The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan Every Child Can Read
placed aright upon Thee?" Then he said, "Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners. He is the end of the law for righteousness to
every one that believes. He died for our sins, and rose again for our
righteousness. He loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own
blood. He is Mediator between God and us. He ever liveth to plead for
us." From all which I gathered that I must look for righteousness in His
person, and for satisfaction for my sins by His blood; that what He did
in obedience to His Father's law, and in submitting to the penalty
thereof, was not for Himself, but for him that will accept it for his
salvation, and be thankful. And now was my heart full of joy, mine eyes
full of tears, and mine affections running over with love to the name,
people, and ways of Jesus Christ.
CHRIS. This was a revelation of Christ to your soul indeed. But tell me
particularly what effect this had upon your spirit.
HOPE. It made me see that all the world, notwithstanding all the
righteousness thereof, is in a state of condemnation. It made me see
that God the Father, though He be just, can justly forgive the coming
sinner. It made me greatly ashamed of the vileness of my former life,
and confounded me with the sense of my own ignorance; for there never
came thought into my heart before now, that showed me so the beauty of
Jesus Christ. It made me love a holy life, and long to do something for
the honor and glory of the name of the Lord Jesus. Yea, I thought that
had I now a thousand gallons of blood in my body, I could spill it all
for the sake of the Lord Jesus.
CHAPTER X.
I saw then in my dream that Hopeful looked back, and saw Ignorance, whom
they had left behind, coming after. "Look," said he to Christian, "how
far yonder youngster loitereth behind."
CHRIS. Ay, ay, I see him: he careth not for our company.
HOPE. But I think it would not have hurt him, had he kept pace with us
hitherto.
CHRIS. That is true; but I warrant you he thinks otherwise.
HOPE. That I think he doth; but, however, let us tarry for him. So they
did.
CHRIS. Then Christian said to him, "Come away, man; why do you stay so
behind?"
IGNOR. I take my pleasure in walking alone, even more a great deal than
in company, unless I like it the better.
Then said Christian to Hopeful (but softly), "Did I not tell you he
cared not for our company? But, however," said he, "come up, and let us
talk away the time in this solitary place." Then, directing his speech
to Ignorance, he said, "Come how do you? How stands it between God and
your soul now?"
IGNOR. I hope well; for I am always full of good thoughts, that come
into my mind to comfort me as I walk.
CHRIS. What good motions? pray tell us.
IGNOR. Why, I think of God and heaven.
CHRIS. So do the devils and lost souls.
IGNOR. But I think of them and desire them.
CHRIS. So do many that are never like to come there. "The soul of the
sluggard desireth and hath nothing."
IGNOR. But I think of them, and leave all for them.
CHRIS. That I doubt, for leaving of all is a very hard matter; yea, a
harder matter than many are aware of. But why, or by what, art thou
persuaded that thou hast left all for God and heaven?
IGNOR. My heart tells me so.
CHRIS. The Wise Man says, "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool."
IGNOR. This is spoken of an evil heart; but mine is a good one.
CHRIS. But how dost thou prove that?
IGNOR. It comforts me in the hopes of heaven.
CHRIS. That may be through its deceitfulness; for a man's heart may
minister comfort to him in the hopes of that thing for which he has yet
no ground to hope.
IGNOR. But my heart and life agree together; and therefore my hope is
well grounded.
CHRIS. Who told thee that thy heart and life agree together?
IGNOR. My heart tells me so.
CHRIS. Ask my fellow if I be a thief! Thy heart tells thee so! Except
the Word of God telleth thee in this matter, other testimony is of no
value.
IGNOR. But is it not a good heart that hath good thoughts? and is not
that a good life that is according to God's commandments?
CHRIS. Yes, that is a good heart that hath good thoughts, and that is a
good life that is according to God's commandments; but it is one thing,
indeed, to have these, and another thing only to think so.
IGNOR. Pray, what count you good thoughts, and a life according to God's
commandments?
CHRIS. There are good thoughts of many kinds: some respecting ourselves,
some God, some Christ, and some other things.
IGNOR. You go so fast, I cannot keep pace with you. Do you go on before:
I must stay awhile behind.
Then they said:
"Well, Ignorance, wilt thou yet foolish be,
To slight good counsel, ten times given thee?
And if thou yet refuse it, thou shalt know,
Ere long, the evil of thy doing so.
Remember, man, in time; stoop, do not fear;
Good counsel, taken well, saves; therefore hear:
But, if thou yet shalt slight it, thou wilt be
The loser, Ignorance, I'll warrant thee."
Then Christian addressed himself thus to his fellow:
CHRIS. Well, come, my good Hopeful; I perceive that thou and I must
walk by ourselves again.
[Sidenote: THE TWO PILGRIMS PROCEED]
So I saw in my dream that they went on apace before, and Ignorance he
came hobbling after. Then said Christian to his companion, "It pities me
much for this poor man: it will certainly go ill with him at last."
HOPE. Alas! there are abundance in our town in his condition, whole
families, yea, whole streets, and that of pilgrims, too; and if there be
so many in our parts, how many, think you, must there be in the place
where he was born?
CHRIS. Indeed, the Word saith, "He hath blinded their eyes, lest they
should see."
