THE
PILGRIM'S PROGRESS
JOHN
BUNYAN
Section
10
Talk
of Christian and Hopeful - Temporary - the backslider - the
land of Beulah - Christian and Hopeful pass the River - welcome
to the Celestial city - Conclusion
THE
LAST DIFFICULTIES
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 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.
Now
I further saw that betwixt them and the gate was a river; but there was no
bridge to go over: the river was very deep. At the sight, therefore, of this
river, the pilgrims were much astounded; 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".
"Behold,
I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet
shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed." 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52
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 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 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 hearty 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 awhile he would rise up again half dead. HOPEFUL also
would endeavour to comfort him, saying, "Brother, I see the gate, and
men standing by it 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 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'.
"For
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." Psalms 73:4, 5
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 as in a muse awhile, 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'".
"When
thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the
rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire,
thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."
Isaiah 43:2
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 up out of the
river, they saluted them, saying, "We are ministering spirits, sent
forth to minister for 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 agility
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 safely got over
the river, and had such glorious companions to attend them.
The
Pilgrim's Progress - welcome
to the Celestial city - Conclusion
The
Pilgrim's Progress - Contents
