call passengers to come and see; who said to Christian and his fellow, 66 'Ho! turn aside hither; I will show you a thing."

Christian. What thing is so deserving, as to turn us out of the way?

Demas. Here is a Silver-Mine, and some digging in it for treasure if you will come, with a little pains, you may richly provide for yourselves.

Hopeful. Let us go see.

Christian. Not I, (said Christian ;) I have heard of this place before now, and how many have there been slain; and besides, that treasure is a snare to those that seek it; for it hindereth them in their pilgrimage.

Then Christian called to Demas, saying, 'Is not the place dangerous? hath it not hindered many in their pilgrimage?' Demas. Not very dangerous, except to those that are careless. (But withal, he blushed as he spake.)

Then said Christian to Hopeful, 'Let us not stir a step, but still keep on our way.'

Hopeful. I will warrant you, when By-ends comes up, if he hath the same invitation as we, he will turn in thither to see.

Christian. No doubt thereof, for his principles lead him that way; and a hundred to one but he dies there.

Then Demas called again, saying, 'But will you not come over and see?'

Then Christian roundly answered, saying; ‘Demas, thou art an enemy to the right ways of the Lord of this way; and hast been already condemned for thine own turning aside, by one of his Majesty's justices; and why seekest thou to bring us into the like condemnation? Besides, if we at all turn aside, our Lord the King will certainly hear thereof, and will there put us to shame, where we would stand with boldness before him.'

Demas cried again 'That he also was one of their fraternity; and that if they would tarry a little, he also himself would walk with them.'

Then said Christian, "What is thy name? Is it not the same by which we have called thee?"

Demas. Yes; my name is Demas; I am the son of Abraham.

Christian. I know you; Gehazi* was your great-grandfather, and Judas† your father; and you have trod in their steps; it is but a devilish prank that thou usest. Thy father was hanged for a traitor; and thou deservest no better re

* 2 Kings v. 20.

† Matt. xxvi. 14, 15.-xxvii. 3. 5.

ward. Assure thyself, that when we come to the King, we will tell him of this thy behaviour.

Thus they went their way.

By this time By-ends and his companions were come again within sight; and they at the first beck went over to Demas. (Now, whether they fell into the pit by looking over the brink thereof, or whether they went down to dig, or whether they were smothered in the bottom by the damps that commonly arise; of these things I am not certain; but this I observed, that they never were seen again in the way.) Then sang Christian:

By-ends and silver Demas both agree;
One calls, the other runs, that he may be
A sharer in his lucre: so these do

Take up in this world, and no farther go.

Now I saw, that just on the other side of this plain, the Pilgrims came to a place where stood an old monument, hard by the highway-side; at the sight of which they were both concerned, because of the strangeness of the form thereof, for it seemed to them as if it had been a woman transformed into the shape of a pillar: Here therefore they stood looking and looking upon it, but could not for a time tell what they should make thereof; at last, Hopeful espied written upon the head thereof, a writing in an unusual hand: but he, being no scholar, called to Christian (for he was learned) to see if he could pick out the meaning: So he came, and, after a little laying of the letters together, he found the same to be this; Remember Lot's Wife.' So he read it to his fellow after which, they both concluded that that was the pillar of salt into which Lot's wife was turned, for looking back with a covetous heart, when she was going from Sodom for safety.--Which sudden and amazing sight gave them occasion of the following discourse.

:

Christian. Ah, my brother! this is a seasonable sight; it came opportunely to us after the invitation which Demas gave us to come over to view the hill Lucre and had we gone over, as he desired us, and as thou wast inclined to do, my brother, we had, for aught I know, been made, like this woman, a spectacle for those that shall come after, to behold.

Hopeful. I am sorry that I was so foolish; and am made to wonder that I am not now as Lot's wife: for wherein was the difference between her sin and mine? She only looked back, and I had a desire to go see: Let Grace be adored; and let me be ashamed, that ever such a thing should be in mine heart!

* Gen xix. 26.

Christian. Let us take notice of what we see here, for our help for time to come: This woman escaped one judgment, (for she fell not by the destruction of Sodom;) yet she was destroyed by another: as we see, she is turned into a pillar of salt.

Hopeful. True; and she may be to us both caution, and example; caution, that we should shun her sin; or a sign of what judgment will overtake such as shall not be prevented by this caution: So Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, with the two hundred and fifty men that perished in their sin,* did also become a sign, or example to beware. But above all, I muse at one thing; to wit, how Demas and his fellows can stand so confidently yonder to look for that treasure, which this woman, but for looking behind her after, (for we read not that she stepped one foot out of the way,) was turned into a pillar of salt; especially since the judgment which overtook her did make her an example, within sight of where they are: For they cannot choose but see her, did they but lift up their eyes.

