[9] Cannot down; will not receive, submit to, or feel pleasure in. 'If a boy is hungry, bread by itself will down.'—Locke on Education. 'Down and beg mercy of the Duke.'—Shakespeare.—Ed.
[10] Alluding to the awful sufferings of Leighton, and all Christians of his time, under that bigoted demon in human shape, Laud.—Ed.
[11] It is a very ancient and prevailing opinion, that man is always attended by invisible spirits, whose powers or mode of intercourse with our spirits is unknown. These attendants are most active at the hour of death. They cannot be seen unless the eyes are made to possess new or miraculous powers. It may be that, when dying, the spirit, before it entirely quits its mortal habitation, has a glimpse of spiritual existences. If so, how awful for the sinner to see the infernal demons ready to drag away his soul; but most joyful for the Christian to embrace his celestial guides. This is illustrated in the Pilgrim's Progress, during Christian's conflict at the hour of death.—Vol. 3, p. 163.—Ed.
[12] Guard, convoy, or escort. See Pilgrim's Progress, the entrance into the celestial city.—Ed.
[13] This proverb was very probably founded upon Jeremiah 50:11: 'Ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls.'—Ed.
[14] Bunyan is here expressing what he had most acutely felt. 'I blessed the condition of the dog and toad, because they had no soul to perish under the everlasting weight of hell. I was broken to pieces,' until he found refuge in Jesus. See Grace Abounding, No. 104.—Ed.
[15] The first edition has, 'and the practice of the saints.' This was left out in all the subsequent editions.—Ed.
[16] Ale bench, in Bunyan's time, was very similar to a taproom; more generally the place of resort for the idle tipplers, but sometimes of refreshment to the weary traveller.—Ed.
[17] Formerly designated not only a courageous man, but his counterpart, a braggart, a bully, or a dandy. In these latter senses it is obsolete.—Ed.
[18] These feelings appear in awful reality in Grace Abounding, Nos. 87 and 104.—Ed.