Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/225

Rh and a ditch, yet there are those that will choose to adventure here rather than take the pains to go up this hill.

Chr. "The way of transgressors is hard." (Prov. xiii. 15.) It is a wonder that they can get into these ways without danger of breaking their necks.

Great. They will venture; yea, if at any time any of the King's servants doth happen to see them, and do call upon them, and tell them that they are in the wrong way, and do bid them beware of the danger, then they will railingly return them answer, and say, "As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the King, we will not hearken unto thee; but we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth." (Jer. xliv. 16, 17.) Nay, if you look a: little further, you will see that these ways are made cautionary enough, not only by these posts, and ditch, and chain, but also by being hedged up; yet they will choose to go there.

Chr. They are idle; they love not to take pains; up-hill way is unpleasant to them. So it is fulfilled unto them as it is written, "The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns." (Prov. xv. 19.) Yea, they will rather choose to walk upon a snare than to go up this hill, and the rest of this way to the city.

Then they set forward, and began to go up the hill, and up the hill they went; but before they got to the top, Christiana began to pant, and said, I dare say this is a breathing hill; no marvel if they that love their ease more than their souls, choose to themselves a smoother way. Then said Mercy, I must sit down; also the least of the children began to cry. Come, come, said Great-heart, sit not down here, for a little above is: the Princes arbour. Then took he the: little boy by the hand, and led him up thereto.

When they were come to the arbour, they were very willing to sit down, for they were all in a pelting heat. Then said Mercy, How sweet is rest to them that labour! (Matt. xi. 28.)