{10} As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted
on a certain place where was a Den, and I laid me down in that
place to sleep: and, as I slept, I dreamed a dream. I dreamed,
and behold, I saw a man clothed with rags, standing in a certain
place, with his face from his own house, a book in his hand, and
a great burden upon his back. [Isa. 64:6; Luke 14:33; Ps. 38:4;
Hab. 2:2; Acts 16:30,31] I looked, and saw him open the book,
and read therein; and, as he read, he wept, and trembled; and, not
being able longer to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry,
saying, "What shall I do?" [Acts 2:37]
{11} In this plight, therefore, he went home and refrained himself
as long as he could, that his wife and children should not perceive
his distress; but he could not be silent long, because that his
trouble increased. Wherefore at length he brake his mind to his
wife and children; and thus he began to talk to them: O my dear
wife, said he, and you the children of my bowels, I, your dear
friend, am in myself undone by reason of a burden that lieth hard
upon me; moreover, I am for certain informed that this our city
will be burned with fire from heaven; in which fearful overthrow,
both myself, with thee my wife, and you my sweet babes, shall
miserably come to ruin, except (the which yet I see not) some way
of escape can be found, whereby we may be delivered. At this his
relations were sore amazed; not for that they believed that what
he had said to them was true, but because they thought that some
frenzy distemper had got into his head; therefore, it drawing
towards night, and they hoping that sleep might settle his brains,
with all haste they got him to bed. But the night was as troublesome
to him as the day; wherefore, instead of sleeping, he spent it in
sighs and tears. So, when the morning was come, they would know
how he did. He told them, Worse and worse: he also set to talking
to them again; but they began to be hardened. They also thought
to drive away his distemper by harsh and surly carriages to
him; sometimes they would deride, sometimes they would chide, and
sometimes they would quite neglect him. Wherefore he began to
retire himself to his chamber, to pray for and pity them, and also
to condole his own misery; he would also walk solitarily in the
fields, sometimes reading, and sometimes praying: and thus for
some days he spent his time.
{12} Now, I saw, upon a time, when he was walking in the fields,
that he was, as he was wont, reading in his book, and greatly
distressed in his mind; and, as he read, he burst out, as he had
done before, crying, "What shall I do to be saved?"
{13} I saw also that he looked this way and that way, as if he
would run; yet he stood still, because, as I perceived, he could
not tell which way to go. I looked then, and saw a man named
Evangelist coming to him and asked, Wherefore dost thou cry? [Job
33:23]
{14} He answered, Sir, I perceive by the book in my hand, that
I am condemned to die, and after that to come to judgement [Heb.
9:27]; and I find that I am not willing to do the first [Job 16:21],
nor able to do the second. [Ezek. 22:14]
CHRISTIAN no sooner leaves the World but meets EVANGELIST, who
lovingly him greets With tidings of another: and doth show Him
how to mount to that from this below.
{15} Then said Evangelist, Why not willing to die, since this life
is attended with so many evils? The man answered, Because I fear
that this burden is upon my back will sink me lower than the grave,
and I shall fall into Tophet. [Isa. 30:33] And, Sir, if I be not
fit to go to prison, I am not fit, I am sure, to go to judgement,
and from thence to execution; and the thoughts of these things make
me cry.
{16} Then said Evangelist, If this be thy condition, why standest
thou still? He answered, Because I know not whither to go. Then
he gave him a parchment roll, and there was written within, Flee
from the wrath to come. [Matt. 3.7]
{17} The man therefore read it, and looking upon Evangelist
very carefully, said, Whither must I fly? Then said Evangelist,
pointing with his finger over a very wide field, Do you see yonder
wicket-gate? [Matt. 7:13,14] The man said, No. Then said the other,
Do you see yonder shining light? [Ps. 119:105; 2 Pet. 1:19] He
said, I think I do. Then said Evangelist, Keep that light in your
eye, and go up directly thereto: so shalt thou see the gate; at
which, when thou knockest, it shall be told thee what thou shalt
do.
{18} So I saw in my dream that the man began to run.
