awe to think that
the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his load. Three or four
times did he look on the cross and the tomb, and the tears rose to his
eyes. As he stood thus and wept, lo, three Bright Ones came to him, and
one of them said: Peace be to thee! thou hast grace from thy sins. And
one came up to him to strip him of his rags and put a new robe on him,
while the third set a mark on his face, and gave him a roll with a
seal on it, which he bade him look on as he went, and give it at The
Celestial Gate; and then they left him.

Christian gave three leaps for joy, and sang as he went: Ah, what a
place is this! Blest cross! Blest tomb! Nay, blest is the Lord that was
put to shame for me!

He went on thus till he came to a vale where he saw three men who were
in a sound sleep, with chains on their feet. The name of one was Simple,
one Sloth, and the third Presumption. As Christian saw them lie in this
case, he went to wake them, and said: You are like those that sleep on
the top of a mast, for the Dead Sea is at your feet. Wake, rise, and
come with me. Trust me, and I will help you off with your chains. With
that they cast their eyes up to look at him, and Simple said: I would
fain take more sleep. Presumption said: Let each man look to his own.
And so they lay down to sleep once more.

Then I saw in my dream that two men leapt from the top of the wall
and made great haste to come up to him. Their names were Formalist and
Hypocrisy.

Christian.--Sirs, whence come you, and where do you go?

Formalist and Hypocrisy.--We were born in the land of Vain-glory, and
are on our way to Mount Zion for praise.

Christian.--Why came you not in at the Gate? Know you not that he that
comes not in at the door, but climbs up to get in, the same is a thief?

They told him that to go through the gate was too far round; that the
best way was to make a short cut of it, and climb the wall, as they had
done.

Christian.--But what will the Lord of the town to which we are bound
think of it, if we go not in the way of his will?

They told Christian that he had no need for care on that score, for long
use had made it law, and they could prove that it had been so for years.
Christian.--But are you quite sure that your mode will stand a suit at
law?

Yes, said they, no doubt of it. And if we get in the road at all, pray
what are the odds? If we are in, we are in; you are but in the way, who
come in at the gate, and we t