Pilgrims Progress Pt1a by John Bunyan

Pilgrims

JOHN BUNYAN’S

THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS;

IN THE

SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM.

[comprehensive footnotes (in square brackets) by various authors and editors]

PART I.

As I walked through the wilderness of this

world, I lighted on a certain place, where

was a den;[1] and I laid me down in that

place to sleep: and as I slept, I dreamed a

dream. I dreamed, and, behold, “I saw a

man clothed with rags, standing in a certain place, with his face from his own

house, a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back,” (Isa. 64:6; Luke 14:33;

Psa. 38:4; Hab. 2:2; Acts 16:31). I looked,

and saw him open the  book,[2] and read

therein; and as he read, he wept and trembled; and not being able longer to contain,

he brake out with a lamentable cry, saying,

“What shall I do?” (Acts 2:37).[3]

In this plight, therefore, he went home,

and refrained himself as long as he could,

that his wife and children should not perceive his distress; but he could not be silent

long, because that his trouble increased.

Wherefore at length he brake his mind to

his wife and children; and thus he began to

talk to them: “O my dear wife,” said he,

“and you, the children of my bowels, I,

your dear friend, am in myself undone, by

reason of a burden that lieth hard upon me;

moreover, I am for certain informed that

this our city will be burned with fire from

Heaven; in which fearful overthrow, both

myself, with thee, my wife, and you, my

sweet babes, shall miserably come to ruin,

except (the which yet I see not) some way

of escape can be found, whereby we may

be delivered.” At this, his relations were

sore amazed; not for that they believed that

what he had said to them was true, but because they thought that some frenzy distemper had got into his head;[4] therefore,

it drawing towards night, and they hoping

that sleep might settle his brains, with all

haste they got him to bed. But the night

was as troublesome to him as the day;

wherefore, instead of sleeping, he spent it

in sighs and tears. So when the morning

was come, they would know how he did;

he told them, worse and worse; he also set

to talking to them again, but they began to

be hardened. They also thought to drive

away his distemper by harsh and surly carriages to him. Sometimes they would deride, sometimes they would chide, and

sometimes they would quite neglect him.

Wherefore he began to retire himself to his

chamber to pray for, and pity them, and

also to condole his own misery. He would

also walk solitarily in the fields, sometimes

reading, and sometimes praying; and thus

for some days he spent his time.[5]

Now I saw upon a time, when he was

walking in the fields, that he was, as he was

wont, reading in his book, and greatly distressed in his mind; and as he read, he

JOHN BUNYAN’S

THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS;

IN THE

SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM.

[comprehensive footnotes (in square brackets) by various authors and editors]

PART I. 2

burst out, as he had done before, crying,

“What shall I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30,

31).

I saw also that he looked this way and

that way, as if he would run; yet he stood

still, because, as I perceived, he could not

tell which way to go.[6] I looked then, and

saw a man named Evangelist coming to

him, who asked, “Where fore dost thou

cry?”

He answered, Sir, I perceive, by the

book in my hand, that I am condemned to

die, and after that to come to judgment,

(Heb. 9:27); and I find that I am not willing

(Job 16:21, 22) to do the first, nor able (Eze.

22:14) to do the second.

Then said Evangelist, Why not willing

to die, since this life is attended with so

many evils? The man answered, Because I

fear that this burden that is upon my back

will sink me lower than the grave; and I

shall fall into Tophet (Isa. 30:33). And, Sir, if

I be not fit to go to prison, I am not fit, I am

sure, to go to judgment, and from thence to

execution; and the thoughts of these things

make me cry.

Then said Evangelist, If this be thy condition, why standest thou still? He answered, Because I know not whither to go.

Then he gave him a parchment roll, and

there was written within, “Fly from the

wrath to come” (Matt. 3:7).

The man therefore, read it, and looking

upon Evangelist very carefully, said,

Whither must I fly? Then said Evangelist,

pointing with his finger over a very wide

field, Do you see yonder wicket gate?

(Matt. 7:13). The man said, No. Then said

the other, Do you see yonder shining light?

(Psa. 119:105; 2 Peter 1:19). He said, I think I

do. Then said Evangelist, Keep that light in

your eye, and go up directly thereto, so

shalt thou see the gate; at which, when thou

knockest, it shall be told thee what thou

shalt do.[7] So I saw in my dream that the

man began to run. Now, he had not ran far

from his own door, but his wife and children perceiving it, began to cry after him to

return (Luke 14:26); but the man put his

fingers in his ears, and ran on, crying, Life!

life! Eternal life ! So he looked not behind

him (Gen. 19:17), but fled towards the middle of the plain.[8]

The neighbours also came out to see

him run, and as he ran, some mocked, others threatened, and some cried after him to

return; and among those that did so, there

were two that were resolved to fetch him

back by force (Jer. 20:10). The name of the

one was Obstinate, and the name of the

other Pliable.[9] Now by this time, the man

was got a good distance from them; but,

however, they were resolved to pursue

him; which they did, and in a little time

they overtook him. Then said the man,

Neighbours, wherefore are ye come? They

said, To persuade you to go back with us.