Now, he had not run far from his own door, but his wife and children,
perceiving it, began to cry after him to return; but the man put
his fingers in his ears, and ran on, crying, Life! life! eternal
life! [Luke 14:26] So he looked not behind him, but fled towards
the middle of the plain. [Gen. 19:17]
{19} The neighbours also came out to see him run [Jer. 20:10];
and, as he ran, some mocked, others threatened, and some cried
after him to return; and, among those that did so, there were two
that resolved to fetch him back by force. The name of the one was
Obstinate and the name of the other Pliable. Now, by this time,
the man was got a good distance from them; but, however, they were
resolved to pursue him, which they did, and in a little time they
overtook him. Then said the man, Neighbours, wherefore are ye come?
They said, To persuade you to go back with us. But he said, That
can by no means be; you dwell, said he, in the City of Destruction,
the place also where I was born: I see it to be so; and, dying
there, sooner or later, you will sink lower than the grave, into
a place that burns with fire and brimstone: be content, good
neighbours, and go along with me.
{20} OBST. What! said Obstinate, and leave our friends and our
comforts behind us?
CHR. Yes, said Christian, for that was his name, because that ALL
which you shall forsake is not worthy to be compared with a little
of that which I am seeking to enjoy [2 Cor. 4:18]; and, if you
will go along with me, and hold it, you shall fare as I myself;
for there, where I go, is enough and to spare. [Luke 15:17] Come
away, and prove my words.
{21} OBST. What are the things you seek, since you leave all the
world to find them?
CHR. I seek an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth
not away [1 Pet. 1:4], and it is laid up in heaven, and safe there
[Heb. 11:16], to be bestowed, at the time appointed, on them that
diligently seek it. Read it so, if you will, in my book.
OBST. Tush! said Obstinate, away with your book; will you go back
with us or no?
CHR. No, not I, said the other, because I have laid my hand to the
plough. [Luke 9:62]
{22} OBST. Come, then, neighbour Pliable, let us turn again,
and go home without him; there is a company of these crazy-headed
coxcombs, that, when they take a fancy by the end, are wiser in
their own eyes than seven men that can render a reason. [Prov.
26:16]
PLI. Then said Pliable, Don't revile; if what the good Christian
says is true, the things he looks after are better than ours: my
heart inclines to go with my neighbour.
OBST. What! more fools still! Be ruled by me, and go back; who
knows whither such a brain-sick fellow will lead you? Go back, go
back, and be wise.
{23} CHR. Nay, but do thou come with thy neighbour, Pliable; there
are such things to be had which I spoke of, and many more glorious
besides. If you believe not me, read here in this book; and for
the truth of what is expressed therein, behold, all is confirmed
by the blood of Him that made it. [Heb. 9:17-22; 13:20]
PLI. Well, neighbour Obstinate, said Pliable, I begin to come to a
point; I intend to go along with this good man, and to cast in my
lot with him: but, my good companion, do you know the way to this
desired place?
{24} CHR. I am directed by a man, whose name is Evangelist, to
speed me to a little gate that is before us, where we shall receive
instructions about the way.
PLI. Come, then, good neighbour, let us be going. Then they went
both together.
OBST. And I will go back to my place, said Obstinate; I will be no
companion of such misled, fantastical fellows.
{25} Now, I saw in my dream, that when Obstinate was gone back,
Christian and Pliable went talking over the plain; and thus they
began their discourse.
{26} CHR. Come, neighbour Pliable, how do you do? I am glad you
are persuaded to go along with me. Had even Obstinate himself
but felt what I have felt of the powers and terrors of what is yet
unseen, he would not thus lightly have given us the back.
PLI. Come, neighbour Christian, since there are none but us two
here, tell me now further what the things are, and how to be enjoyed,
whither we are going.
{27} CHR. I can better conceive of them with my mind, than speak
of them with my tongue. God's things unspeakable: but yet, since
you are desirous to know, I will read of them in my book.
PLI. And do you think that the words of your book are certainly
true?
CHR. Yes, verily; for it was made by Him that cannot lie. [Titus
1:2]
PLI. Well said; what things are they?
CHR. There is an endless kingdom to be inhabited, and everlasting
life to be given us, that we may inhabit that kingdom for ever.
