Evangelist convinces him of his error. 26 church); and partly because he loveth that doctrine best, for it saveth him from the cross, Gal. vi. 12; and because he is of this carnal temper, therefore he seeketh to pervert my ways, though right. Now, there are three things in this man's counsel, that thou must utterly abhor: 1. His turning thee out of the way. 2. His labouring to render the cross odious to thee. 3. And his setting thy feet in that way that leadeth unto the administration of death. First, Thou must abhor his turning thee out of the way; yea, and thine own consenting thereto; because this is to reject the counsel of God for the sake of the counsel of a Worldly Wiseman. The Lord says, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate," Luke xiii. 24, the gate to which I send thee; "for strait is the gate that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it,” Matt. vii. 13, 14. From this little wicket-gate, and from the way thereto, hath this wicked man turned thee, to the bringing of thee almost to destruction; hate, therefore, his turning thee out of the way, and abhor thyself for hearkening to him. Secondly, Thou must abhor his labouring to render the cross odious unto thee; for thou art to prefer it before the treasures of Egypt, Heb. xi. 25, 26. Besides, the King of glory hath told thee, that he that will save his life shall lose it. And he that comes after him, and hates not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be his disciple, Mark viii. 38; John xii. 25; Matt. x. 39; Luke xiv. 26. I say, therefore, for man to labour to persuade thee that that shall be thy death, without which, the truth hath said, thou canst not have eternal life: this doctrine thou must abhor. the Thirdly, Thou must hate his setting of thy feet in way that leadeth to the ministration of death. And for this thou must consider to whom he sent thee, and also how unable that person was to deliver thee from thy burden. 26 Evangelist convinces him of his error. He to whom thou wast sent for ease, being by name Legality, is the son of the bond-woman which now is, and is in bondage with her children, Gal. iv. 21-27; and is, in a mystery, this Mount Sinai, which thou hast feared will fall on thy head. Now, if she with her children are in bondage, how canst thou expect by them to be made free? This Legality, therefore, is not able to set thee free from thy burden. No man was as yet ever rid of his burden by him; no, nor ever is like to be: ye cannot be justified by the works of the law; for by the deeds of the law no man living can be rid of his burden. Therefore Mr Worldly Wiseman is an alien, and Mr Legality is a cheat; and for his son Civility, notwithstanding his simpering looks, he is but a hypocrite, and cannot help thee. Believe me, there is nothing in all this noise that thou hast heard of these sottish men, but a design to beguile thee of thy salvation, by turning thee from the way in which I had set thee. After this, Evangelist called aloud to the heavens for confirmation of what he had said; and with that there came words and fire out of the mountain under which poor Christian stood, which made the hair of his flesh stand up. words were thus pronounced, "As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them," Gal. iii. 10. The Now Christian looked for nothing but death, and began to cry out lamentably, even cursing the time in which he met with Mr Worldly Wiseman, still calling himself a thousand fools for hearkening to his counsel. He also was greatly ashamed to think that this gentleman's arguments, flowing only from the flesh, should have the prevalency with him so far as to cause him to forsake the right way. This done, he applied himself again to Evangelist, in words and sense as follows: CHR. Sir, what think you? Is there any hope? May I now go back, and go up to the wicket-gate? Shall I Christian knocks at the gate. 27 Christian in not be abandoned for this, and sent back from thence ashamed? I am sorry I have hearkened to this man's counsel; but may my sin be forgiven ? quires if he may yet be happy. EVAN. Then said Evangelist to him, Thy sin is very great, for by it thou hast committed two evils; thou hast forsaken the way that is good, to tread in forbidden paths. Yet will the man at the gate receive thee, for he has goodwill for men; only, said he, take Evangelist heed that thou turn not aside again, lest comforts him. thou "perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little," Ps. ii. 12. Then did Christian address himself to go back; and Evangelist, after he had kissed him, gave him one smile, and bade him God-speed; so he went on with haste, neither spake he to any man by the way; nor if any asked him, would he vouchsafe them an answer. He went like one that was all the while treading on forbidden ground, and could by no means think himself safe, till