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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.

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

Mercy. 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 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.

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

THE privileges of believers are emblematically represented in this chapter, by the Bath, the Seal, and the Garments. Pilgrims are apt to contract defilement in their daily walk: this our Lord taught his disciples when he washed their feet, John xiii. 10. "He that is washed, needeth not save to wash his feet."-He whose person is justified through faith in the blood of Christ, needeth not to wash again, as if every spot altered his state before God; yet needeth a daily application to the fountain, that his actions and affections may be purified from remaining sin; and that he may constantly receive renewing and sanctifying grace.

The pilgrims were also sealed in their foreheads. The Spirit seals believers unto the day of redemption, by impres sing upon them a visible image of God, and by shining upon the graces he has bestowed, so as to witness with their consciences, and to the world at large, that they are the children of God. Thus are they marked as his peculiar property; secured from the destroying angel; and made beautiful in the eyes of all, who can discern the beauty of holiness.

By the garments of "linen, clean and white," we are to understand "the righteousness of the saints," for so it is described, Rev. xix. 8. The righteousness of Christ, put on by faith, for justification, by which they are all entitled to glory; and the sanctification of the Spirit, by which they are made meet to enjoy it. In both these senses, every be liever " puts on the Lord Jesus Christ." Christians thus washed, sealed, and clothed, are truly glorious; but the grace of humility teaches every one to esteem his brother better than himself: he admires the grace of God in another, while perhaps he questions its existence in himself.

The Conductor, named Great-heart, a servant of the Interpreter, seems intended to point out the character of a gospel minister he is under the direction of the Holy Spirit, and his name intimates, that ministers who are to guide others, should be courageous in the cause of God;-armed with the sword of the Spirit, enjoying the hope of salvation, and defended perhaps by the shield of faith.

Thus conducted, they arrive at the cross, where they stopped to bless God for his love and grace. Here they recollected what was said to them at the gate, namely, that they should have pardon by word and by deed. This their guide fully explains, and shows very clearly the doctrine of a sinner's justification by the righteousness of Christ, imputed to him, and received by faith. This doctrine is not an use less, much less a pernicious speculation, as some have unjustly represented it. Its genuine effects on the hearts of believers are such as the pilgrims experienced at the cross. It was the belief of this, "that cut the strings of Christian's burden, and made him leap for joy." "In this righteousness (says the believer) I am justified, and I will glory. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness," Isa. Ixi. 10. A sight of this righteousness, as ours, will 'beget affection to Christ in the soul." It will excite holy admiration, and constrain the believer to devote his heart, his all, to the Lord. O that every professor might experience the power of this truth, as it is in Jesus!

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Folly, Sloth, and Presumption, are the great opposers of vital religion. When Christian passed this way, he found them asleep in fetters, and would fain have awakened them. But Simple cried, I see no danger; Sloth said, Yet a little more sleep; and Presumption cried, Every tub must stand on its own bottom. Behold the end of such wretched men.

Fearlessness of danger from sin; love of carnal ease; and presumptuous hopes of heaven, ruin vast multitudes of souls. "The end of these things is death." Take warning then; watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation."

CHAP. V.

The Pilgrims ascend the Hill Difficulty, pass the Lions, and arrive at the House Beautiful.

THUS they went on, till they came at the foot of the Hill Difficulty (see Part I. p. 45.), 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, said 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 now? 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 coinpanion 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 ditch, yet there are them that choose to adventure here, rather than take the pains to go up this hill.

Christ. The way of transgressors is hard (a). 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, and do call upon them, and tell them that they are in the wrong way, and do bid them beware of the danger: then they will railingly return them answer, and say, "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," &c. (b). Nay, if 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.

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

When they were come to the page 46), they were very willing they were all in a pelting heat. How sweet is rest to them that (a) Prov. xiii. 15.

arbour (see Part I. to sit down, for Then said Mercy, labour (c)! And

(b) Jer. xliv. 16, 17,

(e) Matt. xi. 28.

how good in the Prince of Pilgrims to provide such resting places for them! Of this harbour 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 bill. 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. That's 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; be gave me also a piece of an honey-comb, and a little bottle of spirits. I 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 said it should, when at first we came from home; thou shalt be a sharer in all the good that I have, because thou so willingly didst become my companion. Then she gave to them, and they did eat, both Mercy and the boys. And said Christiana to Mr. Great-heart, Sir, will ye do as we? But he answered, You are going on pilgrimage, and presently I shall return: much good may what you have do to you. At home I eat the same every day. Now when they had eaten and drank, and had chatted

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