[26] Awful responsibility!! A heavy curse on the souls of those who labour to prevent private judgment, guided simply by the Bible—who lead poor sinners to rely upon acts of uniformity, liturgies, articles, or creeds, the groveling inventions of men; instead of relying wholly on the revealed will of God, which alone is able to make man wise unto salvation.—Ed.
[27] The word 'not' is omitted from most of the editions published in Bunyan's life.—Ed.
[28] These times of tyrannizing oppression are fast passing away. It was difficult, a few years ago, to hire a room in some of the villages even round London, for a Sunday school and lecture, or to admit a missionary into a workhouse. A poor baby has been scornfully driven from the font—the dead body of a dissenter has been refused Christian burial—the cries of poverty and distress have been disregarded—from bitter sectarianism. The genial influence of Christianity is fast driving these demoniac feelings to the owls and bats.—Ed.
[29] Anguish or embarrassment of mind, derived from the name of a most painful disease.—Ed.
[30] This is one of Bunyan's proverbs, which, however homely, is sure to make a lasting impression on the mind. Sin breeds the scorpions which will torment the sinner, unless they tormented the Saviour. O for greater hatred of sin!—Ed.
[31] From this paragraph to the end of the comment on verse 28, was placed by Bunyan, in his first edition, as the first part of the general use and application.—Ed.
[32] A familiar phrase, expressive of embarrassment. 'There is no comfort in the house upon a washing day.' Suds, in this sentence, would puzzle a foreigner. Johnson's dictionary interprets it, 'A lixivium of soap and water!'—Ed.
[33] The word 'simple' is here used as it is by Solomon in the Proverbs—silly, unwise.—Ed
[34] Men armed with halberts or javelins; now only used at assizes in England, or by officers attending meetings of magistrates in Scotland.—Ed.
[35] Modern editors have altered this to, 'did deal with him.'—Ed.