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[Illustration: Christian Confides in His Wife.
See page 13]
THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS
BY JOHN BUNYAN
EVERY CHILD CAN READ
EDITED BY REV. JESSE LYMAN HURLBUT, D.D.
ILLUSTRATED
EVERY CHILD'S LIBRARY
THE JOHN C. WINSTON CO. PHILADELPHIA COPYRIGHT, 1909, BY THE JOHN C.
WINSTON CO.
PREFACE
It may seem a very bold undertaking to change even a word of the book
which, next to the Bible, has been read by more people, old and young,
than any other book in the English language.
But, it must be remembered that, although the Pilgrim's Progress has
come to be a children's book, and is read more often by young people
than by those who are older, it was not in the purpose of John Bunyan to
write a book for children or even for the young.
The Pilgrim's Progress was a book for men and women; and it was aimed to
teach the great truths of the gospel. Hence while most of it is written
in a simple style,--as all books should be written,--it contains much
that a child cannot understand; not often in the story, but in the
conversations and discussions between the different persons. Some of
these conversations are in reality short sermons on doctrines and
teachings which Bunyan believed to be of great importance. But these are
beyond the minds of children and give them great trouble when the book
is read. They do not like to have them left out of the reading, thinking
that they may lose something interesting. Many a young person has
stumbled through the dull, doctrinal parts of the book, without
understanding them; and even grown people find them in our time somewhat
of a blemish upon the wonderful story, valuable as they were supposed to
be in Bunyan's own time.
For many years it has been in my mind, not to re-write the Pilgrim's
Progress, for that would destroy its greatest charm, but to change the
words here and there to simpler ones, and to omit all the conversations
and arguments concerning subjects belonging to the field of doctrine; in
other words to place the story of the Pilgrim's Progress in such a form
that every child ten years old can understand it. My purpose is to make
it plain and interesting to children, leaving the older form of the book
to be read by them when they become older.
Perhaps a short account of Bunyan's own life may add to the interest of
his book. John Bunyan was born in 1628 at Elstow, a small village near
Bedford, which is in the heart of England. His father was a poor man,
traveling on foot from place to place mending pots and pans and the
simple furniture of country kitchens, and the son followed the same
trade, and was known as a "tinker." He tells us that he lived a wild
life, and was especially known as one of the worst swearers in the
region.
When the great Civil War broke out in England, in 1642, between King
Charles the First and the Parliament, Bunyan became a soldier on the
side of the Commonwealth, as the party against the king was called. He
served in the army between 1644 and 1646.
In 1648, at the age of twenty years, he married a good young woman, who
led him to prayer and to a new life. But it was hard for one who had led
such a life as his had been to turn to God, and it cost the young man a
great struggle. It seemed to him that his past sins were like a load
upon his back, just as he afterward wrote of his "pilgrim," and it was
long before he found peace.
He became a member of a little Baptist society, and soon began to
preach. Crowds came to hear him, drawn by his earnest spirit and his
quaint striking manner. But when Charles the Second became king, no
religious services were allowed except those of the Church of England,
and all other meetings were forbidden. Bunyan however went on preaching,
until he was sent to prison in Bedford. In Bedford jail he stayed twelve
years. To find a means of living in jail, he made lace, and sold it as a
support for himself and his blind daughter.
If the prison was hard for Bunyan his sufferings were made a blessing to
untold millions, for while in Bedford jail he wrote the Pilgrim's
Progress. This story was intended to be a parable, like many of our
Saviour's teachings; that is, it put into the form of a story the life
of one who turns from sin, finds salvation through Christ, and in the
face of many difficulties makes his way through this world to heaven.
Even a child who reads or listens to the book will see this meaning in
part; and he will understand it better as he grows older.
In 1672 Bunyan was set free, and allowed to begin again his work as a
Baptist minister, and he soon became one of the most popular preachers
in all England. He died quite suddenly in 1688, when he was sixty years
old, and is buried in an old graveyard now near the center of London,
called Bunhill Fields Burial-ground. In the same ground is buried
another great writer, Daniel DeFoe, whose story of "Robinson Crusoe"
ranks next to the Pilgrim's Progress in the number of its readers; also
Isaac Watts, the author of many hymns sung in all the churches, and Mrs.
