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 awhile, 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. (q) Now, as he was sleeping, there came one to him, and awakened him, saying, *"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:" and with that Christian suddenly started up, and sped on his way; and went apace till he came to the top of the hill. (r)

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 (s) 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

Prov. vi. 6.

(q) Happy for Christian that he did not fall into the dream of his own sinless perfection, so as to take up with a fool's paradise; nor get into Antinomian notions, so as to sleep in a false security without his roll. The best of blessings, even spiritual comforts from the God of grace, are through the infection of our nature liable to be abused, so as to cause us to sleep when we should be active and diligent in running the heavenly race, looking unto Jesus.

(r) The Lord loves his people too well to let them sleep the "sleep of death;" though he may suffer them to sleep to the loss of their comfort: this is great grief and distress to their souls.

(s) Timorous and Mistrust are great enemies to the Christian's faith, and bring up an evil report of his way. Listen not to them, but look to God's truth and faithfulness; rely on his precious prorises, and have your feet shod with the gospel of peace. Who or what shall harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?

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 know not); and we could not think, if we came within reach, but they would presently pull us in pieces.

Chr. Then said Christian, You make me afraid: but 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: (t) 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 (u) perplexed, and

(t) Christian shakes off fear, by sound scriptural reasoning; even the reasoning of faith, against the fear of the flesh, and mistrust or unbelief. We have always a sure word of prophecy, whereunto we shall do well to take heed. When dangers beset, and fears assault, remember whose ye are, and whom ye serve: look to the way you are in, and the end of your faith, even the salvation of your soul. Study the word of God and obey it.

(u) He is perplexed for his roll; this is right. If we suffer spiritual loss, and are easy and unconcerned about it, it is a sad sign that we indulge carnal security and vain confidences. Many go on so, till they sink into a downright Antinomian spirit. O beware of this; for many who abhor the name, yet have drunk into

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 his foolish act, 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 as 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 on his journey. He went thus till he came 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 into his mind. (x) Thus, therefore, he now went on bewailing his sinful sleep, saying, "O wretched man that I am!" 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 taken 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

the spirit of it, and hence live and walk without spiritual communion with God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ, and rest contented, without the witness of the Spirit with their spirits, that they are the children of God.

(a) Look to your spirits Christians. See if you have not aftersorrow for former indulgences. But it is far better to be crying, "O wretched man that I am," than to be alive to carnal contidences, and dead to spiritual comforts.