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diff --git a/131-h/131-h.htm b/131-h/131-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d6f1ed7 --- /dev/null +++ b/131-h/131-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8379 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + + body { margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + text-align: justify; } + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: +normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 300%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.6em; + letter-spacing: 0.12em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + text-indent: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +h3 {font-size: 130%; margin-top: 1em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h5 {font-size: 110%;} + +.no-break {page-break-before: avoid;} /* for epubs */ + +p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +p.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +p.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +p.transnote {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.footnote {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.finis { text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 131 ***</div> + +<p class="transnote"> +Notes: +</p> + +<p class="transnote"> +1. Legends: = Sidenotes [Bible reference] = Bible references +</p> + +<p class="transnote"> +2. Sections are numbered for future reference. These sections +have been chosen arbitrarily, i.e., {1}, {2} +</p> + +<p class="transnote"> +3. This is 'Part 1', but is a complete work in itself. Bunyan +wrote a sequel ('Part 2') some years after the first part, hence +the 'Parts'. +</p> + +<h1> +THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS +</h1> + +<h2> +From This World To That Which Is To Come +</h2> + +<h3> +by +</h3> + +<h2 class="no-break"> +John Bunyan +</h2> + +<h2> +Part One +</h2> + +<h3> +DELIVERED UNDER THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM BY JOHN BUNYAN +</h3> + +<h3> +The Author's Apology for his Book +</h3> + +<p class="poem"> +{1} When at the first I took my pen in hand<br/> + Thus for to write, I did not understand<br/> + That I at all should make a little book<br/> + In such a mode; nay, I had undertook<br/> + To make another; which, when almost done,<br/> + Before I was aware, I this begun. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + And thus it was: I, writing of the way<br/> + And race of saints, in this our gospel day,<br/> + Fell suddenly into an allegory<br/> + About their journey, and the way to glory,<br/> + In more than twenty things which I set down.<br/> + This done, I twenty more had in my crown;<br/> + And they again began to multiply,<br/> + Like sparks that from the coals of fire do fly. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Nay, then, thought I, if that you breed so fast,<br/> + I'll put you by yourselves, lest you at last<br/> + Should prove ad infinitum, and eat out<br/> + The book that I already am about. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Well, so I did; but yet I did not think<br/> + To shew to all the world my pen and ink<br/> + In such a mode; I only thought to make<br/> + I knew not what; nor did I undertake<br/> + Thereby to please my neighbour: no, not I;<br/> + I did it my own self to gratify. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +{2} Neither did I but vacant seasons spend<br/> + In this my scribble; nor did I intend<br/> + But to divert myself in doing this<br/> + From worser thoughts which make me do amiss. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Thus, I set pen to paper with delight,<br/> + And quickly had my thoughts in black and white.<br/> + For, having now my method by the end,<br/> + Still as I pulled, it came; and so I penned<br/> + It down: until it came at last to be,<br/> + For length and breadth, the bigness which you see. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Well, when I had thus put mine ends together,<br/> + I shewed them others, that I might see whether<br/> + They would condemn them, or them justify:<br/> + And some said, Let them live; some, Let them die;<br/> + Some said, JOHN, print it; others said, Not so;<br/> + Some said, It might do good; others said, No. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Now was I in a strait, and did not see<br/> + Which was the best thing to be done by me:<br/> + At last I thought, Since you are thus divided,<br/> + I print it will, and so the case decided. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +{3} For, thought I, some, I see, would have it done,<br/> + Though others in that channel do not run:<br/> + To prove, then, who advised for the best,<br/> + Thus I thought fit to put it to the test. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + I further thought, if now I did deny<br/> + Those that would have it, thus to gratify.<br/> + I did not know but hinder them I might<br/> + Of that which would to them be great delight. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + For those which were not for its coming forth,<br/> + I said to them, Offend you I am loth,<br/> + Yet, since your brethren pleased with it be,<br/> + Forbear to judge till you do further see. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + If that thou wilt not read, let it alone;<br/> + Some love the meat, some love to pick the bone.<br/> + Yea, that I might them better palliate,<br/> + I did too with them thus expostulate:-- +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +{4} May I not write in such a style as this?<br/> + In such a method, too, and yet not miss<br/> + My end--thy good? Why may it not be done?<br/> + Dark clouds bring waters, when the bright bring none.<br/> + Yea, dark or bright, if they their silver drops<br/> + Cause to descend, the earth, by yielding crops,<br/> + Gives praise to both, and carpeth not at either,<br/> + But treasures up the fruit they yield together;<br/> + Yea, so commixes both, that in her fruit<br/> + None can distinguish this from that: they suit<br/> + Her well when hungry; but, if she be full,<br/> + She spews out both, and makes their blessings null. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + You see the ways the fisherman doth take<br/> + To catch the fish; what engines doth he make?<br/> + Behold how he engageth all his wits;<br/> + Also his snares, lines, angles, hooks, and nets;<br/> + Yet fish there be, that neither hook, nor line,<br/> + Nor snare, nor net, nor engine can make thine:<br/> + They must be groped for, and be tickled too,<br/> + Or they will not be catch'd, whate'er you do. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + How does the fowler seek to catch his game<br/> + By divers means! all which one cannot name:<br/> + His guns, his nets, his lime-twigs, light, and bell:<br/> + He creeps, he goes, he stands; yea, who can tell<br/> + Of all his postures? Yet there's none of these<br/> + Will make him master of what fowls he please.<br/> + Yea, he must pipe and whistle to catch this,<br/> + Yet, if he does so, that bird he will miss. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + If that a pearl may in a toad's head dwell,<br/> + And may be found too in an oyster-shell;<br/> + If things that promise nothing do contain<br/> + What better is than gold; who will disdain,<br/> + That have an inkling of it, there to look,<br/> + That they may find it? Now, my little book,<br/> + (Though void of all these paintings that may make<br/> + It with this or the other man to take)<br/> + Is not without those things that do excel<br/> + What do in brave but empty notions dwell. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +{5} 'Well, yet I am not fully satisfied,<br/> + That this your book will stand, when soundly tried.'<br/> + Why, what's the matter? 'It is dark.' What though?<br/> + 'But it is feigned.' What of that? I trow?<br/> + Some men, by feigned words, as dark as mine,<br/> + Make truth to spangle and its rays to shine. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + 'But they want solidness.' Speak, man, thy mind.<br/> + 'They drown the weak; metaphors make us blind.' +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Solidity, indeed, becomes the pen<br/> + Of him that writeth things divine to men;<br/> + But must I needs want solidness, because<br/> + By metaphors I speak? Were not God's laws,<br/> + His gospel laws, in olden times held forth<br/> + By types, shadows, and metaphors? Yet loth<br/> + Will any sober man be to find fault<br/> + With them, lest he be found for to assault<br/> + The highest wisdom. No, he rather stoops,<br/> + And seeks to find out what by pins and loops,<br/> + By calves and sheep, by heifers and by rams,<br/> + By birds and herbs, and by the blood of lambs,<br/> + God speaketh to him; and happy is he<br/> + That finds the light and grace that in them be. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +{6} Be not too forward, therefore, to conclude<br/> + That I want solidness--that I am rude;<br/> + All things solid in show not solid be;<br/> + All things in parables despise not we;<br/> + Lest things most hurtful lightly we receive,<br/> + And things that good are, of our souls bereave. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + My dark and cloudy words, they do but hold<br/> + The truth, as cabinets enclose the gold. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + The prophets used much by metaphors<br/> + To set forth truth; yea, who so considers Christ,<br/> + his apostles too, shall plainly see,<br/> + That truths to this day in such mantles be. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Am I afraid to say, that holy writ,<br/> + Which for its style and phrase puts down all wit,<br/> + Is everywhere so full of all these things--<br/> + Dark figures, allegories? Yet there springs<br/> + From that same book that lustre, and those rays<br/> + Of light, that turn our darkest nights to days. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +{7} Come, let my carper to his life now look,<br/> + And find there darker lines than in my book<br/> + He findeth any; yea, and let him know,<br/> + That in his best things there are worse lines too. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + May we but stand before impartial men,<br/> + To his poor one I dare adventure ten,<br/> + That they will take my meaning in these lines<br/> + Far better than his lies in silver shrines.<br/> + Come, truth, although in swaddling clouts, I find,<br/> + Informs the judgement, rectifies the mind;<br/> + Pleases the understanding, makes the will<br/> + Submit; the memory too it doth fill<br/> + With what doth our imaginations please;<br/> + Likewise it tends our troubles to appease. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Sound words, I know, Timothy is to use,<br/> + And old wives' fables he is to refuse;<br/> + But yet grave Paul him nowhere did forbid<br/> + The use of parables; in which lay hid<br/> + That gold, those pearls, and precious stones that were<br/> + Worth digging for, and that with greatest care. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Let me add one word more. O man of God,<br/> + Art thou offended? Dost thou wish I had<br/> + Put forth my matter in another dress?<br/> + Or, that I had in things been more express?<br/> + Three things let me propound; then I submit<br/> + To those that are my betters, as is fit. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +{8} 1. I find not that I am denied the use<br/> + Of this my method, so I no abuse<br/> + Put on the words, things, readers; or be rude<br/> + In handling figure or similitude,<br/> + In application; but, all that I may,<br/> + Seek the advance of truth this or that way<br/> + Denied, did I say? Nay, I have leave<br/> + (Example too, and that from them that have<br/> + God better pleased, by their words or ways,<br/> + Than any man that breatheth now-a-days)<br/> + Thus to express my mind, thus to declare<br/> + Things unto thee that excellentest are. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + 2. I find that men (as high as trees) will write<br/> + Dialogue-wise; yet no man doth them slight<br/> + For writing so: indeed, if they abuse<br/> + Truth, cursed be they, and the craft they use<br/> + To that intent; but yet let truth be free<br/> + To make her sallies upon thee and me,<br/> + Which way it pleases God; for who knows how,<br/> + Better than he that taught us first to plough,<br/> + To guide our mind and pens for his design?<br/> + And he makes base things usher in divine. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + 3. I find that holy writ in many places<br/> + Hath semblance with this method, where the cases<br/> + Do call for one thing, to set forth another;<br/> + Use it I may, then, and yet nothing smother<br/> + Truth's golden beams: nay, by this method may<br/> + Make it cast forth its rays as light as day.<br/> + And now before I do put up my pen,<br/> + I'll shew the profit of my book, and then<br/> + Commit both thee and it unto that Hand<br/> + That pulls the strong down, and makes weak ones stand. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + This book it chalketh out before thine eyes<br/> + The man that seeks the everlasting prize;<br/> + It shews you whence he comes, whither he goes;<br/> + What he leaves undone, also what he does;<br/> + It also shows you how he runs and runs,<br/> + Till he unto the gate of glory comes. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +{9} It shows, too, who set out for life amain,<br/> + As if the lasting crown they would obtain;<br/> + Here also you may see the reason why<br/> + They lose their labour, and like fools do die. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + This book will make a traveller of thee,<br/> + If by its counsel thou wilt ruled be;<br/> + It will direct thee to the Holy Land,<br/> + If thou wilt its directions understand:<br/> + Yea, it will make the slothful active be;<br/> + The blind also delightful things to see. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Art thou for something rare and profitable?<br/> + Wouldest thou see a truth within a fable?<br/> + Art thou forgetful? Wouldest thou remember<br/> + From New-Year's day to the last of December?<br/> + Then read my fancies; they will stick like burs,<br/> + And may be, to the helpless, comforters. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + This book is writ in such a dialect<br/> + As may the minds of listless men affect:<br/> + It seems a novelty, and yet contains<br/> + Nothing but sound and honest gospel strains.<br/> + Wouldst thou divert thyself from melancholy?<br/> + Wouldst thou be pleasant, yet be far from folly?<br/> + Wouldst thou read riddles, and their explanation?<br/> + Or else be drowned in thy contemplation?<br/> + Dost thou love picking meat? Or wouldst thou see<br/> + A man in the clouds, and hear him speak to thee?<br/> + Wouldst thou be in a dream, and yet not sleep?<br/> + Or wouldst thou in a moment laugh and weep?<br/> + Wouldest thou lose thyself and catch no harm,<br/> + And find thyself again without a charm?<br/> + Wouldst read thyself, and read thou knowest not what,<br/> + And yet know whether thou art blest or not, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + By reading the same lines? Oh, then come hither,<br/> + And lay my book, thy head, and heart together. +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +JOHN BUNYAN. +</p> + +<h1> +THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS +</h1> + +<h2> +In the Similitude of a Dream +</h2> + +<p> +{10} As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted +on a certain place where was a Den, and I laid me down in that +place to sleep: and, as I slept, I dreamed a dream. I dreamed, +and behold, I saw a man clothed with rags, standing in a certain +place, with his face from his own house, a book in his hand, and +a great burden upon his back. [Isa. 64:6; Luke 14:33; Ps. 38:4; +Hab. 2:2; Acts 16:30,31] I looked, and saw him open the book, +and read therein; and, as he read, he wept, and trembled; and, not +being able longer to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry, +saying, "What shall I do?" [Acts 2:37] +</p> + +<p> +{11} In this plight, therefore, he went home and refrained himself +as long as he could, that his wife and children should not perceive +his distress; but he could not be silent long, because that his +trouble increased. Wherefore at length he brake his mind to his +wife and children; and thus he began to talk to them: O my dear +wife, said he, and you the children of my bowels, I, your dear +friend, am in myself undone by reason of a burden that lieth hard +upon me; moreover, I am for certain informed that this our city +will be burned with fire from heaven; in which fearful overthrow, +both myself, with thee my wife, and you my sweet babes, shall +miserably come to ruin, except (the which yet I see not) some way +of escape can be found, whereby we may be delivered. At this his +relations were sore amazed; not for that they believed that what +he had said to them was true, but because they thought that some +frenzy distemper had got into his head; therefore, it drawing +towards night, and they hoping that sleep might settle his brains, +with all haste they got him to bed. But the night was as troublesome +to him as the day; wherefore, instead of sleeping, he spent it in +sighs and tears. So, when the morning was come, they would know +how he did. He told them, Worse and worse: he also set to talking +to them again; but they began to be hardened. They also thought +to drive away his distemper by harsh and surly carriages to +him; sometimes they would deride, sometimes they would chide, and +sometimes they would quite neglect him. Wherefore he began to +retire himself to his chamber, to pray for and pity them, and also +to condole his own misery; he would also walk solitarily in the +fields, sometimes reading, and sometimes praying: and thus for +some days he spent his time. +</p> + +<p> +{12} Now, I saw, upon a time, when he was walking in the fields, +that he was, as he was wont, reading in his book, and greatly +distressed in his mind; and, as he read, he burst out, as he had +done before, crying, "What shall I do to be saved?" +</p> + +<p> +{13} I saw also that he looked this way and that way, as if he +would run; yet he stood still, because, as I perceived, he could +not tell which way to go. I looked then, and saw a man named +Evangelist coming to him and asked, Wherefore dost thou cry? [Job +33:23] +</p> + +<p> +{14} He answered, Sir, I perceive by the book in my hand, that +I am condemned to die, and after that to come to judgement [Heb. +9:27]; and I find that I am not willing to do the first [Job 16:21], +nor able to do the second. [Ezek. 22:14] +</p> + +<p> +CHRISTIAN no sooner leaves the World but meets EVANGELIST, who +lovingly him greets With tidings of another: and doth show Him +how to mount to that from this below. +</p> + +<p> +{15} Then said Evangelist, Why not willing to die, since this life +is attended with so many evils? The man answered, Because I fear +that this burden is upon my back will sink me lower than the grave, +and I shall fall into Tophet. [Isa. 30:33] And, Sir, if I be not +fit to go to prison, I am not fit, I am sure, to go to judgement, +and from thence to execution; and the thoughts of these things make +me cry. +</p> + +<p> +{16} Then said Evangelist, If this be thy condition, why standest +thou still? He answered, Because I know not whither to go. Then +he gave him a parchment roll, and there was written within, Flee +from the wrath to come. [Matt. 3.7] +</p> + +<p> +{17} The man therefore read it, and looking upon Evangelist +very carefully, said, Whither must I fly? Then said Evangelist, +pointing with his finger over a very wide field, Do you see yonder +wicket-gate? [Matt. 7:13,14] The man said, No. Then said the other, +Do you see yonder shining light? [Ps. 119:105; 2 Pet. 1:19] He +said, I think I do. Then said Evangelist, Keep that light in your +eye, and go up directly thereto: so shalt thou see the gate; at +which, when thou knockest, it shall be told thee what thou shalt +do. +</p> + +<p> +{18} So I saw in my dream that the man began to run. +</p> + +<p> +Now, he had not run far from his own door, but his wife and children, +perceiving it, began to cry after him to return; but the man put +his fingers in his ears, and ran on, crying, Life! life! eternal +life! [Luke 14:26] So he looked not behind him, but fled towards +the middle of the plain. [Gen. 19:17] +</p> + +<p> +{19} The neighbours also came out to see him run [Jer. 20:10]; +and, as he ran, some mocked, others threatened, and some cried +after him to return; and, among those that did so, there were two +that resolved to fetch him back by force. The name of the one was +Obstinate and the name of the other Pliable. Now, by this time, +the man was got a good distance from them; but, however, they were +resolved to pursue him, which they did, and in a little time they +overtook him. Then said the man, Neighbours, wherefore are ye come? +They said, To persuade you to go back with us. But he said, That +can by no means be; you dwell, said he, in the City of Destruction, +the place also where I was born: I see it to be so; and, dying +there, sooner or later, you will sink lower than the grave, into +a place that burns with fire and brimstone: be content, good +neighbours, and go along with me. +</p> + +<p> +{20} OBST. What! said Obstinate, and leave our friends and our +comforts behind us? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Yes, said Christian, for that was his name, because that ALL +which you shall forsake is not worthy to be compared with a little +of that which I am seeking to enjoy [2 Cor. 4:18]; and, if you +will go along with me, and hold it, you shall fare as I myself; +for there, where I go, is enough and to spare. [Luke 15:17] Come +away, and prove my words. +</p> + +<p> +{21} OBST. What are the things you seek, since you leave all the +world to find them? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. I seek an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth +not away [1 Pet. 1:4], and it is laid up in heaven, and safe there +[Heb. 11:16], to be bestowed, at the time appointed, on them that +diligently seek it. Read it so, if you will, in my book. +</p> + +<p> +OBST. Tush! said Obstinate, away with your book; will you go back +with us or no? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. No, not I, said the other, because I have laid my hand to the +plough. [Luke 9:62] +</p> + +<p> +{22} OBST. Come, then, neighbour Pliable, let us turn again, +and go home without him; there is a company of these crazy-headed +coxcombs, that, when they take a fancy by the end, are wiser in +their own eyes than seven men that can render a reason. [Prov. +26:16] +</p> + +<p> +PLI. Then said Pliable, Don't revile; if what the good Christian +says is true, the things he looks after are better than ours: my +heart inclines to go with my neighbour. +</p> + +<p> +OBST. What! more fools still! Be ruled by me, and go back; who +knows whither such a brain-sick fellow will lead you? Go back, go +back, and be wise. +</p> + +<p> +{23} CHR. Nay, but do thou come with thy neighbour, Pliable; there +are such things to be had which I spoke of, and many more glorious +besides. If you believe not me, read here in this book; and for +the truth of what is expressed therein, behold, all is confirmed +by the blood of Him that made it. [Heb. 9:17-22; 13:20] +</p> + +<p> +PLI. Well, neighbour Obstinate, said Pliable, I begin to come to a +point; I intend to go along with this good man, and to cast in my +lot with him: but, my good companion, do you know the way to this +desired place? +</p> + +<p> +{24} CHR. I am directed by a man, whose name is Evangelist, to +speed me to a little gate that is before us, where we shall receive +instructions about the way. +</p> + +<p> +PLI. Come, then, good neighbour, let us be going. Then they went +both together. +</p> + +<p> +OBST. And I will go back to my place, said Obstinate; I will be no +companion of such misled, fantastical fellows. +</p> + +<p> +{25} Now, I saw in my dream, that when Obstinate was gone back, +Christian and Pliable went talking over the plain; and thus they +began their discourse. +</p> + +<p> +{26} CHR. Come, neighbour Pliable, how do you do? I am glad you +are persuaded to go along with me. Had even Obstinate himself +but felt what I have felt of the powers and terrors of what is yet +unseen, he would not thus lightly have given us the back. +</p> + +<p> +PLI. Come, neighbour Christian, since there are none but us two +here, tell me now further what the things are, and how to be enjoyed, +whither we are going. +</p> + +<p> +{27} CHR. I can better conceive of them with my mind, than speak +of them with my tongue. God's things unspeakable: but yet, since +you are desirous to know, I will read of them in my book. +</p> + +<p> +PLI. And do you think that the words of your book are certainly +true? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Yes, verily; for it was made by Him that cannot lie. [Titus +1:2] +</p> + +<p> +PLI. Well said; what things are they? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. There is an endless kingdom to be inhabited, and everlasting +life to be given us, that we may inhabit that kingdom for ever. +[Isa. 45:17; John 10:28,29] +</p> + +<p> +PLI. Well said; and what else? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. There are crowns and glory to be given us, and garments that +will make us shine like the sun in the firmament of heaven. [2 +Tim. 4:8; Rev. 3:4; Matt. 13:43] +</p> + +<p> +PLI. This is very pleasant; and what else? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. There shall be no more crying, nor Sorrow: for He that is +owner of the place will wipe all tears from our eyes. [Isa. 25.6-8; +Rev. 7:17, 21:4] +</p> + +<p> +{28} PLI. And what company shall we have there? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. There we shall be with seraphims and cherubims, creatures that +will dazzle your eyes to look on them. [Isa. 6:2] There also you +shall meet with thousands and ten thousands that have gone before +us to that place; none of them are hurtful, but loving and holy; +every one walking in the sight of God, and standing in his presence +with acceptance for ever. [1 Thess. 4:16,17; Rev. 5:11] In a +word, there we shall see the elders with their golden crowns [Rev. +4:4], there we shall see the holy virgins with their golden harps +[Rev. 14:1-5], there we shall see men that by the world were cut +in pieces, burnt in flames, eaten of beasts, drowned in the seas, +for the love that they bare to the Lord of the place, all well, and +clothed with immortality as with a garment. [John 12:25; 2 Cor. +5:4] +</p> + +<p> +PLI. The hearing of this is enough to ravish one's heart. But are +these things to be enjoyed? How shall we get to be sharers thereof? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. The Lord, the Governor of the country, hath recorded that in +this book; the substance of which is, If we be truly willing to +have it, he will bestow it upon us freely. +</p> + +<p> +PLI. Well, my good companion, glad am I to hear of these things: +come on, let us mend our pace. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. I cannot go so fast as I would, by reason of this burden that +is on my back. +</p> + +<p> +{29} Now I saw in my dream, that just as they had ended this talk +they drew near to a very miry slough, that was in the midst of the +plain; and they, being heedless, did both fall suddenly into the +bog. The name of the slough was Despond. Here, therefore, they +wallowed for a time, being grievously bedaubed with the dirt; and +Christian, because of the burden that was on his back, began to +sink in the mire. +</p> + +<p> +{30} PLI. Then said Pliable; Ah! neighbour Christian, where are +you now? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Truly, said Christian, I do not know. +</p> + +<p> +PLI. At this Pliable began to be offended, and angrily said to his +fellow, Is this the happiness you have told me all this while of? +If we have such ill speed at our first setting out, what may we +expect betwixt this and our journey's end? May I get out again +with my life, you shall possess the brave country alone for me. +And, with that, he gave a desperate struggle or two, and got out +of the mire on that side of the slough which was next to his own +house: so away he went, and Christian saw him no more. +</p> + +<p> +{31} Wherefore Christian was left to tumble in the Slough of Despond +alone: but still he endeavoured to struggle to that side of the +slough that was still further from his own house, and next to the +wicket-gate; the which he did, but could not get out, because of +the burden that was upon his back: but I beheld in my dream, that +a man came to him, whose name was Help, and asked him, What he did +there? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Sir, said Christian, I was bid go this way by a man called +Evangelist, who directed me also to yonder gate, that I might escape +the wrath to come; and as I was going thither I fell in here. +</p> + +<p> +{32} HELP. But why did not you look for the steps? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the next way, and fell +in. +</p> + +<p> +HELP. Then said he, Give me thy hand: so he gave him his hand, and +he drew him out, and set him upon sound ground, and bid him go on +his way. [Ps. 40:2] +</p> + +<p> +{33} Then I stepped to him that plucked him out, and said, +Sir, wherefore, since over this place is the way from the City of +Destruction to yonder gate, is it that this plat is not mended, +that poor travellers might go thither with more security? And he +said unto me, This miry slough is such a place as cannot be mended; +it is the descent whither the scum and filth that attends conviction +for sin doth continually run, and therefore it is called the Slough +of Despond; for still, as the sinner is awakened about his lost +condition, there ariseth in his soul many fears, and doubts, and +discouraging apprehensions, which all of them get together, and +settle in this place. And this is the reason of the badness of +this ground. +</p> + +<p> +{34} It is not the pleasure of the King that this place should remain +so bad. [Isa. 35:3,4] His labourers also have, by the direction +of His Majesty's surveyors, been for above these sixteen hundred +years employed about this patch of ground, if perhaps it might have +been mended: yea, and to my knowledge, said he, here have been +swallowed up at least twenty thousand cart-loads, yea, millions of +wholesome instructions, that have at all seasons been brought from +all places of the King's dominions, and they that can tell, say +they are the best materials to make good ground of the place; if +so be, it might have been mended, but it is the Slough of Despond +still, and so will be when they have done what they can. +</p> + +<p> +{35} True, there are, by the direction of the Law-giver, certain +good and substantial steps, placed even through the very midst of +this slough; but at such time as this place doth much spew out its +filth, as it doth against change of weather, these steps are hardly +seen; or, if they be, men, through the dizziness of their heads, +step beside, and then they are bemired to purpose, notwithstanding +the steps be there; but the ground is good when they are once got +in at the gate. [1 Sam. 12:23] +</p> + +<p> +{36} Now, I saw in my dream, that by this time Pliable was got home +to his house again, so that his neighbours came to visit him; and +some of them called him wise man for coming back, and some called +him fool for hazarding himself with Christian: others again did mock +at his cowardliness; saying, Surely, since you began to venture, I +would not have been so base to have given out for a few difficulties. +So Pliable sat sneaking among them. But at last he got more +confidence, and then they all turned their tales, and began to +deride poor Christian behind his back. And thus much concerning +Pliable. +</p> + +<p> +{37} Now, as Christian was walking solitarily by himself, he espied +one afar off, come crossing over the field to meet him; and their +hap was to meet just as they were crossing the way of each other. +The gentleman's name that met him was Mr. Worldly Wiseman, he dwelt +in the town of Carnal Policy, a very great town, and also hard by +from whence Christian came. This man, then, meeting with Christian, +and having some inkling of him,--for Christian's setting forth +from the City of Destruction was much noised abroad, not only in +the town where he dwelt, but also it began to be the town talk in +some other places,--Mr. Worldly Wiseman, therefore, having some +guess of him, by beholding his laborious going, by observing his +sighs and groans, and the like, began thus to enter into some talk +with Christian. +</p> + +<p> +{38} WORLD. How now, good fellow, whither away after this burdened +manner? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. A burdened manner, indeed, as ever, I think, poor creature +had! And whereas you ask me, Whither away? I tell you, Sir, I am +going to yonder wicket-gate before me; for there, as I am informed, +I shall be put into a way to be rid of my heavy burden. +</p> + +<p> +WORLD. Hast thou a wife and children? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Yes; but I am so laden with this burden that I cannot take +that pleasure in them as formerly; methinks I am as if I had none. +[1 Cor 7:29] +</p> + +<p> +WORLD. Wilt thou hearken unto me if I give thee counsel? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. If it be good, I will; for I stand in need of good counsel. +</p> + +<p> +{39} WORLD. I would advise thee, then, that thou with all speed get +thyself rid of thy burden; for thou wilt never be settled in thy +mind till then; nor canst thou enjoy the benefits of the blessing +which God hath bestowed upon thee till then. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. That is that which I seek for, even to be rid of this heavy +burden; but get it off myself, I cannot; nor is there any man in +our country that can take it off my shoulders; therefore am I going +this way, as I told you, that I may be rid of my burden. +</p> + +<p> +WORLD. Who bid thee go this way to be rid of thy burden? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. A man that appeared to me to be a very great and honourable +person; his name, as I remember, is Evangelist. +</p> + +<p> +{40} WORLD. I beshrew him for his counsel! there is not a more +dangerous and troublesome way in the world than is that unto which +he hath directed thee; and that thou shalt find, if thou wilt be +ruled by his counsel. Thou hast met with something, as I perceive, +already; for I see the dirt of the Slough of Despond is upon thee; +but that slough is the beginning of the sorrows that do attend +those that go on in that way. Hear me, I am older than thou; thou +art like to meet with, in the way which thou goest, wearisomeness, +painfulness, hunger, perils, nakedness, sword, lions, dragons, +darkness, and, in a word, death, and what not! These things are +certainly true, having been confirmed by many testimonies. And why +should a man so carelessly cast away himself, by giving heed to a +stranger? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Why, Sir, this burden upon my back is more terrible to me than +all these things which you have mentioned; nay, methinks I care +not what I meet with in the way, if so be I can also meet with +deliverance from my burden. +</p> + +<p> +{41} WORLD. How camest thou by the burden at first? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. By reading this book in my hand. +</p> + +<p> +WORLD. I thought so; and it is happened unto thee as to other weak +men, who, meddling with things too high for them, do suddenly fall +into thy distractions; which distractions do not only unman men, as +thine, I perceive, have done thee, but they run them upon desperate +ventures to obtain they know not what. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. I know what I would obtain; it is ease for my heavy burden. +</p> + +<p> +{42} WORLD. But why wilt thou seek for ease this way, seeing so +many dangers attend it? especially since, hadst thou but patience +to hear me, I could direct thee to the obtaining of what thou desirest, +without the dangers that thou in this way wilt run thyself into; +yea, and the remedy is at hand. Besides, I will add, that instead +of those dangers, thou shalt meet with much safety, friendship, +and content. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Pray, Sir, open this secret to me. +</p> + +<p> +{43} WORLD. Why, in yonder village--the village is named Morality-- +there dwells a gentleman whose name is Legality, a very judicious +man, and a man of very good name, that has skill to help men +off with such burdens as thine are from their shoulders: yea, to +my knowledge, he hath done a great deal of good this way; ay, and +besides, he hath skill to cure those that are somewhat crazed in +their wits with their burdens. To him, as I said, thou mayest go, +and be helped presently. His house is not quite a mile from this +place, and if he should not be at home himself, he hath a pretty +young man to his son, whose name is Civility, that can do it (to +speak on) as well as the old gentleman himself; there, I say, thou +mayest be eased of thy burden; and if thou art not minded to go +back to thy former habitation, as, indeed, I would not wish thee, +thou mayest send for thy wife and children to thee to this village, +where there are houses now stand empty, one of which thou mayest +have at reasonable rates; provision is there also cheap and good; +and that which will make thy life the more happy is, to be sure, +there thou shalt live by honest neighbours, in credit and good +fashion. +</p> + +<p> +{44} Now was Christian somewhat at a stand; but presently he concluded, +if this be true, which this gentleman hath said, my wisest course +is to take his advice; and with that he thus further spoke. +</p> + +<p> +{45} CHR. Sir, which is my way to this honest man's house? +</p> + +<p> +WORLD. Do you see yonder hill? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Yes, very well. +</p> + +<p> +WORLD. By that hill you must go, and the first house you come at +is his. +</p> + +<p> +{46} So Christian turned out of his way to go to Mr. Legality's +house for help; but, behold, when he was got now hard by the hill, +it seemed so high, and also that side of it that was next the +wayside did hang so much over, that Christian was afraid to venture +further, lest the hill should fall on his head; wherefore there he +stood still and wotted not what to do. Also his burden now seemed +heavier to him than while he was in his way. There came also +flashes of fire out of the hill, that made Christian afraid that +he should be burned. [Ex. 19:16, 18] Here, therefore, he sweat +and did quake for fear. [Heb. 12:21] +</p> + +<p> +When Christians unto carnal men give ear, Out of their way they +go, and pay for 't dear; For Master Worldly Wiseman can but shew +A saint the way to bondage and to woe. +</p> + +<p> +{47} And now he began to be sorry that he had taken Mr. Worldly +Wiseman's counsel. And with that he saw Evangelist coming to meet +him; at the sight also of whom he began to blush for shame. So +Evangelist drew nearer and nearer; and coming up to him, he looked +upon him with a severe and dreadful countenance, and thus began to +reason with Christian. +</p> + +<p> +{48} EVAN. What dost thou here, Christian? said he: at which +words Christian knew not what to answer; wherefore at present he +stood speechless before him. Then said Evangelist further, Art not +thou the man that I found crying without the walls of the City of +Destruction? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Yes, dear Sir, I am the man. +</p> + +<p> +EVAN. Did not I direct thee the way to the little wicket-gate? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Yes, dear Sir, said Christian. +</p> + +<p> +EVAN. How is it, then, that thou art so quickly turned aside? for +thou art now out of the way. +</p> + +<p> +{49} CHR. I met with a gentleman so soon as I had got over the +Slough of Despond, who persuaded me that I might, in the village +before me, find a man that would take off my burden. +</p> + +<p> +EVAN. What was he? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. He looked like a gentleman, and talked much to me, and got me +at last to yield; so I came hither; but when I beheld this hill, and +how it hangs over the way, I suddenly made a stand lest it should +fall on my head. +</p> + +<p> +EVAN. What said that gentleman to you? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Why, he asked me whither I was going, and I told him. +</p> + +<p> +EVAN. And what said he then? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. He asked me if I had a family? And I told him. But, said I, +I am so loaden with the burden that is on my back, that I cannot +take pleasure in them as formerly. +</p> + +<p> +EVAN. And what said he then? +</p> + +<p> +{50} CHR. He bid me with speed get rid of my burden; and I told him +that it was ease that I sought. And said I, I am therefore going +to yonder gate, to receive further direction how I may get to the +place of deliverance. So he said that he would shew me a better +way, and short, not so attended with difficulties as the way, +Sir, that you set me in; which way, said he, will direct you to +a gentleman's house that hath skill to take off these burdens, so +I believed him, and turned out of that way into this, if haply I +might be soon eased of my burden. But when I came to this place, +and beheld things as they are, I stopped for fear (as I said) of +danger: but I now know not what to do. +</p> + +<p> +{51} EVAN. Then, said Evangelist, stand still a little, that I +may show thee the words of God. So he stood trembling. Then said +Evangelist, "See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they +escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall +not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven." +[Heb. 12:25] He said, moreover, "Now the just shall live by faith: +but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." +[Heb. 10:38] He also did thus apply them: Thou art the man that +art running into this misery; thou hast begun to reject the counsel +of the Most High, and to draw back thy foot from the way of peace, +even almost to the hazarding of thy perdition. +</p> + +<p> +{52} Then Christian fell down at his feet as dead, crying, "Woe +is me, for I am undone!" At the sight of which Evangelist caught +him by the right hand, saying, "All manner of sin and blasphemies +shall be forgiven unto men." [Matt. 12:31, Mark 3:28] "Be not +faithless, but believing." [John 20:27] Then did Christian again a +little revive, and stood up trembling, as at first, before Evangelist. +</p> + +<p> +{53} Then Evangelist proceeded, saying, Give more earnest heed to +the things that I shall tell thee of. I will now show thee who it +was that deluded thee, and who it was also to whom he sent thee. +--The man that met thee is one Worldly Wiseman, and rightly is he +so called; partly, because he savoureth only the doctrine of this +world, [1 John 4:5] (therefore he always goes to the town of Morality +to church): and partly because he loveth that doctrine best, for +it saveth him best from the cross. [Gal 6:12] And because he is +of this carnal temper, therefore he seeketh to pervert my ways, +though right. Now there are three things in this man's counsel, +that thou must utterly abhor. +</p> + +<p> +1. His turning thee out of the way. 2. His labouring to render +the cross odious to thee. And, 3. His setting thy feet in that +way that leadeth unto the administration of death. +</p> + +<p> +{54} First, Thou must abhor his turning thee out of the way; and +thine own consenting thereunto: because this is to reject the +counsel of God for the sake of the counsel of a Worldly Wiseman. +The Lord says, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate" [Luke 13:24], +the gate to which I sent thee; for "strait is the gate that leadeth +unto life, and few there be that find it." [Matt. 7:14] From this +little wicket-gate, and from the way thereto, hath this wicked man +turned thee, to the bringing of thee almost to destruction; hate, +therefore, his turning thee out of the way, and abhor thyself for +hearkening to him. +</p> + +<p> +{55} Secondly, Thou must abhor his labouring to render the cross +odious unto thee; for thou art to prefer it "before the treasures +in Egypt." [Heb. 11:25,26] Besides the King of glory hath told +thee, that he that "will save his life shall lose it." [Mark 8:35; +John 12:25; Matt. 10:39] And, "He that cometh after me, and hateth +not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, +and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." +[Luke 14:26] I say, therefore, for man to labour to persuade thee, +that that shall be thy death, without which, THE TRUTH hath said, +thou canst not have eternal life; this doctrine thou must abhor. +</p> + +<p> +{56} Thirdly, Thou must hate his setting of thy feet in the way +that leadeth to the ministration of death. And for this thou must +consider to whom he sent thee, and also how unable that person was +to deliver thee from thy burden. +</p> + +<p> +{57} He to whom thou wast sent for ease, being by name Legality, +is the son of the bond-woman which now is, and is in bondage with +her children [Gal 4:21-27]; and is, in a mystery, this Mount Sinai, +which thou hast feared will fall on thy head. Now, if she, with +her children, are in bondage, how canst thou expect by them to be +made free? This Legality, therefore, is not able to set thee free +from thy burden. No man was as yet ever rid of his burden by him; +no, nor ever is like to be: ye cannot be justified by the works +of the law; for by the deeds of the law no man living can be rid +of his burden: therefore, Mr. Worldly Wiseman is an alien, and +Mr. Legality is a cheat; and for his son Civility, notwithstanding +his simpering looks, he is but a hypocrite and cannot help thee. +Believe me, there is nothing in all this noise, that thou hast +heard of these sottish men, but a design to beguile thee of thy +salvation, by turning thee from the way in which I had set thee. +After this, Evangelist called aloud to the heavens for confirmation +of what he had said: and with that there came words and fire out +of the mountain under which poor Christian stood, that made the +hair of his flesh stand up. The words were thus pronounced: 'As +many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it +is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things +which are written in the book of the law to do them.' [Gal. 3:10] +</p> + +<p> +{58} Now Christian looked for nothing but death, and began to cry +out lamentably; even cursing the time in which he met with Mr. Worldly +Wiseman; still calling himself a thousand fools for hearkening +to his counsel; he also was greatly ashamed to think that this +gentleman's arguments, flowing only from the flesh, should have +the prevalency with him as to cause him to forsake the right way. +This done, he applied himself again to Evangelist in words and +sense as follow: +</p> + +<p> +{59} CHR. Sir, what think you? Is there hope? May I now go back +and go up to the wicket-gate? Shall I not be abandoned for this, +and sent back from thence ashamed? I am sorry I have hearkened to +this man's counsel. But may my sin be forgiven? +</p> + +<p> +EVAN. Then said Evangelist to him, Thy sin is very great, for by +it thou hast committed two evils: thou hast forsaken the way that +is good, to tread in forbidden paths; yet will the man at the gate +receive thee, for he has goodwill for men; only, said he, take heed +that thou turn not aside again, 'lest thou perish from the way, +when his wrath is kindled but a little.' [Ps. 2:12] Then did +Christian address himself to go back; and Evangelist, after he had +kissed him, gave him one smile, and bid him God-speed. So he went +on with haste, neither spake he to any man by the way; nor, if any +asked him, would he vouchsafe them an answer. He went like one +that was all the while treading on forbidden ground, and could by +no means think himself safe, till again he was got into the way +which he left, to follow Mr. Worldly Wiseman's counsel. So, in +process of time, Christian got up to the gate. Now, over the gate +there was written, 'Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.' [Matt +7:8] +</p> + +<p class="poem"> +{60} "He that will enter in must first without<br/> + Stand knocking at the Gate, nor need he doubt<br/> + That is A KNOCKER but to enter in;<br/> + For God can love him, and forgive his sin." +</p> + +<p> +He knocked, therefore, more than once or twice, saying-- +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + "May I now enter here? Will he within<br/> + Open to sorry me, though I have been<br/> + An undeserving rebel? Then shall I<br/> + Not fail to sing his lasting praise on high." +</p> + +<p> +At last there came a grave person to the gate, named Good-will, who +asked who was there? and whence he came? and what he would have? +</p> + +<p> +{61} CHR. Here is a poor burdened sinner. I come from the City of +Destruction, but am going to Mount Zion, that I may be delivered +from the wrath to come. I would therefore, Sir, since I am informed +that by this gate is the way thither, know if you are willing to +let me in? +</p> + +<p> +GOOD-WILL. I am willing with all my heart, said he; and with that +he opened the gate. +</p> + +<p> +{62} So when Christian was stepping in, the other gave him a +pull. Then said Christian, What means that? The other told him. +A little distance from this gate, there is erected a strong castle, +of which Beelzebub is the captain; from thence, both he and them +that are with him shoot arrows at those that come up to this gate, +if haply they may die before they can enter in. +</p> + +<p> +Then said Christian, I rejoice and tremble. So when he was got +in, the man of the gate asked him who directed him thither? +</p> + +<p> +{63} CHR. Evangelist bid me come hither, and knock, (as I did); +and he said that you, Sir, would tell me what I must do. +</p> + +<p> +GOOD-WILL. An open door is set before thee, and no man can shut +it. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Now I begin to reap the benefits of my hazards. +</p> + +<p> +GOOD-WILL. But how is it that you came alone? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Because none of my neighbours saw their danger, as I saw mine. +</p> + +<p> +GOOD-WILL. Did any of them know of your coming? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Yes; my wife and children saw me at the first, and called +after me to turn again; also, some of my neighbours stood crying +and calling after me to return; but I put my fingers in my ears, +and so came on my way. +</p> + +<p> +GOOD-WILL. But did none of them follow you, to persuade you to go +back? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Yes, both Obstinate and Pliable; but when they saw that they +could not prevail, Obstinate went railing back, but Pliable came +with me a little way. +</p> + +<p> +GOOD-WILL. But why did he not come through? +</p> + +<p> +{64} CHR. We, indeed, came both together, until we came at the Slough +of Despond, into the which we also suddenly fell. And then was +my neighbour, Pliable, discouraged, and would not venture further. +Wherefore, getting out again on that side next to his own house, +he told me I should possess the brave country alone for him; so he +went his way, and I came mine--he after Obstinate, and I to this +gate. +</p> + +<p> +GOOD-WILL. Then said Good-will, Alas, poor man! is the celestial +glory of so small esteem with him, that he counteth it not worth +running the hazards of a few difficulties to obtain it? +</p> + +<p> +{65} CHR. Truly, said Christian, I have said the truth of Pliable, +and if I should also say all the truth of myself, it will appear +there is no betterment betwixt him and myself. It is true, he went +back to his own house, but I also turned aside to go in the way of +death, being persuaded thereto by the carnal arguments of one Mr. +Worldly Wiseman. +</p> + +<p> +GOOD-WILL. Oh, did he light upon you? What! he would have had you +a sought for ease at the hands of Mr. Legality. They are, both of +them, a very cheat. But did you take his counsel? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Yes, as far as I durst; I went to find out Mr. Legality, until +I thought that the mountain that stands by his house would have +fallen upon my head; wherefore there I was forced to stop. +</p> + +<p> +GOOD-WILL. That mountain has been the death of many, and will be +the death of many more; it is well you escaped being by it dashed +in pieces. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Why, truly, I do not know what had become of me there, had +not Evangelist happily met me again, as I was musing in the midst +of my dumps; but it was God's mercy that he came to me again, for +else I had never come hither. But now I am come, such a one as +I am, more fit, indeed, for death, by that mountain, than thus to +stand talking with my lord; but, oh, what a favour is this to me, +that yet I am admitted entrance here! +</p> + +<p> +{66} GOOD-WILL. We make no objections against any, notwithstanding +all that they have done before they came hither. They are in no +wise cast out [John vi.37]; and therefore, good Christian, come a +little way with me, and I will teach thee about the way thou must +go. Look before thee; dost thou see this narrow way? THAT is +the way thou must go; it was cast up by the patriarchs, prophets, +Christ, and his apostles; and it is as straight as a rule can make +it. This is the way thou must go. +</p> + +<p> +{67} CHR. But, said Christian, are there no turnings or windings +by which a stranger may lose his way? +</p> + +<p> +GOOD-WILL. Yes, there are many ways butt down upon this, and they +are crooked and wide. But thus thou mayest distinguish the right +from the wrong, the right only being straight and narrow. [Matt +7:14] +</p> + +<p> +{68} Then I saw in my dream that Christian asked him further if +he could not help him off with his burden that was upon his back; +for as yet he had not got rid thereof, nor could he by any means +get it off without help. +</p> + +<p> +He told him, As to thy burden, be content to bear it, until thou +comest to the place of deliverance; for there it will fall from +thy back of itself. +</p> + +<p> +{69} Then Christian began to gird up his loins, and to address +himself to his journey. So the other told him, That by that he +was gone some distance from the gate, he would come at the house of +the Interpreter, at whose door he should knock, and he would show +him excellent things. Then Christian took his leave of his friend, +and he again bid him God-speed. +</p> + +<p> +{70} Then he went on till he came to the house of the Interpreter, +where he knocked over and over; at last one came to the door, and +asked who was there. +</p> + +<p> +{71} CHR. Sir, here is a traveller, who was bid by an acquaintance +of the good-man of this house to call here for my profit; I would +therefore speak with the master of the house. So he called for the +master of the house, who, after a little time, came to Christian, +and asked him what he would have. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Sir, said Christian, I am a man that am come from the City +of Destruction, and am going to the Mount Zion; and I was told by +the man that stands at the gate, at the head of this way, that if +I called here, you would show me excellent things, such as would +be a help to me in my journey. +</p> + +<p> +{72} INTER. Then said the Interpreter, Come in; I will show that +which will be profitable to thee. So he commanded his man to light +the candle, and bid Christian follow him: so he had him into +a private room, and bid his man open a door; the which when he +had done, Christian saw the picture of a very grave person hang +up against the wall; and this was the fashion of it. It had eyes +lifted up to heaven, the best of books in his hand, the law of +truth was written upon his lips, the world was behind his back. +It stood as if it pleaded with men, and a crown of gold did hang +over his head. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Then said Christian, What meaneth this? +</p> + +<p> +{73} INTER. The man whose picture this is, is one of a thousand; he +can beget children [1 Cor. 4:15], travail in birth with children +[Gal. 4:19], and nurse them himself when they are born. And whereas +thou seest him with his eyes lift up to heaven, the best of books +in his hand, and the law of truth writ on his lips, it is to show +thee that his work is to know and unfold dark things to sinners; +even as also thou seest him stand as if he pleaded with men: and +whereas thou seest the world as cast behind him, and that a crown +hangs over his head, that is to show thee that slighting and +despising the things that are present, for the love that he hath +to his Master's service, he is sure in the world that comes next +to have glory for his reward. Now, said the Interpreter, I have +showed thee this picture first, because the man whose picture this +is, is the only man whom the Lord of the place whither thou art +going, hath authorised to be thy guide in all difficult places thou +mayest meet with in the way; wherefore, take good heed to what I +have shewed thee, and bear well in thy mind what thou hast seen, +lest in thy journey thou meet with some that pretend to lead thee +right, but their way goes down to death. +</p> + +<p> +{74} Then he took him by the hand, and led him into a very large +parlour that was full of dust, because never swept; the which after +he had reviewed a little while, the Interpreter called for a man to +sweep. Now, when he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly +to fly about, that Christian had almost therewith been choked. +Then said the Interpreter to a damsel that stood by, Bring hither +the water, and sprinkle the room; the which, when she had done, it +was swept and cleansed with pleasure. +</p> + +<p> +{75} CHR. Then said Christian, What means this? +</p> + +<p> +INTER. The Interpreter answered, This parlour is the heart of +a man that was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the gospel; +the dust is his original sin and inward corruptions, that have defiled +the whole man. He that began to sweep at first, is the Law; but +she that brought water, and did sprinkle it, is the Gospel. Now, +whereas thou sawest, that so soon as the first began to sweep, the +dust did so fly about that the room by him could not be cleansed, +but that thou wast almost choked therewith; this is to shew thee, +that the law, instead of cleansing the heart (by its working) from +sin, doth revive, put strength into, and increase it in the soul, +even as it doth discover and forbid it, for it doth not give power +to subdue. [Rom. 7:6; 1 Cor. 15:56; Rom. 5:20] +</p> + +<p> +{76} Again, as thou sawest the damsel sprinkle the room with water, +upon which it was cleansed with pleasure; this is to show thee, +that when the gospel comes in the sweet and precious influences +thereof to the heart, then, I say, even as thou sawest the damsel +lay the dust by sprinkling the floor with water, so is sin vanquished +and subdued, and the soul made clean through the faith of it, and +consequently fit for the King of glory to inhabit. [John 15:3; +Eph. 5:26; Acts 15:9; Rom. 16:25,26; John 15:13] +</p> + +<p> +{77} I saw, moreover, in my dream, that the Interpreter took him +by the hand, and had him into a little room, where sat two little +children, each one in his chair. The name of the eldest was +Passion, and the name of the other Patience. Passion seemed to +be much discontented; but Patience was very quiet. Then Christian +asked, What is the reason of the discontent of Passion? The +Interpreter answered, The Governor of them would have him stay for +his best things till the beginning of the next year; but he will +have all now: but Patience is willing to wait. +</p> + +<p> +Then I saw that one came to Passion, and brought him a bag of treasure, +and poured it down at his feet, the which he took up and rejoiced +therein, and withal laughed Patience to scorn. But I beheld but a +while, and he had lavished all away, and had nothing left him but +rags. +</p> + +<p> +{78} CHR. Then said Christian to the Interpreter, Expound this +matter more fully to me. +</p> + +<p> +INTER. So he said, These two lads are figures: Passion, of the men +of this world; and Patience, of the men of that which is to come; +for as here thou seest, Passion will have all now this year, that +is to say, in this world; so are the men of this world, they must +have all their good things now, they cannot stay till next year, +that is until the next world, for their portion of good. That +proverb, 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush', is of more +authority with them than are all the Divine testimonies of the +good of the world to come. But as thou sawest that he had quickly +lavished all away, and had presently left him nothing but rags; so +will it be with all such men at the end of this world. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Then said Christian, Now I see that Patience has the best +wisdom, and that upon many accounts. First, because he stays for +the best things. Second, and also because he will have the glory +of his, when the other has nothing but rags. +</p> + +<p> +{79} INTER. Nay, you may add another, to wit, the glory of the next +world will never wear out; but these are suddenly gone. Therefore +Passion had not so much reason to laugh at Patience, because he had +his good things first, as Patience will have to laugh at Passion, +because he had his best things last; for first must give place to +last, because last must have his time to come; but last gives place +to nothing; for there is not another to succeed. He, therefore, +that hath his portion first, must needs have a time to spend it; +but he that hath his portion last, must have it lastingly; therefore +it is said of Dives, "Thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good +things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, +and thou art tormented." [Luke 16:25] +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Then I perceive it is not best to covet things that are now, +but to wait for things to come. +</p> + +<p> +INTER. You say the truth: "For the things which are seen are +temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." [2 Cor. +4:18] But though this be so, yet since things present and our +fleshly appetite are such near neighbours one to another; and again, +because things to come, and carnal sense, are such strangers one +to another; therefore it is, that the first of these so suddenly +fall into amity, and that distance is so continued between the +second. +</p> + +<p> +{80} Then I saw in my dream that the Interpreter took Christian by +the hand, and led him into a place where was a fire burning against +a wall, and one standing by it, always casting much water upon it, +to quench it; yet did the fire burn higher and hotter. +</p> + +<p> +Then said Christian, What means this? +</p> + +<p> +{81} The Interpreter answered, This fire is the work of grace that +is wrought in the heart; he that casts water upon it, to extinguish +and put it out, is the Devil; but in that thou seest the fire +notwithstanding burn higher and hotter, thou shalt also see the +reason of that. So he had him about to the backside of the wall, +where he saw a man with a vessel of oil in his hand, of the which +he did also continually cast, but secretly, into the fire. +</p> + +<p> +Then said Christian, What means this? +</p> + +<p> +{82} The Interpreter answered, This is Christ, who continually, +with the oil of his grace, maintains the work already begun in the +heart: by the means of which, notwithstanding what the devil can +do, the souls of his people prove gracious still. [2 Cor. 12:9] +And in that thou sawest that the man stood behind the wall to +maintain the fire, that is to teach thee that it is hard for the +tempted to see how this work of grace is maintained in the soul. +</p> + +<p> +I saw also, that the Interpreter took him again by the hand, and +led him into a pleasant place, where was builded a stately palace, +beautiful to behold; at the sight of which Christian was greatly +delighted. He saw also, upon the top thereof, certain persons +walking, who were clothed all in gold. +</p> + +<p> +Then said Christian, May we go in thither? +</p> + +<p> +{83} Then the Interpreter took him, and led him up towards the +door of the palace; and behold, at the door stood a great company +of men, as desirous to go in; but durst not. There also sat a man +at a little distance from the door, at a table-side, with a book +and his inkhorn before him, to take the name of him that should +enter therein; he saw also, that in the doorway stood many men in +armour to keep it, being resolved to do the men that would enter +what hurt and mischief they could. Now was Christian somewhat in +amaze. At last, when every man started back for fear of the armed +men, Christian saw a man of a very stout countenance come up to the +man that sat there to write, saying, Set down my name, Sir: the +which when he had done, he saw the man draw his sword, and put +a helmet upon his head, and rush toward the door upon the armed +men, who laid upon him with deadly force; but the man, not at all +discouraged, fell to cutting and hacking most fiercely. So after +he had received and given many wounds to those that attempted to +keep him out, he cut his way through them all [Acts 14:22], and +pressed forward into the palace, at which there was a pleasant voice +heard from those that were within, even of those that walked upon +the top of the palace, saying-- +</p> + +<p> +"Come in, come in; Eternal glory thou shalt win." +</p> + +<p> +So he went in, and was clothed with such garments as they. Then +Christian smiled and said; I think verily I know the meaning of +this. +</p> + +<p> +{84} Now, said Christian, let me go hence. Nay, stay, said the +Interpreter, till I have shewed thee a little more, and after that +thou shalt go on thy way. So he took him by the hand again, and +led him into a very dark room, where there sat a man in an iron +cage. +</p> + +<p> +Now the man, to look on, seemed very sad; he sat with his eyes looking +down to the ground, his hands folded together, and he sighed as if +he would break his heart. Then said Christian, What means this? +At which the Interpreter bid him talk with the man. +</p> + +<p> +Then said Christian to the man, What art thou? The man answered, +I am what I was not once. +</p> + +<p> +{85} CHR. What wast thou once? +</p> + +<p> +MAN. The man said, I was once a fair and flourishing professor, +both in mine own eyes, and also in the eyes of others; I once was, +as I thought, fair for the Celestial City, and had then even joy +at the thoughts that I should get thither. [Luke 8:13] +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Well, but what art thou now? +</p> + +<p> +MAN. I am now a man of despair, and am shut up in it, as in this +iron cage. I cannot get out. Oh, now I cannot! +</p> + +<p> +CHR. But how camest thou in this condition? +</p> + +<p> +MAN. I left off to watch and be sober. I laid the reins, upon the +neck of my lusts; I sinned against the light of the Word and the +goodness of God; I have grieved the Spirit, and he is gone; I tempted +the devil, and he is come to me; I have provoked God to anger, and +he has left me: I have so hardened my heart, that I cannot repent. +</p> + +<p> +{86} Then said Christian to the Interpreter, But is there no hope +for such a man as this? Ask him, said the Interpreter. Nay, said +Christian, pray, Sir, do you. +</p> + +<p> +INTER. Then said the Interpreter, Is there no hope, but you must +be kept in the iron cage of despair? +</p> + +<p> +MAN. No, none at all. +</p> + +<p> +INTER. Why, the Son of the Blessed is very pitiful. +</p> + +<p> +MAN. I have crucified him to myself afresh [Heb. 6:6]; I have +despised his person [Luke 19:14]; I have despised his righteousness; +I have "counted his blood an unholy thing"; I have "done despite +to the Spirit of grace". [Heb. 10:28-29] Therefore I have shut +myself out of all the promises, and there now remains to me nothing +but threatenings, dreadful threatenings, fearful threatenings, of +certain judgement and fiery indignation, which shall devour me as +an adversary. +</p> + +<p> +{87} INTER. For what did you bring yourself into this condition? +</p> + +<p> +MAN. For the lusts, pleasures, and profits of this world; in the +enjoyment of which I did then promise myself much delight; but now +every one of those things also bite me, and gnaw me like a burning +worm. +</p> + +<p> +INTER. But canst thou not now repent and turn? +</p> + +<p> +{88} MAN. God hath denied me repentance. His Word gives me no +encouragement to believe; yea, himself hath shut me up in this iron +cage; nor can all the men in the world let me out. O eternity, +eternity! how shall I grapple with the misery that I must meet +with in eternity! +</p> + +<p> +INTER. Then said the Interpreter to Christian, Let this man's misery +be remembered by thee, and be an everlasting caution to thee. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Well, said Christian, this is fearful! God help me to watch +and be sober, and to pray that I may shun the cause of this man's +misery! Sir, is it not time for me to go on my way now? +</p> + +<p> +INTER. Tarry till I shall show thee one thing more, and then thou +shalt go on thy way. +</p> + +<p> +{89} So he took Christian by the hand again, and led him into +a chamber, where there was one rising out of bed; and as he put +on his raiment, he shook and trembled. Then said Christian, Why +doth this man thus tremble? The Interpreter then bid him tell to +Christian the reason of his so doing. So he began and said, This +night, as I was in my sleep, I dreamed, and behold the heavens grew +exceeding black; also it thundered and lightened in most fearful +wise, that it put me into an agony; so I looked up in my dream, and +saw the clouds rack at an unusual rate, upon which I heard a great +sound of a trumpet, and saw also a man sit upon a cloud, attended +with the thousands of heaven; they were all in flaming fire: also +the heavens were in a burning flame. I heard then a voice saying, +"Arise, ye dead, and come to judgement"; and with that the rocks +rent, the graves opened, and the dead that were therein came forth. +Some of them were exceeding glad, and looked upward; and some +sought to hide themselves under the mountains. [1 Cor. 15:52; 1 +Thes. 4:16; Jude 14; John 5:28,29; 2 Thes. 1:7,8; Rev. 20:11-14; +Isa. 26:21; Micah 7:16,17; Ps. 95:1-3; Dan. 7:10] Then I saw the +man that sat upon the cloud open the book, and bid the world draw +near. Yet there was, by reason of a fierce flame which issued out +and came from before him, a convenient distance betwixt him and +them, as betwixt the judge and the prisoners at the bar. [Mal. +3:2,3; Dan. 7:9,10] I heard it also proclaimed to them that attended +on the man that sat on the cloud, Gather together the tares, the +chaff, and stubble, and cast them into the burning lake. [Matt. +3:12; 13:30; Mal. 4:1] And with that, the bottomless pit opened, +just whereabout I stood; out of the mouth of which there came, in +an abundant manner, smoke and coals of fire, with hideous noises. +It was also said to the same persons, "Gather my wheat into +the garner." [Luke 3:17] And with that I saw many catched up and +carried away into the clouds, but I was left behind. [1 Thes. +4:16,17] I also sought to hide myself, but I could not, for the man +that sat upon the cloud still kept his eye upon me; my sins also +came into my mind; and my conscience did accuse me on every side. +[Rom. 3:14,15] Upon this I awaked from my sleep. +</p> + +<p> +{90} CHR. But what is it that made you so afraid of this sight? +</p> + +<p> +MAN. Why, I thought that the day of judgement was come, and that I +was not ready for it: but this frighted me most, that the angels +gathered up several, and left me behind; also the pit of hell opened +her mouth just where I stood. My conscience, too, afflicted me; +and, as I thought, the Judge had always his eye upon me, shewing +indignation in his countenance. +</p> + +<p> +{91} Then said the Interpreter to Christian, Hast thou considered +all these things? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Yes, and they put me in hope and fear. +</p> + +<p> +INTER. Well, keep all things so in thy mind that they may be as a +goad in thy sides, to prick thee forward in the way thou must go. +Then Christian began to gird up his loins, and to address himself +to his journey. Then said the Interpreter, The Comforter be always +with thee, good Christian, to guide thee in the way that leads to +the City. So Christian went on his way, saying-- +</p> + +<p> +"Here I have seen things rare and profitable; Things pleasant, +dreadful, things to make me stable In what I have begun to take +in hand; Then let me think on them, and understand Wherefore they +showed me were, and let me be Thankful, O good Interpreter, to +thee." +</p> + +<p> +{92} Now I saw in my dream, that the highway up which Christian +was to go, was fenced on either side with a wall, and that wall +was called Salvation. [Isa. 26:1] Up this way, therefore, did +burdened Christian run, but not without great difficulty, because +of the load on his back. +</p> + +<p> +{93} He ran thus till he came at a place somewhat ascending, and +upon that place stood a cross, and a little below, in the bottom, +a sepulchre. So I saw in my dream, that just as Christian came up +with the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell +from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do, +till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre, where it fell in, and +I saw it no more. +</p> + +<p> +{94} Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said, with a +merry heart, "He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his +death." Then he stood still awhile to look and wonder; for it was +very surprising to him, that the sight of the cross should thus +ease him of his burden. He looked therefore, and looked again, +even till the springs that were in his head sent the waters down +his cheeks. [Zech. 12:10] Now, as he stood looking and weeping, +behold three Shining Ones came to him and saluted him with "Peace +be unto thee". So the first said to him, "Thy sins be forgiven +thee" [Mark 2:5]; the second stripped him of his rags, and clothed +him with change of raiment [Zech. 3:4]; the third also set a mark +on his forehead, and gave him a roll with a seal upon it, which he +bade him look on as he ran, and that he should give it in at the +Celestial Gate. [Eph. 1:13] So they went their way. +</p> + +<p> +"Who's this? the Pilgrim. How! 