5 "Rarely," finely, nicely.
6 A safe-conduct is a military term, either a convoy or guard for protection in an enemy's land, or a passport, by the sovereign of a country, to enable a subject to travel with safety.—Imperial Dict.—Ed.
7 What amazing love! Christ visited this poor beggar, yea, was formed in him the hope of glory; his body, so miserable in the sight of man, was a temple of the Holy Ghost, and the angels carry his soul to heaven. O the riches of grace!—Ed.
8 What heart can conceive the glorious worship of heaven? The new song shall be as the voice of many waters, and a great thunder, when the "ten thousand times ten thousand and thousand of thousands" shall sing, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and blessing." O that my poor voice may join that celestial choir!—Ed.
9 The fear of the Lord—an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck, and life unto thy soul.—Solomon.
10 "Their appearance and themselves"; this beautiful illustration might escape the reader's notice, unless specially directed to it. The living creatures were always the same, although seen under different circumstances, and in diverse places. Inside and out they were the same; without deviation or turning, they went straight forward. It is well said that Bunyan has here snatched a grace beyond the reach of art, and has applied it to exalt and beautify consistency of Christian character.—Ed.
11 This is one of Bunyan's peculiarly affecting representations, which in preaching went to the heart, producing intense interest, and tears of contrition over the stubbornness of human nature. Reader, Bunyan, being dead, yet speaketh; can you feel unaffected under such an appeal?—Ed.
12 "To stave," to thrust, to push, to delay.—Ed.
13 These terms are taken from Foxe's Martyrology. It was frequently the brutal remark of the Judges, You must turn or burn. Bunyan here applies it to turning from sin or burning in hell.—Ed.
14 This treatise having been written some years after the Pilgrim's Progress, Bunyan very naturally refers to the well-known scene in the Interpreter's House, where the fire is kept burning by oil from behind the wall, in spite of all the water thrown upon its flames.—Ed.