The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan Every Child Can Read
which they might escape the river. Then they asked the men if the waters
were all of a depth. They said, "No," yet they could not help them in
that case; "for," said they, "you shall find it deeper or shallower as
you believe in the King of the place."
They then addressed themselves to the water; and, entering, Christian
began to sink, and crying out to his good friend Hopeful, he said, "I
sink in deep waters; the billows go over my head; all His waves go over
me."
Then said the other, "Be of good cheer, my brother; I feel the bottom,
and it is good." Then said Christian, "Ah! my friend, the sorrows of
death have compassed me about; I shall not see the land that flows with
milk and honey." And with that, a great darkness and horror fell upon
Christian, so that he could not see before him. Also here he in a great
measure lost his senses, so that he could neither remember nor orderly
talk of any of those sweet refreshments that he had met with in the way
of his pilgrimage. But all the words that he spake still tended to show
that he had horror of mind, and heart-fears that he should die in that
river, and never obtain entrance in at the gate. Here also, as they that
stood by perceived, he was much in the troublesome thoughts of the sins
that he had committed, both since and before he began to be a pilgrim.
It was also observed that he was troubled with the sight of demons and
evil spirits; for ever and anon he would intimate so much by words.
Hopeful, therefore, here had much ado to keep his brother's head above
water; yea, sometimes he would be quite gone down, and then, ere a while
he would rise up again half dead. Hopeful would also endeavor to comfort
him, saying, "Brother, I see the gate, and men standing by to receive
us;" but Christian would answer, "It is you, it is you they wait for:
you have been hopeful ever since I knew you." "And so have you," said he
to Christian. "Ah, brother," said he, "surely, if I were right, He would
now arise to help me; but for my sins He hath brought me into this
snare, and hath left me." Then said Hopeful, "My brother, these troubles
and distresses that you go through in these waters are no sign that God
hath forsaken you; but are sent to try you, whether you will call to
mind that which hitherto you have received of His goodness, and live
upon Him in your distresses."
Then I saw in my dream that Christian was in thought awhile. To whom
also Hopeful added these words, "Be of good cheer, Jesus Christ maketh
thee whole." And, with that, Christian brake out with a loud voice, "Oh,
I see Him again; and He tells me, 'When thou passest through the waters,
I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow
thee.'" Then they both took courage; and the enemy was, after that, as
still as a stone, until they were gone over. Christian, therefore,
presently found ground to stand upon; and so it followed that the rest
of the river was but shallow. Thus they got over.
[Sidenote: TWO SHINING MEN]
Now, upon the bank of the river, on the other side, they saw the two
Shining Men again, who there waited for them. Wherefore, being come out
of the river, they saluted them, saying, "We are heavenly spirits, sent
forth to help those that shall be heirs of salvation." Thus they went
along towards the gate. Now, you must note that the City stood upon a
mighty hill; but the pilgrims went up that hill with ease, because they
had these two men to lead them up by the arms; also they had left their
mortal garments behind them in the river; for though they went in with
them, they came out without them. They therefore went up here with much
activity and speed, though the foundation upon which the City was framed
was higher than the clouds. They therefore went up through the regions
of the air, sweetly talking as they went, being comforted because they
had safely got over the river, and had such glorious companions to
attend them.
[Sidenote: MOUNT ZION]
The talk they had with the Shining Ones, was about the glory of the
place; who told them that the beauty and glory of it were such as could
not be put into words. "There," said they, "is the Mount Zion, the
heavenly Jerusalem, the innumerable company of angels, and the spirits
of good men made perfect. You are going now," said they, "to the
Paradise of God, wherein you shall see the tree of life, and eat of the
never-fading fruits thereof; and when you come there, you shall have
white robes given you, and your walk and talk shall be every day with
the King, even all the days of an eternal life. There you shall not see
again such things as you saw when you were in the lower region upon the
earth; to wit, sorrow, sickness, affliction, and death; 'for the former
things are passed away.' You are going now to Abraham, to Isaac, and to
Jacob, and to the prophets, men that God hath taken away from the evil
to come, and that are now resting upon their beds, each one walking in
his righteousness." The men then asked, "What must we do in the holy
place?" To whom it was answered, "You must there receive the comfort of
all your toil, and have joy for all your sorrow; you must reap what you
have sown, even the fruit of all your prayers, and tears, and sufferings
for the King by the way. In that place you must wear crowns of gold,
and enjoy the perpetual sight and visions of the Holy One; for there you
shall see Him as He is. There also you shall serve Him continually with
praise, with shouting and thanksgiving, whom you desired to serve in the
world, though with much difficulty, because of the weakness of your
bodies. There your eyes shall be delighted with seeing and your ears
with hearing the pleasant voice of the Mighty One. There you shall enjoy
your friends again that are gone thither before you; and there you shall
with joy receive even every one that follows into the holy place after
you. There also you shall be clothed with glory and majesty, and put
into a state fit to ride out with the King of Glory. When He shall come
with sound of trumpet in the clouds, as upon the wings of the wind, you
shall come with Him; and when He shall sit upon the throne of judgment,
you shall sit by Him; yea, and when He shall pass sentence upon all the
workers of evil, let them be angels or men, you also shall have a voice
in that judgment because they were His and your enemies. Also, when He
shall again return to the City, you shall go too, with sound of trumpet,
and be ever with Him."
