MR. WORLDLY WISEMAN. 11 other. This gentleman's name was Mr. Worldly Wiseman: he dwelt in the town of Carnal Policy, a very great town, and also hard-by from where Christian came. This man, having some knowledge 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 towntalk in some other places), Mr. Worldly Wiseman, therefore, having some guess of him, by beholding his laborious manner of going, by hearing 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 asked 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 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 thereof. WORLD. I would advise thee then, that thou with all speed get rid of thy burden; for thou wilt never be settled in thy mind till then; nor canst thou enjoy the benefits of the blessings which God hath bestowed upon thee, till then. CHR. That is that which I seek for, even to be rid of this mayest be eased of thy burden; and if thou art not minded to go back to thy former habitation, as indeed I would not wish thee, thou mayest send for thy wife and children to thee to this village, where there are houses now standing empty, one of which thou mayest have at a reasonable rate; provision is there also cheap and good; and that which will make thy life more happy, is, to be sure that there thou shalt live by honest neighbours, in credit and good fashion. Now was Christian somewhat at a stand-still; but presently he concluded, "If it be true what this gentleman hath said, my wisest course is to take his advice:" and with that he thus further spake CHR. Sir, which is my way to this honest man's house? WORLD. Do you see yonder high hill? CHR. Yes, very well. WORLD. By that hill you must go, and the first house you come to is his. So Christian turned out of his way to go to Mr. Legality's house for help. But, behold, when he had got now hard by the hill, it seemed so high, and also that side of it that was next to the way-side did hang so much over, that Christian was afraid to venture farther, lest the hill should fall on his head; wherefore, there he stood still, and knew not what to do. Also, his burden now seemed heavier to him than while he was in his way. There came also flashes of fire out of the hill, that made Christian afraid that he should be burned; here, therefore, he sweated and quaked for fear. CHRISTIAN AND EVANGELIST. 15 And now he began to be sorry that he had taken Mr. Worldly Wiseman's counsel. Also, he saw Evangelist coming to meet him; at the sight of whom he began to blush for shame. So Evangelist drew nearer and nearer; and coming up to him, he looked upon him with a severe and dreadful countenance, and thus began to reason with Christian: "What dost thou here, Christian?" said he. At which words, Christian knew not what to answer; wherefore, at present, he stood speechless before him. Then said Evangelist further, "Art not thou the man that I found crying without the walls of the City of Destruction ?" CHR. Yes, dear sir, I am the man. EVAN. Did I not direct thee the way to the Wicket-gate? "Yes, dear sir," said Christian. EVAN. How is it then, that thou hast so quickly turned aside? for thou art now out of the way. CHR. I met with a gentleman so soon as I had got over the Slough of Despond, who persuaded me that I might, in the village before me, find a man that could take off my burden. EVAN. What was he? CHR. He looked like a gentleman, and talked much to me, and got me at last to yield; so I came hither; but when I beheld this hill, and how it hangs over the way, I suddenly made a stand, lest it should fall on my head. EVAN. What said that gentleman to you ? CHR. Why, he asked me whither I was going; and I told him. EVAN. And what said he then? CHR. He asked me if I had a family; and I told him. But, said I, I am so loaded with the burden that is upon my back, that I cannot take pleasure in them as formerly. EVAN. And what said he then ? CHR. He bid me with speed get rid of my burden; and I told him it was ease I sought. And, said I, I am therefore going to yonder gate to receive further direction how I may get to the place of deliverance. So he said that he would show me a better way, and shorter, not so attended with difficulties as the way, sir, that you set me in; which way, said he, will direct you to a gentleman's house that has skill to take off these burdens. So I believed him, and turned out of that way into this, if haply I might be soon eased of my burden. But when I came to this place, and beheld things as they are, I stopped for fear, as I said, of danger. But now I know not what to do. Then said Evangelist, "Stand still a little, that I may show thee the words of God." So he stood trembling. Then said Evangelist, "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven." He said, moreover, "Now the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." He also did thus apply them: "Thou art the man that art running into this misery; thou hast begun to reject the counsel of the CHRISTIAN SEES HIS ERROR. 17 Most High, and to draw back thy foot from the way of peace, even almost to the hazard of thy perdition." Then Christian fell down at his feet as dead, crying, "Woe is me, for I am undone!" At the sight of which, Evangelist caught him by the right hand, saying, "All manner of sin and blasphemies shall be forgiven unto men: be not faithless, but believing." Then did Christian again a little revive, and stood up trembling, as at first, before Evangelist. Then Evangelist proceeded, saying, "Give more earnest heed to the things that I shall tell thee of. I will now show thee who it was that deluded thee, and who it was also, to whom he sent thee. The man that met thee is one Worldly Wiseman, and he is rightly so called; partly, because he savoureth only the doctrine of this world (therefore he always goes to the town of Morality to church); and partly because he loveth that doctrine best; for it saveth him from the cross; and because he is of this carnal temper, therefore, he seeketh to pervert my ways, though right. Now there are three things in this man's counsel that thou must utterly abhor. "1. His turning thee out of the way. "2. His labouring to render the cross odious to thee. "3. And his setting thy feet in that way that leadeth unto the ministration of death. "First, thou must abhor this turning out of the way; yea, and thine own consenting thereto; because this is to reject the counsel of God for the sake of the counsel of a Worldly |