again he was got into the way which he had left to follow Mr Worldly Wiseman's counsel; so in process of time Christian got up to the gate. Now over the gate there was written, "Knock, and it shall be opened unto you,” Matt. vii. 7. He knocked, therefore, more than once or twice, saying, "May I now enter here? Will he within An undeserving rebel? Then shall I Not fail to sing his lasting praise on high." At last there came a grave person to the gate, named Goodwill, who asked who was there, and whence he came, and what he would have. CHR. Here is a poor burdened sinner. I come from the city of Destruction, but am going to Mount Zion, that I may be delivered from the wrath to come; I would therefore, sir, since I am informed that by this gate is the way thither, know if you are willing to let me in. GOOD. I am willing with all my heart, The gate will said he; and with that he opened the gate. broken-hearted So when Christian was stepping in, the sinners. be opened to 28 He enters in at the gate. other gave him a pull. Then said Christian, What means that? The other told him, A little distance from this gate there is erected a strong castle, of which Beelzebub is the captain; from thence both he, and they that are with him, shoot arrows at those that come up to this gate, if haply they may die before they can enter in. Then said Christian, I rejoice and tremble. So when he was got in, the man at the gate asked him who the gatewith joy directed him thither. Satan envies those that enter the strait gate. Christian enters and trembling. CHR. Evangelist bid me come hither and knock, as I did; and he said that you, sir, would tell me what I must do. Talk between Goodwill and Christian. GOOD. An open door is set before thee, and no man can shut it. CHR. Now I begin to reap the benefit of my hazards. GOOD. But how is it that you came alone? CHR. Because none of my neighbours saw their danger, as I saw mine. GOOD. Did any of them know of your coming? CHR. Yes, my wife and children saw me at the first, and called after me to turn again; also some of my neighbours stood crying and calling after me to return; but I put my fingers in my ears, and so came on my way. GOOD. But did none of them follow you, to persuade you to go back? CHR. Yes, both Obstinate and Pliable; but when they saw that they could not prevail, Obstinate went railing back, but Pliable came with me a little way. GOOD. But why did he not come through? CHR. We indeed came both together until we came to the Slough of Despond, into the which we also suddenly fell. And then was my neighbour Pliable discouraged, and would not adventure further. Wherefore getting out again on the side next to his have company own house, he told me I should possess when he sets the brave country alone for him; so he went and yet go thi his way, and I came mine; he after Obstinate, and I to this gate. A man may out for heaven, ther alone. Talk with Goodwill. 29 GOOD. Then said Goodwill, Alas, poor man! is the celestial glory of so little esteem with him, that he counteth it not worth running the hazard of a few difficulties to obtain it? Christian ac before the man CHR. Truly, said Christian, I have said the truth of Pliable; and if I should also say the truth of myself, it will appear there is no better- cuseth himself ment betwixt him and myself. 'Tis true, at the gate. he went back to his own house, but I also turned aside to go into the way of death, being persuaded thereto by the carnal argument of one Mr Worldly Wiseman. GOOD. Oh! did he light upon you? What! he would have had you seek for ease at the hands of Mr Legality. They are both of them a very cheat. But did you take his counsel? CHR. Yes, as far as I durst. I went to find out Mr Legality, until I thought that the mountain that stands by his house would have fallen upon my head; wherefore there I was forced to stop. GOOD. That mountain has been the death of many, and will be the death of many more: it is well you escaped being by it dashed in pieces. CHR. Why, truly, I do not know what had become of me there, had not Evangelist happily met me again as I was musing in the midst of my dumps; but it was God's mercy that he came to me again, for else I had never come hither. But now I am come, such a one as I am, more fit indeed for death by that mountain, than thus to stand talking with my Lord. But, oh! what a favour is this to me, that yet I am admitted entrance here! comforted again, GOOD. We make no objections against any, notwithstanding all that they have done before they Christian is come hither; they in no wise are cast out, and directed yet John vi. 37. And therefore, good Chris on his way. tian, come a little way with me, and I will teach thee about the way thou must go. Look before thee; dost thou see this narrow way? That is the way thou must go. It was cast up by the patriarchs, prophets, Christ |