CHAPTER VIII.

[Sidenote: THE DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS]

They went then till they came to the Delectable[5] Mountains,

which mountains belong to the Lord of that hill of which we have spoken before.

So they went up to the mountains to behold the gardens and orchards,

the vineyards and fountains of water,

where also they drank and washed themselves,

and did freely eat of the vineyards.

Now there were on the tops of these mountains shepherds feeding their flocks,

and they stood by the highway-side.

The pilgrims,

therefore,

went to them,

and leaning upon their staves (as is common with weary pilgrims when they stand to talk with any by the way),

they asked,

"Whose delightful mountains are these,

and whose be the sheep that feed upon them?"

[5] This word means "pleasant,"

or "delightful."

SHEP.

These mountains are Immanuel's Land,

and they are within sight of His city;

and the sheep also are His,

and He laid down His life for them.

CHRIS.

Is this the way to the Celestial City?

SHEP.

You are just in your way.

CHRIS.

How far is it thither?

SHEP.

Too far for any but those who shall get thither indeed.

CHRIS.

Is the way safe or dangerous?

SHEP.

Safe for those for whom it is to be safe;

but sinners shall fall therein.

CHRIS.

Is there in this place any relief for pilgrims that are weary and faint in the way?

SHEP.

The Lord of these mountains hath given us a charge not to be forgetful to care for strangers;

therefore the good of the place is before you.

I saw also in my dream that when the shepherds perceived that they were wayfaring men,

they also put questions to them (to which they made answer as in other places),

as,

"Whence came you?"

and "How got you into the way?"

and,

"By what means have you so persevered therein?

for but few of them that begin to come hither do show their faces on these mountains."

But when the shepherds heard their answers,

being pleased therewith they looked very lovingly upon them,

and said,

"Welcome to the Delectable Mountains!"

The shepherds,

I say,

whose names were Knowledge,

Experience,

Watchful,

and Sincere,

took them by the hand and took them to their tents,

and made them partake of what was ready at present.

They said moreover,

"We would that you should stay here awhile,

to be acquainted with us,

and yet more to cheer yourselves with the good of these Delectable Mountains."

They then told them that they were content to stay.

So they went to rest that night,

because it was very late.

[Sidenote: THE SHEPHERDS CONDUCT THEM]

Then I saw in my dream that in the morning the shepherds called up Christian and Hopeful to walk with them upon the mountains.

So they went forth with them and walked a while,

having a pleasant prospect on every side.

Then said the shepherds one to another,

"Shall we show these pilgrims some wonders?"

So,

when they had concluded to do it,

they had them first to the top of the hill called Error,

which was very steep on the farthest side,

and bid them look down to the bottom.

So Christian and Hopeful looked down,

and saw at the bottom several men dashed all to pieces by a fall they had had from the top.

Then said Christian,

"What meaneth this?"

Then the shepherds answered,

"Have you not heard of them that were made to err,

by hearkening to Hymeneus and Philetus,

as concerning the faith of the rising from the dead?"

They answered,

"Yes."

Then said the shepherds,

"Those you see lie dashed to pieces at the bottom of this mountain are they;

and they have continued to this day unburied,

as you see,

for an example to others to take heed how they clamber too high,

or how they come too near the brink of this mountain."

Then I saw that they had them to the top of another mountain,

and the name of that is Caution and bid them look afar off;

and when they did,

they perceived,

as they thought,

several men walking up and down among the tombs that were there;

and they perceived that the men were blind,

because they stumbled sometimes upon the tombs,

and because they could not get out from among them.

Then said Christian,

"What means this?"

The shepherds then answered,

"Did you not see a little below these mountains a stile that led into a meadow on the left hand side of this way?"

They answered,

"Yes."

Then said the shepherds,

"From that stile there goes a path that leads directly to Doubting Castle,

which is kept by Giant Despair;

and these men" (pointing to them among the tombs) "came once on pilgrimage,

as you do now,

even until they came to that same stile.

And because the right way was rough in that place,

they chose to go out of it into that meadow,

and there were taken by Giant Despair,

and cast into Doubting Castle,

where,

after they had been kept a while in the dungeon,

he at last did put out their eyes,

and led them among those tombs,

where he has left them to wander to this very day,

that the saying of the Wise Man might be fulfilled,

'He that wandereth out of the way of knowledge,

shall remain in the congregation of the dead.'"

Then Christian and Hopeful looked upon one another with tears gushing out,

but yet said nothing to the shepherds.

Then I saw in my dream,

that the shepherds had them to another place in a bottom,

where was a door on the side of a hill;

and they opened the door,

and bid them look in.

They looked in,

therefore,

and saw that within it was very dark and smoky;

they also thought that they heard there a rumbling noise,

as of fire,

and a cry of some tormented,

and that they smelt the scent of brimstone.

Then said Christian,

"What means this?"

The shepherds told them,

"This is a by-way to hell,

a way that hypocrites go in at: namely,

such as sell their birthright,

with Esau;

such as sell their master,

with Judas;

such as blaspheme the Gospel,

with Alexander;

and that lie and deceive with Ananias and Sapphira his wife."

HOPE.

Then said Hopeful to the shepherds,

"I perceive that these had on them,

even every one,

a show of pilgrimage,

as we have now;

had they not?"

SHEP.

Yes,

and held it a long time too.

HOPE.

How far might they go on in pilgrimage in their day,

since they notwithstanding were thus miserably cast away?

SHEP.

Some farther,

and some not so far as these mountains.

Then said the pilgrims one to another,

"We have need to cry to the Strong for strength."

SHEP.

Ay,

and you will have need to use it when you have it,

too.

[Sidenote: GATE OF THE CELESTIAL CITY]

By this time the pilgrims had a desire to go forward,

and the shepherds a desire they should;

so they walked together towards the end of the mountains.

Then said the shepherds one to another,

"Let us here show to the pilgrims the gate of the Celestial City,

if they have skill to look through our perspective glass."[6] The pilgrims then lovingly accepted the motion;

so they had them to the top of a high hill called Clear,

and gave them their glass to look.

[6] "Perspective glass" is an old name for a telescope or spy-glass.

Then they tried to look;

but the remembrance of that last thing,

that the shepherds had showed them,

made their hands shake,

by means of which hindrance they could not look steadily through the glass;

yet they thought they saw something like the gate,

and also some of the glory of the place.

Thus they went away,

and sang this song:

"Thus by the shepherds secrets are revealed,

Which from all other men are kept concealed.

Come to the shepherds,

then,

if you would see Things deep,

things hid,

and that mysterious be."

When they were about to depart,

one of the shepherds gave them a note of the way.

Another of them bid them beware of the Flatterer.

The third bid them take heed that they slept not upon the Enchanted Ground.

And the fourth bid them God speed.

So I awoke from my dream.

CHAPTER IX.

[Sidenote: THEY OVERTAKE IGNORANCE]

And I slept,

and dreamed again,

and saw the same two pilgrims going down the mountains along the highway towards the city.

Now,

a little below these mountains,

on the left hand,

lieth the country of Conceit;

from which country there comes into the way in which the pilgrims walked a little crooked lane.

Here,

therefore,

they met with a very brisk lad,

that came out of that country,

and his name was Ignorance.

So Christian asked him from what parts he came,

and whither he was going.

