THE
PILGRIM'S PROGRESS
JOHN
BUNYAN
Section
1
Author's
Apology for his Book - Christian's
deplorable condition - Evangelist
directs him - Obstinate
and Pliable - Slough of Despond - Worldly
Wiseman -
Mount
Sinai
- Conversation
with Evangelist
THE
SLOUGH OF DESPOND
Now
I saw in my dream that,
just as they had ended this talk, they drew near to a very miry slough that
was in the midst of the plain; and they being heedless, did both fall
suddenly into the bog. The name of the slough was "Despond." Here,
therefore, they wallowed for a time, being grievously bedaubed with the
dirt; and CHRISTIAN, because of the burden that was on his back, began to
sink in the mire.
Pli.
Then said PLIABLE, "Ah! neighbour CHRISTIAN, where are you now?"
Chr.
"Truly," said CHRISTIAN, "I do not know."
Pli.
At that PLIABLE began to be offended, and angrily said to his fellow,
"Is this the happiness you have told me of all this while? If we have
such ill speed at our first setting out, what may we expect 'twixt this and
our journey's end? If I get out again with my life, you shall possess the
brave country alone." And with that he gave a desperate struggle or
two, and got out of the mire on that side of the slough which was next to
his own house: so away he went, and CHRISTIAN saw him no more.
Wherefore
CHRISTIAN was left to tumble in the Slough of Despond alone; but still he
endeavoured to struggle to that side of the slough that was farthest from
his own house, and next to the wicket gate: which he did, but could not get
out, because of the burden that was upon his back. But I beheld, in my
dream, that a man came to him whose name was HELP, and asked him what he did
there?
Chr.
"Sir," said CHRISTIAN, "I was bidden to go this way by a man
called EVANGELIST, who directed me also to yonder gate, that I might escape
the wrath to come; and as I was going thither, I fell in here."
Help.
But why did you not look for the steps?
Chr.
Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the next way and fell in.
Help.
Then said he, "Give me thy hand." So he gave him his hand, and he
drew him out; and set him upon some ground, and bade him go on his way.
"He
brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my
feet upon a rock, and established my goings." Psalm 40:2
Then
I stepped to him that plucked him out, and said, "Sir, wherefore, since
over this place is the way from the city of Destruction to yonder gate, is
it that this plat is not mended, that poor travellers might go thither with
more security?" And he said unto me, "This miry slough is such a
place as cannot be mended: it is the descent whither the scum and filth that
attends conviction for sin doth continually run; and therefore it is called
the Slough of Despond. For still, as the sinner is awakened about his lost
condition, there arises in his soul many fears and doubts, and discouraging
apprehensions, which all of them get together, and settle in this place: and
this is the reason of the badness of this ground.
"It is not the pleasure of the King that this place should remain so
bad;
"Strengthen
ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are
of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with
vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save
you." Isaiah 35:3, 4
his
labourers also have, by the directions of his Majesty's surveyors, been for
above this sixteen hundred years employed about this patch of ground to see
if perhaps it might have been mended: yea, and to my knowledge," said
he, "here have been swallowed up at least twenty thousand cartloads,
yea, millions, of wholesome instructions. The cartloads have, at all season,
been brought from all places of the King's dominions (and they that can tell
say they are the best materials to make good ground of the place), if so be
it might have been mended. But it is the Slough of Despond still, and so
will be, when they have done what they can.
"True,
there are, by the direction of the lawgiver, certain good and substantial
steps placed evenly through the very midst of this slough; but at such times
as this place does spew out its filth, as it doth against change of weather,
these steps are hardly seen; or, if they be, men, through the dizziness of
their heads, step beside, and then they are bemired to purpose,
notwithstanding the steps be there; but the ground is good when they have
once got in at the gate".
"Moreover
as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray
for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:" 1 Samuel
12:23
Now
I saw in my dream that by this time PLIABLE was got home to his house again.
So his neighbours came to visit him; and some of them called him a wise man
for coming back; and some called him a fool for hazarding himself with
CHRISTIAN: others, again, did mock at his cowardliness, saying,
"Surely, since you began to venture, you would not have been so base as
to have given out for a few difficulties:" so PLIABLE sat sneaking
among them. But at last got he more confidence; and then they all
"turned tail," and began to deride poor CHRISTIAN behind his back.
And thus much concerning PLIABLE.
The
Pilgrim's Progress - Worldly Wiseman
The
Pilgrim's Progress - Contents