[Isa. 45:17; John 10:28,29]
PLI. Well said; and what else?
CHR. There are crowns and glory to be given us, and garments that
will make us shine like the sun in the firmament of heaven. [2
Tim. 4:8; Rev. 3:4; Matt. 13:43]
PLI. This is very pleasant; and what else?
CHR. There shall be no more crying, nor Sorrow: for He that is
owner of the place will wipe all tears from our eyes. [Isa. 25.6-8;
Rev. 7:17, 21:4]
{28} PLI. And what company shall we have there?
CHR. There we shall be with seraphims and cherubims, creatures that
will dazzle your eyes to look on them. [Isa. 6:2] There also you
shall meet with thousands and ten thousands that have gone before
us to that place; none of them are hurtful, but loving and holy;
every one walking in the sight of God, and standing in his presence
with acceptance for ever. [1 Thess. 4:16,17; Rev. 5:11] In a
word, there we shall see the elders with their golden crowns [Rev.
4:4], there we shall see the holy virgins with their golden harps
[Rev. 14:1-5], there we shall see men that by the world were cut
in pieces, burnt in flames, eaten of beasts, drowned in the seas,
for the love that they bare to the Lord of the place, all well, and
clothed with immortality as with a garment. [John 12:25; 2 Cor.
5:4]
PLI. The hearing of this is enough to ravish one's heart. But are
these things to be enjoyed? How shall we get to be sharers thereof?
CHR. The Lord, the Governor of the country, hath recorded that in
this book; the substance of which is, If we be truly willing to
have it, he will bestow it upon us freely.
PLI. Well, my good companion, glad am I to hear of these things:
come on, let us mend our pace.
CHR. I cannot go so fast as I would, by reason of this burden that
is on my back.
{29} Now I saw in my dream, that just as they had ended this talk
they drew near to a very miry slough, that was in the midst of the
plain; and they, being heedless, did both fall suddenly into the
bog. The name of the slough was Despond. Here, therefore, they
wallowed for a time, being grievously bedaubed with the dirt; and
Christian, because of the burden that was on his back, began to
sink in the mire.
{30} 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 to his own
house: so away he went, and Christian saw him no more.
{31} 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 still further from his own house, and next to 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 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.
{32} HELP. But why did not you 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. [Ps. 40:2]
{33} 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 cannot be mended;
it is the descent whither the scum and filth that attends conviction
for sin doth continually run, and therefore it is called the Slough
of Despond; for still, as the sinner is awakened about his lost
condition, there ariseth 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.
{34} It is not the pleasure of the King that this place should remain
so bad. [Isa. 35:3,4] His labourers also have, by the direction
of His Majesty's surveyors, been for above these 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.
{35} True, there are, by the direction of the Law-giver, certain
good and substantial steps, placed even through the very midst of
this slough; but at such time as this place doth much spew out its
filth, as it doth against change of weather, these steps are hardly
seen; or, if they be, men, through the dizziness of their heads,
step beside, and then they are bemired to purpose, notwithstanding
the steps be there; but the ground is good when they are once got
in at the gate. [1 Sam. 12:23]
{36} Now, I saw in my dream, that by this time Pliable was got home
to his house again, so that 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 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.
{37} Now, as Christian was walking solitarily by himself, he espied
one afar off, come crossing over the field to meet him; and their
hap was to meet just as they were crossing the way of each other.
The gentleman's name 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 inkling 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 observing his
sighs and groans, and the like, began thus to enter into some talk
with Christian.
{38} 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 into 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.
[1 Cor 7:29]
WORLD. Wilt thou hearken unto me if I give thee counsel?
CHR. If it be good, I will; for I stand in need of good counsel.
{39} 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 blessing
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 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 thee go this way to be rid of thy burden?
CHR. A man that appeared to me to be a very great and honourable
person; his name, as I remember, is Evangelist.
{40} WORLD. I beshrew him for his counsel! 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 counsel. Thou hast met with something, as I perceive,
already; for I see the dirt of the Slough of Despond is upon 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 goest, wearisomeness,
painfulness, hunger, perils, nakedness, sword, lions, dragons,
darkness, and, in a word, death, and what not! These things are
certainly true, having been confirmed by many testimonies. And why
should a man so carelessly cast away himself, 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, methinks I care
not what I meet with in the way, if so be I can also meet with
deliverance from my burden.