IGNOR.

Sir,

I was born in the country that lieth off there a little on the left hand,

and I am going to the Celestial City.

CHRIS.

But how do you think to get in at the gate?

for you may find some difficulty there.

IGNOR.

As other people do.

CHRIS.

But what have you to show at the gate,

that may cause that the gate should be opened to you?

IGNOR.

I know my Lord's will,

and have been a good liver;

I pay every man his own;

I pray,

fast,

pay money to the church and give to the poor,

and have left my country for whither I am going.

CHRIS.

But thou camest not in at the wicket-gate that is at the head of this way: thou camest in hither through that same crooked lane;

and therefore I fear,

however thou mayest think of thyself,

when the reckoning day shall come,

thou wilt have laid to thy charge that thou art a thief and a robber,

instead of getting admittance into the city.

IGNOR.

Gentlemen,

ye be utter strangers to me: I know you not: be content to follow the custom of your country,

and I will follow the custom of mine.

I hope all will be well.

And,

as for the gate that you talk of,

all the world knows that that is a great way off of our country.

I cannot think that any man in all our parts doth so much as know the way to it;

nor need they matter whether they do or no,

since we have,

as you see,

a fine,

pleasant green lane,

that comes down from our country,

the next way into the way.

When Christian saw that the man was wise in his own opinion,

he said to Hopeful,

whisperingly,

"There is more hope of a fool than of him."

And said,

moreover "When he that is a fool walketh by the way,

his wisdom faileth him,

and he saith to every one that he is a fool.

What!

shall we talk further with him,

or outgo him at present,

and so leave him to think of what he hath heard already,

and then stop again for him afterwards,

and see if by degrees we can do any good to him?"

Then said Hopeful:

"Let Ignorance a little while now muse On what is said,

and let him not refuse Good counsel to embrace,

lest he remain Still ignorant of what's the chiefest gain.

God saith,

those that no understanding have (Although He made them),

them He will not save."

HOPE.

He further added,

"It is not good,

I think,

to say all to him at once: let us pass him by,

if you will,

and talk to him by and by,

even as he is able to bear it."

So they both went on,

and Ignorance he came after.

Now,

when they had passed him a little way,

they entered into a very dark lane,

where they met a man whom seven devils had bound with seven strong cords,

and were carrying of him back to the door that they saw on the side of the hill.

Now good Christian began to tremble,

and so did Hopeful his companion;

yet,

as the devils led away the man,

Christian looked to see if he knew him;

and he thought it might be one Turn-away,

that dwelt in the town of Apostasy.

But he did not perfectly see his face,

for he did hang his head like a thief that is found;

but being gone past,

Hopeful looked after him,

and espied on his back a paper with this inscription,

"One who was wicked while claiming to be good,

and turned away from God."

[Sidenote: THREE STURDY ROGUES]

Then said Christian to his fellow,

"Now I call to remembrance that which was told of a thing that happened to a good man hereabout.

The name of that man was Little-Faith,

but a good man,

and dwelt in the town of Sincere.

The thing was this: At the entering in at this passage,

there comes down from Broad-way Gate a lane called Dead Man's Lane;

so-called because of the murders that are commonly done there;

and this Little-Faith,

going on pilgrimage as we do now,

chanced to sit down there,

and slept.

Now,

there happened at that time to come down that lane,

from Broad-way Gate,

three sturdy rogues,

and their names were Faint-heart,

Mistrust,

and Guilt,

three brothers;

and they espying Little-Faith,

where he was,

came galloping up with speed.

Now,

the good man was just awaked from his sleep,

and was getting up to go on his journey.

So they came up all to him,

and with threatening language bid him stand.

At this,

Little-Faith looked as white as a sheet and had neither power to fight nor fly.

Then said Faint-heart,

'Deliver thy purse;'

but,

he making no haste to do it (for he was loth to lose his money) Mistrust ran up to him,

and,

thrusting his hand into his pocket,

pulled out thence a bag of silver.

Then he cried out,

'Thieves!

thieves!'

With that,

Guilt,

with a great club that was in his hand,

struck Little-Faith on the head,

and with that blow felled him flat to the ground,

where he lay bleeding as one that would bleed to death.

All this while the thieves stood by.

But,

at last,

they hearing that some were upon the road,

and fearing lest it should be one Great-Grace,

that dwells in the city of Good-Confidence,

they betook themselves to their heels,

and left this good man to shift for himself.

Now,

after a while,

Little-Faith came to himself,

and,

getting up,

made shift to scramble on his way.

This was the story."

HOPE.

But did they take from him all that ever he had?

CHRIS.

No;

the place where his jewels were they never ransacked;

so those he kept still.

But as I was told,

the good man was much afflicted for his loss,

for the thieves got most of his spending money.

That which they got not,

as I said,

were jewels;

also he had a little odd money left,

but scarce enough to bring him to his journey's end.

Nay,

if I was not misinformed,

he was forced to beg as he went,

to keep himself alive,

for his jewels he might not sell;

but,

beg and do what he could,

he went,

as we say,

often with a hungry stomach the most part of the rest of the way.

HOPE.

But is it not a wonder they got not from him his certificate,

by which he was to receive admission at the Celestial Gate?

CHRIS.

It is a wonder;

but they got not that,

though they missed it not through any cunning of his;

for he,

being dismayed by their coming upon him,

had neither power nor skill to hide anything;

so it was more by good providence than by his endeavor,

that they missed of that good thing.

HOPE.

But it must needs be a comfort to him that they got not his jewels from him.

CHRIS.

It might have been great comfort to him,

had he used it as he should;

but they that told me the story said,

that he made but little use of it all the rest of the way,

and that because of the alarm that he had in their taking away his money.

Indeed,

he forgot it a great part of the rest of his journey;

and besides,

when at any time it came into his mind,

and he began to be comforted therewith,

then would fresh thoughts of his loss come again upon him,

and those thoughts would swallow up all.

[Sidenote: HOPEFUL REBUKED]

HOPE.

Alas,

poor man!

this could not but be a great grief unto him.

CHRIS.

Grief!

ay,

a grief indeed.

Would it not have been so to any of us,

had we been used as he,

to be robbed and wounded too,

and that in a strange place,

as he was?

It is a wonder he did not die with grief,

poor heart!

I was told that he scattered almost all the rest of the way with nothing but doleful and bitter complaints;

telling also to all that overtook him,

or that he overtook in the way as he went,

where he was robbed,

and how;

who they were that did it,

and what he had lost;

how he was wounded,

and that he hardly escaped with life.

HOPE.

But it is a wonder that his necessities did not put him upon selling or pawning some of his jewels,

that he might have wherewith to relieve himself in his journey.

CHRIS.

Thou talkest like one whose head is thick to this very day.

For what should he pawn them,

or to whom should he sell them?

In all that country where he was robbed,

his jewels were not accounted of;

nor did he want that relief which could from thence be administered to him.

Besides,

had his jewels been missing at the gate of the Celestial City,

he had (and that he knew well enough) been shut out from an inheritance there;

and that would have been worse to him than the coming and villany of ten thousand thieves.

HOPE.

But,

Christian,

these three fellows,

I am persuaded in my heart,

are but a company of cowards: would they have run else,

think you,

as they did at the noise of one that was coming on the road?

