Pilgrims Progress

Before you begin your Bible study, as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, be sure you have named your sins privately to God the Father. 

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [Known, Unknown and Forgotten sins] (1Jn 1:9)

You will then be in fellowship with God, Filled with God the Holy Spirit and ready to learn Truth from the Word of God.

God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and Truth. (Joh 4:24)

Pilgrim’s Progress

     As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I came upon on a certain place, where was a den; (I was put in Prison) and I lay 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 turned away from his own house, a book in his hand, (The Word of God) and a great burden, (Mat 11:28-29) upon his back." (Isa 64:6; Luk 14:33; Psa 38:4; Hab 2:2) I looked, and saw him open the book, and as he read, he wept and trembled; and not being able any longer to contain it, he broke out with a lamentable cry, saying, "What shall I do?" (Act 2:37)

     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 his trouble increased. For this reason he spoke at length to his wife and children; and he began to talk to them: "O my dear wife," he said, "and you, the children of my loins, I, your dear friend, am in myself am undone, by reason of a burden that dwells hard upon me; moreover, I am for certainly informed that this our city will be burned with fire from Heaven; (Rev 8:5-13; Rev 18:4-10) in which a fearful overthrow, of myself, with you, my wife, and you, my sweet children, shall miserably come to ruin, except, (I am not yet aware of) some way of escape can be found, whereby we may be delivered." At this, his family were very amazed; not for that they believed what he had said to them was true, but because they thought that some frenzy distemper had got into his head; therefore, it was drawing towards night, and they were 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 came, they would know how he did; he told them, worse and worse; he was also talking to them again, but they began to be hardened. (Act 7:51) They also thought to drive away his distemper by demonstrating harsh and bad feelings towards him. Sometimes they would deride, sometimes they would scold, and sometimes they would quite neglect him. For this reason he began to retire to his chamber to pray for, and forgive them, (Luk 23:34) and also to relieve his own misery. He would also walk alone in the fields, sometimes reading, and sometimes praying; and so for some days he spent his time.

     Now I saw upon a time, when he was walking in the fields, that he was, as he was in a habit of, 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?" (Act 16:30-31)

     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, who asked, "Why are you crying?"

     He answered, Sir, I perceive, by the book in my hand, that I am condemned to die, and after that to come to judgment; (Heb 9:27) and I find that I am not willing (Job 16:21-22) to do the first, nor able (Eze 22:14) to do the second.

     Then Evangelist said, Why are you not willing to die, since this life is attended with so many evils? The man answered, Because I fear that this burden that is upon my back will sink me lower than the grave; and I shall fall into Tophet. (Isa 30:33) And, Sir, if I am not fit to go to prison, I am not fit, I am sure, to go to judgment, and from there to execution; and the thoughts of these things make me cry.

     Then Evangelist said, If this is your condition, why do stand still? He answered, Because I do not know where to go. Then he gave him a Bible roll, and there was written, "Flee from the wrath to come." (Mat 3:7)

     The man therefore, read it, and looking upon Evangelist very carefully, said, Where must I flee? Then Evangelist said, pointing with his finger over a very wide field, Do you see the distant narrow gate? (Mat 7:13) The man said, No. Do you see the distant shining light? (Psa 119:105; 2Pe 1:19) He said, I think I do. Then Evangelist said, Keep that light in your eye, and go up directly to it, so you will see the gate; at which, when you knock, it shall be told you what to do. So I saw in my dream that the man began to run. Now, he had not ran far from his own door, but his wife and children perceiving it, began to cry after him to return; (Luk 14:26) but the man put his fingers in his ears, and ran on, crying, Life! Life! Eternal life! So he did not look back, (Gen 19:17) but fled towards the middle of the plain.

The Neighbors: Obstinate and Pliable

     The neighbors also came out to see him run, 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 were resolved to bring him back by force. (Jer 20:10) The name of the one was Obstinate, and the name of the other Pliable. Now by this time, the man was 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 the man said, Neighbors, why have you come? They said, To persuade you to go back with us. But he said, That cannot be, by any means. You dwell in the City of Destruction, (Rev 18:2-4) the place also where I was born; I have seen 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 neighbors, and go along with me.

What, Obstinate said, and leave our friends and our comforts behind us?

     Christian said yes, for that was his name, because "whatever you give up," (2Co 4:18) is not worthy to be compared with a little of that which I am seeking to enjoy; and if you will go along with me, and hold it, you shall fare as I myself, (Mat 6:31-34) for there, where I go, is enough and to spare. (Luk 15:17) Come away, and prove my words.

OBST. What are the things you seek, since you leave all the world to find them?

CHR. I seek "to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away," (1Pe 1:4) and it is laid up in Heaven, (Heb 11:16) and safe there, to be bestowed, at the time appointed, on them that diligently seek it. (Pro 8:17-21) Read about it that it is True, if you will, in my book.

OBST. Madness, said Obstinate, away with your book; will you go back with us, or not?

CHR. No, not I, because I have laid my hand to the plough. (Luk 9:62)

OBST. Come, then, neighbor Pliable, let us turn again, and go home without him; there is a company of these crazed headed fools, that when they start thinking about the way; in the end, are wiser in their own eyes than seven men that can render a reason. (Pro 26:16)

PLI. Then said Pliable, Do not revile him; if what the good Christian says is true, the things he looks after are better than ours; my heart inclines to go with my neighbor.

OBST. What! More fools still? Listen to me, and go back; who knows where such a brain-sick fellow will lead you? Go back, go back, and be wise.

CHR. No, but do come with your neighbor Pliable: there are such things to be had which I spoke of, and many more glories besides; if you do not believe me, read here in this book, for the Truth of what is expressed in it, behold, all is confirmed by the blood of Him that made it. (1Pe 1:18-19; Heb 13:20-21)

PLI. Well, neighbor Obstinate, Pliable said, I have to come to a point that 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?

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. (The Spiritual life)

PLI. Come then, good neighbor, let us be going. Then they both went together.

OBST. And I will go back to my place, said Obstinate; I will not be a companion of such misled delusional fellows.

The Slough of Despond

     Now I saw in my dream, that when Obstinate was on his way back, Christian and Pliable were talking and walking over the plain; and so they began their discourse.

CHR. Come, neighbor 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 have lightly turned his back on us.

PLI. Come, neighbor Christian, since there is none but us two here, tell me now further, what the things are, and how they are to be enjoyed, where we are going.

CHR. I can better conceive of them with my mind, than speak of them with my tongue; but yet since you are desirous to know, I will read of them in my book.

PLI. And do you think that the words of your book are certainly true?

CHR. Yes, certainly, for it was made by Him that cannot lie. (2Ti 3:16-17; Tit 1:2; 2Pe 1:20-21)

PLI. Well said. What things are they?

CHR. There is an endless kingdom to be inhabited, and everlasting life to be given us, that we may inhabit that kingdom forever. (Joh 10:27-29; Jas 2:5; 2Pe 1:10-11)

PLI. Well said. And what else?

CHR. There are crowns of glory to be given us, and garments that will make us shine like the sun in the firmament of Heaven! (2Ti 4:8; Rev 3:4; Mat 13:43)

PLI. This is very pleasant. And what else?

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 25:8; Rev 7:17; Rev 21:4)

PLI. And what company shall we have there?

CHR. There we shall be with seraphims, and cherubims, creatures that will dazzle your eyes to look at them. 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, everyone walking in fellowship with God, and standing in His presence with acceptance forever; in a word, there we shall see the elders with their golden crowns; there we shall see the virgins (Mature believers) with their golden harps; 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 maintained to the Lord of the Place; all well, and clothed with immortality as with a garment. (Isa 6:2; 1Th 4:16-17; Rev 7:17; Rev 4:4; Rev 14:1-5; Joh 12:25; 2Co 5:2-5)

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 of them?

CHR. The Lord, the Governor of the country, has recorded, that in this book, the substance of which is, if we are truly willing to have it, He will bestow it freely upon us. (Isa 55:1-2, Isa 55:12; Joh 7:37-38; Joh 6:37; Psa 21:6; Psa 22:22)

PLI. Well, my good companion, I am so glad to hear of these heavenly Thoughts; come on, let us pick up our pace.

CHR. I cannot go as fast as I would, by reason of this burden that is on my back. 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 covered with the dirt; and Christian, because of the burden that was on his back, began to sink in the mire.

PLI. Then Pliable said, yikes! Neighbor Christian, where are we now?

CHR. Truly, Christian said, I do not know.

PLI. At that Pliable began to be offended, and angrily said to his fellow, Is this the happiness you have told me of all this time? If we have such slow speed at the beginning, what may we expect between this and our journey's end? If I get out of this mire 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. So Christian was left to tumble in the Slough of Despond alone; but still he endeavored to struggle to the side of the slough that was still further from his own house, and next to the narrow gate; the which he did, but he 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 are you doing here?

CHR. Sir, Christian said, I was told to go this way by a man called Evangelist, who directed me also to a faraway gate that I might escape from the wrath to come. And as I was going there, I fell in here.

HELP. But why didn't you look for the steps?

CHR. Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the wrong way, and fell in.

HELP. Then he said, Give me your hand; so he gave him his hand, and he drew him out, and set him upon solid ground, and bid him go on his way. (Psa 40:2-3)

     Then I stepped up to him that plucked me out, and said, Sir, (Since going through this place is the way from the City of Destruction, to the narrow gate) why is it that this plot is not filled, that poor travelers might go there with more security? And he said to me, This miry slough is such a place as cannot be repaired. It is the descent where the scum and filth that attends conviction of sin, and does continually run, therefore it is called the Slough of Despond: for still, as the sinner is awakened about his lost condition, there arises 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 for the foulness of this ground.

     It is not the pleasure of the King that this place should remain so bad; (Isa 35:3-4) his laborers, also, have, by the directions of his Majesty's surveyors, been, for above these 1,600 years, employed to fix this patch of ground, if, perhaps, it might have been repaired; yes, and to my knowledge, he said, there has been at least 10,000 cart-loads swallowed up; yes, millions of wholesome Instructions, (Hos 8:12) that have, at all seasons, been brought from all the places of the King's dominions, and they that can tell, say, they are the best materials to make good soil out of this place, (Mat 13:23) so that it could have been repaired; but it is the Slough of Despond still; and so it will be when they have done all they can. (Jer 18:12)

     True, there are, by the direction of the Lawgiver, certain good and substantial steps, placed in the very midst of this slough; but at certain times this place does spew out much filth, as it does against changes in weather, these steps are hardly seen by men, through the dizziness of their heads, they side step them, and then they are deceived about their purpose, however the steps are there; and the ground is good, when they are once again going towards the narrow gate. (1Sa 12:23-24)

     Now I saw in my dream, that, by this time, Pliable was home to his house again; so that his neighbors came to visit him; and some of them called him a wise man for coming back, and some called him a 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 such a coward to have given up because of a few difficulties." (Luk 14:27-30) So Pliable sat sneaking around among them. But, at last, he got more confidence, and then they all turned their stories, and began to deride poor Christian behind his back. And not as much concerning Pliable.

     Now as Christian was walking by himself, he spotted someone far-off crossing over the field to meet him; and it occurred that they met 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 very hard compared to where Christian came from. This man, then, meeting with Christian, and having some vague understanding of him, for Christian's setting out from the City of Destruction was spoken of abroad, not only in the town where he dwelt, but also, it began to be the talk of the town in some other places. Master Worldly-Wiseman, therefore, having some estimate of him, by beholding his laborious journey, by observing his sighs and groans, and the like, began to enter into some conversation with Christian.

WORLD.  Good fellow, why are you engaging in this toilsome conduct?

CHR. A toilsome conduct, indeed, as I think, a poor creature has ever had! And since you are asking me, where I am going? I will tell you Sir, I am going to the distant narrow gate before me; for there, as I am informed, I shall be put into a way to be rid of my heavy burden.

WORLD. Do you have a wife and children?

CHR. Yes; but I am so oppressed with this burden, that I cannot take the pleasure in them as I formerly did; it seems to me as if I had none. (1Co 7:29-31)

WORLD. Will you listen to me if I give you counsel?

CHR. If it is good, I will; for I stand in need of good counsel.

WORLD. I would advise you, then, that you with all speed get rid of your burden: for you will never be settled in your mind until then; nor can you enjoy the benefits of the blessings which God has bestowed upon you until then.

CHR. That is what I am seeking, to be rid of this heavy burden; but I cannot get it off myself, I cannot; nor is there any man in our country that can take it off my shoulders; therefore I am going this way, as I told you, that I may be rid of my burden.

WORLD. Who told you to go this way to be rid of your burden?

CHR. A man that appeared to be a very great and honorable person; his name, as I remember, is Evangelist.

WORLD. I curse him for his counsel! There is not a more dangerous and difficult way in the world than the way to which he has directed you; and you will find it, if you listen to his counsel. You have met with some hazards, as I perceive already; for I see the dirt of the Slough of Despond is upon you; but that slough is just the beginning of the sorrows that do attend those that go on in this way. Hear me, I am older than you; you are in all likelihood to meet, on the way which you go, wearisomeness, painfulness, hunger, perils, nakedness, sword, lions, dragons, darkness, and, in a word; death! (Rom 8:35-36; Heb 11:36-38) These things are certainly true, having been confirmed by many testimonies. And why should a man so carelessly discard himself, (Joh 12:25) by giving heed to a stranger?

CHR. Sir, this burden upon my back is more terrible to me than are all these things which you have mentioned; no, it seems to me, I do not care what I encounter on the way, if I can also have deliverance from my burden. (Rom 8:18; 2Co 4:17)

WORLD. How did you get this burden?

CHR. By reading this book in my hand.

WORLD. I thought so; and it has happened to you as to other weak men, who, meddling with things too high for them, do suddenly fall into your kind of distractions; which distractions do not only unman men, as you; I perceive, this is happening to you, but these distractions will run men upon desperate hazards, to obtain, they do not know what.

CHR. I know what I would obtain; it is ease for my heavy burden.

WORLD. But why will you seek for ease this way, seeing so many dangers attend it? Especially since, if you have patience to hear me, I could direct you to obtaining of what you desire, without the dangers that you will run yourself into; yes, and the remedy is at hand. Besides, I will add, that instead of those dangers, you shall meet with much safety, friendship, and contentment.

CHR. Please, Sir, open this secret to me.

WORLD. Why, in a distant village — the village is named Morality — there dwells a gentleman whose name is Legality, a very judicious man, and a man of a very good name, that has skill to help men off with such burdens from their shoulders as yours: yes, to my knowledge, he has done a great deal of good this way; certainly, and besides, he has skill to cure those that are somewhat crazed in their minds with their burdens. To him, as I said, you may 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 has a roommate as his own son, whose name is Civility, (Polite behavior) that can do it, as well as the old gentleman himself; there, I say, you may be eased of your burden; and if you are not of a mind to go back to your former habitation, as, indeed, I would not wish you to, you may send for your wife and children to live in this village, where there are houses that now stand empty, one of which you may have at reasonable price; provisions are there also cheap and good; and that which will make your life the more happy, to be sure, there you shall live by honest neighbors, in recognition and good fashion.

     Now Christian was somewhat astonished; but presently he concluded, if this be true, which this gentleman has said, my wisest course is to take his advice; and with that he spoke further.

CHR. Sir, which is the way to this honest man's house?

WORLD. Do you see the distant hill?

CHR. Yes, very well.

WORLD. By that hill you must go, and the first house you come to is his.

     So Christian turned out of the way, to go to Mr. Legality's house for help; but, behold, when he was slowed down by the difficult hill, it seemed so high, and also the side of the road that was next to the edge, 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 knew not what to do. Also his burden now seemed heavier to him, than while he was in the right way. (Staying in fellowship) There came also flashes of fire out of the hill that made Christian afraid that he should be burned. (Exod 19:16, Exod 19:18; Heb 12:18-20) Here, therefore, he sweat and did tremble with fear. (Heb 12:21) And now he began to be sorry that he had taken Mr. Worldly Wiseman’s counsel. (1Jn 1:9) And with that he saw Evangelist coming to meet him; at the sight of whom, he began to blush for shame. (Php 3:18-19) So Evangelist drew nearer and nearer; and coming up to him, he looked upon him with a severe and dreadful countenance, and began to reason with Christian.

EVANGELIST APPEARS

EVAN. What are you doing here, Christian?  At which words Christian did not know what to answer; on account of this he stood speechless before him. Then Evangelist said further, Are you not the man that I found crying outside the walls of the City of Destruction?

CHR. Yes, dear Sir, I am the man. (2Sa 12:13)

EVAN. Did I not direct you in the way to the little narrow gate?

CHR. Yes, dear Sir.

EVAN. How is it, then, that you are so quickly turned aside? For you are now out of the way. (Joh 14:6; 2Pe 2:2; Jude 1:11)

CHR. I met with a gentleman as soon as I had escaped from of the Slough of Despond, who persuaded me that I might, find a man in the village before me that could take off my burden.

EVAN. Who and or what was he?

CHR. He looked like a gentleman, and said many words to me, and at last I gave in; so I came here: but when I beheld this hill, and how it hangs over the way, I suddenly made a stand, (Psa 1:1) for fear it should fall on my head.

EVAN. What did that gentleman say to you?

CHR. He asked me where I was going? And I told him.

EVAN. And what did he say then?

CHR. He asked me if I had a family? And I told him. But, I said, I am so laden with this burden that is on my back, that I cannot take pleasure in them as formerly.

EVAN. And what did he say then?

CHR. He told me to hurry and get rid of my burden; and I told him it was also ease that I sought. And, I said, I am therefore going to the distant gate, to receive further direction how I may get to the place of deliverance. So he said that he would show me a better way, and shorter, without so many difficulties as the way, (Spiritual life with God's Thoughts as the solutions) that you set me in; (Luk 13:24) to this way, (Human solutions; (Mar 8:33) He said, he was directing me to a gentleman's house that has the skill to take off these burdens: so I believed him, and turned out of that way into this one, if by chance I might soon be eased of my burden. But when I came to this place, and beheld things as they are, I stopped for fear of danger: but now, I do not know what to do.

EVAN. Then, Evangelist said, stand still a little that I may show you the Words of God. So he stood trembling. (Isa 66:2) Then Evangelist said, "See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven." (Heb 12:25) He said, moreover, "Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith." (Hab 2:4) He also applied them: You are running into this misery; you have begun to reject the Counsel of the Most High, and to draw back your foot from the way of peace, and going the way of destruction! (Heb 10:38-39)

     Then Christian fell down at his foot as dead, crying, "Woe is me, for I am ruined!" (Isa 6:5) At the sight of which, Evangelist caught him by the right hand, saying, "All manner of sin and blasphemies shall be forgiven people." (Mat 12:31; Mar 3:28) "Do not be unbelieving, but believing." (Joh 20:27) Christian then revived a little, and stood up trembling, as he did at first, before Evangelist.

     Then Evangelist proceeded, saying, Give more earnest heed to the things that I will tell you about. I will now show you who it was that deluded you, and who it was also to whom he sent you to. The man that met you is the Worldly Wiseman, and rightly is he so called; partly, because he only loves the doctrine (Thinking) of this world; (1Jn 4:5) (Therefore he always goes to the town of Morality to go to church) and partly because he loves that doctrine best, for it saves him best from the Cross. (Gal 6:12) And because he is of this carnal state, therefore he seeks to prevent my ways, though right. Now there are three things in this man's counsel that you must utterly despise. (Mat 6:24)

1. His turning you out of the way. (Out of fellowship with God and thinking with human thoughts) (Gal 5:7-10)

2. His laboring to render the Cross detestable to you. (Gal 6:12)

3. His setting your feet in that way that leads to the administration of death. (1Jn 5:16)

     First, you must despise his turning you out of the way; yes, and your own consenting to do it: because this is to reject the Counsel of God for the sake of the counsel of the Worldly Wiseman. The Lord says, "Strive to enter through the narrow door," (Luk 13:24) the gate to which I send you; "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Mat 7:14) From this small narrow gate, and from the way to it, has this wicked man turned you, lending you almost to destruction; hate, therefore, his turning you out of the way, and despise listening to him.

     Second, you must despise his laboring to render the Cross a reproach to you; for you are to prefer it as; "greater riches than the treasures of Egypt." (Heb 11:25-26) Besides, the King of glory has told you: "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it." (Mar 8:34-35; Joh 12:25; Mat 10:38-39) And, "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple." (Luk 14:26) I say, therefore, for a man to labor to persuade you, that to carry your cross shall end in your death, without which, THE TRUTH has said, you cannot be His Friend without doing it; this doctrine you must hate.

     Third, You must hate his setting of your feet in the way that leads to the administration of death. (1Jn 5:16) And for this you must consider to whom he sent you, and also how unable that person was to deliver you from your burden.

     The one you were sent to 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, an allegory, this mount Sinai which you have feared will fall on your head. Now, if she, with her children, are in bondage, how can you expect by her children (Worldly Wiseman, Legality, Morality, Civility and Religion) to be made free? This Legality, therefore, is not able to set you free from your burden. No man has ever been able to get rid of his burden by him; no, nor ever will be: You cannot be justified by the works of the Law; for by the works of the Law no man living can be rid of his burden: therefore, Mr. Worldly Wiseman is an alien, and Mr. Legality, Mr. Religion and Mr. Morality are all fakers; and as for his roommate Civility, notwithstanding his smiling looks, he is but a hypocrite, and cannot help you. Believe me, there is nothing in all this noise that you have heard of these intoxicated men, but a design to beguile you of your Salvation, by turning you from the way in which I have set you. 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: "For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM." (Gal 3:10)

     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 listening to his counsel: he also was greatly ashamed to think that this gentleman's arguments, flowing only from the flesh, should have influenced him as to cause him to forsake the right way. This done, he applied himself again to Evangelist, in words and common sense as follows:

CHR. Sir, what do you think? Is there hope? May I now go back, and go up to the narrow gate? Shall I not be abandoned for this, and sent back from here ashamed? I am sorry I have listened to this man's counsel. But may my sin be forgiven? (1Jn 1:9)

EVAN. Then Evangelist said to him, Your sin is very great, for by it you have committed two evils; you have forsaken the way that is good, to tread the forbidden paths; (Pro 15:19; Isa 30:11) yet the man at the gate will  receive you, for he has goodwill for ALL men; (Eze 18:31-32) only, take heed that you do not turn aside again, "That He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!" (Psa 2:12) Then did Christian convince himself to go back to the way to the narrow gate; and Evangelist, after he had kissed him, gave him one smile, and bid him Godspeed. So he went on with haste, and did not speak to any man by the way; nor, if any asked him, would he give them an answer. He went like one that was all the while walking on forbidden ground, and could by no means think himself to be safe, until he was again in the way which he left, to follow Mr. Worldly Wiseman’s counsel. So, in process of time, Christian arrived at the gate. Now, over the gate there was written, "Knock, and it will be opened to you." (Mat 7:7-8)

     He knocked, therefore, more than once or twice, saying, "May I now enter here? Will He within Open to sorry me, though I have been an undeserving rebel? Then shall I Not fail to sing His everlasting praise on high." (Psa 106:1)

     At last there came a serious person to the gate, named Goodwill, who asked who was there? And where did he come from? And what did he want?