{41} WORLD. How camest thou by the burden at first?
CHR. By reading this book in my hand.
WORLD. I thought so; and it is happened unto thee as to other weak
men, who, meddling with things too high for them, do suddenly fall
into thy distractions; which distractions do not only unman men, as
thine, I perceive, have done thee, but they run them upon desperate
ventures to obtain they know not what.
CHR. I know what I would obtain; it is ease for my heavy burden.
{42} WORLD. But why wilt thou seek for ease this way, seeing so
many dangers attend it? especially since, hadst thou but patience
to hear me, I could direct thee to the obtaining of what thou desirest,
without the dangers that thou in this way wilt run thyself into;
yea, and the remedy is at hand. Besides, I will add, that instead
of those dangers, thou shalt meet with much safety, friendship,
and content.
CHR. Pray, Sir, open this secret to me.
{43} WORLD. 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 skill to help men
off with such burdens as thine are from their shoulders: yea, to
my knowledge, he hath done a great deal of good this way; ay, and
besides, he hath skill to cure those that are somewhat crazed in
their wits with their burdens. To him, as I said, thou mayest go,
and be helped presently. His house is not quite a mile from this
place, and if he should not be at home himself, he hath a pretty
young man to his son, whose name is Civility, that can do it (to
speak on) as well as the old gentleman himself; there, I say, thou
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 stand empty, one of which thou mayest
have at reasonable rates; provision is there also cheap and good;
and that which will make thy life the more happy is, to be sure,
there thou shalt live by honest neighbours, in credit and good
fashion.
{44} Now was Christian somewhat at a stand; but presently he concluded,
if this be true, which this gentleman hath said, my wisest course
is to take his advice; and with that he thus further spoke.
{45} CHR. Sir, which is my way to this honest man's house?
WORLD. Do you see yonder hill?
CHR. Yes, very well.
WORLD. By that hill you must go, and the first house you come at
is his.
{46} So Christian 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 seemed so high, and also that side of it that was next the
wayside did hang so much over, that Christian was afraid to venture
further, lest the hill should fall on his head; wherefore there he
stood still and wotted 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. [Ex. 19:16, 18] Here, therefore, he sweat
and did quake for fear. [Heb. 12:21]
When Christians unto carnal men give ear, Out of their way they
go, and pay for 't dear; For Master Worldly Wiseman can but shew
A saint the way to bondage and to woe.
{47} And now he began to be sorry that he had taken Mr. Worldly
Wiseman's counsel. And with that he saw Evangelist coming to meet
him; at the sight also 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.
{48} EVAN. 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 not I direct thee the way to the little wicket-gate?
CHR. Yes, dear Sir, said Christian.
EVAN. How is it, then, that thou art so quickly turned aside? for
thou art now out of the way.
{49} 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 would 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 loaden with the burden that is on my back, that I cannot
take pleasure in them as formerly.
EVAN. And what said he then?
{50} CHR. He bid me with speed get rid of my burden; and I told him
that it was ease that 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 shew me a better
way, and short, 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 hath 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 I now know not what to do.
{51} EVAN. 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."
[Heb. 12:25] He said, moreover, "Now the just shall live by faith:
but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."
[Heb. 10:38] 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 Most High, and to draw back thy foot from the way of peace,
even almost to the hazarding of thy perdition.
{52} 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." [Matt. 12:31, Mark 3:28] "Be not
faithless, but believing." [John 20:27] Then did Christian again a
little revive, and stood up trembling, as at first, before Evangelist.
{53} 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 rightly is he
so called; partly, because he savoureth only the doctrine of this
world, [1 John 4:5] (therefore he always goes to the town of Morality
to church): and partly because he loveth that doctrine best, for
it saveth him best from the cross. [Gal 6:12] 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. And, 3. His setting thy feet in that
way that leadeth unto the administration of death.