But he said, That can by no means be. You

dwell, said he, in the City of Destruction,

the place also where I was born; I see it to

be so; and dying there, sooner or later, you

will sink lower than the grave, into a place

that burns with fire and brimstone. Be content, good neighbours, and go along with

me.

What, said Obstinate, and leave our

friends and our comforts behind us?[10]

Yes, said Christian, for that was his

name, because that all “which you shall

forsake” (2 Cor. 4:18), is not worthy to be

compared with a little of that which I am

seeking to enjoy; and if you will go along

with me, and hold it, you shall fare as I myself, for there, where I go, is enough and to

spare (Luke 15:17). Come away, and prove

my words.

OBST. What are the things you seek,

since you leave all the world to find them?

CHR. I seek an “inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away” (1

Peter 1:4), and it is laid up in Heaven (Heb.

11:16), and safe there, to be bestowed, at the

time appointed, on them that diligently

seek it. Read it so, if you will, in my book.

OBST. Tush, said Obstinate, away with

your book; will you go back with us, or no? 3

CHR. No, not I, saith the other; because

I have laid my hand to the plough (Luke

9:62).

OBST. Come, then, neighbour Pliable,

let us turn again, and go home without

him; there is a company of these crazedheaded coxcombs, that when they take a

fancy by the end, are wiser in their own

eyes than seven men that can render a reason (Prov. 26:16).

 PLI. Then said Pliable, Do not revile; if

what the good Christian says is true, the

things he looks after  are better than ours;

my heart inclines to go with my neighbour.

 OBST. What! more fools still? Be ruled

by me, and go back; who knows whither

such a brain-sick fellow will lead you? Go

back, go back, and be wise.

CHR. Nay, but do thou come with thy

neighbour Pliable: there are such things to

be had which I spoke of, and many more

glories besides; if you believe not me, read

here in this book, and for the truth of what

is expressed therein, behold, all is confirmed by the blood of Him that made it

(Heb. 13:20, 21; 9:17-21).

 PLI. Well, neighbour Obstinate, saith

Pliable, I begin to come to a point; I intend

to go along with this good man, and to cast

in my lot with him. But, my good companion, do you know the way to this desired

place?

CHR. I am directed by a man whose

name is Evangelist, to speed me to a little

gate that is before us, where we shall receive instructions about the way.

PLI. Come then, good neighbour, let us

be going. Then they went both together.

OBST. And I will go back to my place,

said Obstinate; I will be no companion of

such misled fantastical fellows.

Now I saw in my dream, that when Obstinate was gone back, Christian and Pliable went talking over the plain; and thus

they began their discourse.

CHR. Come, neighbour Pliable, how do

you do? I am glad you are persuaded to go

along with me; had even Obstinate himself

but felt what I have felt, of the powers and

terrors of what is yet unseen, he would not

thus lightly have given us the back.

PLI. Come, neighbour Christian, since

there is none but us two here, tell me now

further, what the things are, and how to be

enjoyed, whither we are going.

CHR. I can better conceive of them with

my mind, than speak of them with my

tongue; but yet since you are desirous to

know, I will read of them in my book.

PLI. And do you think that the words of

your book are certainly true?

CHR. Yes, verily, for it was made by

Him that cannot lie (Titus 1:2).

 PLI. Well said. What things are they?

CHR. There is an endless kingdom to be

inhabited, and everlasting life to be given

us, that we may inhabit that kingdom forever (Isa. 45:17; John 10:27-29).

PLI. Well said. And what else?

CHR. There are crowns of glory to be

given us, and garments that will make us

shine like the sun in the firmament of

Heaven! (2 Tim. 4:8; Rev. 3:4; Matt. 13:43).

 PLI. This is very pleasant. And what

else?

CHR. There shall be no more crying,

nor sorrow; for He that is owner of the

place will wipe all tears from our eyes (Isa.

25:8; Rev. 7:17, 17; 21:4).

PLI. And what company shall we have

there?

