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EVAN. Then, said Evangelist, stand still a little, that I may show thee

the words of God. So he stood trembling. Then said Evangelist,

"See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not

who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape,

if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven." [Heb. 12:25]

He said, moreover, "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man

draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." [Heb. 10:38]

He also did thus apply them: Thou art the man that art running into

this misery; thou hast begun to reject the counsel of the Most High,

and to draw back thy foot from the way of peace, even almost

to the hazarding of thy perdition.

{52}

Then Christian fell down at his feet as dead, crying, "Woe is me,

for I am undone!" At the sight of which Evangelist caught him

by the right hand, saying, "All manner of sin and blasphemies

shall be forgiven unto men." [Matt. 12:31, Mark 3:28]

"Be not faithless, but believing." [John 20:27] Then did Christian

again a little revive, and stood up trembling, as at first,

before Evangelist.

{53}

<Mr. Worldly Wiseman described by Evangelist>

Then Evangelist proceeded, saying, Give more earnest heed

to the things that I shall tell thee of. I will now show thee

who it was that deluded thee, and who it was also to whom he sent thee.

--The man that met thee is one Worldly Wiseman, and rightly is he

so called; partly, because he savoureth only the doctrine of this world,

[1 John 4:5] (therefore he always goes to the town of Morality

to church): and partly because he loveth that doctrine best,

for it saveth him best from the cross. [Gal 6:12] And because

he is of this carnal temper, therefore he seeketh to pervert my ways,

though right. Now there are three things in this man's counsel,

that thou must utterly abhor.

1. His turning thee out of the way.

2. His labouring to render the cross odious to thee. And,

3. His setting thy feet in that way that leadeth unto

the administration of death.

{54}

First, Thou must abhor his turning thee out of the way;

and thine own consenting thereunto: because this is to reject

the counsel of God for the sake of the counsel of a Worldly Wiseman.

The Lord says, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate" [Luke 13:24],

the gate to which I sent thee; for "strait is the gate that leadeth

unto life, and few there be that find it." [Matt. 7:14]

From this little wicket-gate, and from the way thereto,

hath this wicked man turned thee, to the bringing of thee

almost to destruction; hate, therefore, his turning thee out of the way,

and abhor thyself for hearkening to him.

{55}

Secondly, Thou must abhor his labouring to render the cross

odious unto thee; for thou art to prefer it "before the treasures

in Egypt." [Heb. 11:25,26] Besides the King of glory hath told thee,

that he that "will save his life shall lose it." [Mark 8:35;

John 12:25; Matt. 10:39] And, "He that cometh after me,

and hateth not his father, and mother, and wife, and children,

and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also,

he cannot be my disciple." [Luke 14:26] I say, therefore,

for man to labour to persuade thee, that that shall be thy death,

without which, THE TRUTH hath said, thou canst not have eternal life;

this doctrine thou must abhor.

{56}

Thirdly, Thou must hate his setting of thy feet in the way that leadeth

to the ministration of death. And for this thou must consider to whom

he sent thee, and also how unable that person was to deliver thee

from thy burden.

{57}

He to whom thou wast sent for ease, being by name Legality,

is the son of the bond-woman which now is, and is in bondage

with her children [Gal 4:21-27]; and is, in a mystery, this Mount Sinai,

which thou hast feared will fall on thy head. Now, if she,

with her children, are in bondage, how canst thou expect by them

to be made free? This Legality, therefore, is not able to set thee free

from thy burden. No man was as yet ever rid of his burden by him; no,

nor ever is like to be: ye cannot be justified by the works of the law;

for by the deeds of the law no man living can be rid of his burden:

therefore, Mr. Worldly Wiseman is an alien, and Mr. Legality is a cheat;

and for his son Civility, notwithstanding his simpering looks,

he is but a hypocrite and cannot help thee. Believe me,

there is nothing in all this noise, that thou hast heard of these

sottish men, but a design to beguile thee of thy salvation,

by turning thee from the way in which I had set thee. After this,

Evangelist called aloud to the heavens for confirmation of what

he had said: and with that there came words and fire

out of the mountain under which poor Christian stood, that made

the hair of his flesh stand up. The words were thus pronounced:

