6

"Whence are you, Sirs, and whither do you go," Said Christian, "may a fellow-trav'ller know?" 'From the Vain-Glorious land,' said they, we come, 'And seek, for praise,-Mount Sion for our home.' "But why," said Christian, "leap o'er yonder wall; "Such travellers, we thieves and robbers call."

6

'We came,' said they, as thousands have before, 'Who ne'er went round about to that said door 'At which you enter'd; pray, is that a sin?

'What signifies which way we enter'd in? 'We're here as well as you;

and say what more 'Have you to boast who enter'd by the door?' "One thing," said Christian, "certainly you lack, "A 'broider'd coat like this upon my back;

"This Jesus gave me, and will surely know,
"When I before his awful
presence bow.

"Besides this livery (which I joy to wear)
"His secret mark will on my brow appear;
"And this fair roll, which seals my pardon'd state,
"Will be my passport at the heav'nly gate.
"These things you want, and wanting, may deplore,
"Because you enter'd not by Christ the door."
Hypocrisy and Formal, fill'd with pride,

Look'd at each other-laugh'd-and turn'd aside.

The sins, mistakes, and miseries of various professors, are here exhibited as warnings to us.

Christian proceeded on his journey still,
Though full before him rose a frightful hill;
To right and left an easier passage lay,

But straight uphill was Pilgrim's narrow way.
Close by the mountain's foot he found a spring,
By which refresh'd, he thus began to sing.

"This hill, though high, I covet to ascend,
"Nor will the difficulty me offend :

"The way of life, I surely know, is here;
"Then let me courage take, and never fear;
Better, though hard, the proper way to go,
"Than take an easy road to endless woe.'

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Then Christian, fill'd with love and hope sublime,
The steep ascent address'd himself to climb:
Till, midway up the hill, with joy he view'd
The arbour, which to welcome pilgrims stood.
There, glad repos'd; and with delight of soul
Read, for his comfort, in the sacred roll-
Survey'd the garment given at the cross-
Then dropt asleep-but slept with heavy loss:
The roll, so justly priz'd, fell at his feet;
And, unperceiv'd, he left it on the seat.

*

The hill Difficulty intimates that the Christian traveller must expect trials and difficulties in his way to glory; but the refreshing spring at the bottom of the hill, denotes that sufficient consolation and strength may be expected.

Awak'd-he chides his infamous delay,

And, night approaching, speeds again his way.* When lo! downhill, with haste two fellows ran, Mistrust and Timorous, who thus began:

• Trav❜ller! no further urge your desp'rate course, This horrid pilgrimage grows worse and worse; 'Two lions, just beyond, appear'd in sight, And this has put us in a dreadful fright.' "Your tale," said Christian, "fills my soul with fear! "What can I do?-I can't continue here. "Should I go back again, as you desire,

"Our city's doom'd, you know, to endless fire. "I'll e'en go forward, though with fear and strife, "Should I succeed, I gain eternal life." †

Bold, he proceeded, strengthen'd in his soul, And said, “I'll read, for comfort, in my roll:" Felt for it in his bosom-but 'twas gone.

"Ah me!" he cried, "Ah wretched man undone !

66

My sinful sleep Almighty God forgive,

"And let me once again my roll retrieve! "O wretched sloth! thrice must I tread this way, "And lose the benefit of cheerful day—

* Christian sleeps and loses his roll-in other words, by security and sloth, he loses, for a time, the evidences of his gracious state.

+ Timorous professors give an evil report of the Christian warfare, but Christian reasons well, and goes forward.