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 I my get there, if you are willing to, please let me in!

GOOD-WILL. I am willing with all my heart; and with that he opened the gate. (Luk 2:14)

     So when Christian was stepping in, the other gave him a pull. Then said Christian, What does that mean? The other told him. A little distance from this gate, there is erected a strong castle, of which Beelzebub is the captain; from there, both he and those that are with him shoot arrows at the ones that come up to this gate, if unexpectedly they may die before they can enter in.

     Then Christian said, I rejoice and tremble. So when he was inside, the man of the gate asked him who directed him here?

CHR. Evangelist bid me come here, and knock and keep knocking; (As I did) and he said that you, Sir, would tell me what I must do.

GOODWILL. An open door is set before you, and no man can shut it. (Rev 3:7-8)

CHR. Now I begin to reap the benefits of my hazards.

GOODWILL. But how is it that you came alone?

CHR. Because none of my neighbors saw their danger, (Mat 24:38-39) as I saw mine.

GOODWILL. Did any of them know of your coming?

CHR. Yes; my wife and children saw me at the first, and called after me to turn again; also, some of my neighbors stood crying and calling after me to return; but I put my fingers in my ears, and so came on my way.

GOOD-WILL. But did none of them follow you, to persuade you to go back?

CHR. Yes, both Obstinate and Pliable; but when they saw that they could not prevail, Obstinate went bitterly back home, but Pliable came with me a little way.

GOOD-WILL. But why did he not come through?

CHR. We, indeed, came both together, until we came to the Slough of Despond, and then into it we also suddenly fell. And so my neighbor, Pliable was discouraged, and would not adventure 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, after Obstinate, and I came to this gate.

GOODWILL. Then Goodwill said, Alas, poor man! Is the celestial glory esteemed so small with him, that he does not count it worth running in to a few hazards and difficulties to obtain it?

CHR. Christian said, truly I have said the truth of Pliable, and if I should also say all the truth about myself, it will appear there is no difference between 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 to think the wrong way by the carnal arguments of Mr. Worldly Wiseman. (1Ti 6:20-21)

GOODWILL. Oh! Did he fall upon you? He would have had you seeking for relief at the hands of Mr. Legality. They are, both of them, very deceptive. But did you take his counsel?

CHR. Yes, as far as I dared; I went to search out Mr. Legality, until I discerned that the mountain that stands by his house would have fallen on my head; so I forced myself to stop.

GOODWILL. That mountain has been the death of many, and will be the death of many more; it is God's grace you escaped being smashed to pieces by it.

CHR. Truly, I do not know what would had become of me there, had not Evangelist at the precise moment met me again, as I was thinking it over at the point of my depressed state; but it was God's mercy that he came to me again, or otherwise I would never have made it here. But now I am here, such a one as I am, more fit, indeed, for death, by that mountain, than to stand talking with you my Lord; but, O! What a privilege this is to me, that nevertheless I am admitted entrance here!

GOODWILL. We make no protests against any, even after all the failures that they have made before they came here. "I will certainly not cast out." (Joh 6:37) And therefore, good Christian, come a little way with me, and I will teach you about the way you must go. (Psa 32:8) Look before you; do you see this narrow way? THAT is the way you must go; it was founded by the patriarchs, prophets, Christ, and His apostles. This is the straight and narrow way you must go.

CHR. But, Christian said, are there any twists or turns, by which a stranger may lose his way?

GOODWILL. Yes, there are many, and they are crooked and wide. Therefore you will be able to distinguish the right from the wrong, by the right way being straight and narrow. (Mat 7:14)

     Then I saw in my dream, that Christian asked him further if he could help him get the burden off his back; because as yet he was not able to be rid of it, nor could he by any means, remove it without help.

     He told him, as for your burden, be content to bear it, until you come to the place of your deliverance; for there it will fall from your back by itself.

     Then Christian began to gird up his loins, and to speak to himself to move out on his journey. So the other told him, that by the time he had gone a far distance from the gate, he would come to the house of the Interpreter; at whose door he should knock, and he would show him excellent things. (Pro 22:20) Then Christian took his leave of his friend, and he again bid him Godspeed.

     Then he went on until he came to the house of the Interpreter, where he knocked over and over; (Luk 11:10) finally one came to the door, and asked who was there.

CHR. Sir, I am a traveler, who was told by an acquaintance of the good man of this house to come here for my own benefit; I would therefore please 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 wanted.

CHR. Sir, said Christian, I am a man that has come from the City of Destruction, and I am going to Mount Zion; and I was told by the man that stands at the gate, at the head of this way, that if I made it to here, you would show me excellent things, such as would be a help to me in my journey.

INTER. Then the Interpreter said, Come in; I will show you that which will be profitable to you. So He commanded His man to light the candle, and bid Christian to follow Him: so He led 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 serious person hung up against the wall; and this was the fashion of it. He had eyes lifted up to Heaven, the best of books in his hand, (The Bible) the Law of Truth was written upon his lips, the world was behind his back. He stood as if he pleaded with men, and a crown of gold did hang over its head.

CHR. Then Christian said, What does this mean?

INTER. The man whose picture this is, is one of a thousand; he can have many children, (1Co 4:15) travail in birth with his children, (Gal 4:19) and nurse them himself when they are born. And where you saw him with his eyes lifted up to Heaven, the Bible in his hand, and the Law of Truth written on his lips, it is to show you, that his work is to know and unfold Spiritual Thoughts to sinners; even as also You see him stand as if he pleaded with men; and where you saw the world as cast behind him, and that a crown hangs over his head, that is to show you that ignoring and despising the things that are present, for the love that he has to his Master's service, he is sure in the world that comes next; to have glory for his reward. Now, the Interpreter said, I have showed you this picture first, because the man whose picture this is — is the only man whom the Lord of the place where you are going, has authorized to be your guide in all the difficult places you may encounter in the way; for this reason, paying attention to what I have showed you, and keep in your mind what you have seen, so in your journey when you meet someone who is pretending to lead you the right way, you will know their way goes down to death.

     Then He took him by the hand, and led him into a very large parlor that was full of dust, because it had never been swept; after He had reviewed it a little while, the Interpreter called for a man to sweep it. Now, when he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly to fly about, that Christian had almost become choked. Then the Interpreter said to a young woman that stood by, Bring here the water, and sprinkle the room; after, when she had done this, it was swept and cleansed with pleasure.

CHR. Then said Christian, What does this mean?

INTER. The Interpreter answered, This parlor 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 sprinkled it, is the Gospel. Now, where you saw, that as soon as the first began to sweep, the dust did so fly about that the room could not be cleansed, but that you were almost choked by it; this is to show you, that the Law, instead of cleansing the heart from sin, (By its working) does revive, put strength into, and increase it in the soul, even as it does discover and forbid it, for it does not give power to overcome it. (Rom 7:6; 1Co 15:56; Rom 5:20)

     Again, as you saw the young woman sprinkle the room with water, upon which it was cleansed with pleasure; this is to show you, that when the Gospel comes in the sweet and precious influences of God the Holy Spirit and Truth cleanse the heart, then, I say, even as you saw the damsel remove the dust by sprinkling the floor with water, so sin is vanquished and subdued, and the soul made clean, through faith in the Word of God, and consequently fit for the King of glory to inhabit. (Joh 15:3; Eph 5:26; Act 15:9; Rom 16:25-26)

     I saw, moreover, in my dream, that the Interpreter took him by the hand, and led him into a little room, where sat two little children, each one in his chair. The name of the elder 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 it all now; but patience is willing to wait.

     Then I saw that one came to Passion, and brought him a bag of treasure, and poured it down at his feet, and he took it up and rejoiced in it, and laughed Patience to scorn. But I beheld in a little while, that he had squandered it all away, and had nothing left but rags.

CHR. Then Christian said to the Interpreter, please Expound this matter more fully to me.

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 you see, 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 wait till next year, that is, until the next world, for their portion of good things. 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 AMAZING BLESSINGS of the world to come. But as you saw that he had quickly squandered it all away, and had presently left him nothing but rags; so it will be, with all such men at the end of their life.

CHR. Then Christian said, Now I see that Patience has the best wisdom, and for many reasons. First, Because he waits for the best things. Second, And also because he will have the glory of his rewards, when the other has nothing but rags.

INTER. Not yet, you may add another reason to it, the glory of the next world will never wear out; but these temporary things are suddenly gone. Therefore Passion has no 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 no another to follow. He, therefore, that has his portion first, needs to have a time to spend it; but he that has his portion last, will have it forever; therefore it is said of the rich man, "Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony." (Luk 16:25)

CHR. Then I perceive it is not best to covet things that are now, but to wait for things to come. (Heb 13:5-6)

INTER. You are saying the Truth: "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2Co 4:18) But even though this is True, since things present, and our fleshly appetite, are such near neighbors; and again, because things to come, and the carnal nature, are such strangers; that is why that the first of these so suddenly fall into friendship, and that distance is so continued between the second. Then I saw in my dream that the Interpreter took Christian by the hand, and led him into a place where there was a fire burning against a wall, and one standing by it, always throwing a great deal of water on it, to quench it; yet the fire burned higher and hotter.

Then Christian said, What does this mean?

     The Interpreter answered, This fire is the work of grace that is working in the heart; he that is throwing water on it, to extinguish and put it out, is the Devil; but in that you see the fire nevertheless burn higher and hotter, now you will see the reason for that. So he led him around to the backside of the wall, where he saw a man with a vessel of oil in his hand, which He also did continually throw oil, but secretly, into the fire.

Then Christian said, What does this mean?

     The Interpreter answered, This is Christ, who continually, with the oil of his grace, maintains the work already begun in the heart; nevertheless the devil will do what he can to stop it, the souls of His people prove gracious still. (2Co 12:9) And in that you saw that the man stood behind the wall to maintain the fire, that is to teach you that it is hard for the tempted to see how this work of grace is maintained in the soul.

     I also saw, that the Interpreter took him again by the hand, and led him into a pleasant place, a stately palace, beautiful to behold; at the sight of which Christian was greatly delighted; he also saw, upon the top of it, certain persons walking, who were clothed all in gold.

Then Christian said, May we go in there?

     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 dared 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 them that should enter there; he saw also, that in the doorway stood many men in armor to guard it, being resolved to do the men that would enter what hurt and mischief they could. Now Christian was somewhat in amazement. At last, when every man started back for fear of the armed men, Christian saw a man of a very stout appearance come up to the man that sat there to write, saying, "Set down my name, Sir": Now as soon as he had said it, he then draw his sword, and put a helmet upon his head, and rushed toward the door upon the armed men, who came upon him with deadly force: but the man, not at all discouraged, went 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, (Act 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 — "Come in, come in; Eternal glory you will win."

     So he went in, and was clothed with the same garments as they. Then Christian smiled and said, I think certainly I know the meaning of this.

     Now, Christian said, let me continue on then. No, please stay, said the Interpreter, until I have showed you a little more, and after that you shall go on your way. So He took him by the hand again, and led him into a very dark room, where there was a man sitting in an iron cage.

     Now the man, 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 Christian said, What does this mean? At which the Interpreter told him to talk with the man.

Then Christian said to the man, Who are you? The man answered, I am not who I once was.

CHR. Who were you once?

MAN. The man said, I was once a fair and flourishing confessor, both in mine own eyes, and also in the eyes of others; I once was, as I thought, ready for the Celestial City, and had then even joy at the thoughts that I should get there. (Luk 8:13)

CHR. Well, but what are you now?

MAN. I am now a man of despair, and am shut up in it, as in this iron cage. I cannot get out. I cannot!

CHR. But how do you come to be in this condition?

MAN. I quit watching and being sober minded; 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, (Eph 4:30) 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 (Change my mind) and turn back.

Then Christian said to the Interpreter, But is there no hope for such a man as this? Ask him, said the Interpreter. No, said Christian, pray Sir, would you?

INTER. Then said the Interpreter, Is there no hope, that you must be kept in the iron cage of despair?

MAN. No, none at all.

INTER. Why, the Son of God is very compassionate.

MAN. I have crucified Him to myself anew; (Heb 6:6) I have despised His person; (Luk 19:14) I have despised His righteousness; I have; "regarded as unclean the blood of the Covenant" I have "insulted 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 judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour me as an adversary. (Heb 10:26-27)

INTER. For what happened that you brought yourself into this condition?

MAN. For the lusts, pleasures, and profits of this world; in the enjoyment of which I promised myself much delight; but now every one of those things also bite me, and gnaw at me like a burning worm.

INTER. But can you not now change your mind and turn back?

MAN. God hath denied me repentance. (Heb 6:3-6) His Word gives me no encouragement to believe; yes, He has 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!

INTER. Then the Interpreter said to Christian, Let this man's misery be remembered by you, and be an everlasting caution to you.

CHR. Christian said, Well, this is fearful! God help me to watch and be sober minded, and to pray that I may avoid the cause of this man's misery! Sir, is it not time for me to go on my way now?

INTER. Tarry till I shall show you one more thing, and then you shall go on your way.

     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 clothing, he shook and trembled. Then Christian said, Why does this man so tremble? The Interpreter asked him to tell Christian the reason he was trembling. So he began and said, This night, as I was in my sleep, I dreamed, and behold the heavens grew extremely black; also thunder and lightning in a most fearful way, that it put me into agony; so I looked up in my dream, and saw the clouds move violently by the wind 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, you dead, and come out to judgment"; 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. (1Co 15:52; 1Th 4:16; Jude 1:14; Joh 5:28-29; 2Th 1:7-8; Rev 20:11-14; Isa 26:21; Mic 7:16-17; Psa 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 between Him and them, as between 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 of fire." (Mat 3:12; Mat 13:30; Mal 4:1) And with that, Hades opened, just about where 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 My barn." (Luk 3:17) And with that I saw many caught up and carried away into the clouds, but I was left behind. (1Th 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 2:14-15) Upon this I awaked from my sleep.

CHR. But what was it that made you so afraid of this sight?

MAN. Why, I thought that the Day of Judgment has come, and that I was not ready for it: but this frightened me most, that the angels gathered up several, and left me behind; also Hades opened her mouth just where I stood. My conscience, too, afflicted me; and, as I thought, the Judge had always his eye upon me, showing indignation in his countenance.

Then said the Interpreter to Christian, Have you considered all these things?

CHR. Yes, and they have put me in hope and fear.

INTER. Well, keep all things so in your mind that they may be as a goad in your side, to prick you forward in the way you must go. Then Christian began to gird up his loins, (Job 40:7) and speak to himself to keep going on his journey. Then the Interpreter said, The Comforter (God the Holy Spirit) will be with you always (Joh 14:16-17) good Christian, to guide you in the way (Staying in fellowship) that leads to the City. So Christian went on his way, saying — "Here I have seen things rare and profitable; Things pleasant and dreadful, things to make me stable In what I have begun to take hold of; Then let me Think on Them, and understand for what reason they have been taught to me, and let me be thankful to you, O good Interpreter."

     Now I saw in my dream, that the highway which Christian was to go was fenced on either side with a wall, and that wall was called Salvation. (Isa 26:1-2) Up this way, did burdened Christian run, but not without great difficulty, because of the load on his back.

     He ran like this until he came to a place somewhat ascending, and upon that place stood a cross, and a little below, at the bottom, a sepulcher. 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 it continued to, until it came to the mouth of the sepulcher, where it fell in, and I saw it no more.

PROCEEDS TO THE CROSS

     Then was Christian glad and cheerful, and said, with a merry heart, "He has 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 therefore 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 checks. (Zec 12:10) Now, as he stood looking and weeping, behold three Shining Ones came to him and saluted him with "Peace be to you." So the first said to him, "Your sins are forgiven." (Mar 2:5) The second stripped him of his rags, and clothed him "with festal robes." (Zec 3:4) The third also set a mark in his forehead, and gave him a Bible with a seal upon it, which he requested him to look at it as he ran, and that he should give it at the Celestial Gate. (Eph 1:13; Rev 22:14) So they went their way. Then Christian gave three leaps for joy, and went on singing — this far I have come burdened with my sin. Nor could anything ease the grief that I was in until I came here: What a place is this! Here is the beginning of my bliss? Here did the burden fall from off my back Here did the cords that bound it to me crack? Blessed Cross! Blessed sepulcher! Blessed rather be The Man that was put to shame for me! (Isa 53:1-12)

     I saw then in my dream, that he went on therefore, even until he came to a bottomland, 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.

     Christian then seeing them lie in this condition, went to them, if perhaps he might awaken them, and cried, You are like those that sleep on the top of a mast, (Pro 23:34) for the Dead Sea under you — is a deep wide chasm that has no bottom. Awake, therefore, and come away; be willing also, and I will help you off with your irons. He also told them, if he that "prowls around like a roaring lion" comes by, you will certainly become prey for his teeth. (1Pe 5:8) With that they looked upon him, and began to reply in this manner: Simple said, "I see no danger"; Sloth said, "Yet a little more sleep"; and Presumption said, "Every tub must stand upon its own bottom; (People should be independent — mind your own business) what other answer should I give you?" And so they lay down to sleep again, and Christian went on his way.

     Yet he was troubled to think that men in that danger should so little esteem the kindness that so freely offered to help them, both by awakening them, counseling them, and offering to help them off with their chains. And as he was troubled about it, he spotted two men come tumbling over the wall, on the left hand of the narrow way; and they caught up quickly to him. The name of the one was Formalist, and the name of the other Hypocrisy. So, as I said, they drew up to him, and therefore he entered into a conversation with them.

CHR. Gentlemen, where did you come from, and where are you going?

FORM. and HYP. We were born in the land of Vain-glory, and are going for praise and worship at Mount Zion.

CHR. Why didn't you come in at the gate, which stands at the beginning of the way? Do you not know that it is written, that he who does not enter by the door, "but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber?" (Joh 10:1)

FORM. and HYP. They said, That to go to the gate for entrance was, by all their countrymen, considered too far; and therefore, their usual way was to make a short cut of it, and to climb over the wall, as they had done.

CHR. But wouldn't it be counted as a trespass against the Lord of the city where we are obligated to go, therefore also to violate His revealed will?

FORM. and HYP. They told him, that, as for that, he needed not to trouble his head about it; for what they did, they had a tradition for; and could produce, if need be, testimony that would witness that is has been this way, for more than a thousand years.

CHR. But, Christian said, will your practice stand a trial at Law?

FORM. and HYP. They told him, We have been practicing this tradition for over a thousand years, and would, doubtless, be admitted as a thing legal by any impartial judge; and besides, they said, if we get into the way, what does it matter how way we get in? If we are in, we are in; (Mat 22:10-13) you are also 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; how, is your condition now better than ours?

CHR. I walk by the Rules of my Master; (2Ti 2:5) you walk by the rude workings of your imaginations. (Psa 73:7-9;) You are counted thieves already, by the Lord of the way; therefore, I doubt you will be found true men at the end of the way. You have come in by yourselves, without His direction; and shall go out by yourselves, without His mercy. (Psa 73:27)

     To this, they did not have an answer; only they bid him mind your own business. Then I saw that they went on each in his own way, without much conference one with another; save that these two men told Christian, that as to Laws and Ordinances, they had no doubt but that they should as religiously do them as he; therefore, they said, we do not see where you are different from us, (2Ti 3:5) but by the coat that is on your back, which was, as we think, was given to you by some of your neighbors, to hide the shame of your nakedness.

CHR. By Laws and Ordinances you will not be saved, since you came not in by the door. (Gal 1:16) And as for this coat that is on my back, it was given to me by the Lord of the place where I am going; and that, as you say, to cover my nakedness with. (Rev 3:18) And I take it as a token of His kindness to me; for I had nothing but rags before. And, besides, I also comfort myself as I go: Surely, I think, when I come to the gate of the city, the Lord will know me for good, since I have His coat on my back — a coat that He gave me in the day that He stripped me of my rags. (Php 3:8-9) I also have a mark on my forehead, of which, perhaps, you have not noticed, 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 also had  a Bible given to me, sealed, to comfort me by reading it, as I go on the way; I was also told to present it at the Celestial Gate, in token of my certain going in with it; all things which, I doubt, you want then, because you came in not by the gate. (Mat 7:13-14)

     To these things they gave him no answer; only they looked upon each other, and laughed. Then I saw that they all went on, except that Christian kept on as before, who had no more talking, except with himself, and that sometimes sighingly and sometimes comfortably; (Gen 35:18) (Son of sorrows — Son of my right hand) also he would be often reading in the Bible that one of the Shining Ones gave him, by which he was refreshed. (Psa 119:23-24)

ASCENDS THE HILL DIFFICULTY

     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 was 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 one going up the side of the hill is called Difficulty. Christian now went to the spring, and drank, to refresh himself, (Isa 49:10) and then began to go up the hill, saying:

     "The hill, though high, I wish to ascend, the difficulty will not offend me; for I perceive the way to life lies here. Come, have courage heart, let's neither faint nor fear; Better, though difficult, the right way to go, than wrong, though easy, where the end is Woe."

     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 way 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 those 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 forest, and the other took him directly up to the way of Destruction, which led him into a wide field, full of dark mountains, where he stumbled and fell, and rose no more.

     I looked, then, after Christian, to see him go up the hill, where I perceived he slowed down from running to walking, and from walking to struggling 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 tree, made by the Lord of the hill for the refreshing of weary travelers; Christian therefore, sat down to rest. Then he pulled his Bible out of his bosom, and read it 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 asleep, and into a deep sleep, which detained him in that place until it was almost night; and in his sleep his Bible fell out of his hand. Now, as he was sleeping, there came one to him, and awaked him, saying, "Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise." (Pro 6:6) And with that Christian suddenly got up, and hurried on his way, and went rapidly, till he came to the top of the hill.

     Now, when he was up to the top of the hill, there came two men running to meet him at full speed; the name of the one was Timorous, and of the other Mistrust; to whom Christian said, Sirs, what's the matter? You are running the wrong way. Timorous answered, that they were going to the City of Zion, and had got up to that difficult place; but, he said, the further we go, the more danger we encounter; this is why we have turned, and are going back.

     Yes, said Mistrust, for just before us lie a couple of lions in the way, whether sleeping or awake we do not know, and we could not imagine if we came within reach, but they would presently pull us in pieces.

