over-master them; I speak now of the fears that they have of men; "For the fear of men bringeth a snare." 194 So then, though they seem to be hot for heaven so long as the flames of hell are about their ears, yet when that terror is a little over, they betake themselves to second thoughts; namely, that 'tis good to be wise, and not to run, for they know not what, the hazard of losing all, or at least of bringing themselves into unavoidable and unnecessary troubles, and so they fall in with the world again.

3. The shame that attends religion lies also as a block in their way; they are proud and haughty, and religion in their eye is low and contemptible: therefore, when they have lost their sense of hell, and wrath to come, they return again to their former course.

4. Guilt, and to meditate terror, are grievous to them; they like not to see their misery before they come into it; though perhaps the sight of it at first, if they loved that signt, might make them fly whither the righteous fly and are safe; but because they do, as I hinted before, even shut the thoughts of guilt and terror, therefore when once they are rid of their awakenings about the terrors and wrath of God, they harden their hearts gladly, and choose such ways as will harden them more and more.

Chr. You are pretty near the business; for the bottom of all is, for want of a change in their mind and will. And therefore they are but like the felon that standeth before the judge; he quakes and trembles, and seems to repent most heartily; but the bottom of all is, the fear of the halter; not that he hath any detestation of the offence, as is evident; because, let but this man have his liberty, and he will be a thief, and so a rogue still; whereas, if his mind was changed, he would be otherwise. Hope. Now I have showed you the reasons of their going back, do you show me the manner thereof.

Chr. So I will willingly:-They draw off their thoughts, all that they may, from the remembrance of God, death, and judgment to come. Then they cast off by degrees private duties, as closet prayer, curbing their lust, watching, sorrow for sin, &c.-Then they shun the company of lively and warm Christians.-After that they grow cold to public duty, as hearing, reading, godly conference, and the

iike. Then they begin to pick holes, as we say, in the coats of some of the godly, and that devilishly, that they may have a seeming colour to throw religion (for the sake of some infirmities they have spied in them) behind their backs. Then they begin to adhere to, and associate themselves with carnal, loose, and wanton men.-Then they give way to carnal and wanton discourses in secret; and glad are they, if they can see such things in any that are counted honest, that they may the more boldly do it through their example.-After this, they begin to play. with little sins openly.-And then, being hardened, they show themselves as they are. Thus being launched again into the gulf of misery, unless a miracle of grace prevent it, they everlastingly perish in their own deceivings.

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,195 whose air was very sweet and pleasant, the way lying directly through it, they solaced themselves here 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.196 In this country the sun shineth night and day; wherefore it 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 (Angels) commonly walked, because it was upon the borders of heaven. In this land also the contract between the bride and the bridegroom was renewed: yea, here, "as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so did their God rejoice over them." 197 Here they had no want of corn and wine; for in this place they met abundance of what they had sought for in all their pilgrimage.19 Here they heard voices from out of the city, loud voices, saying, "Say ye to the daughter of Sion, Behold thy salvation cometh! Behold. his reward is with him." 199 Here all the inhabitants of the country called them, "The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord, Sought out, &c." 200

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 nearer to the city yet, they had a more perfect view thereof: it was built 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 sun-beams 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 dainties; he also showed them there the King's walks and arbours, where he delighted to be: and here they tarried and slept.201

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 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.

So I saw that when they awoke, they addressed themselves to go up to the city: but as I said, the reflections 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.

202

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 with 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 eame within sight of the gate.

Now I farther 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 were 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.203 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 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 the 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 sorrow of death hath 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 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. 'Twas 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 did also endeavour to comfort him, saying, Brother, I see the gate, and men standing by to receive us; but Christian would answer, "Tis you, 'tis 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 rise to help me, but, for my sins he hath brought me into the snare, and 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 troubled as other men, neither are they plagued like other men.' >> 204 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 heretofore you have received of his goodness, and live upon him in your distresses.

Then I saw in my dream, That Christian was in a muse 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 passeth through the waters, I will be with thee; and when through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee." 205 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; but 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