"BLESSED ARE THEY THAT DO HIS COMMANDMENTS, LIFE, AND MAY ENTER IN THROUGH THE GATES 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, to wit: Enoch, Moses, and Elijah, &c.; 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) that keepeth truth may enter in."† ; 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 honour. Then I heard 'n 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 OUR LORD." I I also heard the Men themselves sing with a loud voice, saying:— "BLESSING, AND HONOUR, AND GLORY, AND POWER BE UNTO HIM THAT SITTETH UPON THE THRONE, 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 upon 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 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. Now, while I was gazing upon all these things, Ignorance comes I turned my head to look back, and saw Ignorance up to the River. 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 hap Rev. xxii. 14. † Isaiah xxvi. 2. Matth. xxv. 23. § Rev. v. 13, 14. Vain-hepe does pened that there was then in that place one Vainferry him over. 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 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 come 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 Gate of Heaven, as well as from the City of Destruction. So I awoke, and behold it was a dream. CONCLUSION Now, reader, I have told my Dream to thee, Take heed also that thou be not extreme, Put thee into a laughter or a feud Leave this for boys and fools; but as for thee, Put by the curtains, look within the veil, There, if thou seekest them, such things thou'lt find, As will be helpful to an honest mind. What of my dross thou findest there, be bold I know not but 't will make me dream again. THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS FROM THIS WORLD TO THAT WHICH IS TO COME: DELIVERED UNDER THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM. PART II, WHEREIN ARE SET FORTH, THE MANNER OF THE SETTING OUT OF CHRISTIAN'S WIFE AND CHILDREN, THEIR DANGEROUS JOURNEY; AND SAFE ARRIVAL AT THE DESIRED COUNTRY. BY JOHN BUNYAN. "I HAVE USED SIMILITUDES."-HOSEA, & XII. v. 10. |