p. 4 | On Which Side? by William Ambrose Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Nov 7, 1907

On Which Side?

By William Ambrose Spicer

It makes all the difference on which side one gets out of a perplexity or trial.

Christian and Pliable were both journeying toward the Celestial City. They fell together into the Slough of Despond.

Then said Pliable, Ah, neighbor Christian, where are you now?

Truly, said Christian, I do not know. At this Pliable began to be offended, and angrily said to his fellow, Is this the happiness you have told me all this while of? If we have such ill speed at our first setting out, what may we expect betwixt this and our journey's end? May I get out again with my life, you shall possess the brave country alone for me! And with that he gave a desperate struggle or two, and got out of the mire on that side of the Slough which was next to his own house; so away he went, and Christian saw him no more.

Wherefore Christian was left to tumble in the Slough of Despond alone; but still he endeavored to struggle to that side of the Slough that was farthest from his own house, and next to the Wicket-Gate.

Both got out—Pliable, on the side toward the world and the old life, Christian, on the side toward the wicket-gate and the way to the holy city. The world was in Pliable's heart, the Celestial City in Christian's.

How often is the story repeated! All of us meet trials. Even Christian, in Bunyan's allegory, failed to see the steps through the Slough. But when he fell in, he struggled toward the side of the Kingdom. Every difficulty, every trial, every quagmire of depression, has a side toward the eternal city. That is the way out for us. Not a pilgrim but will find the way if but the name of the city of his God, which is New Jerusalem, is written on the heart.

“They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward.” That is the attitude that finds and keeps the way. Some ask with faces toward the world. They nurse questionings and objections as excuses to justify turning back. In any perplexity or trial the stepping-stones are not at once apparent, they find the way out toward the side of unbelief and the world. Pliable's way out will never do for us. With faces set like a flint Zionward, every step is to be forward, because the “blessed hope” is written in our hearts. W. A. S.