`As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse;

for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things

which are written in the book of the law to do them.' [Gal. 3:10]

{58}

Now Christian looked for nothing but death, and began

to cry out lamentably; even cursing the time in which he met

with Mr. Worldly Wiseman; still calling himself a thousand fools

for hearkening to his counsel; he also was greatly ashamed to think

that this gentleman's arguments, flowing only from the flesh,

should have the prevalency with him as to cause him to forsake

the right way. This done, he applied himself again to Evangelist

in words and sense as follow:

{59}

CHR. Sir, what think you? Is there hope? May I now go back

and go up to the wicket-gate? Shall I not be abandoned for this,

and sent back from thence ashamed? I am sorry I have hearkened to

this man's counsel. But may my sin be forgiven?

EVAN. Then said Evangelist to him, Thy sin is very great,

for by it thou hast committed two evils: thou hast forsaken the way

that is good, to tread in forbidden paths; yet will the man at the gate

receive thee, for he has goodwill for men; only, said he,

take heed that thou turn not aside again, `lest thou perish from

the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.' [Ps. 2:12]

Then did Christian address himself to go back; and Evangelist,

after he had kissed him, gave him one smile, and bid him God-speed.

So he went on with haste, neither spake he to any man by the way;

nor, if any asked him, would he vouchsafe them an answer.

He went like one that was all the while treading on forbidden ground,

and could by no means think himself safe, till again he was got

into the way which he left, to follow Mr. Worldly Wiseman's counsel.

So, in process of time, Christian got up to the gate.

Now, over the gate there was written, `Knock, and it shall be opened

unto you.' [Matt 7:8]

{60}

"He that will enter in must first without

Stand knocking at the Gate, nor need he doubt

That is A KNOCKER but to enter in;

For God can love him, and forgive his sin."

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 lasting praise on high."

At last there came a grave person to the gate, named Good-will,

who asked who was there? and whence he came? and what he would have?

{61}

CHR. Here is a poor burdened sinner. I come from

the City of Destruction, but am going to Mount Zion,

that I may be delivered from the wrath to come. I would therefore,

Sir, since I am informed that by this gate is the way thither,

know if you are willing to let me in?

GOOD-WILL. I am willing with all my heart, said he; and with that

he opened the gate.

{62}

So when Christian was stepping in, the other gave him a pull.

Then said Christian, What means that? The other told him.

A little distance from this gate, there is erected a strong castle,

of which Beelzebub is the captain; <Satan envies those that enter

the strait gate> from thence, both he and them that are with him

shoot arrows at those that come up to this gate, if haply they may die

before they can enter in.

Then said Christian, I rejoice and tremble. So when he was got in,

the man of the gate asked him who directed him thither?

{63}

CHR. Evangelist bid me come hither, and knock, (as I did);

and he said that you, Sir, would tell me what I must do.

GOOD-WILL. An open door is set before thee, and no man can shut it.

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

GOOD-WILL. But how is it that you came alone?

CHR. Because none of my neighbours saw their danger, as I saw mine.

GOOD-WILL. 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 neighbours 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 railing back,

but Pliable came with me a little way.

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

{64}

<A man may have company when he sets out for heaven,

and yet go thither alone>

CHR. We, indeed, came both together, until we came

at the Slough of Despond, into the which we also suddenly fell.

And then was my neighbour, Pliable, discouraged, and would not

venture further. Wherefore, getting out again on that side

next to his own house, he told me I should possess the brave country

alone for him; so he went his way, and I came mine--

he after Obstinate, and I to this gate.