Christian. It is a thing to be wondered at, and it argueth that their hearts are grown desperate in the case; and I cannot tell who to compare them to so fitly, as to them that pick pockets in the presence of the judge, or that will cut purses under the gallows. It is said of the men of Sodom,f that they were sinners exceedingly,' because they were sinners before the Lord,' that is, in his eye-sight, and notwithstanding the kindness that he had showed them: for the land of Sodom was now like the garden of Eden heretofore. This therefore provoked him the more to jealousy, and made their plagues as hot as the fire of the Lord out of heaven could make it. And it is most rationally to be concluded, that such, even such as these are, that shall sin in the sight, yea, and that too in despite of such examples, that are set continually before them to caution them to the contrary, must be partakers of the severest judgments.

Hopeful. Doubtless thou hast said the truth: but what a mercy is it, that neither thou, but especially I, am not made myself this example! This ministereth occasion to us to thank God, to fear before him, and always to remember Lot's wife.

I saw then, that they went on their way to a pleasant River; which David the king called the River of God; but John, the River of the Water of Life. Now their way lay just upon the bank of this river. Here therefore

Numb. xxvi. 9, 10. § Psalm lxv. 9.

† Gen. xiii, 13.
|| Rev. xxii. 9.

+ Ver. 10.

Christian and his companion walked with great delight: they drank also of the water of the river, which was pleasant and enlivening to their weary spirits. Besides, on the banks of this river, on either side, were green trees* of all manner of fruit; and the leaves they did eat, to prevent surfeits, and other diseases that are incident to those that heat their blood by travels. On either side of the river was also a Meadow, curiously beautified with lilies; and it was green all the year long. In this meadow they lay down and slept for here they might lie down safely. When they awoke, they gathered again of the fruit of the trees, and drank again of the water of the river, and then lay down again to sleep. Thus they did several days and nights: Then they sang:

Behold ye, how these crystal streams do glide,
To comfort Pilgrims, by the highway-side.
The meadows green, besides their fragrant smell,
Yield dainties for them: and he that can tell

What pleasant fruit, yea, leaves, these trees do yield,

Will soon sell all, that he may buy this field.

So when they were disposed to go on, (for they were not as yet at their journey's end,) they did eat and drink; and departed.

Now, I beheld in my dream, that they had not journeyed far, but the river and the way for a time parted; at which they were not a little sorry; yet they durst not go out of the way. Now, the way from the river was rough, and their feet tender by reason of their travels: so the souls of the Pilgrims were much discouraged because of the way.§ Wherefore still as they went on, they wished for a better way. Now, a little before them, there was on the left hand of the road a meadow, and a stile to go over into it; and that meadow is called By-path Meadow. Then said Christian to his fellow, 'If this meadow lieth along by our way side, let us go over into it.' Then he went to the stile to see; and behold, a path lay along by the way on the other side of the fence. It is according to my wish, (said Christian,) here is the easiest going; come, good Hopeful, and let us go over.'

Hopeful. But how if this path should lead us out of the

way?

Christian. That is not likely. Look, doth it not go along by the way side?

† Psalm xxiii. 2.

Isaiah xiv. 30.

Numb. xxi. 4.

* Ezek. xlvii. 12.
Observe, how one temptation makes way for another.

So Hopeful, being persuaded by his fellow, went after him over the stile.* When they were gone over, and were got into the path, they found it very easy for their feet; and withal, they looking before them, espied a man walking as they did, (and his name was Vain Confidence;) so they called after him, and asked him, whither that way led? He said, 'To the Celestial Gate.' 'Look, (said Christian,) did not I tell you so? By this you may see we are right.' So they followed; and he went before them. But, behold, the night came on, and it grew very dark; so that they that were behind, lost the sight of him that went before.

He therefore that went before, (Vain Confidence by name,) not seeing the way before him, fell into a deep pit, which was on purpose there made by the prince of those grounds, to catch vain-glorious fools withal; and was dashed in pieces with his fall.

Now Christian and his fellow heard him fall: So they called to know the matter; but there was none to answer; only they heard a groaning. Then said Hopeful, 'Where are we now?' Then was his fellow silent, as mistrusting that he had led him out of the way. And now it began to rain, and thunder and lighten in a most dreadful manner; and the waters rose amain!‡

Then Hopeful groaned in himself, saying, 'Oh, that I had kept on my way!'

Christian. Who would have thought that this path should have led us out of the way?

Hopeful. I was afraid of it at the very first; and therefore gave you that gentle caution. I would have spoke plainer, but that you are older than I.§

Christian. Good brother, be not offended; I am sorry I have brought thee out of the way, and that I have put thee into such imminent danger. Pray, my brother, forgive me; I did not do it of an evil intent.

Hopeful. Be comforted my brother, for I forgive thee: and believe too, that this shall be for our good.

Christian. I am glad I have met with a merciful brother. But we must not stand thus; let us try and go back again. Hopeful. But, good brother, let me go before.

Christian. No; if you please, let me go first, that, if there be any danger, I may be first therein, because by my means we are both gone out of the way.

*See what it is too suddenly to fall in with strangers. Strong Christians may lead weak ones out of the way. Isaiah ix. 16.

Mark the meekness of Hopeful's reply.