Then was Christian glad and lightsome; and said with a merry heart; He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his death. Then he steed still a while to look and wonder; for it was very Surprising to him that the sight of the Cross should thus ease him of his burden. He looked, therefore, and looked again, even till the springs that were in his head sent the Waters down his cheeks. (Zach. xii. 10.) Now, as he steed melting and weeping, behold, three Shining Ones came to him and saluted him with, "Peace be to thee." So the first said to him, "Thy sins be forgiven thee" (Mark ii. 5); the second stripped him of his rags, and clothed him with change of raiment; the third also set a mark on his forehead, and gave him a roll with a seal upon it (Zach. iii. 4 Eph. i. 13), which he bade him look on as he ran, and that he should give it in at the Celestial Gate: so they went their way. Then Christian gave three leaps for joy; and went on singing,—
Thus far did I come laden with my sin,
Nor could aught ease the grief that I was in,
Till I came hither. What a place is this!
Must here he the beginning of my bliss?
Must here the burden fall, from off my back?
Must here the strings that bound it to me crack?
Blest Cross! blast Sepulchre! blest rather be
The Man that there was put to shame for me!
I saw then in my dream, that he went on thus, even until he came at a bottom; where he saw, a little out of the way; three men fast asleep, with fetters upon their heels; The name of the one was Simple, of another Sloth, and of the third Presumption.
Christian than seeing them lie in this Case, went to them if peradventure he might awake them, and cried, You are like them that sleep a the top of a mast (Prov. as. 34), for the Dead Sea is under you—a gulf that hath no bottom: awake, therefore and come away: be willing also, and I will help you off with your irons. He also told them, If he that goeth about like a roaring lion comes by, you will certainly become