GOOD-WILL. Then said Good-will, Alas, poor man! is the celestial glory

of so small esteem with him, that he counteth it not worth

running the hazards of a few difficulties to obtain it?

{65}

CHR. Truly, said Christian, I have said the truth of Pliable,

and if I should also say all the truth of myself, it will appear

there is no betterment betwixt him and myself. It is true,

he went back to his own house, but I also turned aside to go

in the way of death, being persuaded thereto by the carnal arguments

of one Mr. Worldly Wiseman.

GOOD-WILL. Oh, did he light upon you? What! he would have had you

a sought for ease at the hands of Mr. Legality. They are, both of them,

a very cheat. But did you take his counsel?

CHR. Yes, as far as I durst; I went to find out Mr. Legality,

until I thought that the mountain that stands by his house

would have fallen upon my head; wherefore there I was forced to stop.

GOOD-WILL. That mountain has been the death of many,

and will be the death of many more; it is well you escaped being

by it dashed in pieces.

CHR. Why, truly, I do not know what had become of me there,

had not Evangelist happily met me again, as I was musing in the midst

of my dumps; but it was God's mercy that he came to me again, for else

I had never come hither. But now I am come, such a one as I am,

more fit, indeed, for death, by that mountain, than thus to stand

talking with my lord; but, oh, what a favour is this to me,

that yet I am admitted entrance here!

{66}

GOOD-WILL. We make no objections against any, notwithstanding all

that they have done before they came hither. They are in no wise

cast out [John vi.37]; and therefore, good Christian, come a little way

with me, and I will teach thee about the way thou must go.

<Christian directed yet on his way> Look before thee;

dost thou see this narrow way? THAT is the way thou must go;

it was cast up by the patriarchs, prophets, Christ, and his apostles;

and it is as straight as a rule can make it. This is the way

thou must go.

{67}

CHR. But, said Christian, are there no turnings or windings by which

a stranger may lose his way?

GOOD-WILL. Yes, there are many ways butt down upon this,

and they are crooked and wide. But thus thou mayest distinguish

the right from the wrong, the right only being straight and narrow.

[Matt 7:14]

{68}

Then I saw in my dream that Christian asked him further

if he could not help him off with his burden that was upon his back;

for as yet he had not got rid thereof, nor could he by any means

get it off without help.

<There is no deliverance from guilt and burden of sin,

but by the death and blood of Christ>

He told him, As to thy burden, be content to bear it, until thou comest

to the place of deliverance; for there it will fall from thy back

of itself.

{69}

Then Christian began to gird up his loins, and to address himself

to his journey. So the other told him, That by that he was gone

some distance from the gate, he would come at the house

of the Interpreter, at whose door he should knock, and he would show him

excellent things. Then Christian took his leave of his friend,

and he again bid him God-speed.

{70}

Then he went on till he came to the house of the Interpreter,

where he knocked over and over; at last one came to the door,

and asked who was there.

{71}

CHR. Sir, here is a traveller, who was bid by an acquaintance

of the good-man of this house to call here for my profit;

I would therefore speak with the master of the house.

So he called for the master of the house, who, after a little time,

came to Christian, and asked him what he would have.

CHR. Sir, said Christian, I am a man that am come from

the City of Destruction, and am going to the Mount Zion;

and I was told by the man that stands at the gate, at the head

of this way, that if I called here, you would show me excellent things,

such as would be a help to me in my journey.

{72}

INTER. Then said the Interpreter, Come in; I will show that

which will be profitable to thee. So he commanded his man

to light the candle, and bid Christian follow him: so he had him

into a private room, <Christian sees a grave picture> and bid his man

open a door; the which when he had done, Christian saw the picture

of a very grave person hang up against the wall; and this was

the fashion of it. <The fashion of the picture> It had eyes

lifted up to heaven, the best of books in his hand, the law of truth

was written upon his lips, the world was behind his back.

It stood as if it pleaded with men, and a crown of gold did hang

over his head.

CHR. Then said Christian, What meaneth this?

