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Chriftian

afcends, the Hill Difficulty.

The other two alfo came to the foot of the hill; but when they faw that the hill was steep and high, and that there were two other ways to go; fuppofing also that these two ways might meet again with that up which Christian went, on the other fide of the hill; therefore they were refolved to go in those ways. Now the name of one of thofe ways was Danger, and the name of 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 Deftruction, which led him into a wide field, full of dark mountains, where he ftumbled and fell, and rose no more.

I looked then after Christian, to fee him go up the hill. I perceived he fell from running to walking; and from walking to clambering upon his hands and his knees, because of the fteepnefs of the place. Now about the midway to the top of the hill was a pleasant arbour', made by the Lord of the hill, for the refreshment of weary travellers; thither therefore Christian got, and there also he fat down to rest him: he then pulled his roll out of his bofom, and read therein to his comfort: now alfo he began afresh to take a review of the coat or garment that was

The pleasant arbour, about the middle of the hill, fhews that, in the midft of his difficulties, the Chriftian finds fweet refreshment: but, as Chriftian flept in this arbour, and there loft his roll, fo it happens that we may be puffed up with those manifeftations which are only intended as cordials, to revive and ftrengthen us by the way.

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given him as he stood by the crofs. Thus pleafing himself a while, at laft he fell into a flumber, and thence into a fast fleep, which detained him in that place until it was almoft night; and, in his fleep, his roll fell out of his hand. Now, as he was sleeping, there came one to him, and awaked him, faying, "Go to the ant, thou fluggard; confider her ways, and be wife." With that Chriftian fuddenly started up, and fped 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 the name of the other Miftruft: to whom Christian said, Sirs, What's 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, faid he, the farther we go, the more danger we meet with; wherefore we turned, and are going back again.

Yes, faid Miftrust, for just before us lies a couple of lions in the way (whether fleeping or waking we know not); and we thought that, if we came within reach of them, they would prefently pull us

s Timorous and Mistrust had climbed up to the top of the hill Difficulty, but turned back at the appearance of danger. Many will endure hardships, and fubmit to inconveniences in the profeffion of religion, but will renounce it all when life or liberty, perfon or property, is in danger; and these will not only renounce it themselves, but will try to perfuade others to do the fame.

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in pieces. Then, faid Chriftian, you make me afraid'. But whither fhall I flee to be fafe? If I go back to my own country, that is prepared for fire and brimstone, and I fhall certainly perish there: if I can get to the celestial city, I am fure to be in fafety 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 Miftruft 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 bofom for his roll, that he might read therein, and be comforted; but he felt, and found it not". Then was Chriftian in great distress, and knew not what to do; for he wanted.

You may plainly perceive, by these words, that there was that in Chriftian's heart which would have led him to have turned back with Timorous and Miftrust. Why did he not? Because the Lord had put his fear into his heart, that he fhould not depart from him. If any of us hold out to the end, our cry will be, "Not unto us, not unto us; but to thy name be "the praife." The power, by which we are kept, is plainly manifefted by the weaknefs which is discovered in the most eminent and distinguished faints.

"When Chriftian faw Miftruft and Timorous turn back, he began immediately to examine himself, and to ask that fame question which our Lord once put to his difciples," Will ye "alfo go away?" If he is not enabled at that time to fee his adoption, he begins perhaps to question his past experience, and to suppose that it might poffibly have been a delufion; in this state, the foul, which has once tafted that the Lord is gracious, never can enjoy reft or peace till the Lord has been pleased to fhew it fome token for good again, and to restore its comfort by a fresh teftimony of his favour and loving kindness.

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that which used to relieve him; and that which should have been his pass into the celeftial city. Here therefore he began to be much perplexed, and knew not what to do: at laft he bethought himself that he had slept in the arbour on the fide of the hill therefore, falling down upon his knees, he asked God forgiveness for that foolish act, and then went back to look for his roll. Who can fufficiently fet forth the forrow of Chriftian's heart all the way he went back? Sometimes he fighed, fometimes he wept, and oftentimes he chid himself for being fo foolish as to fall asleep in that place which was erected only for a little refreshment for his wearinefs. Thus therefore he went back, carefully looking, on this and on that fide, all the way as he went, if happily he might find the roll which had been his comfort fo many times in his journey. He went till he came again in fight of the arbour where he had fat and flept; but that fight renewed his forrow the more, by bringing afresh into his mind the evil of fleeping. Now therefore he went on, be-wailing his finful sleep, saying, O wretched man that I am! that I should sleep in the day-time! that I fhould fleep in the midft of difficulty! that I fhould fo indulge the flesh, as to use that reft 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 taken in vain! Thus it happened to Ifrael: for their fin they were sent back again by the way of the Red Sea, and I am made to tread

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