Why did not Little-Faith pluck up a greater heart?

He might,

methinks,

have stood one brush with them,

and have yielded when there had been no remedy.

CHRIS.

That they are cowards many have said,

but few have found it so in the time of trial.

As for a great heart,

Little-Faith had none;

and I perceive by thee,

my brother,

hadst thou been the man concerned,

thou art but for a brush,

and then to yield.

And,

verily,

since this is the height of thy courage now they are at a distance from us,

should they appear to thee as they did to him,

they might put thee to second thoughts.

But consider again,

they are but journeymen-thieves;

they serve under the king of the bottomless pit,

who,

if need be,

will come in to their aid himself,

and his voice is as the roaring of a lion.

I myself have been engaged as this Little-Faith was,

and I found it a terrible thing.

These three villains set upon me: and I beginning like a Christian to resist,

they gave but a call,

and in came their master.

I would,

as the saying is,

have given my life for a penny,

but that,

as God would have it,

I was clothed with armor of proof.

Ay,

and yet,

though I was so protected,

I found it hard work to quit myself like a man.

No man can tell what in that combat attends us,

but he that hath been in the battle himself.

[Sidenote: LITTLE-FAITH AND GREAT-GRACE]

HOPE.

Well,

but they ran,

you see,

when they did but suppose that one Great-Grace was in the way.

CHRIS.

True,

they have often fled,

both they and their master,

when Great-Grace hath but appeared;

and no marvel,

for he is the King's champion.

But I trow you will put some difference between Little-Faith and the King's champion?

All the King's subjects are not His champions,

nor can they when tried do such feats of war as he.

Is it meet to think that a little child should handle Goliath as David did?

or that there should be the strength of an ox in a wren?

Some are strong,

some are weak;

some have great faith,

some have little: this man was one of the weak,

and therefore he went to the wall.

HOPE.

I would it had been Great-Grace for their sakes.

CHRIS.

If it had been he,

he might have had his hands full;

for I must tell you that though Great-Grace is excellent good at his weapons,

and has,

and can,

so long as he keeps them at sword's point,

do well enough with them;

yet,

if they get within him,

even Faint-heart,

Mistrust,

or the other,

it shall go hard but they will throw up his heels.

And when a man is down,

you know,

what can he do?

Whoso looks well upon Great-Grace's face will see those scars and cuts there,

that shall easily give proof of what I say.

Yea,

once I heard that he should say (and that when he was in the combat),

"We despaired even of life."

How did these sturdy rogues and their fellows make David groan,

mourn,

and roar!

Yea,

Heman,

and Hezekiah too,

though champions in their days,

were forced to bestir when by these attacked;

and yet,

notwithstanding,

they had their coats soundly brushed by them.

Peter,

upon a time,

would go try what he could do;

but though some do say of him that he is the prince of the apostles,

they handled him so that they made him at last afraid of a sorry girl.

[Sidenote: LITTLE-FAITH AMONG THIEVES]

Besides,

their king is at their whistle --he is never out of hearing;

and if at any time they be put to the worst,

he,

if possible,

comes in to help them;

and of him it is said,

"The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold;

the spear,

the dart,

nor the habergeon.

He esteemeth iron as straw,

and brass as rotten wood.

The arrow cannot make him flee;

sling-stones are turned with him into stubble.

Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear."

What can a man do in this case?

It is true,

if a man could at every turn have Job's horse,

and had skill and courage to ride him,

he might do notable things.

For his neck is clothed with thunder.

He will not be afraid as the grasshopper:

"the glory of his nostrils is terrible.

He paweth in the valley,

and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.

He mocketh at fear,

and is not affrighted,

neither turneth he his back from the sword.

The quiver rattleth against him,

the glittering spear and the shield.

He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage;

neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.

He saith among the trumpets,

Ha!

ha!

and he smelleth the battle afar off,

the thunder of the captains,

and the shouting."

But for such footmen as thee and I are,

let us never desire to meet with an enemy,

nor vaunt as if we could do better,

when we hear of others that have been foiled,

nor be tickled at the thoughts of our manhood;

for such commonly come by the worst when tried.

Witness Peter,

of whom I made mention before: he would swagger,

ay,

he would;

he would,

as his vain mind prompted him to say,

do better and stand more for his Master than all men;

but who so foiled and run down by those villains as he?

Then Christian sang:

"Poor Little-Faith!

hast been among the thieves?

Wast robbed?

Remember this: whoso believes And gets more faith,

shall then a victor be Over ten thousand;

else,

scarce over three."

So they went on,

and Ignorance followed.

They went then till they came to a place where they saw a way put itself into their way,

and seemed withal to lie as straight as the way which they should go;

and here they knew not which of the two to take,

for both seemed straight before them;

therefore here they stood still to consider.

And,

as they were thinking about the way,

behold,

a man,

black of flesh,

but covered with a very light robe,

came to them,

and asked them why they stood there.

They answered they were going to the Celestial City,

but knew not which of these ways to take.

"Follow me,"

said the man;

"it is thither that I am going."

So they followed him to the way that but now came into the road,

which by degrees turned and turned them so from the city that they desired to go to,

that,

in a little time,

their faces were turned away from it;

yet they followed him.

But by-and-by,

before they were aware,

he led them both within the folds of a net,

in which they were both so entangled that they knew not what to do;

and with that,

the white robe fell off the black man's back.

Then they saw where they were.

Wherefore,

there they lay crying some time,

for they could not get themselves out.

CHRIS.

Then said Christian to his fellow,

"Now do I see myself in an error.

Did not the shepherds bid us beware of flatterers?

As is the saying of the Wise Man,

so we have found it this day:

'A man that flattereth his neighbor,

spreadeth a net at his feet.'"

[Sidenote: A SHINING ONE APPEARS]

HOPE.

They also gave us a note of directions about the way,

for our more sure finding thereof;

but therein we have also forgotten to read,

and have not kept ourselves from the paths of the destroyer.

Thus they lay bewailing themselves in the net.

At last they espied a Shining One coming towards them with a whip of small cord in his hand.

When he was come to the place where they were,

he asked them whence they came,

and what they did there.

They told him that they were poor pilgrims going to Zion,

but were led out of their way by a black man clothed in white,

"Who bid us,"

said they,

"follow him,

for he was going thither too."

Then said he with the whip,

"It is Flatterer,

a false prophet,

that hath changed himself into an angel of light."

So he rent the net,

and let the men out.

Then said he to them,

"Follow me,

that I may set you in your way again."

So he led them back to the way which they had left to follow the Flatterer.

Then he asked them,

saying,

"Where did you lie the last night?"

They said,

"With the shepherds upon the Delectable Mountains."

He asked them then if they had not of those shepherds a note of direction for the way.

They answered,

"Yes."

"But did you not,"

said he,

"when you were at a stand,

pluck out and read your note?"

They answered,

"No."

He asked them,

"Why?"

They said they forgot.

He asked them,

moreover,

if the shepherds did not bid them beware of the Flatterer.

They answered,

"Yes;

but we did not imagine,"

said they,

"that this fine-spoken man had been he."

Then I saw in my dream,

that he commanded them to lie down;

which when they did,

he whipped them sore,

to teach them the good way wherein they should walk;

and,

as he whipped them,

he said,

"As many as I love,

I rebuke and chasten;

be zealous,

therefore,

and repent."