'tis very true, Old things are +past away, all's become new. Strange! he's another man, upon my +word, They be fine feathers that make a fine bird. +</p> + +<p> +Then Christian gave three leaps for joy, and went on singing-- +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + "Thus far I did come laden with my sin;<br/> + Nor could aught ease the grief that I was in<br/> + Till I came hither: What a place is this!<br/> + Must here be the beginning of my bliss?<br/> + Must here the burden fall from off my back?<br/> + Must here the strings that bound it to me crack?<br/> + Blest cross! blest sepulchre! blest rather be<br/> + The Man that there was put to shame for me!" +</p> + +<p> +{95} I saw then in my dream, that he went on thus, even until he +came at a bottom, where he saw, a little out of the way, three men +fast asleep, with fetters upon their heels. The name of the one +was Simple, another Sloth, and the third Presumption. +</p> + +<p> +{96} Christian then seeing them lie in this case went to them, if +peradventure he might awake them, and cried, You are like them that +sleep on the top of a mast, for the Dead Sea is under you--a gulf +that hath no bottom. [Prov. 23:34] Awake, therefore, and come +away; be willing also, and I will help you off with your irons. He +also told them, If he that "goeth about like a roaring lion" comes +by, you will certainly become a prey to his teeth. [1 Pet. 5:8] +With that they looked upon him, and began to reply in this sort: +Simple said, "I see no danger"; Sloth said, "Yet a little more +sleep"; and Presumption said, "Every fat must stand upon its own +bottom; what is the answer else that I should give thee?" And so +they lay down to sleep again, and Christian went on his way. +</p> + +<p> +{97} Yet was he troubled to think that men in that danger should +so little esteem the kindness of him that so freely offered to help +them, both by awakening of them, counselling of them, and proffering +to help them off with their irons. And as he was troubled thereabout, +he espied two men come tumbling over the wall on the left hand of +the narrow way; and they made up apace to him. The name of the one +was Formalist, and the name of the other Hypocrisy. So, as I said, +they drew up unto him, who thus entered with them into discourse. +</p> + +<p> +{98} CHR. Gentlemen, whence came you, and whither go you? +</p> + +<p> +FORM. and HYP. We were born in the land of Vain-glory, and are +going for praise to Mount Zion. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Why came you not in at the gate which standeth at the beginning +of the way? Know you not that it is written, that he that cometh +not in by the door, "but climbeth up some other way, the same is +a thief and a robber?" [John 10:1] +</p> + +<p> +FORM. and HYP. They said, That to go to the gate for entrance was, +by all their countrymen, counted too far about; and that, therefore, +their usual way was to make a short cut of it, and to climb over +the wall, as they had done. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. But will it not be counted a trespass against the Lord of the +city whither we are bound, thus to violate his revealed will? +</p> + +<p> +{99} FORM. and HYP. They told him, that, as for that, he needed not +to trouble his head thereabout; for what they did they had custom +for; and could produce, if need were, testimony that would witness +it for more than a thousand years. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. But, said Christian, will your practice stand a trial at law? +</p> + +<p> +FORM. and HYP. They told him, That custom, it being of so long a +standing as above a thousand years, would, doubtless, now be admitted +as a thing legal by any impartial judge; and besides, said they, +if we get into the way, what's matter which way we get in? if we +are in, we are in; thou art but in the way, who, as we perceive, +came in at the gate; and we are also in the way, that came tumbling +over the wall; wherein, now, is thy condition better than ours? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. I walk by the rule of my Master; you walk by the rude working +of your fancies. You are counted thieves already, by the Lord of +the way; therefore, I doubt you will not be found true men at the +end of the way. You come in by yourselves, without his direction; +and shall go out by yourselves, without his mercy. +</p> + +<p> +{100} To this they made him but little answer; only they bid him +look to himself. Then I saw that they went on every man in his +way without much conference one with another, save that these two +men told Christian, that as to laws and ordinances, they doubted +not but they should as conscientiously do them as he; therefore, +said they, we see not wherein thou differest from us but by the coat +that is on thy back, which was, as we trow, given thee by some of +thy neighbours, to hide the shame of thy nakedness. +</p> + +<p> +{101} CHR. By laws and ordinances you will not be saved, since you +came not in by the door. [Gal. 2:16] And as for this coat that +is on my back, it was given me by the Lord of the place whither I +go; and that, as you say, to cover my nakedness with. And I take +it as a token of his kindness to me; for I had nothing but rags +before. And besides, thus I comfort myself as I go: Surely, think +I, when I come to the gate of the city, the Lord thereof will know +me for good since I have this coat on my back--a coat that he +gave me freely in the day that he stripped me of my rags. I have, +moreover, a mark in my forehead, of which, perhaps, you have taken +no notice, which one of my Lord's most intimate associates fixed +there in the day that my burden fell off my shoulders. I will tell +you, moreover, that I had then given me a roll, sealed, to comfort +me by reading as I go on the way; I was also bid to give it in at +the Celestial Gate, in token of my certain going in after it; all +which things, I doubt, you want, and want them because you came +not in at the gate. +</p> + +<p> +{102} To these things they gave him no answer; only they looked +upon each other, and laughed. Then, I saw that they went on all, +save that Christian kept before, who had no more talk but with +himself, and that sometimes sighingly, and sometimes comfortably; +also he would be often reading in the roll that one of the Shining +Ones gave him, by which he was refreshed. +</p> + +<p> +{103} I beheld, then, that they all went on till they came to the +foot of the Hill Difficulty; at the bottom of which was a spring. +There were also in the same place two other ways besides that which +came straight from the gate; one turned to the left hand, and the +other to the right, at the bottom of the hill; but the narrow way +lay right up the hill, and the name of the going up the side of +the hill is called Difficulty. Christian now went to the spring, +and drank thereof, to refresh himself [Isa. 49:10], and then began +to go up the hill, saying-- +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + "The hill, though high, I covet to ascend,<br/> + The difficulty will not me offend;<br/> + For I perceive the way to life lies here.<br/> + Come, pluck up heart, let's neither faint nor fear;<br/> + Better, though difficult, the right way to go,<br/> + Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe." +</p> + +<p> +{104} The other two also came to the foot of the hill; but when +they saw that the hill was steep and high, and that there were two +other ways to go, and supposing also that these two ways might meet +again, with that up which Christian went, on the other side of the +hill, therefore they were resolved to go in those ways. Now the +name of one of these ways was Danger, and the name of the other +Destruction. So the one took the way which is called Danger, +which led him into a great wood, and the other took directly up the +way to Destruction, which led him into a wide field, full of dark +mountains, where he stumbled and fell, and rose no more. +</p> + +<p> +"Shall they who wrong begin yet rightly end? Shall they at all +have safety for their friend? No, no; in headstrong manner they +set out, And headlong will they fall at last no doubt." +</p> + +<p> +{105} I looked, then, after Christian, to see him go up the hill, +where I perceived he fell from running to going, and from going to +clambering upon his hands and his knees, because of the steepness +of the place. Now, about the midway to the top of the hill was a +pleasant arbour, made by the Lord of the hill for the refreshing +of weary travellers; thither, therefore, Christian got, where also +he sat down to rest him. Then he pulled his roll out of his bosom, +and read therein to his comfort; he also now began afresh to take +a review of the coat or garment that was given him as he stood by +the cross. Thus pleasing himself awhile, he at last fell into a +slumber, and thence into a fast sleep, which detained him in that +place until it was almost night; and in his sleep, his roll fell +out of his hand. Now, as he was sleeping, there came one to him, +and awaked him, saying, Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her +ways and be wise. [Prov. 6:6] And with that Christian started +up, and sped him on his way, and went apace, till he came to the +top of the hill. +</p> + +<p> +{106} Now, when he was got up to the top of the hill, there came +two men running to meet him amain; the name of the one was Timorous, +and of the other, Mistrust; to whom Christian said, Sirs, what's +the matter? You run the wrong way. Timorous answered, that they +were going to the City of Zion, and had got up that difficult +place; but, said he, the further we go, the more danger we meet +with; wherefore we turned, and are going back again. +</p> + +<p> +Yes, said Mistrust, for just before us lie a couple of lions in +the way, whether sleeping or waking we know not, and we could not +think, if we came within reach, but they would presently pull us +in pieces. +</p> + +<p> +{107} CHR. Then said Christian, You make me afraid, but whither +shall I fly to be safe? If I go back to mine own country, that +is prepared for fire and brimstone, and I shall certainly perish +there. If I can get to the Celestial City, I am sure to be in +safety there. I must venture. To go back is nothing but death; +to go forward is fear of death, and life-everlasting beyond it. I +will yet go forward. So Mistrust and Timorous ran down the hill, +and Christian went on his way. But, thinking again of what he had +heard from the men, he felt in his bosom for his roll, that he +might read therein, and be comforted; but he felt, and found it +not. Then was Christian in great distress, and knew not what to +do; for he wanted that which used to relieve him, and that which +should have been his pass into the Celestial City. Here, therefore, +he begun to be much perplexed, and knew not what to do. At last +he bethought himself that he had slept in the arbour that is on +the side of the hill; and, falling down upon his knees, he asked +God's forgiveness for that his foolish act, and then went back to +look for his roll. But all the way he went back, who can sufficiently +set forth the sorrow of Christian's heart? Sometimes he sighed, +sometimes he wept, and oftentimes he chid himself for being so +foolish to fall asleep in that place, which was erected only for +a little refreshment for his weariness. Thus, therefore, he went +back, carefully looking on this side and on that, all the way as he +went, if happily he might find his roll, that had been his comfort +so many times in his journey. He went thus, till he came again +within sight of the arbour where he sat and slept; but that sight +renewed his sorrow the more, by bringing again, even afresh, his +evil of sleeping into his mind. [Rev. 2:5; 1 Thes. 5:7,8] Thus, +therefore, he now went on bewailing his sinful sleep, saying, O +wretched man that I am that I should sleep in the day-time! that I +should sleep in the midst of difficulty! that I should so indulge +the flesh, as to use that rest for ease to my flesh, which the +Lord of the hill hath erected only for the relief of the spirits +of pilgrims! +</p> + +<p> +{108} How many steps have I took in vain! Thus it happened +to Israel, for their sin; they were sent back again by the way of +the Red Sea; and I am made to tread those steps with sorrow, which +I might have trod with delight, had it not been for this sinful +sleep. How far might I have been on my way by this time! I am +made to tread those steps thrice over, which I needed not to have +trod but once; yea, now also I am like to be benighted, for the +day is almost spent. O, that I had not slept! +</p> + +<p> +{109} Now, by this time he was come to the arbour again, where for +a while he sat down and wept; but at last, as Christian would have +it, looking sorrowfully down under the settle, there he espied his +roll; the which he, with trembling and haste, catched up, and put +it into his bosom. But who can tell how joyful this man was when +he had gotten his roll again! for this roll was the assurance of +his life and acceptance at the desired haven. Therefore he laid +it up in his bosom, gave thanks to God for directing his eye to the +place where it lay, and with joy and tears betook himself again to +his journey. But oh, how nimbly now did he go up the rest of the +hill! Yet, before he got up, the sun went down upon Christian; +and this made him again recall the vanity of his sleeping to his +remembrance; and thus he again began to condole with himself: O +thou sinful sleep; how, for thy sake, am I like to be benighted in +my journey! I must walk without the sun; darkness must cover the +path of my feet; and I must hear the noise of the doleful creatures, +because of my sinful sleep. [1 Thes. 5:6,7] Now also he remembered +the story that Mistrust and Timorous told him of; how they were +frighted with the sight of the lions. Then said Christian to +himself again, These beasts range in the night for their prey; and +if they should meet with me in the dark, how should I shift them? +How should I escape being by them torn in pieces? Thus he went on +his way. But while he was thus bewailing his unhappy miscarriage, +he lift up his eyes, and behold there was a very stately palace +before him, the name of which was Beautiful; and it stood just by +the highway side. +</p> + +<p> +{110} So I saw in my dream that he made haste and went forward, +that if possible he might get lodging there. Now, before he had +gone far, he entered into a very narrow passage, which was about +a furlong off the porter's lodge; and looking very narrowly before +him as he went, he espied two lions in the way. Now, thought he, +I see the dangers that Mistrust and Timorous were driven back by. +(The lions were chained, but he saw not the chains.) Then he was +afraid, and thought also himself to go back after them, for he +thought nothing but death was before him. But the porter at the +lodge, whose name is Watchful, perceiving that Christian made a halt +as if he would go back, cried unto him, saying, Is thy strength so +small? [Mark 8:34-37] Fear not the lions, for they are chained, and +are placed there for trial of faith where it is, and for discovery +of those that had none. Keep in the midst of the path, no hurt +shall come unto thee. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + "Difficulty is behind, Fear is before,<br/> + Though he's got on the hill, the lions roar;<br/> + A Christian man is never long at ease,<br/> + When one fright's gone, another doth him seize." +</p> + +<p> +{111} Then I saw that he went on, trembling for fear of the lions, +but taking good heed to the directions of the porter; he heard +them roar, but they did him no harm. Then he clapped his hands, +and went on till he came and stood before the gate where the porter +was. Then said Christian to the porter, Sir, what house is this? +And may I lodge here to-night? The porter answered, This house +was built by the Lord of the hill, and he built it for the relief +and security of pilgrims. The porter also asked whence he was, +and whither he was going. +</p> + +<p> +{112} CHR. I am come from the City of Destruction, and am going to +Mount Zion; but because the sun is now set, I desire, if I may, to +lodge here to-night. +</p> + +<p> +POR. What is your name? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. My name is now Christian, but my name at the first was Graceless; +I came of the race of Japheth, whom God will persuade to dwell in +the tents of Shem. [Gen. 9:27] +</p> + +<p> +POR. But how doth it happen that you come so late? The sun is set. +</p> + +<p> +{113} CHR. I had been here sooner, but that, "wretched man that +I am!" I slept in the arbour that stands on the hillside; nay, I +had, notwithstanding that, been here much sooner, but that, in my +sleep, I lost my evidence, and came without it to the brow of the +hill and then feeling for it, and finding it not, I was forced with +sorrow of heart, to go back to the place where I slept my sleep, +where I found it, and now I am come. +</p> + +<p> +POR. Well, I will call out one of the virgins of this place, who +will, if she likes your talk, bring you into the rest of the family, +according to the rules of the house. So Watchful, the porter, rang +a bell, at the sound of which came out at the door of the house, +a grave and beautiful damsel, named Discretion, and asked why she +was called. +</p> + +<p> +{114} The porter answered, This man is in a journey from the City +of Destruction to Mount Zion, but being weary and benighted, he +asked me if he might lodge here to-night; so I told him I would call +for thee, who, after discourse had with him, mayest do as seemeth +thee good, even according to the law of the house. +</p> + +<p> +{115} Then she asked him whence he was, and whither he was going, +and he told her. She asked him also how he got into the way; and +he told her. Then she asked him what he had seen and met with +in the way; and he told her. And last she asked his name; so he +said, It is Christian, and I have so much the more a desire to lodge +here to-night, because, by what I perceive, this place was built +by the Lord of the hill for the relief and security of pilgrims. +So she smiled, but the water stood in her eyes; and after a +little pause, she said, I will call forth two or three more of the +family. So she ran to the door, and called out Prudence, Piety, +and Charity, who, after a little more discourse with him, had him +into the family; and many of them, meeting him at the threshold +of the house, said, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; this house +was built by the Lord of the hill, on purpose to entertain such +pilgrims in. Then he bowed his head, and followed them into the +house. So when he was come in and sat down, they gave him something +to drink, and consented together, that until supper was ready, some +of them should have some particular discourse with Christian, for +the best improvement of time; and they appointed Piety, and Prudence, +and Charity to discourse with him; and thus they began: +</p> + +<p> +{116} PIETY. Come, good Christian, since we have been so loving +to you, to receive you in our house this night, let us, if perhaps +we may better ourselves thereby, talk with you of all things that +have happened to you in your pilgrimage. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. With a very good will, and I am glad that you are so well +disposed. +</p> + +<p> +{117} PIETY. What moved you at first to betake yourself to a +pilgrim's life? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. I was driven out of my native country by a dreadful sound that +was in mine ears: to wit, that unavoidable destruction did attend +me, if I abode in that place where I was. +</p> + +<p> +PIETY. But how did it happen that you came out of your country this +way? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. It was as God would have it; for when I was under the fears +of destruction, I did not know whither to go; but by chance there +came a man, even to me, as I was trembling and weeping, whose name +is Evangelist, and he directed me to the wicket-gate, which else I +should never have found, and so set me into the way that hath led +me directly to this house. +</p> + +<p> +{118} PIETY. But did you not come by the house of the Interpreter? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Yes, and did see such things there, the remembrance of which +will stick by me as long as I live; especially three things: to +wit, how Christ, in despite of Satan, maintains his work of grace +in the heart; how the man had sinned himself quite out of hopes of +God's mercy; and also the dream of him that thought in his sleep +the day of judgement was come. +</p> + +<p> +PIETY. Why, did you hear him tell his dream? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Yes, and a dreadful one it was. I thought it made my heart +ache as he was telling of it; but yet I am glad I heard it. +</p> + +<p> +{119} PIETY. Was that all that you saw at the house of the Interpreter? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. No; he took me and had me where he shewed me a stately palace, +and how the people were clad in gold that were in it; and how there +came a venturous man and cut his way through the armed men that +stood in the door to keep him out, and how he was bid to come in, +and win eternal glory. Methought those things did ravish my heart! +I would have stayed at that good man's house a twelvemonth, but +that I knew I had further to go. +</p> + +<p> +{120} PIETY. And what saw you else in the way? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Saw! why, I went but a little further, and I saw one, as +I thought in my mind, hang bleeding upon the tree; and the very +sight of him made my burden fall off my back, (for I groaned under +a very heavy burden,) but then it fell down from off me. It was +a strange thing to me, for I never saw such a thing before; yea, +and while I stood looking up, for then I could not forbear looking, +three Shining Ones came to me. One of them testified that my sins +were forgiven me; another stripped me of my rags, and gave me this +broidered coat which you see; and the third set the mark which you +see in my forehead, and gave me this sealed roll. (And with that +he plucked it out of his bosom.) +</p> + +<p> +{121} PIETY. But you saw more than this, did you not? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. The things that I have told you were the best; yet some other +matters I saw, as, namely--I saw three men, Simple, Sloth, and +Presumption, lie asleep a little out of the way, as I came, with +irons upon their heels; but do you think I could awake them? I +also saw Formality and Hypocrisy come tumbling over the wall, to +go, as they pretended, to Zion, but they were quickly lost, even +as I myself did tell them; but they would not believe. But above +all, I found it hard work to get up this hill, and as hard to come +by the lions' mouths, and truly if it had not been for the good +man, the porter that stands at the gate, I do not know but that +after all I might have gone back again; but now I thank God I am +here, and I thank you for receiving of me. +</p> + +<p> +{122} Then Prudence thought good to ask him a few questions, and +desired his answer to them. +</p> + +<p> +PRUD. Do you not think sometimes of the country from whence you +came? +</p> + +<p> +Christian's thoughts of his native country +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Yes, but with much shame and detestation: "Truly, if I had +been mindful of that country from whence I came out, I might have +had opportunity to have returned; but now I desire a better country, +that is, an heavenly." [Heb. 11:15,16] +</p> + +<p> +PRUD. Do you not yet bear away with you some of the things that +then you were conversant withal? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Yes, but greatly against my will; especially my inward and +carnal cogitations, with which all my countrymen, as well as myself, +were delighted; but now all those things are my grief; and might +I but choose mine own things, +</p> + +<p> +Christian's choice +</p> + +<p> +I would choose never to think of those things more; but when I +would be doing of that which is best, that which is worst is with +me. [Rom 7:16-19] +</p> + +<p> +{123} PRUD. Do you not find sometimes, as if those things were +vanquished, which at other times are your perplexity? +</p> + +<p> +Christian's golden hours +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Yes, but that is seldom; but they are to me golden hours in +which such things happen to me. +</p> + +<p> +PRUD. Can you remember by what means you find your annoyances, at +times, as if they were vanquished? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Yes, when I think what I saw at the cross, that will do it; +and when I look upon my broidered coat, that will do it; also when +I look into the roll that I carry in my bosom, that will do it; +and when my thoughts wax warm about whither I am going, that will +do it. +</p> + +<p> +{124} PRUD. And what is it that makes you so desirous to go to +Mount Zion? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Why, there I hope to see him alive that did hang dead on the +cross; and there I hope to be rid of all those things that to this +day are in me an annoyance to me; there, they say, there is no +death; and there I shall dwell with such company as I like best. +[Isa. 25:8; Rev. 21:4] For, to tell you truth, I love him, +because I was by him eased of my burden; and I am weary of my inward +sickness. I would fain be where I shall die no more, and with the +company that shall continually cry, "Holy, Holy, Holy!" +</p> + +<p> +{125} Then said Charity to Christian, Have you a family? Are you +a married man? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. I have a wife and four small children. +</p> + +<p> +CHAR. And why did you not bring them along with you? +</p> + +<p> +Christian's love to his wife and children +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Then Christian wept, and said, Oh, how willingly would I have +done it! but they were all of them utterly averse to my going on +pilgrimage. +</p> + +<p> +CHAR. But you should have talked to them, and have endeavoured to +have shown them the danger of being behind. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. So I did; and told them also of what God had shown to me +of the destruction of our city; "but I seemed to them as one that +mocked", and they believed me not. [Gen. 19:14] +</p> + +<p> +CHAR. And did you pray to God that he would bless your counsel to +them? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Yes, and that with much affection: for you must think that +my wife and poor children were very dear unto me. +</p> + +<p> +CHAR. But did you tell them of your own sorrow, and fear of +destruction? for I suppose that destruction was visible enough to +you. +</p> + +<p> +Christian's fears of perishing might be read in his very countenance +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Yes, over, and over, and over. They might also see my fears +in my countenance, in my tears, and also in my trembling under the +apprehension of the judgement that did hang over our heads; but +all was not sufficient to prevail with them to come with me. +</p> + +<p> +CHAR. But what could they say for themselves, why they came not? +</p> + +<p> +{126} CHR. Why, my wife was afraid of losing this world, and +my children were given to the foolish delights of youth: so what +by one thing, and what by another, they left me to wander in this +manner alone. +</p> + +<p> +CHAR. But did you not, with your vain life, damp all that you by +words used by way of persuasion to bring them away with you? +</p> + +<p> +{127} Christian's good conversation before his wife and children +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Indeed, I cannot commend my life; for I am conscious to myself +of many failings therein; I know also that a man by his conversation +may soon overthrow what by argument or persuasion he doth labour to +fasten upon others for their good. Yet this I can say, I was very +wary of giving them occasion, by any unseemly action, to make them +averse to going on pilgrimage. Yea, for this very thing they would +tell me I was too precise, and that I denied myself of things, +for their sakes, in which they saw no evil. Nay, I think I may +say, that if what they saw in me did hinder them, it was my great +tenderness in sinning against God, or of doing any wrong to my +neighbour. +</p> + +<p> +CHAR. Indeed Cain hated his brother, "because his own works were +evil, and his brother's righteous" [1 John 3:12]; and if thy wife +and children have been offended with thee for this, they thereby +show themselves to be implacable to good, and "thou hast delivered +thy soul from their blood". [Ezek. 3:19] +</p> + +<p> +{128} Now I saw in my dream, that thus they sat talking together +until supper was ready. So when they had made ready, they sat down +to meat. Now the table was furnished "with fat things, and with +wine that was well refined": and all their talk at the table was +about the Lord of the hill; as, namely, about what he had done, and +wherefore he did what he did, and why he had builded that house. +And by what they said, I perceived that he had been a great warrior, +and had fought with and slain "him that had the Power of death", +but not without great danger to himself, which made me love him +the more. [Heb. 2:14,15] +</p> + +<p> +{129} For, as they said, and as I believe (said Christian), he did +it with the loss of much blood; but that which put glory of grace +into all he did, was, that he did it out of pure love to his country. +And besides, there were some of them of the household that said +they had been and spoke with him since he did die on the cross; and +they have attested that they had it from his own lips, that he is +such a lover of poor pilgrims, that the like is not to be found +from the east to the west. +</p> + +<p> +{130} They, moreover, gave an instance of what they affirmed, and +that was, he had stripped himself of his glory, that he might do +this for the poor; and that they heard him say and affirm, "that +he would not dwell in the mountain of Zion alone." They said, +moreover, that he had made many pilgrims princes, though by nature +they were beggars born, and their original had been the dunghill. +[1 Sam 2:8; Ps. 113:7] +</p> + +<p> +{131} Christian's bedchamber +</p> + +<p> +Thus they discoursed together till late at night; and after they had +committed themselves to their Lord for protection, they betook +themselves to rest: the Pilgrim they laid in a large upper +chamber, whose window opened towards the sun-rising: the name of +the chamber was Peace; where he slept till break of day, and then +he awoke and sang-- +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + "Where am I now? Is this the love and care<br/> + Of Jesus for the men that pilgrims are?<br/> + Thus to provide! that I should be forgiven!<br/> + And dwell already the next door to heaven!" +</p> + +<p> +{132} So in the morning they all got up; and, after some more +discourse, they told him that he should not depart till they had +shown him the rarities of that place. And first they had him into +the study, where they showed him records of the greatest antiquity; +in which, as I remember my dream, they showed him first the pedigree of +the Lord of the hill, that he was the son of the Ancient of Days, +and came by that eternal generation. Here also was more fully +recorded the acts that he had done, and the names of many hundreds +that he had taken into his service; and how he had placed them in +such habitations that could neither by length of days, nor decays +of nature, be dissolved. +</p> + +<p> +{133} Then they read to him some of the worthy acts that some of +his servants had done: as, how they had "subdued kingdoms, wrought +righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, +quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out +of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned +to flight the armies of the aliens." [Heb 11:33,34] +</p> + +<p> +{134} They then read again, in another part of the records of the +house, where it was shewed how willing their Lord was to receive +into his favour any, even any, though they in time past had offered +great affronts to his person and proceedings. Here also were +several other histories of many other famous things, of all which +Christian had a view; as of things both ancient and modern; together +with prophecies and predictions of things that have their certain +accomplishment, both to the dread and amazement of enemies, and +the comfort and solace of pilgrims. +</p> + +<p> +{135} The next day they took him and had him into the armoury, +where they showed him all manner of furniture, which their Lord +had provided for pilgrims, as sword, shield, helmet, breastplate, +ALL-PRAYER, and shoes that would not wear out. And there was here +enough of this to harness out as many men for the service of their +Lord as there be stars in the heaven for multitude. +</p> + +<p> +{136} They also showed him some of the engines with which some of +his servants had done wonderful things. They shewed him Moses' +rod; the hammer and nail with which Jael slew Sisera; the pitchers, +trumpets, and lamps too, with which Gideon put to flight the armies +of Midian. Then they showed him the ox's goad wherewith Shamgar +slew six hundred men. They showed him also the jaw-bone with which +Samson did such mighty feats. They showed him, moreover, the sling +and stone with which David slew Goliath of Gath; and the sword, +also, with which their Lord will kill the Man of Sin, in the day +that he shall rise up to the prey. They showed him, besides, many +excellent things, with which Christian was much delighted. This +done, they went to their rest again. +</p> + +<p> +{137} Then I saw in my dream, that on the morrow he got up to go +forward; but they desired him to stay till the next day also; and +then, said they, we will, if the day be clear, show you the Delectable +Mountains, which, they said, would yet further add to his comfort, +because they were nearer the desired haven than the place where at +present he was; so he consented and stayed. When the morning was +up, they had him to the top of the house, and bid him look south; +so he did: and behold, at a great distance, he saw a most pleasant +mountainous country, beautified with woods, vineyards, fruits of +all sorts, flowers also, with springs and fountains, very delectable +to behold. [Isa. 33:16,17] Then he asked the name of the country. +They said it was Immanuel's Land; and it is as common, said they, +as this hill is, to and for all the pilgrims. And when thou comest +there from thence, said they, thou mayest see to the gate of the +Celestial City, as the shepherds that live there will make appear. +</p> + +<p> +{138} Now he bethought himself of setting forward, and they were +willing he should. But first, said they, let us go again into the +armoury. So they did; and when they came there, they harnessed him +from head to foot with what was of proof, lest, perhaps, he should +meet with assaults in the way. He being, therefore, thus accoutred, +walketh out with his friends to the gate, and there he asked the +porter if he saw any pilgrims pass by. Then the porter answered, +Yes. +</p> + +<p> +{139} CHR. Pray, did you know him? said he. +</p> + +<p> +POR. I asked him his name, and he told me it was Faithful. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Oh, said Christian, I know him; he is my townsman, my near +neighbour; he comes from the place where I was born. How far do +you think he may be before? +</p> + +<p> +POR. He is got by this time below the hill. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Well, said Christian, good Porter, the Lord be with thee, and +add to all thy blessings much increase, for the kindness that thou +hast showed to me. +</p> + +<p> +{140} Then he began to go forward; but Discretion, Piety, Charity, +and Prudence would accompany him down to the foot of the hill. So +they went on together, reiterating their former discourses, till +they came to go down the hill. Then said Christian, As it was +difficult coming up, so, so far as I can see, it is dangerous going +down. Yes, said Prudence, so it is, for it is a hard matter for +a man to go down into the Valley of Humiliation, as thou art now, +and to catch no slip by the way; therefore, said they, are we come +out to accompany thee down the hill. So he began to go down, but +very warily; yet he caught a slip or two. +</p> + +<p> +{141} Then I saw in my dream that these good companions, when +Christian was gone to the bottom of the hill, gave him a loaf of +bread, a bottle of wine, and a cluster of raisins; and then he went +on his way. +</p> + +<p> +But now, in this Valley of Humiliation, poor Christian was hard put +to it; for he had gone but a little way, before he espied a foul +fiend coming over the field to meet him; his name is Apollyon. Then +did Christian begin to be afraid, and to cast in his mind whether +to go back or to stand his ground. But he considered again that +he had no armour for his back; and therefore thought that to turn +the back to him might give him the greater advantage with ease to +pierce him with his darts. +</p> + +<p> +Christian's resolution at the approach of Apollyon +</p> + +<p> +Therefore he resolved to venture and stand his ground; for, thought +he, had I no more in mine eye than the saving of my life, it would +be the best way to stand. +</p> + +<p> +{142} So he went on, and Apollyon met him. Now the monster was +hideous to behold; he was clothed with scales, like a fish, (and +they are his pride,) he had wings like a dragon, feet like a bear, +and out of his belly came fire and smoke, and his mouth was as the +mouth of a lion. When he was come up to Christian, he beheld him +with a disdainful countenance, and thus began to question with him. +</p> + +<p> +{143} APOL. Whence come you? and whither are you bound? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. I am come from the City of Destruction, which is the place of +all evil, and am going to the City of Zion. +</p> + +<p> +APOL. By this I perceive thou art one of my subjects, for all that +country is mine, and I am the prince and god of it. How is it, +then, that thou hast run away from thy king? Were it not that I +hope thou mayest do me more service, I would strike thee now, at +one blow, to the ground. +</p> + +<p> +{144} CHR. I was born, indeed, in your dominions, but your service +was hard, and your wages such as a man could not live on, "for the +wages of sin is death" [Rom 6:23]; therefore, when I was come to +years, I did, as other considerate persons do, look out, if, perhaps, +I might mend myself. +</p> + +<p> +Apollyon's flattery +</p> + +<p> +APOL. There is no prince that will thus lightly lose his subjects, +neither will I as yet lose thee; but since thou complainest of thy +service and wages, be content to go back: what our country will +afford, I do here promise to give thee. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. But I have let myself to another, even to the King of princes; +and how can I, with fairness, go back with thee? +</p> + +<p> +{145} APOL. Thou hast done in this, according to the proverb, +"Changed a bad for a worse"; but it is ordinary for those that +have professed themselves his servants, after a while to give him +the slip, and return again to me. Do thou so too, and all shall +be well. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. I have given him my faith, and sworn my allegiance to him; +how, then, can I go back from this, and not be hanged as a traitor? +</p> + +<p> +APOL. Thou didst the same to me, and yet I am willing to pass by +all, if now thou wilt yet turn again and go back. +</p> + +<p> +{146} CHR. What I promised thee was in my nonage; and, besides, I +count the Prince under whose banner now I stand is able to absolve +me; yea, and to pardon also what I did as to my compliance with +thee; and besides, O thou destroying Apollyon! to speak truth, +I like his service, his wages, his servants, his government, his +company, and country, better than thine; and, therefore, leave off +to persuade me further; I am his servant, and I will follow him. +</p> + +<p> +{147} APOL. Consider, again, when thou art in cool blood, what thou +art like to meet with in the way that thou goest. Thou knowest +that, for the most part, his servants come to an ill end, because +they are transgressors against me and my ways. How many of them +have been put to shameful deaths! and, besides, thou countest his +service better than mine, whereas he never came yet from the place +where he is to deliver any that served him out of their hands; but +as for me, how many times, as all the world very well knows, have +I delivered, either by power, or fraud, those that have faithfully +served me, from him and his, though taken by them; and so I will +deliver thee. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. His forbearing at present to deliver them is on purpose to try +their love, whether they will cleave to him to the end; and as for +the ill end thou sayest they come to, that is most glorious in their +account; for, for present deliverance, they do not much expect it, +for they stay for their glory, and then they shall have it when +their Prince comes in his and the glory of the angels. +</p> + +<p> +APOL. Thou hast already been unfaithful in thy service to him; and +how dost thou think to receive wages of him? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Wherein, O Apollyon! have I been unfaithful to him? +</p> + +<p> +{148} APOL. Thou didst faint at first setting out, when thou wast +almost choked in the Gulf of Despond; thou didst attempt wrong ways +to be rid of thy burden, whereas thou shouldst have stayed till +thy Prince had taken it off; thou didst sinfully sleep and lose +thy choice thing; thou wast, also, almost persuaded to go back at +the sight of the lions; and when thou talkest of thy journey, and +of what thou hast heard and seen, thou art inwardly desirous of +vain-glory in all that thou sayest or doest. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. All this is true, and much more which thou hast left out; +but the Prince whom I serve and honour is merciful, and ready to +forgive; but, besides, these infirmities possessed me in thy country, +for there I sucked them in; and I have groaned under them, been +sorry for them, and have obtained pardon of my Prince. +</p> + +<p> +{149} APOL. Then Apollyon broke out into a grievous rage, saying, +I am an enemy to this Prince; I hate his person, his laws, and +people; I am come out on purpose to withstand thee. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Apollyon, beware what you do; for I am in the King's highway, +the way of holiness; therefore take heed to yourself. +</p> + +<p> +APOL. Then Apollyon straddled quite over the whole breadth of the +way, and said, I am void of fear in this matter: prepare thyself +to die; for I swear by my infernal den, that thou shalt go no +further; here will I spill thy soul. +</p> + +<p> +{150} And with that he threw a flaming dart at his breast; but +Christian had a shield in his hand, with which he caught it, and +so prevented the danger of that. +</p> + +<p> +Then did Christian draw, for he saw it was time to bestir him; and +Apollyon as fast made at him, throwing darts as thick as hail; by +the which, notwithstanding all that Christian could do to avoid it, +Apollyon wounded him in his head, his hand, and foot. This made +Christian give a little back; Apollyon, therefore, followed his work +amain, and Christian again took courage, and resisted as manfully +as he could. This sore combat lasted for above half a day, even +till Christian was almost quite spent; for you must know that +Christian, by reason of his wounds, must needs grow weaker and +weaker. +</p> + +<p> +{151} Then Apollyon, espying his opportunity, began to gather up +close to Christian, and wrestling with him, gave him a dreadful +fall; and with that Christian's sword flew out of his hand. Then +said Apollyon, I am sure of thee now. And with that he had almost +pressed him to death, so that Christian began to despair of life; +but as God would have it, while Apollyon was fetching of his +last blow, thereby to make a full end of this good man, Christian +nimbly stretched out his hand for his sword, and caught it, saying, +"Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy; when I fall I shall arise" +[Micah 7:8]; +</p> + +<p> +Christian's victory over Apollyon +</p> + +<p> +and with that gave him a deadly thrust, which made him give back, +as one that had received his mortal wound. Christian perceiving +that, made at him again, saying, "Nay, in all these things we are +more than conquerors through him that loved us". [Rom. 8:37] And +with that Apollyon spread forth his dragon's wings, and sped him +away, that Christian for a season saw him no more. [James 4:7] +</p> + +<p> +{152} In this combat no man can imagine, unless he had seen and +heard as I did, what yelling and hideous roaring Apollyon made all +the time of the fight--he spake like a dragon; and, on the other +side, what sighs and groans burst from Christian's heart. I never +saw him all the while give so much as one pleasant look, till he +perceived he had wounded Apollyon with his two-edged sword; then, +indeed, he did smile, and look upward; but it was the dreadfullest +sight that ever I saw. +</p> + +<p> +A more unequal match can hardly be,--CHRISTIAN must fight an +Angel; but you see, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + The valiant man by handling Sword and Shield,<br/> + Doth make him, tho' a Dragon, quit the field. +</p> + +<p> +{153} So when the battle was over, Christian said, "I will here +give thanks to him that delivered me out of the mouth of the lion, +to him that did help me against Apollyon." And so he did, saying-- +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Great Beelzebub, the captain of this fiend,<br/> + Design'd my ruin; therefore to this end<br/> + He sent him harness'd out: and he with rage<br/> + That hellish was, did fiercely me engage.<br/> + But blessed Michael helped me, and I,<br/> + By dint of sword, did quickly make him fly.<br/> + Therefore to him let me give lasting praise,<br/> + And thank and bless his holy name always. +</p> + +<p> +{154} Then there came to him a hand, with some of the leaves of the +tree of life, the which Christian took, and applied to the wounds +that he had received in the battle, and was healed immediately. +He also sat down in that place to eat bread, and to drink of the +bottle that was given him a little before; so, being refreshed, +he addressed himself to his journey, with his sword drawn in his +hand; for he said, I know not but some other enemy may be at hand. +But he met with no other affront from Apollyon quite through this +valley. +</p> + +<p> +{155} Now, at the end of this valley was another, called the Valley +of the Shadow of Death, and Christian must needs go through it, +because the way to the Celestial City lay through the midst of it. +Now, this valley is a very solitary place. The prophet Jeremiah +thus describes it: "A wilderness, a land of deserts and of pits, +a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, a land that no man" +(but a Christian) "passed through, and where no man dwelt." [Jer. +2:6] +</p> + +<p> +Now here Christian was worse put to it than in his fight with +Apollyon, as by the sequel you shall see. +</p> + +<p> +{156} I saw then in my dream, that when Christian was got to the +borders of the Shadow of Death, there met him two men, children of +them that brought up an evil report of the good land [Num. 13], +making haste to go back; to whom Christian spake as follows:-- +</p> + +<p> +{157} CHR. Whither are you going? +</p> + +<p> +MEN. They said, Back! back! and we would have you to do so too, +if either life or peace is prized by you. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Why, what's the matter? said Christian. +</p> + +<p> +MEN. Matter! said they; we were going that way as you are going, +and went as far as we durst; and indeed we were almost past coming +back; for had we gone a little further, we had not been here to +bring the news to thee. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. But what have you met with? said Christian. +</p> + +<p> +MEN. Why, we were almost in the Valley of the Shadow of Death; but +that, by good hap, we looked before us, and saw the danger before +we came to it. [Ps. 44:19; 107:10] +</p> + +<p> +CHR. But what have you seen? said Christian. +</p> + +<p> +{158} MEN. Seen! Why, the Valley itself, which is as dark as pitch; +we also saw there the hobgoblins, satyrs, and dragons of the pit; +we heard also in that Valley a continual howling and yelling, as of +a people under unutterable misery, who there sat bound in affliction +and irons; and over that Valley hangs the discouraging clouds of +confusion. Death also doth always spread his wings over it. In +a word, it is every whit dreadful, being utterly without order. +[Job 3:5; 10:22] +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Then, said Christian, I perceive not yet, by what you have +said, but that this is my way to the desired haven. [Jer. 2:6] +</p> + +<p> +MEN. Be it thy way; we will not choose it for ours. So, they parted, +and Christian went on his way, but still with his sword drawn in +his hand, for fear lest he should be assaulted. +</p> + +<p> +{159} I saw then in my dream, so far as this valley reached, there +was on the right hand a very deep ditch; that ditch is it into +which the blind have led the blind in all ages, and have both there +miserably perished. [Ps. 69:14,15] Again, behold, on the left +hand, there was a very dangerous quag, into which, if even a good +man falls, he can find no bottom for his foot to stand on. Into +that quag King David once did fall, and had no doubt therein been +smothered, had not HE that is able plucked him out. +</p> + +<p> +{160} The pathway was here also exceeding narrow, and therefore +good Christian was the more put to it; for when he sought, in the +dark, to shun the ditch on the one hand, he was ready to tip over +into the mire on the other; also when he sought to escape the mire, +without great carefulness he would be ready to fall into the ditch. +Thus he went on, and I heard him here sigh bitterly; for, besides +the dangers mentioned above, the pathway was here so dark, and +ofttimes, when he lift up his foot to set forward, he knew not +where or upon what he should set it next. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Poor man! where art thou now? thy day is night.<br/> + Good man, be not cast down, thou yet art right,<br/> + Thy way to heaven lies by the gates of Hell;<br/> + Cheer up, hold out, with thee it shall go well. +</p> + +<p> +{161} About the midst of this valley, I perceived the mouth of +hell to be, and it stood also hard by the wayside. Now, thought +Christian, what shall I do? And ever and anon the flame and smoke +would come out in such abundance, with sparks and hideous noises, +(things that cared not for Christian's sword, as did Apollyon +before), that he was forced to put up his sword, and betake himself +to another weapon called All-prayer. [Eph. 6:18] So he cried in my +hearing, "O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul!" [Ps. 116:4] +Thus he went on a great while, yet still the flames would be +reaching towards him. Also he heard doleful voices, and rushings +to and fro, so that sometimes he thought he should be torn in +pieces, or trodden down like mire in the streets. This frightful +sight was seen, and these dreadful noises were heard by him for +several miles together; and, coming to a place where he thought he +heard a company of fiends coming forward to meet him, he stopped, +and began to muse what he had best to do. Sometimes he had half +a thought to go back; then again he thought he might be half way +through the valley; he remembered also how he had already vanquished +many a danger, and that the danger of going back might be much more +than for to go forward; so he resolved to go on. Yet the fiends +seemed to come nearer and nearer; but when they were come even +almost at him, he cried out with a most vehement voice, "I will walk +in the strength of the Lord God!" so they gave back, and came no +further. +</p> + +<p> +{162} One thing I would not let slip. I took notice that now poor +Christian was so confounded, that he did not know his own voice; +and thus I perceived it. Just when he was come over against the +mouth of the burning pit, one of the wicked ones got behind him, and +stepped up softly to him, and whisperingly suggested many grievous +blasphemies to him, which he verily thought had proceeded from his +own mind. This put Christian more to it than anything that he met +with before, even to think that he should now blaspheme him that +he loved so much before; yet, if he could have helped it, he would +not have done it; but he had not the discretion either to stop his +ears, or to know from whence these blasphemies came. +</p> + +<p> +{163} When Christian had travelled in this disconsolate condition +some considerable time, he thought he heard the voice of a man, +as going before him, saying, "Though I walk through the valley of +the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me." +[Ps. 23:4] +</p> + +<p> +{164} Then he was glad, and that for these reasons: +</p> + +<p> +First, Because he gathered from thence, that some who feared God +were in this valley as well as himself. +</p> + +<p> +Secondly, For that he perceived God was with them, though in that +dark and dismal state; and why not, thought he, with me? though, +by reason of the impediment that attends this place, I cannot +perceive it. [Job 9:11] +</p> + +<p> +Thirdly, For that he hoped, could he overtake them, to have company +by and by. So he went on, and called to him that was before; but +he knew not what to answer; for that he also thought to be alone. +And by and by the day broke; then said Christian, He hath turned +"the shadow of death into the morning". [Amos 5:8] +</p> + +<p> +{165} Now morning being come, he looked back, not out of desire to +return, but to see, by the light of the day, what hazards he had +gone through in the dark. So he saw more perfectly the ditch that +was on the one hand, and the mire that was on the other; also how +narrow the way was which led betwixt them both; also now he saw the +hobgoblins, and satyrs, and dragons of the pit, but all afar off, +(for after break of day, they came not nigh;) yet they were discovered +to him, according to that which is written, "He discovereth deep +things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of +death." [Job 12:22] +</p> + +<p> +{166} Now was Christian much affected with his deliverance from all +the dangers of his solitary way; which dangers, though he feared +them more before, yet he saw them more clearly now, because the light +of the day made them conspicuous to him. And about this time the +sun was rising, and this was another mercy to Christian; for you +must note, that though the first part of the Valley of the Shadow +of Death was dangerous, yet this second part which he was yet to +go, was, if possible, far more dangerous; for from the place where +he now stood, even to the end of the valley, the way was all along +set so full of snares, traps, gins, and nets here, and so full of +pits, pitfalls, deep holes, and shelvings down there, that, had it +now been dark, as it was when he came the first part of the way, +had he had a thousand souls, they had in reason been cast away; but, +as I said just now, the sun was rising. Then said he, "His candle +shineth upon my head, and by his light I walk through darkness." +[Job 29:3] +</p> + +<p> +{167} In this light, therefore, he came to the end of the valley. +Now I saw in my dream, that at the end of this valley lay blood, +bones, ashes, and mangled bodies of men, even of pilgrims that had +gone this way formerly; and while I was musing what should be the +reason, I espied a little before me a cave, where two giants, POPE +and PAGAN, dwelt in old time; by whose power and tyranny the men +whose bones, blood, and ashes, &c., lay there, were cruelly put +to death. But by this place Christian went without much danger, +whereat I somewhat wondered; but I have learnt since, that PAGAN +has been dead many a day; and as for the other, though he be yet +alive, he is, by reason of age, and also of the many shrewd brushes +that he met with in his younger days, grown so crazy and stiff in +his joints, that he can now do little more than sit in his cave's +mouth, grinning at pilgrims as they go by, and biting his nails +because he cannot come at them. +</p> + +<p> +{168} So I saw that Christian went on his way; yet, at the sight of +the Old Man that sat in the mouth of the cave, he could not tell +what to think, especially because he spake to him, though he could +not go after him, saying, "You will never mend till more of you be +burned." But he held his peace, and set a good face on it, and so +went by and catched no hurt. Then sang Christian: +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + O world of wonders! (I can say no less),<br/> + That I should be preserved in that distress<br/> + That I have met with here! O blessed be<br/> + That hand that from it hath deliver'd me!<br/> + Dangers in darkness, devils, hell, and sin<br/> + Did compass me, while I this vale was in:<br/> + Yea, snares, and pits, and traps, and nets, did lie<br/> + My path about, that worthless, silly I<br/> + Might have been catch'd, entangled, and cast down;<br/> + But since I live, let JESUS wear the crown. +</p> + +<p> +{169} Now, as Christian went on his way, he came to a little ascent, +which was cast up on purpose that pilgrims might see before them. +Up there, therefore, Christian went, and looking forward, he saw +Faithful before him, upon his journey. Then said Christian aloud, +"Ho! ho! So-ho! stay, and I will be your companion!" At that, +Faithful looked behind him; to whom Christian cried again, "Stay, +stay, till I come up to you!" But Faithful answered, "No, I am +upon my life, and the avenger of blood is behind me." +</p> + +<p> +{170} At this, Christian was somewhat moved, and putting to all +his strength, he quickly got up with Faithful, and did also overrun +him; so the last was first. Then did Christian vain-gloriously +smile, because he had gotten the start of his brother; but not +taking good heed to his feet, he suddenly stumbled and fell, and +could not rise again until Faithful came up to help him. +</p> + +<p> +Christian's fall makes Faithful and he go lovingly together +</p> + +<p> +Then I saw in my dream they went very lovingly on together, and had +sweet discourse of all things that had happened to them in their +pilgrimage; and thus Christian began: +</p> + +<p> +{171} CHR. My honoured and well-beloved brother, Faithful, I am +glad that I have overtaken you; and that God has so tempered our +spirits, that we can walk as companions in this so pleasant a path. +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. I had thought, dear friend, to have had your company quite +from our town; but you did get the start of me, wherefore I was +forced to come thus much of the way alone. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. How long did you stay in the City of Destruction before you +set out after me on your pilgrimage? +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. Till I could stay no longer; for there was great talk presently +after you were gone out that our city would, in short time, with +fire from heaven, be burned down to the ground. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. What! did your neighbours talk so? +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. Yes, it was for a while in everybody's mouth. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. What! and did no more of them but you come out to escape the +danger? +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. Though there was, as I said, a great talk thereabout, yet +I do not think they did firmly believe it. For in the heat of the +discourse, I heard some of them deridingly speak of you and of your +desperate journey, (for so they called this your pilgrimage), but +I did believe, and do still, that the end of our city will be with +fire and brimstone from above; and therefore I have made my +escape. +</p> + +<p> +{172} CHR. Did you hear no talk of neighbour Pliable? +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. Yes, Christian, I heard that he followed you till he came +at the Slough of Despond, where, as some said, he fell in; but he +would not be known to have so done; but I am sure he was soundly +bedabbled with that kind of dirt. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. And what said the neighbours to him? +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. He hath, since his going back, been had greatly in derision, +and that among all sorts of people; some do mock and despise him; +and scarce will any set him on work. He is now seven times worse +than if he had never gone out of the city. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. But why should they be so set against him, since they also +despise the way that he forsook? +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. Oh, they say, hang him, he is a turncoat! he was not true +to his profession. I think God has stirred up even his enemies to +hiss at him, and make him a proverb, because he hath forsaken the +way. [Jer. 29:18,19] +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Had you no talk with him before you came out? +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. I met him once in the streets, but he leered away on the +other side, as one ashamed of what he had done; so I spake not to +him. +</p> + +<p> +{173} CHR. Well, at my first setting out, I had hopes of that man; +but now I fear he will perish in the overthrow of the city; for +it is happened to him according to the true proverb, "The dog is +turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed, to her +wallowing in the mire." [2 Pet. 2:22] +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. These are my fears of him too; but who can hinder that which +will be? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Well, neighbour Faithful, said Christian, let us leave him, +and talk of things that more immediately concern ourselves. Tell +me now, what you have met with in the way as you came; for I know +you have met with some things, or else it may be writ for a wonder. +</p> + +<p> +{174} FAITH. I escaped the Slough that I perceived you fell into, +and got up to the gate without that danger; only I met with one +whose name was Wanton, who had like to have done me a mischief. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. It was well you escaped her net; Joseph was hard put to it by +her, and he escaped her as you did; but it had like to have cost +him his life. [Gen. 39:11-13] But what did she do to you? +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. You cannot think, but that you know something, what a +flattering tongue she had; she lay at me hard to turn aside with +her, promising me all manner of content. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Nay, she did not promise you the content of a good conscience. +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. You know what I mean; all carnal and fleshly content. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Thank God you have escaped her: "The abhorred of the Lord +shall fall into her ditch." [Ps. 22:14] +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. Nay, I know not whether I did wholly escape her or no. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Why, I trow, you did not consent to her desires? +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. No, not to defile myself; for I remembered an old writing +that I had seen, which said, "Her steps take hold on hell." [Prov. +5:5] So I shut mine eyes, because I would not be bewitched with +her looks. [Job 31:1] Then she railed on me, and I went my way. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Did you meet with no other assault as you came? +</p> + +<p> +{175} FAITH. When I came to the foot of the hill called Difficulty, +I met with a very aged man, who asked me what I was, and whither +bound. I told him that I am a pilgrim, going to the Celestial +City. Then said the old man, Thou lookest like an honest fellow; +wilt thou be content to dwell with me for the wages that I shall +give thee? Then I asked him his name, and where he dwelt. He +said his name was Adam the First, and that he dwelt in the town +of Deceit. [Eph. 4:22] I asked him then what was his work, and +what the wages he would give. He told me that his work was many +delights; and his wages that I should be his heir at last. I further +asked him what house he kept, and what other servants he had. So +he told me that his house was maintained with all the dainties in +the world; and that his servants were those of his own begetting. +Then I asked if he had any children. He said that he had but three +daughters: The Lust of the Flesh, The Lust of the Eyes, and The +Pride of Life, and that I should marry them all if I would. [1 +John 2:16] Then I asked how long time he would have me live with +him? And he told me, As long as he lived himself. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Well, and what conclusion came the old man and you to at last? +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. Why, at first, I found myself somewhat inclinable to go +with the man, for I thought he spake very fair; but looking in his +forehead, as I talked with him, I saw there written, "Put off the +old man with his deeds." +</p> + +<p> +CHR. And how then? +</p> + +<p> +{176} FAITH. Then it came burning hot into my mind, whatever he +said, and however he flattered, when he got me home to his house, +he would sell me for a slave. So I bid him forbear to talk, for +I would not come near the door of his house. Then he reviled me, +and told me that he would send such a one after me, that should +make my way bitter to my soul. So I turned to go away from him; +but just as I turned myself to go thence, I felt him take hold of +my flesh, and give me such a deadly twitch back, that I thought he +had pulled part of me after himself. This made me cry, "O wretched +man!" [Rom. 7:24] So I went on my way up the hill. +</p> + +<p> +Now when I had got about half-way up, I looked behind, and saw one +coming after me, swift as the wind; so he overtook me just about +the place where the settle stands. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Just there, said Christian, did I sit down to rest me; but +being overcome with sleep, I there lost this roll out of my bosom. +</p> + +<p> +{177} FAITH. But, good brother, hear me out. So soon as the man +overtook me, he was but a word and a blow, for down he knocked +me, and laid me for dead. But when I was a little come to myself +again, I asked him wherefore he served me so. He said, because of +my secret inclining to Adam the First; and with that he struck me +another deadly blow on the breast, and beat me down backward; so +I lay at his foot as dead as before. So, when I came to myself +again, I cried him mercy; but he said, I know not how to show mercy; +and with that he knocked me down again. He had doubtless made an +end of me, but that one came by, and bid him forbear. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Who was that that bid him forbear? +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. I did not know him at first, but as he went by, I perceived +the holes in his hands and in his side; then I concluded that he +was our Lord. So I went up the hill. +</p> + +<p> +{178} CHR. That man that overtook you was Moses. He spareth none, +neither knoweth he how to show mercy to those that transgress his +law. +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. I know it very well; it was not the first time that he has +met with me. It was he that came to me when I dwelt securely at +home, and that told me he would burn my house over my head if I +stayed there. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. But did you not see the house that stood there on the top of +the hill, on the side of which Moses met you? +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. Yes, and the lions too, before I came at it: but for the +lions, I think they were asleep, for it was about noon; and because +I had so much of the day before me, I passed by the porter, and +came down the hill. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. He told me, indeed, that he saw you go by, but I wish you +had called at the house, for they would have showed you so many +rarities, that you would scarce have forgot them to the day of +your death. But pray tell me, Did you meet nobody in the Valley +of Humility? +</p> + +<p> +{179} FAITH. Yes, I met with one Discontent, who would willingly +have persuaded me to go back again with him; his reason was, for +that the valley was altogether without honour. He told me, moreover, +that there to go was the way to disobey all my friends, as Pride, +Arrogancy, Self-conceit, Worldly-glory, with others, who he knew, +as he said, would be very much offended, if I made such a fool of +myself as to wade through this valley. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Well, and how did you answer him? +</p> + +<p> +{180} Faithful's answer to Discontent +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. I told him, that although all these that he named might claim +kindred of me, and that rightly, for indeed they were my relations +according to the flesh; yet since I became a pilgrim, they have +disowned me, as I also have rejected them; and therefore they were +to me now no more than if they had never been of my lineage. +</p> + +<p> +I told him, moreover, that as to this valley, he had quite misrepresented +the thing; for before honour is humility, and a haughty spirit +before a fall. Therefore, said I, I had rather go through this +valley to the honour that was so accounted by the wisest, than +choose that which he esteemed most worthy our affections. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Met you with nothing else in that valley? +</p> + +<p> +{181} FAITH. Yes, I met with Shame; but of all the men that I met +with in my pilgrimage, he, I think, bears the wrong name. The +others would be said nay, after a little argumentation, and somewhat +else; but this bold-faced Shame would never have done. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Why, what did he say to you? +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. What! why, he objected against religion itself; he said it +was a pitiful, low, sneaking business for a man to mind religion; +he said that a tender conscience was an unmanly thing; and that +for a man to watch over his words and ways, so as to tie up himself +from that hectoring liberty that the brave spirits of the times +accustom themselves unto, would make him the ridicule of the times. +He objected also, that but few of the mighty, rich, or wise, were +ever of my opinion [1 Cor. 1:26; 3:18; Phil. 3:7,8]; nor any of +them neither [John 7:48], before they were persuaded to be fools, +and to be of a voluntary fondness, to venture the loss of all, for +nobody knows what. He, moreover, objected the base and low estate +and condition of those that were chiefly the pilgrims of the times +in which they lived: also their ignorance and want of understanding +in all natural science. Yea, he did hold me to it at that rate +also, about a great many more things than here I relate; as, that +it was a shame to sit whining and mourning under a sermon, and +a shame to come sighing and groaning home: that it was a shame to +ask my neighbour forgiveness for petty faults, or to make restitution +where I have taken from any. He said, also, that religion made +a man grow strange to the great, because of a few vices, which +he called by finer names; and made him own and respect the base, +because of the same religious fraternity. And is not this, said +he, a shame? +</p> + +<p> +{182} CHR. And what did you say to him? +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. Say! I could not tell what to say at the first. Yea, he +put me so to it, that my blood came up in my face; even this Shame +fetched it up, and had almost beat me quite off. But at last I +began to consider, that "that which is highly esteemed among men, +is had in abomination with God." [Luke 16:15] And I thought again, +this Shame tells me what men are; but it tells me nothing what God +or the Word of God is. And I thought, moreover, that at the day +of doom, we shall not be doomed to death or life according to the +hectoring spirits of the world, but according to the wisdom and +law of the Highest. Therefore, thought I, what God says is best, +indeed is best, though all the men in the world are against it. +Seeing, then, that God prefers his religion; seeing God prefers a +tender conscience; seeing they that make themselves fools for the +kingdom of heaven are wisest; and that the poor man that loveth +Christ is richer than the greatest man in the world that hates +him; Shame, depart, thou art an enemy to my salvation! Shall I +entertain thee against my sovereign Lord? How then shall I look +him in the face at his coming? Should I now be ashamed of his +ways and servants, how can I expect the blessing? [Mark 8:38] But, +indeed, this Shame was a bold villain; I could scarce shake him +out of my company; yea, he would be haunting of me, and continually +whispering me in the ear, with some one or other of the infirmities +that attend religion; but at last I told him it was but in vain to +attempt further in this business; for those things that he disdained, +in those did I see most glory; and so at last I got past this +importunate one. And when I had shaken him off, then I began to +sing-- +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + The trials that those men do meet withal,<br/> + That are obedient to the heavenly call,<br/> + Are manifold, and suited to the flesh,<br/> + And come, and come, and come again afresh;<br/> + That now, or sometime else, we by them may<br/> + Be taken, overcome, and cast away.<br/> + Oh, let the pilgrims, let the pilgrims, then<br/> + Be vigilant, and quit themselves like men. +</p> + +<p> +{183} CHR. I am glad, my brother, that thou didst withstand this +villain so bravely; for of all, as thou sayest, I think he has the +wrong name; for he is so bold as to follow us in the streets, and +to attempt to put us to shame before all men: that is, to make us +ashamed of that which is good; but if he was not himself audacious, +he would never attempt to do as he does. But let us still resist +him; for notwithstanding all his bravadoes, he promoteth the fool +and none else. "The wise shall inherit glory, said Solomon, but +shame shall be the promotion of fools." [Prov. 3:35] +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. I think we must cry to Him for help against Shame, who would +have us to be valiant for the truth upon the earth. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. You say true; but did you meet nobody else in that valley? +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. No, not I; for I had sunshine all the rest of the way through +that, and also through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. +</p> + +<p> +{184} CHR. It was well for you. I am sure it fared far otherwise +with me; I had for a long season, as soon almost as I entered into +that valley, a dreadful combat with that foul fiend Apollyon; yea, +I thought verily he would have killed me, especially when he got +me down and crushed me under him, as if he would have crushed me +to pieces; for as he threw me, my sword flew out of my hand; nay, +he told me he was sure of me: but I cried to God, and he heard +me, and delivered me out of all my troubles. Then I entered into +the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and had no light for almost half +the way through it. I thought I should have been killed there, +over and over; but at last day broke, and the sun rose, and I went +through that which was behind with far more ease and quiet. +</p> + +<p> +{185} Moreover, I saw in my dream, that as they went on, Faithful, +as he chanced to look on one side, saw a man whose name is Talkative, +walking at a distance beside them; for in this place there was room +enough for them all to walk. He was a tall man, and something more +comely at a distance than at hand. To this man Faithful addressed +himself in this manner: +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. Friend, whither away? Are you going to the heavenly country? +</p> + +<p> +TALK. I am going to the same place. +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. That is well; then I hope we may have your good company. +</p> + +<p> +TALK. With a very good will will I be your companion. +</p> + +<p> +{186} FAITH. Come on, then, and let us go together, and let us +spend our time in discoursing of things that are profitable. +</p> + +<p> +Talkative's dislike of bad discourse +</p> + +<p> +TALK. To talk of things that are good, to me is very acceptable, +with you or with any other; and I am glad that I have met with those +that incline to so good a work; for, to speak the truth, there are +but few that care thus to spend their time, (as they are in their +travels), but choose much rather to be speaking of things to no +profit; and this hath been a trouble for me. +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. That is indeed a thing to be lamented; for what things so +worthy of the use of the tongue and mouth of men on earth as are +the things of the God of heaven? +</p> + +<p> +TALK. I like you wonderful well, for your sayings are full of +conviction; and I will add, what thing is so pleasant, and what +so profitable, as to talk of the things of God? What things so +pleasant (that is, if a man hath any delight in things that are +wonderful)? For instance, if a man doth delight to talk of the +history or the mystery of things; or if a man doth love to talk of +miracles, wonders, or signs, where shall he find things recorded +so delightful, and so sweetly penned, as in the Holy Scripture? +</p> + +<p> +{187} FAITH. That is true; but to be profited by such things in +our talk should be that which we design. +</p> + +<p> +Talkative's fine discourse +</p> + +<p> +TALK. That is it that I said; for to talk of such things is most +profitable; for by so doing, a man may get knowledge of many things; +as of the vanity of earthly things, and the benefit of things above. +Thus, in general, but more particularly by this, a man may learn +the necessity of the new birth, the insufficiency of our works, +the need of Christ's righteousness, &c. Besides, by this a man +may learn, by talk, what it is to repent, to believe, to pray, +to suffer, or the like; by this also a man may learn what are the +great promises and consolations of the gospel, to his own comfort. +Further, by this a man may learn to refute false opinions, to +vindicate the truth, and also to instruct the ignorant. +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. All this is true, and glad am I to hear these things from +you. +</p> + +<p> +TALK. Alas! the want of this is the cause why so few understand +the need of faith, and the necessity of a work of grace in their +soul, in order to eternal life; but ignorantly live in the works +of the law, by which a man can by no means obtain the kingdom of +heaven. +</p> + +<p> +{188} FAITH. But, by your leave, heavenly knowledge of these is the +gift of God; no man attaineth to them by human industry, or only +by the talk of them. +</p> + +<p> +TALK. All this I know very well; for a man can receive nothing, +except it be given him from Heaven; all is of grace, not of works. +I could give you a hundred scriptures for the confirmation of this. +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. Well, then, said Faithful, what is that one thing that we +shall at this time found our discourse upon? +</p> + +<p> +TALK. What you will. I will talk of things heavenly, or things +earthly; things moral, or things evangelical; things sacred, or +things profane; things past, or things to come; things foreign, or +things at home; things more essential, or things circumstantial; +provided that all be done to our profit. +</p> + +<p> +{189} FAITH. Now did Faithful begin to wonder; and stepping to +Christian, (for he walked all this while by himself), he said to +him, (but softly), What a brave companion have we got! Surely this +man will make a very excellent pilgrim. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. At this Christian modestly smiled, and said, This man, with +whom you are so taken, will beguile, with that tongue of his, twenty +of them that know him not. +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. Do you know him, then? +</p> + +<p> +{190} CHR. Know him! Yes, better than he knows himself. +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. Pray, what is he? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. His name is Talkative; he dwelleth in our town. I wonder that +you should be a stranger to him, only I consider that our town is +large. +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. Whose son is he? And whereabout does he dwell? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. He is the son of one Say-well; he dwelt in Prating Row; and is +known of all that are acquainted with him, by the name of Talkative +in Prating Row; and notwithstanding his fine tongue, he is but a +sorry fellow. +</p> + +<p> +{191} FAITH. Well, he seems to be a very pretty man. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. That is, to them who have not thorough acquaintance with him; +for he is best abroad; near home, he is ugly enough. Your saying +that he is a pretty man, brings to my mind what I have observed in +the work of the painter, whose pictures show best at a distance, +but, very near, more unpleasing. +</p> + +<p> +{192} FAITH. But I am ready to think you do but jest, because you +smiled. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. God forbid that I should jest (although I smiled) in this +matter, or that I should accuse any falsely! I will give you +a further discovery of him. This man is for any company, and for +any talk; as he talketh now with you, so will he talk when he is on +the ale-bench; and the more drink he hath in his crown, the more +of these things he hath in his mouth; religion hath no place in his +heart, or house, or conversation; all he hath lieth in his tongue, +and his religion is, to make a noise therewith. +</p> + +<p> +{193} FAITH. Say you so! then am I in this man greatly deceived. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Deceived! you may be sure of it; remember the proverb, "They +say and do not." [Matt. 23:3] But the kingdom of God is not in +word, but in Power. [1 Cor 4:20] He talketh of prayer, of repentance, +of faith, and of the new birth; but he knows but only to talk of +them. I have been in his family, and have observed him both at +home and abroad; and I know what I say of him is the truth. His +house is as empty of religion as the white of an egg is of savour. +There is there neither prayer nor sign of repentance for sin; yea, +the brute in his kind serves God far better than he. He is the +very stain, reproach, and shame of religion, to all that know him; +it can hardly have a good word in all that end of the town where +he dwells, through him. [Rom. 2:24,25] Thus say the common people +that know him, A saint abroad, and a devil at home. His poor +family finds it so; he is such a churl, such a railer at and so +unreasonable with his servants, that they neither know how to do +for or speak to him. Men that have any dealings with him say it is +better to deal with a Turk than with him; for fairer dealing they +shall have at their hands. This Talkative (if it be possible) will +go beyond them, defraud, beguile, and overreach them. Besides, he +brings up his sons to follow his steps; and if he findeth in any of +them a foolish timorousness, (for so he calls the first appearance +of a tender conscience,) he calls them fools and blockheads, and by +no means will employ them in much, or speak to their commendations +before others. For my part, I am of opinion, that he has, by his +wicked life, caused many to stumble and fall; and will be, if God +prevent not, the ruin of many more. +</p> + +<p> +{194} FAITH. Well, my brother, I am bound to believe you; not only +because you say you know him, but also because, like a Christian, +you make your reports of men. For I cannot think that you speak +these things of ill-will, but because it is even so as you say. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Had I known him no more than you, I might perhaps have thought +of him, as, at the first, you did; yea, had he received this report +at their hands only that are enemies to religion, I should have +thought it had been a slander,--a lot that often falls from bad +men's mouths upon good men's names and professions; but all these +things, yea, and a great many more as bad, of my own knowledge, +I can prove him guilty of. Besides, good men are ashamed of him; +they can neither call him brother, nor friend; the very naming of +him among them makes them blush, if they know him. +</p> + +<p> +{195} FAITH. Well, I see that saying and doing are two things, and +hereafter I shall better observe this distinction. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. They are two things, indeed, and are as diverse as are the +soul and the body; for as the body without the soul is but a dead +carcass, so saying, if it be alone, is but a dead carcass also. +The soul of religion is the practical part: "Pure religion +and undefiled, before God and the Father, is this, To visit the +fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself +unspotted from the world." [James 1:27; see vv. 22-26] This +Talkative is not aware of; he thinks that hearing and saying will +make a good Christian, and thus he deceiveth his own soul. Hearing +is but as the sowing of the seed; talking is not sufficient to +prove that fruit is indeed in the heart and life; and let us assure +ourselves, that at the day of doom men shall be judged according +to their fruits. [Matt. 13, 25] It will not be said then, Did you +believe? but, Were you doers, or talkers only? and accordingly +shall they be judged. The end of the world is compared to our +harvest; and you know men at harvest regard nothing but fruit. +Not that anything can be accepted that is not of faith, but I speak +this to show you how insignificant the profession of Talkative will +be at that day. +</p> + +<p> +{196} FAITH. This brings to my mind that of Moses, by which he +describeth the beast that is clean. [Lev. 11:3-7; Deut. 14:6-8] +He is such a one that parteth the hoof and cheweth the cud; not +that parteth the hoof only, or that cheweth the cud only. The +hare cheweth the cud, but yet is unclean, because he parteth not +the hoof. And this truly resembleth Talkative; he cheweth the cud, +he seeketh knowledge, he cheweth upon the word; but he divideth +not the hoof, he parteth not with the way of sinners; but, as the +hare, he retaineth the foot of a dog or bear, and therefore he is +unclean. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. You have spoken, for aught I know, the true gospel sense +of those texts. And I will add another thing: Paul calleth some +men, yea, and those great talkers, too, sounding brass and tinkling +cymbals; that is, as he expounds them in another place, things +without life, giving sound. [1 Cor. 13:1-3; 14:7] Things without +life, that is, without the true faith and grace of the gospel; +and consequently, things that shall never be placed in the kingdom +of heaven among those that are the children of life; though their +sound, by their talk, be as if it were the tongue or voice of an +angel. +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. Well, I was not so fond of his company at first, but I am +as sick of it now. What shall we do to be rid of him? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Take my advice, and do as I bid you, and you shall find that +he will soon be sick of your company too, except God shall touch +his heart, and turn it. +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. What would you have me to do? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Why, go to him, and enter into some serious discourse about +the power of religion; and ask him plainly (when he has approved +of it, for that he will) whether this thing be set up in his heart, +house, or conversation. +</p> + +<p> +{197} FAITH. Then Faithful stepped forward again, and said to +Talkative, Come, what cheer? How is it now? +</p> + +<p> +TALK. Thank you, well. I thought we should have had a great deal +of talk by this time. +</p> + +<p> +{198} FAITH. Well, if you will, we will fall to it now; and since +you left it with me to state the question, let it be this: How doth +the saving grace of God discover itself when it is in the heart of +man? +</p> + +<p> +Talkative's false discovery of a work of grace +</p> + +<p> +TALK. I perceive, then, that our talk must be about the power of +things. Well, it is a very good question, and I shall be willing +to answer you. And take my answer in brief, thus: First, Where +the grace of God is in the heart, it causeth there a great outcry +against sin. Secondly-- +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. Nay, hold, let us consider of one at once. I think you +should rather say, It shows itself by inclining the soul to abhor +its sin. +</p> + +<p> +TALK. Why, what difference is there between crying out against, +and abhorring of sin? +</p> + +<p> +{199} FAITH. Oh, a great deal. A man may cry out against sin of +policy, but he cannot abhor it, but by virtue of a godly antipathy +against it. I have heard many cry out against sin in the pulpit, +who yet can abide it well enough in the heart, house, and conversation. +Joseph's mistress cried out with a loud voice, as if she had been +very holy; but she would willingly, notwithstanding that, have +committed uncleanness with him. Some cry out against sin even as +the mother cries out against her child in her lap, when she calleth +it slut and naughty girl, and then falls to hugging and kissing +it. +</p> + +<p> +TALK. You lie at the catch, I perceive. +</p> + +<p> +{200} FAITH. No, not I; I am only for setting things right. But +what is the second thing whereby you would prove a discovery of a +work of grace in the heart? +</p> + +<p> +TALK. Great knowledge of gospel mysteries. +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. This sign should have been first; but first or last, it is +also false; for knowledge, great knowledge, may be obtained in the +mysteries of the gospel, and yet no work of grace in the soul. [1 +Cor. 13] Yea, if a man have all knowledge, he may yet be nothing, +and so consequently be no child of God. When Christ said, "Do you +know all these things?" and the disciples had answered, Yes; he +addeth, "Blessed are ye if ye do them." He doth not lay the blessing +in the knowing of them, but in the doing of them. For there is +a knowledge that is not attended with doing: He that knoweth his +masters will, and doeth it not. A man may know like an angel, and +yet be no Christian, therefore your sign of it is not true. Indeed, +to know is a thing that pleaseth talkers and boasters, but to do is +that which pleaseth God. Not that the heart can be good without +knowledge; for without that, the heart is naught. There is, +therefore, knowledge and knowledge. Knowledge that resteth in the +bare speculation of things; and knowledge that is accompanied with +the grace of faith and love; which puts a man upon doing even the +will of God from the heart: the first of these will serve the +talker; but without the other the true Christian is not content. +"Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall +observe it with my whole heart." [Ps. 119:34] +</p> + +<p> +TALK. You lie at the catch again; this is not for edification. +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. Well, if you please, propound another sign how this work of +grace discovereth itself where it is. +</p> + +<p> +TALK. Not I, for I see we shall not agree. +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. Well, if you will not, will you give me leave to do it? +</p> + +<p> +TALK. You may use your liberty. +</p> + +<p> +{201} FAITH. A work of grace in the soul discovereth itself, either +to him that hath it, or to standers by. +</p> + +<p> +To him that hath it thus: It gives him conviction of sin, especially +of the defilement of his nature and the sin of unbelief, (for the +sake of which he is sure to be damned, if he findeth not mercy at +God's hand, by faith in Jesus Christ [John 16:8, Rom. 7:24, John +16:9, Mark 16:16]). This sight and sense of things worketh in him +sorrow and shame for sin; he findeth, moreover, revealed in him the +Saviour of the world, and the absolute necessity of closing with +him for life, at the which he findeth hungerings and thirstings +after him; to which hungerings, &c., the promise is made. [Ps. +38:18, Jer. 31:19, Gal. 2:16, Acts 4:12, Matt. 5:6, Rev. 21:6] +Now, according to the strength or weakness of his faith in his +Saviour, so is his joy and peace, so is his love to holiness, so +are his desires to know him more, and also to serve him in this +world. But though I say it discovereth itself thus unto him, yet +it is but seldom that he is able to conclude that this is a work +of grace; because his corruptions now, and his abused reason, make +his mind to misjudge in this matter; therefore, in him that hath +this work, there is required a very sound judgement before he can, +with steadiness, conclude that this is a work of grace. +</p> + +<p> +{202} To others, it is thus discovered: +</p> + +<p> +1. By an experimental confession of his faith in Christ. [Rom. +10:10, Phil. 1:27, Matt. 5:19] +</p> + +<p> +2. By a life answerable to that confession; to wit, a life of +holiness, heart-holiness, family-holiness, (if he hath a family), +and by conversation-holiness in the world which, in the general, +teacheth him, inwardly, to abhor his sin, and himself for that, in +secret; to suppress it in his family and to promote holiness in +the world; not by talk only, as a hypocrite or talkative person may +do, but by a practical subjection, in faith and love, to the power +of the Word. [John 14:15, Ps. 50:23, Job 42:5-6, Eze. 20:43] +And now, Sir, as to this brief description of the work of grace, +and also the discovery of it, if you have aught to object, object; +if not, then give me leave to propound to you a second question. +</p> + +<p> +{203} TALK. Nay, my part is not now to object, but to hear; let +me, therefore, have your second question. +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. It is this: Do you experience this first part of this +description of it? and doth your life and conversation testify the +same? or standeth your religion in word or in tongue, and not in +deed and truth? Pray, if you incline to answer me in this, say +no more than you know the God above will say Amen to; and also +nothing but what your conscience can justify you in; for not he +that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. +Besides, to say I am thus and thus, when my conversation, and all +my neighbours, tell me I lie, is great wickedness. +</p> + +<p> +{204} TALK. Then Talkative at first began to blush; but, recovering +himself, thus he replied: You come now to experience, to conscience, +and God; and to appeal to him for justification of what is spoken. +This kind of discourse I did not expect; nor am I disposed to +give an answer to such questions, because I count not myself bound +thereto, unless you take upon you to be a catechiser, and, though +you should so do, yet I may refuse to make you my judge. But, I +pray, will you tell me why you ask me such questions? +</p> + +<p> +{205} FAITH. Because I saw you forward to talk, and because I knew +not that you had aught else but notion. Besides, to tell you all +the truth, I have heard of you, that you are a man whose religion +lies in talk, and that your conversation gives this your mouth-profession +the lie. +</p> + +<p> +Faithful's plain dealing with Talkative +</p> + +<p> +They say, you are a spot among Christians; and that religion fareth +the worse for your ungodly conversation; that some have already +stumbled at your wicked ways, and that more are in danger of being +destroyed thereby; your religion, and an ale-house, and covetousness, +and uncleanness, and swearing, and lying, and vain-company keeping, +&c., will stand together. The proverb is true of you which is +said of a whore, to wit, that she is a shame to all women; so are +you a shame to all professors. +</p> + +<p> +TALK. Since you are ready to take up reports and to judge so rashly +as you do, I cannot but conclude you are some peevish or melancholy +man, not fit to be discoursed with; and so adieu. +</p> + +<p> +{206} CHR. Then came up Christian, and said to his brother, I told +you how it would happen: your words and his lusts could not agree; +he had rather leave your company than reform his life. But he is +gone, as I said; let him go, the loss is no man's but his own; he +has saved us the trouble of going from him; for he continuing (as +I suppose he will do) as he is, he would have been but a blot in our +company: besides, the apostle says, "From such withdraw thyself." +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. But I am glad we had this little discourse with him; it +may happen that he will think of it again: however, I have dealt +plainly with him, and so am clear of his blood, if he perisheth. +</p> + +<p> +{207} CHR. You did well to talk so plainly to him as you did; +there is but little of this faithful dealing with men now-a-days, +and that makes religion to stink so in the nostrils of many, as it +doth; for they are these talkative fools whose religion is only in +word, and are debauched and vain in their conversation, that (being +so much admitted into the fellowship of the godly) do puzzle the +world, blemish Christianity, and grieve the sincere. I wish that +all men would deal with such as you have done: then should they +either be made more conformable to religion, or the company of +saints would be too hot for them. Then did Faithful say, +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + How Talkative at first lifts up his plumes!<br/> + How bravely doth he speak! How he presumes<br/> + To drive down all before him! But so soon<br/> + As Faithful talks of heart-work, like the moon<br/> + That's past the full, into the wane he goes.<br/> + And so will all, but he that HEART-WORK knows. +</p> + +<p> +{208} Thus they went on talking of what they had seen by the way, +and so made that way easy which would otherwise, no doubt, have +been tedious to them; for now they went through a wilderness. +</p> + +<p> +{209} Now, when they were got almost quite out of this wilderness, +Faithful chanced to cast his eye back, and espied one coming after +them, and he knew him. Oh! said Faithful to his brother, who +comes yonder? Then Christian looked, and said, It is my good friend +Evangelist. Ay, and my good friend too, said Faithful, for it was +he that set me in the way to the gate. Now was Evangelist come up +to them, and thus saluted them: +</p> + +<p> +{210} EVAN. Peace be with you, dearly beloved; and peace be to your +helpers. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Welcome, welcome, my good Evangelist, the sight of +thy countenance brings to my remembrance thy ancient kindness and +unwearied labouring for my eternal good. +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. And a thousand times welcome, said good Faithful. Thy +company, O sweet Evangelist, how desirable it is to us poor pilgrims! +</p> + +<p> +EVAN. Then said Evangelist, How hath it fared with you, my friends, +since the time of our last parting? What have you met with, and +how have you behaved yourselves? +</p> + +<p> +{211} Then Christian and Faithful told him of all things that had +happened to them in the way; and how, and with what difficulty, +they had arrived at that place. +</p> + +<p> +{212} EVAN. Right glad am I, said Evangelist, not that you have +met with trials, but that you have been victors; and for that you +have, notwithstanding many weaknesses, continued in the way to this +very day. +</p> + +<p> +I say, right glad am I of this thing, and that for mine own sake +and yours. I have sowed, and you have reaped: and the day is +coming, when both he that sowed and they that reaped shall rejoice +together; that is, if you hold out: "for in due season ye shall +reap, if ye faint not." [John 4:36, Gal. 6:9] The crown is before +you, and it is an incorruptible one; so run, that you may obtain +it. [1 Cor. 9:24-27] Some there be that set out for this crown, +and, after they have gone far for it, another comes in, and takes +it from them: hold fast, therefore, that you have; let no man +take your crown. [Rev. 3:11] You are not yet out of the gun-shot +of the devil; you have not resisted unto blood, striving against +sin; let the kingdom be always before you, and believe steadfastly +concerning things that are invisible. Let nothing that is on this +side the other world get within you; and, above all, look well to +your own hearts, and to the lusts thereof, "for they are deceitful +above all things, and desperately wicked"; set your faces like a +flint; you have all power in heaven and earth on your side. +</p> + +<p> +{213} CHR. Then Christian thanked him for his exhortation; but +told him, withal, that they would have him speak further to them +for their help the rest of the way, and the rather, for that they +well knew that he was a prophet, and could tell them of things that +might happen unto them, and also how they might resist and overcome +them. To which request Faithful also consented. So Evangelist +began as followeth:-- +</p> + +<p> +EVAN. My sons, you have heard, in the words of the truth of +the gospel, that you must, through many tribulations, enter into +the kingdom of heaven. And, again, that in every city bonds and +afflictions abide in you; and therefore you cannot expect that you +should go long on your pilgrimage without them, in some sort or +other. You have found something of the truth of these testimonies +upon you already, and more will immediately follow; for now, as +you see, you are almost out of this wilderness, and therefore you +will soon come into a town that you will by and by see before you; +and in that town you will be hardly beset with enemies, who will +strain hard but they will kill you; and be you sure that one or +both of you must seal the testimony which you hold, with blood; but +be you faithful unto death, and the King will give you a crown of +life. +</p> + +<p> +{214} He that shall die there, although his death will be unnatural, +and his pain perhaps great, he will yet have the better of his +fellow; not only because he will be arrived at the Celestial City +soonest, but because he will escape many miseries that the other +will meet with in the rest of his journey. But when you are come +to the town, and shall find fulfilled what I have here related, +then remember your friend, and quit yourselves like men, and commit +the keeping of your souls to your God in well-doing, as unto a +faithful Creator. +</p> + +<p> +{215} Then I saw in my dream, that when they were got out of the +wilderness, they presently saw a town before them, and the name of +that town is Vanity; and at the town there is a fair kept, called +Vanity Fair: it is kept all the year long. It beareth the name +of Vanity Fair because the town where it is kept is lighter than +vanity; and, also because all that is there sold, or that cometh +thither, is vanity. As is the saying of the wise, "all that cometh +is vanity." [Eccl. 1; 2:11,17; 11:8; Isa. 11:17] +</p> + +<p> +{216} This fair is no new-erected business, but a thing of ancient +standing; I will show you the original of it. +</p> + +<p> +Almost five thousand years agone, there were pilgrims walking to +the Celestial City, as these two honest persons are: and Beelzebub, +Apollyon, and Legion, with their companions, perceiving by the +path that the pilgrims made, that their way to the city lay through +this town of Vanity, they contrived here to set up a fair; a fair +wherein, should be sold all sorts of vanity, and that it should last +all the year long: therefore at this fair are all such merchandise +sold, as houses, lands, trades, places, honours, preferments, titles, +countries, kingdoms, lusts, pleasures, and delights of all sorts, +as whores, bawds, wives, husbands, children, masters, servants, +lives, blood, bodies, souls, silver, gold, pearls, precious stones, +and what not. +</p> + +<p> +And, moreover, at this fair there is at all times to be seen juggling +cheats, games, plays, fools, apes, knaves, and rogues, and that of +every kind. +</p> + +<p> +Here are to be seen, too, and that for nothing, thefts, murders, +adulteries, false swearers, and that of a blood-red colour. +</p> + +<p> +{217} And as in other fairs of less moment, there are the several +rows and streets, under their proper names, where such and such +wares are vended; so here likewise you have the proper places, +rows, streets, (viz. countries and kingdoms), where the wares of +this fair are soonest to be found. Here is the Britain Row, the +French Row, the Italian Row, the Spanish Row, the German Row, where +several sorts of vanities are to be sold. But, as in other fairs, +some one commodity is as the chief of all the fair, so the ware +of Rome and her merchandise is greatly promoted in this fair; only +our English nation, with some others, have taken a dislike thereat. +</p> + +<p> +{218} Now, as I said, the way to the Celestial City lies just +through this town where this lusty fair is kept; and he that will +go to the city, and yet not go through this town, must needs go out +of the world. [1 Cor. 5:10] The Prince of princes himself, when +here, went through this town to his own country, and that upon a +fair day too; yea, and as I think, it was Beelzebub, the chief lord +of this fair, that invited him to buy of his vanities; yea, would +have made him lord of the fair, would he but have done him reverence +as he went through the town. [Matt. 4:8, Luke 4:5-7] Yea, because +he was such a person of honour, Beelzebub had him from street to +street, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a little +time, that he might, if possible, allure the Blessed One to cheapen +and buy some of his vanities; but he had no mind to the merchandise, +and therefore left the town, without laying out so much as one +farthing upon these vanities. This fair, therefore, is an ancient +thing, of long standing, and a very great fair. +</p> + +<p> +{219} Now these pilgrims, as I said, must needs go through this +fair. Well, so they did: but, behold, even as they entered into +the fair, all the people in the fair were moved, and the town +itself as it were in a hubbub about them; and that for several +reasons: for-- +</p> + +<p> +{220} First, The pilgrims were clothed with such kind of raiment +as was diverse from the raiment of any that traded in that fair. +The people, therefore, of the fair, made a great gazing upon them: +some said they were fools, some they were bedlams, and some they +are outlandish men. [1 Cor. 2:7-8] +</p> + +<p> +{221} Secondly, And as they wondered at their apparel, so they did +likewise at their speech; for few could understand what they said; +they naturally spoke the language of Canaan, but they that kept +the fair were the men of this world; so that, from one end of the +fair to the other, they seemed barbarians each to the other. +</p> + +<p> +{222} Thirdly, But that which did not a little amuse the merchandisers +was, that these pilgrims set very light by all their wares; they +cared not so much as to look upon them; and if they called upon them +to buy, they would put their fingers in their ears, and cry, Turn +away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and look upwards, signifying +that their trade and traffic was in heaven. [Ps. 119:37, Phil. +3:19-20] +</p> + +<p> +{223} One chanced mockingly, beholding the carriage of the men, to +say unto them, What will ye buy? But they, looking gravely upon +him, answered, "We buy the truth." [Prov. 23:23] At that there +was an occasion taken to despise the men the more; some mocking, +some taunting, some speaking reproachfully, and some calling upon +others to smite them. At last things came to a hubbub and great +stir in the fair, insomuch that all order was confounded. Now was +word presently brought to the great one of the fair, who quickly +came down, and deputed some of his most trusty friends to take these +men into examination, about whom the fair was almost overturned. So +the men were brought to examination; and they that sat upon them, +asked them whence they came, whither they went, and what they did +there, in such an unusual garb? The men told them that they were +pilgrims and strangers in the world, and that they were going to +their own country, which was the heavenly Jerusalem, [Heb. 11:13-16] +and that they had given no occasion to the men of the town, nor +yet to the merchandisers, thus to abuse them, and to let them in +their journey, except it was for that, when one asked them what +they would buy, they said they would buy the truth. But they that +were appointed to examine them did not believe them to be any other +than bedlams and mad, or else such as came to put all things into +a confusion in the fair. Therefore they took them and beat them, +and besmeared them with dirt, and then put them into the cage, that +they might be made a spectacle to all the men of the fair. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Behold Vanity Fair! the Pilgrims there<br/> + Are chain'd and stand beside:<br/> + Even so it was our Lord pass'd here,<br/> + And on Mount Calvary died. +</p> + +<p> +{224} There, therefore, they lay for some time, and were made the +objects of any man's sport, or malice, or revenge, the great one of +the fair laughing still at all that befell them. But the men being +patient, and not rendering railing for railing, but contrariwise, +blessing, and good words for bad, and kindness for injuries done, +some men in the fair that were more observing, and less prejudiced +than the rest, began to check and blame the baser sort for their +continual abuses done by them to the men; they, therefore, in +angry manner, let fly at them again, counting them as bad as the +men in the cage, and telling them that they seemed confederates, and +should be made partakers of their misfortunes. The other replied +that, for aught they could see, the men were quiet, and sober, and +intended nobody any harm; and that there were many that traded in +their fair that were more worthy to be put into the cage, yea, and +pillory too, than were the men they had abused. Thus, after divers +words had passed on both sides, the men behaving themselves all +the while very wisely and soberly before them, they fell to some +blows among themselves, and did harm one to another. Then were +these two poor men brought before their examiners again, and there +charged as being guilty of the late hubbub that had been in the +fair. So they beat them pitifully, and hanged irons upon them, +and led them in chains up and down the fair, for an example and a +terror to others, lest any should speak in their behalf, or join +themselves unto them. But Christian and Faithful behaved themselves +yet more wisely, and received the ignominy and shame that was +cast upon them, with so much meekness and patience, that it won to +their side, though but few in comparison of the rest, several of +the men in the fair. This put the other party yet into greater +rage, insomuch that they concluded the death of these two men. +Wherefore they threatened, that the cage nor irons should serve +their turn, but that they should die, for the abuse they had done, +and for deluding the men of the fair. +</p> + +<p> +Then were they remanded to the cage again, until further order +should be taken with them. So they put them in, and made their +feet fast in the stocks. +</p> + +<p> +{225} Here, therefore, they called again to mind what they had heard +from their faithful friend Evangelist, and were the more confirmed +in their way and sufferings by what he told them would happen to +them. They also now comforted each other, that whose lot it was +to suffer, even he should have the best of it; therefore each man +secretly wished that he might have that preferment: but committing +themselves to the all-wise disposal of Him that ruleth all things, +with much content, they abode in the condition in which they were, +until they should be otherwise disposed of. +</p> + +<p> +{226} Then a convenient time being appointed, they brought them +forth to their trial, in order to their condemnation. When the +time was come, they were brought before their enemies and arraigned. +The judge's name was Lord Hate-good. Their indictment was one and +the same in substance, though somewhat varying in form, the contents +whereof were this:-- +</p> + +<p> +{227} "That they were enemies to and disturbers of their trade; +that they had made commotions and divisions in the town, and had +won a party to their own most dangerous opinions, in contempt of +the law of their prince." +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Now, FAITHFUL, play the man, speak for thy God:<br/> + Fear not the wicked's malice; nor their rod:<br/> + Speak boldly, man, the truth is on thy side:<br/> + Die for it, and to life in triumph ride. +</p> + +<p> +{228} Faithful's answer for himself +</p> + +<p> +Then Faithful began to answer, that he had only set himself against +that which hath set itself against Him that is higher than the +highest. And, said he, as for disturbance, I make none, being +myself a man of peace; the parties that were won to us, were won +by beholding our truth and innocence, and they are only turned from +the worse to the better. And as to the king you talk of, since he +is Beelzebub, the enemy of our Lord, I defy him and all his angels. +</p> + +<p> +{229} Then proclamation was made, that they that had aught to say +for their lord the king against the prisoner at the bar, should +forthwith appear and give in their evidence. So there came in +three witnesses, to wit, Envy, Superstition, and Pickthank. They +were then asked if they knew the prisoner at the bar; and what they +had to say for their lord the king against him. +</p> + +<p> +{230} Then stood forth Envy, and said to this effect: My Lord, I +have known this man a long time, and will attest upon my oath before +this honourable bench, that he is-- +</p> + +<p> +JUDGE. Hold! Give him his oath. (So they sware him.) Then he said-- +</p> + +<p> +ENVY. My Lord, this man, notwithstanding his plausible name, is +one of the vilest men in our country. He neither regardeth prince +nor people, law nor custom; but doth all that he can to possess all +men with certain of his disloyal notions, which he in the general +calls principles of faith and holiness. And, in particular, I +heard him once myself affirm that Christianity and the customs of +our town of Vanity were diametrically opposite, and could not be +reconciled. By which saying, my Lord, he doth at once not only +condemn all our laudable doings, but us in the doing of them. +</p> + +<p> +JUDGE. Then did the Judge say to him, Hast thou any more to say? +</p> + +<p> +ENVY. My Lord, I could say much more, only I would not be tedious +to the court. Yet, if need be, when the other gentlemen have given +in their evidence, rather than anything shall be wanting that will +despatch him, I will enlarge my testimony against him. So he was +bid to stand by. Then they called Superstition, and bid him look +upon the prisoner. They also asked, what he could say for their +lord the king against him. Then they sware him; so he began. +</p> + +<p> +{231} SUPER. My Lord, I have no great acquaintance with this man, +nor do I desire to have further knowledge of him; however, this I +know, that he is a very pestilent fellow, from some discourse that, +the other day, I had with him in this town; for then, talking with +him, I heard him say, that our religion was naught, and such by +which a man could by no means please God. Which sayings of his, my +Lord, your Lordship very well knows, what necessarily thence will +follow, to wit, that we do still worship in vain, are yet in our +sins, and finally shall be damned; and this is that which I have +to say. +</p> + +<p> +{232} Then was Pickthank sworn, and bid say what he knew, in behalf +of their lord the king, against the prisoner at the bar. +</p> + +<p> +Pickthank's testimony +</p> + +<p> +PICK. My Lord, and you gentlemen all, This fellow I have known of a +long time, and have heard him speak things that ought not to be spoke; +for he hath railed on our noble prince Beelzebub, and hath spoken +contemptibly of his honourable friends, whose names are the Lord Old +Man, the Lord Carnal Delight, the Lord Luxurious, the Lord Desire +of Vain Glory, my old Lord Lechery, Sir Having Greedy, with all +the rest of our nobility; and he hath said, moreover, That if all +men were of his mind, if possible, there is not one of these noblemen +should have any longer a being in this town. Besides, he hath not +been afraid to rail on you, my Lord, who are now appointed to be +his judge, calling you an ungodly villain, with many other such +like vilifying terms, with which he hath bespattered most of the +gentry of our town. +</p> + +<p> +{233} When this Pickthank had told his tale, the Judge directed his +speech to the prisoner at the bar, saying, Thou runagate, heretic, +and traitor, hast thou heard what these honest gentlemen have +witnessed against thee? +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. May I speak a few words in my own defence? +</p> + +<p> +JUDGE. Sirrah! sirrah! thou deservest to live no longer, but to +be slain immediately upon the place; yet, that all men may see our +gentleness towards thee, let us hear what thou, vile runagate, hast +to say. +</p> + +<p> +{234} Faithful's defence of himself +</p> + +<p> +FAITH. 1. I say, then, in answer to what Mr. Envy hath spoken, +I never said aught but this, That what rule, or laws, or customs, +or people, were flat against the Word of God, are diametrically +opposite to Christianity. If I have said amiss in this, convince +me of my error, and I am ready here before you to make my recantation. +</p> + +<p> +{235} 2. As to the second, to wit, Mr. Superstition, and his charge +against me, I said only this, That in the worship of God there is +required a Divine faith; but there can be no Divine faith without +a Divine revelation of the will of God. Therefore, whatever +is thrust into the worship of God that is not agreeable to Divine +revelation, cannot be done but by a human faith, which faith will +not be profitable to eternal life. +</p> + +<p> +{236} 3. As to what Mr. Pickthank hath said, I say (avoiding terms, +as that I am said to rail, and the like) that the prince of this +town, with all the rabblement, his attendants, by this gentleman +named, are more fit for a being in hell, than in this town and +country: and so, the Lord have mercy upon me! +</p> + +<p> +{237} Then the Judge called to the jury (who all this while stood +by, to hear and observe): Gentlemen of the jury, you see this man +about whom so great an uproar hath been made in this town. You +have also heard what these worthy gentlemen have witnessed against +him. Also you have heard his reply and confession. It lieth now +in your breasts to hang him or save his life; but yet I think meet +to instruct you into our law. +</p> + +<p> +{238} There was an Act made in the days of Pharaoh the Great, +servant to our prince, that lest those of a contrary religion should +multiply and grow too strong for him, their males should be thrown +into the river. [Exo. 1:22] There was also an Act made in the +days of Nebuchadnezzar the Great, another of his servants, that +whosoever would not fall down and worship his golden image, should +be thrown into a fiery furnace. [Dan. 3:6] There was also an Act +made in the days of Darius, that whoso, for some time, called upon +any god but him, should be cast into the lions' den. [Dan. 6] +Now the substance of these laws this rebel has broken, not only +in thought, (which is not to be borne), but also in word and deed; +which must therefore needs be intolerable. +</p> + +<p> +{239} For that of Pharaoh, his law was made upon a supposition, to +prevent mischief, no crime being yet apparent; but here is a crime +apparent. For the second and third, you see he disputeth against +our religion; and for the treason he hath confessed, he deserveth +to die the death. +</p> + +<p> +{240} Then went the jury out, whose names were, Mr. Blind-man, Mr. +No-good, Mr. Malice, Mr. Love-lust, Mr. Live-loose, Mr. Heady, Mr. +High-mind, Mr. Enmity, Mr. Liar, Mr. Cruelty, Mr. Hate-light, and +Mr. Implacable; who every one gave in his private verdict against +him among themselves, and afterwards unanimously concluded to bring +him in guilty before the Judge. And first, among themselves, Mr. +Blind-man, the foreman, said, I see clearly that this man is a +heretic. Then said Mr. No-good, Away with such a fellow from the +earth. Ay, said Mr. Malice, for I hate the very looks of him. +Then said Mr. Love-lust, I could never endure him. Nor I, said Mr. +Live-loose, for he would always be condemning my way. Hang him, +hang him, said Mr. Heady. A sorry scrub, said Mr. High-mind. My +heart riseth against him, said Mr. Enmity. He is a rogue, said +Mr. Liar. Hanging is too good for him, said Mr. Cruelty. Let us +despatch him out of the way, said Mr. Hate-light. Then said Mr. +Implacable, Might I have all the world given me, I could not be +reconciled to him; therefore, let us forthwith bring him in guilty +of death. And so they did; therefore he was presently condemned +to be had from the place where he was, to the place from whence +he came, and there to be put to the most cruel death that could be +invented. +</p> + +<p> +{241} They therefore brought him out, to do with him according to +their law; and, first, they scourged him, then they buffeted him, +then they lanced his flesh with knives; after that, they stoned +him with stones, then pricked him with their swords; and, last of +all, they burned him to ashes at the stake. Thus came Faithful to +his end. +</p> + +<p> +{242} Now I saw that there stood behind the multitude a chariot +and a couple of horses, waiting for Faithful, who (so soon as his +adversaries had despatched him) was taken up into it, and straightway +was carried up through the clouds, with sound of trumpet, the +nearest way to the Celestial Gate. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Brave FAITHFUL, bravely done in word and deed;<br/> + Judge, witnesses, and jury have, instead<br/> + Of overcoming thee, but shown their rage:<br/> + When they are dead, thou'lt live from age to age*. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +*In the New Heaven and New Earth. {footnote from one edition} +</p> + +<p> +{243} But as for Christian, he had some respite, and was remanded +back to prison. So he there remained for a space; but He that +overrules all things, having the power of their rage in his own +hand, so wrought it about, that Christian for that time escaped +them, and went his way. And as he went, he sang, saying-- +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Well, Faithful, thou hast faithfully profest<br/> + Unto thy Lord; with whom thou shalt be blest,<br/> + When faithless ones, with all their vain delights,<br/> + Are crying out under their hellish plights:<br/> + Sing, Faithful, sing, and let thy name survive;<br/> + For though they kill'd thee, thou art yet alive! +</p> + +<p> +{244} Now I saw in my dream, that Christian went not forth alone, +for there was one whose name was Hopeful (being made so by the +beholding of Christian and Faithful in their words and behaviour, +in their sufferings at the fair), who joined himself unto him, and, +entering into a brotherly covenant, told him that he would be his +companion. Thus, one died to bear testimony to the truth, and +another rises out of his ashes, to be a companion with Christian +in his pilgrimage. This Hopeful also told Christian, that there +were many more of the men in the fair, that would take their time +and follow after. +</p> + +<p> +{245} So I saw that quickly after they were got out of the fair, +they overtook one that was going before them, whose name was By-ends: +so they said to him, What countryman, Sir? and how far go you this +way? He told them that he came from the town of Fair-speech, and +he was going to the Celestial City (but told them not his name). +</p> + +<p> +From Fair-speech! said Christian. Is there any good that lives +there? [Prov. 26:25] +</p> + +<p> +BY-ENDS. Yes, said By-ends, I hope. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Pray, Sir, what may I call you? said Christian. +</p> + +<p> +BY-ENDS. I am a stranger to you, and you to me: if you be going +this way, I shall be glad of your company; if not, I must be content. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. This town of Fair-speech, said Christian, I have heard of; +and, as I remember, they say it is a wealthy place. +</p> + +<p> +BY-ENDS. Yes, I will assure you that it is; and I have very many +rich kindred there. +</p> + +<p> +{246} CHR. Pray, who are your kindred there? if a man may be so +bold. +</p> + +<p> +BY-ENDS. Almost the whole town; and in particular, my Lord +Turn-about, my Lord Time-server, my Lord Fair-speech, (from whose +ancestors that town first took its name), also Mr. Smooth-man, Mr. +Facing-both-ways, Mr. Any-thing; and the parson of our parish, Mr. +Two-tongues, was my mother's own brother by father's side; and to +tell you the truth, I am become a gentleman of good quality, yet +my great-grandfather was but a waterman, looking one way and rowing +another, and I got most of my estate by the same occupation. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Are you a married man? +</p> + +<p> +BY-ENDS. Yes, and my wife is a very virtuous woman, the daughter +of a virtuous woman; she was my Lady Feigning's daughter, therefore +she came of a very honourable family, and is arrived to such a +pitch of breeding, that she knows how to carry it to all, even to +prince and peasant. It is true we somewhat differ in religion from +those of the stricter sort, yet but in two small points: first, +we never strive against wind and tide; secondly, we are always most +zealous when religion goes in his silver slippers; we love much +to walk with him in the street, if the sun shines, and the people +applaud him. +</p> + +<p> +{247} Then Christian stepped a little aside to his fellow, Hopeful, +saying, It runs in my mind that this is one By-ends of Fair-speech; +and if it be he, we have as very a knave in our company as dwelleth +in all these parts. Then said Hopeful, Ask him; methinks he should +not be ashamed of his name. So Christian came up with him again, +and said, Sir, you talk as if you knew something more than all the +world doth; and if I take not my mark amiss, I deem I have half a +guess of you: Is not your name Mr. By-ends, of Fair-speech? +</p> + +<p> +BY-ENDS. This is not my name, but indeed it is a nick-name that is +given me by some that cannot abide me: and I must be content to +bear it as a reproach, as other good men have borne theirs before +me. +</p> + +<p> +{247} CHR. But did you never give an occasion to men to call you +by this name? +</p> + +<p> +BY-ENDS. Never, never! The worst that ever I did to give them an +occasion to give me this name was, that I had always the luck to +jump in my judgment with the present way of the times, whatever it +was, and my chance was to get thereby; but if things are thus cast +upon me, let me count them a blessing; but let not the malicious +load me therefore with reproach. +</p> + +<p> +{248} CHR. I thought, indeed, that you were the man that I heard +of; and to tell you what I think, I fear this name belongs to you +more properly than you are willing we should think it doth. +</p> + +<p> +BY-ENDS. Well, if you will thus imagine, I cannot help it; you +shall find me a fair company-keeper, if you will still admit me +your associate. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. If you will go with us, you must go against wind and tide; +the which, I perceive, is against your opinion; you must also own +religion in his rags, as well as when in his silver slippers; and +stand by him, too, when bound in irons, as well as when he walketh +the streets with applause. +</p> + +<p> +BY-ENDS. You must not impose, nor lord it over my faith; leave me +to my liberty, and let me go with you. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Not a step further, unless you will do in what I propound as +we. +</p> + +<p> +Then said By-ends, I shall never desert my old principles, since +they are harmless and profitable. If I may not go with you, I must +do as I did before you overtook me, even go by myself, until some +overtake me that will be glad of my company. +</p> + +<p> +{249} Now I saw in my dream that Christian and Hopeful forsook him, +and kept their distance before him; but one of them looking back, +saw three men following Mr. By-ends, and behold, as they came up +with him, he made them a very low conge {conge'}; and they also +gave him a compliment. The men's names were Mr. Hold-the-world, +Mr. Money-love, and Mr. Save-all; men that Mr. By-ends had formerly +been acquainted with; for in their minority they were schoolfellows, +and were taught by one Mr. Gripe-man, a schoolmaster in Love-gain, +which is a market town in the county of Coveting, in the north. This +schoolmaster taught them the art of getting, either by violence, +cozenage, flattery, lying, or by putting on the guise of religion; +and these four gentlemen had attained much of the art of their +master, so that they could each of them have kept such a school +themselves. +</p> + +<p> +{250} Well, when they had, as I said, thus saluted each other, Mr. +Money-love said to Mr. By-ends, Who are they upon the road before +us? (for Christian and Hopeful were yet within view). +</p> + +<p> +By-ends' character of the pilgrims +</p> + +<p> +BY-ENDS. They are a couple of far countrymen, that, after their +mode, are going on pilgrimage. +</p> + +<p> +MONEY-LOVE. Alas! Why did they not stay, that we might have had +their good company? for they, and we, and you, Sir, I hope, are +all going on pilgrimage. +</p> + +<p> +BY-ENDS. We are so, indeed; but the men before us are so rigid, +and love so much their own notions, and do also so lightly esteem +the opinions of others, that let a man be never so godly, yet if +he jumps not with them in all things, they thrust him quite out of +their company. +</p> + +<p> +{251} SAVE-ALL. That is bad, but we read of some that are righteous +overmuch; and such men's rigidness prevails with them to judge and +condemn all but themselves. But, I pray, what, and how many, were +the things wherein you differed? +</p> + +<p> +BY-ENDS. Why, they, after their headstrong manner, conclude that +it is duty to rush on their journey all weathers; and I am for +waiting for wind and tide. They are for hazarding all for God at +a clap; and I am for taking all advantages to secure my life and +estate. They are for holding their notions, though all other men +are against them; but I am for religion in what, and so far as the +times, and my safety, will bear it. They are for religion when +in rags and contempt; but I am for him when he walks in his golden +slippers, in the sunshine, and with applause. +</p> + +<p> +{252} HOLD-THE-WORLD. Ay, and hold you there still, good Mr. +By-ends; for, for my part, I can count him but a fool, that, having +the liberty to keep what he has, shall be so unwise as to lose it. +Let us be wise as serpents; it is best to make hay when the sun +shines; you see how the bee lieth still all winter, and bestirs her +only when she can have profit with pleasure. God sends sometimes +rain, and sometimes sunshine; if they be such fools to go through +the first, yet let us be content to take fair weather along with +us. For my part, I like that religion best that will stand with +the security of God's good blessings unto us; for who can imagine, +that is ruled by his reason, since God has bestowed upon us the +good things of this life, but that he would have us keep them for +his sake? Abraham and Solomon grew rich in religion. And Job +says, that a good man shall lay up gold as dust. But he must not +be such as the men before us, if they be as you have described +them. +</p> + +<p> +SAVE-ALL. I think that we are all agreed in this matter, and +therefore there needs no more words about it. +</p> + +<p> +MONEY-LOVE. No, there needs no more words about this matter, indeed; +for he that believes neither Scripture nor reason (and you see we +have both on our side) neither knows his own liberty, nor seeks +his own safety. +</p> + +<p> +{253} BY-ENDS. My brethren, we are, as you see, going all on +pilgrimage; and, for our better diversion from things that are bad, +give me leave to propound unto you this question:-- +</p> + +<p> +Suppose a man, a minister, or a tradesman, &c., should have an +advantage lie before him, to get the good blessings of this life, +yet so as that he can by no means come by them except, in appearance +at least, he becomes extraordinarily zealous in some points +of religion that he meddled not with before, may he not use these +means to attain his end, and yet be a right honest man? +</p> + +<p> +{254} MONEY-LOVE. I see the bottom of your question; and, with these +gentlemen's good leave, I will endeavour to shape you an answer. +And first, to speak to your question as it concerns a minister +himself: Suppose a minister, a worthy man, possessed but of a very +small benefice, and has in his eye a greater, more fat, and plump +by far; he has also now an opportunity of getting of it, yet so as +by being more studious, by preaching more frequently and zealously, +and, because the temper of the people requires it, by altering +of some of his principles; for my part, I see no reason but a man +may do this, (provided he has a call), ay, and more a great deal +besides, and yet be an honest man. For why-- +</p> + +<p> +{255} 1. His desire of a greater benefice is lawful, (this cannot +be contradicted), since it is set before him by Providence; so then, +he may get it, if he can, making no question for conscience' sake. +</p> + +<p> +{256} 2. Besides, his desire after that benefice makes him more +studious, a more zealous preacher, &c., and so makes him a better +man; yea, makes him better improve his parts, which is according +to the mind of God. +</p> + +<p> +{257} 3. Now, as for his complying with the temper of his people, +by dissenting, to serve them, some of his principles, this argueth, +(1) That he is of a self-denying, temper; (2) Of a sweet and winning +deportment; and so (3) more fit for the ministerial function. +</p> + +<p> +{258} 4. I conclude, then, that a minister that changes a small +for a great, should not, for so doing, be judged as covetous; but +rather, since he has improved in his parts and industry thereby, +be counted as one that pursues his call, and the opportunity put +into his hands to do good. +</p> + +<p> +{259} And now to the second part of the question, which concerns +the tradesman you mentioned. Suppose such a one to have but a poor +employ in the world, but by becoming religious, he may mend his +market, perhaps get a rich wife, or more and far better customers +to his shop; for my part, I see no reason but that this may be +lawfully done. For why-- +</p> + +<p> +1. To become religious is a virtue, by what means soever a man +becomes so. +</p> + +<p> +2. Nor is it unlawful to get a rich wife, or more custom to my +shop. +</p> + +<p> +3. Besides, the man that gets these by becoming religious, gets +that which is good, of them that are good, by becoming good himself; +so then here is a good wife, and good customers, and good gain, +and all these by becoming religious, which is good; therefore, to +become religious, to get all these, is a good and profitable design. +</p> + +<p> +{260} This answer, thus made by this Mr. Money-love to Mr. By-ends's +question, was highly applauded by them all; wherefore they concluded +upon the whole, that it was most wholesome and advantageous. And +because, as they thought, no man was able to contradict it, and +because Christian and Hopeful were yet within call, they jointly +agreed to assault them with the question as soon as they overtook +them; and the rather because they had opposed Mr. By-ends before. +So they called after them, and they stopped, and stood still till +they came up to them; but they concluded, as they went, that not Mr. +By-ends, but old Mr. Hold-the-world, should propound the question +to them, because, as they supposed, their answer to him would be +without the remainder of that heat that was kindled betwixt Mr. +By-ends and them, at their parting a little before. +</p> + +<p> +{260} So they came up to each other, and after a short salutation, +Mr. Hold-the-world propounded the question to Christian and his +fellow, and bid them to answer it if they could. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Then said Christian, Even a babe in religion may answer ten +thousand such questions. For if it be unlawful to follow Christ for +loaves, (as it is in the sixth of John), how much more abominable +is it to make of him and religion a stalking-horse to get and enjoy +the world! Nor do we find any other than heathens, hypocrites, +devils, and witches, that are of this opinion. +</p> + +<p> +{261} 1. Heathens; for when Hamor and Shechem had a mind to the +daughter and cattle of Jacob, and saw that there was no way for them +to come at them, but by becoming circumcised, they say to their +companions, If every male of us be circumcised, as they are circumcised, +shall not their cattle, and their substance, and every beast of +theirs, be ours? Their daughter and their cattle were that which +they sought to obtain, and their religion the stalking-horse they +made use of to come at them. Read the whole story. [Gen. 34:20-23] +</p> + +<p> +{262} 2. The hypocritical Pharisees were also of this religion; +long prayers were their pretence, but to get widows' houses was +their intent; and greater damnation was from God their judgment. +[Luke 20:46-47] +</p> + +<p> +{263} 3. Judas the devil was also of this religion; he was religious +for the bag, that he might be possessed of what was therein; but +he was lost, cast away, and the very son of perdition. +</p> + +<p> +{264} 4. Simon the witch was of this religion too; for he would +have had the Holy Ghost, that he might have got money therewith; +and his sentence from Peter's mouth was according. [Acts 8:19-22] +</p> + +<p> +{265} 5. Neither will it out of my mind, but that that man that +takes up religion for the world, will throw away religion for +the world; for so surely as Judas resigned the world in becoming +religious, so surely did he also sell religion and his Master for +the same. To answer the question, therefore, affirmatively, as I +perceive you have done, and to accept of, as authentic, such answer, +is both heathenish, hypocritical, and devilish; and your reward +will be according to your works. Then they stood staring one upon +another, but had not wherewith to answer Christian. Hopeful also +approved of the soundness of Christian's answer; so there was a great +silence among them. Mr. By-ends and his company also staggered +and kept behind, that Christian and Hopeful might outgo them. Then +said Christian to his fellow, If these men cannot stand before the +sentence of men, what will they do with the sentence of God? And +if they are mute when dealt with by vessels of clay, what will they +do when they shall be rebuked by the flames of a devouring fire? +</p> + +<p> +{266} Then Christian and Hopeful outwent them again, and went till +they came to a delicate plain called Ease, where they went with +much content; but that plain was but narrow, so they were quickly +got over it. Now at the further side of that plain was a little +hill called Lucre, and in that hill a silver mine, which some of +them that had formerly gone that way, because of the rarity of it, +had turned aside to see; but going too near the brink of the pit, +the ground being deceitful under them, broke, and they were slain; +some also had been maimed there, and could not, to their dying day, +be their own men again. +</p> + +<p> +{267} Then I saw in my dream, that a little off the road, over +against the silver mine, stood Demas (gentlemanlike) to call to +passengers to come and see; who said to Christian and his fellow, +Ho! turn aside hither, and I will show you a thing. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. What thing so deserving as to turn us out of the way to see +it? +</p> + +<p> +DEMAS. Here is a silver mine, and some digging in it for treasure. +If you will come, with a little pains you may richly provide for +yourselves. +</p> + +<p> +{268} HOPE. Then said Hopeful, Let us go see. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Not I, said Christian, I have heard of this place before now; +and how many have there been slain; and besides that, treasure +is a snare to those that seek it; for it hindereth them in their +pilgrimage. Then Christian called to Demas, saying, Is not the +place dangerous? Hath it not hindered many in their pilgrimage? +[Hos. 14:8] +</p> + +<p> +DEMAS. Not very dangerous, except to those that are careless, (but +withal, he blushed as he spake). +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Then said Christian to Hopeful, Let us not stir a step, but +still keep on our way. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. I will warrant you, when By-ends comes up, if he hath the +same invitation as we, he will turn in thither to see. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. No doubt thereof, for his principles lead him that way, and +a hundred to one but he dies there. +</p> + +<p> +DEMAS. Then Demas called again, saying, But will you not come over +and see? +</p> + +<p> +{269} CHR. Then Christian roundly answered, saying, Demas, thou +art an enemy to the right ways of the Lord of this way, and hast +been already condemned for thine own turning aside, by one of His +Majesty's judges [2 Tim. 4:10]; and why seekest thou to bring us +into the like condemnation? Besides, if we at all turn aside, our +Lord and King will certainly hear thereof, and will there put us +to shame, where we would stand with boldness before him. +</p> + +<p> +Demas cried again, that he also was one of their fraternity; and +that if they would tarry a little, he also himself would walk with +them. +</p> + +<p> +{270} CHR. Then said Christian, What is thy name? Is it not the +same by the which I have called thee? +</p> + +<p> +DEMAS. Yes, my name is Demas; I am the son of Abraham. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. I know you; Gehazi was your great-grandfather, and Judas your +father; and you have trod in their steps. [2 Kings 5:20, Matt. +26:14,15, 27:1-5] It is but a devilish prank that thou usest; +thy father was hanged for a traitor, and thou deservest no better +reward. Assure thyself, that when we come to the King, we will do +him word of this thy behaviour. Thus they went their way. +</p> + +<p> +{271} By this time By-ends and his companions were come again +within sight, and they, at the first beck, went over to Demas. Now, +whether they fell into the pit by looking over the brink thereof, +or whether they went down to dig, or whether they were smothered in +the bottom by the damps that commonly arise, of these things I am +not certain; but this I observed, that they never were seen again +in the way. Then sang Christian-- +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + By-ends and silver Demas both agree;<br/> + One calls, the other runs, that he may be<br/> + A sharer in his lucre; so these do<br/> + Take up in this world, and no further go. +</p> + +<p> +{272} Now I saw that, just on the other side of this plain, +the pilgrims came to a place where stood an old monument, hard by +the highway side, at the sight of which they were both concerned, +because of the strangeness of the form thereof; for it seemed +to them as if it had been a woman transformed into the shape of a +pillar; here, therefore they stood looking, and looking upon it, +but could not for a time tell what they should make thereof. At +last Hopeful espied written above the head thereof, a writing in +an unusual hand; but he being no scholar, called to Christian (for +he was learned) to see if he could pick out the meaning; so he came, +and after a little laying of letters together, he found the same +to be this, "Remember Lot's Wife". So he read it to his fellow; +after which they both concluded that that was the pillar of salt into +which Lot's wife was turned, for her looking back with a covetous +heart, when she was going from Sodom for safety. [Gen. 19:26] +Which sudden and amazing sight gave them occasion of this discourse. +</p> + +<p> +{273} CHR. Ah, my brother! this is a seasonable sight; it came +opportunely to us after the invitation which Demas gave us to come +over to view the Hill Lucre; and had we gone over, as he desired +us, and as thou wast inclining to do, my brother, we had, for aught +I know, been made ourselves like this woman, a spectacle for those +that shall come after to behold. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. I am sorry that I was so foolish, and am made to wonder that +I am not now as Lot's wife; for wherein was the difference betwixt +her sin and mine? She only 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. +</p> + +<p> +{274} CHR. 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. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. 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. +[Num. 26:9,10] 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 looking 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. +</p> + +<p> +{275} CHR. 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 [Gen. +13:13]; for the land of Sodom was now like the garden of Eden +heretofore. [Gen. 13:10] 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. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. 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. +</p> + +<p> +{276} 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". [Ps. 65:9, Rev. 22, Ezek. 47] Now +their way lay just upon the bank of the river; here, therefore, +Christian and his companion walked with great delight; they drank +also of the water of the river, which was pleasant, 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 the leaves they eat +to prevent surfeits, and other diseases that are incident to those +that heat their blood by travels. On either side of the river was +also a meadow, curiously beautified with lilies, and it was green +all the year long. In this meadow they lay down, and slept; for +here they might lie down safely. When they awoke, they gathered +again of the fruit of the trees, and drank again of the water +of the river, and then lay down again to sleep. [Ps. 23:2, Isa. +14:30] Thus they did several days and nights. Then they sang-- +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Behold ye how these crystal streams do glide,<br/> + To comfort pilgrims by the highway side;<br/> + The meadows green, beside their fragrant smell,<br/> + Yield dainties for them; and he that can tell<br/> + What pleasant fruit, yea, leaves, these trees do yield,<br/> + Will soon sell all, that he may buy this field. +</p> + +<p> +So when they were disposed to go on, (for they were not, as yet, +at their journey's end,) they ate and drank, and departed. +</p> + +<p> +{277} Now, I beheld in my dream, that they had not journeyed far, +but the river and the way for a time parted; at which they were +not a little sorry; yet they durst not go out of the way. Now the +way from the river was rough, and their feet tender, by reason of +their travels; so the souls of the pilgrims were much discouraged +because of the way. [Num. 21:4] Wherefore, still as they went +on, they wished for better way. Now, a little before them, there +was on the left hand of the road a meadow, and a stile to go over +into it; and that meadow is called By-path Meadow. Then said +Christian to his fellow, If this meadow lieth along by our wayside, +let us go over into it. Then he went to the stile to see, and +behold, a path lay along by the way, on the other side of the fence. +It is according to my wish, said Christian. Here is the easiest +going; come, good Hopeful, and let us go over. +</p> + +<p> +{278} HOPE. But how if this path should lead us out of the way? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. That is not like, said the other. Look, doth it not go along +by the wayside? So Hopeful, being persuaded by his fellow, went +after him over the stile. When they were gone over, and were got +into the path, they found it very easy for their feet; and withal, +they, looking before them, espied a man walking as they did, (and +his name was Vain-confidence); so they called after him, and asked +him whither that way led. He said, To the Celestial Gate. Look, +said Christian, did not I tell you so? By this you may see we are +right. So they followed, and he went before them. But, behold, +the night came on, and it grew very dark; so that they that were +behind lost the sight of him that went before. +</p> + +<p> +{279} He, therefore, that went before, (Vain-confidence by name), +not seeing the way before him, fell into a deep pit [Isa. 9:16], +which was on purpose there made, by the Prince of those grounds, +to catch vain-glorious fools withal, and was dashed in pieces with +his fall. +</p> + +<p> +{280} Now Christian and his fellow heard him fall. So they called +to know the matter, but there was none to answer, only they heard +a groaning. Then said Hopeful, Where are we now? Then was his +fellow silent, as mistrusting that he had led him out of the way; +and now it began to rain, and thunder, and lighten in a very dreadful +manner; and the water rose amain. +</p> + +<p> +Then Hopeful groaned in himself, saying, Oh, that I had kept on my +way! +</p> + +<p> +{281} CHR. Who could have thought that this path should have led +us out of the way? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. I was afraid on it at the very first, and therefore gave you +that gentle caution. I would have spoken plainer, but that you +are older than I. +</p> + +<p> +Christian's repentance for leading of his brother out of the way +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Good brother, be not offended; I am sorry I have brought thee +out of the way, and that I have put thee into such imminent danger; +pray, my brother, forgive me; I did not do it of an evil intent. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. Be comforted, my brother, for I forgive thee; and believe, +too, that this shall be for our good. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. I am glad I have with me a merciful brother; but we must not +stand thus: let us try to go back again. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. But, good brother, let me go before. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. No, if you please, let me go first, that if there be any danger, +I may be first therein, because by my means we are both gone out +of the way. +</p> + +<p> +{282} HOPE. No, said Hopeful, you shall not go first; for your +mind being troubled may lead you out of the way again. Then, for +their encouragement, they heard the voice of one saying, "Set thine +heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest; turn +again." [Jer. 31:21] But by this time the waters were greatly +risen, by reason of which the way of going back was very dangerous. +(Then I thought that it is easier going out of the way, when we +are in, than going in when we are out.) Yet they adventured to go +back, but it was so dark, and the flood was so high, that in their +going back they had like to have been drowned nine or ten times. +</p> + +<p> +{283} Neither could they, with all the skill they had, get again to +the stile that night. Wherefore, at last, lighting under a little +shelter, they sat down there until the daybreak; but, being weary, +they fell asleep. Now there was, not far from the place where they +lay, a castle called Doubting Castle, the owner whereof was Giant +Despair; and it was in his grounds they now were sleeping: wherefore +he, getting up in the morning early, and walking up and down in his +fields, caught Christian and Hopeful asleep in his grounds. Then, +with a grim and surly voice, he bid them awake; and asked them +whence they were, and what they did in his grounds. They told him +they were pilgrims, and that they had lost their way. Then said +the Giant, You have this night trespassed on me, by trampling in +and lying on my grounds, and therefore you must go along with me. +So they were forced to go, because he was stronger than they. They +also had but little to say, for they knew themselves in a fault. +The Giant, therefore, drove them before him, and put them into his +castle, into a very dark dungeon, nasty and stinking to the spirits +of these two men. [Ps. 88:18] Here, then, they lay from Wednesday +morning till Saturday night, without one bit of bread, or drop of +drink, or light, or any to ask how they did; they were, therefore, +here in evil case, and were far from friends and acquaintance. Now +in this place Christian had double sorrow, because it was through +his unadvised counsel that they were brought into this distress. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + The pilgrims now, to gratify the flesh,<br/> + Will seek its ease; but oh! how they afresh<br/> + Do thereby plunge themselves new griefs into!<br/> + Who seek to please the flesh, themselves undo. +</p> + +<p> +{284} Now, Giant Despair had a wife, and her name was Diffidence. +So when he was gone to bed, he told his wife what he had done; to +wit, that he had taken a couple of prisoners and cast them into his +dungeon, for trespassing on his grounds. Then he asked her also +what he had best to do further to them. So she asked him what they +were, whence they came, and whither they were bound; and he told +her. Then she counselled him that when he arose in the morning he +should beat them without any mercy. So, when he arose, he getteth +him a grievous crab-tree cudgel, and goes down into the dungeon +to them, and there first falls to rating of them as if they were +dogs, although they never gave him a word of distaste. Then he +falls upon them, and beats them fearfully, in such sort that they +were not able to help themselves, or to turn them upon the floor. +This done, he withdraws and leaves them there to condole their +misery and to mourn under their distress. So all that day they +spent the time in nothing but sighs and bitter lamentations. The +next night, she, talking with her husband about them further, and +understanding they were yet alive, did advise him to counsel them +to make away themselves. So when morning was come, he goes to them +in a surly manner as before, and perceiving them to be very sore +with the stripes that he had given them the day before, he told +them, that since they were never like to come out of that place, +their only way would be forthwith to make an end of themselves, +either with knife, halter, or poison, for why, said he, should you +choose life, seeing it is attended with so much bitterness? But +they desired him to let them go. With that he looked ugly upon +them, and, rushing to them, had doubtless made an end of them +himself, but that he fell into one of his fits, (for he sometimes, in +sunshiny weather, fell into fits), and lost for a time the use of +his hand; wherefore he withdrew, and left them as before, to consider +what to do. Then did the prisoners consult between themselves +whether it was best to take his counsel or no; and thus they began +to discourse:-- +</p> + +<p> +{285} CHR. Brother, said Christian, what shall we do? The life that +we now live is miserable. For my part I know not whether is best, +to live thus, or to die out of hand. "My soul chooseth strangling +rather than life", and the grave is more easy for me than this +dungeon. [Job 7:15] Shall we be ruled by the Giant? +</p> + +<p> +{286} HOPE. Indeed, our present condition is dreadful, and death +would be far more welcome to me than thus for ever to abide; +but yet, let us consider, the Lord of the country to which we are +going hath said, Thou shalt do no murder: no, not to another man's +person; much more, then, are we forbidden to take his counsel to +kill ourselves. Besides, he that kills another, can but commit +murder upon his body; but for one to kill himself is to kill body +and soul at once. And, moreover, my brother, thou talkest of ease +in the grave; but hast thou forgotten the hell, for certain the +murderers go? "For no murderer hath eternal life," &c. And let +us consider, again, that all the law is not in the hand of Giant +Despair. Others, so far as I can understand, have been taken +by him, as well as we; and yet have escaped out of his hand. Who +knows, but the God that made the world may cause that Giant Despair +may die? or that, at some time or other, he may forget to lock +us in? or that he may, in a short time, have another of his fits +before us, and may lose the use of his limbs? and if ever that +should come to pass again, for my part, I am resolved to pluck +up the heart of a man, and to try my utmost to get from under his +hand. I was a fool that I did not try to do it before; but, however, +my brother, let us be patient, and endure a while. The time may +come that may give us a happy release; but let us not be our own +murderers. With these words Hopeful at present did moderate the +mind of his brother; so they continued together (in the dark) that +day, in their sad and doleful condition. +</p> + +<p> +{287} Well, towards evening, the Giant goes down into the dungeon +again, to see if his prisoners had taken his counsel; but when he +came there he found them alive; and truly, alive was all; for now, +what for want of bread and water, and by reason of the wounds they +received when he beat them, they could do little but breathe. But, +I say, he found them alive; at which he fell into a grievous rage, +and told them that, seeing they had disobeyed his counsel, it should +be worse with them than if they had never been born. +</p> + +<p> +{288} At this they trembled greatly, and I think that Christian fell +into a swoon; but, coming a little to himself again, they renewed +their discourse about the Giant's counsel; and whether yet they +had best to take it or no. Now Christian again seemed to be for +doing it, but Hopeful made his second reply as followeth:-- +</p> + +<p> +{289} HOPE. My brother, said he, rememberest thou not how valiant +thou hast been heretofore? Apollyon could not crush thee, nor +could all that thou didst hear, or see, or feel, in the Valley of +the Shadow of Death. What hardship, terror, and amazement hast +thou already gone through! And art thou now nothing but fear! +Thou seest that I am in the dungeon with thee, a far weaker man by +nature than thou art; also, this Giant has wounded me as well as +thee, and hath also cut off the bread and water from my mouth; and +with thee I mourn without the light. But let us exercise a little +more patience; remember how thou playedst the man at Vanity Fair, +and wast neither afraid of the chain, nor cage, nor yet of bloody +death. Wherefore let us (at least to avoid the shame, that becomes +not a Christian to be found in) bear up with patience as well as +we can. +</p> + +<p> +{290} Now, night being come again, and the Giant and his wife being +in bed, she asked him concerning the prisoners, and if they had +taken his counsel. To which he replied, They are sturdy rogues, they +choose rather to bear all hardship, than to make away themselves. +Then said she, Take them into the castle-yard to-morrow, and show +them the bones and skulls of those that thou hast already despatched, +and make them believe, ere a week comes to an end, thou also wilt +tear them in pieces, as thou hast done their fellows before them. +</p> + +<p> +{291} So when the morning was come, the Giant goes to them again, +and takes them into the castle-yard, and shows them, as his wife +had bidden him. These, said he, were pilgrims as you are, once, +and they trespassed in my grounds, as you have done; and when I +thought fit, I tore them in pieces, and so, within ten days, I will +do you. Go, get you down to your den again; and with that he beat +them all the way thither. They lay, therefore, all day on Saturday +in a lamentable case, as before. Now, when night was come, and +when Mrs. Diffidence and her husband, the Giant, were got to bed, +they began to renew their discourse of their prisoners; and withal +the old Giant wondered, that he could neither by his blows nor +his counsel bring them to an end. And with that his wife replied, +I fear, said she, that they live in hope that some will come to +relieve them, or that they have picklocks about them, by the means +of which they hope to escape. And sayest thou so, my dear? said +the Giant; I will, therefore, search them in the morning. +</p> + +<p> +{292} Well, on Saturday, about midnight, they began to pray, and +continued in prayer till almost break of day. +</p> + +<p> +Now a little before it was day, good Christian, as one half amazed, +brake out in passionate speech: What a fool, quoth he, am I, thus +to lie in a stinking Dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty. +I have a Key in my bosom called Promise, that will, I am persuaded, +open any Lock in Doubting Castle. Then said Hopeful, That's good +news; good Brother pluck it out of thy bosom and try. +</p> + +<p> +A key in Christian's bosom, called Promise, opens any lock in +Doubting Castle +</p> + +<p> +Then Christian pulled it out of his bosom, and began to try at the +Dungeon door, whose bolt (as he turned the Key) gave back, and the +door flew open with ease, and Christian and Hopeful both came out. +Then he went to the outward door that leads into the Castle-yard, +and with his Key opened that door also. After he went to the iron +Gate, for that must be opened too, but that Lock went damnable +hard, yet the Key did open it. Then they thrust open the Gate to +make their escape with speed; but that Gate as it opened made such +a creaking, that it waked Giant Despair, who hastily rising to +pursue his Prisoners, felt his limbs to fail, for his Fits took +him again, so that he could by no means go after them. Then they +went on, and came to the King's High-way again, and so were safe, +because they were out of his jurisdiction +</p> + +<p> +{294} Now, when they were over the stile, they began to contrive +with themselves what they should do at that stile to prevent those +that should come after from falling into the hands of Giant Despair. +So they consented to erect there a pillar, and to engrave upon the +side thereof this sentence--"Over this stile is the way to Doubting +Castle, which is kept by Giant Despair, who despiseth the King of +the Celestial Country, and seeks to destroy his holy pilgrims." +Many, therefore, that followed after read what was written, and +escaped the danger. This done, they sang as follows:-- +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Out of the way we went, and then we found<br/> + What 'twas to tread upon forbidden ground;<br/> + And let them that come after have a care,<br/> + Lest heedlessness makes them, as we, to fare.<br/> + Lest they for trespassing his prisoners are,<br/> + Whose castle's Doubting, and whose name's Despair. +</p> + +<p> +{295} They went then till they came to the Delectable 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 Delectable Mountains are these? And +whose be the sheep that feed upon them? +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Mountains delectable they now ascend,<br/> + Where Shepherds be, which to them do commend<br/> + Alluring things, and things that cautious are,<br/> + Pilgrims are steady kept by faith and fear. +</p> + +<p> +{296} 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. [John 10:11] +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Is this the way to the Celestial City? +</p> + +<p> +SHEP. You are just in your way. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. How far is it thither? +</p> + +<p> +SHEP. Too far for any but those that shall get thither indeed. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Is the way safe or dangerous? +</p> + +<p> +SHEP. Safe for those for whom it is to be safe; but the transgressors +shall fall therein. [Hos. 14:9] +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Is there, in this place, any relief for pilgrims that are +weary and faint in the way? +</p> + +<p> +SHEP. The Lord of these mountains hath given us a charge not to be +forgetful to entertain strangers, therefore the good of the place +is before you. [Heb. 13:1-2] +</p> + +<p> +{297} 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 face 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. +</p> + +<p> +{298} The Shepherds, I say, whose names were Knowledge, Experience, +Watchful, and Sincere, took them by the hand, and had them to their +tents, and made them partake of that which was ready at present. +They said, moreover, We would that ye should stay here awhile, to +be acquainted with us; and yet more to solace yourselves with the +good of these Delectable Mountains. They then told them, that +they were content to stay; so they went to their rest that night, +because it was very late. +</p> + +<p> +{299} Then I saw in my dream, that in the morning the Shepherds called +up to 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 a hill called Error, +which was very steep on the furthest 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 that they +had from the top. Then said Christian, What meaneth this? 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 resurrection of the body? [2 Tim. 2:17,18] They answered, +Yes. Then said the Shepherds, Those that you see lie dashed +in 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. +</p> + +<p> +{300} 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; which, +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? +</p> + +<p> +{301} The Shepherds then answered, Did you not see a little below +these mountains a stile, that led into a meadow, on the left hand +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, pointing to them among +the tombs, came once on pilgrimage, as you do now, even till 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 a while kept 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 understanding, +shall remain in the congregation of the dead." [Pro. 21:16] Then +Christian and Hopeful looked upon one another, with tears gushing +out, but yet said nothing to the Shepherds. +</p> + +<p> +{302} Then I saw in my dream, that the Shepherds had them to another +place, in a bottom, where was a door in 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 dissemble, with Ananias and Sapphira his wife. 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? +</p> + +<p> +{303} SHEP. Yes, and held it a long time too. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. How far might they go on in pilgrimage in their day, since +they notwithstanding were thus miserably cast away? +</p> + +<p> +SHEP. Some further, and some not so far, as these mountains. +</p> + +<p> +Then said the Pilgrims one to another, We have need to cry to the +Strong for strength. +</p> + +<p> +SHEP. Ay, and you will have need to use it, when you have it, too. +</p> + +<p> +{304} 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 gates of the Celestial City, +if they have skill to look through our perspective glass. 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. +</p> + +<p> +{305} Then they essayed to look, but the remembrance of that last +thing that the Shepherds had shown them, made their hands shake; +by means of which impediment, 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. Then they went away, and sang +this song-- +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Thus, by the Shepherds, secrets are reveal'd,<br/> + Which from all other men are kept conceal'd.<br/> + Come to the Shepherds, then, if you would see<br/> + Things deep, things hid, and that mysterious be. +</p> + +<p> +{306} 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 sleep not upon +the Enchanted Ground. And the fourth bid them God-speed. So I +awoke from my dream. +</p> + +<p> +{307} 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. +</p> + +<p> +{308} 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. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. But how do you think to get in at the gate? for you may find +some difficulty there. +</p> + +<p> +IGNOR. As other people do, said he. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. But what have you to show at that gate, that may cause that +the gate should be opened to you? +</p> + +<p> +IGNOR. I know my Lord's will, and I have been a good liver; I pay +every man his own; I pray, fast, pay tithes, and give alms, and +have left my country for whither I am going. +</p> + +<p> +{309} CHR. 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. +</p> + +<p> +IGNOR. Gentlemen, ye be utter strangers to me, I know you not; be +content and follow the religion of your country, and I will follow +the religion 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. +</p> + +<p> +{310} When Christian saw that the man was "wise in his own conceit", +he said to Hopeful, whisperingly, "There is more hope of a fool +than of him." [Prov. 26:12] 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." [Eccl. 10:3] What, shall we talk +further with him, or out-go 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-- +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Let Ignorance a little while now muse<br/> + On what is said, and let him not refuse<br/> + Good counsel to embrace, lest he remain<br/> + Still ignorant of what's the chiefest gain.<br/> + God saith, those that no understanding have,<br/> + Although he made them, them he will not save. +</p> + +<p> +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 anon, +even as he is able to bear it. +</p> + +<p> +{311} 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. [Matt. 12:45, Prov. 5:22] 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 once past, +Hopeful looked after him, and espied on his back a paper with this +inscription, "Wanton professor and damnable apostate". +</p> + +<p> +Then said Christian to his fellow, Now I call to remembrance, that +which was told me of a thing that happened to a good man hereabout. +The name of the man was Little-faith, but a good man, and he 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 the 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 +awake 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 clout, 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 loath 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 scrabble on his way. +This was the story. +</p> + +<p> +{312} HOPE. But did they take from him all that ever he had? +</p> + +<p> +Chr. 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 [1 Peter 4:18]; 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) with +many a hungry belly the most part of the rest of the way. +</p> + +<p> +{313} HOPE. But is it not a wonder they got not from him his certificate, +by which he was to receive his admittance at the Celestial Gate? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. It is a wonder; but they got not that, though they missed it +not through any good cunning of his; for he, being dismayed with +their coming upon him, had neither power nor skill to hide anything; +so it was more by good Providence than by his endeavour, that they +missed of that good thing. +</p> + +<p> +{314} HOPE. But it must needs be a comfort to him, that they got +not his jewels from him. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. 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 +dismay that he had in the 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. [1 Peter 1:9] +</p> + +<p> +{315} HOPE. Alas! poor man! This could not but be a great grief +to him. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. 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 lost; how he was wounded, and that he hardly +escaped with his life. +</p> + +<p> +{316} HOPE. But it is a wonder that his necessity did not put him +upon selling or pawning some of his jewels, that he might have +wherewith to relieve himself in his journey. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Thou talkest like one upon whose head is the shell 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 excluded from an inheritance there; and that would have been +worse to him than the appearance and villainy of ten thousand +thieves. +</p> + +<p> +{317} HOPE. Why art thou so tart, my brother? Esau sold his +birthright, and that for a mess of pottage, and that birthright +was his greatest jewel; and if he, why might not Little-faith do +so too? [Heb. 12:16] +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Esau did sell his birthright indeed, and so do many besides, +and by so doing exclude themselves from the chief blessing, as +also that caitiff did; but you must put a difference betwixt Esau +and Little-faith, and also betwixt their estates. Esau's birthright +was typical, but Little-faith's jewels were not so; Esau's belly +was his god, but Little-faith's belly was not so; Esau's want lay +in his fleshly appetite, Little-faith's did not so. Besides, Esau +could see no further than to the fulfilling of his lusts; "Behold, +I am at the point to die, (said he), and what profit shall this +birthright do me?" [Gen. 25:32] But Little-faith, though it was +his lot to have but a little faith, was by his little faith kept +from such extravagances, and made to see and prize his jewels +more than to sell them, as Esau did his birthright. You read not +anywhere that Esau had faith, no, not so much as a little; therefore, +no marvel if, where the flesh only bears sway, (as it will in that +man where no faith is to resist), if he sells his birthright, and +his soul and all, and that to the devil of hell; for it is with +such, as it is with the ass, who in her occasions cannot be turned +away. [Jer. 2:24] When their minds are set upon their lusts, +they will have them whatever they cost. But Little-faith was of +another temper, his mind was on things divine; his livelihood was +upon things that were spiritual, and from above; therefore, to what +end should he that is of such a temper sell his jewels (had there +been any that would have bought them) to fill his mind with empty +things? Will a man give a penny to fill his belly with hay; or can +you persuade the turtle-dove to live upon carrion like the crow? +Though faithless ones can, for carnal lusts, pawn, or mortgage, +or sell what they have, and themselves outright to boot; yet they +that have faith, saving faith, though but a little of it, cannot +do so. Here, therefore, my brother, is thy mistake. +</p> + +<p> +{318} HOPE. I acknowledge it; but yet your severe reflection had +almost made me angry. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Why, I did but compare thee to some of the birds that are of +the brisker sort, who will run to and fro in untrodden paths, with +the shell upon their heads; but pass by that, and consider the +matter under debate, and all shall be well betwixt thee and me. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. 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. +</p> + +<p> +And, verily, since this is the height of thy stomach, 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. +</p> + +<p> +{319} But, consider again, they are but journeymen thieves, they +serve under the king of the bottomless pit, who, if need be, will +come into their aid himself, and his voice is as the roaring of a +lion. [1 Pet. 5:8] 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 armour of proof. Ay, and yet, though I was so +harnessed, 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. +</p> + +<p> +{320} HOPE. Well, but they ran, you see, when they did but suppose +that one Great-grace was in the way. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. 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 betwixt +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. +</p> + +<p> +{321} HOPE. I would it had been Great-grace for their sakes. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. If it had been, 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? +</p> + +<p> +{322} Whoso looks well upon Great-grace's face, shall see those +scars and cuts there, that shall easily give demonstration 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 day, were forced +to bestir them, when by these assaulted; 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. +</p> + +<p> +{323} Leviathan's sturdiness +</p> + +<p> +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. +[Job 41:26-29] 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 of 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 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. [Job 39:19-25] +</p> + +<p> +{324} 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 they have been foiled, Nor be tickled at the +thoughts of our own 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 these villains, as he? +</p> + +<p> +When, therefore, we hear that such robberies are done on the King's +highway, two things become us to do: +</p> + +<p> +{325} 1. To go out harnessed, and to be sure to take a shield with +us; for it was for want of that, that he that laid so lustily at +Leviathan could not make him yield; for, indeed, if that be wanting, +he fears us not at all. Therefore, he that had skill hath said, +"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able +to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." [Eph. 6:16] +</p> + +<p> +{326} 2. It is good, also, that we desire of the King a convoy, +yea, that he will go with us himself. This made David rejoice +when in the Valley of the Shadow of Death; and Moses was rather for +dying where he stood, than to go one step without his God. [Exo. +33:15] Oh, my brother, if he will but go along with us, what need +we be afraid of ten thousands that shall set themselves against +us? [Ps. 3:5-8, 27:1-3] But, without him, the proud helpers "fall +under the slain". [Isa. 10:4] +</p> + +<p> +{327} I, for my part, have been in the fray before now; and though, +through the goodness of him that is best, I am, as you see, alive, +yet I cannot boast of my manhood. Glad shall I be, if I meet +with no more such brunts; though I fear we are not got beyond all +danger. However, since the lion and the bear have not as yet devoured +me, I hope God will also deliver us from the next uncircumcised +Philistine. Then sang Christian-- +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Poor Little-faith! Hast been among the thieves?<br/> + Wast robb'd? Remember this, whoso believes,<br/> + And gets more faith, shall then a victor be<br/> + Over ten thousand, else scarce over three. +</p> + +<p> +{328} So they went on and Ignorance followed. They went then till +they came at 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 in 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 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 compass 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. +</p> + +<p> +{329} CHR. Then said Christian to his fellow, Now do I see myself +in error. Did not the Shepherds bid us beware of the flatterers? +As is the saying of the wise man, so we have found it this day. A +man that flattereth his neighbour, spreadeth a net for his feet. +[Prov. 29:5] +</p> + +<p> +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. +Here David was wiser than we; for, saith he, "Concerning the works +of men, by the word of thy lips, I have kept me from the paths of +the destroyer." [Ps. 17:4] 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 apostle, +that hath transformed himself into an angel of light. [Prov. 29:5, +Dan. 11:32, 2 Cor. 11:13,14] 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, +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, 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. [Rom. 16:18] +</p> + +<p> +{330} Then I saw in my dream that he commanded them to lie down; +which, when they did, he chastised them sore, to teach them the +good way wherein they should walk [Deut. 25:2]; and as he chastised +them he said, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous, +therefore, and repent." [2 Chron. 6:26,27, Rev. 3:19] 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-- +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Come hither, you that walk along the way;<br/> + See how the pilgrims fare that go astray.<br/> + They catched are in an entangling net,<br/> + 'Cause they good counsel lightly did forget:<br/> + 'Tis true they rescued were, but yet you see,<br/> + They're scourged to boot. Let this your caution be. +</p> + +<p> +{331} Now, after a while, 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. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. I see him; let us take heed to ourselves now, lest he should +prove a flatterer also. So he drew nearer and nearer, and at last +came up unto them. His name was Atheist, and he asked them whither +they were going. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. We are going to Mount Zion. +</p> + +<p> +Then Atheist fell into a very great laughter. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. What is the meaning of your laughter? +</p> + +<p> +{332} ATHEIST. I laugh to see what ignorant persons you are, to +take upon you so tedious a journey, and you are like to have nothing +but your travel for your pains. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Why, man, do you think we shall not be received? +</p> + +<p> +ATHEIST. Received! There is no such place as you dream of in all +this world. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. But there is in the world to come. +</p> + +<p> +{333} 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 this twenty years; but find no more of it +than I did the first day I set out. [Jer. 22:12, Eccl. 10:15] +</p> + +<p> +CHR. We have both heard and believe that there is such a place to +be found. +</p> + +<p> +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 further 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. +</p> + +<p> +{334} CHR. Then said Christian to Hopeful his fellow, Is it true +which this man hath said? +</p> + +<p> +Hopeful's gracious answer +</p> + +<p> +Hope. Take heed, he is one of the flatterers; remember what it hath +cost us once already for our 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, said Hopeful, lest the man with the whip overtake us +again. [2 Cor. 5:7] You should have taught me that lesson, which +I will round you in the ears withal: "Cease, my son, to hear +the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge." +[Prov. 19:27] I say, my brother, cease to hear him, and let us +"believe to the saving of the soul". [Heb. 10:39] +</p> + +<p> +{335} CHR. 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 by the god of this world. +Let thee and I go on, knowing that we have belief of the truth, +"and no lie is of the truth". [1 John 2:21] +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +{336} I saw then 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. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. By no means, said the other, lest sleeping, we never awake +more. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. Why, my brother? Sleep is sweet to the labouring man; we +may be refreshed if we take a nap. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Do you not remember that one of the Shepherds bid us beware +of the Enchanted Ground? He meant by that that we should beware +of sleeping; "Therefore let us not sleep, as do others, but let us +watch and be sober." [1 Thess. 5:6] +</p> + +<p> +{337} HOPE. I acknowledge myself in a 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 mercy, and thou shalt have a good reward for +thy labour. [Eccl. 9:9] +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Now then, said Christian, to prevent drowsiness in this place, +let us fall into good discourse. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. With all my heart, said the other. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Where shall we begin? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. Where God began with us. But do you begin, if you please. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. I will sing you first this song:-- +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + When saints do sleepy grow, let them come hither,<br/> + And hear how these two pilgrims talk together:<br/> + Yea, let them learn of them, in any wise,<br/> + Thus to keep ope their drowsy slumb'ring eyes.<br/> + Saints' fellowship, if it be managed well,<br/> + Keeps them awake, and that in spite of hell. +</p> + +<p> +{338} CHR. Then Christian began and said, I will ask you a question. +How came you to think at first of so doing as you do now? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. Do you mean, how came I at first to look after the good of +my soul? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Yes, that is my meaning. +</p> + +<p> +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 perdition +and destruction. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. What things are they? +</p> + +<p> +Hopeful's life before conversion +</p> + +<p> +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 +divine, 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". [Rom. 6:21-23] And that +for these things' sake "cometh the wrath of God upon the children +of disobedience". [Eph. 5:6] +</p> + +<p> +CHR. And did you presently fall under the power of this conviction? +</p> + +<p> +{339} HOPE. No, I was not willing presently to know the evil +of sin, nor the damnation that follows upon the commission of it; +but endeavoured, when my mind at first began to be shaken with the +Word, to shut mine eyes against the light thereof. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. But what was the cause of your carrying of it thus to the +first workings of God's blessed Spirit upon you? +</p> + +<p> +{340} HOPE. The causes were, 1. I was ignorant that this was the +work of God upon me. I never thought that, by awakenings for sin, +God at first begins the conversion of a sinner. 2. Sin was yet +very sweet to my flesh, and I was loath to leave it. 3. I could +not tell how to part with mine old companions, their presence and +actions were so desirable unto me. 4. The hours in which convictions +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. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Then, as it seems, sometimes you got rid of your trouble. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. Yes, verily, but it would come into my mind again, and then +I should be as bad, nay, worse, than I was before. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Why, what was it that brought your sins to mind again? +</p> + +<p> +{341} HOPE. Many things; as, +</p> + +<p> +1. If I did but meet a good man in the streets; or, +</p> + +<p> +2. If I have heard any read in the Bible; or, +</p> + +<p> +3. If mine head did begin to ache; or, +</p> + +<p> +4. If I were told that some of my neighbours were sick; or, +</p> + +<p> +5. If I heard the bell toll for some that were dead; or, +</p> + +<p> +6. If I thought of dying myself; or, +</p> + +<p> +7. If I heard that sudden death happened to others; +</p> + +<p> +8. But especially, when I thought of myself, that I must quickly +come to judgment. +</p> + +<p> +{342} CHR. And could you at any time, with ease, get off the guilt +of sin, when by any of these ways it came upon you? +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. And how did you do then? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. I thought I must endeavour to mend my life; for else, thought +I, I am sure to be damned. +</p> + +<p> +{343} CHR. And did you endeavour to mend? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. Yes; and fled from not only my sins, but sinful company too; +and betook me to religious duties, as prayer, reading, weeping for +sin, speaking truth to my neighbours, &c. These things did I, with +many others, too much here to relate. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. And did you think yourself well then? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. Yes, for a while; but at the last, my trouble came tumbling +upon me again, and that over the neck of all my reformations. +</p> + +<p> +{344} CHR. How came that about, since you were now reformed? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. There were several things brought it upon me, especially such +sayings as these: "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." +[Isa. 64:6] "By the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." +[Gal. 2:16] "When ye shall have done all those things, say, We are +unprofitable", [Luke 17:10] with many more such like. From whence +I began to reason with myself thus: If ALL my righteousnesses are +filthy rags; if, by the deeds of the law, NO man can be justified; +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 fetch; yet, if this +old debt stands still in the book uncrossed, for that the shopkeeper +may sue him, and cast him into prison till he shall pay the debt. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Well, and how did you apply this to yourself? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. Why; I thought thus with myself. I have, by my sins, run a +great way into God's book, and that my now reforming will not pay +off that score; therefore I should think still, under all my present +amendments, But how shall I be freed from that damnation that I +have brought myself in danger of by my former transgressions? +</p> + +<p> +{345} CHR. A very good application: but, pray, go on. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. Another thing that hath troubled me, even since my late +amendments, 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 conceits of myself and duties, I have committed sin +enough in one duty to send me to hell, though my former life had +been faultless. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. And what did you do then? +</p> + +<p> +{346} HOPE. Do! I could not tell what to do, until 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. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. And did you think he spake true? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. Had he told me so when I was pleased and satisfied with mine +own amendment, I had called him fool for his pains; but now, since +I see mine own infirmity, and the sin that cleaves to my best +performance, I have been forced to be of his opinion. +</p> + +<p> +{347} CHR. 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? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. I must confess the words at first sounded strangely, but +after a little more talk and company with him, I had full conviction +about it. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. And did you ask him what man this was, and how you must be +justified by him? +</p> + +<p> +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 +justified by him, even by trusting to 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 efficacy to justify 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 imputed, if I believed on him. [Heb. 10, +Rom. 6, Col. 1, 1 Pet. 1] +</p> + +<p> +{348} CHR. And what did you do then? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. I made my objections against my believing, for that I thought +he was not willing to save me. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. And what said Faithful to you then? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. He bid me go to him and see. Then I said it was presumption; +but he said, No, for I was invited to come. [Matt. 11:28] Then +he gave me a book of Jesus, his inditing, to encourage me the more +freely to come; and he said, concerning that book, that every jot +and tittle thereof stood firmer than heaven and earth. [Matt. +24:35] Then I asked him, What I must do when I came; and he told +me, I must entreat upon my knees, with all my heart and soul, the +Father to reveal him to me. [Ps. 95:6, Dan. 6:10, Jer. 29:12,13] +Then I asked him further, how I must make my supplication 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 ordained 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 magnify +thy grace in the salvation of my soul, through thy Son Jesus Christ. +Amen. [Exo. 25:22, Lev. 16:2, Num. 7:89, Heb. 4:16] +</p> + +<p> +{349} CHR. And did you do as you were bidden? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. Yes; over, and over, and over. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. And did the Father reveal his Son to you? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. Not at the first, nor second, nor third, nor fourth, nor +fifth; no, nor at the sixth time neither. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. What did you do then? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. What! why I could not tell what to do. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Had you not thoughts of leaving off praying? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. Yes; an hundred times twice told. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. And what was the reason you did not? +</p> + +<p> +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." [Heb. 2:3] So I continued +praying until the Father showed me his Son. +</p> + +<p> +{350} CHR. And how was he revealed unto you? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. I did not see him with my bodily eyes, but with the eyes of +my understanding; [Eph. 1:18,19] 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 damnation of my soul, suddenly, as I thought, I saw +the Lord Jesus Christ look down from heaven upon me, and saying, +"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." [Acts +16:30,31] +</p> + +<p> +{351} But I replied, Lord, I am a great, a very great sinner. And +he answered, "My grace is sufficient for thee." [2 Cor.12:9] 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 +affections after salvation by Christ, he indeed believed in Christ. +[John 6:35] 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." [John 6:37] Then I said, +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." [1 Tim. 1:15] "He is +the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." +[Rom. 10:4] "He died for our sins, and rose again for our +justification." [Rom. 4:25] "He loved us, and washed us from our +sins in his own blood." [Rev. 1:5] "He is mediator betwixt God +and us." [1 Tim. 2:5] "He ever liveth to make intercession for +us." [Heb. 7:24,25] 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. +</p> + +<p> +{352} CHR. This was a revelation of Christ to your soul indeed; +but tell me particularly what effect this had upon your spirit. +</p> + +<p> +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 justify the +coming sinner. It made me greatly ashamed of the vileness of my +former life, and confounded me with the sense of mine 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 honour 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. +</p> + +<p> +{353} 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. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Ay, ay, I see him; he careth not for our company. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. But I trow it would not have hurt him had he kept pace with +us hitherto. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. That is true; but I warrant you he thinketh otherwise. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. That, I think, he doth; but, however, let us tarry for him. +So they did. +</p> + +<p> +{354} Then Christian said to him, Come away, man, why do you stay +so behind? +</p> + +<p> +IGNOR. I take my pleasure in walking alone, even more a great deal +than in company, unless I like it the better. +</p> + +<p> +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? +</p> + +<p> +{355} Ignorance's hope, and the ground of it +</p> + +<p> +IGNOR. I hope well; for I am always full of good motions, that come +into my mind, to comfort me as I walk. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. What good motions? pray, tell us. +</p> + +<p> +IGNOR. Why, I think of God and heaven. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. So do the devils and damned souls. +</p> + +<p> +IGNOR. But I think of them and desire them. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. So do many that are never like to come there. "The soul of +the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing." [Prov. 13:4] +</p> + +<p> +IGNOR. But I think of them, and leave all for them. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. That I doubt; for leaving all is a 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. +</p> + +<p> +{356} IGNOR. My heart tells me so. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. The wise man says, "He that trusts his own heart is a fool." +[Prov. 28:26] +</p> + +<p> +IGNOR. This is spoken of an evil heart, but mine is a good one. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. But how dost thou prove that? +</p> + +<p> +IGNOR. It comforts me in hopes of heaven. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. 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 +yet has no ground to hope. +</p> + +<p> +IGNOR. But my heart and life agree together, and therefore my hope +is well grounded. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Who told thee that thy heart and life agree together? +</p> + +<p> +IGNOR. My heart tells me so. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Ask my fellow if I be a thief! Thy heart tells thee so! Except +the Word of God beareth witness in this matter, other testimony is +of no value. +</p> + +<p> +{357} 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? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. 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. +</p> + +<p> +IGNOR. Pray, what count you good thoughts, and a life according to +God's commandments? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. There are good thoughts of divers kinds; some respecting +ourselves, some God, some Christ, and some other things. +</p> + +<p> +IGNOR. What be good thoughts respecting ourselves? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Such as agree with the Word of God. +</p> + +<p> +{358} IGNOR. When do our thoughts of ourselves agree with the Word +of God? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. When we pass the same judgment upon ourselves which the Word +passes. To explain myself--the Word of God saith of persons in +a natural condition, "There is none righteous, there is none that +doeth good." [Rom. 3] It saith also, that "every imagination of +the heart of man is only evil, and that continually." [Gen. 6:5] +And again, "The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth." +[Rom. 8:21] Now then, when we think thus of ourselves, having +sense thereof, then are our thoughts good ones, because according +to the Word of God. +</p> + +<p> +IGNOR. I will never believe that my heart is thus bad. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Therefore thou never hadst one good thought concerning thyself +in thy life. But let me go on. As the Word passeth a judgment +upon our heart, so it passeth a judgment upon our ways; and when +OUR thoughts of our hearts and ways agree with the judgment which +the Word giveth of both, then are both good, because agreeing +thereto. +</p> + +<p> +{359} IGNOR. Make out your meaning. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Why, the Word of God saith that man's ways are crooked ways; +not good, but perverse. [Ps. 125:5, Prov. 2:15] It saith they +are naturally out of the good way, that they have not known it. +[Rom. 3] Now, when a man thus thinketh of his ways,--I say, when +he doth sensibly, and with heart-humiliation, thus think, then hath +he good thoughts of his own ways, because his thoughts now agree +with the judgment of the Word of God. +</p> + +<p> +{360} IGNOR. What are good thoughts concerning God? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Even as I have said concerning ourselves, when our thoughts +of God do agree with what the Word saith of him; and that is, when +we think of his being and attributes as the Word hath taught, of +which I cannot now discourse at large; but to speak of him with +reference to us: Then we have right thoughts of God, when we +think that he knows us better than we know ourselves, and can see +sin in us when and where we can see none in ourselves; when we +think he knows our inmost thoughts, and that our heart, with all +its depths, is always open unto his eyes; also, when we think that +all our righteousness stinks in his nostrils, and that, therefore, +he cannot abide to see us stand before him in any confidence, even +in all our best performances. +</p> + +<p> +{361} IGNOR. Do you think that I am such a fool as to think God can +see no further than I? or, that I would come to God in the best of +my performances? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Why, how dost thou think in this matter? +</p> + +<p> +IGNOR. Why, to be short, I think I must believe in Christ for +justification. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. How! think thou must believe in Christ, when thou seest +not thy need of him! Thou neither seest thy original nor actual +infirmities; but hast such an opinion of thyself, and of what +thou dost, as plainly renders thee to be one that did never see a +necessity of Christ's personal righteousness to justify thee before +God. How, then, dost thou say, I believe in Christ? +</p> + +<p> +{362} IGNOR. I believe well enough for all that. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. How dost thou believe? +</p> + +<p> +IGNOR. I believe that Christ died for sinners, and that I shall be +justified before God from the curse, through his gracious acceptance +of my obedience to his law. Or thus, Christ makes my duties, that +are religious, acceptable to his Father, by virtue of his merits; +and so shall I be justified. +</p> + +<p> +{363} CHR. Let me give an answer to this confession of thy faith:-- +</p> + +<p> +1. Thou believest with a fantastical faith; for this faith is +nowhere described in the Word. +</p> + +<p> +2. Thou believest with a false faith; because it taketh justification +from the personal righteousness of Christ, and applies it to thy +own. +</p> + +<p> +3. This faith maketh not Christ a justifier of thy person, but +of thy actions; and of thy person for thy actions' sake, which is +false. +</p> + +<p> +4. Therefore, this faith is deceitful, even such as will leave +thee under wrath, in the day of God Almighty; for true justifying +faith puts the soul, as sensible of its condition by the law, upon +flying for refuge unto Christ's righteousness, which righteousness +of his is not an act of grace, by which he maketh for justification, +thy obedience accepted with God; but his personal obedience to the +law, in doing and suffering for us what that required at our hands; +this righteousness, I say, true faith accepteth; under the skirt +of which, the soul being shrouded, and by it presented as spotless +before God, it is accepted, and acquit from condemnation. +</p> + +<p> +{364} IGNOR. What! would you have us trust to what Christ, in his +own person, has done without us? This conceit would loosen the +reins of our lust, and tolerate us to live as we list; for what +matter how we live, if we may be justified by Christ's personal +righteousness from all, when we believe it? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Ignorance is thy name, and as thy name is, so art thou; even +this thy answer demonstrateth what I say. Ignorant thou art of +what justifying righteousness is, and as ignorant how to secure thy +soul, through the faith of it, from the heavy wrath of God. Yea, +thou also art ignorant of the true effects of saving faith in this +righteousness of Christ, which is, to bow and win over the heart +to God in Christ, to love his name, his word, ways, and people, +and not as thou ignorantly imaginest. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. Ask him if ever he had Christ revealed to him from heaven. +</p> + +<p> +{365} IGNOR. What! you are a man for revelations! I believe that +what both you, and all the rest of you, say about that matter, is +but the fruit of distracted brains. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. Why, man! Christ is so hid in God from the natural apprehensions +of the flesh, that he cannot by any man be savingly known, unless +God the Father reveals him to them. +</p> + +<p> +{366} IGNOR. That is your faith, but not mine; yet mine, I doubt +not, is as good as yours, though I have not in my head so many +whimsies as you. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Give me leave to put in a word. You ought not so slightly +to speak of this matter; for this I will boldly affirm, even as my +good companion hath done, that no man can know Jesus Christ but by +the revelation of the Father; [Matt. 11:27] yea, and faith too, +by which the soul layeth hold upon Christ, if it be right, must be +wrought by the exceeding greatness of his mighty power; the working +of which faith, I perceive, poor Ignorance, thou art ignorant of. +[1 Cor. 12:3, Eph. 1:18,19] Be awakened, then, see thine own +wretchedness, and fly to the Lord Jesus; and by his righteousness, +which is the righteousness of God, for he himself is God, thou +shalt be delivered from condemnation. +</p> + +<p> +{367} IGNOR. You go so fast, I cannot keep pace with you. Do you +go on before; I must stay a while behind. +</p> + +<p> +Then they said-- +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Well, Ignorance, wilt thou yet foolish be,<br/> + To slight good counsel, ten times given thee?<br/> + And if thou yet refuse it, thou shalt know,<br/> + Ere long, the evil of thy doing so.<br/> + Remember, man, in time, stoop, do not fear;<br/> + Good counsel taken well, saves: therefore hear.<br/> + But if thou yet shalt slight it, thou wilt be<br/> + The loser, (Ignorance), I'll warrant thee. +</p> + +<p> +Then Christian addressed thus himself to his fellow:-- +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Well, come, my good Hopeful, I perceive that thou and I must +walk by ourselves again. +</p> + +<p> +{368} 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. +</p> + +<p> +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? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Indeed the Word saith, "He hath blinded their eyes, lest they +should see", &c. But now we are by ourselves, what do you think +of such men? Have they at no time, think you, convictions of sin, +and so consequently fears that their state is dangerous? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. Nay, do you answer that question yourself, for you are the +elder man. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Then I say, sometimes (as I think) they may; but they being +naturally ignorant, understand not that such convictions tend to +their good; and therefore they do desperately seek to stifle them, +and presumptuously continue to flatter themselves in the way of +their own hearts. +</p> + +<p> +{369} HOPE. I do believe, as you say, that fear tends much to men's +good, and to make them right, at their beginning to go on pilgrimage. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Without all doubt it doth, if it be right; for so says the +Word, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." [Prov. +1:7, 9:10, Job 28:28, Ps. 111:10] +</p> + +<p> +{370} HOPE. How will you describe right fear? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. True or right fear is discovered by three things:-- +</p> + +<p> +1. By its rise; it is caused by saving convictions for sin. +</p> + +<p> +2. It driveth the soul to lay fast hold of Christ for salvation. +</p> + +<p> +3. It begetteth and continueth in the soul a great reverence of +God, his Word, and ways, keeping it tender, and making it afraid +to turn from them, to the right hand or to the left, to anything +that may dishonour God, break its peace, grieve the Spirit, or +cause the enemy to speak reproachfully. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. Well said; I believe you have said the truth. Are we now +almost got past the Enchanted Ground? +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Why, art thou weary of this discourse? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. No, verily, but that I would know where we are. +</p> + +<p> +{371} CHR. We have not now above two miles further to go thereon. +But let us return to our matter. Now the ignorant know not that +such convictions as tend to put them in fear are for their good, +and therefore they seek to stifle them. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. How do they seek to stifle them? +</p> + +<p> +{372} CHR. 1. They think that those fears are wrought by the +devil, (though indeed they are wrought of God); and, thinking so, +they resist them as things that directly tend to their overthrow. +</p> + +<p> +2. They also think that these fears tend to the spoiling of their +faith, when, alas, for them, poor men that they are, they have none +at all! and therefore they harden their hearts against them. +</p> + +<p> +3. They presume they ought not to fear; and, therefore, in despite +of them, wax presumptuously confident. +</p> + +<p> +4. They see that those fears tend to take away from them their +pitiful old self-holiness, and therefore they resist them with all +their might. +</p> + +<p> +{373} HOPE. I know something of this myself; for, before I knew +myself, it was so with me. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Well, we will leave, at this time, our neighbour Ignorance by +himself, and fall upon another profitable question. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. With all my heart, but you shall still begin. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. Well then, did you not know, about ten years ago, one Temporary +in your parts, who was a forward man in religion then? +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. Know him! yes, he dwelt in Graceless, a town about two miles +off of Honesty, and he dwelt next door to one Turnback. +</p> + +<p> +{374} CHR. 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 wages that were due thereto. +</p> + +<p> +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. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. 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. +</p> + +<p> +{375} HOPE. Now, since we are talking about him, let us a little +inquire into the reason of the sudden backsliding of him and such +others. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. It may be very profitable, but do you begin. +</p> + +<p> +HOPE. Well, then, there are in my judgment four reasons for it:-- +</p> + +<p> +{376} 1. Though the consciences of such men are awakened, yet their +minds are not changed; therefore, when the power of guilt weareth +away, that which provoked them to be religious ceaseth, wherefore +they naturally turn to their own course again, even as we see the +dog that is sick of what he has eaten, so long as his sickness +prevails he vomits and casts up all; not that he doth this of a +free mind (if we may say a dog has a mind), but because it troubleth +his stomach; but now, when his sickness is over, and so his stomach +eased, his desire being not at all alienate from his vomit, he turns +him about and licks up all, and so it is true which is written, +"The dog is turned to his own vomit again." [2 Pet. 2:22] Thus +I say, being hot for heaven, by virtue only of the sense and fear +of the torments of hell, as their sense of hell and the fears of +damnation chills and cools, so their desires for heaven and salvation +cool also. So then it comes to pass, that when their guilt and +fear is gone, their desires for heaven and happiness die, and they +return to their course again. +</p> + +<p> +{377} 2. Another reason is, they have slavish fears that do +overmaster them; I speak now of the fears that they have of men, +for "the fear of man bringeth a snare". [Prov. 29:25] So then, +though they seem to be hot for heaven, so long as the flames of +hell are about their ears, yet when that terror is a little over, +they betake themselves to second thoughts; namely, that it is good +to be wise, and not to run (for they know not what) the hazard of +losing all, or, at least, of bringing themselves into unavoidable +and unnecessary troubles, and so they fall in with the world again. +</p> + +<p> +{378} 3. The shame that attends religion lies also as a block in +their way; they are proud and haughty; and religion in their eye +is low and contemptible, therefore, when they have lost their sense +of hell and wrath to come, they return again to their former course. +</p> + +<p> +{379} 4. Guilt, and to meditate terror, are grievous to them. +They like not to see their misery before they come into it; though +perhaps the sight of it first, if they loved that sight, might make +them fly whither the righteous fly and are safe. But because they +do, as I hinted before, even shun the thoughts of guilt and terror, +therefore, when once they are rid of their awakenings about the +terrors and wrath of God, they harden their hearts gladly, and +choose such ways as will harden them more and more. +</p> + +<p> +{380} CHR. You are pretty near the business, for the bottom of all +is for want of a change in their mind and will. And therefore they +are but like the felon that standeth before the judge, he quakes +and trembles, and seems to repent most heartily, but the bottom +of all is the fear of the halter; not that he hath any detestation +of the offence, as is evident, because, let but this man have his +liberty, and he will be a thief, and so a rogue still, whereas, if +his mind was changed, he would be otherwise. +</p> + +<p> +{381} HOPE. Now I have showed you the reasons of their going back, +do you show me the manner thereof. +</p> + +<p> +CHR. So I will willingly. +</p> + +<p> +1. They draw off their thoughts, all that they may, from the +remembrance of God, death, and judgment to come. +</p> + +<p> +2. Then they cast off by degrees private duties, as closet prayer, +curbing their lusts, watching, sorrow for sin, and the like. +</p> + +<p> +3. Then they shun the company of lively and warm Christians. +</p> + +<p> +4. After that they grow cold to public duty, as hearing, reading, +godly conference, and the like. +</p> + +<p> +5. Then they begin to pick holes, as we say, in the coats of some +of the godly; and that devilishly, that they may have a seeming +colour to throw religion (for the sake of some infirmity they have +espied in them) behind their backs. +</p> + +<p> +6. Then they begin to adhere to, and associate themselves with, +carnal, loose, and wanton men. +</p> + +<p> +7. Then they give way to carnal and wanton discourses in secret; +and glad are they if they can see such things in any that are +counted honest, that they may the more boldly do it through their +example. +</p> + +<p> +8. After this they begin to play with little sins openly. +</p> + +<p> +9. And then, being hardened, they show themselves as they are. Thus, +being launched again into the gulf of misery, unless a miracle of +grace prevent it, they everlastingly perish in their own deceivings. +</p> + +<p> +{382} 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 solaced 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. [Isa. 62:4, Song of Solomon 2:10-12] 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. In this land also, the contract between the bride and +the bridegroom was renewed; yea, here, "As the bridegroom rejoiceth +over the bride, so did their God rejoice over them." [Isa. 62:5] +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. +[Isa. 62:8] 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, The redeemed of the +Lord, Sought out'", etc. [Isa. 62:11,12] +</p> + +<p> +{383} 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 street thereof +was 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 a while, crying out, because of their +pangs, If ye find my beloved, tell him that I am sick of love. +</p> + +<p> +{384} 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. [Deut. 23:24] +He also showed them there the King's walks, and the arbours where +he delighted to be; and here they tarried and slept. +</p> + +<p> +{385} 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 +a muse thereabout, the gardener said even to me, Wherefore musest +thou 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. +</p> + +<p> +{386} So I saw that when they awoke, they addressed themselves 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 +an instrument made for that purpose. So I saw, that as I went +on, there met them two men, in raiment that shone like gold; also +their faces shone as the light. [Rev. 21:18, 2 Cor. 3:18] +</p> + +<p> +{387} 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. +</p> + +<p> +{388} Christian then, and his companion, asked the men to go along +with them; so they told them they would. But, said they, you must +obtain it by your own faith. So I saw in my dream that they went +on together, until they came in sight of the gate. +</p> + +<p> +{389} Now, I further saw, that betwixt them and the gate was a river, +but there was no bridge to go over: the river was very deep. At +the sight, therefore, of this river, the Pilgrims were much stunned; +but the men that went in with them said, You must go through, or +you cannot come at the gate. +</p> + +<p> +{390} 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. [1 Cor. 15:51,52] The Pilgrims then, +especially Christian, began to despond in their minds, 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. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +*In the Resurrection of the Righteous. [Rev. 20:4-6] +</p> + +<p> +{391} 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! Selah. +</p> + +<p> +{392} Christian's conflict at the hour of death +</p> + +<p> +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 hath 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 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 discover 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 apparitions of +hobgoblins 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 also would endeavour 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 was right he would now arise +to help me; but for my sins he hath brought me into the snare, and +hath left me. Then said Hopeful, My brother, you have quite forgot +the text, where it is said of the wicked, "There are no bands in +their death, but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble +as other men, neither are they plagued like other men. [Ps. 73:4,5] +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 heretofore you have received +of his goodness, and live upon him in your distresses. +</p> + +<p> +{393} Then I saw in my dream, that Christian was as in a muse +a while. To whom also Hopeful added this word, 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." [Isa. 43:2] 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. 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 ministering spirits, sent forth +to minister for those that shall be heirs of salvation. Thus they +went along towards the gate. +</p> + +<p> +{394} 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 agility 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 safely got over the river, and +had such glorious companions to attend them. +</p> + +<p> +Now, now, look how the holy pilgrims ride, Clouds are their +chariots, angels are their guide: Who would not here for him all +hazards run, That thus provides for his when this world's done? +</p> + +<p> +{395} 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 was +inexpressible. There, said they, is the Mount Zion, the heavenly +Jerusalem, the innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of +just men made perfect. [Heb. 12:22-24] 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 eternity. +[Rev. 2:7, 3:4, 21:4,5] 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 now going to Abraham, to Isaac, and 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. [Isa. 57:1,2, 65:17] The men then asked, +What must we do in the holy place? To whom it was answered, You +must there receive the comforts 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. [Gal. 6:7] In that place you must wear crowns of gold, and +enjoy the perpetual sight and vision of the Holy One, for there you +shall see him as he is. [1 John 3:2] 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 infirmity of your flesh. 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 shall you be clothed with glory and majesty, and +put into an equipage 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 iniquity, let them +be angels or men, you also shall have a voice in that judgment, +because they were his and your enemies. [1 Thes. 4:13-16, Jude +1:14, Dan. 7:9,10, 1 Cor. 6:2,3] Also, when he shall again return +to the city, you shall go too, with sound of trumpet, and be ever +with him. +</p> + +<p> +{396} 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 they were 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 +unto the marriage supper of the Lamb." [Rev. 19:9] 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. +</p> + +<p> +{397} 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 they thought they heard all the bells therein +to ring, to 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. +</p> + +<p> +{398} 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." [Rev. 22:14] +</p> + +<p> +{399} Then I saw in my dream that the Shining Men bid them call +at the gate; the which, when they did, some looked from above over +the gate, to wit, Enoch, Moses, and Elijah, &c., 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." [Isa. 26:2] +</p> + +<p> +{400} Now I saw in my dream that these two men went in at the +gate: and lo, as they entered, they were transfigured, and they +had raiment put on that shone like gold. There was also that met +them with harps and crowns, and gave them to them--the harps to +praise withal, and the crowns in token of honour. 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 HONOUR, AND GLORY, AND POWER, BE UNTO HIM +THAT SITTETH UPON THE THRONE, AND UNTO THE LAMB, FOR EVER AND EVER." +[Rev. 5:13] +</p> + +<p> +{401} 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. +</p> + +<p> +{402} There were also of them that had wings, and they answered +one another without intermission, saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the +Lord." [Rev. 4:8] And after that they shut up the gates; which, +when I had seen, I wished myself among them. +</p> + +<p> +{403} 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 that difficulty which +the other two men met with. For it happened that there was then +in that place, one Vain-hope, a ferryman, that with his boat helped +him over; so he, as the other 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 administered 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 eat and drank 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. +</p> + +<p> +{404} The Conclusion. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Now, Reader, I have told my dream to thee;<br/> + See if thou canst interpret it to me,<br/> + Or to thyself, or neighbour; but take heed<br/> + Of misinterpreting; for that, instead<br/> + Of doing good, will but thyself abuse:<br/> + By misinterpreting, evil ensues. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Take heed, also, that thou be not extreme,<br/> + In playing with the outside of my dream:<br/> + Nor let my figure or similitude<br/> + Put thee into a laughter or a feud.<br/> + Leave this for boys and fools; but as for thee,<br/> + Do thou the substance of my matter see. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + Put by the curtains, look within my veil,<br/> + Turn up my metaphors, and do not fail,<br/> + There, if thou seekest them, such things to find,<br/> + As will be helpful to an honest mind. +</p> + +<p class="poem"> + What of my dross thou findest there, be bold<br/> + To throw away, but yet preserve the gold;<br/> + What if my gold be wrapped up in ore?--<br/> + None throws away the apple for the core.<br/> + But if thou shalt cast all away as vain,<br/> + I know not but 'twill make me dream again. +</p> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 131 ***</div> +</body> + +</html> + + |