{54} First, Thou must abhor his turning thee out of the way; and
thine own consenting thereunto: because this is to reject the
counsel of God for the sake of the counsel of a Worldly Wiseman.
The Lord says, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate" [Luke 13:24],
the gate to which I sent thee; for "strait is the gate that leadeth
unto life, and few there be that find it." [Matt. 7:14] From this
little wicket-gate, and from the way thereto, hath this wicked man
turned thee, to the bringing of thee almost to destruction; hate,
therefore, his turning thee out of the way, and abhor thyself for
hearkening to him.
{55} Secondly, Thou must abhor his labouring to render the cross
odious unto thee; for thou art to prefer it "before the treasures
in Egypt." [Heb. 11:25,26] Besides the King of glory hath told
thee, that he that "will save his life shall lose it." [Mark 8:35;
John 12:25; Matt. 10:39] And, "He that cometh after me, and hateth
not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren,
and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple."
[Luke 14:26] I say, therefore, for man to labour to persuade thee,
that that shall be thy death, without which, THE TRUTH hath said,
thou canst not have eternal life; this doctrine thou must abhor.
{56} Thirdly, Thou must hate his setting of thy feet in the way
that leadeth to the ministration of death. And for this thou must
consider to whom he sent thee, and also how unable that person was
to deliver thee from thy burden.
{57} He to whom thou wast sent for ease, being by name Legality,
is the son of the bond-woman which now is, and is in bondage with
her children [Gal 4:21-27]; and is, in a mystery, this Mount Sinai,
which thou hast feared will fall on thy head. Now, if she, with
her children, are in bondage, how canst thou expect by them to be
made free? This Legality, therefore, is not able to set thee free
from thy burden. No man was as yet ever rid of his burden by him;
no, nor ever is like to be: ye cannot be justified by the works
of the law; for by the deeds of the law no man living can be rid
of his burden: therefore, Mr. Worldly Wiseman is an alien, and
Mr. Legality is a cheat; and for his son Civility, notwithstanding
his simpering looks, he is but a hypocrite and cannot help thee.
Believe me, there is nothing in all this noise, that thou hast
heard of these sottish men, but a design to beguile thee of thy
salvation, by turning thee from the way in which I had set thee.
After this, Evangelist called aloud to the heavens for confirmation
of what he had said: and with that there came words and fire out
of the mountain under which poor Christian stood, that made the
hair of his flesh stand up. The words were thus pronounced: 'As
many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it
is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things
which are written in the book of the law to do them.' [Gal. 3:10]
{58} Now Christian looked for nothing but death, and began to cry
out lamentably; even cursing the time in which he met with Mr. Worldly
Wiseman; still calling himself a thousand fools for hearkening
to his counsel; he also was greatly ashamed to think that this
gentleman's arguments, flowing only from the flesh, should have
the prevalency with him as to cause him to forsake the right way.
This done, he applied himself again to Evangelist in words and
sense as follow:
{59} CHR. Sir, what think you? Is there hope? May I now go back
and go up to the wicket-gate? Shall I not be abandoned for this,
and sent back from thence ashamed? I am sorry I have hearkened to
this man's counsel. But may my sin be forgiven?
EVAN. Then said Evangelist to him, Thy sin is very great, for by
it thou hast committed two evils: thou hast forsaken the way that
is good, to tread in forbidden paths; yet will the man at the gate
receive thee, for he has goodwill for men; only, said he, take heed
that thou turn not aside again, 'lest thou perish from the way,
when his wrath is kindled but a little.' [Ps. 2:12] Then did
Christian address himself to go back; and Evangelist, after he had
kissed him, gave him one smile, and bid him God-speed. So he went
on with haste, neither spake he to any man by the way; nor, if any
asked him, would he vouchsafe them an answer. He went like one
that was all the while treading on forbidden ground, and could by
no means think himself safe, till again he was got into the way
which he left, to follow Mr. Worldly Wiseman's counsel. So, in
process of time, Christian got up to the gate. Now, over the gate
there was written, 'Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.' [Matt
7:8]
{60} "He that will enter in must first without
Stand knocking at the Gate, nor need he doubt
That is A KNOCKER but to enter in;
For God can love him, and forgive his sin."