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    Now as Christian went on his way he saw a man come through the field to meet him, whose name was Mr. Worldly Wiseman, and he dwelt in the town of Carnal Policy, which was near that town from where Christian came.

Worldly Wiseman: "Good Sir, where do you go with such a load on your back?"

Christian: It is a load, for sure; and if you ask me where I go, I must tell you, Sir, I must go to The Wicket Gate in front of me, for there I shall be put in a way to rid me of my load.

Worldly Wiseman: Who sent you to go this way to be rid of it?

Christian: One that I took to be a great and true man; his name is Evangelist.

Worldly Wiseman: Hark at what I say! There is no worse way in the world than that which he has sent you...  Take no heed of what Evangelist tells you. I know a better way...

In the next town, which you can see from here--the name is Legality, a wise man, and a man of some rank, who has skill to help men off with such loads as your from their backs...
Do you see that hill?

Christian: Yes, I do.

Worldly Wiseman: By that hill you must go, and the first house you come to is his.

So Christian went out of his way to find Mr. Legality's house to seek for help. But when he had gone close up the hill, it was so steep and high that he had fears lest it should fall on his head; so he stood still, as he knew not what to do. His load, too, was of more weight to him than when he was on the right road.

And now it was a great grief to him that he had lent his ear to Worldly Wiseman; and it was well that he just then saw Evangelist come to meet him; though at t he sight of him he felt a deep blush creep on his face for shame. So Evangelist drew near, and when he came up to him, he said, with a sad look; "Why are you here, Christian?"

Evangelist: Did I not point out to you the way to The Wicket Gate? How is it, then, that you have so soon gone out of the way?

Christian: When I came out of the Slough of Despond I met a man who told me that in a town near, I might find one who could take off my load. He had fair looks, and said much to me, and got me at last to yield, so I came here. But when I saw this hill, and how steep it was, I made a stand, lest it should fall on my head.

When Evangelist had heard from Christian all that took place, he said: "Stand still a while, that I may show you the words of God."

So Evangelist went on to read, "Now the just shall live by faith, but if a man draw back, my soul shall have no joy in him. "Have you not drawn back your feet from the way of peace, to your own cost; and do you not spurn the most high God?"

Then Christian fell down at his feet as dead, and said "Woe is me! Woe is me!"

At the sight of this, Evangelist caught him by the right hand and said: "Faith hopes all things."

Then Christian found some peace, and stood up.

Evangelist: I pray that you give more heed to the things that I shall tell you. The Lord says, "Strive to go in at the strait gate, the gate to which I send you, for strait is the gate that leads to life, and few there be that find it."

The Lord has told you that he "who will save his life shall lose it." He to whom you were sent for ease, Legality by name, could not set you free; no man yet has got rid of his load through him; he could but show you the way to woe, for by the deeds of the law no man can be rid of his load. 

Christian: Sir, what think you? Is there hope for me? May I now go back and strive to reach The Wicket Gate?  I grieve that I gave ear to this man's voice; but may my sin find grace?

Evangelist: Your sin is great, for you have gone from the way that is good, to tread in false paths, yet the man at the gate will let you through for he has love and good will for all men; but take heed that you turn not to the right hand or to the left.

So he went on with haste and did not speak on the road; and could not feel safe till he was in the path which he had left. In time, he came up to the gate. He saw by the words which he read on it, that those who would knock could go in, so he gave two or three knocks, and said: "May I now go in here? Will you open to me, though I have been a poor wretch? 

Now, over the gate it was written, "Knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 8:8)

At last there came a grave man to the gate, whose name was Good-will, and he said; "Who is there, where do you come from, and what do you want?"

Christian: I come from The City of Destruction with a load of sins on my back; but I am on my way to Mount Zion, that I may be free from the wrath to come; and as I have been told that my way is through this gate, I would ask, Sir, if you will let me in?

Good-Will: With all my heart.

So he flung back the gate and pulled Christian in. Then said Christian: "What does that mean?" Good will told him that a short way form this gate there was a strong fort, of which Beelzebub was the chief, and that from there he and the rest that dwelt there shot darts at those that came up to the gate to try to kill them if they could.

Good Will: We keep none out that knock at the gate. They may have sinned at times on the way, yet they are "in no wise cast out." So, good Christian, come with me, and I will teach you the way you must go. Look in front. That is the way which was laid down by Christ ...

The I saw in my dream that Christian said: "Could you not help me off with this load on my back?"--as yet he had not been rid of it. He was told: "As to your load, you must bear it till you come to the place of Deliverance, for there it will fall from your back."