Susanna Wesley, the mother of the great John Wesley. Four people who
have left a deep mark upon the world, all lie near together in this
small cemetery in London.
Every child should read the Pilgrim's Progress as a story if no more
than a story; should read it until he knows it by heart. And the older
he grows the deeper will be the meaning that he will see in it.
JESSE LYMAN HURLBUT.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
CHRISTIAN CONFIDES IN HIS WIFE _Frontispiece_
PAGE
EVANGELIST POINTS TO WICKET-GATE 15
CHRISTIAN BEFORE THE CROSS 50
CHRISTIAN AND FAITHFUL JOIN COMPANY 89
HOPEFUL AND CHRISTIAN 129
ATHEIST LAUGHING AT CHRISTIAN AND HOPEFUL 170
CHRISTIANA'S BOYS BEGAN TO EAT 231
TURN-AWAY RESISTING EVANGELIST 357
THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS
PART I
CHAPTER I.
As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain
place where was a den,[1] and 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. 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?"
[1] Bedford jail, in which Bunyan was twelve years a prisoner.
In this plight, therefore, he went home, and restrained 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: "Oh my dear wife," said he,
"and you my sweet children, I, your dear friend, am in myself undone by
reason of a burden that lieth hard upon me; moreover, I am told to a
certainty 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 some way of escape
can be found whereby we may be delivered." At this all his family were
sore amazed; not for that they believed that what he had said to them
was true, but because they thought that some frenzy or madness had got
into his head; therefore, it drawing towards night, and they hoping that
sleep might settle his brain, 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 madness by harsh and surly treatment of him:
sometimes they would ridicule, 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 sorrow over his own
misery; he would also walk solitary in the fields, sometimes reading,
and sometimes praying; and thus for some days he spent his time.
[Sidenote: CHRISTIAN'S DISTRESS OF MIND]
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?"
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, who
asked, "Wherefore dost thou cry?"
[Illustration: Evangelist Points to Wicket-Gate.
Page 15]
He answered, "Sir, I read in the book in my hand, that I am condemned to
die, and after that to come to judgment; and I find that I am not
willing to do the first, nor able to do the second."
Then said Evangelist, "Why not willing to die, since this life is
troubled with so many evils?" The man answered, "Because I fear that
this burden that is upon my back will sink me lower than the grave, and
I shall fall into Tophet.[2] And, sir, if I be not fit to go to prison,
I am not fit to go to judgment, and from thence to death; and the
thoughts of these things make me cry."
[2] Tophet here means hell.
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."
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?" The man
said, "No." Then said the other, "Do you see yonder shining light?" 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." So I saw
in my dream that the man began to run. Now, he had not run far from his
own door, when 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!" So he looked not behind him, but
fled towards the middle of the plain.
[Sidenote: CHRISTIAN FLEES FROM THE CITY]
The neighbors also came out to see him run; 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, "Neighbors, 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 neighbors,
and go along with me."
OBST. "What!" said Obstinate, "and leave our friends and comforts behind
us?"
CHRIS. "Yes," said Christian (for that was his name), "because that all
which you forsake is not worthy to be compared with a little of that I
am seeking to enjoy; and if you would go along with me, and hold it, you
shall fare as I myself; for there, where I go, is enough and to spare.
Come away, and prove my words."
OBST. What are the things you seek, since you leave all the world to
find them?
CHRIS. I seek a place that can never be destroyed, one that is pure, and
that fadeth not away, and it is laid up in heaven, and safe there, to be
given, at the time appointed, to them that seek it with all their heart.
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?"
CHRIS. "No, not I," said the other, "because I have put my hand to the
plough."
[Sidenote: DISCOURSES WITH PLIABLE]
OBST. Come, then, neighbor Pliable, let us turn again, and go home
without him: there is a company of these crazy-headed fools, that, when
they take a fancy by the end, are wiser in their own eyes than seven men
that can render a reason.
