Pilgrim's progress continued. In the last narration, Christian had lost the burden off of his back. It's the side of the cross, and it fell into the sepulcher, and now he is rejoicing. And so we continue from there. I saw then in my dream that he went on thus, even until he came at a 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 lying his case went to them, if peradventure he might awake them and cried, you are like them that sleep on the top of a mast, for the Dead Sea is under you, a gulf that has 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 goes about like a roaring lion comes by, he will certainly become a prey to his teeth. With that, they looked upon him and began to reply in this sort. Simple said, I see no danger. Thin said Sloth. Yet, a little more sleep, and Presumption said, Every fat must stand upon its own bottom. What is the answer else that I should give you?" And so they lay down to sleep again, and Christian went on his way. Yet, he was 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 awakening of them, counseling of them, and proffering to help them off with their irons. And as he was troubled thereabout, he spied two men coming, tumbling over the wall on the left hand of the narrow way. And he made a papace to him. The name of the one was Formalist. to name of the other, hypocrisy. So, as I said, they dropped to him, who thus entered with them into discourse. Christian said, Gentlemen, whence came you, and where are you going? Formalist and hypocrisy replied, we were born in a land of vainglory. and are going for praise to Mount Zion. Why did you not come in at the gate, which stands at the beginning of the way? Do you not know that it is written that he that comes not in by the door, but climbs up by some other way, the same as a thief and a robber?" Formalist and hypocrisy replied. 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 shortcut of it, and to climb over the wall, as they had done, Christian then asked. But will it not be counted a trespass against the lord of the city, where you are bound, thus to violate his revealed will?" And then they told him that as for that, he needed not to trouble his head about it. For what they did, they had a 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? And then they told him that custom, it being of so long a standing as above a thousand years, would doubtless now be admitted to the thing legal by any impartial judge. And besides, they said, if we get into the way, what manner is it which way we got in? If we are in, we are in. You are 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. We're in now as your condition better than ours. I walk by the rule of my master, Christian said. You walk by the rude working of your fancies. You're 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 come in by yourselves, without his direction, and shall go out by yourselves, without his mercy." To this they made him but little answer, only 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 is to laws and ordinances. They did not doubt, but they should as conscientiously do them as he. Therefore they said, we see not in what way we differ from you, but by the coat that is on your back, which was, as I understand, given you by some of your neighbors to hide the shame of your nakedness. Christian replied, by laws and ordinances he will not be saved. 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 where I go, and that, as you say, to cover my nakedness with, and I have taken it as a token of his kindness to me, for I had nothing but rags before, and besides, thus I comfort myself as I go. Surely I think when I come to the gate of the city, The Lord of it will know me for good since I have this 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 is one of my Lord's most intimate associates, fixed there in the day that my burden fell off my shoulders. I will tell you, moreover, that I had then given me a role, sealed 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 were things, I doubt, you want, and want them because you came not in at the gate. To the things they gave them no answer, only they looked upon each other and laughed. Then I saw they went on all, save the Christian kept before, who had no more talk but with himself, and at some times 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, to 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 end, 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 going up this side of the hill is called difficulty. Christian now went to the spring, and drank of it to refresh himself, and then began to go up the hill, saying, the hill, the high I covet to ascend. The difficulty will not me offend. for I perceive the way to life lies here. Come, pluck up heart, that'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 in those ways. Now, to name up one of those ways was Danger, and to name up the other, Destruction. So the one took the way which is called Danger, which led 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. Shall they who wrong begin, yet rightly end? Shall they at all have safety for their friend? No, no, in his strong manner they set out. and headlong will they fall, at last, no doubt. 