with all speed get thyself rid of thy burthen; 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 burthen; 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 burthen.

World. Who bid you go this way to be rid of your burthen?

Chr. A man that appeared to me to be a very great and honourable person: his name, as I remember, is Evangelist

World. 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, on 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 burthen upon my back is more terrible to me than are all these things which you have mentioned: nay, methinks I care not what I meet with in my way, if so be I can also meet with deliverance from my burthen.

World. How camest thou by the burthen at first.

Chr. By reading this book in my hand.

World. I thought so; and it has 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 from my heavy burthen.

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 these dangers, thou shalt meet with much safety, friendship, and

content.

Chr. Sir, I pray open this secret to me.

World. Why in yonder village (the village is named Morality*) there dwells a gentleman

Morality'—The village Morality, is the emblem of that large company, who in nations favoured with evelation

whose name is Legality, a very judicious man, and a man of very good name, that has skill

stain from scandalous vices, and practise reputable duties, without any true fear or love of God, or regard to his authority or glory. This, connected with a system of notions, and a stint of external worship, is substituted in the place of Christianity: but it is faulty in its principle, measure, and object ; results wholly from self-love; is restricted to the outward ob servance of some precepts selected from the Scriptures; and aims principally at the acquisition of reputation, distinction, or temporal advantages, with no more than a subordinate respect even to the interests of eternity: it is destitute of humility, delight, impartiality, and universality in obedience; it leaves the heart in the possession of some worldly idol, and never advances a man to the rank of a spiritual worshipper, or renders him meet for the peculiar pleasures of heaven. Yet this mutilated kind of religion draws multitudes off from attending either to the holy requirements of the law, or to the humbling doctrines of the Gospel. The most noted inhabitant of this village does not derive his name, Legality, from making the law of God the rule of his conduct (for by the law is the knowledge of sin,' which tends to increase the convinced sinner's distress), but from his teaching men to depend on a defective obedience to a small part of the law, explained and lowered, according to the method of the scribes and phariBees. Such teachers, however, are admired by the wise men of this world, and are deemed very skilful in relieving troub led consciences, and recovering men from religious distractions. His son Civility is the emblem of those, who persuade themselves and others, that a decent, benevolent, and obliging behaviour, will secure men from all future punishment, and ensure an inheritance in heaven, if indeed there be any such place! Such counsellors can ease the consciences of ignorant persons, when superficially alarmed, almost as well as those who superadd a form of godliness, a few doctrinal opinions, and a regard to some precepts of the Gospel. Both are nigh at hand in every place; and the wise men of this world are ever ready to direct convinced sinners to seek relief from them: they allow, that it is better for those who have been immoral and profligate to reform their lives; for this will meet with the approbation of their relatives, and conduce to their advantage, while the strait gate and narrow way would prove their ruin. Most pilgrims are assailed by such counsellors: and many are not able to detect the fallacy of their reasonings till their own folly corrects them.

to help men off with such burthens as thine is 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 burthens. 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 burthen 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 more happy is, to be sure there thou shalt live by honest neighbours 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 farther spake.

Chr. Sir, which is my way to this honest man's house?

World. Do you see yonder high hill ?*

High hill-Christian must go past mount Sinai to the vill age Morality; not that such men, as depend on their own reformation and good works, pay a due regard to the holy

Chr. Yes, very well.

World. By that hill you must go, and the first house you come at is his.

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 way side 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 wotted not what to do. Also his burthen 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 (Exod. xix. 16—18; Heb. xii. 21;) 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

law which was delivered from that mountain (for they are alive without the law'); but because they substitute their own scanty obedience in the place of Christ's righteousness and atonement. They, who are not duly humbled and enlightene 1, perceiving little danger, pass on quietly and securely but the sinner, who is deeply convinced of his guilt, finds every attempt to establish his own righteousness' entirely abortive: the more narrowly he compares his conduct and character with the holy law, the greater is his alarm: and he trembles lest its carses should immediately fall upon him, with vengeance more tremendous than the most awful thunder. Then the counsels of worldly wisdom appear in their true light, and the sinner is prepared to welcome the Gospel of free salvation: but if the minister, whose instructions he had forsaken, meet hin, his terror will unite with conscious shame; and he will even be tempted to shun his faithful fiiend, through fear of his merited reproofs.