This done,

he bid them go on their way,

and take good heed to the other directions of the shepherds.

So they thanked him for all his kindness,

and went softly along the right way,

singing:

"Come hither,

you that walk along the way,

See how the pilgrims fare that go astray;

They catchèd are in an entangling net,

'Cause they good counsel lightly did forget;

'Tis true,

they rescued were;

but yet,

you see,

They're scourged to boot: let this your caution be."

Now,

after awhile they perceived afar off,

one coming softly and alone,

all along the highway,

to meet them.

Then said Christian to his fellow,

"Yonder is a man with his back towards Zion,

and he is coming to meet us."

HOPE.

I see him: let us take heed to ourselves lest he should prove a flatterer also.

[Sidenote: THEY MEET ATHEIST]

So he drew nearer and nearer,

and at last came up to them.

His name was Atheist,[7] and he asked them whither they were going.

[7] An atheist is one who does not believe that there is a God.

CHRIS.

We are going to Mount Zion.

Then Atheist fell into a very great laughter.

CHRIS.

What is the meaning of your laughter?

ATHEIST. I laugh to see what ignorant persons you are,

to take upon yourselves so tedious a journey,

and yet are like to have nothing but your travel for your pains.

[Illustration: Atheist Laughing at Christian and Hopeful.

Page 170]

CHRIS.

Why,

man,

do you think we shall not be received?

ATHEIST. Received!

There is no such a place as you dream of in all this world.

CHRIS.

But there is in the world to come.

ATHEIST. When I was at home in mine own country,

I heard as you now affirm,

and,

from that hearing,

went out to see,

and have been seeking this city these twenty years,

but find no more of it than I did the first day I set out.

CHRIS.

We have both heard and believe that there is such a place to be found.

ATHEIST. Had not I,

when at home,

believed I had not come thus far to seek;

but,

finding none (and yet I should had there been such a place to be found,

for I have gone to seek it farther than you),

I am going back again,

and will seek to refresh myself with the things that I then cast away for hopes of that which I now see is not.

CHRIS.

Then said Christian to Hopeful his fellow,

"Is it true which this man hath said?"

HOPE.

Take heed;

he is one of the flatterers.

Remember what it hath cost us once already for hearkening to such kind of fellows.

What!

no Mount Zion?

Did we not see from the Delectable Mountains the gate of the city?

Also,

are we not now to walk by faith?

Let us go on,

lest the man with the whip overtake us again.

I say,

my brother,

cease to hear him,

and let us believe to the saving of the soul.

CHRIS.

My brother,

I did not put the question to thee for that I doubted of the truth of our belief myself,

but to prove thee,

and to fetch from thee a fruit of the honesty of thy heart.

As for this man,

I know that he is blinded.

Let thee and me go on,

knowing that we have belief of the truth,

and no lie is of the truth.

HOPE.

Now do I rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

So they turned away from the man,

and he,

laughing at them,

went his way.

I then saw in my dream that they went till they came into a certain country,

whose air naturally tended to make one drowsy if he came a stranger into it.

And here Hopeful began to be very dull and heavy of sleep;

wherefore he said unto Christian,

"I do now begin to grow so drowsy,

that I can scarcely hold up mine eyes;

let us lie down here,

and take one nap."

CHRIS.

"By no means,"

said the other,

"lest sleeping,

we never awake more."

HOPE.

Why,

my brother?

sleep is sweet to the laboring man: we may be refreshed if we take a nap.

CHRIS.

Do not you remember that one of the shepherds bid us beware of the Enchanted Ground?

He meant by that that we should beware of sleeping;

wherefore let us not sleep as others,

but let us watch and be sober.

HOPE.

I acknowledge myself in fault;

and had I been here alone,

I had,

by sleeping,

run the danger of death.

I see it is true that the Wise Man saith,

"Two are better than one."

Hitherto hath thy company been my help;

and thou shalt have a good reward for thy labor.

CHRIS.

"Now,

then,"

said Christian,

"to prevent drowsiness in this place,

let us talk about something profitable."

HOPE.

With all my heart.

[Sidenote: HOPEFUL NARRATES CONVERSION]

CHRIS.

Where shall we begin?

HOPE.

Where God began with us.

But do you begin,

if you please.

CHRIS.

I will sing you first this song:

"When saints do sleepy grow,

let them come hither,

And hear how these two pilgrims talk together;

Yea,

let them learn of them,

in any wise,

Thus to keep ope their drowsy,

slumbering eyes.

Saints' fellowship,

if it be managed well,

Keeps them awake,

and that in spite of hell."

CHRIS.

Then Christian began,

and said,

"I will ask you a question.

How came you to think at first of doing as you do now?"

HOPE.

Do you mean,

how came I at first to look after the good of my soul?

CHRIS.

Yes,

that is my meaning.

HOPE.

I continued a great while in the delight of those things which were seen and sold at our fair;

things which I believe now would have,

had I continued in them still,

drowned me in ruin and destruction.

CHRIS.

What things were they?

HOPE.

All the treasures and riches of the world.

Also I delighted much in rioting,

revelling,

drinking,

swearing,

lying,

uncleanness,

Sabbath-breaking,

and what not,

that tended to destroy the soul.

But I found at last,

by hearing and considering of things that are holy,

which indeed I heard of you,

as also of beloved Faithful,

that was put to death for his faith,

and good living in Vanity Fair,

that the end of these things is death;

and that,

for these things' sake,

the wrath of God cometh upon those who disobey him.

CHRIS.

And did you presently fall under the power of this feeling?

HOPE.

No;

I was not willing presently to know the evil of sin,

nor the destruction that follows upon the doing of it;

but tried,

when my mind at first began to be shaken with the Word,

to shut mine eyes against the light thereof.

CHRIS.

But what was the cause of your waiting so long?

HOPE.

The causes were,

--Firstly,

I was ignorant that this was the work of God upon me.

Secondly,

Sin was yet very sweet to my flesh,

and I was loth to leave it.

Thirdly,

I could not tell how to part with mine old companions,

their presence and actions were so desirable unto me.

Fourthly,

The hours in which these feelings were upon me,

were such troublesome and such heart-affrighting hours,

that I could not bear,

no,

not so much as the remembrance of them upon my heart.

CHRIS.

Then,

as it seems,

sometimes you got rid of your trouble?

HOPE.

Yes,

verily,

but it would come into my mind again,

and then I should be as bad,

nay,

worse than I was before.

CHRIS.

Why,

what was it that brought your sins to mind again?

HOPE.

Many things;

as,

1. If I did but meet a good man in the streets;

or,

2. If I have heard any read in the Bible;

or,

3. If mine head did begin to ache;

or,

4. If I were told that some of my neighbors were sick;

or,

5. If I heard the bell toll for some that were dead;

or,

6. If I thought of dying myself;

or,

7. If I heard that sudden death happened to others;

8. But especially when I thought of myself that I must quickly come to judgment.

CHRIS.

And could you at any time with ease get off the guilt of sin,

when by any of these ways it came upon you?

HOPE.

No,

not I;

for then they got faster hold of my conscience;

and then,

if I did but think of going back to sin (though my mind was turned against it,) it would be double torment to me.

CHRIS.

And how did you do then?

HOPE.

