Man's Name that met him was Mr. Worldly Wifeman, he dwelt in the Town of CarnalPolicy, a very great Town, and also hard by from whence Chriftian came: This Man then meeting with Chriftian, and having fome Knowledge of him (for Christian's fetting forth from the City of Destruction was much noifed abroad, not only in the Town where he dwelt, but also it began to be the TownTalk in fome other Places) Mafter Worldly Wiseman therefore having fome Guefs of him, by beholding his laborious Going, by obferving his Sighs and Groans, and the like, began thus to enter into fome Talk with Chriftians ·Talk be- World. How now, Good-fellow, whither tween Mr. away after this burthened Manner? Worldly- Chr. A burthened Manner indeed, as ever Wiseman I think, poor Creature had. And whereas and Chri- you ask me, Whither away? I tell you, Sir, ftian, Worldly I am going to yonder Wicket-Gate, before me; for there, as I am informed, I fhall be put into a Way to be rid of my heavy Burthen. World. Haft thon a Wife and Children? Chr. Yea, but I am fo laden with this Burthen, that I cannot take that Pleafure in them as formerly: Methinks I am as if I had not. World. Wilt thou hearken to me if I give thee Counsel ? Chr. If it be good, I will; for I ftand in need of good Counfel. World. *I would advife thee then that Wifeman's thou with all Speed get rid of thy Burthen; Counsel to for thou wilt never be fettled in thy Mind Chriftian. till then Nor can thou enjoy the Benefits of the Bleflings God beltows upon thee till then. Chr. Chr. This is that, which I feek for, even to be rid of this heavy Burther; but get it off myself I cannot: Nor is there any Man in our Country that can take it off my Should. ers, therefore I am going this Way, as I told you, that I'may be rid of my Burthen. World Who bid you go this Way to be rid of your Burthen? Chr. A Man that appeared to me to be a very great and honourable Perfon, his Name, as I remember, is Evangelift. Ι World. Befhrew him for his Counsel. * Mr. There is not a more dangerous and trouble. Worldlyfome Way in the World, than is that unto Wiseman which he hath directed thee, and that thou condemns fhalt find if thou wilt be ruled by his Counfel. EvangeThou haft met with fomething (as I perceive) lift's Counalready; for I fee the Dirt of the Slough of fel. Defpond is upon thee, but that Slough is but 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 goeft, Wearifomenefs, Painfulaefs, Hunger, Perils, Nakedhefs, Swords, Lions, Dragons, Darkness, and in a Word, Death, and what not! Thefe Things are certainly true, having been confirmed by many Teltimonies. And why thould a Man to carslefly call away himself, by giving heed to a Stranger. Chr. Why, Sir, this Burthen upon my Back is more terrible to me than all theie Things which you have mentioned. Nay, methinks + The I care not what I meet with in my Way, if Frame of To be I can alio meet with Deliverance from the Heart Barthen. of a young Wo. How comft thou by the Burthen at firft? Chriftian. Chr. By reading of this Book in my Hard. Worldly. my Worldly World. I thought fo; and it has happened Wifeman unto thee as to other weak Men; who, meddoes not dling with Things too high for them, do fudlike that denly fall into thy Diftraction; which DiMen fhould traction doth not only unman Men (as thine be ferious I perceive hath undone thee) but' they ran in reading them upon desperate Ventures, to obtain they the Bible. know not what Strait Gate. Chr. I know what I would obtain; it i Eafe from my heavy Burthen. World. But why wilt thou feek for Eafe this Way, feeing fo many Dangers attend it, efpecially, fince (hadft thou but Patience to hear me I could direct thee to the obtaining what thou defireft, without the Dangers that thou in this Way wilt run thyfelf into; yea, and the Remedy is at Hand. Befides, I will add, that instead of thofe Dangers, thou shalt meet with Safety, Friendship, and Content. Chr. Sir, pray open this Secret to me. World. Why, in yonder Village (the Village Mr. is named Morality) there dwells a Gentleman World'y whofe Name is Legality, a very judicious prefers Man (and a Man of a very good Name) that has Morality Skill to help Men off with fuch Burthens as before the thine are, from their Shoulders; yea, to my Knowledge he hath done a great deal of Good this Way. And befides he hath Skill to cure thofe that are fomewhat craz'd in their Wits with their Burthen: To him, as I faid, thou may'ft go, and be help'd prefently. His Houfe is not a Mile from this Place, and if he should not be at Home himself, he hath a pretty young Man to his Son, whofe Name is Civility, that can do it (to speak on) as well as the old Gentleman himself: There, I fay, thou may'ft be eased of thy Burthen, and if thou art not mind ed to go back to thy former Habitation, as in deed deed I would not wish thee; thou may'it fend for thy Wife and Children to thee to this Village, where there are Houses now ftand empty, one of which thou may's have at a reasonable Rate: Provifion is there alfo cheap and good, and that which will make thy Life the more happy is, to be fure there thou fhalt live by honest Neighbours in Credit and good Fashion. * Now was Chriflian fomething at a Stand; Chriftibut presently concluded if this was true which an fnared this Gentleman hath faid, my wifelt Courfe by Mr. is to take his Advice; and with that he thus Worldlyfurther spake: Wiseman's * Ch. Sir, which is my best Way to the Words. honelt Man's Houfe ? + Mount Sinai. Christian World. Do you fee'† yonder high Hill ?` Chr. Yes, very well. World. By that Hill you must go, and the afraid that firft Houfe you come at is his. Mount SiSo Chriftian turned out of his Way, to go nai will to Mr. Legality's Houfe for Help: But behold fall on his when he was got now hard by the Hill, it Head. feemed fo high, and alfo that Side of it that Ex. xix. 9. was next the Way-fide, did hang fo mucht Ver. 16. over, that Chriftian was afraid to venture Heb. xii, further, left the Hill should fall on his Head; 12. wherefore there he ftood ftill, and knew not what to do. Alfo his Burthen now feemed heavier to him than while he was on his Way. There came alfo | Flashes of Fire out | Evangeof the Hill, that made Chriftian afraid that lift findeth he fhould be burned: Here therefore he sweat Chriftian and did quake for Fear. And now he begun under to be forry that he had taken Mr. Worldly. Mount Wiseman's Counsel; and with that he faw Sinai, and Evangelift coming to meet him; at the looketh fe Sight allo of whom he began to blush for verely upShame, on him. B fhame, So Evangelift drew nearer and nearer, and coming up to him, he looked upon him with a fevere and dreadful Countenance, and thus began to reafon with Chriftian. Evan- Evan. What doft thou here, Chriftian, gelift rea- faid he? At which Words Chriftian knew not fons afresh what to anfwer; wherefore at prefent he flood with Chri- fpeechless before him. Then faid Evangelift ftian, further, Art thou not the Man that I found crying without the Walls of the City of DeAruction? Chr. Yes, dear Sir, I am thẹ Man. Evan, Did not I direct thee the Way to the little Wicket-Gate ? Ghr. Yes, dear Sir, faid Chriftian. Evan. How is it then, that thou art fo quickly turned afide? For thou art now out of thy Way. Chr. I met with a Gentleman fo foon as I had got over the Slough of Defpond, who períuaded me, that I might in the Village before me, find a Man that would take of my Burthen. Evan. What was he? Chr. He looked like a Gentleman, and talked much to me, and at last got me to yield; fo I came hither. But when I beheld this Hill, and how it hangs over the Way, 1 fuddenly made a Stand, left it should fall on my Head. Evan. What faid the Gentleman to you? Chr. Why, he asked me, Whither I was going and I told him. He asked me, if I had a Family; and I told him : But fad I, Lam to idaded with the Burthen that is on my Back that I cannot take Pleasure in them as formerly Evan. And what faid he then ? When |