thyself into. Yea, and the remedy is at hand. Besides, I will add, that instead of these dangers thou shalt meet with much safety, friendship, and content.*

* There is great beauty in this dialogue, arising from the exact regard to character preserved throughout. Indeed this forms one of our author's peculiar excellencies; as it is a very difficult attainment, and always manifests a superiority of genius.-The self-satisfaction of Worldly-wiseman; his contempt of Christian's sentiments and pursuits; his sneering compassion, and censure of Evangelist's advice; his representation of the dangers and hardship of the way, and of the desperate ventures' of religious people to obtain they know not what; and his confident assumption that Christian's concern arose from weakness of intellect, ' meddling with things too high for him,' and hearkening to bad counsel, (that is, reading the word of God, and attending to the preaching of the gospel,) and from distraction as the natural consequence; are most admirably characteristic.His arguments are also very specious. He does not say, that Evangelist had not pointed out the way of salvation, or that wicked men are not in danger of future misery: but he urges, that so much concern about sin and the eternal world takes men off from a proper regard to their secular concerns, and injures their families; that it prevents their enjoying comfort in domestic life, or in other providential blessings; that it leads them into perilous and distressing situations, of which their first terrors and despondings are only an earnest; that a troubled conscience may be quieted in a more expeditious and easy manner; and that they may obtain credit, comfort, and manifold advantages, by following prudent counsel.-On the other hand, Christian speaks in the character of a young convert. He makes no secret of his distress and terrors, and declares without reserve the method in which he sought relief. He owns that he has lost his relish for every earthly comfort, and desires to receive good counsel: but, while he is prepared to withstand all persuasions to return home, he is not upon his guard against the insidious advice of Worldlywiseman. He fears the wrath to come more than all the dread

CHR. Pray Sir, open this secret to me.

WOR. Why, in yonder village (the village is named Morality,) there dwells a Gentleman, whose name is Legality, a very judicious man, and a man of very good name, that has skill to help men off with such burdens as thine is from their shoulders; yea, to my knowledge he hath done a great deal of good this way: ay, and besides, he hath skill to cure those that are somewhat crazed in their wits with their burdens. To him, as I said, thou mayst go and be helped 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 mayst send for thy wife and children to thee to this village; where there are houses now stand empty, one of which thou mayst have at reasonable rates. Provision is there also cheap and good: and that which will make thy life more happy is,

ful things which had been mentioned: but his earnestness to get immediate relief exposes him to the danger of seeking it in an unwarranted way. Searching the scriptures has shewn him his guilt and danger; but, not having learned likewise the instruction of life, he does not discern the fatal tendency of the plausible advice given him, especially as his counsellor is a person of great reputation and sagacity.-Every one who has been in the way of making observations on these matters must perceive how exactly this suits the case of numbers, when first brought to mind "the one thing needful."

to be sure there thou shalt live by honest neighbours in credit and good fashion.*

• The village Morality represents that large company who, in nations favoured with revelation, abstain from scandalous vices, and practise reputable duties, without any genuine fear or love of God, or regard to his authority or glory. This decency of conduct, connected with a system of notions, and a stint of external worship, is substituted in the place of Christianity: but it is faulty in its principle, its measure, and its object. It results wholly from self-love; it is restricted to the outward observance of some scriptural precepts, while the rest are disregarded; and it aims principally at the acquisition of reputation, or temporal advantages, with only a subordinate respect even to the interests of eternity. It is entirely different from humble, cheerful, unreserved obedience; it leaves the heart in the possession of some worldly idol, and never constitutes a spiritual worshipper, or renders a man meet for the pleasures of heaven. Yet this mutilated religion draws multitudes off from attending either to the holy requirements of the law, or to the humbling doctrines of the gospel. The most noted inhabitant of this village derives his name, Legality, not from making the law of God his rule and standard, (for" by the law is the knowledge of sin," which tends to increase the convinced sinner's distress ;) but from his teaching men to depend on a defective obedience to a small part of the law, falsely explained, according to the method of the scribes and pharisees. These teachers, however, are admired by the wise. men of this world, and are deemed very skilful in relieving troubled consciences, and recovering men from religious distractions! -Civility represents those who persuade themselves and others, that a decent, benevolent, and obliging behaviour, will secure men from all future punishment, and insure an inheritance in heaven, if indeed there be any such place! Counsellors of this description can ease the consciences of ignorant persons, when superficially alarmed, almost as well as those who superadd a form of godliness, a few doctrinal opinions, and a regard to some precepts of Christianity. Both are at hand in every place and the wise men of this world are zealous in recommending them;

Now was Christian somewhat at a stand; but presently he concluded, If this be true which this gentleman has said, my wisest course is to take his advice: and with that he thus farther spoke. CHR. Sir, which is my way to this honest man's house?

WOR. Do you see yonder high hill ?

CHR. Yes, very well.

WOR. By that hill you must go, and the first 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 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 he wot not what to do. Also 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:1 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

Exod. xix. 16---18: Heb. xii. 21.

observing, that no doubt the immoral and profligate should reform their lives; as this will please their relatives, and conduce to their advantage: but the strait gate and the narrow way would prove their ruin! Most pilgrims are assailed by such counsellors; and few are able to detect the fallacy of their reasonings till their own folly corrects them.

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 doest thou here? said he. At which word 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?

Yes, dear Sir, said Christian.

EVAN. How is it then that thou art so quickly

* Christian must go past mount Sinai to the village of Morality: not that such men as depend on their own reformation and good works pay a due regard to the holy law of God, for

they are alive without the law;" but they substitute their own scanty obedience in the place of the righteousness and atonement of Christ. They who are not humbled in true repentance, perceiving little danger, pass on securely; but the true penitent finds every attempt "to establish his own righteousness" entirely abortive; the more he compares his conduct and character with the divine law, the greater is his alarm; and he sometimes trembles lest its curses should immediately fall upon him, with vengeance more tremendous than the most awful thunder. Then the counsels of worldly wisdom appear in their true light, and the sinner is prepared to welcome free salvation: and, should the minister, whose instructions he had forsaken, meet him, conscious shame would be added to his terror; and he would even be tempted to shun his faithful friend, through fear of merited reproof.