I SAW then in my dream, that he went on thus even until he came at the 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, and the third Presumption.*

Christian then seeing them lie in this case went to them, if peradventure he might awake them; and cried, You are like to them that sleep on the top of a mast, (Prov. xxiii. 34,) for the dead sea is under you, a gulf 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. 1 Pet. v. 8. With that they looked upon him, and began to reply in this sort: Simple † said, "I see no danger;" Sloth said, "Yet a little more sleep" and Presumption said, "Every tub must stand upon its own bottom." And so they laid down to sleep again, and Christian went on his way.

Yet was he troubled to think that men in that danger should so little esteem the kindness of him that so freely offered to help them, both by the awakening of them, counselling of them, and proffering to help them off with their irons. And as he was troubled thereabout, he spied two men come tumbling over the wall on the left hand of the narrow way; and they made up apace to him. The name of the one was Formalist, and the name of the other Hypocrisy. So as I said, they drew up unto him, who thus entered with them into discourse.

Christian. Gentlemen, whence come you, and whither go you?

Formalist and Hypocrisy. We were born in the land of Vain-Glory, and are going for praise to Mount Zion.

The Lord shows us the misery and danger of other professors, to give us warnings by the way, and to stir us up to watchfulness.

†There is no persuasion will do, if God openeth not the eyes. Remember all is of grace. It is God's grace that quickens, enlightens, converts, justifies, preserves, sanctifies, and glorifies. Well may pilgrims sing every step:

Oh to grace what mighty debtors,
Daily, hourly, Lord, are we!

Christian. Why came you not in at the gate which standeth at the beginning of the way? Know you not that it is written, "He that cometh not in by the door, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber?" John x. 1.

They said, that to go to the gate for entrance was by all their countrymen counted too far about; and that, therefore, their usual way was to make a short cut of it, and to climb over the wall, as they had done.

Christian. But will it not be counted a trespass against the Lord of the city whither we are bound, thus to violate his revealed will?

They told him, that, as for that, he needed not trouble his head thereabout; for what they did, they had custom for: and could produce, if need were, testimony that would witness it for more than a thousand years.

But, said Christian, will your practice stand a trial at law?

They told him, that custom, it being of so long standing as above a thousand years, would doubtless now be admitted as a thing legal by an impartial judge, and besides, say they, if we get into the way, what's the matter which way we get in? If we are in, we are in: thou art but in the way, who, as we perceive, came in at the gate; and we are also in the way, that came tumbling over the wall: wherein now is thy condition better than ours?

Christian. I walk by the rule of my Master, you walk by the rude working of your fancies. You are counted thieves already by the Lord of the way, therefore I doubt you will not be found true men at the end of the way. You came in by yourselves without his direction, and shall go out by yourselves without nis mercy.?

A Christian spirit feels for others' dangers, and aims and strives to be profitable to them.

They that come into the way, but not by the door, think that they can say something in vindication of their own practice.

Here is the essential difference between a real Christian and formal hypocrites: he takes the word of God for the warrant of his faith, and the rule of his conduct, which they reject; for they are left under the power of their natural will and carnal reason, and

they bid him look to himself. Then I saw that they went on, every man in his way, without much conference one with another; save that these two men told Christian, that, as to laws and ordinances, they doubted not but that they should as conscientiously do them as he; therefore, said they, we see not wherein thou differest from us, but by the coat that is on thy back, which was, as we trow, given thee by some of thy neighbours, to hide the shame of thy nakedness.*

Christian. By laws and ordinances you will not be saved, (Gal. ii. 16,) since you came not in by the door. And as for this coat that is on my back, it was given me by the Lord of the place whither I go; and that as you say, to cover my nakedness with. And I take it as a token of kindness to me; for I had nothing but rags before: and besides, thus I comfort myself as I go; surely, think I, when I come to the gate of the city, the Lord thereof will know me for good, since I have his coat on my back! a coat that he gave me freely in the day that he stripped me of my rags. I have, moreover, a mark in my forehead, of which perhaps you have taken no notice, which one of my Lord's most intimate associates fixed there in the day that my burden fell off my shoulders. I will tell to you, moreover, that I had then given me a roll scaled, to comfort me by reading as I go on the way; I was also bid to give it in at the celestial gate, in token of my certain going in after it; all which things I doubt you want, and want them because you came not in at the gate.†

To these things they gave him no answer; only they looked upon each other and laughed.‡ Then I saw that they went on all, save that

hence they brave it out for a season, with vain hopes and confidences.

