PILGRIM’S PROGRESS IN VERSE

CHAPTER V.— (Continued from previous issue)

“Far as I dare; Legality,
I went to find him out,
Till fearing that the hill would fall,
On all the place about.

That hill or mountain near his house,
Did fill me so with dread,
I saw no way that it could fail
To fall upon my head.”

“That mountain has its thousands slain,
And may its thousands more,
’Tis well that you have made escape,
It was from death’s dark door.”

“Why, truly, I can scarcely tell
What might have been my fate,
Had not Evangelist met me
Before it was too late.

’Twas through God’s mercy that he came,
To wretched me again,
Or I, instead of being here,
Had perished with the slain.

But now I come, such as I am,
Deserving more of death,
Than conversation with my Lord,
Whose honor I address.

But what a favor this to me,
That I’m admitted here,
And find a hearty welcome, too,
That drives away all fear.”

“All that will come, can enter here,
They need not stand in doubt,
Though sinners once of crimson dye,
We no wise cast them out.

Therefore, good Christian, come with me,
I’ll teach thee of the way,
The narrow way that leads aright,
All others lead astray.

It was cast up by Patriarchs,
By Prophets and by Christ;
The straightest and the safest way,
That ever was devised.”

But Christian said: “May there not be
Some winding in the way,
By which a stranger may get off,
And somehow go astray.”

“Yes, many ways fall in with this,
The crooked and the wide;
The right way, though, is always straight,
Take this, sir, as a guide.”

Now in my dream I Christian saw
Imploring him for aid:
“Oh, take this heavy burden down,
That’s on my back,” he said.

As yet he was not rid of it—
That load of ponderous weight;
Nor could he get it off alone,
The burden was so great.

Said Goodwill “Be content to bear
Thy burden in this case—
It will fall off thy back itself,
When at the proper place.”

(To be continued)

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