52 SIMPLE, SLOTH, AND PRESUMPTION HUNG IN CHAINS.

were that stood by, and that saw the blood run from the heart to the ground, and yet were so far off this, that, instead of lamenting, they laughed at him; and, instead of becoming his disciples, did harden their hearts against him. So that all that you have, my daughters, you have by peculiar impression made by a divine contemplating upon what I have spoken to you. Remember that it was told you, that the hen, by her common call, gives no meat to her chickens. This have therefore by a special grace.

you

Now I saw still in my dream, that they went on until they were come to the place that SIMPLE, and SLOTH, and PRESUMPTION, lay and slept in, when CHRISTIAN went by on pilgrimage: and behold they were hanged up in irons a little way off on the other side.

Then said MERCY to him that was their guide and conductor, What are these three men? and for what are they hanged there?'

GR.-H. These three men were men of bad qualities; they had no mind to be pilgrims themselves, and whomsoever they could they hindered: they were for sloth and folly themselves, and whomsoever they could persuade, they made so too; and withal taught them to presume that they should do well at last. They were asleep when CHRISTIAN went by; and now you go by they are hanged.

MER. But could they persuade any one to be of their opinion?

GR.-H. Yes, they turned several out of the way. There was SLOW-PACE, they persuaded to do as they,

THEIR CRIMES ENGRAVEN ON A PILLAR.

53

They also prevailed with one SHORT-WIND, with one No HEART, with one LINGER-AFTER-LUSf, and with one SLEEPY-HEAD, and with a young woman, her name was DULL, to turn out of the way and become as they. Besides, they brought up an ill report of your Lord, persuading others that he was a hard task-master. They also brought up an evil report of the good land, saying it was not half so good as some pretended it was. They also began to vilify his servants, and to count the best of them meddlesome, troublesome, busy-bodies: further, they would call the bread of GOD husks; the comforts of his children, fancies; the travail and labour of pilgrims, things to no purpose.

Nay, said CHRISTIANA, if they were such, they should never be bewailed by me: they have but what they deserve; and I think it well that they stand so near the highway, that others may see and take warning. But had it not been well if their crimes had been engraven on some pillar of iron or brass, and left here where they did their mischiefs, for a caution to other bad men?

GR.-H. So it is, as you may well perceive, if you will go a little to the wall.

MER. No, no; let them hang, and their names rot, and their crimes live for ever against them: I think it is a high favour that they are hanged before we came hither; who knows else what they might a done to such poor women as we are? Then she turned it into a song, saying

54

THE SPRING FOULED AT THE HILL DIFFICULTY.

Now then you three hang there, and be a sign
To all that shall against the truth combine.
And let him that comes after fear this end,
If unto pilgrims he is not a friend.

And thou, my soul, of all such men beware,
That unto holiness opposers are.'

Thus they went on, till they came at the foot of the hill DIFFICULTY, where again their good friend Mr. GREAT-HEART took an occasion to tell them what happened there when CHRISTIAN himself went by'. So he had them first to the spring: Lo, saith he, this is the spring that CHRISTIAN drank of before he went up this hill; and then it was clear and good, but now it is dirty with the feet of some, that are not desirous that pilgrims here should quench their thirst*. Thereat MERCY said, And why so envious, trow? But said the guide, it will do, if taken up and put into a vessel that is sweet and good; for then the dirt will sink to the bottom, and the water come out by itself more clear. Thus therefore CHRISTIANA and her companions were compelled to do. They took it up, and put it into an earthen pot, and so let it stand till the dirt was gone to the bottom, and then they drank thereof.

Next he showed them the two by-ways that were at the foot of the hill, where FORMALITY and HYPOCRISY lost themselves. And, said he, these are dangerous paths: two were here cast away when CHRISTIAN came by. And although you see these ways are since stopped up with chains, posts, and a

■ P. i. p. 41—46. 2 Ezek. xxxiv. 18.

THE REASONS WHY MEN CHOOSE TO GO IN BY WAYS. 55

ditch, yet there are they that will choose to adventure here, rather than take the pains to go up this hill.

CHR. "The way of transgressors is hard1:" it is a wonder that they can get into those ways without danger of breaking their necks.

1

GR.-H. They will venture; yea, if at any time any of the king's servants do happen to see them, and doth call upon them, and tell them, that they are in the wrong ways, and do bid them beware of the danger, then they railingly return them answer, and say, 6. As "for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the "name of the King, we will not hearken unto thee; "but we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth out "of our mouths."" Nay, if you look a little further, you shall see that these ways are made cautionary enough, not only by these posts, and ditch, and chain, but also by being hedged up; yet they will choose to go there.

CHR. They are idle; they love not to take pains; up-hill way is unpleasant to them. So it is fulfilled unto them as it is written,-" The way of the slothful "man is as an hedge of thorns." Yea, they will rather choose to walk upon a snare, than to go up this hill, and the rest of this way to the city.

Then they set forward, and began to go up the hill, and up the hill they went; but before they got up to the top, CHRISTIANA began to pant, and said, I dare say this is a breathing hill, no marvel if they that love their ease more than their souls, choose to themselves a smoother way. Then said MERCY, I must sit down;

Prov. xiii. 15.

2 Jer. xliv. 16, 17.

3 Prov. xv. 19.

56 THE PILGRIMS WITH DIFFICULTY REACH THE ARBOUR.

also the least of the children began to cry: Come, come, said GREAT-HEART, sit not down here, for a little above is the Prince's arbour. Then he took the little boy by the hand, and led him thereto.

When they were come to the arbour, they were very willing to sit down, for they were all in a pelting heat. Then said MERCY, how sweet is rest to them that labour'! And how good is the Prince of pilgrims, to provide such resting-places for them! Of this arbour I have heard much; but I never saw it before.

But here let us beware of sleeping: for, as I have heard, for that it cost poor CHRISTIAN dear.

Then said Mr. GREAT-HEART to the little ones, Come, my pretty boys, how do you do? What think you now of going on pilgrimage? Sir, said the least, I was almost beat out of heart; but I thank you for lending me a hand at my need. And I remember now what my mother hath told me, namely, that the way to heaven is as a ladder, and the way to hell is as down a hill. But I had rather go up the ladder to life, than down the hill to death,

Then said MERCY, But the proverb is, To go down the hill is easy: but JAMES said, (for that was his name,) The day is coming when, in my opinion, going down the hill will be the hardest of all. Tis a good boy, said his master, thou hast given her a right answer. Then MERCY smiled, but the little boy did blush.

Come, said CHRISTIANA, will you eat a bit, to sweeten your mouths, while you sit here to rest your legs? For I have here a piece of pomegranate, which

Matt. xi. 28,