Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

meets with Christian.

coming back; and fome called him Fool for hazarding himfelf with Chriftian; others again did mock at his Cowardliness; faying, Surely, fince you began to venture, F would not bave been fo 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 Christian behind his Back. And thus much concerning Pliable.

[ocr errors]

Now as Chriftian was walking folitarily by himself, he efpied one afar off, croffing +Mr. World- over the Field to meet him, and their ly Wifeman Hap was to meet just as they were croffing the Way to each other. The Gentleman's Name that met him, was Mr. Worldly Wifeman, he dwelt in the Town of Carnal Policy a very great Town, and alfo hard-by from whence Chriftian came. This Man then, meeting with Chriftian, and having fome Knowledge of him (for Chriftian's fetting 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 fome other Places) Mr. Worldly Wifeman therefore having fome Guefs of him, by beholding his laborious going, by obferving his Sighs and Groans, and the like; began thus to enter into fome Talk with Chriftian.

Talk between Mr. Worldly Wifeman and Chriftian.

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 Wic

ket

ket Gate before me; for there, as I am informed, I fhall be put in a Way to be rid of my heavy Burden.

World. Haft thou a Wife and Children?

Chr. Yes; but I am fo laden with this Burden, that I cannot take that Pleasure in them as formerly: Methinks I am as if +1 had none.

[ocr errors]

World. Wilt thou bearken to me if I give thee Counfel?

Chr. If it be good I will; for I stand in Need of good Counfel.

+ 1 Cor.7.29.

Counsel to
Chriftian.

World. I would advise thee then, that Mr. World thou with all Speed get thyself rid of thy Bur- ly Wifeman's den; for thou wilt never be fettled in thy Mind till then: Nor canft 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 my Burden.

of

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 Perfon; his Name, as I remember, is Evangelift.

World. Bebrew him for his Counsel, & Mr. Worldthere is not a more dangerous and troublesome ly Wifeman Way in the World, than is that unto which condemns be bath directed thee; and that thou shalt find, Counsel. Evangelift's if thou wilt be ruled by his Counsel. Thou baft met with fomething (as I perceive already), I fee the Dirt of the Slough of Defpond

The Frame of the Heart of a young Christian.

Mr. World

ly Wifeman does not like

that Man fhould be feri

ous in reading

the Bible.

Defpond is upon thee; but that Slough is the Beginning of the Sorrows that do attend thofe that go on in that Way: Hear me, I am older than thou; thou art like to meet with,. on the Way which thou goeft, Wearifomness, Painfulness, Hunger, Perils, Nakedness, Sword, Lions, Dragons, Darkness, and in a Word, Death, and what not? Thefe Things are certainly true, having been confirmed by many Teftimonies. And why fhould a Man fo carelefly caft away himself, by giving heed to a Stranger?

Chr. Why, Sir, this Burden upon my Back is more terrible to me, than are all thefe 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, cameft, thou by the Burden at first?

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, do fuddenly fall into thy Diftractions; which Diftractions do not only unman Men (as thine I perceive have done thee) but they run them upon defperate Ventures, to obtain they know not what.

Chr. I know what I would obtain; it is Eafe for my heavy Burden.

World. But why wilt thou feek for Ease this Way, feeing fo many Dangers attend it? especially, fince (hadft thou but Patience to hear me) I could direct thee to the obtaining of what thou defireft, without the Dangers that thou in this Way wilt

[ocr errors][merged small]

run thy felf into. Yea, and the Remedy is at Hand. Befides, I will add, that inftead of thefe Dangers, thou fhalt meet with much Safety, Friendship, and Con

tent.

Chr. Pray, Sir, open the Secret to me?

Strait Gate.

World. Why in yonder Village (the +Mr Worldly Village is named Morality) there dwells a prefers MoraGentleman, whofe Name is Legality, a very lity before the judicious Man (and a Man of very good Name) that has Skill to help Men off with fuch Burdens as thine is, from their Shoulders; yea, to my Knowledge, he hath done a great deal of good this Way: And belides, he hath Skill to cure thofe that are fomewhat crazed in their Wits with their Burden. To him, as I faid, thou mayelt go, and be helped prefently. His Houfe 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, whofe Name is Civility, that can do it (to fpeak on) as well as the old Gentleman. himfelf: There, I fay, thou mayeft be eased of thy Burden, and if thou art not minded to go back to thy former Habitation, as indeed I would not wifh thee; thou mayeft fend for thy Wife and Children to thee to this Village, where there are Houfes now ftand empty, one of which thou mayeft have at a reasonable Rate : Provifion is there alfo cheap and good, and that w which will make thy Life more happy is, to be fure there thou fhalt live by honeft Neighbours, in Credit, and good Fashion. *Now was Chriftian fomewhat at ftand; but prefently he concluded, If wifeman's

*

Chriftian a feared by Mr. Worldly

this Words.

Mount Si

nai.

+ Christian afraid that Mount Sinai

would fall on bis Head.

this be true which this Gentleman hath faid, my wifeft Courfe is to take his Advice; and with that he thus farther fpake.

Chr. Sir, which is my Way to this ho neft Man's Houfe?

World. Do you fee yonder high Hill?
Chr. Yes, very well.

World. By that Hill you must go, and the first House you come at is his.

So Chriftian turned out of his Way, to go to Mr. Legality's Houfe for Help: But behold when he was got now hard by the Hill, it seemed fo high, and also that Side of it that was next the Way-Side, did hang fo much over, that Chriftian was + afraid to venture farther, left the Hill fhould fall on his Head; wherefore there he stood ftill, and knew not what to do. Alfo his Burden now seemed heavier to him Exod. 19. 18 than while he was in his Way. There ↑ Ver. 16. came alfo Flashes of Fire out of the Hill, Heb. 12. 21 that made Chriftian afraid that he should be burned: Here therefore he fweat and did quake for Fear. And now he began to be forry that he had taken Mr. Worldly Wileman's Counfel; and with that he faw Evangelist Evangelift coming to meet him; at the findeth Chri- Sight alfo of whom he began to blufh for ftian under Shame. So Evangelift drew nearer and and looketh fe- nearer, and coming up to him, he looked verely upon upon him with a fevere and dreadful Countenance, and thus began to reason with

Mount Sinai,

him.

Chriftian.

Evangelift Evan. What doft thou here Chriftian? reafons afresh faid he: At which Words, Chriftian knew with Chrifti- not what to anfwer; wherefore at prefent.

an.

he

« ForrigeFortsett »