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 neighbor."
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.
CHRIS. Nay, but do thou come with thy neighbor Pliable; there are such
things to be had which I spoke of, and many more glories besides. If you
believe not me, read here in this book; and for the truth of what is
told therein, behold, all is made by the blood of Him that made it.
PLI. "Well, neighbor 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?"
CHRIS. 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 directions about
the way.
PLI. Come, then, good neighbor, let us be going. Then they went both
together.
"And I will go back to my place," said Obstinate; "I will be no
companion of such misled, fantastical fellows."
Now, I saw in my dream, that, when Obstinate was gone back, Christian
and Pliable went talking over the plain; and thus they began:
CHRIS. Come, neighbor 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, neighbor 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.
CHRIS. I can better understand them with my mind than speak of them with
my tongue; 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?
CHRIS. Yes, verily; for it was made by Him that cannot lie.
PLI. Well said; what things are they?
CHRIS. There is an endless kingdom to be enjoyed, and everlasting life
to be given us, that we may live in that kingdom forever.
PLI. Well said; and what else?
CHRIS. There are crowns of glory to be given us, and garments that will
make us shine like the sun in the sky.
PLI. This is very pleasant; and what else?
CHRIS. There shall be no more crying, nor sorrow; for he that is owner
of the place will wipe all tears from our eyes.
PLI. And what company shall we have there?
CHRIS. There we shall be with seraphims and cherubims, creatures that
shall dazzle your eyes to look on them. There also you shall meet with
thousands and ten thousands that have gone before us to that place; none
of them are hurtful, but all loving and holy; every one walking in the
sight of God, and standing in His presence with acceptance for ever. In
a word, there we shall see the elders with their golden crowns; there we
shall see the holy women with their golden harps; 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 they bear to the Lord of the
place, all well, and clothed with everlasting life as with a garment.
PLI. The hearing of this is enough to delight one's heart. But are these
things to be enjoyed? How shall we get to be sharers thereof?
CHRIS. The Lord, the Governor of the country, hath written 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.
CHRIS. I cannot go so fast as I would, by reason of this burden that is
on my back.
[Sidenote: THE SLOUGH OF DESPOND]
Now, I saw in my dream, that just as they had ended this talk, they drew
nigh to a very miry slough or swamp, 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 into the mire.
PLI. Then said Pliable, "Ah! neighbor Christian where are you now?"
CHRIS. "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 between
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
swamp which was next to 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 tried to struggle to that side of the slough which was
farthest 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?
CHRIS. "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 there I fell in here."
HELP. But why did you not look for the steps?
CHRIS. Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the next way and fell in.
HELP. Then said he, "Give me thine hand." So he gave him his hand, and
he drew him out, and set him upon solid ground, and bade 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 place is not mended, that poor travelers might go
thither with more safety?" And he said unto me, "This miry slough is
such a place as cannot be mended; it is the hollow whither the scum and
filth that go with the feeling of sin, do continually run, and therefore
it is called the Slough of Despond; for still, as the sinner is awakened
by his lost condition, there arise in his soul many fears, and doubts,
and discouraging alarms, which all of them get together and settle in
this place; and this is the reason of the badness of the ground.
"It is not the pleasure of the King that this place should remain so
bad. His laborers also have, by the direction of His Majesty's
surveyors, been for about 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 teachings, 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 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 aside, and then they are
bemired to purpose, notwithstanding the steps be there; but the ground
is good when they are got in at the gate."
Now, I saw in my dream, that by this time Pliable was got home to his
house. So his neighbors came to visit him; and some of them called him
wise man for coming back, and some called him a fool for risking 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 abuse poor Christian behind his back. And thus much
concerning Pliable.
[Sidenote: WORLDLY WISEMAN'S COUNSEL]
Now, as Christian was walking solitary 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 heard about
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 noticing 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?
CHRIS. 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?
CHRIS. 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?
CHRIS. 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 blessings which God hath bestowed upon thee
till then.
