reflecting on the book he had been reading on the flight , merlot felt he had become the character called christian , and was struggling through the miry slough of despond , where such a place as can not be mended where the sinner is awakened about his lost condition and where there ariseth in his soul many fears , and doubts , and discouraging apprehensions , which all of them get together , and settle in this place ; and this is the reason of the badness of this ground .