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 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 his sleep his roll fell out of his hand. Now, as he was sleeping, there came one 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 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 think, if we came within reach, but they would presently pull us in pieces.

Then said CHRISTIAN, you make me afraid; but

1 Prov. vi. 6.

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 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 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 fact, 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 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 unto 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 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 :-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 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 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

1 Thess. v. 7, 8. Rev. ii. 4, 5.

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 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 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.

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 he 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 spied two lions in the way. Now, thought he, I see the danger that MISTRUST 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 was before him. But the PORTER at the lodge, whose name is WATCHFUL, perceiving that CHRISTIAN made a halt, as if he would go back,

cried unto him, saying, 'Is thy strength so small1? Fear not the lions, for they are chained, and are placed there for trial of faith where it is, and for discovery of • those that have none: keep in the midst of the path ' and no hurt shall come unto thee.'

Then I saw that he went on trembling for fear of the lions; but taking good heed to the directions of the PORTER, he heard them roar, but they did him no harm. Then he clapped his hands, and went on till he came and stood before the gate where the PORTER was. Then said CHRISTIAN to the PORTER, Sir, what house is this? And, May I lodge here to-night? The PORTER answered, This house was built by the Lord of the hill, and he built it for the relief and security of pilgrims. This PORTER also asked whence he was? and whither he was going?

CHR. I am come from the city of DESTRUCTION, and am going to mount ZION; but, because the sun is now set, I desire, if I may, to lodge here to-night. POR, What is your name?

CHR. My name is now CHRISTIAN, but my name at the first was GRACELESS; I came of the race of JAPHETH', whom God will persuade to dwell in the tents of SHEM.

POR, But how doth it happen that you come so late? The sun is set.

CHR, I had been here sooner, but that, wretched man that I am! I slept in the arbour that stands on the hill-side. Nay, I had, notwithstanding that, been here much sooner, but that in my sleep I lost my evi

Mark iv. 40, 2 Gen. ix. 27.