{73}

INTER. The man whose picture this is, is one of a thousand;

he can beget children [1 Cor. 4:15], travail in birth with children

[Gal. 4:19], and nurse them himself when they are born.

And whereas thou seest him with his eyes lift up to heaven,

the best of books in his hand, and the law of truth writ on his lips,

it is to show thee that his work is to know and unfold dark things

to sinners; even as also thou seest him stand as if he pleaded with men:

and whereas thou seest the world as cast behind him, and that a crown

hangs over his head, that is to show thee that slighting and despising

the things that are present, for the love that he hath

to his Master's service, he is sure in the world that comes next

to have glory for his reward. <Why he showed him the picture first>

Now, said the Interpreter, I have showed thee this picture first,

because the man whose picture this is, is the only man whom

the Lord of the place whither thou art going, hath authorised to be

thy guide in all difficult places thou mayest meet with in the way;

wherefore, take good heed to what I have shewed thee, and bear well

in thy mind what thou hast seen, lest in thy journey thou meet with

some that pretend to lead thee right, but their way goes down to death.

{74}

Then he took him by the hand, and led him into a very large parlour

that was full of dust, because never swept; the which after he had

reviewed a little while, the Interpreter called for a man to sweep.

Now, when he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly to fly about,

that Christian had almost therewith been choked. Then said

the Interpreter to a damsel that stood by, Bring hither the water,

and sprinkle the room; the which, when she had done,

it was swept and cleansed with pleasure.

{75}

CHR. Then said Christian, What means this?

INTER. The Interpreter answered, This parlour is the heart of a man

that was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the gospel;

the dust is his original sin and inward corruptions, that have defiled

the whole man. He that began to sweep at first, is the Law;

but she that brought water, and did sprinkle it, is the Gospel.

Now, whereas thou sawest, that so soon as the first began to sweep,

the dust did so fly about that the room by him could not be cleansed,

but that thou wast almost choked therewith; this is to shew thee,

that the law, instead of cleansing the heart (by its working) from sin,

doth revive, put strength into, and increase it in the soul,

even as it doth discover and forbid it, for it doth not give power

to subdue. [Rom. 7:6; 1 Cor. 15:56; Rom. 5:20]

{76}

Again, as thou sawest the damsel sprinkle the room with water,

upon which it was cleansed with pleasure; this is to show thee,

that when the gospel comes in the sweet and precious influences thereof

to the heart, then, I say, even as thou sawest the damsel lay the dust

by sprinkling the floor with water, so is sin vanquished and subdued,

and the soul made clean through the faith of it, and consequently fit

for the King of glory to inhabit. [John 15:3; Eph. 5:26; Acts 15:9;

Rom. 16:25,26; John 15:13]

{77}

I saw, moreover, in my dream, that the Interpreter took him by the hand,

and had him into a little room, where sat two little children,

each one in his chair. <He showed him passion and patience>

The name of the eldest was Passion, and the name of the other Patience.

Passion seemed to be much discontented; but Patience was very quiet.

Then Christian asked, What is the reason of the discontent of Passion?

The Interpreter answered, The Governor of them would have him stay

for his best things till the beginning of the next year;

but he will have all now: but Patience is willing to wait.

Then I saw that one came to Passion, and brought him a bag of treasure,

and poured it down at his feet, the which he took up

and rejoiced therein, and withal laughed Patience to scorn.

<And quickly lavishes all away> But I beheld but a while,

and he had lavished all away, and had nothing left him but rags.

{78}

CHR. Then said Christian to the Interpreter, 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 thou seest, Passion will have all now this year,

that is to say, in this world; so are the men of this world,

they must have all their good things now, they cannot stay

till next year, that is until the next world, for their portion of good.

<The worldly man for a bird in the hand> That proverb,

`A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush', is of more authority

with them than are all the Divine testimonies of the good of the world

to come. But as thou sawest that he had quickly lavished all away,

and had presently left him nothing but rags; so will it be with all

such men at the end of this world.

