2

Simple, Sloth, and Presumption.

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Thy sins be forgiven thee:" the second stripped him of his rags, and clothed him with change of raiment. The third also "set a mark on his forehead," and gave him a Roll, with a seal upon it, which he bid him look on as he ran, and that he should give it in at the Celestial Gate; so they went their way. Then Christian gave three leaps for joy, and went on singing, (Zech. xii. 10. Mark ii. 5. Zech. iii. 4. Eph. i. 13.)

3

Thus far did I come loaden with my sin;

Nor could aught ease the grief that I was in,
Till I came hither! What a place is this!
Must here be the beginning of my bliss?

Must here the burden fall from off my back?
Must here the strings that bound it to me crack?

Bless'd Cross! bless'd Sepulchre! bless'd rather be
The Man that there was put to shame for me.*

I saw then, in my dream, that he went on thus, even until he came at a bottom, where he saw, a little out of the way, three men fast asleep, with fetters upon their heels. The name of the one was Simple, another Sloth, the third Presumption. 5

Christian then seeing them lie in this case, went to them, if peradventure he might awake them; and cried, You are like them that sleep on the top of a mast; for the Dead Sea is under you, a gulph that hath no bottom: awake, therefore, and come away; be willing also, and I will help you off with your irons. He also told them, If he that goeth about like a roaring lion comes by, you will certainly become a prey to his teeth. With that they looked upon him, and began to answer him in this sort: Simple said, I see no danger; Sloth

1 The nature of an allegory led him to this method of describing the happy change that takes place in the pilgrim's experience, when he obtains "peace and joy in believing."

2 The 'mark in the forehead' evidently signifies the renewal of the soul to holiness.

3 The 'roll with the seal upon it' denotes such an assurance of acceptance, as appears most clear and satisfactory.

4

* Here again we meet with an engraving, and the following lines,

"Who's this? The Pilgrim. How! 'Tis very true:

Old things are past away; all's become new.
Strange! he's another man upon my word;
They be fine feathers that make a fine bird."

5 We were before informed, that other ways 'butted down upon' the straight way; and the connexion of the allegory required the introduction of various characters, besides that of the true believer.-The three allegorical persons next introduced are nearly related; they appear to be Pilgrims, but are a little out of the way, asleep, and fettered,