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and his knees, because of the steepness of the place, Now about the mid-way to the top of the hill, was a pleasant arbour, made by the Lord of the hill, for the refreshing of weary travellers; thither therefore Christian got, where also he sat down to rest him; then he pulled his roll out of his bosom, and` read therein to his comfort; he also now began afresh to take a review of the coat or garment that was given him as he stood by the cross. Thus pleasing himself a while, he at last fell into a slumber, and thence into a fast sleep, which detained him in that place until it was almost night; and in this sleep his roll fell out of his hand. Now as he was sleeping, there came one to him, and awaked him, saying, "Go to the ant, "thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise().” And with that Christian suddenly started up, and sped him on his way, and went apace till he came

to the top of the bill.

;

Now when he was got to the top of the hill, there came two men running to meet him amain the name of the one was Timorous, and of the other Mistrust; to whom Christian said, Sirs, what's the matter you run the wrong way; Timorous answered, that they were going to the city of Zion, and had got up that difficult place: but, said he, the farther we go, the more danger we meet with; wherefore we turned, and are going back again.

Yes, said Mistrust, for just before us lie a couple of lions in the way; (whether sleeping or waking we know not;) and we could not think, if we came within reach, but they would presently pull us in pieces.

Chr. Then said Christian, you make me afraid; but whither shall I flee to be safe? If I go back 10 my own country, that is prepared for fire and brimstone, and I shall certainly perish there: If I can get to the cœlestial city, I am sure to be in safety there; I must venture: to go back, is nothing but death;

(ƒ) Prov. vi. 6,

to go forward, is fear of death; and life everlasting beyond it: I will yet go forward. So Mistrust and Timorous ran down the hill, and Christian went on his way. But thinking again of what he had heard from the men, he felt in his bosom for his roll, that he might read therein, and be comforted; but he felt, and found it not. Then was Christian in great distress, and knew not what to do; for he wanted that which used to relieve him; and that which should have been his pass into the cœlestial city. Here therefore he began to be much perplexed, and knew not what to do; at last he bethought himself that he had slept in the arbour that is on the side of the hill; and falling down upon his knees he asked God forgiveness for that his foolish act, and then went back to look for his roll. But all the way he went back, who can sufficiently set forth the sorrow of Christian's heart? Sometimes he sighed, sometimes he wept, and oftentimes he chid himself for being so foolish to fall asleep in that place which was erected only for a little refreshment for his weariness. Thus therefore he went back, carefully looking on this side and on that all the way he went, if happily he might find the roll that had been his comfort so many times in his journey. He went on thus, till he came again in sight of the arbour where he sat and slept; but that sight renewed his sorrow the more, by bringing again, even afresh, his evil of sleeping into his mind. Thus therefore he now went on bewailing his sinful sleep, saying, O wretched man that I am! that I should sleep in the day time! that I should sleep in the midst of difficulty! that I should so indulge the flesh, as to use that rest for ease of my flesh, which the Lord of the hill hath erected only for the relief of the spirits of pilgrims! How many steps have I took in vain! (thus it happened to Israel: for their sins they were sent back again by the way of the Red Sea) and I am made to tread those steps with sorrow, which I might have trod with delight, bad it not been for this sinful sleep. How far night I

have been on my way by this time! I am made to tread those steps thrice over, which I needed not to have trod but once; yea, now also I am like to be benighted, for the day is almost spent: O that I had not slept! Now by this time he was come to the arbour again, where for a while he sat down and wept; but at last (as Providence would have it) looking sorrowfully down under the settle, there he espied his roll; the which he with trembling and haste catched up, and put into his bosom. But who can tell how joyful this man was, when he had gotten his roll again? For this roll was the assurance of his life, and acceptance at the desired haven. Therefore he laid it up in his bosom, gave God thanks for directing his eye to the place where it lay, and with joy and tears betook himself again to his journey. But, O how nimbly now did he go up the rest of the hill! Yet, before he got up, the sun went down upon Christian; and this made him again recall the vanity of his sleeping to his remembrance; and thus he again began to condole with himself: O thou sinful sleep! how for thy sake am I like to be benighted in my journey! I must walk without the sun, darkness must cover the path of my feet, and I must bear the noise of doleful creatures, because of my sinful sleep! Now also he remembered the story that Mistrust and Timorous told him of, how they were frighted with the sight of the lions. Then said Christian to himself again, these beasts range in the night for their prey, and if they should meet with me in the dark, how should I shift them! how should I escape being by them torn in picces! Thus he went on his way; but while he was thus bewailing his unhappy miscarriage, he lifted up his eyes, and behold there was a very stately palace before him, the name of which was Beautiful, and it stood just by the highway side.