I thought I must endeavor to mend my life;

for else,

thought I,

I am sure to be lost forever.

CHRIS.

And did you endeavor to mend?

HOPE.

Yes,

and fled from not only my sins,

but sinful company too,

and betook me to religious duties,

as praying,

reading,

weeping for sin,

speaking truth to my neighbors,

etc.

These things did I,

with many others,

too much here to tell.

CHRIS.

And did you think yourself well then?

HOPE.

Yes,

for a while;

but,

at the last,

my trouble came tumbling upon me again,

and that over the neck of all my trying to do right.

CHRIS.

How came that about,

since you were now doing right,

as far as you knew?

HOPE.

There were several things brought it upon me;

especially such sayings as these:

"All our righteousness are as filthy rags;"

"By the works of the law shall no flesh be made righteous;"

"When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you,

say,

We are unprofitable;"

with many more such like.

From whence I began to reason with myself thus: If all my righteousness are filthy rags,

if by the deeds of the law no man can be made righteous,

and if,

when we have done _all_,

we are yet unprofitable,

then it is but a folly to think of heaven by the law.

I further thought thus;

If a man runs a hundred pounds into the shopkeeper's debt,

and after that shall pay for all that he shall buy;

yet his old debt stands still in the book uncrossed;

for the which the shopkeeper may sue him,

and cast him into prison till he shall pay the debt.

CHRIS.

Well,

and how did you apply this to yourself?

HOPE.

Why,

I thought thus with myself: I have by my sins run a great way into God's book,

and my now reforming will not pay off that score.

Therefore I should think still,

under all my present trying.

But how shall I be freed from that punishment that I have brought myself in danger of by my former sins.

CHRIS.

A very good application;

but pray go on.

HOPE.

Another thing that hath troubled me ever since my late turning from sin is,

that if I look narrowly into the best of what I do now,

I still see sin,

new sin,

mixing itself with the best of that I do;

so that now I am forced to conclude that,

notwithstanding my former fond opinion of myself and duties,

I have committed sin enough in one duty to send me to hell,

though my former life had been faultless.

CHRIS.

And what did you do then?

HOPE.

Do!

I could not tell what to do,

till I brake my mind to Faithful;

for he and I were well acquainted.

And he told me,

that unless I could obtain the righteousness of a Man that never had sinned,

neither mine own nor all the righteousness of the world could save me.

CHRIS.

And did you think he spake true?

HOPE.

Had he told me so when I was pleased and satisfied with mine own trying,

I had called him fool for his pains;

but now,

since I see mine own weakness and the sin which cleaves to my best performance,

I have been forced to be of his opinion.

CHRIS.

But did you think,

when at first he suggested it to you,

that there was such a Man to be found,

of whom it might justly be said that He never committed sin?

HOPE.

I must confess the words at first sounded strangely;

but after a little more talk and company with him I had full certainty about it.

CHRIS.

And did you ask him what Man this was,

and how you must be made righteous by Him?

HOPE.

Yes,

and he told me it was the Lord Jesus,

that dwelleth on the right hand of the Most High.

And thus,

said he,

you must be made right by Him,

even by trusting what He hath done by Himself in the days of His flesh,

and suffered when He did hang on the tree.

I asked him further,

How that Man's righteousness could be of that power to help another before God?

And he told me He was the mighty God,

and did what He did,

and died the death also,

not for Himself,

but for me;

to whom His doings,

and the worthiness of them,

should be given if I believed on Him.

CHRIS.

And what did you do then?

HOPE.

I made my objections against my believing,

for that I thought He was not willing to save me.

CHRIS.

And what said Faithful to you then?

HOPE.

He bid me go to Him and see.

Then I said it was too much for me to ask for.

But he said No,

for I was invited to come.

Then he gave me a book of Jesus' own writing to encourage me the more freely to come;

and he said concerning that book,

that every word and letter thereof stood firmer than heaven and earth.

Then I asked him what I must do when I came;

and he told me I must entreat on my knees,

with all my heart and soul,

the Father to reveal Him to me.

Then I asked him further how I must make my prayer to Him;

and he said,

Go,

and thou shalt find Him upon a mercy-seat,

where He sits all the year long to give pardon and forgiveness to them that come.

I told him that I knew not what to say when I came;

and he bid me say to this effect: God be merciful to me a sinner,

and make me to know and believe in Jesus Christ;

for I see that if His righteousness had not been,

or I have not faith in that righteousness,

I am utterly cast away.

Lord,

I have heard that Thou art a merciful God,

and hast given that Thy Son Jesus Christ should be the Saviour of the world;

and,

moreover,

that Thou art willing to bestow Him upon such a poor sinner as I am.

And I am a sinner indeed.

Lord,

take therefore this opportunity,

and show Thy grace in the salvation of my soul,

through Thy Son Jesus Christ.

Amen.

CHRIS.

And did you do as you were bidden?

HOPE.

Yes,

over,

and over,

and over.

CHRIS.

And did the Father show His son to you?

HOPE.

Not at the first,

nor second,

nor third,

nor fourth,

nor fifth;

no,

nor at the sixth time neither.

CHRIS.

What did you do then?

HOPE.

What!

why,

I could not tell what to do.

CHRIS.

Had you no thoughts of leaving off praying?

HOPE.

Yes;

a hundred times twice told.

CHRIS.

And what was the reason you did not?

HOPE.

I believed that that was true which had been told me;

to wit,

that without the righteousness of this Christ,

all the world could not save me;

and therefore,

thought I with myself,

if I leave off I die,

and I can but die at the throne of grace.

And withal,

this came into my mind:

"Though it tarry,

wait for it;

because it will surely come,

it will not tarry."

So I continued praying until the Father showed me His Son.

CHRIS.

And how was He shown unto you?

HOPE.

I did not see Him with my bodily eyes,

but with the eyes of my heart,

and thus it was: One day I was very sad,

I think sadder than at any one time in my life;

and this sadness was through a fresh sight of the greatness and vileness of my sins.

And,

as I was then looking for nothing but hell and the everlasting loss of my soul,

suddenly,

as I thought,

I saw the Lord Jesus look down from heaven upon me,

and saying,

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,

and thou shalt be saved."

But I replied,

"Lord,

I am a great,

a very great sinner."

And He answered,

"My grace is sufficient for thee."

Then I said,

"But,

Lord,

what is believing?"

And then I saw from that saying,

"He that cometh to me shall never hunger,

and he that believeth on me shall never thirst,"

that believing and coming was all one;

and that he that came,

that is,

ran out in his heart and desire after salvation by Christ,

he indeed believed in Christ.

Then the water stood in mine eyes,

and I asked further,

"But,

Lord,

may such a great sinner as I am be indeed accepted of Thee,

and be saved by thee?"

and I heard Him say,

"And him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."

Then said I,

"But how Lord,

must I consider of Thee in my coming to Thee,

that my faith may be placed aright upon Thee?"

Then he said,

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

He is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes.

He died for our sins,

and rose again for our righteousness.

He loved us,

and washed us from our sins in His own blood.

He is Mediator between God and us.

He ever liveth to plead for us."

From all which I gathered that I must look for righteousness in His person,

and for satisfaction for my sins by His blood;

that what He did in obedience to His Father's law,

and in submitting to the penalty thereof,

was not for Himself,

but for him that will accept it for his salvation,

and be thankful.

