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 outside 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.
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 could 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 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 bade 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 direction how I may get to the place of deliverance. So he said that he would show me a better way, and short, not so attended with difficulties as the way, sir, that you set me in; this short 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 I now know not what to do.
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 we not escape, if we turn away from him that speaks from heaven".
"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:" Hebrews 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".
"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any mandraw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." Hebrews 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."
Then CHRISTIAN fell down at his foot 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 blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: be not faithless, but believing".
"Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men." Matthew 12:31
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The Pilgrim's Progress (Part I)
EspiritualFrom This World to That Which is to Come. This Christian story is delivered under the resemblance of a dream in which a man sets out on a dangerous journey out of the City of Destruction and fights his way through many stumbling paths to arrive at...