CHR. Then Christian said, You are making me afraid, but where shall I go to be safe? If I go back to my 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 proceed on. To go back is nothing but death; to go forward is no 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 heard from the men, so he felt in his jacket for his Bible, that he might read in it, and be comforted; but he did not find it. Then Christian was in great distress, and did not know what to do; for he wanted the Word of God which he used to revive himself and that which should have also been his pass into the Celestial City. Here, therefore, he began to be perplexed, and did not know what to do. At last, he thought it over, and remembered that he had slept in the bushes that is on the side of the hill; and, falling down upon his knees, he asked God's forgiveness for his foolish act, and then went back to look for his Bible. But all the way as he went back; (Who can sufficiently set forth the sorrow of Christian's heart!) Sometimes he sighed, sometimes he wept, and oftentimes he criticized himself for being so foolish to fall asleep in that place, which was erected only for a little refreshment for his weariness. Therefore he went back, carefully looking on this side, and on that, all the way as he went, if happily he might find his Bible; that had been his comfort so many times in his journey. He went until he came again within sight of the bushes where he sat and slept; but that sight renewed his sorrow the more, by bringing again, even afresh into his mind, the evil of sleeping there. (Rev 2:5; 1Th 5:7-8) So, therefore, he now went on bewailing his sinful sleep, saying, "O wretched man that I am!" (Rom 7:24) 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 the ease of my flesh, which the Lord of the hill has constructed only for the relief of the spirits of pilgrims!

     How many steps have I taken 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 walk those steps with sorrow, which I might have walked 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 walk those steps three times over, which I did not have to go but once; yes, now also I am to be overtaken by darkness, for the day is almost spent. O that I had not slept!

     Now by this time he was come to the forest again, where he sat down and wept; but at last, as Christian hoped for, looking sorrowfully down under the bushes, there he spotted his Bible; the which he, with trembling and haste, caught up, and put it into his bosom. But who can tell how joyful this man was when he had got his Bible again! For this Bible 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 was, and with joy and tears committed himself again to his journey. But O 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 sympathize with himself. O you sinful sleep! How, for your sake am I likely to be overtaken 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. (1Th 5:6-7) Now also he remembered the story that Mistrust and Timorous told him of, how they were frightened with the sight of the lions. Then Christian said to himself again, these beasts are home in the dark; for their prey; and if they should meet with me in the dark, how should I lose them? How should I escape being torn to pieces? Therefore he went on his way. But while he was thus complaining about his unhappy failure, he lifted 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.

     So I saw in my dream; that he hurried and went forward, that if possible he might get lodging there. Now before having gone far, he entered into a very narrow passage, which was about a furlong off of the porter's lodge; and looking very narrowly before him as he went; he spotted two lions in the way. Now, he thought, I see the dangers that Mistrust and Timorous were driven back by. (The lions were chained, but he didn't see the chains) Then he was afraid, and thought I should go back after them, for he also thought, nothing but death was before him. But the porter at the lodge, whose name is Watchful, perceiving that Christian stopped as if he would go back, cried to him, saying, Is your strength so small? (Luke 21:34-36) Do not fear the lions, for they are chained, and are placed there for a trial of the Spiritual life, and for the discovery of those that have none. Keep in the middle of the path, and no hurt will come to you.

     Then I saw that he went on, trembling for fear of the lions, but paying attention 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 Christian said to the porter, Sir, what house is this? And may I lodge here tonight? 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 where he was from, and where he was going.

CHR. I have 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 tonight.

POR. What is your name?

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)

POR. But how doth it happen that you come so late? The sun is set.

CHR. I would have been here sooner, but, "wretched man that I am!" I slept in the forest that stands on the hill side; no, I however, would have been here much sooner, but that, in my sleep, I lost my Bible, and came without it to the brow of the hill; and then feeling for it, and not finding it, I was forced, with sorrow of heart, to go back to the place where I fell asleep, where I found it, and now I am here.

POR. Well, I will call out one of the virgins of this place, who will, if she likes your thinking, bring you in to 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 serious and beautiful damsel, named Discretion, and asked why she was called.

     The porter answered, This man is in a journey from the City of Destruction to Mount Zion, but being weary and overtaken by the night, he asked me if he might lodge here tonight; so I told him I would call for you, who, after a discourse with him, will then decide to let him stay or not, as seems good to you, even according to the Law of the house.

     Then she asked him where he was from, and where he was going; and he told her. She asked him also how he entered into the way; and he told her. (Joh 14:6) 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 tonight, 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, you blessed of the Lord" (Gen 24:31) this house was built by the Lord of the hill, for the purpose to entertain such pilgrims as you. Then he bowed his head, and followed them into the house. So when he came 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 optimization of their time; and they appointed Piety, and Prudence, and Charity to discourse with him; and so they began:

PIETY. Come, good Christian, since we have been so loving to you, to receive you into our house this night, let us, if perhaps we may profit, talk with you of all the things that have happened to you in your pilgrimage.

CHR. With a very good will said, and I am very glad that you are so willing to talk with me.

PIETY. What moved you at first to commit yourself to a pilgrim's life?

CHR. I was driven out of my native country, by a dreadful sound that was in my ears; namely, that unavoidable destruction did accompany me, if I remained in the place where I was.

PIETY. But how did it happen that you came out of your country this way? CHR. It was as God would have it; for when I was under the fears of destruction, I did not know where 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 narrow gate, or else I should never have found it, and so he set me into the way that has led me directly to this house.

PIETY. But did you not come by the house of the Interpreter?

CHR. Yes, and did see such things there, the remembrance of which will stick with me as long as I live; especially three things, namely, how Christ, in spite of Satan, maintains His work of grace in the heart; how the man had sinned; with no hope of God's mercy; and also in his dreams; thought the day of judgment had come.

PIETY. Why, did you hear him tell his dream?

CHR. Yes, and a dreadful one it was. The thought of it made my heart ache as he was telling me; but yet I am glad I heard it.

PIETY. Was that all that you saw at the house of the Interpreter?

CHR. No; he took me and showed me a stately palace, and how the people were clad in gold (Metalclad) 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. I thought about them and those things did ravish my heart! I would have stayed at that good man's house a year, but I knew that I had further to go.

PIETY. And what else did you see in the way?

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; yes, and while I stood looking up, for then I could not keep from 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 embroidered coat which you see; and the third set the mark which you see in my forehead, and gave me this Bible with a seal on it. (And with that he plucked it out of his bosom)

PIETY. But you saw more than this, didn't you?

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, 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 after all that, I might have gone back again; but now, I thank God that I am here, and I thank you for receiving of me.

Then Prudence thought it good to ask him a few questions, and desired his answer to them.

PRUD. Do you not often think sometimes of the country from where you came from?

CHR. Yes, but with much shame and loathing: "truly if I had been thinking of that country from where I came out, I might have had opportunity to have returned; but now I desire a better country, that is, an heavenly one." (Heb 11:15-16)

PRUD. Do you still have some of the thoughts that you thought with and were familiar with?

CHR. Yes, but greatly against my will; especially my inward and carnal thoughts, 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 thoughts, I would choose never to think of those thoughts anymore; but when I would be doing of that which is best, that which is worse is with me. (Rom 7:1-25)

PRUD. Do you not find sometimes, as if those things were vanquished, which at other times are your perplexity?

CHR. Yes, but that is but seldom; but they are to me golden hours, in which such things happen to me.

PRUD. Can you remember by what means you find your annoyances, at other times, as if they were vanquished?

CHR. Yes; when I think about what I saw at the cross, that will do it; and when I look upon my embroidered coat, that will do it; also when I look into the Bible that I carry in my bosom, that will do it; and when my thoughts increase about where I am going, that will do it.

PRUD. And what is it that makes you so desirous to go to Mount Zion?

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 the Truth, I love Him, because I was by Him eased of my burden; and I am weary of my inward sickness. I would gladly be where I shall die no more, and with the company that shall continually cry, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY." (Rev 4:8)

Then Charity said to Christian, Have you a family? Are you a married man?

CHR. I have a wife and four small children.

CHAR. And why did you not bring them along with you?

CHR. Then Christian wept, and said, O how willingly I would have done it! But all of them were utterly against me going on this pilgrimage.

CHAR. But you should have talked to them, and have endeavored to have shown them the danger of staying behind.

CHR. So I did; and told them also what God had shown me of the destruction of our city; "But I appeared to them to be jesting," and they did not believe me. (Gen 19:14)

CHAR. And did you pray to God that He would bless your counsel to them?

CHR. Yes, and that with much affection; for you must understand that my wife and poor children were very dear to me.

CHAR. But did you tell them of your own sorrow, and fear of destruction? for I suppose that the destruction was visible enough to you.

CHR. Yes, over, and over, and over. They might also have seen my fears in my countenance, in my tears, and also in my trembling under the apprehension of the judgment that did hang over our heads; but all was not sufficient to prevail with them to come with me.

CHAR. But what could they say for themselves, why they would not come?

CHR. Why, my wife was afraid of losing this world, and my children were given to the foolish delights of youth; so her by one thing, and them by another, they left me to wander in this manner alone.

CHAR. But didn't you, with your life, dim in comparison all that you used by words by way of persuasion to bring them along with you?

CHR. Indeed, I cannot commend my life; for I am conscious to myself of many failings; I know also, that a man by his manner of life may soon overthrow, what by argument or persuasion he does labor to fasten upon others for their good. Yet this I can say, I was very wary of giving them any opportunity, by any unseemly action, to make them against going with me. Yes, 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. No, I think I may say that if what they saw in me did hinder them, it was my great tenderness in not sinning against God, or of doing any wrong to my neighbor.

CHAR. Indeed Cain hated his brother, "Because his deeds were evil, and his brother's were righteous;" (1Jn 3:12-13) and if your wife and children have been offended by you for this, they show themselves to be implacable to good, "but you have delivered yourself from their blood." (Eze 3:19)

     Now I saw in my dream, that they sat talking together until supper was ready. So when they had made it ready, they sat down to eat. Now the table was furnished; "with a banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow, And refined, aged wine." (Isa 25:6-7) And all their talk at the table was about the Lord of the hill; as, namely, about what He had done, and why He did what He did, and why He had built that house. And by what they said, I perceived that He had been a great warrior, and had fought with and slain "him who had the power of death," but not without great danger to Himself, which made me love Him all the more. (Heb 2:14-15)

     For, as they said, and as I believe, (Christian said) 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 had died 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 of which is not to be found from the east to the west.

     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 who by nature were beggars from birth, and their original nature had been a dunghill. (1Sa 2:8; Psa 113:7)

     Thus they fellowshipped together till late at night; and after they had committed themselves to their Lord for protection, they committed themselves to rest: the Pilgrim they put in a large upper chamber, whose window opened toward the sun rising; the name of the chamber was Peace; where he slept till break of day, and then he awoke and sang.

     Where am I now? Is this the love and care Of Jesus for the men that are pilgrims? Thus to provide! That I should be forgiven! And dwell already the next door to Heaven!

     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 collectables of that place. And first, they led him into the study, where they showed him records of the greatest antiquity; in which, as I remember in my dream, they showed him first the ancestry 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.

     Then they read to him some of the worthy acts that some of His servants had done: as, how they "who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained Promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight." (Heb 11:33-34)

     They then read again in another part of the records of the house, where it was showed how willing their Lord was to receive into His favor any, even any, though they in time past had offered great insults to His person and proceedings. Here also were several other accounts of many other famous things, of all which Christian had a view of; 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 the enemies, and the comfort and solace of pilgrims.

     The next day they took him and led him into the armory, where they showed him all manner of equipment, 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 these to equip many men, for the service of their Lord, as there be stars in the Heaven for multitude.

     They also showed him some of the instruments with which some of his servants had done wonderful things. They showed him Moses' rod; the hammer and nail with which Jael slew Sisera; the pitchers, trumpets, and lamps too, with which Gibeon put to flight the armies of Midian. Then they showed him the ox's goad that Shamgar used to slay 600 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 be the prey. They showed him, besides, many excellent things, with which Christian was much delighted. This done, they went to their rest again.

     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, they said, 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 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, they said, as this hill is, to and for all the pilgrims. And when you come there, from here, they said, you may see to the gate of the Celestial City, as the shepherds that live there will let you see it.

     Now, he thought to himself of setting forward, and they were willing he should, But first, they said, let us go again into the armory. So they did; and when they came there, they equipped him from head to foot with what was unbreakable, lest, perhaps, he should meet with assaults in the way. He being, therefore, so equipped, walked 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.

CHR. Did you know him? 

POR. I asked his name, and he told me it was Faithful.

CHR. O, said Christian, I know him; he is my townsman, my near neighbor; he comes from the place where I was born. How far do you think he may be ahead me?

POR. He is by this time below the hill.

CHR. Well, good Porter, the Lord be with you, and add to all your blessings; much increase, for the kindness that you have showed to me.

ENTERS THE VALLEY OF HUMILIATION

     Then he began to go forward; but Discretion, Piety, Charity, and Prudence, accompanied him down to the foot of the hill. So they went on together, reiterating their former discourses, till they accomplished going down the hill. Then, Christian said, as it was difficult coming up, and, as far as I can see, it is dangerous going down. Yes, Prudence said, so it is, for it is a hard matter for a man to go down into the Valley of Humiliation, as you are now, and to not get caught slipping by the way; therefore, they said, we came to accompany you down the hill. So he began to go down, but very warily; yet he caught a slip or two. 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.

     But now, in this Valley of Humiliation, poor Christian was hard put to it; for he had gone but a little way, before he spotted 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 armor for his back; and, therefore, he thought that to turn his back to him will give him the greater advantage, with ease to pierce him with his darts. Therefore he resolved to venture and stand his ground; for, he thought, If I had nothing more in my eye than the saving of my life, it would be the best way to stand.

     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.

APOL. Where have you come from? and where are you going?

CHR. I am come from the City of Destruction, which is the place of all evil, and am going to the City of Zion.

APOL. By this I perceive you are one of my subjects, for all that country is mine, and I am the prince and god of it. How is it, then, that you have run away from your king? Were it not that I hope you may do me more service, I would strike you now, at one blow, to the ground.

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 repair myself.

APOL. There is no prince that will thus lightly lose his subjects, neither will I as yet lose you; but since you complain of your service and wages, be content to go back; what our country will afford, I do here promise to give you.

CHR. But I have submitted myself to another, even to the King of princes; and how can I, with fairness, go back with you?

APOL. You have 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 this also, and all shall be well.

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?

APOL. You did the same to me, and yet I am willing to give you a pass, if now you will yet turn again and go back.

CHR. What I promised you was in my childhood; and, besides, I count the Prince under whose banner I now stand is able to absolve me; yes, and to pardon also what I did in compliance with you; and besides, O you destroying Apollyon! to speak truth, I like His service, His wages, His servants, His government, His company, and country, better than yours; and, therefore, cease to persuade me further; I am His servant, and I will follow Him.

APOL. Consider again, when you are in cold blood, what you are likely to meet with in the way that you are going. You know 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, you count His service better than mine, where He never came yet from the place where He is to deliver any that served Him; 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, and so I will deliver you.

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 you say they come to, that is most glorious to their account; for present deliverances, they do not much expect it, for they stay for their reward, and then they shall have it, when their Prince comes in His glory and the glory of the angels.

APOL. You have already been unfaithful in your service to Him; and how do you think to receive wages from Him?

CHR. How, O Apollyon! have I been unfaithful to Him?

APOL. You did faint at the first setting out, when you were almost choked in the Gulf of Despond; you did attempt wrong ways to be rid of your burden, where you should have stayed till thy Prince had taken it off; you did sinfully sleep, and lose your choice thing; (The Bible) You were, also, almost persuaded to go back, at the sight of the lions; and when you talked of your journey, and of what you have heard and seen, you are inwardly desirous of vain-glorification in all that you say or do.

CHR. All this is true, and much more which you have left out; but the Prince, whom I serve and honor, is merciful, and ready to forgive; but, besides, these infirmities possessed by me in your country, for there I sucked them in; and I have groaned under them, been sorry for them, and have obtained pardon of my Prince.

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 coming out on purpose to withstand you.

CHR. Apollyon, beware what you do; for I am in the king's highway, the way of holiness; therefore take heed to yourself. (Isa 35:8-10)

APOL. Then Apollyon straddled quite over the whole breadth of the way, and said, I am void of fear in this matter: prepare yourself to die; for I swear by my infernal den, that you shall go no further; here will I spill your soul.

     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 it.

     Then Christian drew; for he saw it was time to move him: and Apollyon just as fast moved at him, throwing darts as thick as hail; by the which, despite all that Christian could do to avoid it, Apollyon wounded him in his head, his hand, and foot. This made Christian give a little backwards; Apollyon, therefore, followed his work full speed, and Christian again took courage, and resisted as manfully as he could. This sore combat lasted for above half a day, even until Christian was almost quite spent; for you must know, that Christian, by reason of his wounds, was growing weaker and weaker.

     Then Apollyon, spotting 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 Apollyon said, I am sure of you 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 bringing his last blow, to make a full end of this good man, Christian nimbly stretched out his hand for his sword, and caught it, saying, "Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me." (Mic 7:8) And with that gave him a deadly thrust, which made him step back, as one that had received his mortal wound. Christian perceiving that, made at him again, saying, "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who 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. (Jas 4:7)

     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 spoke 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 most dreadful sight that ever I saw.

     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-

     Great Beelzebub, the captain of this fiend, Designed my ruin; therefore to this end He sent him unchained; and he with rage, That hellish one, did fiercely me engage. But blessed Michael helped me, and I, By means of sword, did quickly make him fly. Therefore to him let me give lasting praise, And thank and bless his holy Name always.

    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 do not know for sure, but some other enemy may be at hand. But he met with no other attack from Apollyon through this valley.

     Now, at the end of this valley, was another, The Valley of the Shadow of Death. and Christian must go through it, because the way to the Celestial City lay through the middle of it. Now this valley is a very solitary place. The prophet Jeremiah described it as: "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)

     Now here Christian was worse put to it than in his fight with Apollyon; as by the sequel you shall see.

     I saw then in my dream, that when Christian arrived at the borders of the Shadow of Death, there two men and the children of them that brought up an evil report of the good land met him, (Num 13:31-33) making haste to go back; to whom Christian spoke as follows-

CHR. Where are you going?

MEN. They said, Back! back! and we would have you to do so too, if either life or peace is prized by you.

CHR. Why? what's the matter? Christian said.

MEN. Matter! they said; we were going that way as you are going, and went as far as we dared; and indeed we were almost past coming back; for had we gone a little further, we would not have been here to bring the news to you.

CHR. But what have you met with? Christian asked.

MEN. Why, we were almost in the Valley of the Shadow of Death; but that, by accident, we looked before us, and saw the danger before we came to it. (Psa 44:19; Psa 107:10)

CHR. But what have you seen? said Christian.

MEN. Seen! Why, the valley itself, which is as dark as pitch; we also saw there the demons, 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 sat there bound in affliction and irons; and over that Valley hangs the discouraging clouds of confusion. Death also does always spread its' wings over it. In a word, it is every bit dreadful, being utterly without order. (Job 3:5; Job 10:22)

CHR. Then Christian said, I did not perceive this, by what you have said, but that this is my way to the desired haven. (Jer 2:6)

MEN. Be it your 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; in case he should be assaulted.

     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. (Psa 69:14-15) Again, behold, on the left hand, there was a very dangerous quagmire, into which, if even a good man falls, he can find no bottom for his foot to stand on. Into that quagmire; king David once did fall, and had no doubt been smothered, had not HE that is able; plucked him out.

     The pathway was here also exceeding narrow, and therefore good Christian put the more effort 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, that often times, when he lifted up his foot to set forward, he did not know where, or upon what he should set it next.

     About the midst of this valley, I perceived the mouth of hell, and it stood also hard by the way-side. Now, Christian thought, what shall I do? At times 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 take-up another weapon, called All-prayer. (Eph 6:18) So he cried in my hearing, "O LORD, I beseech You, save my life!" (Psa 116:4) Thus he went on a great while, yet still the flames would be reaching towards him. Also heard mournful 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 to go forward; so he resolved to go on. Yet the fiends seemed to come nearer and nearer; but when they came even almost to 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.

     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 truly 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 where these blasphemies came from.

     When Christian had traveled in this disconsolate, (Sad beyond comforting) condition some considerable time, he thought he heard the voice of a man, as going before him, saying, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me." (Psa 23:4)

Then he was glad, and that for these reasons:

First, Because he gathered from there, that some who feared God, were in this valley as well as himself.

Secondly, For that he perceived God was with them, even though he was in this dark and dismal state; and why not, he thought, with me? Though, by reason of the impediment that attends this place, I cannot perceive it. (Job 9:11)

Thirdly, For that he hoped, he could overtake them, to have company along the way. So he went on, and called to him that was before; but he knew not what to call; for he also thought himself to be alone. And by and by the day broke; then Christian said, He "changes deep darkness into morning." (Amos 5:8)

     Now morning having begun, 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 quagmire that was on the other; also how narrow the way was which led between them both; also now he saw the demons, and satyrs, and dragons of the pit, but all afar off; (For after break of day, they did not come near) yet they made known to him, according to that which is written, "He reveals mysteries from the darkness And brings the deep darkness into light." (Job 12:22)

     Now Christian was much affected by 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 obvious 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, nooses, and nets here, and so full of pits, pitfalls, deep holes, and setbacks down there, that had it now been dark, as it was when he came to the first part of the way, had he a thousand lives, they would have all been lost; but, as I said, just now the sun was rising. Then he said, "When His lamp shone over my head, And by His light I walked through darkness." (Job 29:3)

     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 the pilgrims that had gone this way formerly; and while I was musing what should be the reason, I spotted 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, ashes, etc., lay there, were cruelly put to death. But by this place Christian went without much danger, whereupon I somewhat wondered; but I have learned 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.

     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 spoke 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 grinned, and so went by and caught no hurt. Then Christian sang:

     O world of wonders! (I can say no less) That I should be preserv'd in that distress That I have met with here! O blessed be That hand that from it hath deliver'd me! Dangers in darkness, devils, hell, and sin, Did compass me, while I this vale was in: Yea, snares and pits, and traps, and nets, did lie My path about, that worthless, silly I Might have been catch'd, entangled, and cast down; But since I live, let JESUS wear the crown.

     Now, as Christian went on his way, he came to a little ascent, which was set 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 Christian said aloud, "Ho! ho! Soho! 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 running for my life, and the avenger of blood is behind me."

CHRISTIAN OVERTAKES FAITHFUL

     At this, Christian was somewhat moved, and putting to all his strength, he quickly catches up with Faithful, and did also overrun him; so the last was first. Then did Christian vain-gloriously smile, because he had got the best 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.

     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.

CHR. My honored and well-beloved brother, Faithful, I am glad that I have caught up with you; and that God has so tempered our spirits, that we can walk as companions in this so pleasant a path.

FAITH. I had thought, dear friend, to have had your company from our town; but you did get the head start, so I was forced to come much of the way alone.

CHR. How long did you stay in the City of Destruction, before you set out after me on your pilgrimage

FAITH. Till I could stay no longer; for there was a whole lot of talking after you left, that our city would, in a short time, be burned down to the ground with fire from Heaven.

CHR. What! Did your neighbors say so?

FAITH. Yes, it was for a while in everybody's mouth.

CHR. What! Did not more of them come out with you to escape the danger?

