Chr. Truly, faid Chriftian, I do not know. * It is not enough to be Pliable * Pli. At this Pliable began to be offended, and angrily faid to his fellow, Is this the happiness you have told me of all this while? If we have fuch ill speed at our first setting out, what may we expect 'twixt this and our journey's end? Nay, if I get out again with my life, you fhall poffefs the brave country alone for me. And with that he gave a defperate ftruggle or two, and got out of the mire, on that fide of the flough which was next to his own houfe; fo away he went, and Chriftian faw him no more. Wherefore Chriftian was left to tumble in the flough of Defped alone; but still he endeavour'd to struggle to get to that fide of the flough that was farthest † + Chriftianin from his own houfe, and the next to the trouble Jeeks wicket-gate; the which he did, but could not fillto get fur- get out because of the burden that was upon ther from his his back: But I beheld in my dream, that a own house. man came to him, whofe name was Help, and afked him, What he did there? Chr. Sir, faid Chriftian, I was bid to go this way by a man called Evangelift, who directed alfo to yonder gate, that I might efscape the Wrath to come. And as I was go ing thither, I fell in there. Help. But did you look for the step! The promises. Chr. Fear followed me fo hard, that I fled the Help lifts him out. next way, and fell in. give me thy hand; and drew him out, Help Then, faid he, fo he gave him his hand, and let upon found ground, and bid him go his way. Then I flepped to him that plucked him out, and faid, Sir, Wherefore fince 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 fecurity? And he said unto me. This miry flough is such a place as cannot be mended: it is the defcent whither the fcum and filth that attends conviction What makes for fir doth continually run, and therefore it the flough was called Slough of Defpond; for fill as the Delpond. finner is awakened about his loft condition, there arifeth in his foul many fears and doubts, and and difcouraging apprehenfions, which all of them get together and fettle in this place: And this is the reafon of the badnefs of the ground. t. 35. 3. 4. It is not the pleafure of the king that this place fhould remain fo bad; his labourers alfo have, by the directions of his Majesty's furveyors, been for above thefe fixteen hundred years employ'd about this fpot of ground, if perhaps it might have been mended: Yea, and to my knowledge, faid he, there have been swallowed up at least twenty thoufand cart-loads, yea, millions of wholesome inftructions, that have at all feafons been brought from all places of the king's dominions (and they that can tell, fay, They are the best materials to make good ground of the place) if fo it might have been mended; but it is the Slough of Defpond fill; and fo will be, when they have done what they can. The pro mifes of for giveness and acceptance to life by faith in Christ. 1 Sam. 23. True, there are by the direction of the lawgiver, certain good and fubstantial steps, placed even through the very midst of this Slough, but at fuch a time as this, this place doth much fpew out its filth, as it doth against change of weather, fo that these steps are hardly feen, or if they be, men thro' the dizziness of their head, ftep befides; and then they are mired to the purpose, notwithstanding the steps be there; but the ground is good when they have got in at the gate. Now I faw in my dream, that by this time Pliable was got home to his houfe. So his neighbours came to visit him; and fome of them called him wife man for coming back, and fome called him fool for hazarding himself with Chriftian; others did mock at his cowardlinefs; faying, Surely fince you began to venture, I would not have been so base to have given out for a few difficulties: So Pliable fat fneaking among them, but at last he got more confidence, and then they all turned their tales, and began to deride poor Chrif tian behind his back. And thus much concerning Pliable.. Now as Chriftian was walking folitarily by himfelf, he 'fpied one afar off, croffing over the field to meet him, and their hap was to meet, just as they were crolling the way of each other. The gentleman's name that met him got home and is vifited by his neighbours. His entertainment by them at his return WorldlyWiseman meets with Chriftian. was Mr. Worldly-Wiseman, he dwelt in the town of Carnal Policy, a very great town, and alfo hard by from whence Christian came: This man then meeting with Chriftian, and having fome knowledge of him (for Chriftian's fetting forth from the city of Deftruction was much noifed abroad, not only in the town where he dwelt, but also it began to be the town-talk in fome other places) mafter WorldlyWiseman therefore having fome guefs of him, by beholding his laborious going, by obferving his fighs and groans, and the like; began thus to enter into fome talk with Chriftian. Talk between Mr. Worldly 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 Wijeman and ask me, Whither away? I tell you, fir, I am Chriftian. going to yonder wicket-gate, before me; for there, as I am informed, I fhall be put into a way to be rid of my heavy burden. World Haft thou a wife and children ? Chr. Yea, but I am fo laden with this burden, that I cannot take that pleafure in them as formerly: Methinks I am as if I had not. World. Wilt thou hearken to me if I give thee counsel ? Chr. If it be good, I will; for I ftand in need of good WorldlyWifeman's counlel to Chriftian. counfel: World. I would advise thee then that thou with all speed get rid of thy burden; for thou wilt never be fettled in thy mind till then : Nor can thou enjoy the benefit of those bleffings God beftows upon thee till then. Chr. This 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 fhoulders, therefore am I going this way, as I told you, that I be rid of my burden. may Chr. A man that appeared to me to be a very great and honourable perfon, his name, as I remember, is Evangefift. +Mr. Worldly Wifeman condemns E. World. + Bethrew him for his counsel, There is not a more dangerous and troublefome way in the world, than is that unto which he hath directed directed thee, and that thou fhalt find if thou vangelifts wilt be ruled by his counfel. Thou haft met counsel. with fomething (as I perceive) already; for I fee the dirt of the Slough of Defpond is upon thee, but that Slough is but the beginning of the forrows that do attend thofe that go on in that way. Hear me, I am older than thou: Thou art like to meet with in the way which thou goeft, wearifomeness, 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 himself, by giving heed to a Aranger? * Car. 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 my way, if fo be I can alfo meet with deliverance from my burden. World. How cam' thou by the burden at firft? Chr. By reading this book in my hand. World. I thought fo; and it has happened unto thee as to other weak men; who, meddling with things too high for them, fo fuddenly fall into thy diftraction; which diftraction doth not only unman men (as thine I perceive hath undone thee) but they run them upon defperate ventures, to obtain they know not what. The frame of the heart of a young Chriftian. WorldyWifeman does not like that men should be ferions in reading the bible. Chr. I know what I would obtain; it is eafe for my heavy burden? World. But why wilt thou feek for eafe this way, feeing fo many dangers attend it, efpecially, fince (hadft thou but patience to hear me) I could direct thee to the obtaining what thou defireft, without the dangers that thou in this way wilt run thyfelf into; yea, and the remedy is at hand, Befides, I will add, that instead of thofe dangers, thou fhalt meet with fafety, friendship, and content. Chr. Sir, pray open this fecret to me ? World Why, in yonder village (the village is named Morality) there dwells a gentleman whofe name is Legality, a very judicious man Mr. Worldly Whether (and |