The conduct of Simple, Sloth, and P’resumption

Great-heart. Yes; they turned several out of the way. There was Slow-pace, that they persuaded to do as they; they also prevailed with one Shortwind, with one No-heart, with one Linger-after-lust, and with one Sleepy-head, and with a young woman whose name was dull, to turn out of the way, and become as they. Besides, they brought up an iil report of our Lord, persuading others that he was a hard task-master. They also brought an evil report of the good land, saying, It was not half so good as some pretended it was. They also began to villify his servants, and to count the best of them meddlesome, troublesome, busi-bodies; farther, they would call the bread of God, husks; the comforts of his children, fancies; the travail and labour of pilgrims, things to no purpose. (3)

Christ. Nay said Christiana, if they were such, they should never be bewailed by me: they have

(0) Let us consider the character of these three professors: 1st here is SIMPLE, who, as Solomon says, believeth every word, Prov. xiv. 15. a foolish credulous professor, who is easily led away and beguiled by smooth words, and fair pretences of others; ever learning, but never coming to the knowledge of the truth, so as to believe it, love it, and be established on it; hence liable to be carried away by every wind of doctrine. 2d. SLOTH, a quiet, easy professor, who never disturbs any one by his diligence in the word of God, nor his zeal for the truths and glory of God. Hence all men speak well of him! but Christ denounces a woe against all such. Luke vi. 6. 3dly. PRESUMPTION, one who presumes to find favour with God, in a way which his word does not promise, or expects salvation at the end, without the means prescribed by God for attaining it. Such are your licentious Antinomian spirits, who boldly presume to hope for salvation by Christ, without being conformed to the image of Christ, and ridicule the work of the Spirit, as renewing his people, in the spirit of their minds, in righteousness and true holiness; for without this real personal holiness, no man shall see the Lord. Heb. xii. 14. O, beware of these three sorts of professors, for they turn many aside. Real Christians are in danger of being seduced by them, if not of total destruction

They arrive at the Hili Difficulty.

but what they deserve; and I think it well that they stand so near the high-way, that others may see and take warning. But had it not been well if their crimes had been engraved on some pillar of irou or brass, and left here where they did their mischiefs, for a caution to other bad men?

Great-heart. So it is, as you may well perceive, will go a little to the wall.

if you

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

"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 occasion to tell them what happened there when Christian himself went by. (p) So he had them first to the spring: Lo, said he, this is the spring that Christian drank of before he went up this hill 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, Ah, why so envious

(p) This hill Difficulty may signify how hard it is to abide by Christ, cleave to bim. and continue to hold fast the truth as it is in him, when surrounded by errors and beresies on every side, and temptations and lusts are continually springing up from within us. But looking to Jesus, and praying him to keep us, is the way of safety, though the hill be ever so difficult to us.

The reason why men choose By-ways.

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 drank thereof. (q)

Next he shewed 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 here were cast away when Christian came by. And although you see these ways are since stopped up with chains, posts, and a ditch, yet there are they that will choose to adventure here, rather than take the pains to go up this hill.

Christ. "The way of transgressors is hard." Prov. xiii. 15. It is a wonder that they can get into those ways without danger of breaking their necks.

Great-heart. They will venture: yea, if at any time any of the King's servants do happen to see them, aud tell them that they are in the wrong way, and so bid them beware of the danger, then they will railingly return them answer, and say, "As for the word that thou hast spoken to us in the name of the King, we will not harken unto thee; but we

(q) This represents to us, that some preachers, as the prophet says, foul the water with their feet, Ezek. xxxiv. 18. that is, though they preach somewhat about Christ, and salvation by him, yet they so clog, mire, and pollute, the stream of free grace, with prerequisites, terms, and conditions, &c. that a poor thirsty soul cannot drink the water, nor allay his thirst with it; but is forced to let it stand till these gross dregs sink to the bottom. Yea, we ought to beware of drinking such filthy dregs, for they will certainly swell us up with the tympany of pride of our free will, buman merit, and self-righteousness, which oppose the glory of Jesus, and comfort of our souls.

They ascend the Hill Difficulty.

will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth out of our mouths," &c. Jer. xliv. 16, 17. Nay, it you look a little farther, 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.

Christ. 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 a slothful man is a 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; 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 up thereto. (r)

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 the rest of 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 let us beware of sleeping; for, as I have heard, that it cost poor Christian dear.

(r) He who is a stranger to the hard work of self-denial, and how difficult it is to the flesh, knows not what this hill Difficulty means; for the nearer to the arbour of Jesus's rest, the more difficulties in the way; but the sweeter it is when attained.

They refresh themselves at the Arbour.

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.

Christ. 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 Mr. Interpreter put into my hand just when I came out of his doors: he gave me also a piece of an honey-comb, and a little bottle of spirits (s) J thought he gave you something, said Mercy, because he called you aside. Yes, so he did, said the other. But, said Christiana, it shall be still as I

(s). This is a sweet idea of God's refreshing his people by the way. The word and promises of God is what gracious souls feed upon; so that one saint of old cries out, "I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” Job xxiii. 12. And another declares, that "the law of God's mouth is better unto him than thousands of gold and silver." Psalm cxix. 72. Reader! I hope your experience bears a correspondence to the same. Jesus is the pasture of his own word, and if you know what it is to live upon him, you will know also, that there is always somewhat in him suited to his people's need. And when the Holy Ghost takes of the things of Jesus, to manifest to his people, he makes even their sorrows and their tears, like the spiced wine of the pomegranate.