Christian lifted out by Help.

19

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?

CHR. Sir, said Christian, I was bid to 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 The promises. for the steps?

CHR. Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the next way, and fell in.

Help lifts him out.

HELP. Then said he, Give me thine hand: so he gave him his hand, and he drew him out, Ps. xl. 2. and set him upon sound ground, and bid him go on his way.

Then I stepped to him that plucked him out, and said, 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 unto me, This miry slough is such a place as cannot be mended: it is the descent What makes the whither the scum and filth that attends Slough of Despond. conviction for 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 arise 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 this ground.

It is not the pleasure of the King that this place should remain so bad, Isa. xxxv. 3, 4. His labourers also have, by the direction of his Majesty's surveyors, been for above these sixteen

20 The steps of the promises.-Pliable gets home.

hundred years employed about this patch of ground, if perhaps it might have been mended: yea, and to my knowledge, said he, here have 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, they are the best materials to make good ground of the place,) if so be it might have been mended; but it is the Slough of Despond still, and so will be when they have done what they can.

giveness and accept

in Christ.

True, there are, by the direction of the LawThe promise of for- giver, certain good and substantial ance to life by faith steps, placed even through the very midst of this slough ; but at such time as this place doth much spew out its filth, as it doth against 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, 1 Sam. xii. 23.

Pliable got home,

neighbours.

Now I saw in my dream, that by this time Pliable was got home to his house. and is visited by his 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.

Christian meets Mr. Worldly Wiseman.

21

Now as Christian was walking solitarily by him self, he espied one afar off, come crossing over the field to meet him; and their hap was Mr.Worldly Wiseman to meet just as they were crossing the meets with Christian way of 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 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 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.

Wiseman

WORLD. HOW now, good fellow, Talk betwixt Mr. whither away after this burdened Worldly manner?

and Christian.

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 wicket-gate before me; for there, as I am informed, I shall be put into 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 for merly: methinks I am as if I had none, 1 Cor. vii. 29. 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.

* Slight knowledge.