fellow, 'Is this the happiness you 'have told me all this while of? If we have such ill

is good, and let your souls delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Isa. lv. 1-3. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John vi. 37. In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. vii. 37. And he said unto me, It is done: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end: I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. Rev. xxi. 5. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely. xxii. 17

HELP assists CHRISTIAN.

'speed at our first setting out, what may we expect ''twixt this and our journey's end? May I get ' out again with my life, you shall possess the brave 'country alone for me.' And with that he gave a desperate struggle or two, and got out of the mire, on that side of the Slough which was next to his own house. So away he went, and CHRISTIAN saw

him no more.

Wherefore CHRISTIAN was left to tumble in the Slough of DESPOND alone; but still he endeavoured to struggle to that side of the Slough, that was still further from his own house, 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 came to him, whose name was HELP, and asked him, What he did there?'

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

'Sir,' said CHRISTIAN, I was bid go this way, by a man called EVANGELIST, who directed me also

to yonder Gate, that I might escape the wrath to come and as I was going thither I fell in here.'

HELP. But why did not you look for the steps? CHR. FEAR followed me so hard, that I fled the next way, and fell in.

Then,' said he 'Give me thy hand.' So he, gave him his hand, and he drew him out, and set him on sound ground, and let him go on his way.*

Then I stept to him that pluckt him out, and said,

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. Ps.

Slough of DESPOND cannot be mendel.

Sir, wherefore, since over this place is the way from the city of DESTRUCTION to yonder gate, is it that 'this plat is not mended, that poor travellers might go thither with more security?' And he said to me, this miry Slough is such a place as cannot be mended. It is the descent, whither the skum and filth that attends conviction of sin doth continually run, and therefore it is called the Slough of DESPOND: for still as the sinner is awakened about his lost condition, there ariseth in his soul many fears, and doubts, and discouraging apprehensions, which all of them get together, and settle in this place. And this is the reason of the badness of the ground.

It is not the pleasure of the King that this place should remain so bad. His labourers also have, by the directions of his Majesty's surveyors, been, for above these sixteen hundred years, employed about this patch of ground, if perhaps it might be mended : yea, and to my knowledge, said he, Here hath been swallowed up at least twenty thousand cart-loads, yea, millions of wholesome instructions, that have at all seasons been brought from all places of the King's dominions (and they that can tell say, that they are the best materials to make good ground of the place, if so be it might be mended ;) but it is the Slough of DESPOND Still, and so will be, when they have done what they can.

xl. 2.

Strengthen ye the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of fearful heart, Be strong, fear not; behold your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Isa. xxxv. 3, 4.

WORLDLY-WISEMAN meets CHRISTIAN

True there are, by the direction of the Law-giver, certain good and substantial steps, placed even through the very midst of the Slough; but at such time as this place doth much spue out its filth, as it doth against the change of weather, these steps are hardly seen, or if they be, men, through the dizziness of their heads, step beside; and then they are bemired to purpose, notwithstanding the steps be there; but the ground is good when they are once got in at the gate.'

Now I saw in my dream that by this time PLIABLE 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 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.

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 just as they were crossing the way of each other. The gentleman's name was Mr. WORLDLY-WISEMAN; he

* For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name sake, because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. 1 Sam. xii. 22.

WORLDLY-WISEMAN tempts CHRISTIAN.

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 begun to be town-talk in some other places; Master 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. WORLD. 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 yonder Wicketgate before me; for there as I am informed, I shall be put in a way to be rid of my heavy burden.

WORLD. 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.

*

WORLD. 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.

WORLD. I would advise thee, then, that thou with all speed get thyself rid of thy burden; for thou

* But this I say, brethren, the time is short; it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none. 1 Cor. vii. 29,

« ZurückWeiter »