The glorious robe of Christ's righteousness, which is put upon every believer, sneered at and held in contempt by formal professors who see not their nakedness and want of covering.

Where there is the witness of the Spirit, and the seal of the Spirit, that soul will also glory in the righteousness of Christ; for this is the joy of faith, that Christ is the Lord our righteousness. Jer. xxiii. 6. In vain do men talk of inward joy, who reject the clothing of Christ's righteousness.

Vain-glorious fools laugh at Christ's humble il

grims.

What! sighing already, and just pardoned? One should expect that he was all joy; nothing but joy. Oh these are sighs of love, which strangers to spiritual joy know nothing of.

but with himself, and that sometimes sighingly, and sometimes comfortably: also he would be often reading in the roll that one of the shining ones gave him, by which he was refreshed.

I beheld then that they all went on till they came to the foot of the hill Difficulty;¶ at the bottom of which was a spring. There were also in the same place two other ways besides that which came straight from the gate, one turned to the left hand and the other to the right, at the bottom of the hill; but the narrow way lay right up the hill, and the name of the way is called Difficulty. Christian went now to the spring, and drank thereof to refresh himself, (Isa. xlix. 10,) and then began to go up the hill, saying

"The hill, though high, I covet to ascend,
The difficulty will not me offend;
For I perceive the way to life lies here;
Come, pluck up heart, let's neither faint nor fear.
Better, though difficult, the right way to go,
Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe." **

The other two also came to the foot of the hill; but when they saw that the hill was steep and high, and that there were two other ways to go; and supposing also that these two ways might meet again with that up which Christian went, on the other side of the hill, therefore they were resolved to go into those ways. Now the name of one of those ways was Danger, and the name of the other Destruction. So the one took the way which is called Danger, which did lead him into a great wood, and the other took directly up the way to Destruction, which led him into a wide field, full of dark mountains, where he stumbled and fell, and rose no more.††

This means the assurance which he had from the Spirit, of the free love, free grace, free pardon, free justification, of Christ to his soul.

He came to the hill Difficulty; a way unpleasing to flesh and blood, which proves and tries the sincerity of our faith, and the earnestness of our souls, in our pilgrimage.

**Depend upon it, pilgrim, some great blessing is at hand, when thou hast some great difficulty to grapple with and to overcome. 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 represents those circumstances which require self-denial and exertion, and may signify whatever in our walk proves irksome to flesh and blood.

tt Formalists and hypocrites, as they come easy inte the way of profession, without any convictions of sin to cause them to fly to Christ the Wicket gate, so they

I looked then after Christian, to see him go up the hill, where I perceived he fell from running to going, and from going to clambering upon his hands and knees, because of the steepness of the place. Now about the midway 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 awhile he at last fell into slumber, and thence into a fast sleep, which detained him in that place until it was almost night; and in his 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." Prov. vi. 6. And with that Christian suddenly started up, and sped him on his way, and went apace till he came to the top of the hill.†

Now when he was got up 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 is 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 further we go, the more danger we meet with; wherefore we turned, and are going back again. Yes, said Mistrust, for just before us lies a couple of lions in the way, (whether sleeping or waking we know not;) and we could not

find the easiest path to flesh and blood, and often perish in the end.

Happy for Christian that he did not fall into the dream of Antinomian notions, so as to sleep in a false security without his roll. The best of blessIngs, even spiritual comforts from the God of grace, through the infection of our nature, (if we do not watch and pay in faith,) are liable to be abused, so as to euse us to sleep when we should be active and diligent in running the heavenly race, looking unto Jesus.

† The Lord loves his people, nor will he suffer them to sleep the sleep of death; HE will, on their stirring up his gift within them, shine upon, and revive his gracious work.

Timorous and Mistrust are great enemies to the Christian's faith, and bring up an evil report of his way. Listen not to them, but look to God's truth and faithfulness; rely on his precious promises, and have your feet shod with the Gosnel of peace. Who or what shall harm you if ye be followers of that which is good?

| think, if we came within reach, but they would presently pull us in pieces.

