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hriftian loft his way and nieets Evangelift a fecond time.

he stood fpeechless before him. Then faid Evangelift farther, 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. Evang. Did not I direct thee the Way to the little Wicket-Gate?

Chr. Yes, dear Sir, faid Chriftian. Evang. How is it then that thou art fo quickly turned afide? For thou art now out of the Way.

Chr. I met with a Gentleman fo foon as I had got over the Slough of Defpond, who perfuaded me, that I might, in the Village before me, find a Man that could take off my Burden.

Evang. What was he?

Chr. He looked like a Gentleman, and talked much to me, and got me at laft to yield; fo I came hither: But when I beheld this Hill, and how it hangs over the Way, I fuddenly made a Stand, left it fhould fall on my Head.

Evang. What faid that Gentleman to you? Chr. Why, He asked me whither I was going? And I told him.

Evang. And what faid he then?

Chr. He asked me if I had a Family? And I told him: But, faid I, I am fo loaded with the Burden that is on my Back, that I cannot take Pleasure in them as formerly. Evang. And what said he then ?

Chr. He bid me with Speed get rid of my Burden; and I told him it was Eafe that I fought And, faid I, I am therefore going to yonder Gate, to receive farther Direction how I might get to the Place of Deliverance.

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Deliverance. So he faid that he would fhew me a better Way, and fhort, not fo attended with Difficulties, as the Way, Sir, that you fet me in; which Way, faid he, will direct you to a Gentleman's House that has Skill to take off thefe Burdens: So I believed him, and turned out of that Way into this, if happily I might be foon eafed of my Burden. But when I came to this Place, and beheld Things as they are, 1 ftopped for fear (as I faid) of Danger: But I now know not what to do.

Evang. Then (faid Evangelist) ftand still a little, that I may fhew thee the Words of God. So he ftood trembling. Then faid Evangelift, See that you refule not him that fpeaketh; for if they escaped not, who refused him that fpake on Earth, § much more fhall not we efcape, if we turn away from him that fpeaketh from Heaven. He faid moreover, Now the Juft shall live by Faith; but if any Man draws back, my Soul fhall have no Pleafure in him. He alfo did thus apply them, Thou art the Man that art running into this Mifery: Thou haft begun to reject the Couníel of the Moft High, and to draw back thy Foot from the Way of Peace, even almost to the hazarding of thy Perdition.

Then Chriftian fell down at his Feet as dead, crying, Wo is me, for I am undone!

When Chriftians unto carnal Men give Ear,
Out of their Way they go, and pay for't dear.
For Mafter Worldly Wifeman cast but show
A Saint the Way to Bondage and to Wo.

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At the Sight of which, Evangelift caught him by the Right Hand, saying, All manner of Sin and Blafphemies fhall be forgiven unto Men; be not faithlefs, but believing: Then did Chriftian again a little revive, and ftood up trembling, as at first, before Evangelift.

Then Evangelift proceeded, faying, Give more earneft Heed to the Things that I fhall tell thee of. I will now fhew thee who it was that deluded thee, and who it was also to whom he fent thee. *The Man that * Mr. Worldmet thee, is one Worldly Wifeman, and ly Wifeman defcribed by rightly he is so called; partly, † because he Evangelift. favoureth only of the Doctrine of this + 1 John 4.5. World; (therefore he always goes to the Town of Morality to Church) and partly‡, ‡ Col. 6. 12. because he loveth that Doctrine beft; for it faveth him from the Crofs; and because he is of this carnal Temper, therefore he feeketh to prevent my Ways, though right.

Now there are three Things in this Man's | Evangelist Counsel, that thou must utterly abhor

1. His turning thee out of the Way.
2. His labouring to render the Crof

odious to thee.

3. And his fetting thy Feet in that Way that leadeth unto the Administration of Death.

difcovers the
Deceit of Mr.
Worldly
Wiseman

First, Thou must abhor his turning thee out of the Way; yea, and thine own confenting thereto; because this is to reject the Counsel of God for the Sake of the Counsel of a Worldly Wifeman. The Lord fays, § Strive to enter in at the Strait Gate, Luke 13.24.

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