THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS FROM THIS WORLD TO THAT WHICH IS TO COME;

            DELIVERED UNDER THE SIMILTUDE OF A DREAM.

                         BY JOHN BUNYAN.


CONTENTS.

Author's Apology for his Book

PART I.

THE FIRST STAGE. - Christian's deplorable condition - Evangelist directs
him - Obstinate and Pliable - Slough of Despond - Worldly Wiseman -
Mount Sinai - Conversation with Evangelist

THE SECOND STAGE. - The Gate - conversation with Good-Will - the
Interpreter's House - Christian entertained - the sights there shown him

THE THIRD STAGE. - Loses his burden at the Cross - Simple, Sloth,
Presumption, Formalist, Hypocrisy - hill Difficulty - the Arbor - misses
his roll - the palace Beautiful - the lions - talk with Discretion,
Piety, Prudence, and Charity - wonders shown to Christian - he is armed

THE FOURTH STAGE. - Valley of Humiliation - conflict with Apollyon -
Valley of the Shadow of Death - Giants Pope and Pagan

THE FIFTH STAGE. - Discourse with Faithful - Talkative and Faithful -
Talkative's character

THE SIXTH STAGE. - Evangelist overtakes Christian and Faithful - Vanity
Fair - the Pilgrims brought to trial - Faithful's martyrdom

THE SEVENTH STAGE. - Christian and Hopeful - By-ends and his companions
- plain of Ease - Lucre-hill - Demas - the River of Life - Vain-
Confidence - Giant Despair - the Pilgrims beaten - the Dungeon - the Key
of Promise

THE EIGHTH STAGE. - The Delectable Mountains - entertained by the
Shepherds - a by-way to Hell

THE NINTH STAGE. - Christian and Hopeful meet Ignorance - Turn-away -
Little-Faith - the Flatterer - the net - chastised by a Shining One -
Atheist - Enchanted Ground - Hopeful's account of his conversion -
discourse of Christian and Ignorance

THE TENTH STAGE. - Talk of Christian and Hopeful - Temporary - the
backslider - the land of Beulah - Christian and Hopeful pass the River -
welcome to the Celestial city

Conclusion of Part First

PART II.

Author's Apology for the Second Part

Pilgrimage of Christiana and her children

THE FIRST STAGE. - Christiana and Mercy - Slough of Despond - knocking
at the gate - the Dog - talk between the Pilgrims

THE SECOND STAGE. - The Devil's garden - two ill-favored ones assault
them - the Reliever - entertainment at the Interpreter's house - the
Significant Rooms - Christiana and Mercy's experience

THE THIRD STAGE. - Accompanied by Great-Heart - the Cross - justified by
Christ - Sloth and his companions hung - the hill Difficulty - the Arbor

THE FOURTH STAGE. - The Lions - Giant Grim slain by Great-Heart - the
Pilgrims entertained - the children catechized by Prudence - Mr.  Brisk
- Matthew sick - the remedy - sights shown the Pilgrims

THE FIFTH STAGE. - Valley of Humiliation - Valley of the Shadow of Death
- Giant Maul slain

THE SIXTH STAGE. - Discourse with Old Honest - character and history of
Mr.  Fearing - Mr.  Self-will and some professors - Gaius' house -
conversation - the supper - Old Honest and Great-Heart's riddles and
discourse - Giant Slay-good killed - Mr.  Feeble-mind's history - Mr.
Ready-to-halt - Vanity Fair - Mr.  Mnason's house - cheering
entertainment and converse - a Monster

THE SEVENTH STAGE. - Hill Lucre - River of Life - Giant Despair killed -
the Delectable Mountains - entertainment by the Shepherds

THE EIGHTH STAGE. - Valiant-for-Truth's-Victory - his talk with Great-
Heart - the Enchanted Ground - Heedless and Too-bold - Mr.  Stand-fast -
Madam Bubble's temptations - the land of Beulah - Christiana summoned -
her parting addresses - she passes the River - she is followed by Ready-
to-halt, Feeble-mind, Despondency and his daughter, Honest, Valiant,
Steadfast

Author's Farewell



THE AUTHOR'S APOLOGY

FOR

HIS BOOK.

WHEN at the first I took my pen in hand

Thus for to write, I did not understand

That I at all should make a little book

In such a mode: nay, I had undertook

To make another; which, when almost done,

Before I was aware I this begun.

And thus it was: I, writing of the way

And race of saints in this our gospel-day,

Fell suddenly into an allegory

About their journey, and the way to glory,

In more than twenty things which I set down

This done, I twenty more had in my crown,

And they again began to multiply,

Like sparks that from the coals of fire do fly.

Nay, then, thought I, if that you breed so fast,

I'll put you by yourselves, lest you at last

Should prove ad infinitum, 1 and eat out

The book that I already am about.

Well, so I did; but yet I did not think

To show to all the world my pen and ink

In such a mode; I only thought to make

I knew not what: nor did I undertake

Thereby to please my neighbor; no, not I;

I did it my own self to gratify.

Neither did I but vacant seasons spend

In this my scribble; nor did I intend

But to divert myself, in doing this,

From worser thoughts, which make me do amiss.

Thus I set pen to paper with delight,

And quickly had my thoughts in black and white;

For having now my method by the end,

Still as I pull'd, it came; and so I penned

It down; until it came at last to be,

For length and breadth, the bigness which you see.

Well, when I had thus put mine ends together

I show'd them others, that I might see whether

They would condemn them, or them justify:

And some said, let them live; some, let them die:

Some said, John, print it; others said, Not so:

Some said, It might do good; others said, No.

Now was I in a strait, and did not see

Which was the best thing to be done by me:

At last I thought, Since ye are thus divided,

I print it will; and so the case decided.

For, thought I, some I see would have it done,

Though others in that channel do not run:

To prove, then, who advised for the best,

Thus I thought fit to put it to the test.

I further thought, if now I did deny

Those that would have it, thus to gratify;

I did not know, but hinder them I might

Of that which would to them be great delight.

For those which were not for its coming forth,

I said to them, Offend you, I am loath;

Yet since your brethren pleased with it be,

Forbear to judge, till you do further see.

If that thou wilt not read, let it alone;

Some love the meat, some love to pick the bone.

Yea, that I might them better palliate,

I did too with them thus expostulate:

May I not write in such a style as this?

In such a method too, and yet not miss

My end-thy good?  Why may it not be done?

Dark clouds bring waters, when the bright bring none.

Yea, dark or bright, if they their silver drops

Cause to descend, the earth, by yielding crops,

Gives praise to both, and carpeth not at either,

But treasures up the fruit they yield together;

Yea, so commixes both, that in their fruit

None can distinguish this from that; they suit

Her well when hungry; but if she be full,

She spews out both, and makes their blessing null.

You see the ways the fisherman doth take

To catch the fish; what engines doth he make!

Behold how he engageth all his wits;

Also his snares, lines, angles, hooks, and nets:

Yet fish there be, that neither hook nor line,

Nor snare, nor net, nor engine can make thine:

They must be groped for, and be tickled too,

Or they will not be catch'd, whate'er you do.

How does the fowler seek to catch his game

By divers means!  all which one cannot name.

His guns, his nets, his lime-twigs, light and bell:

He creeps, he goes, he stands; yea, who can tell

Of all his postures?  yet there's none of these

Will make him master of what fowls he please.

Yea, he must pipe and whistle, to catch this;

Yet if he does so, that bird he will miss.

If that a pearl may in toad's head dwell,

And may be found too in an oyster-shell;

If things that promise nothing, do contain

What better is than gold; who will disdain,

That have an inkling 2 of it, there to look,

That they may find it.  Now my little book,

(Though void of all these paintings that may make

It with this or the other man to take,)

Is not without those things that do excel

What do in brave but empty notions dwell.

"Well, yet I am not fully satisfied

That this your book will stand, when soundly tried."

Why, what's the matter?  "It is dark."  What though?

"But it is feigned."  What of that?  I trow

Some men by feigned words, as dark as mine,

Make truth to spangle, and its rays to shine.

"But they want solidness."  Speak, man, thy mind.

"They drown the weak; metaphors make us blind."

Solidity, indeed, becomes the pen

Of him that writeth things divine to men:

But must I needs want solidness, because

By metaphors I speak?  Were not God's laws,

His gospel laws, in olden time held forth

By types, shadows, and metaphors?  Yet loth

Will any sober man be to find fault

With them, lest he be found for to assault

The highest wisdom!  No, he rather stoops,

And seeks to find out what, by pins and loops,

By calves and sheep, by heifers, and by rams,

By birds and herbs, and by the blood of lambs,

God speaketh to him; and happy is he

That finds the light and grace that in them be.

But not too forward, therefore, to conclude

That I want solidness-that I am rude;

All things solid in show, not solid be;

All things in parable despise not we,

Lest things most hurtful lightly we receive,

And things that good are, of our souls bereave.

My dark and cloudy words they do but hold

The truth, as cabinets inclose the gold.

The prophets used much by metaphors

To set forth truth: yea, who so considers

Christ, his apostles too, shall plainly see,

That truths to this day in such mantles be.

Am I afraid to say, that holy writ,

Which for its style and phrase puts down all wit,

Is everywhere so full of all these things,

Dark figures, allegories?  Yet there springs

From that same book, that lustre, and those rays

Of light, that turn our darkest nights to days.

Come, let my carper to his life now look,

And find there darker lines than in my book

He findeth any; yea, and let him know,

That in his best things there are worse lines too.

May we but stand before impartial men,

To his poor one I durst adventure ten,

That they will take my meaning in these lines

Far better than his lies in silver shrines.

Come, truth, although in swaddling-clothes, I find

Informs the judgment, rectifies the mind;

Pleases the understanding, makes the will

Submit, the memory too it doth fill

With what doth our imagination please;

Likewise it tends our troubles to appease.

Sound words, I know, Timothy is to use,

And old wives' fables he is to refuse;

But yet grave Paul him nowhere doth forbid

The use of parables, in which lay hid

That gold, those pearls, and precious stones that were

Worth digging for, and that with greatest care.

Let me add one word more.  O man of God,

Art thou offended?  Dost thou wish I had

Put forth my matter in another dress?

Or that I had in things been more express?

Three things let me propound; then I submit

To those that are my betters, as is fit.

1.  I find not that I am denied the use

Of this my method, so I no abuse

Put on the words, things, readers, or be rude

In handling figure or similitude,

In application; but all that I may

Seek the advance of truth this or that way.

Denied, did I say?  Nay, I have leave,

(Example too, and that from them that have

God better pleased, by their words or ways,

Than any man that breatheth now-a-days,)

Thus to express my mind, thus to declare

Things unto thee that excellentest are.

2.  I find that men as high as trees will write

Dialogue-wise; yet no man doth them slight

For writing so.  Indeed, if they abuse

Truth, cursed be they, and the craft they use

To that intent; but yet let truth be free

To make her sallies upon thee and me,

Which way it pleases God: for who knows how,

Better than he that taught us first to plough,

To guide our minds and pens for his designs?

And he makes base things usher in divine.

3.  I find that holy writ, in many places,

Hath semblance with this method, where the cases

Do call for one thing to set forth another:

Use it I may then, and yet nothing smother

Truth's golden beams: nay, by this method may

Make it cast forth its rays as light as day.

And now, before I do put up my pen,

I'll show the profit of my book; and then

Commit both thee and it unto that hand

That pulls the strong down, and makes weak ones stand.

This book it chalketh out before thine eyes

The man that seeks the everlasting prize:

It shows you whence he comes, whither he goes,

What he leaves undone; also what he does:

It also shows you how he runs, and runs,

Till he unto the gate of glory comes.

It shows, too, who set out for life amain,

As if the lasting crown they would obtain;

Here also you may see the reason why

They lose their labor, and like fools do die.

This book will make a traveler of thee,

If by its counsel thou wilt ruled be;

It will direct thee to the Holy Land,

If thou wilt its directions understand

Yea, it will make the slothful active be;

The blind also delightful things to see.

Art thou for something rare and profitable?

Or would'st thou see a truth within a fable?

Art thou forgetful?  Wouldest thou remember

From New-Year's day to the last of December?

Then read my fancies; they will stick like burs,

And may be, to the helpless, comforters.

This book is writ in such a dialect

As may the minds of listless men affect:

It seems a novelty, and yet contains

Nothing but sound and honest gospel strains.

Would'st thou divert thyself from melancholy?

Would'st thou be pleasant, yet be far from folly?

Would'st thou read riddles, and their explanation?

Or else be drowned in thy contemplation?

Dost thou love picking meat?  Or would'st thou see

A man i' the clouds, and hear him speak to thee?

Would'st thou be in a dream, and yet not sleep?

Or would'st thou in a moment laugh and weep?

Would'st thou lose thyself and catch no harm,

And find thyself again without a charm?

Would'st read thyself, and read thou know'st not what,

And yet know whether thou art blest or not,

By reading the same lines?  O then come hither,

And lay my book, thy head, and heart together.

JOHN BUNYAN.



THE

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.

THE FIRST STAGE.

As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain
place where was a den, 3 and laid me down in that place to sleep; and as
I slept, I dreamed a dream.  I dreamed, and behold, I saw a man clothed
with rags, standing in a certain place, with his face from his own
house, a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back.  Isa 64:6;
Luke 14:33; Psalm 38:4.  I looked and saw him open the book, and read
therein; and as he read, he wept and trembled; and not being able longer
to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry, saying, "What shall I
do?"  Acts 2:37; 16:30; Habak 1:2,3.

In this plight, therefore, he went home, and restrained himself as long
as he could, that his wife and children should not perceive his
distress; but he could not be silent long, because that his trouble
increased.  Wherefore at length he brake his mind to his wife and
children; and thus he began to talk to them: "O, my dear wife," said he,
"and you the children of my bowels, I, your dear friend, am in myself
undone by reason of a burden that lieth hard upon me; moreover, I am
certainly informed that this our city will be burnt with fire from
heaven; in which fearful overthrow, both myself, with thee my wife, and
you my sweet babes, shall miserably come to ruin, except (the which yet
I see not) some way of escape can be found whereby we may be delivered."
At this his relations were sore amazed; not for that they believed that
what he had said to them was true, but because they thought that some
frenzy distemper had got into his head; therefore, it drawing towards
night, and they hoping that sleep might settle his brains, with all
haste they got him to bed.  But the night was as troublesome to him as
the day; wherefore, instead of sleeping, he spent it in sighs and tears.
So when the morning was come, they would know how he did.  He told them,
"Worse and worse:" he also set to talking to them again; but they began
to be hardened.  They also thought to drive away his distemper by harsh
and surly carriage to him; sometimes they would deride, sometimes they
would chide, and sometimes they would quite neglect him.  Wherefore he
began to retire himself to his chamber to pray for and pity them, and
also to condole his own misery; he would also walk solitarily in the
fields, sometimes reading, and sometimes praying: and thus for some days
he spent his time.

Now I saw, upon a time, when he was walking in the fields, that he was
(as he was wont) reading in his book, and greatly distressed in his
mind; and as he read, he burst out, as he had done before, crying, "What
shall I do to be saved?"  Acts 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, and
he asked, "Wherefore dost thou cry?"

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 to do the first, Job 10: 21,22, nor able to
do the second."  Ezek.  22:14.

Then said Evangelist, "Why not willing to die, since this life is
attended with so many evils?"  The man answered, "Because, I fear that
this burden 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 be not fit to go
to prison, I am not fit to go to judgment, and from thence to execution;
and the thoughts of these things make me cry."

Then said Evangelist, "If this be thy condition, why standest thou
still?"  He answered, "Because I know not whither to go."  Then he gave
him a parchment roll, and there was written within, "Fly from the wrath
to come."  Matt.  3:7.

The man therefore read it, and looking upon Evangelist very carefully,
said, "Whither must I fly?"  Then said Evangelist, (pointing with his
finger over a very wide field,) "Do you see yonder wicket-gate?"  Matt.
7:13,14.  The man said, "No."  Then said the other, "Do you see yonder
shining light?"  Psalm 119:105; 2 Pet.  1:19.  He said, "I think I do."
Then said Evangelist, "Keep that light in your eye, and go up directly
thereto, so shalt thou see the gate; at which, when thou knockest, it
shall be told thee what thou shalt do."  So I saw in my dream that the
man began to run.  Now he had not run far from his own door when his
wife and children, perceiving it, began to cry after him to return; but
the man put his fingers in his ears, and ran on crying, Life!  life!
eternal life!  Luke 14:26.  So he looked not behind him, Gen.  19:17,
but fled towards the middle of the plain.

The neighbors also came out to see him run, Jer.  20:10; and as he ran,
some mocked, others threatened, and some cried after him to return; and
among those that did so, there were two that were resolved to fetch him
back by force.  The name of the one was Obstinate and the name of the
other Pliable.  Now by this time the man was got a good distance from
them; but, however, they were resolved to pursue him, which they did,
and in a little time they overtook him.  Then said the man, "Neighbors,
wherefore are you come?"  They said, "To persuade you to go back with
us."  But he said, "That can by no means be: you dwell," said he, "in
the city of Destruction, the place also where I was born: I see it to be
so; and dying there, sooner or later, you will sink lower than the
grave, into a place that burns with fire and brimstone: be content, good
neighbors, and go along with me."

OBST. What, said Obstinate, and leave our friends and our comforts
behind us!

CHR. Yes, said Christian, (for that was his name,) because that all
which you forsake is not worthy to be compared with a little of that I
am seeking to enjoy, 2 Cor.  4:18; and if you will go along with me, and
hold it, you shall fare as I myself; for there, where I go, is enough
and to spare.  Luke 15:17.  Come away, and prove my words.

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

CHR. I seek an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not
away, 1 Peter 1:4; and it is laid up in heaven, and safe there, Heb.
11:16, to be bestowed, at the time appointed, on them that diligently
seek it.  Read it so, if you will, in my book.

OBST. Tush, said Obstinate, away with your book; will you go back with
us or no?

CHR. No, not I, said the other, because I have laid my hand to the
plough.  Luke 9:62.

OBST. Come then, neighbor Pliable, let us turn again, and go home
without him: there is a company of these crazy-headed coxcombs, that
when they take a fancy by the end, are wiser in their own eyes than
seven men that can render a reason.

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

OBST. What, more fools still!  Be ruled by me, and go back; who knows
whither such a brain-sick fellow will lead you?  Go back, go back, and
be wise.

CHR. Nay, but do thou come with thy neighbor Pliable; there are such
things to be had which I spoke of, and many more glories besides.  If
you believe not me, read here in this book, and for the truth of what is
expressed therein, behold, all is confirmed by the blood of Him that
made it.  Heb.  9: 17-21.

PLI. Well, neighbor Obstinate, said Pliable, I begin to come to a point;
I intend to go along with this good man, and to cast in my lot with him:
but, my good companion, do you know the way to this desired place?

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.

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

OBST. And I will go back to my place, said Obstinate: I will be no
companion of such misled, fantastical fellows.

Now I saw in my dream, that when Obstinate was gone back, Christian and
Pliable went talking over the plain; and thus they began their
discourse.

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 thus
lightly have given us the back.

PLI. Come, neighbor Christian, since there are none but us two here,
tell me now farther, what the things are, and how to be enjoyed, whither
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, verily; for it was made by Him that cannot lie.  Tit.  1:2.

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 for ever.  Isa.  65:17;
John 10: 27-29.

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.  2 Tim.  4:8;
Rev.  22:5; Matt.  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 7:16, 17;
21:4.

PLI. And what company shall we have there?

CHR. There we shall be with seraphims and cherubims, Isaiah 6:2; 1
Thess.  4:16,17; Rev.  5:11; creatures that will dazzle your eyes to
look on 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; every one walking in the sight of God, and
standing in his presence with acceptance for ever.  In a word, there we
shall see the elders with their golden crowns, Rev.  4:4; there we shall
see the holy virgins with their golden harps, Rev.  14:1-5; there we
shall see men, that by the world were cut in pieces, burnt in flames,
eaten of beasts, drowned in the seas, for the love they bare to the Lord
of the place, John 12:25; all well, and clothed with immortality as with
a garment.  2 Cor.  5:2.

PLI. The hearing of this is enough to ravish one's heart.  But are these
things to be enjoyed?  How shall we get to be sharers thereof?

CHR. The Lord, the governor of the country, hath recorded that in this
book, Isaiah 55:1,2; John 6:37; 7:37; Rev.  21:6; 22:17; the substance
of which is, if we be truly willing to have it, he will bestow it upon
us freely.

PLI. Well, my good companion, glad am I to hear of these things: come
on, let us mend 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
nigh to a very miry slough that was in the midst of the plain: and they
being heedless, did both fall suddenly into the bog.  The name of the
slough was Despond.  Here, therefore, they wallowed for a time, being
grievously bedaubed with the dirt; and Christian, because of the burden
that was on his back, began to sink in the mire.

PLI. Then said Pliable, Ah, neighbor Christian, where are you now?

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

PLI. At this Pliable began to be offended, and angrily said to his
fellow, Is this the happiness you have told me all this while of?  If we
have such ill speed at our first setting out, what may we expect between
this and our journey's end?  May I get out again with my life, you shall
possess the brave country alone for me.  And with that he gave a
desperate struggle or two, and got out of the mire on that side of the
slough which was next to his own house: so away he went, and Christian
saw him no more.

Wherefore Christian was left to tumble in the Slough of Despond alone;
but still he endeavored to struggle to that side of the slough that was
farthest from his own house, and next to the wicket-gate; the which he
did, but could not get out because of the burden that was upon his back:
but I beheld in my dream, that a man came to him, whose name was Help,
and asked him what he did there.

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

HELP. But why did not you look for the steps?

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

HELP. Then, said he, Give me thine hand: so he gave him his hand, and he
drew him out, Psalm 40:2, and he set him upon sound ground, and bid him
go on his way.

Then I stepped to him that plucked him out, and said, "Sir, wherefore,
since over this place is the way from the city of Destruction to yonder
gate, is it, that this plat is not mended, that poor travellers might go
thither with more security?"  And he said unto me, "This miry slough is
such a place as cannot be mended: it is the descent whither the scum and
filth that attends conviction for sin doth continually run, and
therefore it is called the Slough of Despond; for still, as the sinner
is awakened about his lost condition, there arise in his soul many fears
and doubts, and discouraging apprehensions, which all of them get
together, and settle in this place: and this is the reason of the
badness of this ground.

"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 direction of his
Majesty's surveyors, been for above this sixteen hundred years employed
about this patch of ground, if perhaps it might have been mended: yea,
and to my knowledge," said he, "there have been swallowed up at least
twenty thousand cart loads, yea, millions of wholesome instructions,
that have at all seasons been brought from all places of the King's
dominions, (and they that can tell, say, they are the best materials to
make good ground of the place,) if so be it might have been mended; but
it is the Slough of Despond still, and so will be when they have done
what they can.

"True, there are, by the direction of the Lawgiver, certain good and
substantial steps, placed even through the very midst of this slough;
but at such time as this place doth much spew out its filth, as it doth
against change of weather, these steps are hardly seen; or if they be,
men, through the dizziness of their heads, step beside, and then they
are bemired to purpose, notwithstanding the steps be there: but the
ground is good when they are once got in at the gate."  1 Sam.  12:23.

Now I saw in my dream, that by this time Pliable was got home to his
house.  So his neighbors came to visit him; and some of them called him
wise man for coming back, and some called him fool for hazarding himself
with Christian: others again did mock at his cowardliness, saying,
"Surely, since you began to venture, I would not have been so base as to
have given out for a few difficulties:" so Pliable sat sneaking among
them.  But at last he got more confidence, and then they all turned
their tales, and began to deride poor Christian behind his back.  And
thus much concerning Pliable.

Now as Christian was walking solitary by himself, he espied one afar off
come crossing over the field to meet him; and their hap was to meet just
as they were crossing the way of each other.  The gentleman's name that
met him was Mr.  Wordly Wiseman: he dwelt in the town of Carnal Policy,
a very great town, and also hard by from whence Christian came.  This
man then, meeting with Christian, and having some inkling 4 of him, (for
Christian's setting forth from the city of Destruction was much noised
abroad, not only in the town where he dwelt, but also it began to be the
town-talk in some other places) - Mr.  Worldly Wiseman, therefore,
having some guess of him, by beholding his laborious going, by observing
his sighs and groans, and the like, began thus to enter into some talk
with Christian.

WORLD. How now, good fellow, whither away after this burdened manner?

CHR. A burdened manner indeed, as ever I think poor creature had!  And
whereas you ask me, Whither away?  I tell you, sir, I am going to yonder
wicket-gate before me; for there, as I am informed, I shall be put into
a way to be rid of my heavy burden.

WORLD. Hast thou a wife and children?

CHR. Yes; but I am so laden with this burden, that I cannot take that
pleasure in them as formerly: methinks I am as if I had none.  1 Cor.
7:29.

WORLD. Wilt thou hearken to me, if I give thee counsel?

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

WORLD. I would advise thee, then, that thou with all speed get thyself
rid of thy burden; for thou wilt never be settled in thy mind till then:
nor canst thou enjoy the benefits of the blessings which God hath
bestowed upon thee till then.

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

WORLD. Who bid thee go this way to be rid of thy burden?

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

I beshrew 5 him for his counsel!  there is not a more dangerous and
troublesome way in the world than is that into which he hath directed
thee; and that thou shalt find, if thou wilt be ruled by his counsel.
Thou hast met with something, as I perceive, already; for I see the dirt
of the Slough of Despond is upon thee: but that slough is the beginning
of the sorrows that do attend those that go on in that way.  Hear me; I
am older than thou: thou art like to meet with, in the way which thou
goest, wearisomeness, painfulness, hunger, perils, nakedness, sword,
lions, dragons, darkness, and, in a word, death, and what not.  These
things are certainly true, having been confirmed by many testimonies.
And should a man so carelessly cast away himself, by giving heed to a
stranger?

CHR. Why, sir, this burden on my back is more terrible to me than are
all these things which you have mentioned: nay, methinks I care not what
I meet with in the way, if so be I can also meet with deliverance from
my burden.

WORLD. How camest thou by thy burden at first?

CHR. By reading this book in my hand.

WORLD. I thought so; and it has happened unto thee as to other weak men,
who, meddling with things too high for them, do suddenly fall into thy
distractions; which distractions do not only unman men, as thine I
perceive have done thee, but they run them upon desperate ventures, to
obtain they know not what.

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

WORLD. But why wilt thou seek for ease this way, seeing so many dangers
attend it?  especially since (hadst thou but patience to hear me) I
could direct thee to the obtaining of what thou desirest, without the
dangers that thou in this way wilt run thyself into.  Yea, and the
remedy is at hand.  Besides, I will add, that instead of those dangers,
thou shalt meet with much safety, friendship, and content.

CHR. Sir, I pray open this secret to me.

WORLD. Why, in yonder village (the village is named Morality) there
dwells a gentleman whose name is Legality, a very judicious man, and a
man of a very good name, that has skill to help men off with such
burdens as thine is from their shoulders; yea to my knowledge, he hath
done a great deal of good this way; aye, and besides, he hath skill to
cure those that are somewhat crazed in their wits with their burdens.
To him, as I said, thou mayest go, and be helped presently.  His house
is not quite a mile from this place; and if he should not be at home
himself, he hath a pretty young man to his son, whose name is Civility,
that can do it (to speak on) as well as the old gentleman himself:
there, I say, thou mayest be eased of thy burden; and if thou art not
minded to go back to thy former habitation, (as indeed I would not wish
thee,) thou mayest send for thy wife and children to this village, where
there are houses now standing empty, one of which thou mayest have at a
reasonable rate: provision is there also cheap and good; and that which
will make thy life the more happy is, to be sure there thou shalt live
by honest neighbors, in credit and good fashion.

Now was Christian somewhat at a stand; but presently he concluded, If
this be true which this gentleman hath said, my wisest course is to take
his advice: and with that he thus farther spake.

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

WORLD. Do you see yonder high hill?

CHR. Yes, very well.

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

So Christian turned out of his way to go to Mr.  Legality's house for
help: but, behold, when he was got now hard by the hill, it seemed so
high, and also that side of it that was next the way-side did hang so
much over, that Christian was afraid to venture further, lest the hill
should fall on his head; wherefore there he stood still, and wotted not
what to do.  Also his burden now seemed heavier to him than while he was
in his way.  There came also flashes of fire, Ex.  19:16, 18, out of the
hill, that made Christian afraid that he should be burnt: here therefore
he did sweat and quake for fear.  Heb.  12:21.  And now he began to be
sorry that he had taken Mr.  Worldly Wiseman's counsel; and with that he
saw Evangelist coming to meet him, at the sight also of whom he began to
blush for shame.  So Evangelist drew nearer and nearer; and coming up to
him, he looked upon him, with a severe and dreadful countenance, and
thus began to reason with Christian.

EVAN. What doest thou here, Christian?  said he: at which words
Christian knew not what to answer; wherefore at present he stood
speechless before him.  Then said Evangelist farther, Art not thou the
man that I found crying without the walls of the city of Destruction?

CHR. Yes, dear sir, I am the man.

EVAN. Did not I direct thee the way to the little wicket-gate?

CHR. Yes, dear sir, said Christian.

EVAN. How is it then thou art so quickly turned aside?  For thou art now
out of the way.

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

EVAN. What was he?

CHR. He looked like a gentleman, and talked much to me, and got me at
last to yield: so I came hither; but when I beheld this hill, and how it
hangs over the way, I suddenly made a stand, lest it should fall on my
head.

EVAN. What said that gentleman to you?

CHR. Why, he asked me whither I was going; and I told him.

EVAN. And what said he then?

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

EVAN. And what said he then?

CHR. He bid me with speed get rid of my burden; and I told him it was
ease that I sought.  And, said I, I am therefore going to yonder gate,
to receive farther direction how I may get to the place of deliverance.
So he said that he would show me a better way, and short, not so
attended with difficulties as the way, sir, that you set me in; which
way, said he, will direct you to a gentleman's house that hath skill to
take off these burdens: so I believed him, and turned out of that way
into this, if haply I might be soon eased of my burden.  But when I came
to this place, and beheld things as they are, I stopped, for fear (as I
said) of danger: but I now know not what to do.

EVAN. Then said Evangelist, Stand still a little, that I 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.

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.  "Be not faithless, but believing."  John 20:27.
Then did Christian again a little revive, and stood up trembling, as at
first, before 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
savoreth 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 laboring to render the cross odious to thee.

3.  And his setting thy feet in that way that leadeth unto the
administration of death.

First, Thou must abhor his turning thee out of the way; yea, and thine
own consenting thereto; 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 straight gate," Luke 13:24, the gate to which I send
thee; "for strait is the gate that leadeth unto life, and few there be
that find it."  Matt.  7:13,14.  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.

Secondly, Thou must abhor his laboring to render the cross odious unto
thee; for thou art to prefer it before the treasures of Egypt.  Heb.
11:25,26.  Besides, the King of glory hath told thee, that he that will
save his life shall lose it.  And he that comes after him, and hates not
his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and
sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be his disciple.  Mark
8:38; John 12:25; Matt.  10:39; Luke 14:26.  I say, therefore, for a man
to labor 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.

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.

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, which made the hair of his flesh stand
up.  The words were 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.

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 so far as to cause him to forsake the right way.  This done, he
applied himself again to Evangelist in words and sense as follows.

CHR. Sir, what think you?  Is there any 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 good-will 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."  Psalm 2:12.



THE SECOND STAGE.

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 had 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.  7:7.

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 Goodwill, who asked
who was there, and whence he came, and what he would have.

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. I am willing with all my heart, said he; and with that he opened
the gate.

So when Christian was stepping in, the other gave him a pull.  Then said
Christian, What means that?  The other told him, A little distance from
this gate there is erected a strong castle, of which Beelzebub is the
captain: from thence both he and they 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.

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. 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. But how is it that you came alone?

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

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

CHR. We indeed came both together until we came to the Slough of
Despond, into the which we also suddenly fell.  And then was my neighbor
Pliable discouraged, and would not venture farther.  Wherefore, getting
out again on the 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. Then said Goodwill, Alas, poor man; is the celestial glory of so
little esteem with him, that he counteth it not worth running the hazard
of a few difficulties to obtain it?

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. Oh, did he light upon you?  What, he would have had you have seek
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. 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 O, what a favor is this to me, that yet I am admitted
entrance here!

GOOD. We make no objections against any, notwithstanding all that they
have done before they come hither; they in no wise are cast out.  John
6:37.  And therefore good Christian, come a little way with me, and I
will teach thee about the way thou must go.  Look before thee; dost thou
see this narrow way?  That is the way thou must go.  It was cast up by
the patriarchs, prophets, Christ, and his apostles, and it is as strait
as a rule can make it; this is the way thou must go.

CHR. But, said Christian, are there no turnings nor windings, by which a
stranger may lose his way?

GOOD. 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 strait and narrow.  Matt.  7:14.

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.

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."

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 to 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.

Then he went on till he came at the house of the Interpreter, 6 where he
knocked over and over.  At last one came to the door, and asked who was
there.

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 helpful to me on my
journey.

INTER. Then said Interpreter, Come in; I will show thee that which will
be profitable to thee.  So he commanded his man to light the candle, and
bid Christian follow him; so he had him into a private room, and bid his
man open a door; the which when he had done, Christian saw the picture a
very grave person hang up against the wall; and this was the fashion of
it: It had eyes lifted up to heaven, the best of books in his hand, the
law of truth was written upon its lips, the world was behind its back;
it stood as if it pleaded with men, and a crown of gold did hang over
its head.

CHR. Then said Christian, What means this?

INTER. The man whose picture this is, is one of a thousand: he can beget
children, 1 Cor.  4:15, travail in birth with children, Gal.  4:19, and
nurse them himself when they are born.  And whereas thou seest him with
his eyes lift up to heaven, the best of books in his hand, and the law
of truth writ on his lips: it is to show thee, that his work is to know,
and unfold dark things to sinners; even as also thou seest him stand as
if he pleaded with men.  And whereas thou seest the world as cast behind
him, and that a crown hangs over his head; that is to show thee, that
slighting and despising the things that are present, for the love that
he hath to his Master's service, he is sure in the world that comes
next, to have glory for his reward.  Now, said the Interpreter, I have
showed thee this picture first, because the man whose picture this is,
is the only man whom the Lord of the place whither thou art going hath
authorized to be thy guide in all difficult places thou mayest meet with
in the way: wherefore take good heed to what I have showed 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.

Then he took him by the hand, and led him into a very large parlor that
was full of dust, because never swept; the which after he had reviewed
it 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 water, and sprinkle the room;"
the which when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with pleasure.

CHR. Then said Christian, What means this?

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 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 show thee, that the law, instead of cleansing the
heart (by its working) from sin, doth revive, Rom.  7:9, put strength
into, 1 Cor.  15:56, and increase it in the soul, Rom.  5:20, even as it
doth discover and forbid it; for it doth not give power to subdue.
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.

I saw moreover in my dream, that the Interpreter took him by the hand,
and had him into a little room, where sat two little children, each one
in his chair.  The name of the eldest was Passion, and the name of the
other Patience.  Passion seemed to be much disconted, 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.  But I beheld but a
while, and he had lavished all away, and had nothing left him but rags.

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 the next year, that is, until the
next world, for their portion of good.  That proverb, "A bird in the
hand is worth two in the bush," is of more authority with them than are
all the divine testimonies of the good of the world to come.  But as
thou sawest that he had quickly lavished all away, and had presently
left him nothing but rags, so will it be with all such men at the end of
this world.

CHR. Then said Christian, Now I see that Patience has the best wisdom,
and that upon many accounts.  1.  Because he stays for the best things.
2.  And also because he will have the glory of his, when the other has
nothing but rags.

INTER. Nay, you may add another, to wit, the glory of the next world
will never wear out; but these are suddenly gone.  Therefore Passion had
not so much reason to laugh at Patience because he had his good things
first, as Patience will have to laugh at Passion because he had his best
things last; for first must give place to last, because last must have
his time to come: but last gives place to nothing, for there is not
another to succeed.  He, therefore, that hath his portion first, must
needs have a time to spend it; but he that hath his portion last, must
have it lastingly: therefore it is said of Dives, "In thy lifetime thou
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 cover things that are now, but to
wait for things to come.

INTER. You say truth: for the things that are seen are temporal, but the
things that 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
neighbors 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.

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?

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 back side 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?

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; this 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 built 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?

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 names of them that should enter therein; he saw
also that in the doorway stood many men in armor to keep it, being
resolved to do to 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 on his head, and rush towards 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, Matt.  11:12; Acts 14:22; he cut his way through them all, 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.

Now, said Christian, let me go hence.  Nay, stay, said the Interpreter,
till I have showed 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.

CHR. What wast thou once?

MAN. The man said, I was once a fair and flourishing professor, Luke
8:13, 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.

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 into 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.

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

CHR. Then said Christian, Is there no hope, but you must be kept in the
iron cage of despair?

MAN. No, none at all.

CHR. 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.  10:29: therefore I have shut myself out of all the promises
and there now remains to me nothing but threatenings, dreadful
threatenings, faithful threatenings of certain judgment and fiery
indignation, which shall devour me as an adversary.

CHR. 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.

CHR. But canst thou not now repent and turn?

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.  Oh 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 to
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.

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 sitting 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 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.  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 that issued out and came from before him, a
convenient distance between him and them, as between the judge and the
prisoners at the bar.  1 Cor.  15; 1 Thess.  4:16; Jude 15; John 5:
28,29; 2 Thess.  1:8-10; Rev.  20:11-14; Isa.  26:21; Micah 7:16,17;
Psa.  5:4; 50:1-3; 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; 18:30; 24:30; 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 Thess.  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 awakened 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 was 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 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, showing indignation in his
countenance.

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."



THE THIRD STAGE.

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.  Isaiah 26:1.  Up this way, therefore, did burdened Christian
run, but not without great difficulty, because of the load on his back.

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.

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 a while, 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 to 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, Eph.  1:13, and gave him a roll with a seal upon
it, which he bid him look on as he ran, and that he should give it in at
the celestial gate: so they went their way.  Then Christian gave three
leaps for joy, and went on singing,

"Thus far did I 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!"

I saw then in my dream, that he went on thus, even until he came at the
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, of
another Sloth, and of the third Presumption.

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, Prov.  23:34, for the Dead Sea is under you,
a gulf that hath 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 goeth about like a roaring lion, 1 Pet.  5:8, comes by, you will
certainly become a prey to his teeth.  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 tub must
stand upon its own bottom.  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 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.

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

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 ye 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?

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 you stand a trial at law?

FORM. AND HYP. They told him, that custom, it being of so long standing
as above a thousand years, would doubtless now be admitted as a thing
legal by an impartial judge: and besides, said they, if we get into the
way, what matter is it 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 also are 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.

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 that
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 neighbors, to
hide the shame of thy nakedness.

CHR. By laws and ordinances you will not be saved, since you came not in
by the door.  Gal.  2:16.  And as for this coat that is on my back, it
was given me by the Lord of the place whither I go; and that, as you
say, to cover my nakedness with.  And I take it as a token of kindness
to me; for I had nothing but rags before.  And besides, thus I comfort
myself as I go.  Surely, think I, when I come to the gate of the city,
the Lord thereof will know me for good, since I have his coat on my
back; a coat that he gave me freely in the day that he stripped me of my
rags.  I have, moreover, a mark in my forehead, of which perhaps you
have taken no notice, which one of my Lord's most intimate associates
fixed there in the day that my burden fell off my shoulders.  I will
tell you, moreover, that I had then given me a roll sealed, to comfort
me by reading as I go on the way; I was also bid to give it in at the
celestial gate, in token of my certain going in after it: all which
things I doubt you want, and want them because you came not in at the
gate.

To these things they gave him no answer; only they looked upon each
other, and laughed.  Then I saw that they went all on, save that
Christian kept before, who had no more talk but with himself, and that
sometimes sighingly, and sometimes comfortably: also he would be often
reading in the roll that one of the Shining Ones gave him, by which he
was refreshed.

I beheld then, that they all went on till they came to the foot of the
hill Difficulty, at the bottom of which there was a spring.  There were
also in the same place two other ways besides that which came straight
from the gate: one turned to the left hand, and the other to the right,
at the bottom of the hill; but the narrow way lay right up the hill, and
the name of the going up the side of the hill is called Difficulty.
Christian now went to the spring, Isa.  49:10, and drank thereof to
refresh himself, and then began to go up the hill, saying,

"The hill, though high, I covet to ascend;

The difficulty will not me offend;

For I perceive the way to life lies here:

Come, pluck up 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 up
which Christian went, on the other side of the hill; therefore they were
resolved to go in those ways.  Now the name of one of 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 wood; and the other
took directly up the way to Destruction, which led him into a wide
field, full of dark mountains, where he stumbled and fell, and rose no
more.

I looked then after Christian, to see him go up the hill, where I
perceived he fell from running to going, and from going to clambering
upon his hands and his knees, because of the steepness of the place.
Now about the midway to the top of the hill was a pleasant Arbor, made
by the Lord of the hill for the refreshment of weary travellers.
Thither, therefore, Christian got, where also he sat down to rest him:
then he pulled his roll out of his bosom, and read therein to his
comfort; he also now began afresh to take a review of the coat or
garment that was given to him as he stood by the cross.  Thus pleasing
himself awhile, he at last fell into a slumber, and thence into a fast
sleep, which detained him in that place until it was almost night; and
in his sleep his roll fell out of his hand.  Now, as he was sleeping,
there came one to him, and awaked him, saying, "Go to the ant, thou
sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise."  Prov.  6:6.  And with that,
Christian suddenly started up, and sped him on his way, and went apace
till he came to the top of the hill.

Now when he was got up to the top of the hill, there came two men
running amain; the name of the one was Timorous, and of the other
Mistrust: to whom Christian said, Sirs, what's the matter?  you run the
wrong way.  Timorous answered, that they were going to the city of Zion,
and had got up that difficult place: but, said he, the farther we go,
the more danger we meet with; wherefore we turned, and are going back
again.

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

CHR. Then said Christian, You make me afraid; but whither shall I fly to
be safe?  If I go back to mine own country, that is prepared for fire
and brimstone, and I shall certainly perish there; if I can get to the
celestial city, I am sure to be in safety there: I must venture.  To go
back is nothing but death: to go forward is fear of death, and life
everlasting beyond it: I will yet go forward.  So Mistrust and Timorous
ran down the hill, and Christian went on his way.  But thinking again of
what he had heard from the men, he felt in his bosom for his roll, that
he might read therein and be comforted; but he felt, and found it not.
Then was Christian in great distress, and knew not what to do; for he
wanted that which used to relieve him, and that which should have been
his pass into the celestial city.  Here, therefore, he began to be much
perplexed, and knew not what to do.  At last he bethought himself that
he had slept in the arbor that is on the side of the hill; and falling
down upon his knees, he asked God forgiveness for that foolish act, and
then went back to look for his roll.  But all the way he went back, who
can sufficiently set forth the sorrow of Christian's heart?  Sometimes
he sighed, sometimes he wept, and oftentimes he chid himself for being
so foolish to fall asleep in that place, which was erected only for a
little refreshment from his weariness.  Thus, therefore, he went back,
carefully looking on this side and on that, all the way as he went, if
happily he might find his roll, that had been his comfort so many times
in his journey.  He went thus till he came again in sight of the arbor
where he sat and slept; but that sight renewed his sorrow the more, by
bringing again, even afresh, his evil of sleeping unto his mind.  Rev.
2:4; 1 Thess.  5:6-8.  Thus, therefore, he now went on, bewailing his
sinful sleep, saying, O wretched man that I am, that I should sleep in
the daytime!  that I should sleep in the midst of difficulty!  that I
should so indulge the flesh as to use that rest for ease to my flesh
which the Lord of the hill hath erected only for the relief of the
spirits of pilgrims!  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 tread those steps with sorrow, which I
might have trod with delight, had it not been for this sinful sleep.
How far might I have been on my way by this time!  I am made to tread
those steps thrice over, which I needed not to have trod but once: yea,
now also I am like to be benighted, for the day is almost spent.  O that
I had not slept!

Now by this time he was come to the arbor again, where for a while he
sat down and wept; but at last, (as Providence would have it,) looking
sorrowfully down under the settle, there he espied his roll, the which
he with trembling and haste catched up, and put it into his bosom.  But
who can tell how joyful this man was when he had gotten his roll again?
For this roll was the assurance of his life, and acceptance at the
desired haven.  Therefore he laid it up in his bosom, gave thanks to God
for directing his eye to the place where it lay, and with joy and tears
betook himself again to his journey.  But O how nimbly did he go up the
rest of the hill!  Yet before he got up, the sun went down upon
Christian; and this made him again recall the vanity of his sleeping to
his remembrance; and thus he again began to condole with himself: Oh
thou sinful sleep!  how for thy sake am I like to be benighted in my
journey!  I must walk without the sun, darkness must cover the path of
my feet, and I must hear the noise of the doleful creatures, because of
my sinful sleep!  Now also he remembered the story that Mistrust and
Timorous told him of, how they were frighted with the sight of the
lions.  Then said Christian to himself again, These beasts range in the
night for their prey; and if they should meet with me in the dark, how
should I shift them?  how should I escape being by them torn in pieces?
Thus he went on his way.  But while he was bewailing his unhappy
miscarriage, he lift up his eyes, and behold there was a very stately
palace before him, the name of which was Beautiful, and it stood by the
highway-side.

So I saw in my dream that he made haste, and went forward, that if
possible he might get lodging there.  Now before he had gone far, he
entered into a very narrow passage, which was about a furlong off the
Porter's lodge, and looking very narrowly before him as he went, he
espied two lions in the way.  Now, thought he, I see the dangers that
Mistrust and Timorous were driven back by.  (The lions were chained, but
he saw not the chains.)  Then he was afraid, and thought also himself to
go back after them; for he thought nothing but death was before him.
But the Porter at the lodge, whose name is Watchful, perceiving that
Christian made a halt, as if he would go back, cried unto him, saying,
Is thy strength so small?  Mark 4:40.  Fear not the lions, for they are
chained, and are placed there for trial of faith where it is, and for
discovery of those that have none: keep in the midst of the path, and no
hurt shall come unto thee.

Then I saw that he went on, trembling for fear of the lions, but taking
good heed to the directions of the Porter; he heard them roar, but they
did him no harm.  Then he clapped his hands, and went on till he came
and stood before the gate where the Porter was.  Then said Christian to
the Porter, Sir, what house is this?  and may I lodge here to-night?
The Porter answered, This house was built by the Lord of the hill, and
he built it for the relief and security of pilgrims.  The Porter also
asked whence he was, and whither he was going.

CHR. I am come from the city of Destruction, and am going to Mount Zion:
but because the sun is now set, I desire, if I may, to lodge here to-
night.

PORT. 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.

PORT. But how does it happen that you come so late?  The sun is set.

CHR. I had been here sooner, but that, wretched man that I am, I slept
in the arbor that stands on the hill-side!  Nay, I had, notwithstanding
that, been here much sooner, but that in my sleep I lost my evidence,
and came without it to the brow of the hill; and then feeling for it,
and not finding it, I was forced with sorrow of heart to go back to the
place where I slept my sleep, where I found it; and now I am come.

PORT. Well, I will call out one of the virgins of this place, who will,
if she likes your talk, 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 of the door of the house a grave
and beautiful damsel, named Discretion, and asked why she was called.

The Porter answered, This man is on a journey from the city of
Destruction to Mount Zion; but being weary and benighted, he asked me if
he might lodge here to-night: so I told him I would call for thee, who,
after discourse had with him, mayest do as seemeth thee good, even
according to the law of the house.

Then she asked him whence he was, and whither he was going; and he told
her.  She asked him also how he got into the way; and he told her.  Then
she asked him what he had seen and met with in the way, and he told her.
And at last she asked his name.  So he said, It is Christian; and I have
so much the more a desire to lodge here to-night, because, by what I
perceive, this place was built by the Lord of the hill for the relief
and security of pilgrims.  So she smiled, but the water stood in her
eyes; and after a little pause she said, I will call forth two or three
more of the family.  So she ran to the door, and called out Prudence,
Piety, and Charity, who, after a little more discourse with him, had him
into the family; and many of them meeting him at the threshold of the
house, said, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; this house was built by
the Lord of the hill on purpose to entertain such pilgrims in.  Then he
bowed his head, and followed them into the house.  So when he was come
in and sat down, they gave him something to drink, and consented
together that, until supper was ready, some of them should have some
particular discourse with Christian, for the best improvement of time;
and they appointed Piety, Prudence, and Charity to discourse with him:
and thus they began.

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

CHR. With a very good will; and I am glad that you are so well disposed.

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

CHR. I was driven out of my native country by a dreadful sound that was
in mine ears; to wit, that unavoidable destruction did attend me, if I
abode in that place where I was.

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 whither to go; but by chance there came a
man, even to me, as I was trembling and weeping, whose name is
Evangelist, and he directed me to the Wicket-gate, which else I should
never have found, and so set me into the way that hath led me directly
to this house.

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 by me as long as I live, especially three things: to wit, how
Christ, in despite of Satan, maintains his work of grace in the heart;
how the man had sinned himself quite out of hopes of God's mercy; and
also the dream of him that thought in his sleep the day of judgment was
come.

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

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

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

CHR. No; he took me, and had me where he showed me a stately palace, and
how the people were clad in gold that were in it; and how there came a
venturous man, and cut his way through the armed men that stood in the
door to keep him out; and how he was bid to come in, and win eternal
glory.  Methought those things did ravish my heart.  I would have stayed
at that good man's house a twelvemonth, but that I knew I had farther to
go.

PIETY. And what saw you else in the way?

CHR. Saw?  Why, I went but a little farther, and I saw One, as I thought
in my mind, hang bleeding upon a tree; and the very sight of him made my
burden fall off my back; for I groaned under a very heavy burden, but
then it fell down from off me.  It was a strange thing to me, for I
never saw such a thing before: yea, and while I stood looking up, (for
then I could not forbear looking,) three Shining Ones came to me.  One
of them testified that my sins were forgiven me; another stripped me of
my rags, and gave me this broidered coat which you see; and the third
set the mark which you see in my forehead, and gave me this sealed roll,
(and with that he plucked it out of his bosom.)

PIETY. But you saw more than this, did you not?

CHR. The things that I have told you were the best: yet some other I
saw, as, namely, I saw three men, Simple, Sloth, and Presumption, lie
asleep, a little out of the way, as I came, with irons upon their heels;
but do you think I could awake them?  I also saw Formality and Hypocrisy
come tumbling over the wall, to go, as they pretended, to Zion; but they
were quickly lost, even as I myself did tell them, but they would not
believe.  But, above all, I found it hard work to get up this hill, and
as hard to come by the lions' mouths; and, truly, if it had not been for
the good man, the porter that stands at the gate, I do not know but
that, after all, I might have gone back again; but I thank God I am
here, and thank you for receiving me.

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

PRU. Do you not think sometimes of the country from whence you came?

CHR. Yea, but with much shame and detestation.  Truly, if I had been
mindful of that country from whence I came out, I might have had
opportunity to have returned; but now I desire a better country, that
is, a heavenly one.  Heb.  11:15,16.

PRU. Do you not yet bear away with you some of the things that then you
were conversant withal?

CHR. Yes, but greatly against my will; especially my inward and carnal
cogitations, with which all my countrymen, as well as myself, were
delighted.  But now all those things are my grief; and might I but
choose mine own things, I would choose never to think of those things
more: but when I would be a doing that which is best, that which is
worst is with me.  Rom.  7:15, 21.

PRU. 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.

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

CHR. Yes: when I think what I saw at the cross, that will do it; and
when I look upon my broidered coat, that will do it; and when I look
into the roll that I carry in my bosom, that will do it; and when my
thoughts wax warm about whither I am going, that will do it.

PRU. 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, Isa.  25:8;
Rev.  21:4; and there I shall dwell with such company as I like best.
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 fain be where I
shall die no more, and with the company that shall continually cry,
Holy, holy, holy.

Then said Charity 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, Oh, how willingly would I have done
it!  but they were all of them utterly averse to my going on pilgrimage.

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

CHR. So I did; and told them also what God had shown to me of the
destruction of our city; but I seemed to them as one that mocked, and
they believed me not.  Gen.  19:14.

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 think 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 destruction was visible enough to you.

CHR. Yes, over, and over, and over.  They might also see my fears in my
countenance, in my tears, and also in my trembling under the
apprehension of the 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 came not?

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

CHAR. But did you not, with your vain life, damp all that you, by words,
used by way of persuasion to bring them away with you?

CHR. Indeed, I cannot commend my life, for I am conscious to myself of
many failings therein.  I know also, that a man, by his conversation,
may soon overthrow what, by argument or persuasion, he doth labor to
fasten upon others for their good.  Yet this I can say, I was very wary
of giving them occasion, by any unseemly action, to make them averse to
going on pilgrimage.  Yea, for this very thing, they would tell me I was
too precise, and that I denied myself of things (for their sakes) in
which they saw no evil.  Nay, I think I may say, that if what they saw
in me did hinder them, it was my great tenderness in sinning against
God, or of doing any wrong to my neighbor.

CHAR. Indeed, Cain hated his brother, because his own works were evil,
and his brother's righteous, 1 John, 3:12; and if thy wife and children
have been offended with thee for this, they thereby show themselves to
be implacable to good; thou hast delivered thy soul from their blood.
Ezek.  3:19.

Now I saw in my dream, that thus they sat talking together until supper
was ready.  So when they had made ready, they sat down to meat.  Now the
table was furnished with fat things, and with wine that was well
refined; and all their talk at the table was about the Lord of the hill;
as, namely, about what he had done, and wherefore he did what he did,
and why he had builded that house; and by what they said, I perceived
that he had been a great warrior, and had fought with and slain him that
had the power of death, Heb.  2:14,15; but not without great danger to
himself, which made me love him the more.

For, as they said, and as I believe, said Christian, he did it with the
loss of much blood.  But that which put the glory of grace into all he
did, was, that he did it out of pure love to his country.  And besides,
there were some of them of the household that said they had been and
spoke with him since he did die on the cross; and they have attested
that they had it from his own lips, that he is such a lover of poor
pilgrims, that the like is not to be found from the east to the west.
They, moreover, gave an instance of what they affirmed; and that was, he
had stripped himself of his glory that he might do this for the poor;
and that they heard him say and affirm, that he would not dwell in the
mountain of Zion alone.  They said, moreover, that he had made many
pilgrims princes, though by nature they were beggars born, and their
original had been the dunghill.  1 Sam.  2:8; Psa.  113:7.

Thus they discoursed together till late at night; and after they had
committed themselves to their Lord for protection, they betook
themselves to rest.  The pilgrim they laid in a large upper chamber,
whose window opened towards the sun-rising.  The name of the chamber was
Peace, where he slept till break of day, and then he awoke and sang,

"Where am I now?  Is this the love and care

Of Jesus, for the men that pilgrims are,

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 rarities
of that place.  And first they had him into the study, where they showed
him records of the greatest antiquity; in which, as I remember my dream,
they showed him the pedigree of the Lord of the hill, that he was the
Son of the Ancient of days, and came by 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 had subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of
fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong,
waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Heb.  11:33,34.

Then they read again another part of the records of the house, where it
was shown how willing their Lord was to receive into his favor any, even
any, though they in time past had offered great affronts to his person
and proceedings.  Here also were several other histories of many other
famous things, of all which Christian had a view; as of things both
ancient and modern, together with prophecies and predictions of things
that have their certain accomplishment, both to the dread and amazement
of enemies, and the comfort and solace of pilgrims.

The next day they took him, and had him into the armory, where they
showed him all manner of furniture which their Lord had provided for
pilgrims, as sword, shield, helmet, breastplate, all-prayer, and shoes
that would not wear out.  And there was here enough of this to harness
out as many men for the service of their Lord as there be stars in the
heaven for multitude.

They also showed him some of the engines 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 Gideon put to flight the armies of Midian.  Then they showed
him the ox-goad wherewith Shamgar slew six hundred men.  They showed him
also the jawbone with which Samson did such mighty feats.  They showed
him moreover the sling and stone with which David slew Goliath of Gath;
and the sword also with which their Lord will kill the man of sin, in
the day that he shall rise up to the prey.  They showed him besides many
excellent things, with which Christian was much delighted.  This done,
they went to their rest again.

Then I saw in my dream, that on the morrow he got up to go forward, but
they desired him to stay till the next day also; and then, said they, we
will, if the day be clear, show you the Delectable Mountains; which,
they said, would yet farther add to his comfort, because they were
nearer the desired haven than the place where at present he was; so he
consented and stayed.  When the morning was up, they had him to the top
of the house, and bid him look south.  So he did, and behold, at a great
distance, he saw a most pleasant mountainous country, beautified with
woods, vineyards, fruits of all sorts, flowers also, with springs and
fountains, very delectable to behold.  Isa.  33:16,17.  Then he asked
the name of the country.  They said it was Immanuel's land; and it is as
common, said they, as this hill is, to and for all the pilgrims.  And
when thou comest there, from thence thou mayest see to the gate of the
celestial city, as the shepherds that live there will make appear.

Now he bethought himself of setting forward, and they were willing he
should.  But first, said they, let us go again into the armory.  So they
did; and when he came there, they harnessed him from head to foot with
what was of proof, lest perhaps he should meet with assaults in the way.
He being therefore thus accoutred, walked out with his friends to the
gate; and there he asked the Porter if he saw any pilgrim pass by.  Then
the Porter answered, Yes.

CHR. Pray, did you know him?  said he.

PORT. 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 before?

PORT. He is got by this time below the hill.

CHR. Well, said Christian, good Porter, the Lord be with thee, and add
to all thy plain blessings much increase for the kindness that thou hast
showed me.



THE FOURTH STAGE.

Then he began to go forward; but Discretion, Piety, Charity, and
Prudence would accompany him down to the foot of the hill.  So they went
on together, reiterating their former discourses, till they came to go
down the hill.  Then said Christian, As it was difficult coming up, so,
so far as I can see, it is dangerous going down.  Yes, said Prudence, so
it is; for it is a hard matter for a man to go down into the valley of
Humiliation, as thou art now, and to catch no slip by the way;
therefore, said they, we are come out to accompany thee 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
got down 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,

"Whilst Christian is among his godly friends,

Their golden mouths make him sufficient mends

For all his griefs; and when they let him go,

He's clad with northern steel from top to toe."

But now, in this valley of Humiliation, poor Christian was hard put to
it; for he had gone but a little way before he espied a foul fiend
coming over the field to meet him: his name is Apollyon.  Then did
Christian begin to be afraid, and to cast in his mind whether to go
back, or to stand his ground.  But he considered again, that he had no
armor for his back, and therefore thought that to turn the back to him
might give him greater advantage with ease to pierce him with his darts;
therefore he resolved to venture and stand his ground: for, thought he,
had I no more in mine eye than the saving of my life, it would be the
best way to stand.

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, and 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 him.

APOL. Whence came you, and whither are you bound?

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

APOL. By this I perceive thou art one of my subjects; for all that
country is mine, and I am the prince and god of it.  How is it, then,
that thou hast run away from thy king?  Were it not that I hope thou
mayest do me more service, I would strike thee now at one blow to the
ground.

CHR. I was, indeed, born in your dominions, but your service was hard,
and your wages such as a man could not live on; for the wages of sin is
death, Rom.  6:23; therefore, when I was come to years, I did, as other
considerate persons do, look out if perhaps I might mend myself.

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

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

APOL. Thou hast done in this according to the proverb, "changed a bad
for a worse;" but it is ordinary for those that have professed
themselves his servants, after a while to give him the slip, and return
again to me.  Do thou so to, 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. Thou didst the same by me, and yet I am willing to pass by all, if
now thou wilt yet turn again and go back.

CHR. What I promised thee was in my non-age: and besides, I count that
the Prince, under whose banner I now stand, is able to absolve me, yea,
and to pardon also what I did as to my compliance with thee.  And
besides, O thou destroying Apollyon, to speak truth, I like his service,
his wages, his servants, his government, his company, and country,
better than thine; therefore leave off to persuade me farther: I am his
servant, and I will follow him.

APOL. Consider again, when thou art in cool blood, what thou art like to
meet with in the way that thou goest.  Thou knowest that for the most
part his servants come to an ill end, because they are transgressors
against me and my ways.  How many of them have been put to shameful
deaths!  And besides, thou countest his service better than mine;
whereas he never yet came from the place where he is, to deliver any
that served him out of their enemies' hands: but as for me, how many
times, as all the world very well knows, have I delivered, either by
power or fraud, those that have faithfully served me, from him and his,
though taken by them!  And so will I deliver thee.

CHR. His forbearing at present to deliver them, is on purpose to try
their love, whether they will cleave to him to the end: and as for the
ill end thou sayest they come to, that is most glorious in their
account.  For, for present deliverance, they do not much expect it; for
they stay for their glory; and then they shall have it, when their
Prince comes in his and the glory of the angels.

APOL. Thou hast already been unfaithful in thy service to him; and how
dost thou think to receive wages of him?

CHR. Wherein, O Apollyon, have I been unfaithful to him?

APOL. Thou didst faint at first setting out, when thou wast almost
choked in the gulf of Despond.  Thou didst attempt wrong ways to be rid
of thy burden, whereas thou shouldst have stayed till thy Prince had
taken it off.  Thou didst sinfully sleep, and lose thy choice things.
Thou wast almost persuaded also to go back at the sight of the lions.
And when thou talkest of thy journey, and of what thou hast seen and
heard, thou art inwardly desirous of vainglory in all that thou sayest
or doest.

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

APOL. Then Apollyon broke out into a grievous rage, saying, I am an
enemy to this Prince; I hate his person, his laws, and people: I am come
out on purpose to withstand thee.

CHR. Apollyon, beware what you do, for I am in the King's highway, the
way of holiness; therefore take heed to yourself.

APOL. Then Apollyon straddled quite over the whole breadth of the way,
and said, I am void of fear in this matter.  Prepare thyself to die; for
I swear by my infernal den, that thou shalt go no farther: here will I
spill thy 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 that.

Then did Christian draw, for he saw it was time to bestir him; and
Apollyon as fast made at him, throwing darts as thick as hail; by the
which, notwithstanding all that Christian could do to avoid it, Apollyon
wounded him in his head, his hand, and foot.  This made Christian give a
little back: Apollyon, therefore, followed his work amain, and Christian
again took courage, and resisted as manfully as he could.  This sore
combat lasted for above half a day, even till Christian was almost quite
spent: for you must know, that Christian, by reason of his wounds, must
needs grow weaker and weaker.

Then Apollyon, espying his opportunity, began to gather up close to
Christian, and wrestling with him, gave him a dreadful fall; and with
that Christian's sword flew out of his hand.  Then said Apollyon, I am
sure of thee now: and with that he had almost pressed him to death, so
that Christian began to despair of life.  But, as God would have it,
while Apollyon was fetching his last blow, thereby to make a full end of
this good man, Christian nimbly reached out his hand for his sword, and
caught it, saying, Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I
shall arise, Mic.  7:8; and with that gave him a deadly thrust, which
made him give back, as one that had received his mortal wound.
Christian perceiving that, made at him again, saying, Nay, in all these
things we are more than conquerors, through Him that loved us.  Rom.
8:37.  And with that Apollyon spread forth his dragon wings, and sped
him away, that Christian saw him no more.  James 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 spake like a dragon: and on the other side, what sighs and
groans burst from Christian's heart.  I never saw him all the while give
so much as one pleasant look, till he perceived he had wounded Apollyon
with his two-edged sword; then, indeed, he did smile, and look upward!
But it was the dreadfullest sight that ever I saw.

So when the battle was over, Christian said, I will here give thanks to
him that hath 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 harness'd out; and he, with rage

That hellish was, did fiercely me engage:

But blessed Michael helped me, and I,

By dint 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 know not but some other
enemy may be at hand.  But he met with no other affront from Apollyon
quite through this valley.

Now at the end of this valley was another, called the Valley of the
Shadow of Death; and Christian must needs go through it, because the way
to the Celestial City lay through the midst of it.  Now, this valley is
a very solitary place.  The prophet Jeremiah thus describes it: "A
wilderness, a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought, and of the
Shadow of Death, a land that no man" (but a Christian) "passeth 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 was got to the borders of
the Shadow of Death, there met him two men, children of them that
brought up an evil report of the good land Num.13:32, making haste to go
back; to whom Christian spake as follows.

CHR. Whither are you going?

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

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

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

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

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

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 hobgoblins, satyrs, and dragons of the pit: we heard also
in that valley a continual howling and yelling, as of a people under
unutterable misery, who there sat bound in affliction and irons: and
over that valley hang the discouraging clouds of confusion: Death also
doth always spread his wings over it.  In a word, it is every whit
dreadful, being utterly without order.  Job 3:5; 10:22.

CHR. Then, said Christian, I perceive not yet, by what you have said,
but that this is my way to the desired haven.  Psalm 44:18,19; Jer.
2:6.

MEN. Be it thy way; we will not choose it for ours.

So they parted, and Christian went on his way, but still with his sword
drawn in his hand, for fear lest he should be assaulted.

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.
Again, behold, on the left hand there was a very dangerous quag, into
which, if even a good man falls, he finds no bottom for his foot to
stand on: into that quag king David once did fall, and had no doubt
therein been smothered, had not He that is able plucked him out.  Psa.
69:14.

The pathway was here also exceeding narrow, and therefore good Christian
was the more put to it; for when he sought, in the dark, to shun the
ditch on the one hand, he was ready to tip over into the mire on the
other; also, when he sought to escape the mire, without great
carefulness he would be ready to fall into the ditch.  Thus he went on,
and I heard him here sigh bitterly; for besides the danger mentioned
above, the pathway was here so dark, that ofttimes when he lifted up his
foot to go forward, he knew not where, or upon what he should set it
next.

About the midst of this valley I perceived the mouth of hell to be, and
it stood also hard by the wayside.  Now, thought Christian, what shall I
do?  And ever and anon the flame and smoke would come out in such
abundance, with sparks and hideous noises, (things that cared not for
Christian's sword, as did Apollyon before,) that he was forced to put up
his sword, and betake himself to another weapon, called All-prayer, Eph.
6:18; so he cried, in my hearing, O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my
soul.  Psa.  116:4.  Thus he went on a great while, yet still the flames
would be reaching towards him; also he heard doleful voices, and
rushings to and fro, so that sometimes he thought he should be torn in
pieces, or trodden down like mire in the streets.  This frightful sight
was seen, and these dreadful noises were heard by him for several miles
together; and coming to a place where he thought he heard a company of
fiends coming forward to meet him, he stopped, and began to muse what he
had best to do.  Sometimes he had half a thought to go back; then again
he thought he might be half-way through the valley.  He remembered also,
how he had already vanquished many a danger; and that the danger of
going back might be much more than for to go forward.  So he resolved to
go on; yet the fiends seemed to come nearer and nearer.  But when they
were come even almost at him, he cried out with a most vehement voice, I
will walk in the strength of the Lord God.  So they gave back, and came
no farther.

One thing I would not let slip.  I took notice that now poor Christian
was so confounded that he did not know his own voice; and thus I
perceived it.  Just when he was come over against the mouth of the
burning pit, one of the wicked ones got behind him, and stepped up
softly to him, and whisperingly suggested many grievous blasphemies to
him, which he verily thought had proceeded from his own mind.  This put
Christian more to it than any thing that he met with before, even to
think that he should now blaspheme Him that he loved so much before.
Yet if he could have helped it, he would not have done it; but he had
not the discretion either to stop his ears, or to know from whence these
blasphemies came.

When Christian had travelled in this disconsolate condition some
considerable time, he thought he heard the voice of a man, as going
before him, saying, Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of
Death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.  Psa.  23:4.

Then was he glad, and that for these reasons:

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

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

Thirdly, For that he hoped (could he overtake them) to have company by
and by.

So he went on, and called to him that was before; but he knew not what
to answer, for that he also thought himself to be alone.  And by and by
the day broke: then said Christian, "He hath turned the shadow of death
into the morning."  Amos 5:8.

Now morning being come, he looked back, not out of desire to return, but
to see, by the light of the day, what hazards he had gone through in the
dark.  So he saw more perfectly the ditch that was on the one hand, and
the quag that was on the other; also how narrow the way was which led
betwixt them both.  Also now he saw the hobgoblins, and satyrs, and
dragons of the pit, but all afar off; for after break of day they came
not nigh; yet they were discovered to him, according to that which is
written, "He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out
to light th