FAITH. Though there was, as I said, a lot of talking about it, yet I don't think they firmly believed it. For in the heat of the discourse, I heard some of them condemningly speak of you, and of your desperate journey, (For so they called this your pilgrimage) but I did believe, and still do, that the end of our city will be with fire and brimstone from above; and so I have made my escape.

CHR. Did you hear no talk of neighbor Pliable?

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 done so; but I am sure he was soundly covered with that kind of dirt.

CHR. And what did the neighbors say to him?

FAITH. He has, since his going back, been greatly in derision, and that among all sorts of people; some mock and despise him; (Calling him Mr Anything) and very few will give him any work at all. He is now seven times worse than if he had never gone out of the City. (Luk 11:26)

CHR. But why should they be so set against him, since they also despise the way (The Spiritual life) that he forsook?

FAITH. O! They say, Hang him, he is a turn-coat; 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 has forsaken the way (Jer 29:18-19)

CHR. Did you talk with him before you came out?

FAITH. I met him once in the streets, but be leered away on the other side, as one ashamed of what he had done; so I did not speak not to him. (Pro 28:1)

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; It has happened to him according to the true Proverb, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire." (2Pe 2:22)

FAITH. These are my fears of him too; but who can hinder that which will be?

CHR. Well, neighbor Faithful, Christian said, 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 have come; for I know you have met with some things, or else it may be written as a miracle.

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 Madam Wanton, who would have liked to have done me mischief.

CHR. It was well you escaped her net; Joseph was tempted continually by her, and he escaped her as you did; but it nearly cost him his life. (Gen 39:11-14) But what did she do to you?

FAITH. You cannot think, that you know something about it, what a flattering tongue she had; she lay at me hard to turn me aside with her, promising all manner of carnal subject matter.

CHR. No, she did not promise you the content of a good conscience.

FAITH. You know what I mean; all carnal and fleshly content.

CHR. Thank God you have escaped her; "The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit; He who is cursed of the LORD will fall into it." (Pro 22:14)

FAITH. No, I do not know whether I did wholly escape her or not.

CHR. Why, I believe you did not consent to her desires?

FAITH. No, not to defile myself; for I remembered an old writing that I had seen, which said, "Her feet go down to death, Her steps take hold of Sheol." (Pro 5:5) So I shut my eyes, because I would not be bewitched with her looks. (Job 31:1; Pro 6:25) Then she shouted at me, and I went my way.

CHR. Did you meet with no other assault as you came?

FAITH. When I came to the foot of the hill called Difficulty, I met with a very aged man, who asked me who I was, and where I was going. I told him that I am a pilgrim, going to the Celestial City. Then  the old man said, You look like an honest fellow; will you be content to dwell with me for the wages that I shall give you? 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 were the wages that he would give. He told me, that his work was many delights; and his wages, that I should be his heir at the end. 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 fathering. Then I asked if he had any children. He said that he had only 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 have them. (1Jn 2:16) Then I asked how long a time he would have me live with him? And he told me, As long as he lived himself.

CHR. And what conclusion did the old man and you come to at last?

FAITH. Why, at first, I found myself somewhat inclined to go with the man, for I thought he spoke very well; but looking at his forehead, as I talked with him, I saw written there, "lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit." (Eph 4:22)

CHR. And what then?

FAITH. Then it came burning hot into my mind, whatever he said, and however he flattered; I know that when I get to his house, he would sell me for a slave. So I told him to quit talking, 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 would make my way bitter to my soul. So I turned to go away from him; but just as I turned myself to go, I felt him take hold of my flesh, and give me such a deadly twitch back, that I thought he had pulled a part of me after himself. This made me cry, "O wretched man that I am!" (Rom 7:24) So I went on my way up the hill.

Now when I had gone 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 bushes are.

CHR. Just there, Christian said, I sat down to rest; but being overcome with sleep, I lost this Bible out of my bosom.

FAITH. But, good brother, hear me out. So soon as the man overtook me, he spoke but a word ,and a blow knocked me down, and laid me for dead. But when I came to myself again, I asked him why he treated me so. He said, because of my secret inclining to the First Adam: 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 to him for mercy; but he said, I do not know 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 told him to stop.

CHR. Who was that that bid him stop.

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.

CHR. That man that overtook you was Moses. He spares none, neither knows how to show mercy to those that transgress his Law.

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.

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?

FAITH. Yes, and the lions too, before I came to 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.

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 objects, 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?

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 honor. He told me, moreover, that to go this way was to disobey all my friends, as Pride, Arrogance, Ignorance, Self-conceit, Worldly-glory, and others, who, he knew, as he said, would be very offended, if I make such a fool of myself as to wade through this valley.

CHR. Well, and how did you answer him?

FAITH. I told him that although all these that he named might claim to be a relative of mine, and rightly so, 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 ancestry.

     I told him, moreover, that as to this valley he had quite misrepresented it; "for before honor is humility; and a haughty spirit before a fall." Therefore, I said, I had rather go through this valley to the honor that was so accounted by the wisest, than choose that which he esteemed most worthy our affections.

CHR. Met you with nothing else in that valley?

FAITH. Yes, I met with Shame; but of all the men that I met with in my pilgrimage, I think he bears the wrong name. The others would back down, after a little argumentation, more or less; but this bold-faced Shame would never give in and be persuaded.

CHR. Why, what did he say to you?

FAITH. What! why, he objected against religion (God's Reality) itself; he said it was a pitiful, low and sneaking business for a man to mind religion; (Spiritual functions) 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 domineering liberty, that the brave spirits of the times accustom themselves to, would make him the ridicule of the times. He objected also, that but few of the mighty, rich, or wise, were ever of my view; (Way of Thinking) (1Co 1:26; 1Co 3:18; Php 3:7-8) nor any of the religious leaders either; (Joh 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 for what. He moreover objected to the base and low estate and condition of those that were primarily pilgrims, (1Co 4:9-14) in the times in which they lived; also their ignorance, and lack of understanding in all natural science. Yes, he did intimidate me at this rate also, about a great many more things than I can relate. Some of them are: 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 neighbor forgiveness for petty faults, or to make restitution, if I have stolen from any. He said also, that religion (The Spiritual life) makes men grow distant to the great people of the world, because of a few vices, which he called by finer names; and made him claim and respect the base people, because of the same religious fraternity. And he said, is this not a shame?

CHR. And what did you say to him?

FAITH. Say! I did not know what else to say at first. And, he kept pressuring me so hard, that the blood rose up in my face; even this Shame brought it up, and had almost beat me. But, at last, I began to consider, that "for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God." (Luk 16:15) And I thought again, this Shame tells me what men are; but he tells me nothing of what God, or what 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 bullying spirits of the world, but according to the wisdom and Law of the Highest. Therefore, I thought, 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; (Divine plan) seeing God prefers a tender conscience; seeing they that make themselves fools for the kingdom of Heaven are the wisest; and that the poor man that loves Christ is richer than the greatest man in the world that hates Him; Shame, depart, you are an enemy to my Salvation and Spiritual life. Shall I entertain you versus 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? (Mar 8:38) But, indeed, this Shame was a bold villain; I could not shake him out of my proximity; yes, and he would haunt me, and was continually whispering in my ear, with someone or other of the infirmities that attend my religion; (Spiritual life) but at last I told him it was but in vain to attempt to further this vexation; for those things that he disdained, in those I did see the most glory; and so at last I got past this oppressive one. And when I had eventually shaken him off, then I began to sing:

     The trials that those men do meet with, That are obedient to the heavenly call, Are manifold, and suited to the flesh, And come, and come, and come again afresh; That now, or sometime else, we by them may Be taken, overcome, and cast away. O let the pilgrims, let the pilgrims, then, Be vigilant, and act like men.

CHR. I am glad, my brother, that you did withstand this villain so bravely; for of all of that, as you say, 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 were not himself so audacious, he would never attempt to do as he does. But let us still resist him; for despite all his bravadoes, he encourages the fool, and none else. "The wise will inherit honor," Solomon also said, "But fools display dishonor." (Pro 3:35)

FAITH. I think we must cry to Him for help against Shame, who wants us to be valiant for Truth upon the earth.

CHR. You are saying the Truth; but did you meet anybody else in that valley?

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.

CHR. It was well for you. As for me, I had a tough time; and for a long season, almost as soon as I entered into that valley, I had a dreadful combat with that foul fiend Apollyon; yes, I thought truly he would have killed me, especially when he pushed 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; 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. Over and over; I thought I should have been killed there, but at last, day broke, and the sun rose, and I went through that which was behind with far more ease and quiet.

     Moreover, I saw in my dream, that as they went on, Faithful, as he happened to look on one side, saw a man whose name is Talkative, walking at a distance besides them; for in this place, there was room enough for them all to walk. He was a tall man, and something more becoming at a distance than at hand. To this man Faithful addressed himself in this manner.

FAITH. Friend, where are you going? Are you going to the heavenly country?

TALK. I am going to the same place.

FAITH. That is well; then I hope we may have your good company.

TALK. With a good will, I will be your companion.

FAITH. Come on, then, and let us go together, and let us spend our time in discoursing of things that are profitable. (Divine Thoughts)

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 such a good work; for to speak the Truth, there are but a few that care to spend their time, (As in their travels and life) but choose much rather to be speaking of things to no profit; (Human viewpoint) and this has been a trouble to me.

FAITH. That is indeed a thing to be lamented; for what things are so worthy of the use of the tongue and mouth, as are the things of the God of Heaven?

TALK. I like you wonderfully 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? Which things are so pleasant? (That is, if a man has any delight in the things that are wonderful) For instance, if a man does delight to talk of the history or the mystery of things; or if a man does love to talk of miracles, wonders, or signs, where shall he find things recorded so delightful, and so sweetly penned, as in the Holy Scriptures?

FAITH. That is true; but to be profited by such things in our talk should be that organized.

TALK. That is what 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, etc. Besides, by this a man may learn, by talking, what it is to repent, to believe, to pray, to suffer, and Thoughts like these; 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.

FAITH. All this is true, and I am glad to hear these things from you.

TALK. Unfortunately! the lack 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 live in eternal life; (The Spiritual life) but ignorantly live in the works of the Law, by which a man can by no means obtain the kingdom of Heaven.

FAITH. But, with you permission, heavenly knowledge of these Thoughts is the gift of God; no man attains to them by human ability, or only by talking of them.

TALK. All this I know very well. For a man can receive nothing, except it be given to him from Heaven; all is of grace, not of works. I could give you a hundred Scriptures for the confirmation of this.

FAITH. Well, then, what is the one thing that we shall base our discourse upon?

TALK. Whatever you want. 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.

FAITH. Now did Faithful begin to wonder; and stepping up to Christian, (For he walked all this while by himself) he said to him (but softly) What a brave companion have we've got! Surely this man will make a very excellent pilgrim.

CHR. At this Christian modestly smiled, and said, This man, with whom you are so taken, will beguile, with that tongue of his.

FAITH. Do you know him, then?

CHR. Know him! Yes, better than he knows himself.

FAITH. What is he?

CHR. His name is Talkative; he dwells in our town; I wonder why you should be a stranger to him, only that I consider that our town is large.

FAITH. Whose son is he? And whereabouts does he live?

CHR. He is the son of one Say-well; he dwelt in Prating Row; and he is known of all that are acquainted with him, by the name of Talkative in Prating Row; (Speak about unimportant matters rapidly and incessantly) and notwithstanding his smooth tongue, he is but a sorry fellow.

FAITH. Well, he seems to be a very pretty man.

CHR. That is, to them who have not a thorough acquaintance with him; for he is best at a distance; 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.

FAITH. But I am ready to think you are kidding, because you smiled.

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 talks now with you, so he will talk when he is on the ale-bench; and the more drinks he has in his crown, the more of these things he has in his mouth; religion (Spiritual Thoughts) have no place in his heart, or house, or conversation; (Manner of life) all he has, rests in his tongue, and his religion (Way of life) is to make a noise. FAITH; you say! then I am greatly deceived by this man .

CHR. Deceived! you may be sure of it; remember the Proverb, "they say things and do not do them." (Mat 23:3) But the "kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power." (1Co 4:20) He talks of prayer, repentance, faith, and of the new birth; but he knows only how 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 true. His house is as empty of religion, (Divine Reality) as the white of an egg is of savor. There is there, neither prayer, nor sign of repentance (Change of mind) for sin; yes, the brute in his kind serves God far better than he. He is the very stain, reproach, and shame of religion, (The Spiritual life) to all that know him; can hardly have a good word to say in all that end of town where he dwells. (Rom 2:24-25) Thus the common people that know him say: A saint abroad, and a devil at home. His poor family finds it so, he is such a churl, such a scoffer, 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 criminal than with him; for fairer dealings they shall have at their hands. This Talkative (If it be possible) will go beyond them, defraud, beguile, and over-reach them. Besides, he brings up his sons to follow his steps; and if he finds 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 their commendations before others. For on my part, I am of opinion, that he has, by his wicked life, caused many to stumble and fall; and will be, if God does not prevent him, the ruin of many more.

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 it is.

CHR. Had I known him no more than you, I might perhaps have thought of him as, at the first, you did; yes, had he received this report at their hands only; that are enemies to religion, (The Kingdom of God) 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, 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.

FAITH. Well, I see that saying and doing are two separate things, and in the future I shall better observe this distinction.

CHR. They are two things indeed, and are as diverse as are the spirit and the body; for as the body without the spirit is dead, so saying, if it is alone, is but a dead carcass also. (Jas 2:26) The soul of religion (The Spiritual life) is the practical part: "Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." [Stay in fellowship and Think and apply the Word of God] (Jas 1:27; see Jas 1:22-26) This Talkative is not aware of it; he thinks that hearing and saying will make you a good Christian, and therefore he deceives 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. (Mat 13:25) It will not be said then, Did you believe? but, Were you doers, (Thinking) or talkers only? And accordingly shall they be judged. The end of the world is compared to our harvest; and you know men at a harvest regard nothing but fruit. Not that anything can be accepted that is not of faith, but I speak this way to show you how insignificant the profession of Talkative will be at that day.

FAITH. This brings to my mind that of Moses, by which he describes the beast that is clean. (Lev 11:1-4; Deut 14:1-7) He is such a one that divides the hoof and chews the cud; not those that divides the hoof only, or that chews the cud only. The hare chews the cud, but yet is unclean, because he divides not the hoof. And this truly resembles Talkative, he chews the cud, he seeks knowledge, he chews upon the Word; but he divides not the hoof, he divides not with the way of sinners; but, as the hare, he retains the foot of a dog or bear, and therefore he is unclean.

CHR. You have spoken, for everything I know, the true Gospel sense of those texts. And I will add another thing: Paul calls some men, and yes those great talkers too, "a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal," that is, as he expounds of them in another place, "lifeless things, giving sound." (1Co 13:1-3; 1Co 14:7) Things without life, that is, without the true faith and grace of the Spiritual life; and consequently, things that shall never be placed in the kingdom of Heaven among those that are the children of the Spiritual life; though their sound, by their talk, be as if it were the tongue or voice of an angel.

FAITH. Well, I was not so fond of his company at first, but I am sick of it now. What shall we do to be rid of him?

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 if God shall touch his heart, and turn it.

FAITH. What would you have me to do?

CHR. Why, go to him, and enter into some serious discourse about the power of religion; (The Spiritual life) 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?

FAITH. Then Faithful stepped forward again, and said to Talkative, Come, are you doing well? How is it going now?

TALK. Thank you, well. I thought we should have had a great deal of talk by this time.

FAITH. Well, if you will, we will come down to it now; and since you left it with me to state the question, let it be this: How does the saving grace of God discover itself working, when it is in the heart of man?

TALK. I perceive then, that our talk must be about the power of Thoughts. Well, it is a very good question, and I shall be willing to answer you. And take my answer in brief, thus: First, When the grace work of God is in the heart, it causes there a great outcry against sin. Secondly-

FAITH. No, hold it, let us consider one point at a time. I think you should rather say, It shows itself by inclining the soul to hate its sin.

TALK. Why, what difference is there between crying out against, and the hatred of sin?

FAITH. O! A great deal. A man may cry out against a sin of policy, but he cannot hate it, but by virtue of dislike 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. (Manner of life) Joseph's mistress cried out with a loud voice, as if she had been very holy; but she tried, to commit uncleanness with him. (Gen 39:12-15) Some cry out against sin, even as the mother cries out against her child in her lap, when she calls her a slut and naughty girl, and then falls to hugging and kissing her.

TALK. You lie at the catch, I perceive. (Is to lie in wait or to lay a trap to catch one.)

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?

TALK. Great knowledge of Gospel mysteries.

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. (1Co 13:2) Yes, if a man has all knowledge, he may yet be nothing, and so consequently be no child of God. When Christ said, "If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them." (Joh 13:17) He does not lay the blessing in the knowing of them, but in Thinking with them. For there is a knowledge that is not attended with doing: "And that slave who knew his master's will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes." A man may know like angels, and yet be no Christian, therefore your sign of it is not true. Indeed, to know is a thing that pleases talkers and boasters; but to do is that which pleases God. Not that the heart can be good without knowledge; for without that the heart is nothing. There is, therefore, carnal knowledge and Spiritual knowledge. Knowledge that rests 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, that I may observe Your Law And keep it with all my heart." (Psa 119:34)

TALK. You lie at the catch again; this is not for edification.

FAITH. Well, if you please, propound another sign how this work of grace discovers itself where it is.

TALK. Not I, for I see we shall not agree.

FAITH. Well, if you will not, will you permit me to tell you?

TALK. You may use your liberty.

FAITH. A work of grace in the soul discovers itself, either to him that has it, or to bystanders.

     To him that has it so: It gives him conviction of sin, especially of the defilement of his sin nature and the sin of unbelief. (For the sake of which he is sure to be damned, if he does not find mercy at God's hand, by faith in Jesus Christ) (Joh 16:8; Rom 7:24; Joh 16:9; Mar 16:16) This sight and sense of these things works in him sorrow and shame for sin; he finds, moreover, revealed in Him the Savior of the world, and the absolute necessity of submitting to Him for life, at the which he finds hungering’s and thirsting’s after Him; to which hungering’s, etc., The Promises are made in, (Psa 38:18; Jer 31:19; Gal 2:16; Act 4:12; Mat 5:6; Rev 21:6). Now, according to the strength or weakness of his faith in his Savior, 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 Reality discovers itself to him, yet it is but seldom that he is able to conclude that this is a work of grace; because of his corruptions now, and his abused reason, make his mind to misjudge in this matter; therefore, in him that has this work, there is required a very sound judgment before he can, with steadiness, conclude that this is a work of grace.

To others, it is therefore discovered:

1. By an experimental confession of his faith in Christ. (Rom 10:10; Php 1:27; Mat 5:19)

2. By a life answerable to that confession; namely, a life of holiness; heart-holiness, family-holiness, (If he has a family) and by conversation-holiness in the world; which, in the general, teaches him, inwardly, to hate his sin and nature, and himself for it, 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. (Joh 14:15; Psa 1:2-3; 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 anything to object, object; if not, then give me permission to propound to you a second question.

TALK. No, my part is not now to object, but to hear; let me, therefore, have your second question.

FAITH. It is this: Did you experience the first part of this description of it? And does your life and conversation testify the same? Or does your religion stand in word and 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 it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends." (2Co 10:18) Besides, to say, I am thus, and thus, when my conversation, (Manner of life) and all my neighbors, tell me I lie, is great wickedness.

TALK. Then Talkative at first began to blush; but, recovering himself, he replied: You come now to experience, to conscience, and to God; and to appeal to Him for justification of what is spoken. This kind of discourse I did not expect; nor am I influenced to give an answer to such questions, because I count not myself bound to it, unless you take upon you to be a catechizer, (Teaches the Principles of Christian dogma, discipline, and ethics by means of questions and answers.) and, though you should do so, yet I may refuse to make you my judge. But, I pray, will you tell me why you ask me such questions?

FAITH. Because I saw you bold to talk, and because I did not know that you had anything else but a hunch. 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 manner of life turns your mouth-profession into a lie. They say, you are a spot among Christians; and that religion (The ways of God) fares worse for your ungodly manner of life; that some already have stumbled at your wicked ways, and that more are in danger of being destroyed by; your religion, of ale-house, covetousness, uncleanness, swearing, lying, and vain company keeping, etc. The proverb is true of you which is said of a whore, namely, that she is a shame to all women; so are you a shame to all believers.

TALK. Since you are ready to take up reports, and to judge so rashly as you do, I cannot but conclude you are a disagreeable and melancholy man, not fit to be discoursed with; and so adieu.

CHR. Then Christian came up, 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 transform his Thoughts. 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 supposed he will do) as he is, he would have been but a blot in our company; besides, the apostle says, "Avoid such men as these." (2Ti 3:5)

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 I am clear of his blood, if he does perish.

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 (Christendom) to stink so in the nostrils of many, as it does; for they are these talkative fools whose religion is only in word, and are debauched and vain in their manner of life that do puzzle the world, (Being so much admitted into the fellowship) 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, (The Spiritual life) or the company of saints would be too hot for them. Then did Faithful say:

     How Talkative at first lifts up his plumes! How bravely does he speak! How he presumes To drive down all before him! But so soon As Faithful talks of heart-work, like the moon That's past the full, into the wane (Decline) he goes. And so will all, but he that knows HEART-WORK. (The filling of God the Holy Spirit and Divine Thinking)

     Therefore 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.

     Now, when they were almost out of this wilderness, Faithful happened to cast his eye back, and spotted 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. Certainly, and my good friend too, Faithful said, for he is the one that sent me to the narrow gate. Now when Evangelist came up to them, he saluted them:

EVAN. Peace be with you, dearly beloved; and peace be to your helpers. CHR. Welcome, welcome, my good Evangelist; the sight of your countenance brings to my remembrance your ancient kindness and unwearied laboring for my eternal good.

FAITH. And a thousand times welcome, said Faithful. Your company, O Evangelist, how desirable it is to us poor pilgrims!

EVAN. Then Evangelist said, How has it be going with you, my friends, since the time of our last parting? What have you met with, and how have you behaved yourselves?

     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 to this place.    

EVAN. Right glad I am, said Evangelist, not that you have met with trials, but that you have been victors; and for that you have been, despite many weaknesses, continued in the way to this very day.

     I say, right glad I am of this thing, and that for my 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; "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." (Joh 4:36; Gal 6:9) The crown is before you, and it is an incorruptible one; "Run in such a way that you may win" it. (1Co 9:24-27) Some set out for this crown, and, after they have gone far for it, another comes in, and takes it from them; hold fast, therefore, what 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 yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;" (Heb 12:4) let the kingdom be always before you, and believe steadfastly concerning things that are invisible. Let nothing that is on this side of the other world get within you; and, above all, look well to your own hearts, and to the lusts of it, "for they are deceitful above all things, and desperately sick;" (Jer 17:9) set your faces like a flint; (Isa 50:4-10) you have all power of Heaven and earth on your side.

