The Pilgrims Progress | Page 9

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 burned. [Ex. 19:16,18] Here,
therefore, he sweat and did quake for fear. [Heb. 12:21]
When Christians unto carnal men give ear, Out of their way they go,
and pay for 't dear; For Master Worldly Wiseman can but shew A saint
the way to bondage and to woe.

{47} 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.
{48} 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 not thou the
man that I found crying without the walls of the City of Destruction?
CHR. Yes, dear Sir, I am the man.
EVAN. Did not I direct thee the way to the little wicket-gate?
CHR. 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.
{49} CHR. I met with a gentleman so 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 would take off my burden.
EVAN. What was he?
CHR. 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?
CHR. Why, he asked me whither I was going, and I told him.
EVAN. And what said he then?
CHR. He asked me if I had a family? And I told him. But, said I, I am

so loaden with the burden that is on my back, that I cannot take
pleasure in them as formerly.
EVAN. And what said he then?
{50} CHR. He bid me with speed get rid of my burden; and I told him
that 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 shew me a better way, and short,
not so attended with difficulties as the way, Sir, that you set 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 be soon 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.
{51} EVAN. Then, said Evangelist, stand still a little, that I may show
thee the words of God. So he stood trembling. Then said Evangelist,
"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." [Heb. 12:25] He said,
moreover, "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back,
my soul shall have no pleasure in him." [Heb. 10:38] He also did thus
apply them: Thou art the man that art running into this 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 hazarding of thy
perdition.
{52} 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 blasphemies shall be
forgiven unto men." [Matt. 12:31, Mark 3:28] "Be not faithless, but
believing." [John 20:27] Then did Christian again a little revive, and
stood up trembling, as at first, before Evangelist.
{53} 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
deluded thee, and who it was also to whom he sent thee. -- The man

that met thee is one Worldly Wiseman, and rightly is he so called;
partly, because he savoureth