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 his knees, because of the steepness of the place. Now about the midway to the top of the hill was a pleasant harbour, made by the Lord of the Hill for the refreshing of weary travelers. There, therefore, Christian got, for he also sat down to rest himself. Then he pulled the roll out of his bosom. and read in it 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 a sleep his role fell out of his hand. Now as he was sleeping, there came unto him in a wolk him, saying, Go to the aunt, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise. And with that Christian started up, and sped him on his way, and went apace till he came 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're on the wrong way. Timorous answered that they were going to the city of Zion and had got up that difficult place, but he said, 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 lie a couple of lions in the way. Whether sleeping or waking, we don't know, 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 where shall I fly 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'm 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 role, 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 arbor, did his on the side of the hill, and falling down upon his knees he asked God's forgiveness for that his foolish act, and then went back to look for his role. 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 is erected only for a little refreshment for his weariness. Thus, therefore, he went back, carefully looking on this side and on that, all the ways he went, if happily he might find his role. It had been his comfort so many times in his journey. He went thus till he came again within sight of the arbor, 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 a sinful sleep, saying, A wretched man that I am! that I should sleep in the daytime, 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 has 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 I might have been on my way by this time! I am made to tread those steps thrice over, which I needed not to have trod but once. He now also 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 Christian would have it, looking sorrowfully down under the saddle, there he aspied his row, to which he, with trembling and haste, caught it up. and put it into his bosom. But who can tell how joyful this man was when he had gotten his role again? For this role was the assurance of his life, an acceptance at the desired haven. Therefore he laid it up in his bosom, gave thanks to God for directing his eye to the place where it lay, and with joy and tears but took 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 Krishna, and this made him again recall the vanity of his sleeping to his remembrance, and thus he again began to condole with himself. Oh, you sinful sleep, how for your 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 the doleful creatures because of my sinful sleep." Now also he remembered a story that mistrust and timors 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 could I shift them? How should I escape being by them, torn in pieces? Thus he went on his way, but while he was thus 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 just beside the highway. So I saw in my dream that he made haste and went forward. Did it possible he might get lodging there? No. Before he'd gone far, he entered into a very narrow passage, which is about a furlong off the Porter's Lodge. And looking very narrowly before him as he went, he saw two lions in the way. Now, he thought, I see the dangers that mistrust and timorous were driven back by. The lions were chained, but he didn't see the chains, and he was afraid. He 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 the Christian made a halt as if he would go back. Cry to him, saying, is your strength so small? Do not fear the lions, for they are chained, and their place there for a trial of faith where it is, and for discovery of those that have none. Keep in the midst of the path, no hurt shall come to you. Difficulty is behind, fear is before, though he's got on the hill, The lions roar. The Christian man is never long at ease. When one fright's gone, another doesn't cease. Then I saw they 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 no harm to him. 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 tonight? The porter answered, This house was built by the lord of the hill, and he built it for the relief and security of pilgrims The porter also asked whence he was, and where he was going. I am come from the city of destruction, and I am going to Mount Zion, but because the sun is now set, I desire if I may to lodge here tonight. What is your name? My name is now Christian, but my name at first was Graceless. I came of the race of Japheth. whom God will persuade to dwell in the tents of Shem. But how does it happen you came here so late? The sun is set. I'd been here sooner, but that wretched man that I am. I slept in the arbor that stands on the hillside. Nay, I had, notwithstanding that, been here much sooner, but that in my sleep I lost my evidence and came without it to the brow of the hill. and in feeling for it, and did not find it, I was forced with sorrow of heart to go back to the place where I slept my sleep, where I found it, and now I am come. Well, the porter said, I will call one of the virgins of this place who will, if she likes your talk, bring you into the rest of the family according to the rules of the house. So watchful, the porter rang a bell. At the sound of which came out the door of