64 LEGALITY, AND THE VILLAGE MORALITY.

dens. To him, as I said, thou mayest go, and be help ed presently. His house 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, whose name is Civility, that can do it (to speak on) as well as the old gentleman himself. There, I say, thou mayest be eased of thy burden: and if thou art not minded to go back to thy former habitation, as indeed I would not wish thee, thou mayest send for thy wife and children to thee to this village; where there are houses now stand empty, one of which thou mayest have at reasonable rates: provision is there also cheap and good and that which will make thy life more happy, is, to be sure, there thou shalt live by honest neighbours, in credit and good fashion.

Now was Christian somewhat at a stand; but presently he concluded, If this be true which this gentleman hath said, my wisest course is to take his advice; and with that he thus further spake.

CHR. Sir, which is my way to this honest man's house?

WORLD. Do you see yonder high hill?

CHR. Yes, very well.

WORLD. By that hill you must go, and the first house you come at is his.

So Christian turned out of his way to go to Mr. Legality's house for help. But, behold, when he was got now hard by the hill, it seemed so high, and also that side of it that was next the way-side

Mr. Worldly-wiseman prefers Morality to Christ the Strait Gate. This is the exact reasoning of the flesh. Carnal reason ever opposes spiritual truth. The notion of justification by our own obedience to God's law, ever works in us, contrary to the law of justification by the obedience of Christ and living faith in his blood. Self-righteousness is as contrary to the faith of Christ, as indulging the lusts of the flesh.

† And a sad turn it proved to him; for he turned from the work of Christ, for his salvation, to his own works and obedience: so did the Galatians of old. Mark the consequence; Christian is afraid that Mount Sinai, all the dreadful curses of the law, would fall on his head.

CHRISTIAN TURNS ASIDE.

HIS ALARM.

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did hang so much over, that Christian was afraid to venture further, lest the hill should fall on his head : wherefore there he stood still, and wotted not what to do. Aiso his 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 ;(a) here therefore he sweat and did quake for fear. 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.

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 thou not 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?

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.

CHR. I met with a gentleman, as 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 could take off my burden.

EVAN. What was he?

CHR. He looked like a gentleman,† and talked

Evangelist findeth Christian under Mount Sinai, and looketh severely upon him. See the effect of disobeying the Gospel.

Beware of taking men by their looks. They may look as gentle as lambs, while the poison of asps is under their tongues; whereby they infect many souls with pernicious errors, turning them from Christ and the hope of justification and eternal life, through him only, to look and rely upon their own works, in whole or in part, for salvation.

(a) Exod. xix. 16-18. Heb. xii. 21.

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CHRISTIAN IS MET BY EVANGELIST,

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. He asked me if I had a family and I told him. But, said I, I am so loaded with the burden that is on my back, that I cannot take pleasure in them as formerly.

EVAN. And what said he then?

CHR. He bid me with speed get rid of my burden; and I told him it was ease that I sought. And, said I, I am therefore going to yonder gate to receive further directions how I may get to the place of deliverance. So he said that he would show me a better way, and shorter, 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 has 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 now know not what to do.

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.”(a) He said, moreover, "Now the just shall live by faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."(6) He also did thus apply them;

* As the belief of truth lies at the foundation of the hope of eternal life, and is the cause of any one becoming a pilgrim; so the belief of a lie is the cause of any one's turning out of the way which leads to glory.