Guide to The Pilgrim's Progress Part Two - The Demise 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 minds to be pilgrims themselves, and whomsoever they could they hindered. They were for sloth and folly themselves, and whoever they could persuade 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.

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 taskmaster. They also brought up an evil report of the good land, saying it was not half so good as some pretend it was. They also began to defame His servants, and to count the very best of them meddlesome, troublesome busybodies. Further, they would call the bread of God, husks, the comforts of His children, fancies, the travel and labor of pilgrims, things to no purpose.

Christina: “Nay,” said Christina, “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 highway, 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 favor that they were hanged before we came hither. Who knows else what they might have 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 you, my soul, of all such men beware,
That unto holiness opposers are.”

Notes and Commentary

Not far from the cross, the pilgrims come across a fearful scene.They find three men, whom Christian encountered in Part 1 of The Pilgrim’s Progress, now “hanged up in irons.” Simple, Sloth, and Presumption had ventured near the cross, yet chose to remain tethered to this world. Despite Christian’s warning, they refused to acknowledge the peril of turning aside from the Way. Now their chains have ensnared and strangled them.

They had assumed that all would turn out well in the end.

Simple was content to live in ignorance. He brushed aside doctrine and study, paying no heed to the warnings of God’s Word. He saw no danger to his soul.
Sloth drifted through his days in idleness. He brushed aside diligence and watchfulness, certain that he would always have tomorrow. He did not realize his time was short.
Presumption was blinded by his own self-confidence. He brushed aside godly advise and counsel, believing that he had all the answers. He was offended by anyone who would question his understanding of truth.

All three lived out their lives in bondage, all the while believing themselves to be free and unrestrained. They were not serious or sober minded about taking up the life of a pilgrim to journey to the Celestial City. They regarded nearness to religion as sufficient to safeguard their souls. They were casually near the Way, but not careful to stay in the Way. And their carelessness became fatal.

Through careless words they disparaged truth. They spoke ill of God and His Word. They considered God’s commandments too harsh, His claims exaggerated, and His promises fanciful. They scorned those who would heed God’s Word and walk in its Way. Anyone who would confront them and expose their errors, they defamed and regarded as meddlers and busybodies. As Christian discovered in Part 1, they were quite content in their chains and did not wish to be troubled with being loosed.

Their carelessness was not only harmful to themselves, it became a hindrance to others. Through their example, they persuaded several to turn out of the way:

Slow Pace lacked urgency, lagging behind those who journeyed before him.
Short-Wind made a good start but lacked motivation to continue.
No-Heart was void of godly affections; he didn’t have the heart to commit to such a long journey so likely filled with danger.
Linger-After-Lust was easily entangled by the world; leaving off watchfulness, he failed to mortify his sin.
Sleepy-Head often dozed off, paying little attention to potential danger, choosing rather to settle down in the comforts of this life.
Dull had little enthusiasm or interest in spiritual things.

Great-Heart describes Simple, Sloth, and Presumption as “men of very bad qualities.” They persuaded others to join them in their discontent and complaints and turn away from obedience to God’s Word. Now they have fallen under the judgment of God. Great-Heart’s description of their folly and demise echos the judgment God brought upon Israel in the wilderness.

And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above. Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in. But your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised. But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness. And your sons shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and bear the brunt of your infidelity, until your carcasses are consumed in the wilderness. According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection. I the Lord have spoken this. I will surely do so to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. In this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die’” (Numbers 14:25–35).

Like the spies who tried to discourage Israel from entering the Promised Land, Simple, Sloth, and Presumption “brought up an evil report of the good land, saying it was not half so good as some pretend it was.” And like the spies, they now have been consumed in their own folly.

Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the Lord (Numbers 14:36–37).

Christiana acknowledges that their punishment is just; they “have but what they deserve.” They are left near the Way, so that all who pass by will see their end and learn to fear the Lord. She asks about posting a sign or an engraving to further deter any who might hinder pilgrims in the Way. Great-Heart points her to the wall for such a warning has been given. God has made it plain in His Word that those who hinder the faith of others are worthy of severe judgment.

But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea (Mark 9:42).

Psalm 106 includes the events of Numbers 14 in song as reminder to Israel that God will bring judgment on those who persist in sin.

Then they despised the pleasant land,
having no faith in his promise.
They murmured in their tents,
and did not obey the voice of the Lord.
Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them
that he would make them fall in the wilderness,
and would make their offspring fall among the nations,
scattering them among the lands.
(Psalm 106: 24–27)

Mercy uses music in like manner to these verses in Psalm 106. She commits to remembering this fearful warning of God’s judgment by turning it into a song.

It is a sober reality that one could venture so near to the cross and yet be in bondage, held fast to the world. Before seeing Simple, Sloth, and Presumption, Great-Heart had just reminded the pilgrims that not all who come near the cross are drawn to Christ. Chains do not come loose and burdens do not tumble away simply by keeping religion close by. We must turn from sin, come to Christ, and walk in humble obedience to God’s Word if we are to find forgiveness of sin and life eternal.

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The text for The Pilgrim's Progress
and images used are public domain
Notes and Commentary for Part II ©2014, 2021–2025 Ken Puls

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from
the New King James Version (NKJV) ©1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

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