the house a grave and beautiful damsel named Discretion, and asked why she was called. Porter answered, This man is in a journey from the city of destruction to Mount Zion. But being weary and benighted, he asked me if he might lodge here tonight. So I told him I would call for you, who after discourse had with him, may do as seems you good. even according to the law of the house. Then she asked him whence he was, and where he was going, and he told her. She asked him also how he got into the way, and he told her. Then she asked what he had seen and met with in the way, and he told her. And last she asked his name. So he said, it is Christian, and I so much the more desire to lodge here tonight. because by what I perceive, this place was built by the Lord of the Hill for the relief and security of pilgrims." So she smiled, but the water stood in her eyes, and after a little pause she said, I will call for two or three more of the family. So she ran to the door and called out prudence, piety and charity. who, after a little more discourse with him, had him into the family. And many of them, meeting him at the threshold of the house, said, Come in, you blessed of the Lord. This house was built by the Lord of the Hill on purpose to entertain such pilgrims in. Then he bowed his head and followed him into the house. So when he was come in and sat down, they gave him something to drink and consented together that until supper was ready, some of them should have some particular discourse with Christian for the best improvement of time. And they appointed piety and prudence and charity to discourse with him. And thus they began. Piety said, Come, good Christian, since we have been so loving to you, to receive you in our house this night, let us, if perhaps we may better ourselves thereby, talk with you of all things that have happened to you in your pilgrimage. With a very good will, and I am glad that you are so well disposed, said Christian. What moved you at first to betake yourself to a pilgrim's life? I was driven out of my native country by a dreadful sound that was in my ears. To wit, that unavoidable destruction attended me if I abode in a place where I was. But how did it happen that you came out of your country this way? It was as God would have it. For when I was under the fears of destruction, I did not know where to go, but by chance there came a man, even to me, and as I was trembling and weeping, whose name is Evangelist, and he directed me to the Wicked Gate, which else I should never have found, and so set me into the way that has led me directly to this house. But did you not come by the house of the Interpreter? Yes. and did see such things err, to remembrance of which will stick by me as long as I live, especially three things, to wit, how Christ, in spite of Satan, maintains his work of grace in the heart, how the man had sent himself quite out of hopes of God's mercy, and also the dream of him that thought in his sleep the day of judgment was come. Why? Did you hear him tell his dream? Yes, and a dreadful one it was. I thought it made my heart ache as he was telling of it, but yet I am glad I heard it. Was that all you saw at the house of the interpreter? No. He took me and had me where he showed me a stately palace. and how the people were clad in gold that were in it, and how there came a venturous man, cut his way through the army and stood in a door to keep him out, and how he was bid to come in and win eternal glory. He thought those things did ravish my heart. I would have stayed at that good man's house a twelve-month, But then I knew I had further to go. And what saw you else in the way? Saw? Why, I went but a little further, and I saw one as I thought in my mind, hang bleeding upon the tree, and the very sight of him made my burden fall off my back. For I groaned under a very heavy burden, but then it fell down from off me. It was a strange thing to me, for I never saw such a thing before, eh? And while I stood looking up, For then I could not forbear looking. Three shining ones came to me. One of them testified that my sins were forgiven me. Another stripped me of my rags and gave me this broidered coat which you see. And a third set the mark which you see in my forehead. and gave me this sealed roll, and with that plucked it out of its bosom. But you saw more than this, did you not? The things that I have told you were the best, yet some other manners I saw as namely I saw three men, simple, sloth, in presumption, lie asleep a little out of the way as I came, with irons upon their heels. But do you think I could awaken them? I also saw formality and hypocrisy come tumbling over the wall to go, as they pretended to Zion. But they were quickly lost. even as I myself to tell them, but they would not believe. But above all I found it hard work to get up this hill, and as hard to come by the lion's mouth, and truly if it had not been for the good man, the porter that stands at the gate, I don't know but that after all I might have gone back again. But now I thank God I am here, and I thank you for receiving of me." Then Prudence thought good to ask him a few questions, and desired his answer to them. Do you not think sometimes of the country from where you came? Christian thoughts of his native country, yes, but with shame and detestation. Surely if I had been mindful of that country from whence I came out, I might have had opportunity to have