Bunyan’s Christian finally enters in at the Wicket Gate. Upon entering Christian says:
“Now I begin to reap the benefits of my hazards.”
Good-will then asks concerning any who tried to persuade Christian to return to the City of Destruction:
Good-will. But did none of them follow you, to persuade you to go back?
Chr. Yes, both Obstinate and Pliable; but when they saw that they could not prevail, Obstinate went railing back, but Pliable came with me a little way.
Good-will. But why did he not come through?
Chr. We indeed came both together, until we came to the Slough of Despond, into the which we also suddenly fell. And then was my Neighbor Pliable discouraged, and would not adventure further. Wherefore getting out again on that side next to his own house, he told me I should possess the brave country alone for him; so he went his way, and I came mine: he after Obstinate, and I to this Gate.
Good-will. Then said Good-will, Alas, poor man, is the coelestial glory of so small esteem with him, that he counteth it not worth running the hazards of a few difficulties to obtain it?
Chr. Truly, said Christian, I have said the truth of Pliable, and if I should also say all the truth of myself, it will appear there is no betterment’twixt him and myself. ‘Tis true, he went back to his own house, but I also turned aside to go in the way of death, being persuaded thereto by the carnal arguments of one Mr Worldly Wiseman.
Good-will. O, did he light upon you? What! he would have had you a sought for ease at the hands of Mr Legality. They are both of them a very cheat: But did you take his counsel?
Chr. Yes, as far as I durst: I went to find out Mr Legality, until I thought that the Mountain that stands by his house would have fallen upon my head; wherefore there I was forced to stop.
Good-will. That Mountain has been the death of many, and will be the death of many more; ’tis well you escaped being by it dashed in pieces.
Chr. Why truly I do not know what had become of me there, had not Evangelist happily met me again, as I was musing in the midst of my dumps: but ’twas God’s mercy that he came to me again, for else I had never come hither. But now I am come, such a one as I am, more fit indeed for death by that
Mountain than thus to stand talking with my Lord; but O, what a favour is this to me, that yet I am admitted entrance here.
Please note the nefarious “’twas God’s mercy …” No. It ’twas not “God’s mercy” while remaining ignorant of the righteousness of God (cf. Romans 10:1-4).
Then I saw in my Dream, that Christian asked him further, If he could not help him off with his Burden that was upon his back; for as yet he had not got rid thereof, nor could he by any means get it off without help.
He told him, As to they Burden, be content to bear it, until thou comest to the place of Deliverance; for there it will fall from thy back itself.
Again note the utter anti-Bibilical wickedness in this last paragraph. Bunyan the narrator puts forth a common heresy that says there is an unspecified amount of time between regenerating light shown in the heart and knowledge of God’s redemptive glory seen in the face of Jesus Christ (contrary to 2 Corinthians 4:6). Next Page
Agrammatos 