Now, while they were thus drawing towards the gate, behold, a company of
the heavenly host came out to meet them; to whom it was said by the
other two Shining Ones, "These are the men that have loved our Lord when
in the world, and that have left all for His holy name; and He hath
sent us to fetch them, and we have brought them thus far on their
desired journey, that they may go in and look their Redeemer in the face
with joy." Then the heavenly host gave a great shout, saying, "Blessed
are they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb." There
came out also at this time to meet them several of the King's
trumpeters, clothed in white and shining raiment who, with melodious
noises and loud, made even the heavens to echo with their sound. These
trumpeters saluted Christian and his fellow with ten thousand welcomes
from the world; and this they did with shouting and sound of trumpet.
[Sidenote: THE CELESTIAL CITY]
This done, they compassed them round on every side; some went before,
some behind, and some on the right hand, some on the left (as it were to
guard them through the upper regions), continually sounding as they
went, with melodious noise, in notes on high: so that the very sight was
to them that could behold it as if heaven itself was come down to meet
them. Thus, therefore, they walked on together; and, as they walked,
ever and anon these trumpeters, even with joyful sound, would, by mixing
their music, with looks and gestures, still signify to Christian and his
brother how welcome they were into their company, and with what gladness
they came to meet them. And now were these two men as it were in heaven
before they came at it, being swallowed up with the sight of angels, and
with hearing of their melodious notes. Here also they had the City
itself in view, and thought they heard all the bells therein to ring,
and welcome them thereto. But, above all, the warm and joyful thoughts
that they had about their own dwelling there with such company, and that
for ever and ever, oh! by what tongue or pen can their glorious joy be
expressed?
And thus they came up to the gate. Now, when they were come up to the
gate, there was written over it in letters of gold, "BLESSED ARE THEY
THAT DO HIS COMMANDMENTS, THAT THEY MAY HAVE RIGHT TO THE TREE OF LIFE,
AND MAY ENTER IN THROUGH THE GATES INTO THE CITY."
Then I saw in my dream, that the Shining Men bid them call at the gate:
the which when they did, some from above looked over the gate: such as
Enoch, Moses, and Elijah, and others, to whom it was said, "These
pilgrims are come from the City of Destruction, for the love that they
bear to the King of this place." And then the pilgrims gave in unto them
each man his certificate, which they had received in the beginning;
those therefore were carried in to the King, who, when He had read them,
said, "Where are the men?" To whom it was answered, "They are standing
without the gate." The King then commanded to open the gate, "that the
righteous nation," said He, "which keepeth the truth, may enter in."
Now, I saw in my dream, that these two men went in at the gate; and lo!
as they entered, their looks were changed so that their faces became
bright; and they had garments put on that shone like gold. There were
also that met them with harps and crowns, and gave them to them--the
harps to praise withal, and the crowns in token of honor. Then I heard
in my dream that all the bells in the City rang again for joy, and that
it was said unto them, "Enter ye into the joy of your Lord." I also
heard the men themselves, that they sang with a loud voice, saying,
"Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth
upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever!"
Now, just as the gates were opened to let in the men, I looked in after
them, and behold, the City shone like the sun; the streets also were
paved with gold; and in them walked many men with crowns on their heads,
palms in their hands, and golden harps to sing praises withal.
There were also of them that had wings, and they answered one another
without ceasing, saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord!" And, after
that, they shut up the gates; which when I had seen, I wished myself
among them.
[Sidenote: IGNORANCE FAILS TO ENTER]
Now while I was gazing upon all these things, I turned my head to look
back, and saw Ignorance come up to the river-side; but he soon got over,
and that without half the difficulty which the other two men met with.
For it happened that there was then in the place one Vain-Hope, a
ferryman, that with his boat helped him over; so he, as the others I
saw, did ascend the hill, to come up to the gate; only he came alone,
neither did any man meet him with the least encouragement. When he was
come up to the gate, he looked up to the writing that was above, and
then began to knock, supposing that entrance should have been quickly
given to him; but he was asked by the men that looked over the top of
the gate, "Whence came you? and what would you have?" He answered, "I
have eaten and drunk in the presence of the King, and He has taught in
our streets." Then they asked him for his certificate, that they might
go in and show it to the King: so he fumbled in his bosom for one, and
found none. Then said they, "Have you none?" But the man answered never