Chrift. They are idle; they love not to take pains; the up-hill way is unpleasant to them. So it is fulfilled unto them what is written, The way of the flothful 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 fet forward, and began to go up the hill, and up the hill they went; but before they got up to the top, Chriftiana began to pant, and faid, I dare fay, this is a breathing hill: no marvel if they who love ease more than their fouls choose to themfelves a smoother way. Then faid Mercy, I must fit down; also the least of the children began to cry. Come, come, faid Great-heart, fit 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.

When they were come to the arbour, they were very willing to fit down, for they were all in a pelting heat. Then faid Mercy, How fweet is reft to those who labour! How good is the Prince of pilgrims to provide fuch refting places for them! Of this arbour I have heard much; but I never faw it before. But let us beware of fleeping here; for, as I have heard, that coft poor Christian dear.

Then faid Mr. Great-heart to the little ones, Come, my pretty boys, how do you do? What think you now of going on pilgrimage? Sir, faid the leaft, I was almoft out of heart; but I thank you for lending me a hand in time of need. I remem

ber

ber now what my mother told me, namely, That the way to heaven is as a ladder, and the way to hell is down hill. But I had rather go up the ladder to life, than down the hill to death.

Then faid Mercy, But the proverb is, To go down the hill is eafy: but James faid (for that was his name), The day is coming, when, in my opinion, going down the hill will be the hardest of all. Good boy, faid his master, thou haft given her a right answer. Then Mercy fmiled, but the little boy did blush.

Christ. Come, faid Chriftiana, will you eat a bit, to sweeten your mouths, while you fit here to rest your legs? For I have here a piece of pomegranate, which Mr. Interpreter put into my hand just as I came out of his doors; he gave me also a piece of an honeycomb, and a little bottle of fpirits: I thought he gave you fomething, faid Mercy, because he called you afide. Yes, fo he did, faid the other. But, faid Christiana, it fhall be ftill, as I faid it fhould, when at firft we came from home; thou shalt be a sharer in all the good I have", be

"This is the very spirit of one who has tafted the love of God; as he has freely received, fo he freely gives: he does not wish to eat his morfel alone. Oh! it is a pleasing fight, when the word goes from the heart of one to the heart of another; when Chriftians drink into the fame fpirit; are comforted together by the mutual faith of each other; and have communion and fellowship with each other, in and through the Lord Jefus Chrift, their living head.

cause thou didst fo willingly become my companion. Then he gave to them, and they did eat, both Mercy and the boys. Then faid Chriftiana to Mr. Great-heart, Sir, will you do as we do? But he anfwered, You are going on pilgrimage, and presently I fhall return: what you have, much good may it do you: at home I eat the fame every day. Now when they had eaten and drank, and had chatted a little longer, their guide faid to them, The day wears away, if you think good, let us prepare to be going. So they got up to go, and the little boys went before: but Chriftiana forgot to take her bottle of fpirits with her; fo fhe fent her little boy back to fetch it. Then faid Mercy, I think this is a lofing place. Here Christian loft his roll; here Chriftiana left her bottle behind: Sir, what is the cause of this? Their guide made answer, and faid, The cause is fleep or forgetfulness : fome fleep when they should keep

X

* This caution given by our blessed Lord will be necessary all through our pilgrimage, "Watch and pray." How apt are we to forget ourselves, our weakness and manifold infirmities, our continual obligations to infinite grace and mercy, our need of being kept every moment by divine power. It is not an uncommon case, when we have enjoyed some special communications of light or love, to be so pleased with the gifts as to forget the giver. Nothing proves the neceffity of a diligent attendance upon the means of grace, and of Christian fellowfhip and fociety, more than our pronenefs to forgetfulness; because, by these means the pure mind is ftirred up, by way of remembrance, and provoked, as it were, to love and good works. A neglect of the means is a fure fign of forgetful

nefs.

keep awake; and fome forget when they should remember; and this is the very cause why often, at the refting places, fome pilgrims, in fome things, come off lofers. Pilgrims fhould watch, and remember what they have already received under their greatest enjoyments; but, for want of doing fo, oftentimes their rejoicing ends in tears, and their funshine in a cloud; witnefs the ftory of Christian at this place.

When they were come to the place where Miftrust and Timorous met Christian to persuade him to go back for fear of the lions, they perceived as it were a stage, and before it, towards the road, a broad plate, with a copy of verses written thereon, and underneath, the reason of raising up that ftage in that place. The verses were these:

Let him who fees this stage take heed

Unto his heart and tongue;
Left, if he do not, here he speed

As fome have long agone.

The words underneath the verfes were, This ftage was built to punish fuch upon it, who, through timorousness or mistrust, shall be afraid to go further on pilgrimage: alfo on this ftage, both Mistrust and Timorous were bored through the tongue with a hot

nefs. May the Lord keep us lively in our frames; tender in our confciences; fervent in our fpirits; active and diligent in his fervice; concerned for his glory, the spread of his gospel, and the falvation of precious and immortal fouls. May we be mindful of these things, as doers of the word, and not hearers only.

iron,

iron, for endeavouring to hinder Christian on his journey.

Then faid Mercy, This is much like the saying of the Beloved, Pf. cxx. 3, 4, "What shall be given unto thee? Or what shall be done unto thee, thou falfe tongue? Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper."

So they went on, till they came within fight of the lions. Now Mr. Great-heart was a strong man, and fo he was not afraid of a lion: but yet, when they were come up to the place where the lions were, the boys who went before were glad to cringe behind, for they were afraid of the lions; so they stept back, and went behind. At this their guide smiled, and faid, How now, my boys, do you love to go before when no danger doth approach, and love to come behind as foon as the lions appear?

Now, as they went on, Mr. Great-heart drew his fword, with intent to make a way for the pilgrims in fpite of the lions. Then there appeared one who, it seems, had taken upon him to back the lions: and he said to the pilgrims' guide, What is the cause of your coming hither? Now the name of that man was Grim, or Bloody-man, because of his flaying pilgrims; he was of the race of the giants.

Then faid Great-heart, the pilgrims' guide, These women and children are going on pilgrimage, and this is the way they must go, and go they fhall, in fpite of thee and the lions.

Grim. This is not their way, neither shall they

8

go