CHR. Then said Christian, Now I see that Patience has the best wisdom,

and that upon many accounts. First, because he stays

for the best things. Second, and also because he will have

the glory of his, when the other has nothing but rags.

{79}

<Things that are first must give place; but things that are last

are lasting>

INTER. Nay, you may add another, to wit, the glory of the next world

will never wear out; but these are suddenly gone. Therefore Passion

had not so much reason to laugh at Patience, because he had

his good things first, as Patience will have to laugh at Passion,

because he had his best things last; for first must give place to last,

because last must have his time to come; but last gives place

to nothing; for there is not another to succeed. He, therefore,

that hath his portion first, must needs have a time to spend it;

but he that hath his portion last, must have it lastingly;

<Dives had his good things first> therefore it is said of Dives,

"Thou in thy life-time receivedst thy good things, and likewise

Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented."

[Luke 16:25]

CHR. Then I perceive it is not best to covet things that are now,

but to wait for things to come.

INTER. You say the truth: "For the things which are seen are temporal;

but the things which are not seen are eternal." [2 Cor. 4:18]

But though this be so, yet since things present and our fleshly appetite

are such near neighbours one to another; and again,

because things to come, and carnal sense, are such strangers

one to another; therefore it is, that the first of these so suddenly

fall into amity, and that distance is so continued between the second.

{80}

Then I saw in my dream that the Interpreter took Christian by the hand,

and led him into a place where was a fire burning against a wall,

and one standing by it, always casting much water upon it, to quench it;

yet did the fire burn higher and hotter.

Then said Christian, What means this?

{81}

The Interpreter answered, This fire is the work of grace that is

wrought in the heart; he that casts water upon it, to extinguish

and put it out, is the Devil; but in that thou seest the fire

notwithstanding burn higher and hotter, thou shalt also see

the reason of that. So he had him about to the backside of the wall,

where he saw a man with a vessel of oil in his hand, of the which

he did also continually cast, but secretly, into the fire.

Then said Christian, What means this?

{82}

The Interpreter answered, This is Christ, who continually,

with the oil of his grace, maintains the work already begun

in the heart: by the means of which, notwithstanding what the devil

can do, the souls of his people prove gracious still. [2 Cor. 12:9]

And in that thou sawest that the man stood behind the wall to maintain

the fire, that is to teach thee that it is hard for the tempted

to see how this work of grace is maintained in the soul.

I saw also, that the Interpreter took him again by the hand,

and led him into a pleasant place, where was builded a stately palace,

beautiful to behold; at the sight of which Christian

was greatly delighted. He saw also, upon the top thereof,

certain persons walking, who were clothed all in gold.

Then said Christian, May we go in thither?

{83}

Then the Interpreter took him, and led him up towards the door

of the palace; and behold, at the door stood a great company of men,

as desirous to go in; but durst not. There also sat a man

at a little distance from the door, at a table-side, with a book

and his inkhorn before him, to take the name of him that should

enter therein; he saw also, that in the doorway stood many men in armour

to keep it, being resolved to do the men that would enter

what hurt and mischief they could. Now was Christian somewhat in amaze.

At last, when every man started back for fear of the armed men,

Christian saw a man of a very stout countenance come up to the man

that sat there to write, saying, Set down my name, Sir: the which

when he had done, he saw the man draw his sword, and put a helmet

upon his head, and rush toward the door upon the armed men, who laid

upon him with deadly force; but the man, not at all discouraged,

fell to cutting and hacking most fiercely. So after he had received

and given many wounds to those that attempted to keep him out,

he cut his way through them all [Acts 14:.22], and pressed forward

into the palace, at which there was a pleasant voice heard from those

that were within, even of those that walked upon the top of the palace,

saying--

"Come in, come in;

Eternal glory thou shalt win."

So he went in, and was clothed with such garments as they.