CHRIS. 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?
CHRIS. A man that appeared to me to be a very great and honorable
person; his name, as I remember, is Evangelist.
WORLD. I curse him for his counsel! there is not a more dangerous and
troublesome way in the world than is that into which he hath directed
thee; and that thou shalt find, if thou wilt be ruled by his advice.
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 proved by the words of many
people. And why should a man so carelessly cast away himself, by giving
heed to a stranger?
CHRIS. 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.
WORLD. How camest thou by the burden at first?
CHRIS. By reading this book in my hand.
WORLD. I thought so. And it has happened unto thee as unto other weak
men, who, meddling with things too high for them, do suddenly fall into
thy crazy thoughts, which thoughts do not only unman men, as thine I
perceive have done thee, but they run them upon desperate efforts to
obtain they know not what.
CHRIS. I know what I would obtain; it is ease for my heavy burden.
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 getting 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.
CHRIS. Sir, I pray, open this secret to me.
WORLD. Why, in yonder village (the village is named Morality), there
dwells a gentleman whose name is Legality, a very wise man, and a man of
very good name, that has skill to help men off with such burdens as
thine is from their shoulders; yea, to my knowledge he hath done a great
deal of good this way; aye, 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 as 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 in 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 the more happy is, to be sure there thou shalt live by honest
neighbors, in credit and good fashion.
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 spake:
CHRIS. Sir, which is my way to this honest man's house?
WORLD. Do you see yonder high hill?
CHRIS. Yes, very well.
WORLD. By that hill you must go, and the first house you come at is his.
[Sidenote: EVANGELIST AND CHRISTIAN.]
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 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 burnt: here, therefore, he sweat and
did quake for fear. 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:
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 thou not the
man that I found crying, without the walls of the City of Destruction?"
CHRIS. Yes, dear sir, I am the man.
EVAN. Did not I direct thee the way to the little wicket-gate?
CHRIS. "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.
CHRIS. I met with a gentleman as 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?
CHRIS. 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?
CHRIS. Why, he asked me whither I was going, and I told him.
EVAN. And what said he then?
CHRIS. He asked me if I had a family, and I told him. But, said I, I am
so laden with the burden that is on my back, that I cannot take pleasure
in them as formerly.
EVAN. And what said he then?
CHRIS. He bid me with speed get rid of my burden; and I told him 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 show me a better way, and short, not so hard as
the way, sir, that you sent 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
soon be 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.
EVAN. Then said Evangelist, "Stand still a little, that I may show thee
the words of God." So he stood trembling. Then said Evangelist, "God
says in his book, '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 righteous man shall live by faith in God, 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 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 danger of thy everlasting
ruin."
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 evil words 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 led thee
astray, and who it was also to whom he sent thee. That man that met thee
is one Worldly Wiseman; and rightly is he so called; partly because he
seeks only for the things of this world (therefore he always goes to the
town of Morality to church), and partly because he loveth that way best,
for it saveth him from the Cross; and because he is of this evil
temper, therefore he seeketh to turn you from my way though it is the
right way.
"He to whom thou wast sent for ease, being by name Legality, 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 set right by any
such plan. Therefore, Mr. Worldly Wiseman is an enemy, and Mr. Legality
is a cheat; and, for his son Civility, notwithstanding his simpering
looks, he is but a fraud and cannot help thee. Believe me, there is
nothing in all this noise that thou hast heard of these wicked men, but
a design to rob 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 proof of what he had said; and with that there came words
and fire out of the mountain under which poor Christian stood, which
made the hair of his flesh stand up. The words were thus spoken: "As
many as are of the works of the law are under the curse."
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 listening to his
counsel. He also was greatly ashamed to think that this gentleman's
arguments should have the power with him so far as to cause him to
forsake the right way. This done, he spoke again to Evangelist, in words
and sense as follows:
CHRIS. Sir, what think you? Is there any 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 sins 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 good will for men; only," said he, "take heed that thou turn
not aside again, lest thou perish from the way, when his anger is
kindled but a little."