Christian. I met a gentleman who told me, I might find one in yonder village that could take off my burthen.

Then said Evangelist, stand still a little that I may tell thee the words of the Lord. So he stood trembling. Then Evangelist said, See that ye refuse not him that speaketh: for if they escaped not who refused him that spoke on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: for the just shall live by faith; but if he draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Then Christian fell down at his feet as dead. But Evangelist caught him by the right-hand, and said, All manner of sins and blasphemies shall be forgiven unto men: be not faithless but believing. At this his spirit a little revived, and he stood up trembling before Evangelist.

Then Evangelist said, Give more earnest heed unto the things that I shall tell thee of. There are three things in the counsel of the man that met thee, which thou must utterly abhor.

1. His turning thee out of the way.

2. His labouring to make the cross odious to thee.

3. His setting thy feet in the way that leadeth to death.

First, Thou must abhor his turning thee out of the way; for this is to reject the counsel of God, seeing the Lord saith, Strive to enter in at the strait gate, the gate to which I sent thee.

Secondly, Abhor his labouring to make the cross odious to thee; for thou art to prefer it before the treasures of Egypt. Besides the Lord hath said, If any man come after me, and hate not his father and mother, and wife and children, and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. The doctrine therefore which teacheth to hate or shun the cross, thou must utterly abhor.

Thou must, lastly, abhor his setting thy feet in the way that leadeth to death. For he to whom thou wast sent, legality by name, is the son of the bondwoman: and this is mount Sinai, which gendereth unto bondage, and unto death eternal. He cannot free any man of his burthen: nor is it possible he should; for by the works of the law shall no flesh living be justified.