Chapter 10 -12

10 CHRISTIAN OVERTAKES SIMPLE, SLOTH, AND PRESUMPTION

I SAW then in my dream that Christian went on his way, that is until he came to the bottom of the hill. There he saw, beside the way, three men fast asleep with chains attached to their heels. The name of one was Simple, another was Sloth, and the third was Presumption.

Upon Christian seeing these pilgrims dozing on the ground, he approached them with the hope that he might be able to awaken them. So he exhorted them, “You are like those who fall asleep at the top of a mast, for the Dead Sea is under you, that is a gulf that has no bottom. Therefore arouse yourselves and be on the move; if you are willing, I will also help you to be relieved of your shackles.” He also told them, “If he who prowls about like a roaring lion should come by, you will certainly become prey for his teeth.”

To this, they merely glanced at him and replied in the following unconcerned manner: Simple naïvely answered, “I do not see any danger.” Sloth mumbled, “Just let me have a little more sleep.” And Presumption proudly asserted, “Every tub must stand upon its own bottom [without the need of assistance], so what else need I say?” And so they all lay down to sleep again, while Christian decided it would be better to be on his way.

Even so, Christian was troubled to think that men, in such obvious danger, should so lightly regard the kindness of he who freely offered them assistance, that is by volunteering to help them be relieved of their shackles.

11 CHRISTIAN CONVERSES WITH FORMALIST AND HYPOCRISY

NOW as Christian reflected on this disturbing encounter, he noticed two men come tumbling over the Wall on the left-hand side of the narrow way; and they hurried along to catch up with him. The name of one was Formalist, and the name of the other Hypocrisy. So, as I mentioned, they drew near and Christian commenced a conversation with them.

CHRISTIAN: Gentlemen, from where have you come, and what is your destination?

FORMALIST AND HYPOCRISY: We were born in the land of Vain-glory and are going to Mount Zion for the purpose of receiving praise.

CHRISTIAN: Then why did you not enter at the Wicket-gate which is located at the beginning of this way? Don’t you know that it has been written, “He who does not enter in by the door, but climbs up some other way, that same person is a thief and a robber?”

FORMALIST AND HYPOCRISY: That may be so; however our countrymen have all agreed that this entrance or Wicket-gate you mention is too far away. Rather they prefer to take a short cut and climb over the Wall at this point, just as we have done.

CHRISTIAN: But will not your custom be regarded as a trespass against the Lord of the Celestial City to which we are headed, and thus a violation of his revealed will?

FORMALIST AND HYPOCRISY: Well, don’t you trouble yourself about that. The reason is that their manner of entry has become a long established custom; in fact many witnesses would testify that it has been accepted as an established route for over a thousand years.

CHRISTIAN: Nevertheless, will your practice stand up to investigation in a court of law?

FORMALIST AND HYPOCRISY: We believe so. Our tradition has been accepted for so long, that is for well over a thousand years, that it would doubtless be admitted as a legal ordinance by any impartial judge. However, practically speaking, we are now in the way; so what does it matter how we got in? If we are in, then we are in. As we understand it, you are in the way having entered through the Wicket-gate; and we also are in the way by means of tumbling over the Wall. So how is your present condition any different from ours?

CHRISTIAN: I walk by the rule of my Master. You walk according to the uninformed working of your imagination. You are already considered to be thieves by the Lord of the way. Therefore, I have little doubt that you will be found to be illegitimate pilgrims at the end of the way. You entered in by your own devising without his direction; and so you will leave by yourselves without his mercy.

At this they hardly offered a reply, except that they suggested that Christian should pay attention to himself. Then I saw each man move ahead, though without much conversation taking place between them. However, the two intruders did have this to say. As to laws and ordinances, doubtless they were as conscientious in obeying them as he. So they continued, “We do not see where you differ from us in the slightest, except for the coat which you are wearing; most likely it was provided by your neighbors to hide your shameful nakedness.”

CHRISTIAN: By obedience to laws and ordinances you will not be saved since you did not enter in at the Wicket-gate. And as for this coat that I wear, it was given to me by the Lord of the Celestial City to which I am going. Yes, it is for the purpose of covering my nakedness, and furthermore, I accept it as a token of his kindness granted to me when I earlier wore nothing but rags. Besides, this garment comforts me as I travel. I muse about that time when I shall eventually arrive at the gate of the Celestial City; surely the Lord will recognize me on account of my wearing his coat, that which he freely gave me on the day when he stripped me of my rags.

Moreover, I have a mark on my forehead which you may not have noticed; it was placed on me by one of my Lord’s most intimate associates on the same day when my burden fell from off my shoulders. In addition to this I have been given a sealed scroll to be read for comfort as I continue along the way; I have been ordered to hand it in at the gate of the Celestial City as a token of my authorization to enter. However, I doubt if you desire any of these things, though you do lack them because you did not enter in at the Wicket-gate.

To these comments they did not make a reply, except that they looked at each other and then burst out laughing. Then I noticed that they all continued to press forward, though Christian moved ahead of them on his own; so not talking with these strangers any longer, he could only muse with himself, sometimes groaning and at other times expressing contentment. For further refreshment he would often read from the scroll earlier given to him by one of the Shining Ones.

12 CHRISTIAN ASCENDS THE HILL DIFFICULTY

NOW I understand that they all continued on till they came to the foot of a Hill, at the bottom of which was a spring. At this same place two other ways joined with the straight way coming from the Wicket-gate; one turned to the left hand and the other to the right at the bottom of the Hill. However, the narrow way continued straight up the Hill, its name being Difficulty.

So Christian first drank at the spring for refreshment, and then commenced to climb up the Hill, saying:

This Hill, though high, I covet to ascend,
The difficulty will not me offend:
For I perceive the way to life lies here;
Come, pluck up, heart; let’s neither faint nor fear:
Better, though difficult, the right way to go,
Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe.

Thus Formalist and Hypocrisy also came to the foot of the Hill. Here they saw that it was steep and high, and that there were two alternative ways for them to go along which, they imagined, would later join in with the way of Christian beyond the Hill. So they decided to follow what appeared to them to be the easier routes; the name of one was Danger, and the name of the other Destruction. So one proceeded along Danger which led him into a great wood; the other went along Destruction which entered a wide field full of dark mountains, and there he stumbled and fell never to rise again.

Then I looked toward Christian to see just how far he had climbed up the Hill. It appeared that he had been reduced from running to walking, and from walking to clambering on his hands and knees because of the steepness of the incline. Now about halfway up the Hill was a pleasant Arbor [Shady Resting-place] provided by the Lord of the Hill for the refreshment of weary travelers.

So Christian reached this shelter where he then sat down to rest awhile. Then he pulled his scroll out of his chest pocket and began to read it for comfort; he also took a fresh look at his new garment which was given to him as he stood before the Cross. Thus being pleasantly stimulated for a time, he at first snoozed and then fell fast asleep; as a result, he was detained at that place until near sunset while at the same time his scroll fell out of his hand. Now as he was sleeping, someone approached and awakened him with a call, “Go to the ant, you sluggard [loafer], and consider her ways, and be wise.” At this, Christian arose with a jolt and started on his way, racing ahead until he came to the top of the Hill.