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Men will not be kept from By-ways,

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. (k)

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 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 they that will choose to adventure here, rather than take the pains to go up this hill.'

Chr. "The way of transgressors is hard :"* it is a wonder that they can get into those ways without danger of breaking their necks.

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Gr.-H. They will venture; yea, if at any time any of the King's servants do happen to see them, and doth call upon them, and tell them, that they are in the wrong ways, and do 'bid them beware of the danger, then they 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 mouth." Nay, if you look a little further, 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. (1)

Chr. 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 the slothful man is as an hedge

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(k) This passage shows, that the preaching of the gospel was especially intended by the Spring, in the former part of the work. Since that had been published, the author had witnessed a departure from the simplicity of the gospel, as it has been before observed.* This might be done unadvisedly in those immediately concerned; but it originated from the devices of evil men, and the subtlety of Satan. They, however, who honestly and carefully aimed to distinguish between the precious and the vile, might separate the corrupt part from the truths of God, and from the latter derive comfort and establishment.

(1) The express declarations, commandments, and warnings of Scripture; and the heartsearching doctrine and distinguishing application of faithful ministers, sufficiently hedge up all those by-ways, into which professors are tempted to turn aside; but carnal self-love, and desire of ease to the flesh, (which always opposes its own crucifixion,) induce numbers to break through all obstacles, and to risk their eternal interests, rather than deny themselves, and endure hardship in the way to heaven. Nor will teachers be wanting to flatter them with the hope of being saved by notionally believing certain doctrines, while they practically treat the whole word of God as a lie!

** Note (k,) p. 217.

The Pilgrims climb the Hill, and rest in the Arbour.

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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 thereto.

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 rest to them that labour !t And how good is the Prince of Pilgrims, to provide such restingplaces for them! Of this Arbour 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.

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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.

"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.' '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 * Prov. xv. 19. ↑ Matt, xi. 28.

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Being refreshed, they go forward.

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 you 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 drunk, and had chatted a little longer, their Guide said 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 Christiana forgot to take her bottle of spirits with her; so she sent her little boy back to fetch it. Then said Mercy, 'I think this is a losing place. Here Christian lost his roll; and here Christiana left her bottle behind her: Sir, what is the cause of this ? So their Guide made answer, and said, "The cause is sleep or forgetfulness; some sleep when they should keep awake, and some forget when they should remember; and this is the very cause, why often at the resting-places some Pilgrims in some things come off losers. Pilgrims should watch and remember what they have already received under their greatest enjoyments; but for want of doing so, oftentimes their rejoicing ends in tears, and their sun-shine in a cloud :-witness the story of Christian at this place.'

When they were come to the place where Mistrust 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 of that Stage in that place rendered. The verses were

'Let him that sees that Stage, take heed

Upon his heart and tongue :

Lest if he do not, here he speed
As some have long agone.'

The words underneath the verses were, "This Stage was built to punish such upon, who, through timorousness or mistrust, shall be afraid to go further on pilgrimage: also on this Stage both Mistrust and Timorous were burnt through the tongue with a hot iron, for endeavouring to hinder Christian on his journey.'

Then said Mercy, This is much like to the saying of the Beloved, "What shall be given unto thee; or what shall be

The Lions backed by Giant Grim.

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done unto thee, thou false tongue? sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper."* (m)

So they went on, till they came within sight of the lions.† Now Mr. Great-heart was a strong man, so he was not afraid of a lion but yet when they were come up to the place where the lions were, the boys that 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 said, 'How now, my boys, do you love to go before when no danger doth approach, and love to come behind so soon as the lions appear

Now as they went on, Mr. Great-heart drew his sword, with intent to make a way for the Pilgrims in spite of the lions. Then there appeared one, that 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 slaying of Pilgrims; and he was of the race of the giants. Then said the Pilgrims' Guide, These women and children are going on pilgrimage; and this is the way they must go, and go it they shall, in spite of thee and the lions." Grim. This is not their way, neither shall they go therein. I am come forth to withstand them, and to that end will back the lions.

Now, to say the truth, by reason of the fierceness of the lions, and of the grim carriage of him that did back them, this way had of late lain much unoccupied, and was almost all grown over with grass.

Then said Christiana, Though the highways have been unoccupied heretofore, and though the travellers have been made in times past to walk through by-paths, it must not be so now I am risen, "Now I am risen a mother in Israel."‡

Then he swore by the lions, but it should and therefore bid them turn aside, for they should not have passage there. But their Guide made first his approach unto Grim, and laid so heavily on him with his sword, that he forced him to retreat.

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(m) The word David signifies Beloved. We should be very cautious not to speak any thing, which may discourage such as seem disposed to a religious life; lest we should be found to have abetted that enemy, who spares no pains to seduce them back again into the world. Even the unbelieving fears and complaints of weak and tempted Christians should be repressed before persons of this description: how great then will be the guilt of those who stifle their own convictions, and act contrary to their conscience, from fear of reproach or persecution, and then employ themselves in dissuading others from serving God!

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Giant Grim is slain by Great-heart.

Then said he that attempted to back the lions, "Will you slay me upon mine own ground ?'

Gr.-H. It is the King's highway that we are in, and in this way it is that thou hast placed the lions; but these women and these children, though weak, shall hold on their way in spite of the lions.-And with that he gave him again a downright blow, and brought him upon his knees. With this blow he also broke his helmet, and with the next cut off an arm. Then did the Giant roar so hideously, that his voice frighted the women; and yet they were glad to see him lie sprawling upon the ground. Now the lions were chained, and so of themselves could do nothing. Wherefore, when old Grim, that intended to back them, was dead, Great-heart said to the Pilgrims, 'Come now, and follow me, and no hurt shall happen to you from the lions.' They therefore went on, but the women trembled as they passed by them; the boys also looked as if they would die, but they all got by without further hurt. (n)

Now, when they were within sight of the Porter's lodge, they soon came up unto it; but they made the more haste after this to go thither, because it is dangerous travelling there in the night. So when they were come to the Gate. the Guide knocked, and the Porter cried, "Who is there ?" But as soon as the Guide had said, 'It is I,' he knew his voice, and came down; for the Guide had oft before that

(n) It is not very easy to determine the precise idea of the author, in each of the Giants, who assault the Pilgrims, and are slain by the Conductor and his assistants. Some have supposed that Unbelief is here meant: but Grim, or Bloody-man, seem not to be apposite names for this inward foe; nor can it be conceived that Unbelief should more violently as sault those, who are under the care of a valiant Conductor, than it had done the solitary Pilgrims. I apprehend, therefore, that this Giant was intended for the emblem of certain active men, who busied themselves in framing and executing persecuting statutes; which was done at the time when this was written more violently than it had been before. Thus the temptation to fear man, which at all times assaults the believer, when required to make an open profession of his faith, was exceedingly increased: and, as heavy fines and severe penalties, in accession to reproach and contempt, deterred men from joining themselves in communion with dissenting churches, that way was almost unoccupied, and the travellers went through by-paths, according to the author's sentiments on the subject.-But the preaching of the gospel, by which the ministers of Christ wielded the Sword of the Spirit, overcame this enemy: for the example and exhortations of such courageous combatants animated even weak believers to overcome their fears, and to act according to their consciences, leaving the event to God.-This seems to have been the author's mearing; and perhaps he also intended to encourage his brethren boldly to persevere in resisting such persecuting statutes, confidently expecting that they should prevail for the repeal of them; by which, as by the death of the Giant, the Pilgrims might be freed from additional terror, in acting consistently with their avowed principles.

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