And now was my heart full of joy,

mine eyes full of tears,

and mine affections running over with love to the name,

people,

and ways of Jesus Christ.

CHRIS.

This was a revelation of Christ to your soul indeed.

But tell me particularly what effect this had upon your spirit.

HOPE.

It made me see that all the world,

notwithstanding all the righteousness thereof,

is in a state of condemnation.

It made me see that God the Father,

though He be just,

can justly forgive the coming sinner.

It made me greatly ashamed of the vileness of my former life,

and confounded me with the sense of my own ignorance;

for there never came thought into my heart before now,

that showed me so the beauty of Jesus Christ.

It made me love a holy life,

and long to do something for the honor and glory of the name of the Lord Jesus.

Yea,

I thought that had I now a thousand gallons of blood in my body,

I could spill it all for the sake of the Lord Jesus.

CHAPTER X. I saw then in my dream that Hopeful looked back,

and saw Ignorance,

whom they had left behind,

coming after.

"Look,"

said he to Christian,

"how far yonder youngster loitereth behind."

CHRIS.

Ay,

ay,

I see him: he careth not for our company.

HOPE.

But I think it would not have hurt him,

had he kept pace with us hitherto.

CHRIS.

That is true;

but I warrant you he thinks otherwise.

HOPE.

That I think he doth;

but,

however,

let us tarry for him.

So they did.

CHRIS.

Then Christian said to him,

"Come away,

man;

why do you stay so behind?"

IGNOR.

I take my pleasure in walking alone,

even more a great deal than in company,

unless I like it the better.

Then said Christian to Hopeful (but softly),

"Did I not tell you he cared not for our company?

But,

however,"

said he,

"come up,

and let us talk away the time in this solitary place."

Then,

directing his speech to Ignorance,

he said,

"Come how do you?

How stands it between God and your soul now?"

IGNOR.

I hope well;

for I am always full of good thoughts,

that come into my mind to comfort me as I walk.

CHRIS.

What good motions?

pray tell us.

IGNOR.

Why,

I think of God and heaven.

CHRIS.

So do the devils and lost souls.

IGNOR.

But I think of them and desire them.

CHRIS.

So do many that are never like to come there.

"The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing."

IGNOR.

But I think of them,

and leave all for them.

CHRIS.

That I doubt,

for leaving of all is a very hard matter;

yea,

a harder matter than many are aware of.

But why,

or by what,

art thou persuaded that thou hast left all for God and heaven?

IGNOR.

My heart tells me so.

CHRIS.

The Wise Man says,

"He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool."

IGNOR.

This is spoken of an evil heart;

but mine is a good one.

CHRIS.

But how dost thou prove that?

IGNOR.

It comforts me in the hopes of heaven.

CHRIS.

That may be through its deceitfulness;

for a man's heart may minister comfort to him in the hopes of that thing for which he has yet no ground to hope.

IGNOR.

But my heart and life agree together;

and therefore my hope is well grounded.

CHRIS.

Who told thee that thy heart and life agree together?

IGNOR.

My heart tells me so.

CHRIS.

Ask my fellow if I be a thief!

Thy heart tells thee so!

Except the Word of God telleth thee in this matter,

other testimony is of no value.

IGNOR.

But is it not a good heart that hath good thoughts?

and is not that a good life that is according to God's commandments?

CHRIS.

Yes,

that is a good heart that hath good thoughts,

and that is a good life that is according to God's commandments;

but it is one thing,

indeed,

to have these,

and another thing only to think so.

IGNOR.

Pray,

what count you good thoughts,

and a life according to God's commandments?

CHRIS.

There are good thoughts of many kinds: some respecting ourselves,

some God,

some Christ,

and some other things.

IGNOR.

You go so fast,

I cannot keep pace with you.

Do you go on before: I must stay awhile behind.

Then they said:

"Well,

Ignorance,

wilt thou yet foolish be,

To slight good counsel,

ten times given thee?

And if thou yet refuse it,

thou shalt know,

Ere long,

the evil of thy doing so.

Remember,

man,

in time;

stoop,

do not fear;

Good counsel,

taken well,

saves;

therefore hear: But,

if thou yet shalt slight it,

thou wilt be The loser,

Ignorance,

I'll warrant thee."

Then Christian addressed himself thus to his fellow:

CHRIS.

Well,

come,

my good Hopeful;

I perceive that thou and I must walk by ourselves again.

[Sidenote: THE TWO PILGRIMS PROCEED]

So I saw in my dream that they went on apace before,

and Ignorance he came hobbling after.

Then said Christian to his companion,

"It pities me much for this poor man: it will certainly go ill with him at last."

HOPE.

Alas!

there are abundance in our town in his condition,

whole families,

yea,

whole streets,

and that of pilgrims,

too;

and if there be so many in our parts,

how many,

think you,

must there be in the place where he was born?

CHRIS.

Indeed,

the Word saith,

"He hath blinded their eyes,

lest they should see."

HOPE.

Well said;

I believe you have said the truth.

Are we now almost got past the Enchanted Ground?

CHRIS.

Why,

art thou weary of our talking?

HOPE.

No,

verily;

but that I would know where we are.

CHRIS.

We have not now above two miles farther to go thereon.

Well,

we will leave at this time our neighbor Ignorance by himself,

and fall upon another subject.

HOPE.

With all my heart;

but you shall still begin.

CHRIS.

Well,

then,

did you not know,

about ten years ago,

one Temporary in your parts,

who was a forward man in religion then?

HOPE.

Know him!

yes;

he dwelt in Graceless,

a town about two miles off of Honesty,

and he dwelt next door to one Turnback.

CHRIS.

Right,

he dwelt under the same roof with him.

Well,

that man was much awakened once: I believe that then he had some sight of his sins,

and of the punishment that was due thereto.

HOPE.

I am of your mind;

for (my house not being above three miles from him) he would ofttimes come to me,

and that with many tears.

Truly,

I pitied the man,

and was not altogether without hope of him;

but one may see,

it is not every one that cries "Lord!

Lord!"

CHRIS.

He told me once that he was resolved to go on pilgrimage as we do now;

but all of a sudden he grew acquainted with one Save-self,

and then he became a stranger to me,

for at that time he gave up going on pilgrimage.

CHAPTER XI.

[Sidenote: BEULAH LAND]

Now I saw in my dream,

that by this time the pilgrims were got over the Enchanted Ground,

and entering into the country of Beulah,

whose air was very sweet and pleasant: the way lying directly through it,

they enjoyed themselves there for a season.

Yea,

here they heard continually the singing of birds and saw every day the flowers appear on the earth,

and heard the voice of the turtle in the land.

In this country the sun shineth night and day;

wherefore this was beyond the Valley of the Shadow of Death,

and also out of the reach of Giant Despair;

neither could they from this place so much as see Doubting Castle.

Here they were within sight of the City they were going to;

also here met them some of the inhabitants thereof;

for in this land the Shining Ones commonly walked,

because it was upon the borders of heaven.

Here they had no want of corn and wine;

for in this place they met with abundance of what they had sought for in all their pilgrimage.

Here they heard voices from out of the City,

loud voices,

saying,

"Say ye to the daughter of Zion,

Behold,

thy salvation cometh!