5

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

THE Christian, whose heart is happy in the love of God, will feel much " compassion for the ignorant, and them that are out of the way." Thus, when our Pilgrim met with Simple, Sloth, and Presumption, he faithfully warned them of their danger, and offered his kind assistance. How do such characters as these abound, even where the gospel is preached! Some, through ignorance of the law, see no danger. Others are so in love with ease, that their convictions are ineffectual. And others are so presumptuously confident, that they will not come to Christ for life. In vain is all persuasion with such, till the Lord open their eyes.

The awful characters of a Formalist and a Hypocrite are next described. Their religion has no other object than the praise of men. Unacquainted with the evil of sin, they see no need of Christ. They think the traditions and customs of men of greater authority than the word of God. They expect heaven in the way of sincere obedience to laws and ordinances; while they despise Christian on account of his greatest glory, the robe on his back, or the righteousness of Christ imputed to him. They also laugh at his experience of the Spirit's work, in sanctifying and sealing him to the day of redemption. Such characters as these are too common. God forbid, reader, that either of them should be thine!

The believer's state on earth is a state of trial; he must meet with difficulties, to prove his faith and love. The hill Difficulty may signify whatever in our walk proves irksome to flesh and blood. Before Christian began to ascend it, he drank of the refreshing spring at the bottom: which intimates, that the Lord often favours his people with peculiar consolation at the approach of great trouble. Thus was he animated to grapple with trials, and not to shun them for the sake of ease, as Formalist and Hypocrite did, to their eternal ruin. Difficult as the ascent was, he was relieved in the mid-way, by a "word of grace," signified by the "pleasant arbour." He was also indulged with a fresh view of his evidences for heaven, and the glory of the Redeemer's righteous even in this happy frame, danger was near. The best blessings, through the remaining corruption of our nature, may be abused. Pleased with the gifts of grace, rather than with the gracious Giver, pride secretly creeps in, and we fall first into a sinful self complacence, and then into indolence and

D

But

security. This is intended by his falling fast asleep. No wonder that in such a state the christian loses his roll, or in other words, his evidences for heaven, and happy assurance of it.

The evil report of Timorous and Mistrust causes a monientary fear in the Pilgrim's bosom. He scarcely knows what to do. But he reasons like honest Peter; "To whom shall I go? Christ only has the words of eternal life." To go back is certain death; to go forward is indeed attended with the fear of death; but eternal life is beyond, and I must venture. Blessed resolution indeed.

In this state of mind he wishes to review the marks of his adoption, but the roll is lost, and his comfort is gone. What does he do? Is he contented without it, as many antinomians in heart are? No, no, he heartily deplores his great loss; confesses and laments his sinful sloth and carnal indulgence, and accuses himself as the author of his misery. He stirs up himself diligently to recover his assurance of hope, and most thankfully acknowledges the mercy of God in restoring it. Pour backslider, go thou and do likewise!

CHAP. VIII.

Christian safely passes the lions; and arrives at the house called Beautiful, where he is kindly received, and agreeably entertained.

So I saw in my dream, that he made haste and

went forward, that if possible he might get lodging there. Now before he had gone far, e entered into a very narrow passage, which was about a furlong off the porter's lodge, and looking very narrowly before him, as he went, he espied two lions in the way. Now, thought he, I see the danger that Mis-trust and Timorous were driven back by. (The lions were chained, but he saw not the chains.) Then he was afraid, and thought also himself to go back after them: for he thought nothing but death

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