they wallowed for a time, being grieviously bedaubed with dirt; and Christian, because of the burden that was on his back, began to sink in the mire.

Pli. Then said Pliable, Ah! neighbour Christian, where are you now?

Chr. Truly, said Christian, I do not know.

Pli. At this Pliable began to be offended, and angrily said to his fellow: Is this the happiness you have told me all this while of? If we have such ill speed at our first setting out, what may we expect betwixt this and our journey's end? May I get out again with my life, you shall possess the brave country alone for me. And with that he gave a desperate struggle or two, and got out of the mire on that side of the slough which was next his own house: so away he went, and Christian saw him no more.

Wherefore Christian was left to tumble in the slough of Despond alone; but still he endeavoured to struggle to that side of the slough that was farthest from his own house, and next the Wicket-gate; 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 you not look for the steps? Chr. Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the next way, and fell in.

Help. Then said he, Give me thy hand: so he gave him his hand, and he drew him out, 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 can

not be mended: it is the descent whither the scum and filth that attends conviction for sin doth continually run, and therefore is it 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 (s); his labourers also have, by the directions of his Majesty's surveyors, been for above this sixteen 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.

True, there are, by the direction of the Lawgiver, certain good and substantial steps placed even thro the very midst of this slough; but at such time as this place doth much spew out its filth, as it doth against the change of weather, these steps are hardly seen or if they be, men, through the dizziness of their heads, step besides; and then they are bemired to purpose, notwithstanding the steps be there; but the ground is good when they are oncegot in at the gate (1).

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

(s) Isa. xxxv. 3, 4. (t) 1 Sam. xii. 23.

B. &

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.

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

THE christian no sooner sets out in good earnest for heaven, than he becomes "a gazing stock to the world." Relations, friends, and neighbours (if carnal), will strive to prevent his progress; but if the work be of God, they will strive

n vain.

True grace discovers itself in "good-will to men." Christian would fain persuade his family and friends to go with him. He tries to alarm them by a view of their danger-he tries to allure them by a description of heaven; but all in vain. The dispositions of natural men are various; some are obstinate, others are pliable; but all are ignorant of divine things, and averse from them. Hence Obstinate soon becomes impatient, passionate, and contemptuous; while Pliable, like the stonyground hearer in the parable, listens to the word with joy, but having not root, soon withers away.

Christian deals wisely with his neighbour Obstinate. For the truth of his assertions, he refers to the Bible:-"Read it," says he, "in my book."-But the Bible is a book so unfriendly in its aspect to carnal men, that they cannot endure it, and seldom attempt to answer what is plainly proved by it. He therefore cries, "Away with your book.' Away with the Bible," is at least the practical language of too many persons who call themselves christians!

How affectionately does Christian labour to persuade his more pliable neighbour to go with him. From the fulness of his heart, he most beautifully paints the joys of the glorified. Pliable, entertaining carnal ideas of heaven, as a fine place, glittering with gold and pearls, seems ravished with the prospect. Elated with hopes of a Mahometan Paradise, he outstrips Christian himself. The fleshly joys and transports of some carnal men seem to exceed the zeal of true believers for a But that season is short. Where s'n is not burdensome to the heart, religion, like Pliable's, is too hot to hold.

Beason.

By the Slough of Despond, we are to understand that state of mind, in which doubts and fears terribly prevail. Very few beginners in religion wholly escape them. Indeed they constitute no part of Religion, nor are they by any means the work of the spirit of God. They arise, partly from ignorance of Christ, and the way of acceptance by him; -partly from the weakness of faith, as to what is already known; and partly from the artful suggestions of Satan, suited to such a state.

The behaviour of Pliable upon this occasion, discovered his want of grace. Expecting nothing but carnal ease and pleasure, he was offended with the first difficulty that oc curred. Hence he struggles to get out of the mire on that side he fell in. The meaning is, that when carnal men feel their minds uneasy with a sense of sin, they try to throw off the load, by returning to the world again. But the real christian, amidst all his desponding fears, still continues to renounce the world, struggles to get forward, and dreads the thought of peace from any other quarter, than an interest in Jesus Christ. Let no such soul be discouraged; sooner or later Jesus will help, and deliverance shall be sung in David's words: "He brought me up out of an horrible pit, out of "the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and hath "established my goings," Psal. xl. 2.-If the reader would avoid the slough, (and some have done it,) let him carefully observe the "steps," or these precious promifes of acceptance and pardon, held forth in the word to seeking souls; such as, "Seek, and ye shall find-Whosoever cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out."

CHAP. III.

Christian, deceived by the advice of Mr. Worldly Wiseman, turns out of the way, and is greatly alarmed; but happily meeting with Evangelist, returns to the right path, and proceeds on his journey.

Nowas Christian was walking solitarily by himself, he 'spied one afar off, crossing over the field to meet bim, and their hap was to meet just as they were crossing the way to each other. The gentleman's Gaine 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 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 town-talk in some other places ;) Mr. Worldly Wiseman therefore having some guess of him, by beholding his laborious going, by obsering 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 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 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 (a).

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.

World. I would advise thee then, that thou with all speed get thyself 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 heavy burden; but get it off myself, I cannot : nor is there a man in our own 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 thee go this way to be rid of thy burden?

(a) 1 Cor. vii. 25.