(Shall the world venture their soul's ruin for a poor corruptible crown; and shall not we venture the loss of a few trifles for an eternal crown? Shall they venture the loss of eternal life for communion with base, drunken, covetous wretches; and shall we not labor as hard, run as fast, no, a hundred times more diligently, for such glorious and eternal friends as God to love, Christ to redeem, the Holy Spirit to comfort, and saints and angels in Heaven for company? Shall it be said at the last day, that the wicked made more haste to hell than you to Heaven? O let it not be so, but run with all might and main! (Priority) They that will have Heaven must run for it, because the devil will follow them. There is never a poor soul that is gone for it, but that he is after that soul. And I assure them the devil is nimble; he is light of foot, and can run quickly. He has overtaken many, tripped up their heels, and given them an everlasting fall)

CHR. Then Christian thanked him for his exhortation; but told him, however, that they would have him speak further to them the rest of the way, for that they knew that he was a true teacher, and could tell them of things that might happen to them, and also how they might resist sinning and overcome trails. To which request Faithful also consented. So Evangelist began as follows:

EVAN. My sons, you have heard in the Word of the Truth that you must, through many tribulations, to enter into the kingdom of Heaven. (Act 14:22) And again, that in every city bonds and afflictions abide in them; 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 see before you; and in that town you will be attacked by enemies, who will try to kill you; and be sure that one or both of you must seal the Testimony which you hold, with blood; but be faithful unto death, and the King will give you a crown of life. (Rev 2:10) He that will die there, although his death will be unnatural, and his pain perhaps great, he will yet have the better of his enemy; not only because he will arrive at the Celestial City sooner, but because he will escape many miseries that the other one will meet with in the rest of his journey. But when you have come to the town, and find fulfilled what I have here related, then remember your friend and act like men, and commit the keeping of your souls to your God in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator. (1Pe 4:19)

     Then I saw in my dream, that when they made it through the wilderness, they saw a town before them, and the name of that town was Vanity; and at the town there is a fair held, called Vanity Fair: it is held all the yearlong; it has the name of Vanity Fair, because the town where it is kept is lighter than vanity; (Air — Breath) and also because all that is bought or sold there, or that comes there, is vanity. As is the saying of the wise, "All is vanity." (Eccl 1:2; Eccl 2:11, Eccl 2:17; Eccl 11:8; Isa 40:17)

     This fair is no recently started business, but a thing of ancient standing; I will show you the original of it.

     As far back as 6,000 years ago, there were pilgrims walking to the Celestial City as these two honest persons were; and Beelzebub, Apollyon, and Legion, with their companions, perceiving by the path that the pilgrims took, that their way to the Celestial City went through this town of Vanity, they contrived to set up a fair; a fair that sold all sorts of vanity, and that it should last all the yearlong: therefore at this fair all such merchandise is bought and sold, as houses, lands, trades, places, honors, promotions, titles, countries, kingdoms, lusts, pleasures, and delights of all sorts, as prostitutes, wives, husbands, children, masters, servants, lives, blood, bodies, souls, silver, gold, pearls, precious stones, and what not. (This allegory so far has been that of the soul, among its Spiritual enemies, toiling towards Heaven; now there comes a scene more open, tangible and external; And to show how a true pilgrim appears, and is likely to be regarded, who, among the world's vanities, lives above the world, is dead to it, and walks through it as a stranger and a pilgrim towards Heaven) And, moreover, at this fair there is at all times, to be seen juggling, cheats, games, plays, fools, apes, villains, and rogues; and that of every kind.

     Here is to be seen too, and that for FREE, thefts, murders, adulteries, false swearers, and that of a blood — red color.

[A just description of this wicked world. How many, though they profess to be pilgrims, have never yet set one foot out of this fair; but live in it all the year round! They "walk according to the thinking of this world;" (Eph 2:2) for "the god of this world has blinded their minds." (2Co 4:4) But all those for whose sins Jesus has died "He rescues us from this present evil world." (Gal 1:4) You cannot be a pilgrim, if you are not delivered from this world and its vanities; for if you love the world; if it has your supreme affections, the love of God is not in you. (1Jn 2:15)]

     And as in other fairs of less significance, 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, (Namely; 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 being sold. But, as in other fairs, some commodity is 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 to it.

     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 "go out of the world." (1Co 5:10) The Prince of princes Himself, when here, went through this town to His own country, and that on a fair day too; and as I think, it was Beelzebub, the chief lord of this fair, that invited Him to buy of his vanities; would have made Him lord of the fair, if He would have done Satan reverence as He went through the town. (Mat 4:8; Luk 4:5-7) Yes, because He was such a person of honor, Beelzebub took 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 coin upon these vanities. This fair, therefore, is an ancient thing, of long standing, and a very great fair. Now these Pilgrims, as I said, must go through this fair. [Christ will not allow his followers to bury their talent in the earth, or to put their light under a bushel; they are not to go out of the world, or to retire into secluded places, monasteries, or deserts; but they MUST all go through this fair. Just as our Lord endured all the temptations and sufferings of this evil world; without being impeded or entangled by and or in them, or stepping aside to avoid them. And He was exposed to greater enmity and contempt than anyone else] Well, so they did go through the fair; but, behold, even as they entered into the fair, all the people in the fair were moved, and the town itself was in a uproar about them; and that for several reasons; for:

First, The pilgrims were clothed with a kind of apparel that was different from the apparel of any that traded in that fair. Therefore, the people, of the fair, were staring at them; some said they were fools, some said they were mix-up, and some said they were outlandish men. (1Co 2:7-8) [The world will seek to keep you out of Heaven with mocks, scoffs, taunts, threatening’s, jails, gallows, ropes, burnings, and deaths. There always was enmity between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman, and no endeavors can reconcile them. The world says, They will never come over to us; and we again say, By God's grace we will not go over to them.]

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, (Spiritual thoughts and Spiritual words; 1Co 2:13) 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 to be barbarians to each other. (1Co 14:11)

Thirdly, But that which did not amuse the merchandisers was, that these pilgrims did not esteem their merchandise; they did not care so much as to look upon them; and if they called upon them to buy them, they would put their fingers in their ears, and cry, "Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity," and look upwards, signifying that their trade and dealings were in Heaven. (Psa 119:37; Php 3:19-20)

     Beholding the men in the carriage, one gambled mockingly and asked, What will you buy? But they, looking seriously upon him, answered, "We buy the Truth." (Pro 23:23)

[An odd reply. What do they mean? That they are neither afraid nor ashamed to own what was the one subject of their souls' pursuit — the Truth. Understand by this, that the whole world, which rests in Satan and the old sin natures' power, is deceived by a lie, and is under the delusion of the father of lies. In opposition to this, all Spiritual believers in Christ are said to be of the Truth. (1Jn 3:19) They know and believe that capital — Truth with which God spoke from Heaven, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased." (Mat 3:17) This Truth — that Jesus is the Son of God, and our only Savior — rests at the foundation of all their hope; and to get more and more acquainted with Him, is the grand object of their pursuits. For this the world hates them; and Satan, who is an enemy to this Truth, stirs up the world against them. "For," our Lord said, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." (Joh 17:16)]

     At that there was an occasion taken to despise them even more: some mocking, some taunting, some speaking reproachfully, and some calling upon others to strike them. Then things came to a uproar, and great stir in the fair, insomuch that all order was removed. Then word was brought to the great one of the fair, who quickly came down, and deputized some of his most trustworthy friends to take these men and examine them, about how and by who was this fair almost overturned. So the men were brought to examination; and they that spoke to them, asked them where they had come from, where they were going, and what were they doing in such unusual clothing? 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 12:22-24) and that they had not given any reason for the men of the town, nor the merchants, to abuse them, and to hinder them from their journey, except, 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 confused and mad, or else, came to put all things into a confusion at the fair. Therefore they took them and beat them, and covered them with dirt, and then put them into a cage, that they might be made a spectacle to all the men of the fair. They lay in that location for some time, and were made the objects of any man's sport, or malice, or revenge, the great one of the fair was laughing at all that happened to them. But the men being patient, and not rendering evil for evil, but on the contrary, blessing, and giving 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 an angry manner, condemned then, 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 others replied, that for nothing 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, yes, and pillory (A wooden instrument of punishment) too, than were the men that they had abused. Thus, after many 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 uproar 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 complex, for an example and a terror to others, lest any should speak in their behalf, or join themselves to them. But Christian and Faithful behaved themselves wisely receiving the disgrace and shame that was cast upon them, with so much meekness and patience, that it won to their side, though few in comparison of the rest, several of the men in the fair. This put the other people to even greater rage, insomuch that they concluded to put the two men to death. For this reason they threatened, that neither cage nor irons should be adequate punishment, but that they should die, for the abuse they had done, and for deluding the men of the fair.

     Then they were imprisoned again, until further orders should be given about them. So they put them in the cell, and put their feet in the stocks.

     Here, therefore, they called again to mind what they had heard from their faithful friend Evangelist, and were more comforted in their imprisonment and sufferings, because of what he said would happen to them. [The great object of the Bible is to equip man for his active duties in this world, (2Ti 2:4) and prepare him for the heavenly enjoyments in the world to come. (Mal 4:2) Not like those lazy creeping things that shut themselves up in nunneries or monasteries to avoid temptations, Persecution and troubles; the resistance of which glorifies God. Christians are to be as lights-not hid under a bushel but seen of all men. The prayer of their Lord was and is, not that they should be taken out of the world, but to be kept from Satan. (Joh 17:15)

     They also now comforted each other, whose lot it was to suffer, therefore each man secretly prayed that he might suffer for the other: but committing themselves to the all-wise care of Him that rules all things, with much contentment they abode in the condition in which they were in, until God should be otherwise minded to change it. (Rom 8:28; 1Pe 4:16; 1Pe 4:19)

     When a convenient time was appointed, they brought them forth to their trial, in order to bring about their condemnation. When the time came, 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 of which were this:

     "That they were enemies to, and disturbers of their town and fair; 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."

     Then Faithful began to answer, that he had only set himself against those things which are set up against Him that is higher than the highest. And, he said, as for the disturbance, I made none, being myself a man of peace; the parties that were won to us, were won by hearing the Truth and see our innocence, and they are 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 demons.

     Then proclamation was made, that anyone that had anything to say for their lord the king against the prisoner at the bar, should immediately appear and give their evidence. So there came in three witnesses, namely, Envy, Superstition, and Pickthank. (A person who seeks favor by flattery and or gossip) 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.

     Then Envy, stood up and said to this effect, My Lord, I have known this man a long time, and will attest upon my oath before this honorable bench, that he is:

JUDGE. Hold. Give him his oath. (So they swore him in) Then he said:

ENVY. My Lord, this man, notwithstanding his credible name, is one of the vilest men in our country. He neither regards prince nor people, Law nor custom; but does all that he can to possess all men with certain of his disloyal notions, which he in general calls Principles of faith and holiness. (Spirit & Truth) And, in particular, I heard him once myself affirm, that Christianity and the customs of our town of Vanity, were diametrically opposite, and cannot be reconciled. My Lord, he does at once not only condemn all our praiseworthy doings, but us in the doing of them.

JUDGE. Then the Judge said to him, Do you have any more to say?

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 their evidence, rather than anything be lacking that will indict him, I will enlarge my testimony against him. So he was bid stand by.

     Then they called Superstition, and told him to look at the prisoner. They also asked, what he could say to their lord the king against him. Then they swore him in; so he began.

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; (Likely to spread and cause an epidemic disease) because the other day, I had some discourse with him in our town and I heard him say, that our religion was nothing, and by which a man could by no means please God. (Rom 8:6-8) Which sayings of his, my Lord, your Lordship knows very well, and what will follow, namely, that we do still worship in vain, and are yet in our sins, and finally shall be damned; and this is that which I have to say.

Then was Pickthank sworn in, and told to say what he knew in behalf of their lord the king, against the prisoner at the bar.

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 spoken; for he has denounced our noble prince Beelzebub, and has spoken contemptibly of his honorable 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 has said, That if all men were of his mind, there is not one of these noblemen that should live any longer in this town. Besides, he has 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 has condemned most of the aristocracy of our town.

     When this Pickthank had told his tale, the Judge directed his speech to the prisoner at the bar, saying, You renegade, heretic, and traitor, have you heard what these honest gentlemen have witnessed against you?

FAITH. May I speak a few words in my own defense?

JUDGE. Sirrah! Sirrah! You no longer deserve to live, but to be slain immediately upon this place; yet, that all men may see our gentleness towards you, let us hear what you, vile renegade, has to say.

FAITH. 1. I say, then, in answer to what Mr. Envy has spoken, I never said anything but this, That whatever rule, or Laws, or custom, or people, that were 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.

2. As to the second, namely, Mr. Superstition, and to 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.

3. As to what Mr. Pickthank has said, I say, (Avoiding terms, as that I am said to complain, and the like) that the prince of this town, with all the rabble, his attendants, 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!

     Then the Judge called to the jury; (Who all this time stood by to hear and observe) Gentlemen of the jury, you see this man about whom so great an uproar has 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 lies now in your breasts to hang him, or save his life; but yet I think it is fitting to instruct you into our Law.

     There was an Act made in the days of Pharaoh the Great, servant to our prince, that in case those of a contrary religion should multiply, and grow too strong for him, their males should be thrown into the river. (Exod 1:1-22) 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 3:1-6) There was also an Act made in the days of Darius, that whosoever, for some time, called upon any God but him, should be cast into the lions' den. (Dan 6:1-7) Now the substance of these Laws this rebel has broken, not only in thought, (Which is not to be accepted) but also in word and deed; which must not be tolerated.

     For that of Pharaoh, his Law was made upon a possibility, to prevent mischief, no crime being yet apparent; but here is a crime apparent. For the second and third, you see he disputed against our religion; and for this treason he has confessed, he deserves death.

     Then the jury went 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 declare him guilty before the Judge. And first, among themselves, Mr. Blind-man, the foreman, said, I see clearly that this man is a heretic. Then Mr. No-good said, Away with such a fellow from the earth. Certainly, Mr. Malice said, for I hate the very looks of him. Then Mr. Love-lust said, I could never endure him. Nor I, Mr. Live-loose said, for he would always be condemning my way. Hang him, hang him, said Mr. Heady. A sorry scrub, said Mr. High-mind. My heart raised against him, said Mr. Enmity. He is a rogue, said Mr. Liar. Hanging is too good for him, said Mr. Cruelty. Let us kill him, said Mr. Hate-light. Then Mr. Implacable said, if I have the whole world offered to me, I could not be reconciled to him; therefore, let us immediately pronounce him guilty of death. And so they did; therefore he was presently condemned, to be taken from the place where he was, to the place from where he came from, and to experience the most cruel death that could be devised.

     They, therefore, brought him out to penalize him according to their Law; and, first, they scourged him, then they punched him, then they cut 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 Faithful came to his end.

     [Bunyan gives a good portrait of Faithful in his Howe of Lebanon, referring to the character of Pomporius Algerius, mentioned in Fox's Book of Martyrs. "Was not this man, a giant? did he not behave himself valiantly? was not his mind elevated a thousand degrees beyond common sense, carnal reason, fleshly love, and the desires of embracing temporal things? This man had arrived at that by the end that pleased Him; neither could all the flatteries, promises, threats, reproaches, make him listen to, or inquire after, what the world, or the glory of it could afford. His mind was captivated with delights invisible. He sought after to show his love to his Lord, by laying down his life for His sake. He longed to be where there shall be no more pain, nor sorrow, nor sighing, nor tears, nor troubles. He was a man of a thousand!" Speaking of the pillars in that house at Lebanon, he says, "These men had the faces of lions, they have triumphed in the flames."]

CHRISTIAN PURSUES HIS JOURNEY

    Now I saw that there stood behind the multitude, a chariot and a couple of horses, waiting for Faithful, who, (As soon as his adversaries had despatched him) was taken up into it, and was carried up through the clouds, with the sound of the trumpet, to the Celestial Gate. But as for Christian, he had some reprieve, and was remanded back to prison. So he remained there for a while; but He that overrules all things, having the power of their madness in His own hand, brought about, that Christian escaped them, and went his way; and as he went, he sang, saying:

     Well, Faithful, you have faithfully confessed of your Lord; with whom you shall be blest, When faithless ones, with all their vain delights, Are crying out under their hellish plights, Sing, Faithful, sing, and let your name survive; For, though they kill'd you — you are yet alive.

     Now I saw in my dream, that Christian did not leave alone, for there was one whose name was Hopeful, (Being made so by seeing the behavior of Christian and Faithful and hearing their words and the way they endured their sufferings at the Fair) who joined himself to 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 wait patiently for a good opportunity and then follow after.

     So I saw that quickly after they got out of the Fair, they overtook one that was going before them, whose name was By-ends; (A "by-end" is a pursuit that is achieved indirectly; private end or interest; secret purpose; selfish advantage. "Profit or some other by-end") so they said to him, Who are your countrymen, Sir? and how far have you come this way? He told them, that he came from the town of Fair-speech, and he was going to the Celestial City, but did not tell them his name.

     From Fair-speech! Said Christian. Is there any good that lives there? (Pro 26:25)

BY-ENDS. Yes, said By-ends, I hope.

CHR. Pray, Sir, What may I call you? Said Christian.

BY-ENDS. I am a stranger to you, and you to me: if you are going this way, I shall be glad of your company; if not, I must be content.

CHR. This town of Fair-speech, said Christian, I have heard of; and, as I remember, they say it is a wealthy place.

BY-ENDS. Yes, I assure you that it is; and I have many rich family members there.

CHR. Pray, who are your kindred there? if a man may be so bold.

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 minister of our parish, Mr. Two-tongues, was my mother's own brother, on my father's side; and to tell you the truth, I have become a gentleman of good quality, yet my great-grandfather was but a waterman, looking one way and rowing another, I also acquired most of my estate by the same occupation.

CHR. Are you a married man?

BY-ENDS. Yes, and my wife is a very virtuous woman, the daughter of a virtuous woman; she was my Lady Feigning's (Pretending) 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 to walk with him in the street, if the sun shines, and the people applaud him.

     (Is not this too much the case with the professors of this day? The Spirit of Truth says, "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." (2Ti 3:12) But how many act as if they had found the art of making the Spirit of Truth a liar! for they can so trim and shape their conduct, as they vainly think to follow Christ, and yet to keep in with the world, which is at enmity against Him-a most fatal and soul-deceiving error)

     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 great a deceitful villain in our company, as dwells in all these parts. Then said Hopeful, Ask him; I think he should 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 does; (What is this something that By-ends knew more than all the world? How to unite Heaven and hell — how to serve God and Mammon — how to be a Christian and a hypocrite at the same time. O the depth of the depravity of the human heart; regrettably! how many similar characters now exist, with two tongues in one mouth, looking one way and rowing another) and as I think about it, if I have to guess of who you are: Is not your name Mr. By-ends, of Fair-speech?

BY-ENDS. This is not my name, but indeed it is a nickname that is given to 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.

CHR. But did you never give an occasion for men to call you by this name?

BY-ENDS. Never, never! The worst that I ever did for them to give me this name, was that I have always had the luck to jump with the present way of the times, whatever it was, and my fortune was to gain by it; but if things are said about me, let me count them a blessing; but let not the malicious load me with reproach.

CHR. I thought, indeed, that you were the man that I have heard of; and to tell you what I think, I fear this name belongs to you more properly than you are willing for us to think it does.

BY-ENDS. Well, if you will imagine, I cannot help it; you shall find me a fair company-keeper, if you will still admit me as your associate.

CHR. If you will go with us, you must go against wind and tide; that, I perceive, is against your opinion; you must also own religion (Spiritual life) in rags, as well as when in silver slippers; and stand by, too, when bound in irons, as well as when walking the streets with applause.

BY-ENDS. You must not impose, nor lord it over my faith; leave me to my liberty, and let me go with you.

CHR. Not a step further, unless you are as we in what I just said.

     Then By-ends  said, 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 catch up with me that will be glad of my company.

     (In a letter written in 1661, from Exeter jail, by Mr. Abraham Chear, a Baptist minister of Plymouth, who suffered greatly for nonconformity, and at length died in a state of banishment, there is this remark, "We have many brought in here daily, who go out again almost as soon, for a week in a prison tries a professor more than a month in a church)

     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 bow; 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 adolescence they were classmates, and were taught by one Mr. Gripeman, 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, scam, flattery, lying, or by putting on a guise of religion; and these four gentlemen had attained much of the art of their master, so that they each could have such a school themselves.

     Well, when they had, as I said, saluted each other, Mr. Money-love said to Mr. By-ends, Who are they upon the road in front of us? (For Christian and Hopeful were yet within view) BY-ENDS. They are a couple of far countrymen, that, after their mode, are going on pilgrimage.

MONEY-LOVE. Regrettably! Why did they not stay, that we might have had their good company? For they, and we, and you, I hope, are all going on the same pilgrimage.

BY-ENDS. We are so, indeed; but the men before us are so rigid, and love so much their own notions, (Pretended friends come with such objections as these: Why, will you give such offence? How much would it be for your comfort and interest in this world if you would be a little more complying, and give in to some particular points and phrases. O what a beguiling song! May the Lord enable every faithful servant to reply, "Get behind me, Satan") and also so lightly esteem the opinions of others, let a man never be so godly, (Spiritual) that if he does not think the same way in all things, that they would thrust him out of their company. (1Co 5:9-13)

SAVE-ALL. That is bad, but we also read of some that are excessively righteous; and such men's rigidness prevails with them to judge and condemn all but themselves. But, I ask you, what, and how many, were the things where you disagreed?

BY-ENDS. Why, they, after their headstrong manner, concluded that it is a duty to rush on in their journey in all weathers; and I am for waiting for wind and tide to clear. They are for hazarding all for God at a moment notice; 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.

MR. HOLD-THE-WORLD. Certainly, and hold on that way still, good Mr. By-ends; 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 lay still all winter, and stirs herself 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 the 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 said, that a good man shall lay up gold as dust. But he must not be like the men before us, if they be as you have described them.

MR. SAVE-ALL. I think that we are all agreed in this matter, and therefore there doesn't need to be any more words about it.

MR. MONEY-LOVE. No, there doesn't need to be any 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. (If worldly lucre be the honey, they imitate the bee, and only attend to religion when they can gain by it; they determine to keep what they have at any rate, and to get more, if it can be done without open scandal)

MR. BY-ENDS. My brethren, we are, as you see, all going on a pilgrimage; and for our better recreation from things that are bad, allow me to propound to you this question: Suppose a man, a minister, or a tradesman, etc., should have an advantage before him, to get the good blessings of this life, yet he cannot by any means come by them except, in appearance at least, become extraordinary zealous in some points of religion that he did not meddle with before; may he not use this means to attain his end, and yet be a right honest man?