returned, but now I desire a better country, dead is and heavenly. Do you not yet bear away with you some of the things that then you were conversant with? Yes, but greatly against my will, and especially my inward and carnal cogitations, with which all my countrymen as well as myself were delighted, but now those things are my grief. and might I but choose mine own things. I would never think of those things anymore, but I would be doing of that which is best. That which is worst is with me. Do you not find sometimes as if those things were vanquished, which at other times are your perplexity? Yes, but that is seldom. But dare to me golden hours in which such things happen to me. Can you remember by what means you found your annoyances, at times as if they were vanquished? Yes. When I think what I saw to cross, that will do it. And when I look upon my broider coat, that also will do it. Also when I look into the roll that I carry in my bosom, that also will do it. And when my thoughts wax warm about where I'm going, that will certainly do it. And what is it that makes you so desirous to go to Mount Zion? Why, there I hope to see him alive, to detain dead on the cross. And there I hope to be rid of all those things that to this day are in me, an annoyance to me. There, they say, there is no death. And there I shall dwell with such company as I like best. For, to tell you the truth, I love him. because was by him eased of my burden, and I am weary of my inward sickness. I would fain beware I shall die no more, and with a company that shall continually cry, Holy, Holy, Holy, then said Charity to Christian, Have you a family? Are you a married man? I do have a wife and four small children. And why did you not bring them along with you? The Christian wept and said, how willingly would I have done it, but they were all of them utterly averse to my going on pilgrimage. But you should have talked to them and have endeavored to have shown them the danger of being behind. So I did, and told them also what God had shown to me of the destruction of our city. But I seemed to them as one to mock, and they did not believe me. And did you pray to God that he would bless your counsel to them? Yes, and that with much affection, for you must think that my wife and poor children were very dear to me. But did you tell them of your own sorrow and fear of destruction? For I suppose that destruction was visible enough to you. Yes, over and over and over, they might also see my fears and my countenance and my tears, and also in my trembling under the apprehension of the judgment that did hang over our heads. But all was not sufficient to prevent with them to come with me. But what could they say for themselves? Why they would not come? Why my wife was afraid of losing this world? and my children were given to the foolish delights of youth. So what by one thing, and what by another, to left me to wander in this manner alone? But did you not with your vain life damp all that you by words used by way of persuasion to bring them away with you? Indeed, I cannot commend my life, for I am conscious to myself of many failings therein. I know also that a man by his conversation may soon overthrow what by argument or persuasion he does labor to fasten upon others for their good. Yet, this I can say, I was very wary of giving them occasion, by any unseemly action, to make them averse to going on pilgrimage. Yea, for this very thing they would tell me I was too precise, and that I denied myself a thing for their sakes. in which they saw no evil. And I think I may say that if what they saw in me hindered them, it was my great tenderness in sinning against God or doing any wrong to my neighbor." Charity said, Indeed, Cain hated his brother because his own works were evil and his brothers were righteous. And if your wife and children have been offended with you for this, They by this show themselves to be implacable to good, and you have delivered your soul from their blood. Now I saw in my dream that thus they sat talking together until supper was ready. So when they had made ready, they sat down to meet. Now the table was furnished with fat things, and with wine that was well refined. And all their talk at the table was about the lord of the hill, is namely about what he had done. and wherefore he had did what he did, and why he had builded that house. And by what they said I perceived that he had been a great warrior, and had fought with and slain him that had the power of death, but not without great danger to himself, which made me love him the more. For, as they said, and as I believe, said Christian, he did it with a loss of much blood, But that which put glory of grace into all he did was that he did it out of pure love to his country. And besides, there were some of them in the household that said they had been and spoke with him since he did die on the cross, and they have attested that they had it from his own lips that he is such a lover of poor pilgrims, that the like is not to be found from the east to the west. They, moreover, gave an instance of what they affirmed, and that was, he had stripped himself of his glory, that he might do this for the poor, and that they heard him say in a firm that he would not dwell in the mountain of Zion alone. They said, moreover, that he had made many pilgrims princes, till by nature they were beggars born, and their original had been the dunghill. Thus