Behold,

His reward is with Him!"

Here all the inhabitants of the country called them "The holy people,

and redeemed of the Lord,

sought out,"

etc.

Now,

as they walked in this land,

they had more rejoicing than in parts more remote from the kingdom to which they were bound;

and drawing near to the City,

they had yet a more perfect view thereof.

It was builded of pearls and precious stones,

also the streets thereof were paved with gold;

so that by reason of the natural glory of the City,

and the reflection of the sunbeams upon it,

Christian with desire fell sick;

Hopeful also had a fit or two of the same disease,

wherefore here they lay by it awhile,

crying out because of their pangs,

"If you see my Beloved tell Him that I am sick of love."

But being a little strengthened,

and better able to bear their sickness,

they walked on their way,

and came yet nearer and nearer,

where were orchards,

vineyards,

and gardens,

and their gates opened into the highway.

Now,

as they came up to these places,

behold,

the gardener,

stood in the way;

to whom the pilgrims said,

"Whose goodly vineyards and gardens are these?"

He answered,

"They are the King's,

and are planted here for His own delight,

and also for the solace of pilgrims."

So the gardener had them into the vineyards,

and bid them refresh themselves with the dainties.

He also showed them there the King's walks,

and the arbors where He delighted to be;

and here they tarried and slept.

Now I beheld in my dream,

that they talked more in their sleep at this time than ever they did in all their journey;

and being in thought thereabout,

the gardener said even to me,

"Wherefore dost thou meditate at the matter?

It is the nature of the fruit of the grapes of these vineyards to go down so sweetly as to cause the lips of them that are asleep to speak."

So I saw,

when they awoke they undertook to go up to the City.

But,

as I said,

the reflection of the sun upon the City (for the City was pure gold) was so extremely glorious,

that they could not,

as yet,

with open face behold it,

but through a glass made for that purpose.

So I saw that,

as they went on,

there met them two men in raiment that shone like gold,

also their faces shone as the light.

These men asked the pilgrims whence they came;

and they told them.

They also asked them where they had lodged,

what difficulties and dangers,

what comforts and pleasures,

they had met in the way;

and they told them.

Then said the men that met them,

"You have but two difficulties more to meet with,

and then you are in the City."

Christian,

then,

and his companion,

asked the men to go along with them;

so they told them that they would.

"But,"

said they,

"you must obtain it by your own faith."

So I saw in my dream that they went on together till they came in sight of the gate.

[Sidenote: A RIVER INTERVENES]

Now I further saw,

that betwixt them and the gate was a river;

but there was no bridge to go over,

and the river was very deep.

At the sight,

therefore,

of this river,

the pilgrims were much stunned;

but the men that went with them said,

"You must go through,

or you cannot come at the gate."

The pilgrims then began to inquire if there was no other way to the gate;

to which they answered,

"Yes;

but there hath not any save two,

to wit,

Enoch and Elijah,

been permitted to tread that path since the foundation of the world,

nor shall until the last trumpet shall sound."

The pilgrims then,

especially Christian,

began to be anxious in his mind,

and looked this way and that;

but no way could be found by them by which they might escape the river.

Then they asked the men if the waters were all of a depth.

They said,

"No,"

yet they could not help them in that case;

"for,"

said they,

"you shall find it deeper or shallower as you believe in the King of the place."

They then addressed themselves to the water;

and,

entering,

Christian began to sink,

and crying out to his good friend Hopeful,

he said,

"I sink in deep waters;

the billows go over my head;

all His waves go over me."

Then said the other,

"Be of good cheer,

my brother;

I feel the bottom,

and it is good."

Then said Christian,

"Ah!

my friend,

the sorrows of death have compassed me about;

I shall not see the land that flows with milk and honey."

And with that,

a great darkness and horror fell upon Christian,

so that he could not see before him.

Also here he in a great measure lost his senses,

so that he could neither remember nor orderly talk of any of those sweet refreshments that he had met with in the way of his pilgrimage.

But all the words that he spake still tended to show that he had horror of mind,

and heart-fears that he should die in that river,

and never obtain entrance in at the gate.

Here also,

as they that stood by perceived,

he was much in the troublesome thoughts of the sins that he had committed,

both since and before he began to be a pilgrim.

It was also observed that he was troubled with the sight of demons and evil spirits;

for ever and anon he would intimate so much by words.

Hopeful,

therefore,

here had much ado to keep his brother's head above water;

yea,

sometimes he would be quite gone down,

and then,

ere a while he would rise up again half dead.

Hopeful would also endeavor to comfort him,

saying,

"Brother,

I see the gate,

and men standing by to receive us;"

but Christian would answer,

"It is you,

it is you they wait for: you have been hopeful ever since I knew you."

"And so have you,"

said he to Christian.

"Ah,

brother,"

said he,

"surely,

if I were right,

He would now arise to help me;

but for my sins He hath brought me into this snare,

and hath left me."

Then said Hopeful,

"My brother,

these troubles and distresses that you go through in these waters are no sign that God hath forsaken you;

but are sent to try you,

whether you will call to mind that which hitherto you have received of His goodness,

and live upon Him in your distresses."

Then I saw in my dream that Christian was in thought awhile.

To whom also Hopeful added these words,

"Be of good cheer,

Jesus Christ maketh thee whole."

And,

with that,

Christian brake out with a loud voice,

"Oh,

I see Him again;

and He tells me,

'When thou passest through the waters,

I will be with thee;

and through the rivers,

they shall not overflow thee.'"

Then they both took courage;

and the enemy was,

after that,

as still as a stone,

until they were gone over.

Christian,

therefore,

presently found ground to stand upon;

and so it followed that the rest of the river was but shallow.

Thus they got over.

[Sidenote: TWO SHINING MEN]

Now,

upon the bank of the river,

on the other side,

they saw the two Shining Men again,

who there waited for them.

Wherefore,

being come out of the river,

they saluted them,

saying,

"We are heavenly spirits,

sent forth to help those that shall be heirs of salvation."

Thus they went along towards the gate.

Now,

you must note that the City stood upon a mighty hill;

but the pilgrims went up that hill with ease,

because they had these two men to lead them up by the arms;

also they had left their mortal garments behind them in the river;

for though they went in with them,

they came out without them.

They therefore went up here with much activity and speed,

though the foundation upon which the City was framed was higher than the clouds.

They therefore went up through the regions of the air,

sweetly talking as they went,

being comforted because they had safely got over the river,

and had such glorious companions to attend them.

[Sidenote: MOUNT ZION]

The talk they had with the Shining Ones,

was about the glory of the place;

who told them that the beauty and glory of it were such as could not be put into words.

"There,"

said they,

"is the Mount Zion,

the heavenly Jerusalem,

the innumerable company of angels,

and the spirits of good men made perfect.

You are going now,"

said they,

"to the Paradise of God,

wherein you shall see the tree of life,

and eat of the never-fading fruits thereof;

and when you come there,

you shall have white robes given you,

and your walk and talk shall be every day with the King,

even all the days of an eternal life.

There you shall not see again such things as you saw when you were in the lower region upon the earth;

to wit,

sorrow,

sickness,

affliction,

and death;

'for the former things are passed away.'

