Place of Simple, Sloth and Presumption

Now I saw still in my dream, that they went on until they were come to the place that Simple and Sloth and Presumption lay and slept in, when Christian went by on Pilgrimage. And behold they were hanged up in irons, a little way off on the other side.

Mercy: Then said Mercy to him that was their guide and conductor, What are those three men? and for what are they hanged there?

Great-heart: These three men were men of very bad qualities, they had no mind to be Pilgrims themselves, and whosoever they could they hindered. They were for sloth and folly themselves, and whoever they could persuade with, they made so too, and withal taught them to presume that they should do well at last. They were asleep when Christian went by, and now you go by they are hanged.

Behold here how the slothful are a sign,

Hung up 'cause holy ways they did decline.

See here too how the child doth play the man,

And weak grow strong when Great-heart leads the van.

Mercy: But could they persuade any to be of their opinion?

Great-heart: Yes, they turned several out of the way. There was Slow-pace that they persuaded to do as they. They also prevailed with one Short-wind, with one No-heart, with one Linger-after-lust, and with one Sleepy-head, and with a young woman her name was Dull, to turn out of the way and become as they. Besides they brought up an ill report of your Lord, persuading others that he was a Task-master. They also brought up an evil report of the good Land, saying 'twas not half so good as some pretend it was. They also began to vilify His Servants, and to count the very best of them meddlesome troublesome busy-bodies. Further, they would call the Bread of God husks, the comforts of His children fancies, the travel and labour of Pilgrims things to no purpose.

Christiana: Nay, said Christiana, if they were such, they shall never be bewailed by me. They have but what they deserve, and I think it is well that they hang so near the High-way that others may see and take warning. But had it not been well if their crimes had been engraven in some plate of iron or brass, and left here, even where they did their mischiefs, for a caution to other bad men?

Great-heart: So it is, as you well may perceive if you will go a little to the Wall.

Mercy: No, no, let them hang, and their names rot, and their crimes live for ever against them. I think it a high favour that they were hanged afore we came hither, who knows else what they might a done to such poor women as we are? Then she turned it into a song saying,

Now then you three, hang there and be a sign

To all that shall against the truth combine.

And let him that comes after fear this end,

If unto Pilgrims he is not a friend.

And thou, my soul, of all such men beware,

That unto holiness opposers are.

Interpretation:

Great-heart takes Christiana and her group to the place where Christian met Simple and Sloth and Presumption and reveals the end of these men who were sleeping as they had no mind to be pilgrims. These men had their spiritual death. Pilgrims need to be vigilant against preachers who do not warn them against perils being brought about by people of the character of Simple and Sloth and Presumption. Great-heart turns the hearts of these women to the Celestial City where Christian and other saints reside.

Simple are those who do not foresee the evil designs of the devil or those who do not believe in the existence of the devil. They are least bothered about salvation, heaven, etc. Sloth is those who procrastinate spiritual things giving preference to temporal things though they know about salvation, etc. Presumption is those who presume that all is well with them and that they do not need salvation through Jesus Christ. They presume to go to Heaven by doing good deeds without accepting Jesus Christ. There are millions who presume that they have been saved by deeds of prayer, fast, tithes, etc, without personally knowing Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. There are multitudes who presume that they have been filled with the Holy Spirit when their lives are contrary to the very life of Jesus Christ.

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