Wherefore Chriftian was left to tumble in the flough of Defpond alone; but ftill he endeavoured to struggle to that fide of the flough that was fartheft from his own house, and next the WicketGate; 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, faid Chriftian, I was bid to go this way, by a man called Evangelift, who directed me alfo 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 you not look for the steps *?

• The promifes

Chr. Fear followed me fo hard, that I fled the next way, and fell in.

Help. Then, faid he, Give me thy hand; fo he gave him his hand, and he drew him out, (Pfalm xl. 2.) and set him upon found ground, and bid him go on his way. Then

lieving as he is, Chriftian, nevertheless, in the ftrength of the Lord his God, feems determined to hold on his way, in which he is met by Help. This feems particularly to allude to the kindness and compaffion of our great High Prieft, who is ever touched with the feeling of our infirmities. The Divine Spirit often interpofes for the believer's help; and when he finds him funk down under the intolerable weight of his fins, deeply oppreffed by reafon of his manifold iniquities, and well nigh driven to defpair, on account of the infuperable condemnation that feems to threaten deftruction to him, he graciously steps forward, and, by an exertion of his almighty power, plucks him from his abyfs of woe wrefts him from the mire and clay, and fets his feet upon a rock. Nor is this all:-The believer has his heart ettablished by grace, and, even in the midst of the flough, when oppreffed with trials, and torn by temptations, he is comforted, ftrengthened and fupported, by the pleasing, joyful thought of pardon and acceptance through Jefus. The promises of God, which are all yea and amen in Chrift, are made over to him, as so many

--

Then I stepped to him that plucked him out, and faid, Sir, wherefore, fince 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 fecurity? And he faid unto me, This miry flough is fuch a place as cannot be mended: it is the defcent whither the fcum and filth that attends conviction for fin doth continually run, and therefore is it called the Slough of Defpond; for ftill as the finner is awakened about his loft condition, there arise in his foul many fears and doubts, and discouraging apprehenfions, which all of them get together, and fettle in this place and this is the reafon 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 directions of his Majefty's furveyors, been for above this fixteen hundred years employed about this patch of ground, if perhaps it might have been mended: yea, and to my knowledge, faid he, here have been swallowed up at least twenty thousand cart loads; yea, millions of wholefome inftructions, that have at all feafons been brought from all places of the King's dominions (and

they

exuberant cordials of ineffable confolation; but then, the Lord the Spirit muft make the application, or the most divine promifes will be no more than a dry breaft; the dizziness and darkness, which dwells in the chriftian's mind, will not permit him to behold any beauty, lovelinefs or glory in the gospel. But happy and bleffed is the man, who looks through all the mazes of difficulty to Chrift, the ftaff of his heart, and the living comfort of his foul. He fhall find abundance of peace and joy, whilft the perfons of Pliable's character, who turn back, after having once fet their hand to the gofpel plongh, fhall find themselves awfully mistaken, and led away by a delufion of the devil. It matters not whether they meet with cenfure or applaufe from their carnal neighbours, the men of the world, they are alone anfwerable to God, and at his fu preme tribunal they must either ftand or fall,

they that can tell, fay, they are the best materials to make good ground of the place) if fo be it might have been mended; but it is the Slough of Defpond ftill; and fo will be, when they have done what they can.

True there are, by the direction of the Law-giver, certain good and fubftantial steps, placed even thro' the very midst of this flough; but at such time as this place doth much fpue out its filth, as it doth against change of weather, thefe fteps are hardly feen: or if they be, men, thro' the dizziness of their heads, ftep befides; and then they are bemired to the purpose, notwithstanding the steps be there; but the ground is good when they are once got in at the gate. 1 Sam. xii. 23. vou.

Now I faw in my dream, that by this time Pliable was got home to his house. So his neighbours came to vifit him; and fome of them called him wife man for coming back and fome called him fool for hazarding himself with Christian; others again did mock at his cowardlinefs; faying, Surely, fince you began to venture, I would not have been fo bafe to have given out for a few difficulties. So Pliable fat fheaking among them. But at last he got more confidence, and then they all turned their tales, and began to deride poor Chriftian behind his back. And thus much concerning Pliable.

Now as Chriftian was walking folitarily by himfelf, he 'fpied one afar off, croffing over the field to

meet

We now find Chriftian encountering with fresh difficulties: fo true is it, That it is not in n man to direct his fteps. Satan makes ufe of various wiles, fubtleties and ftratagems, in order to moleft the chriftian; to fhake the foundation of his hopes, as it were, and bring him into difgrace. The chriftian, therefore, can never be too watchful; it is his interest-it is for the comfort of his foul,

that

meet him, and their hap was to meet juft as they were crossing the way to each other. The gentleman's name that met him, was Mr. Worldly Wifeman; he dwelt in the town of Carnal Policy, a very great town, and also hard-by from whence Chriftian came. This man then, meeting with Christian, and having fome knowledge of him (for Chriftian's fetting 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 fome other places) Mr. Worldly Wifeman therefore having fome guefs of him, by beholding his laborious going, by obferving his fighs and groans, and the like; began thus to enter into fome talk with Chriftian.

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 Wicket-gate before me; for there, as I am informed, I fhall be put in a way to be rid of my heavy burden.

World. Haft thou a wife and children?

Chr.

be

that he watches unto prayer. He will fee, in the pages fore us, the various infinuations that are made use of, to draw him aside. Chriftian is met on his way by Mr. Worldly Wifeman, a name that perfectly correfponds with his character and conduct. His abode is in the town of Carnal Policy, in a world of pollution and guilt, the natural refidence of the chriftian, from which he is called by grace. But he is no fooner called, or rather, he no fooner manifefts to the world, the divine reality of his call, than he becomes the fport of the ungodly. Some, indeed, from a plaufible fhew of concern for the poor deluded man, feem earnest in their endeavours to divert him from his ftrange purfuit, and bring him to his right mind. Mr. Worldly Wifeman addreffes Chriftian, as though he was ftruck with concern to fee him in diftrefs; but his advice, alas, is ill fuited to relieve him. Chriftian is filled with a pungent fenfe of his guilt, the bur

den

Chr. Yes; but I am fo laden with this burden, that I cannot take that pleasure in them as formerly: Methinks I am as if I had none. 1 Cor. vii. 29. World. Wilt thou hearken to me if I give thee counfel?

Chr. If it be good, I will; for I ftand in need of good counfel.

World. I would advise thee then, that thou with all speed get thyfelf rid of thy burden; for thou wilt never be fettled in thy mind till then: Nor canft thou enjoy the benefits of the bleffings which God hath bestowed upon thee, till then.

Chr. That is that which I feek for, even to be rid of this heavy burden; but get it off myself, I cannot: Nor is there a man in our own country, that can take it off my fhoulders; therefore am I going this way, as I told you, that I may be rid of my bur

den.

World. Who bid thee go this way to be rid of thy burden?

Chr. A man that appeared unto me to be a very great and honourable perfon; his name, as I remember, is Evangelift.

World. Befhrew him for his counfel; there is not 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 counfel. Thou haft met with fomething (as I perceive) already; I fee the dirt of the flough of Defpond is

den of his fins preffes him down, and he fees no poffibility of deliverance in man. Mr. Worldly Wifeman knew nothing of the nature of his burden, nor the real caufe of his fufferings; and no wonder, therefore, that his language was exceedingly improper. He cenfures the advice which Evangelift had given, though the only fuitable advice, for it pointed him to Christ: and none fo able to help him. In the prefent.cafe, he

wanted