Mr. Worldly Wiseman, though professing to take a great interest in and to be really anxious to help Christian, soon proved himself to be neither a true friend nor a safe guide. He began by telling the pilgrim that he was taking a great deal of needless trouble to get rid of his burden.
He would not advise Christian to seek the Wicket-Gate, of which Evangelist had not only spoken but had pointed out the way. If he would follow his advice, he would turn a little, only just a little, out of his way. Not quite a mile from where they had met he would come to a village, the name of which was Morality. He need not go beyond the first house, as the gentleman who lived there, Mr. Legality, was known for miles around as one who had great skill in the treatment of just such cases as that of Christian, and if he should not be at home, his son, Mr. Civility, a polite and well-spoken young man, would, there was no doubt, give him counsel which it might be worth his while to follow.
"Do you see," said Worldly Wiseman, "that high hill?"
"Yes," said the pilgrim, "it looks as if it could not be far off."
"All you have to do," continued his would-be counselor, "is to climb that hill, knock at the door of the first house you come to, follow the advice you will receive, and you will soon lose your burden."
Poor Christian! He stood in slippery places. What he needed was to have been told the old yet ever new story of the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose precious blood cleanses "from all sin." Instead he was advised to seek rest and peace by what is sometimes called "turning over a new leaf"; he was told that by leading a moral life and by doing his best to keep the commandments, he would lose all fear of death and judgment.
A great many boys and girls, as well as grownup people, are taking that road nowadays. Shall I tell you of one I heard of quite lately? Margaret was very ill, far worse than she believed herself to be. She kept at work as long as she could, perhaps longer than she ought to have done, but a day came when she was obliged to give up work and soon after to go into the hospital. The ward in which she was placed was very often visited by a lady who, having found the Lord precious to her own soul, loved to tell others of His power and willingness to save.
It was not until after several visits that she found an opportunity of speaking to Margaret, as on each visit she appeared to be asleep, so the visitor would lay a few flowers and a gospel book upon the locker near her bed and pass quietly on. After a few weeks, however, the Lord, in answer to prayer, Himself gave the opportunity. Margaret was fond of flowers, and one day the visitor took a few growing plants, in flowerpots, into the ward, one of which, a tiny rosebush just bursting into bloom, was placed, by the nurse, opposite to her bed.
She was delighted with its beauty, and it was easy to draw her into conversation. She said she was getting better and hoped soon to be able to leave the hospital, though when she entered she was so ill that she thought herself dying.
"Would death have been a friend or an enemy to you?" asked her visitor.
"Oh, a friend," she replied, "I have lost all I loved best on earth, and I have no desire to live."
"Then you are safe, safe for eternity?"
"Why should I not be safe? I do not know what you mean. I have never done any harm. I have gone to church, read my Bible, said my prayers, and worked hard to earn my living, and I thank God I have done it."
It was all so sad; tears were in the eyes of her visitor, and for a few moments she was silent, not knowing what to say. Then very simply she said, "I am so sorry for you."
"Why?" she asked.
"Because the Lord Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and you do not own yourself to be a sinner."
"No," she replied, "I could never call myself a sinner even in church, though I know most people do there, because I never felt that I was one."
"Do you believe the Bible to be the Word of God?"
"Oh, yes, of course I do."
"May I read you one or two short verses?" Consent was given, and her visitor read from the third chapter of Romans, "There is none righteous, no, not one." "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
My story would indeed be a sad one if I could not tell you that by the mighty power of God all poor Margaret's self-righteousness was swept away, and she saw and owned herself to be a sinner. Only a few days later there was joy in heaven and joy on earth, for a seeking Savior and a long-sought sinner had met. Margaret had accepted salvation as the free gift of God, and how could she help loving and thanking the Giver?