HOPE. Well said; I believe you have said the truth. Are we now almost
got past the Enchanted Ground?
CHRIS. Why, art thou weary of our talking?
HOPE. No, verily; but that I would know where we are.
CHRIS. We have not now above two miles farther to go thereon. Well, we
will leave at this time our neighbor Ignorance by himself, and fall upon
another subject.
HOPE. With all my heart; but you shall still begin.
CHRIS. Well, then, did you not know, about ten years ago, one Temporary
in your parts, who was a forward man in religion then?
HOPE. Know him! yes; he dwelt in Graceless, a town about two miles off
of Honesty, and he dwelt next door to one Turnback.
CHRIS. Right, he dwelt under the same roof with him. Well, that man was
much awakened once: I believe that then he had some sight of his sins,
and of the punishment that was due thereto.
HOPE. I am of your mind; for (my house not being above three miles from
him) he would ofttimes come to me, and that with many tears. Truly, I
pitied the man, and was not altogether without hope of him; but one may
see, it is not every one that cries "Lord! Lord!"
CHRIS. He told me once that he was resolved to go on pilgrimage as we do
now; but all of a sudden he grew acquainted with one Save-self, and then
he became a stranger to me, for at that time he gave up going on
pilgrimage.
CHAPTER XI.
[Sidenote: BEULAH LAND]
Now I saw in my dream, that by this time the pilgrims were got over the
Enchanted Ground, and entering into the country of Beulah, whose air was
very sweet and pleasant: the way lying directly through it, they enjoyed
themselves there for a season. Yea, here they heard continually the
singing of birds and saw every day the flowers appear on the earth, and
heard the voice of the turtle in the land. In this country the sun
shineth night and day; wherefore this was beyond the Valley of the
Shadow of Death, and also out of the reach of Giant Despair; neither
could they from this place so much as see Doubting Castle. Here they
were within sight of the City they were going to; also here met them
some of the inhabitants thereof; for in this land the Shining Ones
commonly walked, because it was upon the borders of heaven. Here they
had no want of corn and wine; for in this place they met with abundance
of what they had sought for in all their pilgrimage. Here they heard
voices from out of the City, loud voices, saying, "Say ye to the
daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh! Behold, His reward is
with Him!" Here all the inhabitants of the country called them "The holy
people, and redeemed of the Lord, sought out," etc.
Now, as they walked in this land, they had more rejoicing than in parts
more remote from the kingdom to which they were bound; and drawing near
to the City, they had yet a more perfect view thereof. It was builded of
pearls and precious stones, also the streets thereof were paved with
gold; so that by reason of the natural glory of the City, and the
reflection of the sunbeams upon it, Christian with desire fell sick;
Hopeful also had a fit or two of the same disease, wherefore here they
lay by it awhile, crying out because of their pangs, "If you see my
Beloved tell Him that I am sick of love."
But being a little strengthened, and better able to bear their sickness,
they walked on their way, and came yet nearer and nearer, where were
orchards, vineyards, and gardens, and their gates opened into the
highway. Now, as they came up to these places, behold, the gardener,
stood in the way; to whom the pilgrims said, "Whose goodly vineyards and
gardens are these?" He answered, "They are the King's, and are planted
here for His own delight, and also for the solace of pilgrims." So the
gardener had them into the vineyards, and bid them refresh themselves
with the dainties. He also showed them there the King's walks, and the
arbors where He delighted to be; and here they tarried and slept.
Now I beheld in my dream, that they talked more in their sleep at this
time than ever they did in all their journey; and being in thought
thereabout, the gardener said even to me, "Wherefore dost thou meditate
at the matter? It is the nature of the fruit of the grapes of these
vineyards to go down so sweetly as to cause the lips of them that are
asleep to speak."
So I saw, when they awoke they undertook to go up to the City. But, as I
said, the reflection of the sun upon the City (for the City was pure
gold) was so extremely glorious, that they could not, as yet, with open
face behold it, but through a glass made for that purpose. So I saw
that, as they went on, there met them two men in raiment that shone like
gold, also their faces shone as the light.
These men asked the pilgrims whence they came; and they told them. They
also asked them where they had lodged, what difficulties and dangers,
what comforts and pleasures, they had met in the way; and they told
them. Then said the men that met them, "You have but two difficulties
more to meet with, and then you are in the City."
Christian, then, and his companion, asked the men to go along with them;
so they told them that they would. "But," said they, "you must obtain it
by your own faith." So I saw in my dream that they went on together till
they came in sight of the gate.
[Sidenote: A RIVER INTERVENES]
Now I further saw, that betwixt them and the gate was a river; but there
was no bridge to go over, and the river was very deep. At the sight,
therefore, of this river, the pilgrims were much stunned; but the men
that went with them said, "You must go through, or you cannot come at
the gate."
The pilgrims then began to inquire if there was no other way to the
gate; to which they answered, "Yes; but there hath not any save two, to
wit, Enoch and Elijah, been permitted to tread that path since the
foundation of the world, nor shall until the last trumpet shall sound."
The pilgrims then, especially Christian, began to be anxious in his
mind, and looked this way and that; but no way could be found by them by