fons been brought from all Places of the King's Dominions (and they that can tell, fay, They are the best Materials to make good Ground of the Place) if so be it might have been mended; but it is a Slough of Def pond still and fo will be, when they have done what they can. True, there are, by the Direction of the The ProLaw-giver, certain good and fubftantial Steps, mifes of placed even thro' the very midft of this Slough, Forgivebut at fuch a time as this, this place doth much nefs and fpue out its filth as it doth against Change Acceptance. of Weather, so that these Steps are hardly feen, to Life by or if they be, Men, thro' the Dizziness of their Faith in Head, ftep befides; and then they are be Chrift mired to the purpose, notwithstanding the Steps 1 Sam 23. be there; but the Ground is good when they have got in at the Gate. I Pliable His enter. tainment Now I faw in my Dream, that by this time Pliable was got home to his Houfe. So his is got home Neighbours came to vifit him; and fome of and is vithem called him wife Man for coming back, fited by his and fome called him Fool for hazarding Neighbours himfelf with Chriftian: others again did mock at his Cowardlinefs: faying, Surely fince you by them at began to Venture, I would not have been fo base to have given out for a few Difficulties; So Pliable fat fneaking among them. But at laft 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. his Return Now as Chriftian was walking folitarily Worldly by himself, he 'fpied one afar off, croffing Wifeman cover the Field to meet him, and their meets with Hap was to meet, just as they were the Way of each other. The croffing Chriftian. Gentle man's Talk be. man'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 Chriflian, and having fome Knowledge of him (for Chriftian's setting forth from the City of Deftruction was much noifed abroad, not only in the Town where he dwelt, but also it began to be the Town Talk in fome other Places) Mafter Worldly Wiseman therefore having fome Guels of him, by beholding his laborious going, by obferving his Sighs and Groans, and the like; began thus to enter into fome Talk with Chriftian. World. How now Good-fellow, whither away aveen Mr. after this burthened manner? Worldly Chr. A burthened manner indeed, as ever, Wifeman I think, poor Creature had. And whereas and Chri- you ask me, Whither away? I tell you, Sir lian. y. World. Wife nan's 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 Burden. World. Haft thou a Wife and Children? Chr. Yea, 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 not. World. Wilt thou hearken to me if I give the Counfel? Chr. If it be good, I will; for I stand in need of good Couníel. World. I would advise thee then that thou with all speed get rid of thy Burthen; for thou wilt never be fettled in thy mind till then: Nor Counsel to can thou enjoy the Benefits of the Blings Ged 1.Chriftian, bestows upon thee till then. Chr. Chr. This is that which I feek for, even to be rid of this heavy Burden; but get it my felf, I cannot : Nor is there any Man in our Country that can take it off my Shoulders, therefore am I going this way as I told you, that I may be rid of my Burden. World: Who bid you go this Way to be rid of your Burden? Chr. A Man that appeared to me to be a very great and honourable Person, his Name, as remember, is Evangelift. World. Befhrew him for his Counfel, there+ Mr. is not a more dangerous and troublefome way Worldly. in the World, than is that unto which he hath Wiseman directed thee, and that thou fhalt find if thou condemns wilt be ruled by his Counsel. Thou haft met Evangewith fomething (as I perceive) already; for I lift's Coun→ fee the Dirt of the Slough of Defpond is upon fel. thee, but that Slough is 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, Wearifomeness, Painfulness, Hunger, Perils, Nakedness, Swords, Lions, Dragons, Darkness, and in a word, Death, and what not! Thefe Things are certainly true, having been confirm'd by many Telimonies. hould a Man fo carelefly caft away himself, by giving head to a Stranger? * And Chr. Why,, this Burthen upon my Back is more terrible to me than are all thefe Things which you have mentioned. Nay, methinks The frame I care not what I meet with in my Way if fo be I can alfo meet with Deliverance from Heart of my Burthen. Wo. How can't thou by the Burthen at firft Worldly of the a young Chriftian Worldly Wor. I thought fe; and it has happened Wifeman unto thee as to other weak Men, who, med does not ling with things too high for them, do fud like that denly fall into thy Diftraction: which Di Men fhould fraction do not only unman Men (as thin be ferious I perceive hath undone thee) but they run in reading them upon defperate Ventures, to obtain the Bible. they know not what, Chr. I know what I would obtain; it is Ea for my heavy Burthen, Wor. But why wilt thou feek for Eafe thi way, feeing fo many Dangers attend it, efpe cially, fince (hadft thou but Patience to hear me) I could direct thee to the obtaining wha thou defireft, without the dangers that thou in this way wilt run thy felf into; yea, and the Remedy is at hand. Befides, I will add, tha inftead of those dangers thou fhalt meet with much Safety, Friendship, and Content. 1 Chr, Sir, pray open this Secret to me. Whether Wor. Why, in yonder Village (the Villag Mr.World is nam'd Morality) there dwells a Gentlema ly prefers whofe Name is Legality, a very judiciou Morality Man (and a Man of a very good Name) that ha before the Skill to help Men off with fuch Burthens a Strait- thine are, from their Shoulders; yea, to my Gate. Knowledge he hath done a great deal of goo this way. And befides he hath Skill to cur thofe that are fomewhat craz'd in their Wi with their Burthen: To him, as I faid, tho may'ft go, and be help'd prefently. His Hout is not a Mile from this place, and if he fhoul not be at home himself, he hath a pretty youn Man to his Son, whofe Name is Civility, th can do it (to speak on) as well as the old Ger tleman himself: There, I fay, thou may' eafed of thy Burthen, and if thou art not min ed to go back to thy former Habitation, as de deed I would not wish thee; thou may'ft fend for thy Wife and Children to thee to this Villiage, where there are Houses now ftand empty, one of which thou mayeft have at reasonable Rates: 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 honeft Neighbours, in Credit and good Fashion. Now was Chriftian something at a ftand; * Chriftibut prefently be concluded if this was true which an fnared this Gentleman hath faid, my wifeft Courfe is by Mr. to take his Advice; and with that he thus fur- Worldly ther Spoke. Wiseman's Chr. Sir, which is my beft Way to the Words. honeft Man's Houfe. Worlaly. Do you fee + yonder high Hill? World. By that Hill thou must go, and the firft Houfe you come at is his. 'Mount Chrifti an afraid that Mount Head. So Chriftian turn'd out of his Way, to go to Mr. Legality's Houfe for Help: But behold Sinai will when he was got now hard by the Hill, itfall on his feemed fo high, and alfo that Side of it that, was next the Way fide, did hang fo much Exod. 19. over, that Chrifian was † afraid to venture) 18 * Ver. 16. further leaft the Hill fhould fall on his Head; wherefore there he ftood ftill, and knew § Heb 12. hot what to do. Alfo his Burthen now feem 12. ed heavier to him than while he was in his EvangeWay. There came alfo + Flashes of Fire out lilt findeth of the Hill, that made Chriftian afraid that Chriftian he fhould be burned: Here therefore he fweat under and did quake for Fear. And now he begun Maunt Si to be forry that he had taken Mr. Worldly nai, and Wifeman's Counfel; and with that he faw looketh fe Evangelift coming to meet him; at the verely upon. bim. fight alfo of whom he began to blush for B fhame |