CHR. There we shall be with seraphims,

and Cherubims, creatures that will dazzle

your eyes to look on them. There, also, you

shall meet with thousands and ten thousands that have gone before us to that

Place; none of them are hurtful, but loving

and holy, everyone walking in the sight of

God, and standing in His presence with acceptance forever; in a word, there we shall

see the elders with their golden crowns;

there we shall see the holy virgins with

their golden harps; there we shall see men,

that by the world were cut in pieces, burnt

in flames, eaten of beasts, drowned in the

seas, for the love that they bare to the Lord 4

of the Place; all well, and clothed with immortality as with a garment[11] (Isa. 6:2; 1

Thess. 4:16, 17; Rev. 7:17; 4:4; 14:1-5; John

12:25; 2 Cor. 5:2-5).

PLI. The hearing of this is enough to

ravish one’s heart; but are these things to

be enjoyed? How shall we get to be sharers

thereof?

CHR. The Lord, the Governor of the

country, hath recorded, that in this book,

the substance of which is, if we be truly

willing to have it, He will bestow it upon

us freely (Isa. 55:1, 2, 12; John 7:37; 6:37;

Psa. 21:6; 22:17).

PLI. Well, my good companion, glad am

I to hear of these things; come on, let us

mend our pace.[12]

CHR. I cannot go so fast as I would, by

reason of this burden that is on my back.

Now I saw in my dream, that, just as they

had ended this talk, they drew near to a

very miry slough that was in the midst of

the plain; and they, being heedless, did

both fall suddenly into the bog. The name

of the slough was Despond.[13] Here,

therefore, they wallowed for a time, being

grievously bedaubed with the dirt; and

Christian, because of  the burden that was

on his back, began to sink in the mire.

PLI. Then said Pliable, Ah! neighbour

Christian, where are you now?

CHR. Truly, said Christian, I do not

know.

PLI. At that Pliable began to be offended, and angrily said to his fellow, Is

this the happiness you have told me all this

while of? If we have such ill speed at our

first setting out, what may we expect betwixt this and our journey’s end? May I get

out again with my life, you shall possess

the brave country alone for me. And with

that he gave a desperate struggle or two,

and got out of the mire on that side of the

slough which was next to his own house: so

away he went, and Christian saw him no

more. Wherefore Christian was left to tumble in the Slough of Despond alone; but still

he endeavoured to struggle to that side of

the slough that was still further from his

own house, and next to the wicket-gate; the

which he did, but could not get out, because of the burden that was upon his

back.[14] But I beheld in my dream, that a

man came to him, whose name was Help,

and asked him what he did there?

CHR. Sir, said Christian, I was bid go

this way by a man called Evangelist, who

directed me also to yonder gate, that I

might escape the wrath to come. And as I

was going thither, I fell in here.

HELP. But why did not you look for the

steps?

CHR. Fear followed me so hard, that I

fled the next way, and fell in.[15]

HELP. Then said he, Give me thy hand;

so he gave him his hand, and he drew him

out, and set him upon sound ground, and

bid him go on his way (Psa. 40:2).

Then I stepped to him that plucked him

out, and said, Sir, wherefore (since over this

place is the way from the City of Destruction, to yonder gate) is it that this plat is not

mended, that poor travellers might go

thither with more security? And he said

unto me, This miry slough is such a place

as cannot be mended. It is the descent

whither the scum and filth that attends

conviction for sin, doth continually run,

and therefore it is called the Slough of Despond: for still, as the sinner is awakened

about his lost condition, there ariseth in his

soul many fears, and doubts, and discouraging apprehensions, which all of them get

together, and settle in this place. And this is

the reason of the badness of this ground.

It is not the pleasure of the King that

this place should remain so bad (Isa. 35:3,

4); his labourers, also, have, by the directions of his Majesty’s surveyors, been, for

above these 1,600 years, employed about

this patch of ground, if, perhaps, it might

have been mended; yea, and to my knowledge, said he, here have been swallowed

up at least 20,000 cart-loads; yea, millions

of wholesome instructions, that have, at all

seasons, been brought from all places of the 5

King’s dominions, and they that can tell,

say, they are the best materials to make

good ground of the place, if so be it might

have been mended; but it is the Slough of

Despond still; and so will be when they

have done what they can.[16]

True, there are, by the direction of the

Lawgiver, certain good and substantial

steps, placed even through the very midst

of this slough; but at such time as this place

doth much spew out its filth, as it doth

against change of weather, these steps are

hardly seen; or if they be, men, through the

dizziness of their heads, step besides, and

then they are bemired to purpose, notwithstanding the steps be there; but the ground

is good, when they are once got in at the

gate[17] (1 Sam. 12:23).