Then said Christian, You make me afraid; but whither shall I flee to be safe? If I go back to my own country, that is prepared for fire and brimstone, and I shall certainly perish there; if I can get to the Celestial City, I am sure to be in safety there: I must venture. to go back is nothing but death to go forward is fear of death, and life everlasting beyond it: I will yet go forward. So Mistrust and Timor ous 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 Celestial 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 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 as he went, if happily he might find the roll that had been his comfort so many times in his journey. He

Christian shakes off fear by sound Scripture reasoning: even the reasoning of faith, against the fear of the flesh, and mistrust or unbelief. We have always a sure word of prophecy, whereunto we shall do well to take heed. When dangers beset, and fears assault, remember whose ye are, and whom you serve; look to the way you are in, and the end of your faith, even the salvation of your soul. Study the word of God and obey it.

He is perplexed for his roll; this is right. If we suffer spiritual loss, and are easy and unconcerned about it, it is a sure sign that we indulge carnal security and vain confidence. Many go on so till they sink into a downright Antinomian spirit. Oh beware of this; for many there are who abhor the name, yet have drunk into the spirit of it, and hence live and walk without spiritual communion with God the Father, and his Son Jesus Christ, and rest contented without the witness of the Spirit with their spirits, that they are the children of God.

went 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! (1 Thess. v. 7, 8; Rev. ii. 4, 5,) that I should sleep in the midst of difficulty! that I should so indulge the flesh, as to use that rest for ease to 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 sin 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, had it not been for this sinful sleep. How far might I have been on my way by this time! I am made to tread those steps thrice over, which I needed to have trod but once:† yea, now also I am like to be benighted, for the day is almost spent ; oh 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 God would have it,) looking sorrowfully down under the settle, there he spied his roll; the which he with trembling and haste catched up and put in his bosom. But who can tell how joyful this man was

*Look to your spirits, Christians. See if you have not after-sorrow for former indulgences. But it is far better to be crying, "O wretched man that I am," than to be alive to carnal confidences, and dead to the desire of spiritual comforts.

Christian's perplexity, fear, sorrow, remorse, redoubled earnestness, complaints, and self-reproachings, when he missed his roll, and went back to seek it, exactly suit the experience of numbers, who through unwatchfulness, are brought into a state of uncertainty. Nothing can afford comfort to a mind that has enjoyed an assurance of the favour of God, but that love which is "better than life;" and such is the abundant mercy of Jehovah, that he imparts light and power to the humble soul, who, by means of extraordinary diligence, with renewed application to the blood of Jesus, will in time recover his warranted confidence which he lost, and God will "restore to him the joy of his salvation;" but he must as it were, pass repeatedly over the same ground with sorrow, which had it not been for his negligence, he might have passed at once with comfort.

This means a fresh sense of the love and peace of God, and joy in the Holy Ghost, through faith in Christ Jesus. Mind with what alacrity and speed Pilgrim now pursues his journey. Oh this rich blessing of assurance is not enough prized, and too little sought for by professors. But how can any be con

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 oh 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 hear 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 frightened 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 pieces? Thus he went on. But while he was 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 by the highway side.

tent without it? It is impossible for them to be happy, and to rejoice in the Lord, without a real, scriptural assurance of his love and favour. It is this which adds wings to faith, liveliness to hope, joy to love, and cheerfulness to obedience. Plead the precious promises: be not content without the enjoyment of the blessings contained in them. Says our Lord, "Ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." John xvi. 24.

Hitherto Christian has been a solitary p-grim; but we must next consider him as admitted to the communion of the faithful, and joining with them in the most solemn public ordinances. This is represented under the emblem of the HOUSE BEAUTIFUL, and the Pilgrim's entertainment in it, as described in the subsequent pages. Mr. Bunyan here manifests much candour and liberality of sentiment; and his representations may suit the admission of any new members into the society of professed Christians in any communion, where a serious regard to spiritual religion is in this respect maintained.

It certainly would be very desirable, that Christian societies should be formed according to the principles here exhibited! such would indeed be very beautiful, honourable to God, conducive to mutual edification, and examples to the world around them. Different expedients have been adopted for thus promoting the communion of saints; the advantages resulting there.