in that narrow way, and had fallen into the mire; some on the right
hand and some on the left, and they lay wallowing full of envy; some
plucking at me, to pull me in; others throwing mire and dirt upon me
to discourage me.]

But after this I met with another sore exercise: for there were many
who I perceived had been travelling in that narrow way, and had fallen
into the mire; some on the right hand and some on the left, and they
lay wallowing full of envy; some plucking at me, to pull me in; others
throwing mire and dirt upon me to discourage me: others would speak
very fair, on purpose to draw me into discourse with them, that whilst
thus spending my precious time, I might be cast so far behind, as to
lose the sight of my good guide. But I saw their evil designs, and was
aware of them. So, keeping in my narrow way till I came to the end of
the boggy valley, I then found firm ground under my feet, to my great
comfort. I had gone but a little way, when my guide, the light, went
into a narrow lane, well hedged on both sides; at which I was glad,
thinking I could not go wrong, and need not now take so much care. But
alas! I quickly found so many by-lanes, and ways, which lay almost as
straight forward as that I went in, that if it had not been for the
light, which went a little before me, I might certainly many times
have gone wrong; but by carefully keeping to my good guide, I at last
got up the mountain, and saw the house again. I then discerned a
man of that country a pretty way off, and called to him, friend, ho!
friend, what is the name of yonder great house? He told me the name of
it was BETHEL. Then I presently remembered that that was the name by
which the house of God was called in my father's country, where I had
heard the reports of it, and so earnestly set out to find it.

[Illustration: Drawing nearer to it. I saw it had a large outward