You are going now to Abraham,

to Isaac,

and to Jacob,

and to the prophets,

men that God hath taken away from the evil to come,

and that are now resting upon their beds,

each one walking in his righteousness."

The men then asked,

"What must we do in the holy place?"

To whom it was answered,

"You must there receive the comfort of all your toil,

and have joy for all your sorrow;

you must reap what you have sown,

even the fruit of all your prayers,

and tears,

and sufferings for the King by the way.

In that place you must wear crowns of gold,

and enjoy the perpetual sight and visions of the Holy One;

for there you shall see Him as He is.

There also you shall serve Him continually with praise,

with shouting and thanksgiving,

whom you desired to serve in the world,

though with much difficulty,

because of the weakness of your bodies.

There your eyes shall be delighted with seeing and your ears with hearing the pleasant voice of the Mighty One.

There you shall enjoy your friends again that are gone thither before you;

and there you shall with joy receive even every one that follows into the holy place after you.

There also you shall be clothed with glory and majesty,

and put into a state fit to ride out with the King of Glory.

When He shall come with sound of trumpet in the clouds,

as upon the wings of the wind,

you shall come with Him;

and when He shall sit upon the throne of judgment,

you shall sit by Him;

yea,

and when He shall pass sentence upon all the workers of evil,

let them be angels or men,

you also shall have a voice in that judgment because they were His and your enemies.

Also,

when He shall again return to the City,

you shall go too,

with sound of trumpet,

and be ever with Him."

Now,

while they were thus drawing towards the gate,

behold,

a company of the heavenly host came out to meet them;

to whom it was said by the other two Shining Ones,

"These are the men that have loved our Lord when in the world,

and that have left all for His holy name;

and He hath sent us to fetch them,

and we have brought them thus far on their desired journey,

that they may go in and look their Redeemer in the face with joy."

Then the heavenly host gave a great shout,

saying,

"Blessed are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb."

There came out also at this time to meet them several of the King's trumpeters,

clothed in white and shining raiment who,

with melodious noises and loud,

made even the heavens to echo with their sound.

These trumpeters saluted Christian and his fellow with ten thousand welcomes from the world;

and this they did with shouting and sound of trumpet.

[Sidenote: THE CELESTIAL CITY]

This done,

they compassed them round on every side;

some went before,

some behind,

and some on the right hand,

some on the left (as it were to guard them through the upper regions),

continually sounding as they went,

with melodious noise,

in notes on high: so that the very sight was to them that could behold it as if heaven itself was come down to meet them.

Thus,

therefore,

they walked on together;

and,

as they walked,

ever and anon these trumpeters,

even with joyful sound,

would,

by mixing their music,

with looks and gestures,

still signify to Christian and his brother how welcome they were into their company,

and with what gladness they came to meet them.

And now were these two men as it were in heaven before they came at it,

being swallowed up with the sight of angels,

and with hearing of their melodious notes.

Here also they had the City itself in view,

and thought they heard all the bells therein to ring,

and welcome them thereto.

But,

above all,

the warm and joyful thoughts that they had about their own dwelling there with such company,

and that for ever and ever,

oh!

by what tongue or pen can their glorious joy be expressed?

And thus they came up to the gate.

Now,

when they were come up to the gate,

there was written over it in letters of gold,

"BLESSED ARE THEY THAT DO HIS COMMANDMENTS,

THAT THEY MAY HAVE RIGHT TO THE TREE OF LIFE,

AND MAY ENTER IN THROUGH THE GATES INTO THE CITY."

Then I saw in my dream,

that the Shining Men bid them call at the gate: the which when they did,

some from above looked over the gate: such as Enoch,

Moses,

and Elijah,

and others,

to whom it was said,

"These pilgrims are come from the City of Destruction,

for the love that they bear to the King of this place."

And then the pilgrims gave in unto them each man his certificate,

which they had received in the beginning;

those therefore were carried in to the King,

who,

when He had read them,

said,

"Where are the men?"

To whom it was answered,

"They are standing without the gate."

The King then commanded to open the gate,

"that the righteous nation,"

said He,

"which keepeth the truth,

may enter in."

Now,

I saw in my dream,

that these two men went in at the gate;

and lo!

as they entered,

their looks were changed so that their faces became bright;

and they had garments put on that shone like gold.

There were also that met them with harps and crowns,

and gave them to them --the harps to praise withal,

and the crowns in token of honor.

Then I heard in my dream that all the bells in the City rang again for joy,

and that it was said unto them,

"Enter ye into the joy of your Lord."

I also heard the men themselves,

that they sang with a loud voice,

saying,

"Blessing,

and honor,

and glory,

and power,

be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne,

and unto the Lamb,

for ever and ever!"

Now,

just as the gates were opened to let in the men,

I looked in after them,

and behold,

the City shone like the sun;

the streets also were paved with gold;

and in them walked many men with crowns on their heads,

palms in their hands,

and golden harps to sing praises withal.

There were also of them that had wings,

and they answered one another without ceasing,

saying,

"Holy,

holy,

holy is the Lord!"

And,

after that,

they shut up the gates;

which when I had seen,

I wished myself among them.

[Sidenote: IGNORANCE FAILS TO ENTER]

Now while I was gazing upon all these things,

I turned my head to look back,

and saw Ignorance come up to the river-side;

but he soon got over,

and that without half the difficulty which the other two men met with.

For it happened that there was then in the place one Vain-Hope,

a ferryman,

that with his boat helped him over;

so he,

as the others I saw,

did ascend the hill,

to come up to the gate;

only he came alone,

neither did any man meet him with the least encouragement.

When he was come up to the gate,

he looked up to the writing that was above,

and then began to knock,

supposing that entrance should have been quickly given to him;

but he was asked by the men that looked over the top of the gate,

"Whence came you?

and what would you have?"

He answered,

"I have eaten and drunk in the presence of the King,

and He has taught in our streets."

Then they asked him for his certificate,

that they might go in and show it to the King: so he fumbled in his bosom for one,

and found none.

Then said they,

"Have you none?"

But the man answered never a word.

So they told the King;

but He would not come down to see him,

but commanded the two Shining Ones that conducted Christian and Hopeful to the City,

to go out and take Ignorance,

and bind him hand and foot,

and have him away.

Then they took him up,

and carried him through the air to the door that I saw in the side of the hill,

and put him in there.

Then I saw that there was a way to hell,

even from the gates of heaven,

as well as from the City of Destruction!

* * * * *

So I awoke,

and behold,

it was a dream.

CONCLUSION.

Now,

reader,

I have told my dream to thee,

See if thou canst interpret it to me,

Or to thyself or neighbor;

but take heed Of misinterpreting;

for that,

instead Of doing good,

will but thyself abuse: By misinterpreting,

evil ensues.

Take heed also that thou be not extreme In playing with the outside of my dream;

Nor let my figure or similitude Put thee into a laughter or a feud.

Leave this for boys and fools;

but as for thee,

Do thou the substance of my matter see.

Put by the curtains,

look within my veil;

Turn up my metaphors,

and do not fail,

There,

if thou seekest them,

such things to find As will be helpful to an honest mind.

What of my dross thou findest there,

be bold To throw away;

but yet preserve the gold.

What if my gold be wrapped up in ore?

-- None throws away the apple for the core.

But if thou shalt cast all away as vain,

I know not but t'will make me dream again.