indeed, as ever, I think, a poor creature had. And whereas you ask me, whither away, I tell you, Sir, I am going to yonder Wicketgate before me, for there, as I am informed, I fhall be put into a way to be rid of my heavy burden.

Wor. Haft thou a wife and children?

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, I Cor. vii. 29.

Wor. 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.

+ Worldly: Wifeman's counsel to Chriftian.

Wor. I would advife thee then that thou with all fpeed 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 myfelf I cannot; nor is there any man in our country that can take it off my shoulders ; therefore I am going this way as I told you, that I may be rid of my burden.

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

Chr.

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

* WorldlyWiseman condemneth Evangelift's counjel.

Wor. Befhrew him for his counfel: there is not a more dangerous and troublesome way in the world, than that is 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 upon thee, but that flough is the beginning of the forrows that do attend thofe that go in that way! Hear me, I am older than thou? Thou art like to meet with in the way that thou goeft, wearifomnefs, painfulness, hunger, perils, nakedness, fwords, lions, dragons, darkness, and in a word, death, and what not? These things are certainly true, having been confirmed by many teftimonies. And why should a man fo carelefly caft away himfelf, by giving heed to a stranger?

Chr. Why Sir, this burden upon my back is more terrible to me than all these things which you have mentioned: † nay me-thinks I care not what I meet with in my way, if fo be I can alfo meet with deliverance from my burden.

+ The frame of the heart of a young Chriftian.

Wor. Howcameft thou by the burden at first?
Chr. By reading this book in my hand.

Mr. Worldiy-Wifeman does not like that men

Wor. I thought fo;

and it

is happened unto thee, as to other weak men, who meddling with things too high for them, do fuddenly fall into thy di ftraction; which distractions do not only unman men, (as thine I perceive hath done thee) but they run them upon desperate ventures to obtain they know not what. Chr. I know what I would obtain; it is eafe from my heavy burden.

fhould be ferious in read ing the Bible.

Wor. But why wilt thou seek for cafe this way, feeing fo many dangers attend it, efpecially, fince (hadft thou but patience to hear me) I could direct thee to what thou_defireft without the dangers that thou in this way wilt run thyself into: yea and the remedy is at hand. Befides, I will add, that instead of thofe dangers, thou shalt meet with much fafety, friendship and content.

Chr. Sir, pray open this fecret to me. Wor. Why in yonder village (the village is named Morality) there dwells a gentleman whose name is Legality, a very + judicious man (and a man of very good name) that has fkill to help men off with fuch burdens as thine are from

+Mr Worldly prefers morality before the Strait gate.

their shoulders: yea, to my knowledge, he hath done a great deal of good this way: ay and befides, he hath fkill to cure those that are fomewhat crazed in their wits with their burdens. To him, as I faid, thou mayeft go and be helped prefently, His houfe is not quite a mile from this place; and if he fhould. not be at home himfelf, he hath a pretty young man to his fon, whofe name is Civili ty, that can do it (to speak on) as well as the old: gentleman himself There, I fay thou mayeft be eased of thy burden, and if thou art not minded to go back to thy former ha-bitation, as indeed I would not with thee, thou mayeft fend for thy wife and children to thee, to this village, where there are houfes now ftanding empty, one of which thou mayeft have at a reafonable rate: -Provifion is there also cheap and good, and that which will make thy life the more happy, is, to be fure there thou fhalt live by honeft neigh 'bours, in credit and good fashion."

Now was Chriftian fomewhat at a † ftand, but prefently he concluded if this be true that this gentleman hath faid, my wifeft courfe is to take his advice, and with that he thus farther fpake.

+ Chriftian nared by Mr WorldlyWifeman's words.

Chr. Sir, which is my way to his honest man's houfe?

+ Mount Sinai,

Wor. Do you fee yonder

high hill?

Chr. Yes very well

Wor. By that hill you must go; and the first houfe you come at is his.

So Chriftian turned out of his way; to go to Mr Legality's house for help: but behold, when he was got now hard by the hill it feemed fo high, and also, that fide of it that was next the way-fide, did hang Chriftian fo much over, that Chriftian afraid that was afraid to venture further mount Sinai left the hill fhould fall on his

would fall on his head.

head; wherefore there he flood ftill, and wotted not what to do. Alfo his burden, now, feemed heavier to him than while he was in his way. There came alfo flashes of fire out of the hill, that made Christian afraid that he fhould be burned, Exod. xix. 18, 19. Heb. xii. 21. here therefore he did sweat and quake for fear. And now he began to be forry that he had taken Mr Worldly-Wiseman's coun fel; and with that he saw Evangelift coming to meet him; at the fight alfo of whom he began to blush for shame. So Evangelift drew nearer and nearer, and coming up to him, He looked upon him with a fevere § and dreadful counte

§ Evangelift findeth Chriftian under mount Sinai, and looketh Severely upon him.

nance: