CONTENTS.

Author's Apology for his Book

PART I.

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

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 shownto Christian - he is armed

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

THE FIFTH STAGE. - Discourse with Faithful - Talkative and Faithful - Talkative'scharacter

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

THE SEVENTH STAGE. - Christian and Hopeful - By-ends and his companions - plain ofEase - 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-wayto 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 - theland of Beulah - Christian and Hopeful pass the River - welcome to the Celestialcity

Conclusion of Part First



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, 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 neighbour--no, not I!
I did it mine 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 pulled, it came; and so I penned
It down; until it came at last to be,
For length and breadth, the size which you see.

Well, when I had thus put my ends together,
I showed 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 you 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 loth;
Yet, since your brethren pleased with it be,
Forbear to judge, till you do further see.

If that thou will not read, let it alone:
Some love the meat; some love to pick the bone."
Yea, that I might them better moderate,
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 carps not at either;
But treasures up the fruit they yield together:
Yea, so mixes both, that in her 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 blessings null.

You see the ways the fisherman doth take
To catch the fish: what devices doth he make!
Behold how he engages 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 device, can make thine;
They must be groped for, and be tickled too,
Or they will not be caught whate'er you do.

How doth the fowler seek to catch his game
By divers means, all which one cannot name!
His gun, 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 a 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 of it, there to look,
That they may find it? Now my little book
(Though void of all those 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'd drown the weak; metaphors make us blind."

Solidity, indeed, becomes the pen
Of him that writes 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 speaks to him; and happy is he
That finds the light and grace that in them be.

Be 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 parables despise not we;
Lest things most harmful 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 enclose the gold.

The prophets used much by metaphors
To set forth truth; yea, whoso 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 todays?

Come, let my carper to his life now look,
And find there darker lines than in my book
He finds 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 dare adventure ten,
That they will take my meaning in these lines
Far better than his lies in silver shrines.
Come: Truth, although in swaddling clouts,
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 imaginations 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, he nowhere did 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--
(Examples too and that from them that have
God better pleased by their words or ways
Than any man that breathes 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 design
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 chalks 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 attain:
Here also you may see the reason why
They lose their labour, and like fools do die.

This book will make a traveller 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?
Wouldst thou see a truth within a fable?
Art thou forgetful? Wouldst thou remember
From New Year's day to the last of December?
Then read my fancies; they will stick like burrs
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.

Wouldst thou divert thyself from melancholy,
Wouldst thou be pleasant, yet be far from folly?
Wouldst thou read riddles, and their explanation
Or else be drowned in thy contemplation?
Dost thou love picking meat? Or wouldst thou see
A man in the clouds, and hear him speak to thee?
Wouldst thou be in a dream, and yet not sleep?
Or wouldst thou in a moment laugh and weep?
Wouldst thou lose thyself and catch no harm?
And find thyself again without a charm?
Wouldst read thyself, and read thou know'st not what,
And yet know whether thou are blest or not,
By reading the same lines? Oh then, come hither,
And lay my book, thy head, and heart together.

JOHN BUNYAN.



THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS

Introduction

As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place wherewas a den (the gaol), and I laid me down in that place to sleep: and as I slept,I dreamed a dream. I dreamed; and behold, I saw a man clothed with rags standingin a certain place, with his face from his own house, a book in his hand, and a greatburden upon his back. I looked, and saw him open the book, and read therein; andas he read, he wept and trembled;

"For mine iniquities are gone over minehead: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me."
~ Psalm 38:4 ~

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthyrags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have takenus away."
~ Isaiah 64:6 ~

"So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, hecannot be my disciple."
~ Luke 14:33 ~



"For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression anddisobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglectso great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmedunto us by them that heard him;"
~ Hebrews 2:2, 3 ~

and, not being able longer to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry, saying,"What shall I do?"

"Now when they heard this, they werepricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Menand brethren, what shall we do?"
~ Acts 2:37 ~

In this plight, therefore, he went home, and refrained himself as long as he could,that his wife and children should not perceive his distress; but he could not besilent long, because that his trouble increased: wherefore at length he brake hismind to his wife and children; and thus he began to talk to them: "O my dearwife," said he, "and you the children of my bowels, I, your dear friend,am in myself undone, by reason of a burden that lies hard upon me; moreover, I amfor certain informed, that this our city will be burned with fire from heaven; inwhich 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 escapecan be found, whereby we may be delivered." At this his relations were soreamazed; not for that they believed that what he had said to them was true, but becausethey thought that some frenzy distemper had got into his head; therefore, it drawingtowards night, and they hoping that sleep might settle his brains, with all hastethey 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 setto talking to them again; but they began to be hardened. They also thought to driveaway his distemper by harsh and surly conduct to him: sometimes they would deride;sometimes they would chide; and sometimes they would quite neglect him. Whereforehe began to retire himself to his chamber, to pray for and pity them, and also tocondole his own misery. He would also walk solitarily in the fields, sometimes readingand sometimes praying; and thus for some days he spent his time.



Evangelist Provides Direction

Now I saw, upon a time when he was walking in the fields, that he was (as he waswont) reading in his book, and greatly distressed in his mind; and, as he read, heburst out, as he had done before, crying, "What must I do to be saved?"

"And brought them out, and said, Sirs, whatmust I do to be saved?
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thyhouse."
~ Acts 16:30, 31 ~

I saw also that he looked this way and that way, as if he would run; yet he stoodstill, because (as I perceived) he could not tell which way to go. I looked then,and saw a man named EVANGELIST coming to him, and asked, "Wherefore dost thoucry?" He answered, "Sir, I perceive by the book in my hand that I am condemnedto die, and after that to come to Judgment;

"And as it is appointed unto men once todie, but after this the judgment:"
~ Hebrews 9:27 ~

and I find that I am not willing to do the first,

"His sons come to honour, and he knowethit not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.
But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn."
~ Job 14:21, 22 ~

nor able to do the second."

"Can thine heart endure, or can thine handsbe strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it,and will do it."
~ Ezekial 22:14 ~

Evangelist. Then said EVANGELIST, "Why not willing to die, since thislife is attended with so many evils?" The man answered, "Because I fearthat this burden that is upon my back will sink me lower than the grave, and I shallfall into Tophet.

"For Tophet is ordained of old; yea,for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pilethereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone,doth kindle it."
~ Isaiah 30:33 ~

And, sir, if I be not fit to go to prison, I am not fit, I am sure, 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 where to go." Then he gave him a parchmentroll; and there was written within, "Flee from the wrath to come!"

"But when he saw many of the Pharisees andSadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hathwarned you to flee from the wrath to come?"
~ Matthew 3:7 ~

The man, therefore, read it; and looking upon EVANGELIST very carefully, said, "Whithermust I fly?" Then said EVANGELIST, pointing with his finger over a very widefield, "Do you see yonder wicket gate?"

"Because strait is the gate, andnarrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
~ Matthew 7:14 ~

The man said, "No." Then said the other, "Do you see yonder shininglight?"

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,and a light unto my path."
~ Psalm 119:105 ~

"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye takeheed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the daystar arise in your hearts:"
~ 2 Peter 1:19 ~

He said, "I think I do." Then said EVANGELIST, "Keep that light inyour eye, and go up directly thereto; so shalt thou see the gate; at which, whenthou knockest, it shall be told thee what thou shall do."

So I saw in my dream that the man began to run. Now he had not run far from his owndoor, but his wife and children perceiving it, began to cry after him to return;

"If any man come to me, and hate not hisfather, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and hisown life also, he cannot be my disciple."
~ Luke 14:26 ~

but the man put his fingers in his ears, and ran on, crying, "Life! life! Eternallife!" So he looked not behind him, but fled towards the middle of the plain.

"And it came to pass, when they had broughtthem forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neitherstay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed."
~ Genesis 19:17 ~

The Neighbours: Obstinate and Pliable

The neighbours also came out to see him run; and, as he ran, some mocked,

"For I heard the defaming of many, fearon every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watchedfor my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevailagainst him, and we shall take our revenge on him."
~ Jeremiah 20:10 ~

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 onewas OBSTINATE, and the name of the other PLIABLE. Now by this time the man was agood distance from them; but, however, they were resolved to pursue him; which theydid, and in a little time they overtook him. Then said the man, "Neighbours,wherefore are ye come?" They said, "To persuade you to go back with us."But he said, "That can by no means be. You dwell in the city of Destructionthe place also where I was born. I see it to be so; and dying there, sooner or later,you will sink lower than the grave into a place that burns with fire and brimstone:be content, good neighbours, and go along with me."

Obstinate. "What!" said OBSTINATE, "and leave our friends andour comforts behind us !"

Christian. "Yes," said CHRISTIAN, for that was his name; "becausethat all which you shall forsake is not worthy to be compared with a little of thatthat I am seeking to enjoy;

"While we look not at the things which areseen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen aretemporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
~ 2 Corinthians 4:18 ~

and if you will go along with me, and hold it, you shall fare as I myself; for therewhere I go is enough and to spare.

"And when he came to himself, he said, Howmany hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish withhunger!"
~ Luke 15:17 ~

Come away, and prove my words."

Obst. What are the things you seek, since you leave all the world to findthem?

Chr. I seek an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fades not away;

"To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled,and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,"
~ 1 Peter 1:4 ~

and it is laid up in heaven, and safe there, to be bestowed, at the time appointed,on them that diligently seek it.

"But now they desire a better country,that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for hehath prepared for them a city."
~ Hebrews 11:16 ~

Read it so, if you will, in my book.

Obst. "Tush," said OBSTINATE, "away with your book; will yougo back with us or not?"

Chr. "No, not I," said the other; "because I have laid my handto the plough".

"And Jesus said unto him, No man, havingput his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
~ Luke 9:62 ~

Obst. Come then, neighbour PLIABLE, let us turn again, and go home withouthim: there is a company of these crazy-headed coxcombs, that when they take a fancyby the end are wiser in their own eyes than seven men that can render a reason.

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

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

Chr. Nay. but do thou come with thy neighbour PLIABLE; there are such thingsto 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.

"Whereupon neither the first testamentwas dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the peopleaccording to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarletwool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This isthe blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkledwith blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost allthings are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens shouldbe purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrificesthan these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, whichare the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presenceof God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enterethinto the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often havesuffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the worldhath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointedunto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered tobear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the secondtime without sin unto salvation."
~ Hebrews 9:18-28 ~

"Well, neighbour OBSTINATE," said PLIABLE, "I begin to come to a point;I intend to go along with this good man, and to cast in my lot with him: but, mygood 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 littlegate that is before us, where we shall receive instructions about the way.

Pli. Come then, good neighbour, let us be going.

Then they went both together.

Obst. "And I will go back to my place," said OBSTINATE; "Iwill be no companion of such misled, fantastic fellow."



What To Look Forward To

Now I saw in my dream, that when OBSTINATE was gone back, CHRISTIAN and PLIABLE wenttalking over the plain: and thus they began their discourse.

Chr. Come, neighbour PLIABLE, how do you do? I am glad you are persuaded togo along with me. Had even OBSTINATE himself but felt what I have felt of the powersand terrors of what is yet unseen, he would not thus lightly have given us the back.

Pli. Come, neighbour CHRISTIAN, since there is none but us two here, tellme now further 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 mytongue: 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.

"In hope of eternal life, which God, thatcannot lie, promised before the world began;"
~ Titus 1:2 ~

Pli. Well said. What things are they?

Chr. There is an endless kingdom to be inhabited; and everlasting life tobe given us, that we may inhabit that kingdom for ever.

"For, behold, I create new heavens and anew earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind."
~ Isaiah 65:17 ~

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give untothem eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluckthem out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; andno man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."
~ John 10:27-29 ~

Pli. Well said. And what else?

Chr. There are crowns of glory to be given us; and garments that will makeus shine like the sun in the firmament of heaven.

"Then shall the righteous shine forth asthe sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."
~ Matthew 13:43 ~

"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord,the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto allthem also that love his appearing."
~ 2 Timothy 4:8 ~

"Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments;and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy."
~ Revelation 3:4 ~

Pli. That is very pleasant. And what else?

Chr. There shall be no more crying nor sorrow; for he that is owner of theplace will wipe all tears from our eyes.

"He will swallow up death in victory; andthe Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his peopleshall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it."
~ Isaiah 25:8 ~

"They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun lighton them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feedthem, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe awayall tears from their eyes."
~ Revelation 7:16, 17 ~

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no moredeath, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for theformer things are passed away."
~ Revelation 21:4 ~

Pli. And what company shall we have there?

Chr. There we shall be with seraphim and cherubim, creatures that will dazzleyour eyes to look on them.

"In the year that king Uzziah died I sawalso the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled thetemple."
~ Isaiah 6:1 ~

"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voiceof the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them inthe clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
~ 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 ~

"And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne andthe beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand,and thousands of thousands;"
~ Revelation 5:11 ~

There also you shall meet with thousands and ten thousands that have gone beforeus to that place. None of them are harmful, but loving and holy; everyone walkingin the sight of God, and standing in his presence with acceptance for ever. In aword, there we shall see the elders with their golden crowns;

"And round about the throne werefour and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothedin white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold."
~ Revelation 4:4 ~

there we shall see the holy virgins with their golden harps;

"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood onthe mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having hisFather's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as thevoice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voiceof harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before thethrone, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that songbut the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed fromthe earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins.These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemedfrom among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in theirmouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God."
~ Revelation 14:1-5 ~

there we shall see men that by the word were cut in pieces, burnt in flames, eatenof beasts, drowned in the seas, for the love that they bore to the Lord of the place--allwell, and clothed with immortality as with a garment.

"He that loveth his life shall lose it;and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal."
~ John 12:25 ~

"For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our housewhich is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. Forwe that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we wouldbe unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life."
~ 2 Corinthians 5:2-4 ~

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

Chr. The Lord, the governor of the country, hath recorded it in this book;the substance of which is, if we be truly willing to have it, he will bestow it uponus freely.

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye tothe waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wineand milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for thatwhich is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearkendiligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delightitself in fatness."
~ Isaiah 55:1-2 ~

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me Iwill in no wise cast out."
~ John 6:37 ~

"And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and theend. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely."
~ Revelation 21:6 ~

"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come.And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of lifefreely."
~ Revelation 22:17 ~

Pli. Well, my good companion, glad am I to hear of these things: come on,let us mend our pace.

Chr. I cannot go so fast as I would, by reason of this burden that is on myback.



The Slough of Despond

Now I saw in my dream that, just as they had ended this talk, they drew near to avery miry slough that was in the midst of the plain; and they being heedless, didboth 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! neighbour CHRISTIAN, where are you now?"

Chr. "Truly," said CHRISTIAN, "I do not know."

Pli. At that PLIABLE began to be offended, and angrily said to his fellow,"Is this the happiness you have told me of all this while? If we have such illspeed at our first setting out, what may we expect 'twixt this and our journey'send? If I get out again with my life, you shall possess the brave country alone."And with that he gave a desperate struggle or two, and got out of the mire on thatside of the slough which was next to his own house: so away he went, and CHRISTIANsaw him no more.

Wherefore CHRISTIAN was left to tumble in the Slough of Despond alone; but stillhe endeavoured to struggle to that side of the slough that was farthest from hisown house, and next to the wicket gate: which he did, but could not get out, becauseof the burden that was upon his back. But I beheld, in my dream, that a man cameto him whose name was HELP, and asked him what he did there?

Chr. "Sir," said CHRISTIAN, "I was bidden to go this way bya man called EVANGELIST, who directed me also to yonder gate, that I might escapethe wrath to come; and as I was going thither, I fell in here."

Help. But why did you not 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 thy hand." So he gave him his hand,and he drew him out; and set him upon some ground, and bade him go on his way.

"He brought me up also out of an horriblepit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established mygoings."
~ Psalm 40:2 ~

Then I stepped to him that plucked him out, and said, "Sir, wherefore, sinceover this place is the way from the city of Destruction to yonder gate, is it thatthis 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 dothcontinually run; and therefore it is called the Slough of Despond. For still, asthe sinner is awakened about his lost condition, there arises in his soul many fearsand doubts, and discouraging apprehensions, which all of them get together, and settlein 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;

"Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirmthe feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fearnot: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God witha recompence; he will come and save you."
~ Isaiah 35:3, 4 ~

his labourers also have, by the directions of his Majesty's surveyors, been for abovethis sixteen hundred years employed about this patch of ground to see if perhapsit might have been mended: yea, and to my knowledge," said he, "here havebeen swallowed up at least twenty thousand cartloads, yea, millions, of wholesomeinstructions. The cartloads have, at all season, been brought from all places ofthe King's dominions (and they that can tell say they are the best materials to makegood ground of the place), if so be it might have been mended. But it is the Sloughof 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 substantialsteps placed evenly through the very midst of this slough; but at such times as thisplace does spew out its filth, as it doth against change of weather, these stepsare hardly seen; or, if they be, men, through the dizziness of their heads, stepbeside, and then they are bemired to purpose, notwithstanding the steps be there;but the ground is good when they have once got in at the gate".

"Moreover as for me, God forbid that I shouldsin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good andthe right way:"
~ 1 Samuel 12:23 ~

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



Mr. Worldly Wiseman

Now as CHRISTIAN was walking solitarily by himself, he spied one afar off come crossingover the field to meet him and their hap was to meet just as they were crossing theway of each other. The gentleman's name that met him was Mr. WORLDLY WISEMAN: hedwelt in the town of Carnal Policy; a very great town, and also hard by from whenceCHRISTIAN came. This man, then, meeting with CHRISTIAN, and having some inkling ofhim--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 someother places-- Master WORLDLY WISEMAN, therefore, having some guess of him, by beholdinghis laborious going, by observing his sighs and groans and the like, began thus toenter into some talk with CHRISTIAN.

Worldly Wiseman. How now, good fellow?--whither away after this burdened manner?

Chr. A burdened manner indeed, as ever, I think, poor creature had! And whereasyou asked me, Whither away? I tell you, sir, I am going to yonder wicket gate beforeme; for there, as I am informed, I shall be put into a way to be rid of my heavyburden.

W. Wise. Hast thou a wife and children?

Chr. Yes; but I am so laden with this burden, that I cannot take that pleasurein them as formerly: methinks I am as if I had none.

"But this I say, brethren, the time isshort: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;"
~ 1 Corinthians 7:29 ~

W. Wise. 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.

W. Wise. I would advise thee, then, that thou with all speed get thyself ridof thy burden: for thou wilt never be settled in thy mind till then: nor canst thouenjoy the benefits of the blessing which God hath bestowed upon thee till then.

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

W. Wise. Who bade you go this way to be rid of your burden?

Chr. A man that appeared to me to be a very great and honourable person; hisname, as I remember, is EVANGELIST.

W. Wise. Avoid him for his counsel! There is not a more dangerous and troublesomeway in the world than is that unto which he hath directed thee; and that thou shaltfind if thou wilt be ruled by his counsel. Thou hast met with something, as I perceivealready; for I see the dirt of the Slough of Despond upon thee; but that slough isthe only beginning of the sorrows that do attend those that go on in that way. Hearme--I am older than thou: thou art likely 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 beenconfirmed by many testimonies. And why should a man so carelessly cast away himselfby giving heed to a stranger?

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

W. Wise. How camest thou by thy burden at first?

Chr. By reading this book in my hand.

W. Wise. 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 has done thee), butthey run them upon desperate ventures, to obtain they know not what.

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

W. Wise. But why wilt thou seek for ease this way, seeing so many dangersattend it? Especially since, hadst thou but patience to hear me, I could direct theeto 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, thatinstead of those dangers, thou shalt meet with much safety, friendship, and content.

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

W. Wise. Why, in yonder village (the village is named Morality) there dwellsa gentleman whose name is LEGALITY, a very judicious man, and a man of a very goodname, that has skill to help men off with such burdens as thine are from their shoulders;yea, to my knowledge, he hath done a great deal of good this way: 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 quitea mile from this place; and if he should not be at home himself, he hath a prettyyoung man, his son, whose name is CIVILITY, that can do it as well as the old gentlemanhimself. There, I say, thou mayest be eased of thy burden; and if thou art not mindedto go back to thy former habitation, as indeed I would not wish thee, thou mayestsend for thy wife and children to come to thee to this village, where there are housesnow stand empty, one of which thou mayest have at reasonable rates: provision isthere also cheap and good; and that which will make thy life the more happy is thereto be sure, for thou shalt live by honest neighbours, in credit and good fashion.

Now was CHRISTIAN somewhat at a stand; but presently he concluded, "If thisbe true what this gentleman hath said, my wisest course is to take his advice;"and with that he thus further spoke.

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

W. Wise. Do you see yonder high hill? (Mount Sinai.)

Chr. Yes, very well.

W. Wise. By that hill you must go, and the first house you come to 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 the side of itthat was next the wayside did hang so much over, that CHRISTIAN was afraid to venturefarther, lest the hill should fall on his head; wherefore there he stood still, andknew not what to do. Also his burden now seemed heavier to him than while he wasin his way. There came also flashes of fire out of the hill, that made CHRISTIANafraid that he should be burned:

"And it came to pass on the third day inthe morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon themount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that wasin the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meetwith God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogetheron a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascendedas the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly."
~ Exodus 19:16-18 ~

here, therefore, he sweat and did quake for fear.

"And so terrible was the sight, thatMoses said, I exceedingly fear and quake"
~ Hebrews 12:21 ~

And now he began to be sorry that he had taken Mr. WORLDLY WISEMAN'S counsel. Andwith that he saw EVANGELIST coming to meet him; at the sight also of whom he beganto blush for shame. So EVANGELIST drew nearer and nearer; and coming up to him, helooked upon him with a severe and dreadful countenance, and thus began to reasonwith CHRISTIAN.



The Only Way

Evan. "What dost thou here, CHRISTIAN?" said he. At which wordsCHRISTIAN knew not what to answer; wherefore at present he stood speechless beforehim. Then said EVANGELIST further, "Art not thou the man that I found cryingoutside 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, that thou art so quickly turned aside? for thou artnow 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 takeoff my burden.

Evan. What was he?

Chr. He looked like a gentleman, and talked much to me, and got me at lastto yield; so I came hither: but when I beheld this hill, and how it hangs over theway, 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 loadedwith the burden that is on my back, that I cannot take pleasure in them as formerly.

Evan. And what said he then?

Chr. He bade me with speed get rid of my burden; and I told him it was easethat I sought. And, said I, I am therefore going to yonder gate to receive furtherdirection how I may get to the place of deliverance. So he said that he would showme a better way, and short, not so attended with difficulties as the way, sir, thatyou set me in; this short way, said he, will direct you to a gentleman's house thathas skill to take off these burdens. So I believed him, and turned out of that wayinto 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 nowknow not what to do.

Evan. Then said EVANGELIST, "Stand still a little, that I may show theethe words of God." So he stood trembling. Then said EVANGELIST, "See thatye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spakeon earth, much more shall we not escape, if we turn away from him that speaks fromheaven".

"See that ye refuse not him that speaketh.For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall notwe escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:"
~ Hebrews 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".

"Now the just shall live by faith: but ifany man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."
~ Hebrews 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 footfrom the way of peace, even almost to the hazarding of thy perdition."

Then CHRISTIAN fell down at his foot as dead, crying, "Woe is me, for I am undone!"At the sight of which, EVANGELIST caught him by the right hand, saying, "Allmanner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: be not faithless, but believing".

"Wherefore I say unto you, All manner ofsin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against theHoly Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men."
~ Matthew 12:31 ~

"Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; andreach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, butbelieving."
~ John 20:27 ~

Then did CHRISTIAN again a little revive, and stood up trembling, as at first, beforeEVANGELIST.

Then EVANGELIST proceeded, saying, "Give more earnest heed to the things thatI shall tell thee of. I will now show thee who it was that deluded thee, and whoit was also to whom he sent thee. The man that met thee is one WORLDLY WISEMAN: andrightly is he so called; partly because he savours only the doctrine of this world

"They are of the world: therefore speakthey of the world, and the world heareth them."
~ 1 John 4:5 ~

(therefore he always goes to the town of Morality to Church) and partly because heloves that doctrine best, for it saves him from the cross;

"As many as desire to make a fair shew inthe flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecutionfor the cross of Christ."
~ Galations 6:12 ~

and because he is of this carnal temper, therefore he seeks to pervert my ways, thoughright. Now there are three things in this man's counsel that thou must utterly abhor:

"1. His turning thee out of the way.
"2. His labouring to render the cross odious to thee.
"3. And his setting thy feet in that way that leads unto the administrationof death.

"First, thou, must abhor turning thee out of the Way-- yea, and thine own consentingthereto; because this is to reject the counsel of God for the sake of the counselof a Worldly Wiseman. The Lord says, 'Strive to enter in at the strait gate',

"Strive to enter in at the strait gate:for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."
~ Luke 13:24 ~

--the gate to which I sent thee; 'for strait is the gate that leads unto life, andfew there be that find it'.

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wideis the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, andmany there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrowis the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
~ Matthew 7:13, 14 ~

From this little Wicket gate, and from the way thereto, hath this wicked man turnedthee, to the bringing of thee almost to destruction. Hate, therefore, his turningthee out of the way; and abhor thyself for hearkening to him.

"Secondly, thou must abhor his labouring to render the cross odious unto thee;for thou art to prefer it before the treasures in Egypt.

"Esteeming the reproach of Christ greaterriches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of thereward."
~ Hebrews 11:26 ~

Besides, the King of Glory hath told thee, that he that will save his life shalllose it; and, he that comes after him, and hates not his father, and mother, andwife and children, his brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannotbe his disciple.

"He that findeth his life shall lose it:and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."
~ Matthew 10:39 ~

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose hislife for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it."
~ Mark 8:35 ~

"If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife,and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot bemy disciple."
~ Luke 14:26 ~

"He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in thisworld shall keep it unto life eternal."
~ John 12:25 ~

I say, therefore, for man to labour to persuade thee that that shall be thy death,without which, the Truth hath said, thou canst not have eternal life-- this doctrinethou must abhor.

"Thirdly, thou must hate his setting of thy feet in the way that leadeth tothe 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 thebondwoman who now is, and is in bondage with her children;

"For it is written, that Abraham had twosons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of thebondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mountSinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai inArabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written,Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailestnot: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband."
~ Galations 4:22-27 ~

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 bemade 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 cannotbe justified by the works of the law; for by the deeds of the law no man living canbe rid of his burden. Therefore Mr. WORLDLY WISEMAN is an alien, and Mr. LEGALITYis a cheat; and for his son CIVILITY, notwithstanding his simpering looks, he isbut a hypocrite, and cannot help thee. Believe me, there is nothing in all his noisethat thou hast heard of these sottish men, but at design to beguile thee of thy salvation,by turning thee from the way in which I had set thee." After this, EVANGELISTcalled aloud to the heavens for confirmation of what he had said; and with that therecame words and fire out of the mountain under which poor CHRISTIAN stood, that madethe hair of his flesh stand up. The words were thus pronounced: "As many asare of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is everyonethat continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them".

"For as many as are of the works of thelaw are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continuethnot in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them."
~ Galations 3:10 ~

Now CHRISTIAN looked for nothing but death, and began to cry out lamentably; evencursing the time in which he met with Mr. WORLDLY WISEMAN, still calling himselfa thousand fools for hearkening to his counsel. He also was greatly ashamed to thinkthat this gentleman's arguments, flowing only from the flesh, should have that prevalencywith him as to cause him to forsake the right way. This done, he applied himselfagain to EVANGELIST in words and sense as follows:

Chr. Sir, what think you?--Is there any hope? May I now go back, and go upto the Wicket gate? Shall I not be abandoned for this, and sent back from thenceashamed? 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 itthou hast committed two evils: thou hast forsaken the way that is good, to treadin forbidden paths; yet will the man at the gate receive thee, for he has good willfor men; only," said he, "take heed that thou turn not aside again, lestthou perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little".

"Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and yeperish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed areall they that put their trust in him."
~ Psalm 2:12 ~

Then did CHRISTIAN address himself to go back; and EVANGELIST, after he had kissedhim, gave him one smile, and bade him Godspeed.



Goodwill: The Keeper of the Wicket Gate

So he went on with haste, neither spake he to any man by the way; nor, if any askedhim, would he vouchsafe them an answer. He went like one that was all the while treadingon forbidden ground, and could by no means think himself safe, till again he wasgot into the way which he left to follow Mr. WORLDLY WISEMAN'S counsel. So, in processof time, CHRISTIAN got up to the gate. Now, over the gate there was written, "Knock;and it shall be opened unto you".

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, andye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:"
~ Matthew 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 wasthere? 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 ifyou are willing to let me in.

Goodwill. "I am willing, with all my heart," said he. And with thathe 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 thisgate there is erected a strong castle, of which Beelzebub is the captain; from thenceboth he and them that are with him shoot arrows at those that come up to this gate,if haply they may die before they can enter in." Then said CHRISTIAN, "Irejoice and tremble." So when he was got in, the man of the gate asked him whodirected him thither.

Chr. EVANGELIST bade me come hither and knock, as I did; and he said thatyou, sir, would tell me what I must do.

Goodw. An open door is before thee; and no man can shut it.

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

Goodw. But how is it that you came alone?

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

Goodw. Did any of them know of your coming?

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

Goodw. 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 notprevail, OBSTINATE went railing back; but PLIABLE came with me a little way.

Goodw. 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 neighbour PLIABLE discouraged,and would not adventure farther. Wherefore, getting out again on that side next tohis own house, he told me I should possess the brave country alone for him: so hewent his way, and I came mine; he after OBSTINATE, and I to this gate.

Goodw. Then said GOODWILL, "Alas, poor man! Is the celestial glory ofso small esteem with him, that he counts it not worth running the hazard of a fewdifficulties 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'twixt him and myself. 'Tis true he went back to his own house; but I also turnedaside to go in the way of death, being persuaded thereto by the carnal argumentsof one Mr. WORLDLY WISEMAN."

Goodw. Oh, did he light upon you? What! he would have had you seek for easeat the hands of Mr. LEGALITY, they are each of them a very cheat. But did you takehis counsel?

Chr. Yes, as far as I dared. I went to find out Mr. LEGALITY, until I thoughtthat the mountain that stands by his house would have fallen upon my head; whereforethere I was forced to stop.

Goodw. That mountain has been the death of many, and will be the death ofmany more: 'tis well you escaped being by it dashed in pieces.

Chr. Why, truly I do not know what had become of me there, had not EVANGELISThappily met me again as I was musing in the midst of my dumps; but 'twas God's mercythat he came to me again, for else I had never come hither. But now I am come, sucha one as I am, more fit indeed for death by that mountain, than thus to stand talkingwith my lord. But oh, what a favour is this to me, that yet I am admitted entrancehere!

Goodw. We make no objections against any; notwithstanding all that they havedone before they come hither, they in no wise are cast out

"All that the Father giveth me shall cometo me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."
~ John 6:37 ~

and, therefore, good CHRISTIAN, come a little way with me, and I will teach theeabout the way thou must go. Look before thee: dost thou see this narrow way? thatis the way thou must go. It was cast up by the patriarchs, prophets, Christ, andhis apostles; and it is as straight as a rule can make it: this is the way thou mustgo.

Chr. "But," said CHRISTIAN, "are there no turnings nor windings,by which a stranger may lose his way?"

Goodw. Yes, there are many ways butt down upon this, and they are crookedand wide: but thus thou mayest distinguish the right from the wrong, the right onlybeing strait and narrow.

"Because strait is the gate, andnarrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
~ Matthew 7:14 ~

Then I saw in my dream that CHRISTIAN asked him further if he could not help himoff 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 theplace 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 when he was gone some distance from the gate, he wouldcome at the house of the INTERPRETER, at whose door he should knock, and he wouldshow him excellent things. Then CHRISTIAN took his leave of his friend; and he againbade him Godspeed.



The Interpreter

Then he went on till he came at the house of the INTERPRETER, where he knocked overand over; at last one came to the door, and asked who was there?

Chr. Sir, here is a traveller, who was bidden by an acquaintance of the goodman of the house to call here for my profit: I would therefore speak with the masterof 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 has come fromthe city of Destruction, and am going to the Mount Zion; and I was told by the manthat stands at the gate at the head of this way, that if I called here you wouldshow me excellent things, such as would be helpful to me in my journey."

Interpreter. Then said the INTERPRETER, "Come in; I will show thee thatwhich will be profitable to thee." So he commanded his man to light the candle,and bade CHRISTIAN follow him: so he led him into a private room, and bade his manopen a door; the which when he had done, CHRISTIAN saw the picture of a very graveperson hung up against the wall; and this was the fashion of it: it had eyes liftedup to heaven, the best of books in his hand, the law of truth was written upon hislips, the world was behind his back; he stood as if he pleaded with men, and a crownof gold did hang over his head.

Chr. Then said CHRISTIAN, "What means this?"

Inter. The man whose picture this is, is one of a thousand: he can beget children;

"For though ye have ten thousand instructorsin Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begottenyou through the gospel."
~ 1 Corinthians 4:15 ~

travail in birth with children;

"My little children, of whom I travail inbirth again until Christ be formed in you,"
~ Galations 4:19 ~

and nurse them himself when they are born.

"I have fed you with milk, and not withmeat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able."
~ 1 Corinthians 3:2 ~

And whereas thou seest him with his eyes lifted up to heaven, the best of books inhis hand, and the law of truth writ on his lips; it is to show thee that his workis to know and unfold dark things to sinners; even as also thou seest him stand asif he pleaded with men: and whereas thou seest the world as cast behind him, andthat a crown hangs over his head; that is to show thee, that, slighting and despisingthe things that are present, for the love that he hath to his Master's service, heis sure in the world that comes next to have glory for his reward. Now, said theINTERPRETER, I have showed thee this picture first, because the man whose picturethis is, is the only man whom the Lord of the place whither thou art going hath authorizedto 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 hastseen, lest in thy journey thou meet with some that pretend to lead thee aright, buttheir way goes down to death.

Then he took him by the hand, and led him into a very large parlour that was fullof dust, because never swept; the which, after he had reviewed a little while, theINTERPRETER called for a man to sweep. Now, when he began to sweep, the dust beganso abundantly to fly about, that CHRISTIAN had almost therewith been choked. Thensaid the INTERPRETER to a damsel that stood by, "Bring hither the water, andsprinkle the room;" the which, when she had done, it was swept and cleansedwith pleasure.

Chr. Then said CHRISTIAN, "What means this?"

Inter. The INTERPRETER answered, "This parlour is the heart of a manthat was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the gospel: the dust is his originalsin and inward corruptions, that have defiled the whole man. He that began to sweepat 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 didso fly about, that the room by him could not be cleansed, but that thou wast almostchoked therewith: this is to show thee that the law, instead of cleansing the heart,by its working, from sin, doth revive, put strength into, and increase it in thesoul, even as it doth discover and forbid it; for it doth not give power to subdue.

"Moreover the law entered, that the offencemight abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:"
~ Romans 5:20 ~

"For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived,and I died."
~ Romans 7:9 ~

"The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law."
~ 1 Corinthians 15:56 ~

"Again, as thou sawest the damsel sprinkle the room with water, upon which itwas cleansed with pleasure (ease)--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 thousawest the damsel lay the dust by sprinkling the floor with water, so is sin vanquishedand subdued; and the soul made clean through the faith of it, and consequently fitfor the King of Glory to inhabit.

"Now ye are clean through the word whichI have spoken unto you."
~ John 15:3 ~

"And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith."
~ Acts 15:9 ~

"Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and thepreaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which waskept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scripturesof the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made knownto all nations for the obedience of faith:"
~ Romans 16:25, 26 ~

"That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word"
~ Ephesians 5:26 ~

I saw, moreover, in my dream, that the INTERPRETER took him by the hand, and hadhim into a little room, where sat two little children, each one in his chair. Thename of the eldest was PASSION, and the name of the other PATIENCE. PASSION seemedto be much discontented; but PATIENCE was very quiet. Then CHRISTIAN asked, "Whatis the reason of the discontent of PASSION?" The INTERPRETER answered, "Thegovernor of them would have him stay for his best things till the beginning of thenext 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 pouredit down at his feet: the which he took up and rejoiced therein, and withal laughedPATIENCE to scorn. But I beheld but awhile, and he had lavished all away, and hadnothing left him but rags.

Chr. Then said CHRISTIAN to the INTERPRETER, "Expound this matter morefully to me."

Inter. So he said, "These two lads are figures: PASSION, of the men ofthis world; and PATIENCE, of the men of that which is to come. For as here thou seestPASSION will have all now this year, that is to say, in this world; so are the menof this world: they must have all their good things now; they cannot stay till nextyear, that is, until the next world, for their portion of good. That proverb, 'Abird in the hand is worth two in the bush,' is of more authority with them than areall the divine testimonies of the good of the world to come. But as thou sawest thathe had quickly lavished all away, and had presently left him nothing but rags--sowill 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 alsobecause he will have the glory of his, when the other hath nothing but rags."

Inter. Nay, you may add another, to wit, the glory of the next world willnever wear out; but these are suddenly gone. Therefore PASSION had not so much reasonto laugh at PATIENCE, because he had his good things first, as PATIENCE will haveto laugh at PASSION, because he had his best things last; for first must give placeto 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 musthave a time to spend it: but he that has his portion last must have it lastingly.Therefore it is said of Dives, "In thy lifetime thou received thy good things,and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented".

"But Abraham said, Son, remember that thouin thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: butnow he is comforted, and thou art tormented."
~ Luke 16:25 ~

Chr. Then I perceive 'tis not best to covet things that are now, but waitfor things to come.

Inter. You say truth: "For the things that are seen are temporal; butthe things that are not seen are eternal".

"While we look not at the things which areseen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen aretemporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
~ 2 Corinthians 4:18 ~

But, though this be so, yet since things present and our fleshly appetite are suchnear neighbours one to another; and again, because things to come and carnal senseare such strangers one to another: therefore it is that the first of these so suddenlyfall into amity, and that distance is so continually between the second.

Then I saw in my dream that the INTERPRETER took CHRISTIAN by the hand, and led himinto a place where was a fire burning against a wall, and one standing by it alwayscasting much water upon it to quench it; yet did the fire burn higher and hotter.

Chr. Then said CHRISTIAN, "What means this?"

Inter. The INTERPRETER answered, "This fire is the work of grace thatis 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 shall also see the reason of that." So he had him about to the backsideof the wall, where he saw a man with a vessel of oil in his hand, of the which hedid also continually cast, but secretly, into the fire.

Chr. Then said CHRISTIAN, "What means this?"

Inter. The INTERPRETER answered, "This is Christ, who continually withthe oil of his grace maintains the work already begun in the heart: by the meansof which, notwithstanding what the devil can do, the souls of his people prove graciousstill.

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficientfor thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore willI rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
~ 2 Corinthians 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 graceis maintained in the soul."



I saw also that the INTERPRETER took him again by the hand, and led him into a pleasantplace, where was builded a stately palace, beautiful to behold; at the sight of whichCHRISTIAN was greatly delighted: he saw also upon the top thereof certain personswalking, who were clothed all in gold.

Chr. Then said CHRISTIAN, "May we go in thither?"

Then the INTERPRETER took him and led him up toward the door of the palace; and behold,at the door stood a great company of men, as desirous to go in, but durst not. Therealso sat a man at a little distance from the door, at a table side, with a book andhis ink horn before him, to take the name of him that should enter therein: he sawalso that in the doorway stood many men in armour, to keep it, being resolved todo to the men that would enter what hurt and mischief they could. Now was CHRISTIANsomewhat amazed: 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 thereto write, saying, "Set down my name, sir"; the which when he had done,he saw the man draw his sword, and put a helmet upon his head, and rush toward thedoor upon the armed men, who laid upon him with deadly force; but the man not atall discouraged, fell to cutting and hacking most fiercely. So, after he had receivedand given many wounds to those that attempted to keep him out, he cut his way throughthem all, and pressed forward into the palace;

"Confirming the souls of the disciples,and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through muchtribulation enter into the kingdom of God."
~ Acts 14:22 ~

at which there was a pleasant voice heard from those that were within even of thosethat 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 smiledand 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 littlemore; and after that thou shall 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 theground; 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 himtalk with the man.

Chr. Then said CHRISTIAN to the man, "What art thou?"

Backslider. The man answered, "I am what I was not once."

Chr. What wast thou once?

Back. The man said, "I was once a fair and flourishing professor,
both in mine own eyes and also in the eyes of others: I once
was, as I thought, fair for the Celestial City, and had then even joy
at the thoughts that I should get thither."

"They on the rock are they, which,when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a whilebelieve, and in time of temptation fall away."
~ Luke 8:13 ~

Chr. Well, but what art thou now?

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

Chr. But how camest thou in this condition?

Back. I left off to watch and be sober; I laid the reins upon the neck ofmy lusts; I sinned against the Light of the World, and the goodness of God. I havegrieved the Spirit, and he is gone. I tempted the devil, and he is come to me. Ihave provoked God to anger, and he has left me. I have so hardened my heart, thatI cannot repent.

Then said CHRISTIAN to the INTERPRETER, "But is there no hope for such a manas this?" "Ask him," said the INTERPRETER.

Chr. Then said CHRISTIAN, "Is there no hope, but you must be kept inthe iron cage of despair?"

Back. No, none at all!

Chr. Why? The Son of the Blessed is very pitiful.

Back. I have crucified him to myself afresh;

"If they shall fall away, to renew themagain unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, andput him to an open shame."
~ Hebrews 6:6 ~

I have despised his person;

"But his citizens hated him, and sent amessage after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us."
~ Luke 19:14 ~

I have despised his righteousness; I have counted his blood an unholy thing; I havedone despite to the Spirit of grace:

"For if we sin wilfully after that we havereceived the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shalldevour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under twoor three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thoughtworthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood ofthe covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despiteunto the Spirit of grace?"
~ Hebrews 10:26-29 ~

therefore I have shut myself out of all the promises, and there now remains to menothing but threatenings--dreadful threatenings --fearful threatenings, of certainjudgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour me as an adversary.

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

Back. For the lusts, pleasures, and profits of this world; in the enjoymentof which I did then promise myself much delight; but now everyone of those thingsalso bite me and gnaw me like a burning worm.

Chr. But canst thou not now repent and turn?

Back. God hath denied me repentance. His Word gives me no encouragement tobelieve: yea, he himself hath shut me up in this iron cage; nor can all the men inthe world let me out. Oh, eternity! eternity! how shall I grapple with the miserythat I must meet with in eternity?

Inter. Then said the INTERPRETER to CHRISTIAN, "Let this man's miserybe remembered by thee, and be an everlasting caution to thee."

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

Inter. Tarry till I shall show thee one thing more, and then
thou shalt go on thy way.

So he took CHRISTIAN by the hand again, and led him into a chamber where there wasone rising out of bed; and as he put on his raiment, he shook and trembled. Thensaid CHRISTIAN, "Why doth this man thus tremble?" The INTERPRETER thenbade him tell to CHRISTIAN the reason of his so doing. So he began and said, "Thisnight, 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 whichI heard a great sound of a trumpet, and saw also a Man sit upon a cloud, attendedwith the thousands of heaven; they were all in flaming fire, also the heavens wereon 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 cameforth:

"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming,in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice"
~ John 5:28 ~

"Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among youthat there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of thedead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preachingvain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses ofGod; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised notup, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christraised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in yoursins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."
~ 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 ~

"For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia,but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we neednot to speak any thing."
~ 1 Thessalonians 1:8 ~



"To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly amongthem of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all theirhard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him."
~ Jude 15 ~

"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face theearth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I sawthe dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and anotherbook was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out ofthose things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the seagave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead whichwere in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And deathand hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."
~ Revelation 20:11-14 ~

some of them were exceeding glad, and looked upward; and some sought to hide themselvesunder the mountains: then I saw the Man that sat upon the cloud open the book andbid the world draw near.

"The mighty God, even the LORD, hathspoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall come, and shallnot keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuousround about him."
~ Psalm 50:1-3 ~

"For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants ofthe earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shallno more cover her slain."
~ Isaiah 26:21 ~

"The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall laytheir hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf. They shall lickthe dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth:they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee."
~ Micah 7:16, 17 ~

Yet there was by reason of a fierce flame that issued out and came before him, aconvenient distance betwixt him and them, as betwixt the judge and the prisonersat the bar.

"I beheld till the thrones were cast down,and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and thehair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame,and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forthfrom before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times tenthousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened."
~ Daniel 7:9, 10 ~

"But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth?for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purifythe sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto theLORD an offering in righteousness."
~ Malachi 3:2, 3 ~

I heard it also proclaimed to them that attended the Man that sat on the cloud, 'Gathertogether the tares, the chaff and stubble, and cast them into the burning lake:

"Whose fan is in his hand, and hewill throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he willburn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
~ Matthew 3:12 ~

"Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I willsay to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundlesto burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn."
~ Matthew 13:30 ~

"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud,yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burnthem up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch."
~ Malachi 4:1 ~

and with that the bottomless pit opened just whereabout I stood; out of the mouthof which there came, in an abundant manner, smoke, and coals of fire, with hideousnoises. It was also said to the same persons, 'Gather my wheat into the garner'.

"Whose fan is in his hand, and hewill throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but thechaff he will burn with fire unquenchable."
~ Luke 3:17 ~

And with that I saw many caught up and carried away into the clouds;

"For the Lord himself shall descend fromheaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God:and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remainshall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
~ 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 ~

but I was left behind. I also sought to hide myself, but I could not, for the Manthat 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.

"For when the Gentiles, which have not thelaw, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, area law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, theirconscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusingor else excusing one another"
~ Romans 2:14-15 ~

Upon this I waked from my sleep."

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

Unready. Why, I thought that the Day of Judgment was come, and that I wasnot 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. Myconscience, too, afflicted me; and, as I thought, the Judge had always his eye uponme, 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 inthy sides, to prick thee forward in the way thou must go. Then CHRISTIAN began togird 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 waythat 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 Cross

Now I saw in my dream, that the highway up which CHRISTIAN was to go was fenced oneither side with a wall; and that wall was called "Salvation".

"In that day shall this song be sung inthe land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint forwalls and bulwarks."
~ 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 stooda Cross, and a little below, in the bottom, a sepulchre. So I saw in my dream, thatjust as CHRISTIAN came up to 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 cameto 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 awhile to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him,that the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his burden. He looked therefore,and looked again, even till the springs that were in his head sent the waters downhis cheeks.

"And I will pour upon the house of David,and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications:and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him,as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him,as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."
~ Zechariah 12:10 ~

Now, as he stood looking and weeping, behold three shining ones came to him, andsaluted him with, "Peace be to thee!" so the first said to him, "Thysins be forgiven thee";

"When Jesus saw their faith, he said untothe sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee."
~ Mark 2:5 ~

the second stripped him of his rags, and clothed him with change of raiment;

"And he answered and spake unto those thatstood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him hesaid, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe theewith change of raiment."
~ Zechariah 3:4 ~

the third also set a mark in his forehead, and gave him a roll with a seal upon it,

"In whom ye also trusted, after thatye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after thatye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise"
~ Ephesians 1:13 ~

which he bade him look on as he ran, and that he should give it in at the CelestialGate: so they went their way. Then CHRISTIAN gave three leaps for joy, and went onsinging:

"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!"


Simple, Sloth and Presumption

I saw then in my dream that he went on thus even until he came at the bottom, wherehe saw, a little out of the way, three men fast asleep, with fetters upon their heels.The name of the one was SIMPLE, another SLOTH, and the third PRESUMPTION.

CHRISTIAN then seeing them lie in this case, went to them, if peradventure he mightawake them, and cried, "You are like them that sleep on the top of a mast, forthe Dead Sea is under you, a gulf that hath no bottom.

"Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth downin the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast."
~ Proverbs 23:34 ~

Awake therefore, and come away; be willing also, and I will help you off with yourirons." He also told them, "If he that goes about like a roaring lion comesby, you will certainly become a prey to his teeth".

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversarythe devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"
~ 1 Peter 5:8 ~

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

Simple said, "I see no danger."

Sloth said, "Yet a little more sleep."

And Presumption said, "Every vat must stand upon its own bottom."

And so they lay down to sleep again; and CHRISTIAN went on his way.



Formalist and Hypocrisy

Yet was he troubled to think, that men in that danger should so little esteem thekindness of him that so freely offered to help them: both by awakening of them, counsellingof them, and proffering to help them off with their irons. And as he was troubledthereabout, he espied two men come tumbling over the wall, on the left hand of thenarrow way, and they made up apace to him. The name of the one was FORMALIST, andthe name of the other HYPOCRISY. So, as I said, they drew up unto him, who thus enteredwith them into discourse.

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

Formalist and Hypocrisy. We were born in the land of Vain-glory, and are goingfor praise to Mount Zion.

Chr. Why came you not in at the gate which stands at the beginning of theway? Know you not that it is written, that "he that enters not in by the door,but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber?"

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He thatentereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, thesame 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 theircountrymen counted too far about; and that therefore their usual way was to makea 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 whitherwe are bound, thus to violate his revealed will?

Form. and Hyp. They told him that, as for that, he needed not to trouble hishead thereabout; for what they did they had custom for, and could produce, if needwere, testimony that would witness it, for more than a thousand years.

Chr. "But," said CHRISTIAN, "will your practice stand a trialat law?"

Form. and Hyp. They told him, that custom, it being of so long a standingas above a thousand years, would doubtless now be admitted as a thing legal by anyimpartial judge. And besides, said they, so be we get into the way, what's matterwhich way we get in? If we are in, we are in: thou art but in the way, who, as weperceive, came in at the gate; and we are also in the way, that came tumbling overthe 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 yourfancies. You are counted thieves already by the Lord of the way, therefore I doubtyou will not be found true men at the end of the way. You come in by yourselves withouthis direction, and shall go by yourselves without his mercy.

To this they made but little answer, only they bid him look to himself. Then I sawthat 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 doubtednot but they should as conscientiously do them as he. "Therefore," saidthey, "we see not wherein thou differest from us, but by the coat that is onthy back; which was, as we think, given thee by some of thy neighbours to hide theshame of thy nakedness."

Chr. By laws and ordinances you will not be saved, since you came not in bythe door.

"Knowing that a man is not justified bythe works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed inJesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the worksof the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
~ Galations 2:16 ~

And as for this coat that is on my back, it was given me by the Lord of the placewhither I go; and that, as you say, to cover my nakedness with. And I take it asa token of his kindness to me, for I had nothing but rags before. And besides, thusI comfort myself as I go: Surely, think I, when I come to the gate of the city, theLord thereof will know me for good, since I have his coat on my back, a coat thathe gave me freely in the day that he stripped me of my rags. I have, moreover, amark in my forehead, of which, perhaps, you have taken no notice, which one of myLord's most intimate associates fixed there in the day that my burden fell off myshoulders. I will tell you, moreover, that I had then given me a roll sealed, tocomfort me by reading as I go in the way; I was also bidden to give it in at theCelestial Gate, in token of my certain going in after it: all which things I doubtyou 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 all went on, save that CHRISTIAN kept before, who had no moretalk but with himself, and that sometimes sighingly, and sometimes comfortably; alsohe would be often reading in the roll that one of the shining ones gave him, by whichhe 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 was a spring. There were also in the same place two otherways 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 rightup the hill (and the name of the going up the side of the hill is called Difficulty).CHRISTIAN now went to the spring, and drank thereof to refresh himself;

"They shall not hunger nor thirst; neithershall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them,even by the springs of water shall he guide them."
~ Isaiah 49:10 ~

and then began to go up the hill, saying:

"This 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 hillwas steep and high, and that there were two other ways to go; and supposing alsothat these two ways might meet again with that up which CHRISTIAN went, on the otherside of the hill, therefore they were resolved to go in those ways (now the nameof 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 widefield full of dark mountains, where he stumbled and fell, and rose no more.


Timorous and Mistrust

I looked then after CHRISTIAN, to see him go up the hill, when I perceived he fellfrom 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 hillwas a pleasant arbour, made by the Lord of the hill, for the refreshment of wearytravellers. Thither, therefore, CHRISTIAN got, where also he sat down to rest. Thenhe pulled his roll out of his bosom, and read therein to his comfort; he also nowbegan afresh to take a review of the coat or garment that was given him as he stoodby the cross. Thus pleasing himself awhile, he at last fell into a slumber, and thenceinto a fast sleep which detained him in that place until it was almost night, andin his sleep his roll fell out of his hand. Now as he was sleeping, there came oneto him, and awaked him, saying, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard: consider herways, and be wise".

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; considerher ways, and be wise:"
~ Proverbs 6:6 ~

And with that, CHRISTIAN suddenly started up, and sped him on his way, and went apacetill 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 againsthim furiously. The name of the one was TIMOROUS, and the name 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 upthat difficult place; "but," said he, "the farther we go, the moredanger we meet with: wherefore we turned, and are going back again."

Mistrust. "Yes," said MISTRUST; "for just before us lie a coupleof 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 flyto be safe? If I go back to mine own country, that is prepared for fire and brimstone--andI shall certainly perish there! If I can get to the celestial city, I am sure tobe in safety there. I must venture: to go back is nothing but death; to go forwardis fear of death, and life everlasting beyond it! I will yet go forward!



Sleep in the Daytime

So MISTRUST and TIMOROUS ran down the hill; and CHRISTIAN went on his way. But thinkingagain of what he heard from the men, he felt in his bosom for his roll, that he mightread therein, and be comforted; but he felt, and found it not. Then was CHRISTIANin great distress, and knew not what to do; for he wanted that which used to relievehim, 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 himselfthat he had slept in the arbour that is on the side of the hill: and falling downupon his knees, he asked God forgiveness for that his foolish act, and then wentback to look for his roll. But all the way he went back, who can sufficiently setforth the sorrow of CHRISTIAN'S heart? sometimes he sighed; sometimes he wept; andoften times he chided himself for being so foolish as 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 theway as he went, if happily he might find his roll, that had been his comfort so manytimes in his journey. He went thus till he came again within sight of the arbourwhere he sat and slept; but that sight renewed his sorrow the more, by bringing againeven afresh his evil of sleeping into his mind. Thus therefore, he now went on bewailinghis sinful sleep, saying, "Oh, wretched man that I am, that I should sleep inthe daytime! that I should sleep in the midst of difficulty!;

"For they that sleep sleep in the night;and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day,be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hopeof salvation."
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:7, 8 ~

"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thyfirst love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thefirst works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestickout of his place, except thou repent."
~ Revelation 2:4, 5 ~

that I should so indulge the flesh, as to use that rest for ease to my flesh, whichthe 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 theywere sent back again by the way of the Red Sea); and I am made to tread those stepswith sorrow, which I might have trod with delight, had it not been for this sinfulsleep. How far might I have been on my way by this time! I am made to tread thosesteps thrice over which I needed not to have trod but once: yea, now also I am liketo be benighted, for the day is almost spent. Oh that I had not slept!"

Now by this time he was come to the arbour again, where for a while he sat down andwept; but at last (as CHRISTIAN would have it) looking sorrowfully down under thesettle, there he espied his roll, the which he with trembling and haste caught up,and put into his bosom; but who can tell how joyful this man was when he had gottenhis roll again! For this roll was the assurance of his life and acceptance at thedesired haven. Therefore he laid it up in his bosom; gave thanks to God for directinghis eye to the place where it lay; and with joy and tears betook himself again tohis journey. But oh, how nimbly now did he go up the rest of the hill! Yet beforehe got up, the sun went down upon CHRISTIAN; and this made him again recall the vanityof his sleeping, and thus he again began to condole with himself: "Oh, thousinful sleep! how for thy sake am I like to be benighted in my journey! I must walkwithout the sun; darkness must cover the path of my feet; and I must hear the noiseof the doleful creatures-- because of my sinful sleep!" Now also he rememberedthe story that MISTRUST and TIMOROUS told him of--how they were frightened with thesight of the lions. Then said CHRISTIAN to himself again, "These beasts rangein the night for their prey; and if they should meet with me in the dark, how shouldI shift them? how should I escape being by them torn in pieces?" Thus he wenton his way; but while he was thus bewailing his unhappy miscarriage, he lift up hiseyes, and behold, there was a very stately palace before him, the name of which was"Beautiful," and it stood just by the highway side.


Entering the Palace "Beautiful"

So I saw in my dream that he made haste and went forward, that if possible he mightget lodging there. Now before he had gone far, he entered into a very narrow passage,which was about a furlong off of the porter's lodge; and, looking very narrowly beforehim as he went, he espied two lions in the way. Now, thought he, I see the dangersby which MISTRUST and TIMOROUS were driven back. (The lions were chained; but hesaw not the chains.) Then he was afraid, and thought also himself to go back afterthem; 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 goback, cried unto him, saying, "Is thy strength so small?

"And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful?how is it that ye have no faith?"
~ Mark 4:40 ~

fear not the lions; for they are chained, and are placed there for trial of faithwhere it is; and for discovery of those that have none: keep in the midst of thepath, and no hurt shall come unto thee!"

Then I saw that he went on, trembling for fear of the lions, but taking good heedto the directions of the porter. He heard them roar; but they did him no harm. Thenhe clapped his hands, and went on till he came and stood before the gate where theporter was. Then said CHRISTIAN to the porter, "Sir, what house is this? andmay I lodge here tonight?" The porter answered, "This house was built bythe 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; butbecause the sun is now set, I desire, if I may, to lodge here tonight.

Watchful, the Porter. What is your name?

Chr. My name is now CHRISTIAN; but my name at the first was GRACELESS: I cameof the race of Japheth, whom God will persuade to dwell in the tents of Shem.

"God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shalldwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant."
~ Genesis 9:27 ~

Watch. But how doth 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 bythe arbour that stands on the hillside. Nay, I had, notwithstanding that, been heremuch sooner, but that in my sleep I lost my evidence, and came without it to thebrow of the hill; and then, feeling for it, and finding it not, I was forced, withsorrow of heart, to go back to the place where I slept my sleep, where I found it,and now I am come.

Watch. Well, I will call out one of the virgins of this place, who will, ifshe likes your talk, bring you in to the rest of the family, according to the rulesof the house. So WATCHFUL the porter rang a bell; at the sound of which, came outat the door of the house a grave and beautiful damsel, named DISCRETION, and askedwhy she was called.

Watchful answered, "This man is in a journey from the city of Destructionto Mount Zion; but being weary and benighted, he asked me if he might lodge heretonight: 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."

Discretion. Then she asked him whence he was, and whither he was going: andhe told her. She asked him also how he got into the way: and he told her. Then sheasked him what he had seen and met with in the way: and he told her. And last, sheasked his name: so he said, "It is CHRISTIAN; and I have so much the more adesire to lodge here tonight, because, by what I perceive, this place was built bythe 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 willcall forth two or three more of the family." So she ran to the door, and calledout PRUDENCE, PIETY, and CHARITY, who, after a little more discourse with him, hadhim in to 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 ofthe 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 set down, they gavehim something to drink; and consented together that, until supper was ready, someof them should have some particular discourse with CHRISTIAN, for the best improvementof time: and they appointed PIETY, and PRUDENCE, and CHARITY, to discourse with him;and thus they began:


Piety

Piety. Come, good CHRISTIAN, since we have been so loving to you, as to receiveyou 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 inmine ears, to wit, that unavoidable destruction did attend me if I abode in thatplace 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 wastrembling and weeping), whose name is EVANGELIST, and he directed me to the Wicketgate, which else I should never have found; and so set me into the way that hathled 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 stickby me as long as I live; especially three things: to wit, How Christ in despite ofSatan, maintains his work of grace in the heart; how the man had sinned himself quiteout of hopes of God's mercy; and also the dream of him that thought in his sleepthe 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 hewas telling of it; but yet I am glad I heard it.

Piety. Was that all that you saw at the house of the INTERPRETER?

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

Piety. And what else saw you in the way?

Chr. Saw! Why I went but a little farther, and I saw One, as I thought inmy mind, hang bleeding upon the tree, and the very sight of him made the burden falloff my back (for I groaned under a weary burden), but then it fell down from offme. 'Twas a strange thing to me; for I never saw such a thing before. Yea, and whileI stood looking up (for then I could not forbear looking), three shining ones cameto me: one of them testified that my sins were forgiven; another stript me of myrags, and gave me this embroidered coat which you see; and the third set the markwhich you see in my forehead, and gave me this sealed roll (and with that he pluckedit 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 I saw some other smallmatters, as namely, I saw three men, SIMPLE, SLOTH, and PRESUMPTION, lie asleep alittle out of the way as I came, with irons upon their heels; but do you think Icould awake them! I saw also FORMALIST and HYPOCRISY come tumbling over the wall,to go, as they pretended, to Zion, but they were quickly lost; even as I myself didtell them, but they would not believe: but above all, I found it hard work to getup this hill, and as hard to come by the lions' mouths; and truly, if it had notbeen for the good man, the porter, that stands at the gate, I do not know but that,after all, I might have gone back again. But now I thank God I am here, and I thankyou for receiving me.



Prudence

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

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

Chr. Yes, but with much shame and detestation; truly, if I had been mindfulof 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.

"And truly, if they had been mindful ofthat country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity tohave returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly:wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for thema city."
~ Hebrews 11:15, 16 ~

Pru. Do you not yet bear away with you some of the things that then you wereconversant withal?

Chr. Yes, but greatly against my will; especially my inward and carnal thinking,with which all my countrymen as well as myself, were delighted. But now all thosethings are my grief: and might I but choose mine own things, I would choose neverto think of those things more; but when I would be doing of that which is best, thatwhich is worst is with me.

"Was then that which is good made deathunto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by thatwhich is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. For weknow that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which Ido I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If thenI do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now thenit is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (thatis, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but howto perform that which is good I fin