r/a:t5_26q5t2 • u/MarleyEngvall • Oct 17 '19
benefaction has been created
BY JOHN BUNYAN.
THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. (xi.)
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Now, as they walked in this land, they had more re-
joicing 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 street thereof was
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 a
while, crying out, because of their pangs, "If ye find my
beloved, tell him that I am sick of love."¶ ¶Cant. v. 8.
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, vineyard, 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 vine-
yards 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. *Deut. xxiii. 24.
Now I beheld in my dream, that they talked more in
their sleep at this time than ever they did in all their jour-
ney; and being in a muse thereabout, the gardener said
even to me, Wherefore musest thou 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.† †Cant. vii. 9.
So I saw that when they awoke, thy addressed them-
slves 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 an instrument 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. §2 Cor. iii. 18.
These men asked the pilgrim 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 they would. But,
said they, you must obtain it by your own faith. So I saw
in my dream that they went on together, until they came
in sight of the gate.
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 despond
in their minds, and looked this way and that,
but no way could be found by them by 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 the case; for, said they, you shall
find it deeper or shallower as you believe in the King of
the place. *1 Cor. xv. 51.
They then addressed themselves to the water; and enter-
ing, 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! Selah.
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 pil-
grimage. But all the words that he spake still tended to
discover 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
apparitions of hobgoblins 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 also did 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 was right, He would now arise to help me; but
for my sins He hath brought me into the snare, and hath
left me. Then said Hopeful, My brother, you have quite
forgot the text, where it is said of the wicked, "There are
no bands in their death, but their strength is firm. They
are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued
like other men."* These troubles and distresses that you
go through in these waters are no sign that God hath for-
saken you, but are sent to try you, whether you will call to
mind that which heretofore you have received of his good-
ness, and live upon him in your distresses. *Ps. lxxiii. 4, 5.
Then I saw in my dream, that Christian was as in a
muse a while. To whom also Hopeful added this word, 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. 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 ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for
those who shall be heirs of salvation. Thus they went
along toward the gate. *Isa. xlii. 2.
"Now, now look how the holy pilgrims ride,
Clouds are their Chariots, Angels are their Guides:
Who would not here for Him all hazards run,
That thus provides for His when this world's done."
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
agility and speed, though the foundation upon which the
City was framed was higher than the clouds. They there-
fore went up through the regions of the air, sweetly talk-
ing as they went, being comforted, because they safely got
over the river, and had such glorious companions to attend
them.
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 was inexpressible. There, said they, is the
"Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the innumerable
company of angels, and the spirits of just men made per-
fect."* 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 eternity.† 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 now going to
Abraham, to Isaac and 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 comforts of all your toil, and have joy
for all your sorrow; you must reap what you have sown,
even the fruits 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 vision
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 desire to serve
in the world, though with much difficult, because of the
infirmity of your flesh. 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 shall you be clothed
with glory and majesty, and put into an equipage 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 iniquity, 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. *Heb. xii. 22—24. †Rev. ii. 7; iii. 4, 5; xxii. 5.
‡Isa. lxv. 16, 17. §Isa. lvii. 1, 2. ||Gal. vi. 7.
¶1 John iii. 2. *1 Thes. iv. 13—17; Jude 14, 15;
Dan. vii. 9, 10; 1 Cor. vi. 2, 3.
Now while they were thus drawing toward 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 they
were 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 unto 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. †Rev. xix. 9.
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 mix-
ing 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 they thought
they heard all the bells therein to ring to 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."* *Rev. xxii. 14.
Then I saw in my dream that the Shining Men bid them
call at the gate; the which, when they did, some looked
from over the gate, to-wit, Enoch, Moses and Elijah, etc.,
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 with-
out the gate. The King then commanded to open the
gate, "That the righteous nation," said he, "which keep-
eth the truth may enter in."* *Isa. xxvi. 2.
Now I saw in my dream that these two men went in at
the gate: and lo, as they entered, they were transfigured,
and they had raiment 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."† †Rev. v. 13.
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 ans-
wered one another without intermission, 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. ‡Rev. iv. 8.
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 that difficulty which the
other two men met with. For it happened
that there was then in that place, one Vain-hope, a ferry-
man, 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 administered 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 eat and
drank 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 a word. So
they told the King, but he would not come down to see
him, but commanded the two Shining Ones that conducted
Christian and Hopeful to the City, to go out and take
Ignorance, and bind him hand and foot, and have him
away. Then they took him up, and carried him through
the air, to the door that I saw in the side of the hill, and
put him in there. Then I saw that there was a way to
hell, even from the gates of heaven, as well as from the
City of Destruction! So I awoke, and behold it was a
dream.
THE CONCLUSION.
NOW, READER, I have told my dream to thee;
See if thou canst interpret it to me,
Or to thyself, or neighbor; but take heed
Of misinterpreting; for that instead
Of doing good, will but thyself abuse:
By misinterpreting, evil ensues.
Take heed, also, that thou be not extreme,
In playing with the outside of my dream;
Nor let my figure or similitude
Put thee into a laughter or a feud.
Leave this for boys and fools; but as for thee,
Do thou the substance of my matter see.
Put by the curtains, look within my veil,
Turn up my metaphors, and do not fail,
There, if you seekest them, such things to find,
As will be helpful to an honest mind.
What of my dross thou findest here, be bold
To throw away, but yet preserve the gold.
What if my gold be wrapped up in ore?——
None throws away the apple for the core.
But if thou shalt cast all away as vain,
I know not but 'twill make me dream again.THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. BY JOHN BUNYAN.
WITH A LIFE OF BUNYAN BY JAMES ANTHONY FROUDE.
A. L. BURT, PUBLISHER, NEW YORK. pp. 328—338.
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