Simple, Sloth, Presumption

I saw then in my dream that he went on thus even until he came at the 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, another SLOTH, and the third PRESUMPTION.

CHRISTIAN then seeing them lie in this case, went to them, if peradventure he might awake them, and cried, "You are like them that sleep on the top of a mast, for the Dead Sea is under you, a gulf that hath no bottom.

"Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast." Proverbs 23:34

Awake therefore, and come away; be willing also, and I will help you off with your irons." He also told them, "If he that goes about like a roaring lion comes by, you will certainly become a prey to his teeth".

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" 1 Peter 5:8

With that they looked upon him, and began to reply in this sort:

Simple said, "I see no danger."

Sloth said, "Yet a little more sleep."

And Presumption said, "Every vat must stand upon its own bottom."

And so they lay down to sleep again; and CHRISTIAN went on his way.

Back to The Pilgrim's Progress