The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan Every Child Can ReadBunyan, John
Religion
The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan Every Child Can Read
Bunyan, John
Christian life -- Juvenile literature; Christian pilgrims and pilgrimages -- Juvenile literature
WORLD. Why, in yonder village (the village is named Morality), there
dwells a gentleman whose name is Legality, a very wise 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; aye, and besides, he hath skill to cure those
that are somewhat crazed in their wits with their burdens. To him, as I
said, thou mayest 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 as 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 in this village, where there are
houses now standing empty, one of which thou mayest have at a reasonable
rate; provision is there also cheap and good; and that which will make
thy life the more happy is, to be sure there thou shalt live by honest
neighbors, 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:
CHRIS. Sir, which is my way to this honest man's house?
WORLD. Do you see yonder high hill?
CHRIS. Yes, very well.
WORLD. By that hill you must go, and the first house you come at is his.
[Sidenote: EVANGELIST AND CHRISTIAN.]
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 wayside did hang so
much over, that Christian was afraid to venture farther, lest the hill
should fall on his head; wherefore there he stood still, and knew 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 burnt: 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:
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 thou not the
man that I found crying, without the walls of the City of Destruction?"
CHRIS. Yes, dear sir, I am the man.
EVAN. Did not I direct thee the way to the little wicket-gate?
CHRIS. "Yes, dear sir," said Christian.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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