MR. MONEY-LOVE. I see the bottom of your question; and, with these gentlemen's good permission, I will endeavor to frame 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, (Income) and has in his eye a greater, more fat, and plump by far; he has also now an opportunity of getting of it, yet as by being more studious, by preaching more frequently, and zealously, and, because the mood of the people requires it, by the altering of some of his principles; for my part, I see no reason a man would not do this, (Provided he has the calling) certainly, and much more besides, and yet be an honest man. Because:

1. His desire of a greater benefice (Income) is Lawful, (This cannot be contradicted) since it is set before him by Providence; so then, he may get it, if he can, and absolutely have a clear conscience.

2. Besides, his desire to have a greater benefice makes him more studious, a more zealous preacher, etc., and so makes him a better man; certainly, and makes him to better improve his condition, which is according to the mind of God.

3. Now, as for his complying with the mood of his people, by withholding, to serve them, some of his principles, this argues — (l). That he is of a self-denying temper. (2). Of a sweet and winning deportment. And so (3). More fit for the ministerial function.

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 is improved in his condition and industry by it, be counted as one that pursues his call, and has put into his own hand the opportunity to do good.

     And now to the second part of the question, which concerns the tradesman you mentioned. Suppose such an one to have but a poor employ in the world, but by becoming religious, he may improve his market, perhaps get a rich wife, or more, and far better customers to his shop; for my part, I see no reason that this may not be lawfully done. For why:

1. To become religious is a virtue, by whatever means a man becomes so.

2. Nor is it unlawful to get a rich wife, or more customres to his shop.

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.

     [Here is worldly wisdom, infernal logic, and the sophistry of Satan. We hear this language daily, from money-loving professors, who are destitute of the power of God the Holy Spirit. But in opposition to all this, the Holy Spirit testifies, "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil," (1Ti 6:10) and a covetous man is an idolater. (Col 3:5) Hear this, and tremble, ye avaricious professors. Remember, ye followers of the Lamb, ye are called to "let your manner of life be without wanting things;" (Heb 13:5) your Lord testifies, "You cannot serve God and wealth." (Luk 16:13)]

     This answer, therefore made by this Mr. Money-love to Mr. By-end'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 distance, they jointly agreed to assault them with the question as soon as they overtook them; and also because they had opposed Mr. By-ends before. So they called after them, and they stopped, and stood still until 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 between Mr. By-ends and them, at their parting a little before.

     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.

CHR. then Christian said, Even a babe in religion (The Christian life) may answer 10,000 such questions. For if it be unlawful to follow Christ for loaves, (Joh 6:26-27) how much more abominable is it to make of Him and religion a stalking-horse, (A smoke screen) to get and enjoy the world! Nor do we find any other of this opinion than heathens, hypocrites, devils, and witches.

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 said 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 daughters 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)

2. The hypocritical Pharisees were also of this religion; long prayers were their pretence; but to get widows' houses was their intent; and greater condemnation from God was their judgment. (Luk 20:46-47)

3. Judas was also of this religion; he was religious for the bag, that he might possess what was in it; but he was lost, cast away, and the very son of perdition. (Joh 13:27-29)

4. Simon the sorcerer was of this religion too; for he would have the power of the Holy Spirit, that he might acquire money with it; and his sentence from Peter's mouth was to perish. (Act 8:19-20)

5. I always remember that a man that takes up religion for the world, will throw away religion for the world; for so surely as Judas gained money in the world by 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, as authentic, such an answer, is both heathenish, hypocritical, and devilish; and your reward will be according to your works. Then they stood staring one upon another, but did not have an answer for 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 move out from them. Then Christian said 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?

     Then Christian and Hopeful moved out from them again, and went until they came to a delicate plain, called Ease, where they went with much content; but that plain was but narrow, so they 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 had turned aside to see, because of the rarity of it; 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.

     Then I saw in my dream, that a little off the road, over against the silver mine, stood Demas (Gentleman-like deceiver) to call to passengers to come and see; who said to Christian and his fellow, Hello! turn aside here, and I will show you a thing.

CHR. What thing is so deserving as to turn us out of the way to see it?

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.

HOPE. Then Hopeful said, Let us go and see.

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 hinders them in their pilgrimage. Then Christian called to Demas, saying, Is not that place dangerous? Has it not hindered many in their pilgrimage? (Hos 14:8)

DEMAS. Not very dangerous, except to those that are careless. (But nevertheless, he blushed as he spoke)

CHR. Then Christian said to Hopeful, Let us not risk a step, but still keep on our way.

HOPE. I assure you, when By-ends comes up, if he has the same invitation as we, he will turn in there to see.

CHR. No doubt of it, for his principles lead him that way, and a hundred to one he dies there.

DEMAS. Then Demas called to them again, saying, But will you not come over and see?

CHR. Then Christian flat out answered, saying, Demas, you are an enemy to the right ways of the Lord of this way, and have been already condemned for your own turning aside, by one of his Majesty's judges; (2Ti 4:10) and why do you seek to bring us into the same condemnation? Besides, if we at all turn aside, our Lord the King will certainly hear of it, and will put us to shame, how would we stand with boldness before Him. 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.

CHR. Then Christian said, What is your name? Is it not the same as I have called you?

DEMAS. Yes, my name is Demas; I am a son of Abraham.

CHR. I know you; Gehazi was your great-grandfather, and Judas your father; and you have walked in their steps. (2Ki 5:20; Mat 26:14-15; Mat 27:1-5) It is but a devilish prank that your father was hanged for a traitor, and you deserve no better reward. Assure yourself, that when we come to the King, we will recount to Him  your behavior. Therefore they went their way.

     By this time By-ends and his companions were again within sight, and they, at the first call, went over to Demas. Now, whether they fell into the pit by looking over the brink of, or whether they went down to dig, or whether they were smothered in the bottom by the dampness’s that commonly arises, of these things I am not certain; but this I observed, that they never were seen again in the way. [Here you see the end of double-minded men, who vainly attempt to temper the love of money with the love of Christ. They go on with their art for a season, but the end makes it manifest what they were] Then sang Christian:

     By-ends and silver Demas both agree; One calls, the other runs, that he may be A sharer in his lucre; so these do Take up in this world, and no further go.

     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 strange side; at the sight of which they were both concerned, because of the strangeness of the form of it; 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 of it. At last Hopeful spotted written above the head of it, a writing in an unusual hand; but he being no scholar, called to Christian (For he was educated) to see if he could pick out the meaning; so he came, and after a little laying of letters together, he found that it said this, "Remember Lot's wife." So he read it to his companion; after which they both concluded that it 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) when a sudden and amazing sight gave them an occasion for discourse.

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, and as you were inclining to do my brother, we had, for nothing I know, been made ourselves like this woman, a spectacle for those that shall come after to behold.

HOPE. I am sorry that I was so foolish, and also wondering why I am not now as Lot's wife; for what was the difference between 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.

CHR. Let us take notice of what we see here, to help us in 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.

HOPE. True, and she is to be to us both caution and example; caution, that we should shun her sin; or a sign of what judgment will overtake such as are not stopped by this caution; so Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, with the 250 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 on one thing, namely, how Demas and his fellows can stand so confidently 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 were; for they cannot help but to see her, if they but lift up their eyes.

CHR. It is a thing to be wondered at, and it is argued that their hearts are grown desperate in this case; and I cannot tell who to compare them to so fittingly, as to those that pick pockets in the presence of the judge, or search out purses under the gallows. It is said of the men of Sodom, that they were exceedingly great sinners, because they were sinners before the Lord, that is, in His eyesight, and nevertheless the kindnesses that He had showed them, (Gen 13:13) for the land of Sodom was like the garden of Eden until then. (Gen 13:10) This, therefore, provoked Him the more to jealousy, and made their plague as hot as the Lord of Heaven could make it. And it is most rationally to be concluded, that such, even such as these are, that shall sin in His sight, 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.

HOPE. Doubtless you have said the Truth; but what a mercy it is, that neither you, but especially I, am not made this example! This is an occasion for us to thank God, to fear before Him, and always to remember Lot's wife.

     I saw, then, that they went on their way to a pleasant river; which David the king called "The stream of God," but John "the river of the water of life." (Psa 65:9; Rev 22:1-2; Eze 47:12) 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 energizing 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. (Psa 23:2; Isa 14:30) Thus they did several days and nights. Then they sang:

     Behold ye how these crystal streams do glide, To comfort pilgrims by the highway side; The meadows green, besides their fragrant smell, Yield dainties for them: and he that can tell What pleasant fruit, yea, leaves, these trees do yield, Will soon sell all, that he may buy this field.

     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.

     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 dared 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 a better way. [They should have said, It is true this way is not so pleasant as the meadow, but it is the Lord's way, and the best, doubtless, for us to travel in. A man speedily enters into temptation when he becomes discontented with God's allotments; then Satan presents allurements, and from wishing for a better way, the soul goes into a worse one. The discontented wish is father to the sinful will; I wish for a better, is followed by, I will have a better, and so the soul goes astray]

     Now, a little before them, there was on the left hand of the road a meadow, and a stile (Walkway) to go over into it; and that meadow is called By-path Meadow. Then Christian said to his companion, If this meadow rests along by our way-side, 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.

     [The best caution I can give to others, or take myself, is, not to be guided in matters of faith by men, but to make the Scriptures our only Standard to look to God for the teaching of His blessed Spirit, that He may keep our feet from the ways of death]

HOPE. But what if this path should lead us out of the way?

CHR. That is not the case, said the other. Look, does it not go along by the way-side? So Hopeful, being persuaded by his companion, went after him over the stile. When they had gone over, and were on the path, they found it very easy for their feet; and they, looking before them, spotted a man walking as they did; (And his name was Vain-confidence) so they called after him, and asked him where this way would lead them. He said, to the Celestial Gate. Look, said Christian, did I not tell you so? By this you may see we are right. So they followed, and he went before them. But, behold, the night came, and it grew very dark; so that they that were behind, lost the sight of him that went before.

     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 made on purpose, by the Prince of those grounds, to catch vain-glorious fools with it, and was dashed in pieces with his fall.

     Now Christian and his companion heard him fall. So they called out to know the matter, but there was none to answer; only they heard groaning. Then Hopeful said, Where are we now? Then his companion was silent, worried that he had led them out of the way; and now it began to rain, thunder, and lightning in a very dreadful manner; and the water rose rapidly.

     Then Hopeful groaned in himself, saying, O that I had kept on the way!

CHR. Who could have thought that this path should have led us out of the way?

HOPE. I was afraid of it at the very first, and therefore gave you that gentle caution. I would have spoke plainer, but that you are older than I.

CHR. Good brother, do not be offended; I am sorry I have brought us out of the way, and that I have put you into such imminent danger; pray, my brother, forgive me; I did not do it by an evil intent.

HOPE. Be comforted, my brother, for I forgive you; and believe too that this shall be for our good. (Rom 8:28)

CHR. I am glad that I have with me a merciful brother; but we must not stay here: let us try to go back again.

HOPE. But, good brother, let me go before.

CHR. No, if you please, let me go first, that if there be any danger, I may be the first one to find it, because it is my fault we are both gone out of the way.

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, "Direct your mind to the highway, The way by which you went. Return." (Jer 31:21) But by this time the waters were greatly risen, for this reason the way of going back was very dangerous. (Then I thought that it is easier going out of the way when we were in, than going back in, when we are out) Yet they adventured to go back, but it was so dark, and the flood was so high, that in going back they nearly drowned nine or 10 times.

     Neither could they, with all the skill they had, get again to the stile that night. Therefore, at last, sitting under a little shelter, they stayed there until day-break; but, being weary, they fell asleep. Now there was, not far from the place where they lay, a castle, called Doubting Castle, the owner of it was Giant Despair; and it was on his grounds that they were now were sleeping: For this reason he, getting up early in the morning, and walking up and down in his fields, caught Christian and Hopeful asleep on his grounds. Then, with a grim and surly voice, he bid them awake; and asked them where they were from, and why they were on his grounds. They told him they were pilgrims, and that they had lost their way. Then the Giant said, You have this night trespassed, 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 were. They also had but little to say, for they knew themselves to be wrong. 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. (Psa 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 self imputed misery and Divine discipline, 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.

     Now, Giant Despair had a wife, and her name was Diffidence. (Distrust of God) So, when he had gone to bed, he told his wife what he had done; namely, 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 to do further to them. So she asked him who they were, where they came from, and where they were going; and he told her. Then she counseled him, that when he arose in the morning he should beat them without any mercy. So, when he arose, he acquired a grievous crab-tree club, and went down into the dungeon to them, and there rating of them as if they were dogs, although they never gave him a word of dislike. Then he falls upon them, and beats them fearfully, in such sort, that they were not able to help themselves, or to turn themselves upon the floor. This done, he withdraws and leaves them, there to soothe their misery, and to mourn under their distress. So all that day they spent their time in nothing but sighs and bitter lamentations. The next night, she was talking with her husband about them further, and understanding that they were yet alive, did advise him to counsel them to kill themselves. So when morning came, he goes to them in a ill-natured 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 going to come out of this place, their only way would be immediately to make an end of themselves, either with knife, hangman's rope, or poison, for why should you choose life, seeing it is attended with so much bitterness? [Satan says, Do you not know that you are one of the vilest in all the pack of professors? Yes, says the soul, I do. Satan says, Do you not know that you have horribly sinned? Yes, says the soul, I do. Well, said Satan, now will I come upon you with my requests. Are you not a graceless wretch? Yes. Have you a heart to be sorry for this wickedness? No, not as I should. And even though, said Satan, you pray sometimes, yet is not your heart possessed with a belief that God will not regard you? Yes, said the sinner. Why, then, despair give up, and go hang yourself, said the devil. And now we are at the end of the thing designed and driven at by Satan. But what shall I now do, said the sinner? I answer, take up the Words of the Bible against him; Rom 8:31; Heb 13:5-6; etc.] But they desired him to let them go. With that he looked ugly upon them, and, rushing on them, and had doubtless made an end of them himself, but that he fell into one of his convulsions, (For he sometimes, in sunshiny weather, fell into convulsions) and lost for a time the use of his hand; wherefore he withdrew, and left them as before, to consider what to do. Then the prisoners consulted between themselves, whether it was best to take his counsel or no; and so they began this discourse:

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 like this, or to die. "My soul chooses suffocation rather than life," and the grave is more easy for me than this dungeon. (Job 7:15) Shall we be ruled by this Giant?

HOPE. Indeed, our present condition is dreadful, and death would be far more welcome than to live like this; but yet, let us consider, the Lord of the country to which we are going has said, You shall not murder: no, not this giant man; much more, then, are we also forbidden to take his counsel to kill ourselves. Besides, he that kills another, can but commit murder upon his own body; but for one to kill himself, is to kill body and soul at once. And, moreover, my brother, you talk of ease in the grave; but have you forgotten that judgement, is where the murderers go? For " you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.,etc." 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 that 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 convulsions before us, and may lose the use of his limbs? and if ever this should come to pass again, for my part, I am resolved to try to the maximum to get out 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 God may give us a happy release; but let us not be our own murderers. With these words, Hopeful at present did encourage the mind of his brother; so they continued together that day, (In the dark) in their sad and doleful condition.

     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, for the lack 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, seeing they had disobeyed his counsel; It would have been better for them if they had never been born.

     At this they trembled greatly, and I think that Christian passed out; but, coming to himself again, they renewed their discourse about the Giant's counsel, and whether yet they had best to take it or not. Now Christian again seemed to be for doing it, but Hopeful made his second reply as follows:

HOPE. My brother, do you not remember how valiant you have been up till now? Apollyon could not crush you, nor could all that you did hear, or see, or feel, in the Valley of the Shadow of Death. What hardship, terror, and amazement have you already gone through! And are you now nothing but a ball of fear! You see that I am in the dungeon with you, a far weaker man by nature than you are; also, this Giant has wounded me as well as you, and has also cut off the bread and water from my mouth; and with you I mourn without the light. But let us exercise a little more patience; remember how you played the man at Vanity Fair, and was neither afraid of the chain, nor cage, nor yet of a bloody death. For this reason let us (At least to avoid the shame, that a Christian should not be found in) bear up with patience as well as we can.

     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 kill themselves. Then she said, Take them into the castle-yard tomorrow, and show them the bones and skulls of those that you have already sent off, and make them believe before the week comes to an end,  that you will tear them in pieces, as you have done to their fellows before them.

     So when the morning came, the Giant goes to them again, and takes them into the castle-yard, and shows them, as his wife had bidden him. These, he said, were pilgrims as you are, and they trespassed in my grounds, as you have done; and when I thought fitting, I tore them in pieces, and so, within 10 days, I will do it to you. Go, get down to your den again; and with that, he beat them all the way there. They laid there, all day Saturday in a distressing condition, as before. Now, when night had come, and when Mrs. Diffidence and her husband, the Giant, went to bed, they began to renew their discourse of their prisoners; and still the old Giant wondered, why he could neither by his blows nor his counsel bring them to an end. And with that his wife replied, I fear that they live in hope that someone will come to free them, or that they have picklocks with them, with which they hope to escape. If you say so, my dear? I will, therefore, search them in the morning.

     Well, on Saturday, about midnight, they began to pray, and continued in prayer until almost the break of day.

     Now, a little before it was day, good Christian, as one half-amazed, broke out in this passionate speech: What a fool, I am to lie in a stinking dungeon, when I may walk at liberty! I have a key in my bosom, called Promise, that will, I am persuaded, open any lock in Doubting Castle. (Isa 22:22; Mat 16:17-19; 2Pe 1:10-11; Rev 1:18) Then Hopeful said, That is good news, good brother; pluck it out of your bosom, and try.

     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 awakened Giant Despair, who, hastily arising to pursue his prisoners, felt his limbs to fail, for his convulsions took him again, so that he could by no means go after them. Then they went on, and came to the King's highway, and so were safe, because they were out of his jurisdiction.

     Now, when they were gone 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 of it this sentence — "Over this stile is the way to Doubting Castle, which is kept by Giant Despair, who despises the King of the Celestial Country, and seeks to destroy His holy pilgrims." Many, therefore, that followed later on, read what was written, and escaped the danger. This done, they sang as follows:

     Out of the way we went, and then we found What 'twas to tread upon forbidden ground; And let them that come after have a care, Lest heedlessness makes them, as we, to fare. Lest they for trespassing his prisoners are, Whose castle's Doubting, and whose name's Despair.

ARRIVE AT THE DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS

     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 staffs (As is common with weary pilgrims, when they stand to talk with, others on the way) they asked, Whose Delectable Mountains are these? And whose are the sheep that feed upon them?

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. (Joh 10:11)

CHR. Is this the way to the Celestial City?

SHEP. You are just on your way.

CHR. How far is it there? SHEP. Too far for any but those that shall get there indeed.

CHR. Is the way safe or dangerous?

SHEP. Safe for those for whom it is to be safe; but the transgressors shall fall in it. (Hos 14:9) [O how many professors (Christians) grow weary of the way, fall short, and fail of coming to the end! Though the way be too far, too strait, and too narrow for many who set out, and never hold out to the end]

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

SHEP. The Lord of these mountains has given us a charge not to be "forgetful to entertain strangers;" (Heb 13:2) therefore the good of this place is before you.

     I saw also in my dream, that when the Shepherds perceived that they were wayfaring men, they also asked them some questions which they answered as in other places; as, Where have you come from? And, How did you get into the way? And, By what means have you so persevered in it? For but few of them that begin to come here, do show their face on these mountains. But when the Shepherds heard their answers, being pleased with them, they looked very lovingly upon them, and said, Welcome to the Delectable Mountains.

     The Shepherds, I say, whose names were Knowledge, Experience, Watchful, and Sincere, took them by the hand, and had them to their tents, and made them partake of that which was ready at present. [Precious names! What is a pilgrim without knowledge? What is head-knowledge without heart-experience? And watchfulness and sincerity ought to attend us every step. When these graces are in us and abound, they make delectable mountains indeed] They said, moreover, We would that you should stay here awhile, to be acquainted with us; and yet more to comfort 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.

     Then I saw in my dream, that in the morning the Shepherds called up Christian and Hopeful to walk with them upon the mountains: so they went forth with them, and walked a while, having a pleasant prospect on every side. Then the Shepherds said one to another, Shall we show these Pilgrims some wonders? So when they had concluded to do it, they had them first to the top of the hill Error, which was very steep on the furthest side, and told them to 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 Christian said, What does this mean? 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? (2Ti 2:16-18) 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, for an example to others to take heed how they climbed up too high, and or how they come too near the brink of this mountain.

     Then I saw that they had them to the top of another mountain, and the name of that is Caution, and bid them look afar off; 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 Christian said, What does this mean?

     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 the Shepherds said, From that stile there goes a path that leads directly to Doubting Castle, which is kept by Giant Despair, and these, pointing to those among the tombs, came once on this 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, "A man who wanders from the way of understanding Will rest in the assembly 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.

     Then I saw in my dream, that the Shepherds took 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 souls being tormented, and they smelt the scent of brimstone. Christian said, What does this mean? The Shepherds told them, This is a byway to the pit, a way that hypocrites go in; 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 Hopeful said to the Shepherds, I perceive that these had upon them, even every one, a show of pilgrimage, as we have now; had they not?

SHEP. Yes, and held it a long time too.

HOPE. How far had they gone on in the pilgrimage, since they were nevertheless miserably cast away?

SHEP. Some further, and some not so far, as these mountains.

     Then the Pilgrims said one to another, We have need to cry to the Strong for strength.

SHEP. And you will have need to use it, when you have it, as well.

     By this time the Pilgrims had a desire to go forward, and the Shepherds had a desire that they should; so they walked together towards the end of the mountains. Then the Shepherds said to one another, Let us show the Pilgrims the gates of the Celestial City, if they have the skill to look through our perspective glass. The Pilgrims then loving accepted the offer; so they had them come to the top of a high hill, called Clear, and gave them their glass to look through.

     Then they attempted to look, but the remembrance of that last thing that the Shepherds had showed 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:

     Thus, by the Shepherds, secrets are reveal'd, Which from all other men are kept conceal'd Come to the Shepherds, then, if you would see Things deep, things hid, and that mysterious be.

     [After going through the conflict with Apollyon, the Valley of the Shadow of Death, the scenes in Vanity Fair, and the dread experience of the pilgrims in Giant Despair's Castle, it is well to note what a gallery of solemn REALITIES is here, what a system of Divine Truth, commending itself to all men's consciences. It is not so much the richness of imagination, nor the tenderness of feeling here exhibited, nor the sweetness and beauty of the imagery, with which this book is filled, as it is the presence of these REALITIES that constitutes the secret of its unbounded power over the soul. but the drama is the Reality, and it is the observers who are walking in a vain Vanity Fair show]

     When they were about to depart, one of the Shepherds gave them a note about 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.

     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, lay the country of Conceit; [This country we are all born in; all are ignoramuses by nature. Some live long in the country of Conceit, and many end their days in it. Have you come out of it? So had Ignorance; but he breathed his native air. So long as a sinner thinks he can do anything towards making himself righteous before God, his name is Ignorance; he is full of self-conceit, and destitute of the Divine Thinking of Christ] from which country there comes into the way in which the Pilgrims were walking, 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 where he was going.