they discoursed together till late at night, and after they had committed themselves to their lord for protection, They betook themselves to rest. The pilgrim they laid in a large upper chamber, whose window opened towards the sun rising. The name of the chamber was Peace, where he slept till break of day. And when he awoke and sank, where am I now? Is this the love and care of Jesus for the men that pilgrims are thus to provide? that I should be forgiven, and to all already, to next door to heaven. So in the morning they all got up, and after some more discourse they told him that he should not depart till they had shown him the rarities of that place. And first they had him into the study, where they showed him records of the greatest antiquity, in which they showed him first the pedigree of the lord of the hill. that he was a son of the Ancient of Days and came by that eternal generation. Here also was more fully recorded the acts that he had done. and the names of many hundreds that he had taken into his service, and how he had placed them in such habitations that could neither by length of days nor decades of nature be dissolved. Then they read to him some of the worldly acts that some of his servants had done, as how they had subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the aliens. They then read again in another part of the records of the house, where it was showed how willing their lord was to receive into his favor any, even any, though they in time past had offered great affronts to his person and proceedings. Here also were several other histories of many other famous things of all which Christian had a view, as of things both ancient and modern, together with prophecies and predictions of things that have their certain accomplishment, both to the dread and amazement of enemies, and the comfort and solace of pilgrims. The next day they took him and had him into the armory, where they showed him all manner of furniture, which their Lord had provided for pilgrims, his sword, shield, helmet, breastplate, all prayer, and shoes that would not wear out. And there was here enough of this to harness out as many men for the service of their Lord as there be stars in the heaven from altitude. They also showed him some of the engines with which some of his servants had done wonderful things. They showed him Moses's rod, the hammer and nail with which Jael slew Sisera, the pitchers, trumpets, and lamps, too, with which Gideon put to flight the army of Samidian. Then they showed him the ox's goat, wherewith Shamgar slew six hundred men. They showed him also the jawbone with which Samson did such mighty feats. They showed him, moreover, the slinging stone with which David slew Goliath of Gath. and the sword also with which their Lord will kill the man of sin in the day that he shall rise up to the prey. They showed him besides many excellent things, with which Christian was much delighted. This done, they went to their rest again. Then I saw in my dream that on a morrow he got up to go forward, but they desired him to stay till the next day also. And then said they, we will, if the day be clear, show you the delectable mountains, which they said would yet further add to his comfort, because they were near the desired haven and the place where at present he was. So he consented and stayed. When the morning was up they had him to the top of the house and bid him look south. So he did, and behold at a great distance he saw most pleasant mountainous country. beautified with woods, vineyards, fruits of all sorts, flowers also with springs and fountains, very delectable to behold. Then he asked the name of the country. They said it was Emmanuel's land, and it is as common said day is as hill is to and for all the pilgrims. And when you come there from here, they said, you may see to the gate of the celestial city, as the shepherds that live there will make appear. Now Hema thought himself of setting forward, and they were willing he should. But first, said they, let us go again into the armory. So they did, and when they came there they harnessed him from head to foot, with what was of proof lest perhaps he should meet with assaults in the way. He being therefore thus secluded, walks out with his friends to the gate, and there he asked a porter if he saw any pilgrims pass by. Then the porter answered, yes. Pray, did you know him, he said. I asked his name, and he told me it was faithful. Oh, said Christian, I know him. He is my townsman, my near neighbor. He comes from the place where I was born. How far do you think he may be before? Is God by this time below the hill? Well, said Christian, good porter, the Lord be with you, and add to all your blessings much increase for the kindness that you have shown me. Then he began to go forward, but discretion, piety, charity, and prudence would accompany him down to the foot of the hill. So they went on together, reiterating their former discourses till it came to go down the hill. Then said Christian, as it was difficult coming up, so, so far as I can see, it is dangerous going down. Yes, said Prudence, so it is. For it is a hard manner for a man to go down into the valley of humiliation as you are now, and to catch no slip by the way. Therefore, they said, are we come out to accompany you down the hill. So he began to go down, but very rarely, yet he caught a slip or two. This is continued in the next edition.