Then Christian smiled and said; I think verily I know the meaning

of this.

{84}

Now, said Christian, let me go hence. Nay, stay, said the Interpreter,

till I have shewed thee a little more, and after that thou shalt go

on thy way. So he took him by the hand again, and led him into

a very dark room, where there sat a man in an iron cage.

Now the man, to look on, seemed very sad; he sat with his eyes

looking down to the ground, his hands folded together,

and he sighed as if he would break his heart. Then said Christian,

What means this? At which the Interpreter bid him talk with the man.

Then said Christian to the man, What art thou? The man answered,

I am what I was not once.

{85}

CHR. What wast thou once?

MAN. The man said, I was once a fair and flourishing professor,

both in mine own eyes, and also in the eyes of others; I once was,

as I thought, fair for the Celestial City, and had then even joy

at the thoughts that I should get thither. [Luke 8:13]

CHR. Well, but what art thou now?

MAN. I am now a man of despair, and am shut up in it,

as in this iron cage. I cannot get out. Oh, now I cannot!

CHR. But how camest thou in this condition?

MAN. I left off to watch and be sober. I laid the reins,

upon the neck of my lusts; I sinned against the light of the Word

and the goodness of God; I have grieved the Spirit, and he is gone;

I tempted the devil, and he is come to me; I have provoked God to anger,

and he has left me: I have so hardened my heart, that I cannot repent.

{86}

Then said Christian to the Interpreter, But is there no hope for such

a man as this? Ask him, said the Interpreter. Nay, said Christian,

pray, Sir, do you.

INTER. Then said the Interpreter, Is there no hope, but you must be

kept in the iron cage of despair?

MAN. No, none at all.

INTER. Why, the Son of the Blessed is very pitiful.

MAN. I have crucified him to myself afresh [Heb. 6:6];

I have despised his person [Luke 19:14]; I have despised

his righteousness; I have "counted his blood an unholy thing";

I have "done despite to the Spirit of grace". [Heb. 10:28-29]

Therefore I have shut myself out of all the promises,

and there now remains to me nothing but threatenings,

dreadful threatenings, fearful threatenings, of certain judgement

and fiery indignation, which shall devour me as an adversary.

{87}

INTER. For what did you bring yourself into this condition?

MAN. For the lusts, pleasures, and profits of this world;

in the enjoyment of which I did then promise myself much delight;

but now every one of those things also bite me, and gnaw me

like a burning worm.

INTER. But canst thou not now repent and turn?

{88}

MAN. God hath denied me repentance. His Word gives me no encouragement

to believe; yea, himself hath shut me up in this iron cage;

nor can all the men in the world let me out. O eternity, eternity!

how shall I grapple with the misery that I must meet with in eternity!

INTER. Then said the Interpreter to Christian, Let this man's misery

be remembered by thee, and be an everlasting caution to thee.

CHR. Well, said Christian, this is fearful! God help me to watch and

be sober, and to pray that I may shun the cause of this man's misery!

Sir, is it not time for me to go on my way now?

INTER. Tarry till I shall show thee one thing more, and then thou shalt

go on thy way.

{89}

So he took Christian by the hand again, and led him into a chamber,

where there was one rising out of bed; and as he put on his raiment,

he shook and trembled. Then said Christian, Why doth this man

thus tremble? The Interpreter then bid him tell to Christian

the reason of his so doing. So he began and said, This night,

as I was in my sleep, I dreamed, and behold the heavens grew

exceeding black; also it thundered and lightened in most fearful wise,

that it put me into an agony; so I looked up in my dream,

and saw the clouds rack at an unusual rate, upon which I heard

a great sound of a trumpet, and saw also a man sit upon a cloud,

attended with the thousands of heaven; they were all in flaming fire:

also the heavens were in a burning flame. I heard then a voice saying,

"Arise, ye dead, and come to judgement"; and with that the rocks rent,

the graves opened, and the dead that were therein came forth.

Some of them were exceeding glad, and looked upward; and some sought

to hide themselves under the mountains. [1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thes. 4:16;

Jude 14; John 5:28,29; 2 Thes. 1:7,8; Rev. 20:11-14; Isa. 26:21;

Micah 7:16,17; Ps. 95:1-3; Dan. 7:10] Then I saw the man

that sat upon the cloud open the book, and bid the world draw near.

Yet there was, by reason of a fierce flame which issued out

and came from before him, a convenient distance betwixt him and them,

as betwixt the judge and the prisoners at the bar. [Mal. 3:2,3;

Dan. 7:9,10] I heard it also proclaimed to them that attended on

the man that sat on the cloud, Gather together the tares, the chaff,

and stubble, and cast them into the burning lake. [Matt. 3:12; 13:30;

Mal. 4:1] And with that, the bottomless pit opened, just whereabout

I stood; out of the mouth of which there came, in an abundant manner,

smoke and coals of fire, with hideous noises. It was also said

to the same persons, "Gather my wheat into the garner." [Luke 3:17]

And with that I saw many catched up and carried away into the clouds,

but I was left behind. [1 Thes. 4:16,17] I also sought to hide myself,

but I could not, for the man that sat upon the cloud still kept his eye

upon me; my sins also came into my mind; and my conscience did accuse me

on every side. [Rom. 3:14,15] Upon this I awaked from my sleep.

{90}

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

MAN. Why, I thought that the day of judgement was come,

and that I was not ready for it: but this frighted me most,

that the angels gathered up several, and left me behind;

also the pit of hell opened her mouth just where I stood.

My conscience, too, afflicted me; and, as I thought, the Judge

had always his eye upon me, shewing indignation in his countenance.

{91}

Then said the Interpreter to Christian, Hast thou considered

all these things?

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

INTER. Well, keep all things so in thy mind that they may be as a goad

in thy sides, to prick thee forward in the way thou must go.

Then Christian began to gird up his loins, and to address himself

to his journey. Then said the Interpreter, The Comforter be always

with thee, good Christian, to guide thee in the way that leads

to the City. So Christian went on his way, saying--

"Here I have seen things rare and profitable;

Things pleasant, dreadful, things to make me stable

In what I have begun to take in hand;

Then let me think on them, and understand

Wherefore they showed me were, and let me be

Thankful, O good Interpreter, to thee."

{92}

Now I saw in my dream, that the highway up which Christian was to go,

was fenced on either side with a wall, and that wall

was called Salvation. [Isa. 26:1] Up this way, therefore,

did burdened Christian run, but not without great difficulty,

because of the load on his back.

{93}

He ran thus till he came at a place somewhat ascending,

and upon that place stood a cross, and a little below, in the bottom,

a sepulchre. So I saw in my dream, that just as Christian came up

with the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders,

and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do,

till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre, where it fell in,

and I saw it no more.

{94}

<When God Releases us of our guilt and burden we are as those

that leap for joy>

Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said, with a merry heart,

"He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his death."

Then he stood still awhile to look and wonder; for it was

very surprising to him, that the sight of the cross should thus

ease him of his burden. He looked therefore, and looked again,

even till the springs that were in his head sent the waters down

his cheeks. [Zech. 12:10] Now, as he stood looking and weeping,

behold three Shining Ones came to him and saluted him with

"Peace be unto thee". So the first said to him, "Thy sins be

forgiven thee" [Mark 2:5]; the second stripped him of his rags,

and clothed him with change of raiment [Zech. 3:4]; the third also

set a mark on his forehead, and gave him a roll with a seal upon it,

which he bade him look on as he ran, and that he should give it in

at the Celestial Gate. [Eph. 1:13] So they went their way.

"Who's this? the Pilgrim. How! 'tis very true,

Old things are past away, all's become new.

Strange! he's another man, upon my word,

They be fine feathers that make a fine bird.

<A Christian can sing though alone, when God doth give him

the joy of his heart>

Then Christian gave three leaps for joy, and went on singing--

"Thus far I did come laden with my sin;

Nor could aught ease the grief that I was in

Till I came hither: What a place is this!

Must here be the beginning of my bliss?

Must here the burden fall from off my back?

Must here the strings that bound it to me crack?

Blest cross! blest sepulchre! blest rather be

The Man that there was put to shame for me!"

{95}

<Simple, Sloth, and Presumption>

I saw then in my dream, that he went on thus, even until

he came at a bottom, where he saw, a little out of the way,

three men fast asleep, with fetters upon their heels. The name of

the one was Simple, another Sloth, and the third Presumption.

{96}

Christian then seeing them lie in this case went to them,

if peradventure he might awake them, and cried, You are like them

that sleep on the top of a mast, for the Dead Sea is under you--

a gulf that hath no bottom. [Prov. 23:34] Awake, therefore,

and come away; be willing also, and I will help you off with your irons.

He also told them, If he that "goeth about like a roaring lion"

comes by, you will certainly become a prey to his teeth. [1 Pet. 5:8]

With that they looked upon him, and began to reply in this sort:

Simple said, "I see no danger"; Sloth said, "Yet a little more sleep";

and Presumption said, "Every fat must stand upon its own bottom;

what is the answer else that I should give thee?" And so they lay down

to sleep again, and Christian went on his way.

{97}

Yet was he troubled to think that men in that danger should so

little esteem the kindness of him that so freely offered to help them,

both by awakening of them, counselling of them, and proffering

to help them off with their irons. And as he was troubled thereabout,

he espied two men come tumbling over the wall on the left hand

of the narrow way; and they made up apace to him. The name of the one

was Formalist, and the name of the other Hypocrisy. So, as I said,

they drew up unto him, who thus entered with them into discourse.

{98}

CHR. Gentlemen, whence came you, and whither go you?

FORM. and HYP. We were born in the land of Vain-glory,

and are going for praise to Mount Zion.

CHR. Why came you not in at the gate which standeth at

the beginning of the way? Know you not that it is written,

that he that cometh not in by the door, "but climbeth up some other way,

the same is a thief and a robber?" [John 10:1]

FORM. and HYP. They said, That to go to the gate for entrance was,

by all their countrymen, counted too far about; and that, therefore,

their usual way was to make a short cut of it, and to climb over

the wall, as they had done.

CHR. But will it not be counted a trespass against the Lord of the city

whither we are bound, thus to violate his revealed will?

{99}

<They that come into the way, but not by the door,

think that they can say something in vindication of their own practice>

FORM. and HYP. They told him, that, as for that, he needed not

to trouble his head thereabout; for what they did they had custom for;

and could produce, if need were, testimony that would witness it

for more than a thousand years.

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

FORM. and HYP. They told him, That custom, it being of

so long a standing as above a thousand years, would, doubtless,

now be admitted as a thing legal by any impartial judge; and besides,

said they, if we get into the way, what's matter which way we get in?

if we are in, we are in; thou art but in the way, who, as we perceive,

came in at the gate; and we are also in the way, that came tumbling

over the wall; wherein, now, is thy condition better than ours?

CHR. I walk by the rule of my Master; you walk by the rude working

of your fancies. You are counted thieves already, by the Lord

of the way; therefore, I doubt you will not be found true men at

the end of the way. You come in by yourselves, without his direction;

and shall go out by yourselves, without his mercy.

{100}

To this they made him but little answer; only they bid him

look to himself. Then I saw that they went on every man in his way

without much conference one with another, save that these two men

told Christian, that as to laws and ordinances, they doubted not

but they should as conscientiously do them as he; therefore, said they,

we see not wherein thou differest from us but by the coat that is on

thy back, which was, as we trow, given thee by some of thy neighbours,

to hide the shame of thy nakedness.