IGNOR. Sir, I was born in the country that is over there, a little on the left hand side, and I am going to the Celestial City.

CHR. But how do you think to get in at the gate? for you may find some difficulty there.

IGNOR. As other good people do, he said.

CHR. But what have you to show at the gate, that the gate should be opened to you?

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 where I am going. [Now it is very common to hear professors talk at this rate. Yes, and many who make a very high profession too; their hopes are plainly grounded upon what they are in themselves, and how they differ from their former selves and other sinners, instead of what the Spiritual life of Christ is to us and what we are in Christ. For such are called by our Lord thieves and robbers; they rob Him of the glory of His grace and the gift of His imputed and experiential righteousness]

CHR. But you came not in at the narrow-gate that is at the head of this way; you came in here through that same crooked lane, and therefore, I fear, whatever you may think of yourself, when the reckoning day shall come, you will have laid to your charge, that you are a thief and a robber, instead of getting admittance into the city.

IGNOR. Gentlemen, you are utter strangers to me, I do not know you; be content to 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 it is a great way off of our country. I cannot think that any man in all our parts does so much as know the way to it, nor does it matter whether they do or not, since we have, as you see, a fine pleasant green lane, that comes down from our country, the next way into the way.

     When Christian saw that the man was "wise in his own conceit," he said to Hopeful, whisperingly, "There is more hope of a fool than of him." (Pro 26:12) And said, moreover, "When the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool." (Eccl 10:3) What, shall we talk further with him, or depart from him, and leave him to think of what he has heard already, and then stop again for him afterwards, and see if by stages we can do any good to him? Then Hopeful said:

     Let Ignorance muse a little while now.  On what is said, and let him not refuse Good counsel to embrace, lest he remain Still ignorant of what's the chiefest gain. God said, those that do not have understanding, Although He made them, He will not save them.

HOPE. He further added, I do not think, it is good, to say all this to him at once; let us pass by him, if you will, and talk to him at another time, even as he is able to bear it. [It is best not to converse to much at once with persons of this character, but, after a few warnings, to leave them to their reflections; for their self-conceit is often cherished by altercations, in which they deem themselves an expert, however disgusting their discourse may prove to others]

     So they both went on, and Ignorance followed after. Now when they had passed him a little, they entered into a very dark lane, where they met a man whom seven devils had bound with seven strong cords, and were carrying him to the door that they saw on the side of the hill. (Mat 12:45; Pro 5:22) [An awful scene was beheld by the pilgrims. A professor, named Turn-away, bound with seven cords, was led by devils to the by-way to hell. Let everyone inquire, Who is this wanton professor? — He who discovers a trifling, worldly, wanton spirit, dreads not the appearance of evil, complies with the fashions of the carnal world, and associates with the enemies of our Lord; and, in time, becomes a damnable apostate. Lord, keep us from such a beginning and such an end!] Now Christian began to tremble, and so did Hopeful his companion; yet as the devils led away that 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 hanged his head like a thief that is found out. But being once past, Hopeful looked after him, and spotted on his back a paper with this inscription, "Wanton professor, and damnable apostate." [O beware of a superficial spirit and a motiveless behavior. It is often the forerunner of apostasy from God. It makes one tremble to hear those who profess to follow Christ in the regeneration, crying, What harm is there in playing this game or in some other recreation? The warmth of love is gone, and they are become cold, dead, and carnal. O how many instances of these abound!] Then Christian said to his companion, Now I call to remembrance, that which was told me of a thing that happened to a good man around here. 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 the Broad-way Gate, a lane called Dead Man's Lane; [In times of persecution, loose professors are driven down Dead Man's Lane to the Broad-way Gate; thus Satan murders the souls of men, by threatening to kill their bodies. Believers that are weak in faith are betrayed into sinful compliances; they sleep when they ought to watch, they conceal or deny their profession, and thus contract guilt; Faint-heart assaults them, Mistrust plunders them, and Guilt beats them down] 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 spotting 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 to him, and with threatening language bid him stand. At this, Little-faith looked as white as a cloud, and had neither power to fight nor fly. Then Faint-heart said, Give us your wallet. But not making haste to do it, (For he was reluctant to lose his money) Mistrust ran up to him, and thrusting his hand into his pocket, pulled out from it 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 started to run, and left this good man to fend for himself. Now, after a while, Little-faith came to himself, and getting up, quickly scrambled on his way. [When Bunyan was imprisoned, his sentence was: To be transported, if he did not conform in three months; and then, if found as a Nonconformist, in this country, he should be hung. Determined at all hazards not to be a traitor to his God, he anticipated being hung; and was anxious, in such a case, to meet death with firmness. When his fears prevailed, he dreaded that he should make but a weak attempt to struggle up the ladder] This was the story.

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

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 did not get (As I said) were jewels, [Where there is a faint-heart in God's cause, and mistrust of God's Truths, there will be guilt in the conscience, and but little faith. These rogues will prevail over, and rob such souls of the comforts of God's love] also he had a little odd money left, but not enough to bring him to his journey's end; (1Pe 4:18) and, if I am not misinformed, he was forced to beg as he went, to keep himself alive; for he would not sell his jewels. But beg, and do what he could, he went (As we say) with  hunger in his belly the most part of the rest of the way. HOPE. But is it not any wonder they did not get his certificate, by which he needed to receive his admittance at the Celestial Gate?

CHR. It is a wonder; they did not get it, but though they missed it — it was 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 endeavor, that they missed that good thing. [What was this good thing? his precious faith, whose author, finisher, and object is precious Jesus. And where he has this precious faith, though it be but little, even as a grain of mustard-seed, not all the powers of earth and hell can rob the heart of it. Christ prayed for His disciple that his faith should not fail, or be totally lost; therefore, though Peter lost his comforts for a season, yet not his faith totally, not his soul eternally; for, Jesus said, of all his dear flock, yes, of those of little faith too, None shall pluck them out of My hand. There is one blessed security, not in ourselves, but in our Lord]

HOPE. But it must be a comfort to him, that they did not get this jewel from him. [Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, are gracious attitudes molded in the heart by God the Holy Spirit. These are the believer's jewels; and it is his duty to keep them clean, that their beauty and shine may be apparent]

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 them taking away his money; indeed, he forgot about his jewels 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 by them, then would fresh thoughts of his loss come again upon him, and those thoughts would swallow up all comfort. (Php 3:13-14) 

HOPE. Unfortunately! Poor man. This could not be but a great grief to him.

CHR. Grief! yes, 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 was confused almost all the rest of the way with nothing but mournful and bitter complaints; telling about it over and over again to ANYONE he came across, or that he overtook in the way as he went, and told them where he was robbed, how; and who they were that did it, and what he lost; how he was wounded, and that he hardly escaped with his life. (Isa 43:18; Php 2:14-15; Col 3:13)

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 relieved himself in his journey.

CHR. You talk like one upon whose head is hard 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 as anything; nor did he want that relief which could from selling them. Besides, had his jewels been missing at the gate of the Celestial City; he would have (And he knew that well enough) been excluded from an inheritance there; and that would have been worse to him than the appearance and robbery of 10,000 thieves.

HOPE. Why are you 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)

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 wretched man did; but you must put a difference between Esau and Little-faith, and also between 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 not so. Besides, Esau could see no further than to the fulfilling of his lusts; "Behold, I am about to die; [He said] so of what use then is the birthright to me?" (Gen 25:32) But Little-faith, though it was his way 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 do not marvel if, where the flesh only bears control, (As it will, in that man where there is no faith 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 Thoughts 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 (Road kill) 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 your mistake.

HOPE. I acknowledge it; but yet your severe reflection had almost made me angry.

CHR. Why, I did but compare you to some of the birds that are of the brisker sort, who will run to and fro in untracked paths, with a foreskin upon their heads; but get over it, and consider the matter under debate, and all shall be well between you and me. (Jer 9:22-26)

HOPE. But, Christian, these three fellows, I am persuaded in my heart, are but a company of cowards; do you think they would have run differently, 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 I think, Have stood one encounter with them, and have yielded when there had been no remedy.

CHR. That they are cowards, many have said, but few have found it so in the time of trial. As for a great heart, Littlefaith had none; and I perceive by you, my brother, had you been the man concerned, you are but for one encounter, and then to yield. And, truly, since this is the height of your stomach, (Spiritual growth) now they are at a distance from us, should they appear to you as they did to him, they might put you to second thoughts.

     But, consider again, they are but journeymen thieves, they serve under the king of the bottomless pit, who, if need be, will come in to their aid himself, and his voice is as the roaring of a lion. (Psa 7:2; 1Pe 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 in the beginning, tried to resist, like a Christian, they gave but a call, and in came their master. I would, as the saying is, have given my life for a penny; (Mess of pottage) but that, as God would have it, I was clothed with the armor of God. Yes, and yet, though I was so harnessed, I found it hard work to act like a man. No man can tell what that combat will be like, but he that has been in the battle. himself.

HOPE. Well, but they ran, you see, when they did but suppose that one Great-grace was in the way.

CHR. True, they have often fled, both they and their master, when Great-grace has but appeared; and no marvel; for he is the King's Champion. But, I think, you will see some difference between Little-faith and the King's Champion. All the King's subjects are not His champions, nor can they, when tried, can they do such feats of war as He. Is it fitting to think that a little child should handle Goliath as David did? Or that there should be the strength of an ox in a bird? Some are strong, some are weak; some have great faith, some have little. This man was one of the weak, and therefore he went to the wall.

HOPE. I would it had been Great-grace for their sakes.

CHR. If it had been, he might have had his hands full; for I must tell you, that though Great-grace is excellent at his weapons, and has, and can, so long as 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 and will throw up his heels. And when a man is down, you know, what can he do?

     Whosoever looks well upon Great-grace's face, shall see those scars and cuts there, that shall easily give demonstration of what I say. Yes, once I heard that he should say, (And that when he was in the combat) "We despaired even of life." (2Co 1:8) How did these sturdy rogues and their companions make David groan, mourn, and roar? Yes, Heman and Hezekiah, too, though champions in their day, were forced to charge them, when assaulted by these; and yet, notwithstanding, they had their coats soundly grazed by them. Peter, once upon a time, would go try what he could do; but some do say of him that he is the prince of the apostles, they handled him so, that they made him afraid of a sorry girl.

     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 lays at him cannot stop him; the spear, the dart, nor  chain armor: he regards iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee; sling stones are turned  into stubble. Darts are counted as stubble: he laughs 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; "Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane? Do you make him leap like the locust? His majestic snorting is terrible. He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; He goes out to meet the weapons. He laughs at fear and is not dismayed; And he does not turn back from the sword. The quiver rattles against him, The flashing spear and javelin. With shaking and rage he races over the ground, And he does not stand still at the voice of the trumpet. As often as the trumpet sounds he says, Aha! And he scents the battle from afar, And the thunder of the captains and the war cry." (Job 39:19-25)

     But for such footmen as you 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 so toiled, nor be tickled by the thoughts of our own manhood; for such commonly come by the worst when they are tried. Witness Peter, of whom I made mention before. He would bully, yes, 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 failed, and was run down by these villains, as he?

     When, therefore, we hear that such robberies are done on the King's highway, two things we must do:

1. To go out harnessed, and to be sure to take a shield with us; for it was for lack of it, that he that laid so aggressively at Leviathan could not make him yield; for, indeed, if that be lacking, he does not fear us at all. Therefore, he that has skill said, "In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." (Eph 6:16)

2. It is good, also, that we desire of the King a convoy, yes, 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. (Exod 33:15) O my brother, if He will but go along with us, what need we be afraid of ten thousands that shall set themselves against us? (Psa 3:5-8; Psa 27:1-3) But, without Him, the proud "fall among the slain." (Isa 10:4)

     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: I shall be glad, if I meet with no more such forces; though, I fear, we are 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 Christian sang:

     Poor Little-faith! Hast been among the thieves? Wast robb'd? Remember this, whoso believes, And gets more faith, shall then a victor be Over ten thousand, that scarce over three.

     So they went on, and Ignorance followed. They went then until they came at a place where they saw a way put itself into their way, and seemed however to lie as straight as the way which they should go; and here they did not know 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 do not know which of these ways to take. Follow me, the man said, it is there 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. For this reason, there they lay crying some time, for they could not get themselves out.

CHR. Now do I see myself in an 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 who flatters his neighbor Is spreading a net for his steps." (Pro 29:5)

HOPE. They also gave us a note of directions about the way, for our sure finding and staying on it; but in this we have also forgotten to read, and have not kept ourselves from the paths of the destroyer. Here David was wiser than we are; for, he said, "As for the deeds of men, by the word of Your lips I have kept from the paths of the violent." (Psa 17:4) Thus they lay bewailing themselves in the net. At last they spotted a Shining One coming towards them, with a whip of small cords in His hand. When He came to the place where they were, He asked them where they came from, and what they were doing 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, to follow him, for he was going there too. Then He with the whip said, It is Flatterer, a false apostle, that has transformed himself into an angel of light. (Pro 29:5; Dan 11:32; 2Co 11:13-14) So He ripped the net, and let the men out. Then He said 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 sleep last night? They said, With the Shepherds, upon the Delectable Mountains. He then asked them, if those Shepherds had a note of direction for the way. They answered, Yes. But did you, when you were at a crossroad, pluck it 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, that this fine-spoken man had been he. (Rom 16:18)

    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, "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. [Change your mind]" (Rev 3:19; 2Ch 6:26-27) This done, He bid them to go on their way, and take good heed to the other directions of the Shepherds. So they thanked Him for all his kindness, and went softly along the right way, singing-

     Come hither, you that walk along the way; See how the pilgrims fare that go astray! They catched are in an entangling net, 'Cause Your good counsel lightly did forget: 'Tis true, they rescued were, but yet you see, They're scourg'd to boot. Let this your caution be.

     Now, after a while, they perceived, afar off, one coming softly and alone, all along the highway to meet them. Then Christian said to his fellow, Yonder is a man with his back toward Zion, and he is coming to meet us.

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 to them. His name was Atheist, and he asked them where they were going.

CHR. We are going to the Mount Zion.

Then Atheist fell into a very great laughter.

CHR. What is the meaning of your laughter?

ATHEIST. I laugh to see what ignorant persons you are, to take upon you so tedious a journey, and yet are to have nothing but your travel for your pains.

CHR. Why, man, do you think we shall not be received?

ATHEIST. Received! There is no such place as you dream of in all this world.

     [The backsliding of a Christian comes through the superabundant persuading of Satan and lust; that the man was mistaken, and that there was no such horror in the things from which he fled; nor so much good in the things to which he hosted. Turn again, fool, says the devil. I wonder what frenzy it was that drove you to run, and that made you leave so much good behind you as other men find in the lusts of the flesh and the good of the world. As for the Law, and death, and the day of judgement, they are but mere scarecrows, set up by politic heads, to keep the ignorant in subjection. Well, he goes back, fool as he is, conscience sleeps, and flesh is sweet; but, behold, he again sees his own nakedness-he sees the Law whetting his axe-the world is a bubble. He also smells the brimstone which begins to burn within him. Oh! he says, I am deluded! "Have mercy upon me, O God!"]

CHR. But there is in the world to come.

ATHEIST. When I was at home in mine own country, I heard as you now affirm, and from that hearing went out to see, and have been seeking this city this 20 years; but find no more of it than I did the first day I set out. (Jer 22:12; Eccl 10:15)

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

ATHEIST. Had I not, when at home, believed, I had not come thus far to seek it; but finding none, (And yet I should have, 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 have cast away, for hopes of that which, I now see, is not.

CHR. Then Christian said to Hopeful his fellow, Is it true what this man has said?

HOPE. Take heed, he is one of the flatterers; remember what it has cost us once already for our hearkening to these 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. (2Co 5:7)

     You should have taught me that lesson, which I will teach you however: "Cease listening, my son, to discipline, And you will stray from the Words of knowledge." (Pro 19:27) I say, my brother, cease to hear him, and let us " not be of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul." (Heb 10:39)

CHR. My brother, I did not put the question to you, for that I doubted of the truth of your belief myself, but to prove you, and to fetch from you a fruit of the honesty of your heart. As for this man, I know that he is blinded by the god of this world. Let you and I go on, knowing that we have belief of the Truth, "and because no lie is of the Truth." (1Jn 2:21)

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.

ADVENTURES ON THE ENCHANTED GROUNDS

     I saw then in my dream, that they went until they came into a certain country, whose air naturally tended to make one drowsy, if he came into it as a stranger. And here Hopeful began to be very dull and heavy of sleep; wherefore he said to Christian, I do now begin to grow so drowsy that I can scarcely hold up my eyes; let us lie down here, and take one nap. [Upon the declaration for liberty of conscience, the church for a season was free from persecution. It was like enchanted ground; and some, who had been watchful in the storm, became careless and sleepy in this short deceitful calm]

CHR. By no means, said the other; lest, sleeping, we never awake.

HOPE. Why, my brother? Sleep is sweet to the laboring man; we may be refreshed if we take a nap.

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; "so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober." (1Th 5:6)

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 said, "Two are better than one." So far has your company has been my mercy, and you shall have a good reward for your labor. (Eccl 4:9)

CHR. Now then, said Christian, to prevent drowsiness in this place, let us fall into good discourse.

HOPE. With all my heart, said the other.

CHR. Where shall we begin?

HOPE. Where God began with us. But you begin, if you please.

CHR. I will sing you first this song-

When saints do sleepy grow, let them come here, And hear how these two pilgrims talked together: Yea, let them learn of them, in any wise, Thus to keep open their drowsy slumbering eyes. Saints' fellowship, if it be managed well, Keeps them awake, and that in spite of hell.

CHR. Then Christian began, and said, I will ask you a question. How did you come to think of doing as you do now?

HOPE. Do you mean, how did I come at first to look after the good of my soul?

CHR. Yes, that is my meaning.

HOPE. I continued a great while in the delight of those things which were seen and sold at our fair; things which, I believe now, would have, drowned me in perdition and destruction.

CHR. What things were they?

HOPE. All the treasures and riches of the world. Also I delighted much in rioting, reveling, 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 "For the outcome of those things is death." (Rom 6:21-23) And that for these things' sake, "the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience." (Eph 5:6)

CHR. And did you presently fall under the power of this conviction?

HOPE. No, I was not willing presently to know the evil of sin, nor the damnation that follows upon the commission of it; but endeavored, when my mind at first began to be shaken with the Word, to shut my eyes against the light of it.

CHR. But what was the cause of your carrying of it thus to the first workings of God's blessed Spirit upon you?

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.

CHR. Then, as it seems, sometimes you got rid of your trouble?

HOPE. Yes, certainly, but it would come into my mind again, and then I should be as bad, nay, worse than I was before.

CHR. Why, what was it that brought your sins to mind again?

HOPE. Many things; as,

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

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

3. If my head did begin to ache; or,

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

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

6. If I thought of dying myself; or,

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

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

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?

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.

CHR. And how did you do then?

HOPE. I thought I must endeavor to mend my life; for else, I thought, I am sure to be damned.

CHR. And did you endeavor to mend?

HOPE. Yes; and fled from not only my sins, but sinful company too; and committed to religious duties, as prayer, reading, weeping for sin, speaking truth to my neighbors, etc. These things I did with many others, too much here to relate.

CHR. And did you think yourself well then?

HOPE. Yes, for a while; but, at the last, my trouble came tumbling upon me again, and that over the neck of all my reformations.

CHR. How did that come about, since you were now reformed?

HOPE. There were several things that brought it upon me, especially such sayings as these: "All our righteousness’s are as filthy rags." (Isa 64:6) "By the works of the law shall no flesh will be justified." (Gal 2:16) "when you do all the things which are Commanded you, say, We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done." (Luk 17:10) With many more such like thoughts; from which; I began to reason with myself thus: If ALL my righteousness’s 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 folly to think of Heaven by means of 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 takes hold of; yet, if this old debt stands still in the book not paid,  that the shopkeeper may sue him, and cast him into prison till he shall pay the debt.

CHR. Well, and how did you apply this to yourself?

HOPE. Why, I thought thus with myself: I have, by my sins, run a great way into God's book, and 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 that I was born with and also committed?

CHR. A very good application; but, pray, go on.

HOPE. Another thing that has 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 what I do; so that now I am forced to conclude, that despite 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.

CHR. And what did you do then?

HOPE. Do! I could not tell what to do, until I broke 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.

CHR. And did you think he spoke the Truth?

HOPE. Had he told me so when I was pleased and satisfied with mine own amendment, I had called him a fool for his pains; but now, since I see my own infirmity, and the sin that cleaves to my best performance, I have been forced to be of his opinion.

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 a sin?

HOPE. I must confess the words at first sounded strange, but after a little more talk and company with him, I had full conviction about it.

CHR. And did you ask him what man this was, and how you must be justified by Him?

HOPE. Yes, and he told me it was the Lord Jesus, that dwelles at the right hand of the Most High. And thus, he said, you must be justified by Him, even by trusting to what He has 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 to me, if I believed on Him. (Heb 10:12-14; Rom 4:3-5; Col 1:15-22; 1Pe 1:18-21)

CHR. And what did you do then?

HOPE. I made my objections against my believing, for that I thought He was not willing to save me.

CHR. And then what did Faithful say to you?

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. (Mat 11:28) Then he gave me a book of Jesus, His writing, 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. (Mat 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. (Psa 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 You 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 did not know 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 You are a merciful God, and hast ordained that Your Son Jesus Christ should be the Savior 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. (Exod 25:22; Lev 16:2; Num 7:89; Heb 4:16).

CHR. And did you do as you were bidden?

HOPE. Yes; over, and over, and over.

CHR. And did the Father reveal His Son to you?

HOPE. Not at the first, nor second, nor third, nor fourth, nor fifth; no, nor at the sixth time neither.

CHR. What did you do then?

HOPE. What! Why I could not tell what to do.

CHR. Had you not thoughts of leaving off praying?

HOPE. Yes, a hundred times twice told.

CHR. And what was the reason you did not?

HOPE. I believed that that was true which had been told me, to wit, that without the righteousness of this Christ, all the world could not save me; and therefore, thought I with myself, if I leave off I die, and I can but die at the throne of grace. And withal, this came into my mind, "Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry" (Hab 2:3). So I continued praying until the Father showed me His Son.

CHR. And how was He revealed unto you?

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 look down from Heaven upon me, and saying, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Act 16:31).

     But I replied, Lord, I am a great, a very great sinner. And He answered, "My grace is sufficient for you." (2Co 12:9) Then I said, But, Lord, what is believing? And then I saw from this saying, "he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst." That believing and coming were one; and that he that came, that is, ran out in his heart and affections after Salvation by Christ, he indeed believed in Christ. (Joh 6:35) Then the water stood in my eyes, and I asked further, But, Lord, may such a great sinner as I am, be indeed accepted by You, and be saved by You? And I heard him say, "And the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out." (Joh 6:37) Then I said, But how, Lord, must I consider You in coming to You, that my faith may be placed aright upon You? Then He said, "that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." (1Ti 1:15) "For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes." (Rom 10:4) "He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification." (Rom 4:25) "To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood." (Rev 1:5) "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1Ti 2:5) "He always lives to make intercession for them." (Heb 7:25) From all I gathered, is that I must look for righteousness in His person, and for satisfaction for my sins by His blood; (Judgement) 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 my heart was full of joy, my eyes full of tears, and my affections running over with love to the name, people, and ways of Jesus Christ.

