126 THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS.

looked back, and I had a desire to go see. Let grace be adored; and let me be
ashamed that ever such a thing should be in mine heart.

Curis. Let us take notice of what we see here, for our help for time to come. This
woman escaped one judgment, for she fell not by the destruction of Sodom; yet she
was destroyed by another, as we see: she is turned into a pillar of salt.

Horr. True, and she may be to us both caution and example: caution, that we
should shun her sin, or a sign of what judgment will overtake such as shall not be
prevented by this caution ; so Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, with the two hundred and
fifty men that perished in their sin, did also become a sign or example to others to
beware.’ But, above all, I muse at one thing; to wit, how Demas and his fellows can
stand so confidently yonder to look for that treasure, which this woman, but for look-
ing behind her after (for we read not that she stepped one foot out of the way), was
turned into a pillar of salt; especially since the judgment which overtook her did make
her an example within sight of where they are; for they cannot choose but see her, did
they but lift up their eyes.

Curis. It is a thing to be wondered at, and it argueth that their hearts are grown
desperate in the case; and I cannot tell who to compare them to so fitly as to them
that pick pockets in the presence of the judge, or that will cut purses under the gallows.
It is said of the men of Sodom, that they were sinners exceedingly, because they were
sinners “before the Lord,” that is, in His eyesight, and notwithstanding the kindnesses
that He had showed them, for the land of Sodom was now like the garden of Eden
heretofore This, therefore, provoked Him the more to jealousy, and made their
plague as hot as the fire of the Lord out of heaven could make it. And it is most
rationally to be concluded that such, even such as these are, that shall sin in the sight,
yea, and that too in despite of such examples that are set continually before them to
caution them to the contrary, must be partakers of severest judgments.

Horr. Doubtless thou hast said the truth; but what a mercy is it that neither thou,
but especially I, am not made myself this example! This ministereth occasion to us
to thank God, to fear before Him and always to remember Lot’s wife.

I saw, then, that they went on their way to a pleasant river, which David the King
called “the river of God,” but John, “the river of the water of life”? Now their
way lay just upon the bank of this river; here, therefore, Christian and his companion
walked with great delight; they drank also of the water of the river, which was pleas-
ant and enlivening to their weary spirits. Besides, on the banks of this river on either
side were green trees that bore all manner of fruit; and the leaves of the trees were
good for medicine; with the fruit of these trees they were also much delighted ; and