CHR. This was a Revelation of Christ to your soul indeed; but tell me in particular what effect this had upon your spirit.

HOPE. It made me see that all the world, notwithstanding all the righteousness thereof, is in a state of condemnation. It made me see that God the Father, though He be just, can justly 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 never did these thoughts come into my heart before now, that showed me so, the beauty of Jesus Christ. It made me love a holy life, and long to do something for the honor and glory of the name of the Lord Jesus; yes, I thought that had now a thousand gallons of blood in my body, I could spill it all for the sake of the Lord Jesus.

     I saw then in my dream that Hopeful looked back and saw Ignorance, whom they had left behind, coming after. Look, he said to Christian, how far back the youngster stays behind.

CHR. Certainly, I see him; he cares not for our company.

HOPE. But I believe it would not have hurt him, had he kept pace with us thus far.

CHR. That is true; but I guarantee you he thinks otherwise.

HOPE. That I think he does; but, however, let us wait for him. So they did.

Then Christian said to him, Come on, man, why do you stay so behind?

IGNOR. I take my pleasure in walking alone, even more a great deal than in company, unless I like it better. [Not governed by the Word of God, but by his own will, his grounds of confidence for salvation unfitted him for Christian fellowship, unless he happened to fall in with a man who had imbibed his own notions]

     Then Christian said to Hopeful, (But softly) Did I not tell you that he did not care not for our company? But, however, he said, 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 do? How does it stand it between God and your soul now?

IGNOR. I hope well; for I am always full of good notions, that come into my mind, to comfort me as I walk. (Pro 28:26)

CHR. What good notions? pray, tell us.

IGNOR. Why, I think of God and Heaven.

CHR. So do the devils and damned souls.

IGNOR. But I think of them, and desire them.

CHR. So do many that are never likely to come there. "The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing." (Pro 13:4)

IGNOR. But I think of them, and leave all for them.

CHR. That I doubt; for leaving all is a hard matter; yes, a harder matter than many are aware of. But why, or by what, are you persuaded that you have left all for God and Heaven?

IGNOR. My heart tells me so.

CHR. The wise man says, "He that trusts his own heart is a fool" (Pro 28:26)

IGNOR. This is spoken of an evil heart, but mine is a good one.

CHR. But how do you prove that?

IGNOR. It comforts me in hopes of Heaven.

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 as yet has no ground to hope. (Jer 17:9)

IGNOR. But my heart and life agree together, and therefore my hope is well grounded.

CHR. Who told you that your heart and life agree together?

IGNOR. My heart tells me so.

CHR. Ask my fellow if I be a thief! Your heart tells you so! Except the Word of God bear witness in this matter, any other testimony is of no value.

IGNOR. But is it not a good heart that has good thoughts? And is not that a good life that is according to God's Commandments?

CHR. Yes, that is a good heart that has good thoughts, and that is a good life that is according to God's Commandments; but it is one thing, indeed, to have these, and another thing only to think so.

IGNOR. Pray, what do you count as good thoughts, and a life according to God's Commandments?

CHR. There are good thoughts of different kinds; some respecting ourselves, some God, some Christ, and or some other thing.

IGNOR. What be good thoughts respecting ourselves?

CHR. Such as agree with the Word of God.

IGNOR. When do our thoughts of ourselves agree with the Word of God?

CHR. When we pass the same judgment upon ourselves which the Word passes. To explain myself-the Word of God says of ALL persons in a natural condition, "THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE." (Rom 3:1) It says also, that "that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Gen 6:5) And again, "for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth." (Gen 8:21) Now then, when we think thus of ourselves, having God's Viewpoint then; are our thoughts good ones, because they are according to the Word of God.

IGNOR. I will never believe that my heart is thus bad.

CHR. Therefore you have never had one good thought concerning yourself in all of your life. But let me go on. As the Word passes a judgment upon our heart, so it passes a judgment upon our ways; and when our thoughts of our hearts and ways agree with the judgment which the Word gives of both, then are both good, because they agree.

IGNOR. Make out your meaning.

CHR. Why, the Word of God says that man's ways are crooked ways; not good, but perverse. (Psa 125:1-5; Pro 2:15) It says they are naturally out of the good way, that they have not known it. (Rom 3:17) Now, when a man thus thinks of his ways; I say, when he does sensibly, and with heart humiliation, thinks this way, then he has good thoughts of his own ways, because his thoughts now agree with the Divine Thinking of the Word of God.

IGNOR. What are good thoughts concerning God?

CHR. Even as I have said concerning ourselves, when our thoughts of God do agree with what the Word says of Him; and that is, when we think of His being and attributes as the Word has 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 to 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.

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?

CHR. Why, how do you think in this matter?

IGNOR. Why, to be short, I think I must believe in Christ for justification.

CHR. How! think you must believe in Christ, when you do not see your need of Him! You neither see your original nor actual infirmities; but have such an opinion of yourself, and of what you do, as plainly renders you to be one that never did see a necessity of Christ's personal righteousness to justify yourself before God. How, then, do you say, I believe in Christ?

IGNOR. I believe well enough for all that.

CHR. What do you believe?

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.

CHR. Let me give an answer to this confession of your faith.

1. You believe with a fantastical faith; for this faith is nowhere described in the Word.

2. You believe with a false faith; because it takes justification from the personal righteousness of Christ, and applies it to your own.

3. This faith does not make Christ a justifier of your person, but of your actions; and of your person for your actions' sake, which is false.

4. Therefore, this faith is deceitful, even such as will leave you under wrath, in the day of God Almighty; for true justifying faith puts the soul, as sensible of its lost 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 makes, for justification, your 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 accepted; under the robe of righteousness of which, the soul being covered, and by it presented as spotless before God, it is accepted, and acquit from condemnation.

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 want; for what difference would it make how we live, if we may be justified by Christ's personal righteousness for all, when we believe it?

CHR. Ignorance is your name, and as your name is, so are you; even your answer demonstrates what I am saying. Ignorant you are of what justifying righteousness is, and as ignorant how to secure your soul, through faith in it, from the heavy wrath of God. Yes, you also are 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 you ignorantly imagine.

HOPE. Ask him if ever he had Christ revealed to him from Heaven.

IGNOR. What! You are a man for Revelations! I believe that what both of you, and all the rest, say about this matter, is but the fruit of distracted brains.

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.

IGNOR. That is your faith, but not as mine; yet mine, I doubt not, is as good as yours, though I have not in my head so many whimsies as you.

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 has done, that no man can know Jesus Christ but by the Revelation of the Father; (Mat 11:27) yes, and faith too, by which the soul lays 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, you are ignorant of. (1Co 12:3; Eph 1:18-19) Be awakened then, see your own wretchedness, and fly to the Lord Jesus; and by His righteousness, which is the righteousness of God, for He Himself is God, you shall be delivered from condemnation.

IGNOR. You go so fast, I cannot keep pace with you. Do you go on before; I must stay a while behind.

     Then they said: Well, Ignorance, will you yet be foolish, To slight good counsel, ten times given to you? And if you yet refuse it, you shall know, before long, the evil of your doing so. Remember, man, in time, will bow, do not fear; Good counsel taken well, saves: therefore hear. But if you yet shall slight it, you will be The loser (Ignorance) I'll guarantee you.

Then Christian addressed thus himself to his fellow-

CHR. Well, come, my good Hopeful, I perceive that you and I must walk by ourselves again.

     So I saw in my dream that they went on quickly before, and Ignorance he came halting after. Then Christian said to his companion, It pities me much for this poor man, it will certainly go ill with him at the end.

HOPE. Alas! there are an 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, do you think, must there be in the place where he was born?

CHR. Indeed the Word said, "He has blinded their eyes, lest they should see," etc. But now we are by ourselves, what do you think of such men? Have they, do you think, at no time, convictions of sin, and so consequently fears that their state is dangerous?

HOPE. No, do answer that question yourself, for you are the elder man.

CHR. Then I say, sometimes (As I think) they may; but they being naturally ignorant, do not understand that such convictions tend to their own good; and therefore they do desperately seek to stifle them, and presumptuously continue to flatter themselves in the way of their own hearts.

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 the pilgrimage.

CHR. Without all doubt it does, if it be right; for so says the Word, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Pro 1:7; Pro 9:10; Psa 111:10; Job 28:28)

HOPE. How will you describe right fear?

CHR. True or right fear is discovered by three things:

1. By its rise; it is caused by saving convictions for sin.

2. It drives the soul to lay fast hold of Christ for Salvation.

3. It begets and continues 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 dishonor God, break its peace, grieve the Spirit, or cause the enemy to speak reproachfully. [Staying in the filling of God the Holy Spirit and Thinking with Truth] (Joh 4:23-24)

HOPE. Well said; I believe you have said the Truth. Are we now almost past the Enchanted Ground?

CHR. Why, are you weary of this discourse?

HOPE. No, certainly, but that I would know where we are.

CHR. We have not above two miles further to go. 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.

HOPE. How do they seek to stifle them?

CHR. 1. They think that those fears are shaped by the devil; (Though indeed they are performed by God) and, so thinking, they resist them as things that directly tend to their overthrow.

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.

 3. They presume they ought not to fear; and therefore, in spite of them, increase presumptuously confident.

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.

HOPE. I know something of this myself; for, before I knew myself, it was so with me.

CHR. Well, we will leave, at this time, our neighbor Ignorance by himself, and fall upon another profitable question.

HOPE. With all my heart, but you shall still begin.

CHR. Well then, did you not know, about 10 years ago, one Temporary in your parts, who was a forward man in religion? (Mat 13:21)

HOPE. Know him! Yes, he dwelt in Graceless, a town about two miles off of Honesty, and he dwelt next door to one Turnback.

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.

HOPE. I am of your mind, for, my house was not three miles from him, he would oftentimes come to me, and that with many tears. Truly I pitied the man, and was not altogether without hope for him; but one may see, it is not every one that cries, Lord, Lord. (Mat 7:21)

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.

HOPE. Now, since we are talking about him, let us a little inquire into the reason of the sudden backsliding of him and others.

CHR. It may be very profitable, but please, you begin.

HOPE. Well then, there are in my judgment four reasons for it:

1. Though the consciences of such men are awakened, yet their minds are not changed; therefore, when the power of guilt wears away, that which provoked them to be religious (In fellowship) ceases, 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 does this of a free mind, (If we may say a dog has a mind) but because it troubles his stomach; but now, when his sickness is over, and so his stomach eased, his desire being not at all alienated from his vomit, he turns him about and licks up all, and so it is true which is written, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT." (2Pe 2:22) Thus I say, being hot for Heaven, only in the sense of 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 are gone, their desires for Heaven and happiness die, and they return to their course again.

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 brings a snare." (Pro 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 have 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.

3. The shame that attends the Spiritual life lies also as a block in their way; they are proud and haughty, and religion (The Spiritual life) in their eyes is low and contemptible; therefore, when they have lost their sense of hell and the wrath to come, they return again to their former course.

4. Guilt, and to meditate on terror, are grievous to them. They do not like 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 where 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.

CHR. You are pretty near the target, for the bottom of all is, for lack of a change in their mind and will. And therefore they are like the felon that stands before the judge, he quakes and trembles, and seems to repent most heartily, but the bottom of all is the fear of the chain; not that he has 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 were changed, he would be otherwise.

HOPE. Now, I have showed you the reasons of their going back, do you show me the manner thereof.

CHR. So I will, willingly.

1. They draw off their thoughts, all that they may, from the remembrance of God, death, and judgment to come.

2. Then they cast off by degrees private duties, as closet prayer, curbing their lusts, watching, acknowledgement of sins and the like.

3. Then they shun the company of lively and warm Christians.

4. After that, they grow cold to public duty, as listening, reading, fellowship, and the like.

5. Then they begin to pick holes, as we say, in the coats of some of the believers; and that devilishly, that they may have a seeming excuse to throw the spiritual life, (For the sake of some infirmity they have spotted in them) behind their backs.

6. Then they begin to adhere to, and associate themselves with, carnal, loose, and wanton men.

7. Then they give way to carnal and wanton discourses in secret; and they are glad if they can see such things in any that are counted honest, that they may the more boldly do it because of their example.

8. After this, they begin to play with little sins openly.

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 deceiving’s. See how gradually, step by step, apostates go back. It begins with unbelief in the heart, and ends in open sins in the life. Why is the love of this world so forbidden? Why is covetousness called idolatry? Because, whatever draws away the heart from God, and prevents enjoying close fellowship with him, naturally tends to apostasy from him. Look well to your hearts and affections. "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." (Pro 4:23) If you neglect to watch, you will be sure to smart under the awareness of sin on earth, or its curse of hell. "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Eph 5:15-16)]

     Now I saw in my dream, that by this time the Pilgrims were on the other side of the Enchanted Ground, and entering into the country of Beulah, (Jerusalem) whose air was very sweet and pleasant, the way lying directly through it, they solaced themselves there for a season. (Isa 62:4) Yes, here they heard continually the singing of birds, and saw every day the flowers appear in the earth, and heard the voice of the turtledove in the land. (Song 2:10-12) In this country the sun shines 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, and met 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, "For as a young man marries a virgin, So your sons will marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So your God will rejoice over you." (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 to the daughter of Zion, "Lo, your Salvation comes; Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him." (Isa 62:10-11) Here all the inhabitants of the country called them, "The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD"; And you will be called, "Sought out, a city not forsaken." etc. (Isa 62:12)

     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 built of pearls and precious stones, also the street was paved with gold; so that by reason of the natural glory of the city, and the reflection of the sunbeams upon it, Christian fell sick with desire. 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 you find my beloved, As to what you will tell him: For I am lovesick." (Song 5:8)

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 arbors, where He delighted to be; and here they tarried and slept.

     Now I beheld in my dream, that they talked more in their sleep at this time than ever they did in their entire journey; and being in a muse thereabout, the gardener said even to me, Why are you musing about this matter? It is the nature of the fruit of the grapes of these vineyards to go down so sweetly, as to cause the lips of them that are asleep to speak.

     So I saw that when they awoke, they addressed themselves to go up to the city. But, as I said, the reflection of the sun was upon the city (For "the city was pure gold") (Rev 21:18) was so extremely glorious, that they could not, as yet, with unveiled face behold it, but through an instrument made for that purpose. (2Co 3:18) So I saw, that as they went on, there met two men, in raiment that shone like gold; also their faces shone as the light.

     These men asked the Pilgrims where they came from; 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 the men said that met them, You have but two difficulties more to meet with, and then you are in the city. [What are these two difficulties? Are they not death without, and unbelief within? It is through the latter that the former is all-distressing to us. O for a strong, world-conquering, sin-subduing, death-overcoming faith, in life and death! Jesus, Master, speak the Word, unbelief shall flee, our faith shall not fail, and our hope shall be steady]

     Christian then, and his companion, asked the men to go along with them; so they told them they would. But, they said, 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.

     Now, I further saw, that between them and the gate was a river, but there was no bridge to go over; the river was very deep. At the sight, of this river, the Pilgrims were very stunned: but the men that went with them said, You must go through, or you cannot come in at the gate. [Well, now the pilgrims must meet with, and encounter, their last enemy, death. When he stares them in the face, their fears arise. Through the river they must go. What have they to look at? What they are in themselves, or what they have done and been? No. Only the same Jesus who conquered death for us, and can overcome the fear of death in us]

     The Pilgrims then began to inquire if there was no other way to the gate; to which they answered, Yes; but there has not any, save two, namely, Enoch and Elijah, been permitted to tread that path, since the foundation of the world, nor shall, until the last trumpet shall sound. (1Co 15:51-52) The Pilgrims then, especially Christian, began to despair 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, they said, you shall find it deeper or shallower, as you believe in the King of the place.

    They then addressed themselves to the water; and entering, Christian began to sink, and crying out to his good friend Hopeful, he said, I sink in deep waters; the billows go over my head, all his waves go over me! Selah. (Jon 2:3; Psa 69:14-15)

     Then the other said, Be of good cheer, my brother, I feel the bottom, and it is good. Then, Christian said, Ah! My friend, "The cords of death encompassed me, And the torrents of ungodliness terrified me." (Psa 18:4) 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 spoke 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 demons and evil spirits; at another times he would intimate so much by words. Hopeful, therefore, here had much hustle to keep his brother's head above water; yes, sometimes he would be quite gone down, and then, before awhile, 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, he said to Christian. Ah, brother! he said, surely if I were right He would now arise to help me; but for my sins He hath brought me into the snare, and hath left me. Then Hopeful said, My brother, you have quite forgot the text, where it is said of the wicked, "For there are no pains in their death, And their body is fat. They are not in trouble as other men, Nor are they plagued like mankind." (Psa 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 you have so far  received of His goodness, and live upon Him in your distresses. 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 makes you whole; and with that Christian broke out with a loud voice, O! I see Him again, and He tells me, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you." (Isa 43:2) Then they both took courage, and the enemy was after that as still as a stone, until they had 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 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. (Heb 1:14) Thus they went along towards the gate. Now you must note that the city stood upon a mighty hill, but the Pilgrims went up that hill with ease, because they had these two men to lead them up by the arms; also, they had left their mortal garments behind them in the river, for though they went in with them, they came out without them. They, therefore, went up here with much 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.

     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, they said, is "Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect." (Heb 12:22-24) They said, you are going now, 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; Rev 3:4; Rev 22:5) There you shall not see again such things as you saw when you were in the lower region upon the earth, namely, 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; Isa 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." (1Jn 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 there 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 carriage 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. (1Th 4:13-17; Jud 1:14; Dan 7:9-10; 1Co 6:2-3) Also when He shall again return to the city, you shall go too, with the sound of a trumpet, and be ever with Him.

     Now, while they were thus drawing towards the gate, behold a company of the heavenly host came out to meet them; to whom it was said, by the other two Shining Ones, These are the men that have loved our Lord when they were in the world, and that have left all for His holy name; and He has sent us to fetch them, and we have brought them thus far on their desired journey, that they may go in and look at 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 also came out 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 10,000 welcomes; and this they did with shouting, and sound of trumpet.

     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, a little while with 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. But above all, the warm and joyful Thoughts that they had about their own dwelling there, with such a company, and that forever and ever. O by what tongue or pen can their glorious joy be expressed! And thus they came up to the gate.

     Now, when they were come up to the gate, there was written over it in letters of gold, "Blessed are they that do His Commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." (Rev 22:14) K.J.V.

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, namely, Enoch, Moses, and Elijah, etc., to whom it was said, These pilgrims came from the City of Destruction, for the love that they bear to the King of this place; and then the pilgrims gave to them each man his certificate, which they had received in the beginning; those, therefore, were carried into 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, "Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter, The one that remains faithful." (Isa 26:2)

     [Blessed indeed is that man who, while encumbered with a sinful body, can truly say, "I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me." In Him all the Commandments are obeyed-all my sins washed away by His blood-and my soul clothed with righteousness and immortality. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord: they enter the Celestial City. This is the righteous nation, which keeps the Truth. O my reader, would you be one of the glorified inhabitants of that city whose builder and maker is God? Then you must live the life of faith; so run that ye may obtain; ever be found looking unto Jesus. Prepare me, Lord, for Your right hand, Then come the joyful day; Come death, and some celestial hand, And fetch my soul away.]

     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 were also that met them with harps and crowns, and gave them to them-the harps to praise withal, and the crowns in a token of honor. Then I heard in my dream that all the bells in the city rang again for joy, and that it was said unto them, "ENTER YE INTO THE JOY OF YOUR LORD." I also heard the men themselves, that they sang with a loud voice, saying, "BLESSING, AND HONOR, AND GLORY, AND POWER, BE UNTO HIM THAT SITS UPON THE THRONE, AND UNTO THE LAMB, FOREVER AND EVER." (Rev 5:13)

     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 with. There were also of them that had wings, and they answered one another without intermission, saying, "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME." (Rev 4:8) And after that, they shut up the gates; which, when I had seen, I wished myself among them.

     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, Where did you come from? And what would you have? He answered, I have eaten 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 they said, 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.

     [This is a most awful conclusion. Consider it deeply. Weigh it attentively, so as to get good satisfaction from the Word to these important questions-Am I in Christ, the way, the only way, to the kingdom, or not? Do I see that all other ways, whether of sin or self-righteousness, lead to judgement? Does Christ dwell in my heart by faith? Am I a new creature in Him? Do I renounce my own righteousness, as well as abhor my sins? Do I look alone to Christ for righteousness, and depend only on Him for holiness? Is He the only hope of my soul, and the only confidence of my heart? And do I desire to be found in Him; knowing by the Word, and feeling by the teaching of His Spirit, that I am totally lost in myself? Thus, is Christ formed in me, the only hope of glory? Do I study to please Him, as well as hope to enjoy Him? Is fellowship with God the Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ, so prized by me, as to seek it, and to esteem it above all things? If so, though I may find all things in nature, in the world, and from Satan, continually opposing this, yet I am in Christ the way, and He is in me the Truth and the life. How far may such a one go? This important question is very solemnly argued in Bunyan's Law and Grace. He may be received into church-fellowship-and, like the foolish virgins, be clear from outward pollution-have gone forth from the rudiments and traditions of men-and had their lamps, but still lost their precious souls. They may bear office in the church, as Judas carried the bag, and as Demas! They may become preachers and ministers of the Gospel, with rare gifts, and a fluent tongue, like an angel, to speak of the hidden mysteries; but may die under the curse. They may have the gifts of the Spirit and Prophecy, and be but a Balaam. They may stand thus until Christ comes and exposes them. They may, with confidence, say, Lord, Lord, have we not eaten and drank in Your presence, and taught in Your name, and in Your name have cast out devils? And yet, poor creatures, be shut out!]

THE CONCLUSION

     Now, READER, I have told my dream to you; See if you can interpret it to me, Or to yourself, or neighbour; but take heed of misinterpreting; for that, instead Of doing good, will but do yourself abuse: By misinterpreting, and receive evil results.

     Take heed also, that you be not extreme, In playing with the outside of my dream: Nor let my figure or similitude Put you into a laughter or a feud. Leave this for boys and fools; but as for you, do you the substance of the matter see?

     Put by the curtains, look within my veil, Turn up my metaphors, and do not fail; There, if you seek them, such things to find, as will be helpful to an honest mind.

     What of my dross you find there, be bold To throw away, but yet preserve the gold; What if my gold be wrapped up in ore? — None throws away the apple for the core. But if you shall cast all away as vain, I know not but will make me dream again.

THE END OF THE FIRST PART.