Now I saw in my dream, that, by this

time, Pliable was got home to his house

again; so that his neighbours came to visit

him; and some of them called him wise

man for coming back, and some called him

fool for hazarding himself with Christian;

others, again, did mock at his cowardliness,

saying, “Surely, since you began to venture, I would not have been so base to have

given out for a few difficulties.” So Pliable

sat sneaking among them. But, at last, he

got more confidence, and then they all

turned their tales, and began to deride poor

Christian behind his back. And thus much

concerning Pliable.

Now as Christian was walking solitarily

by himself,[18] he espied one afar off come

crossing over the field to meet him; and

their hap was to meet just as they were

crossing the way of each other. The gentleman’s name that met him was Mr.

Worldly-wiseman; he dwelt in the town of

Carnal Policy, a very great town, and also

hard by from whence Christian came. This

man, then, meeting with Christian, and

having some inkling[19] of him, for Christian’s setting forth from the City of Destruction was much noised abroad, not only in

the town where he dwelt, but, also, it began

to be the town-talk in some other places.

Master Worldly-wiseman, therefore, having some guess of him, by beholding his

laborious going, by observing his sighs and

groans, and the like, began thus to enter

into some talk with Christian.

WORLD. How now, good fellow,

whither away after this burdened manner?

CHR. A burdened manner, indeed, as

ever, I think, poor creature had! And

whereas you ask me, Whither away? I tell

you, Sir, I am going to yonder wicket-gate

before me; for there, as I am informed, I

shall be put into a way to be rid of my

heavy burden.

WORLD. Hast thou a wife and children?

CHR.  Yes;  but  I  am  so  laden  with  this

burden, that I cannot take that pleasure in

them as formerly; methinks I am as if I had

none (1 Cor. 7:29).

 WORLD. Wilt thou hearken unto me if

I give thee counsel?

CHR. If it be good, I will; for I stand in

need of good counsel.

WORLD. I would advise thee, then, that

thou with all speed get thyself rid of thy

burden: for thou wilt never be settled in thy

mind till then; nor canst thou enjoy the

benefits of the blessing which God hath bestowed upon thee till then.

CHR. That is that which I seek for, even

to be rid of this heavy burden; but get it off

myself, I cannot; nor is there any man in

our country that can take it off my shoulders; therefore am I going this way, as I

told you, that I may be rid of my burden.

WORLD. Who bid you go this way to be

rid of thy burden?

CHR. A man that appeared to me to be

a very great and honourable person; his

name, as I remember, is Evangelist.

WORLD. I beshrew him for his counsel!

there is not a more dangerous and trouble

some way in the world than is that unto

which he hath directed thee; and that thou

shalt find, if thou wilt be ruled by his counsel. Thou hast met with something, as I

perceive already; for I see the dirt of the 6

Slough of Despond is upon thee; but that

slough is the beginning of the sorrows that

do attend those that go on in that way.

Hear me, I am older than thou; thou art like

to meet with, on the way which thou goest,

wearisomeness, painfulness, hunger, perils,

nakedness, sword, lions, dragons, darkness, and, in a word, death, and what not!

These things are certainly true, having been

confirmed by many testimonies. And why

should a man so carelessly cast away himself, by giving heed to a stranger?

CHR. Why, Sir, this burden upon my

back is more terrible to me than are all

these things which you have mentioned;

nay, methinks I care not what I meet with

in the way, if so be I can also meet with deliverance from my burden.

WORLD. How camest thou by the burden at first?

CHR. By reading this book in my hand.

WORLD. I thought so; and it is happened unto thee as to other weak men,

who, meddling with things too high for

them, do suddenly fall into thy distractions;

which distractions do not only unman men,

as thine, I perceive, has done thee, but they

run them upon desperate ventures, to obtain they know not what.

CHR. I know what I would obtain; it is

ease for my heavy burden.

WORLD. But why wilt thou seek for

ease this way, seeing so many dangers attend it? especially since, hadst thou but patience to hear me, I could direct thee to the

obtaining of what thou desirest, without

the dangers that thou in this way wilt run

thyself into; yea, and the remedy is at hand.

Besides, I will add, that, instead of those

dangers, thou shalt meet with much safety,

friendship, and content. [20]

CHR. Pray, Sir, open this secret to me.

WORLD. Why, in yonder village—the

village is named Morality—there dwells a

gentleman whose name is Legality, a very

judicious man, and a man of a very good

name, that has skill to help men off with

such burdens as thine are from their shoulders: yea, to my knowledge, he hath done a

great deal of good this way; aye, and besides, he hath skill to cure those that are

somewhat crazed in their wits with their

burdens.[21] To him, as I said, thou mayest

go, and be helped presently. His house is

not quite a mile from this place, and if he

should not be at home himself, be hath a

pretty young man to his son, whose name

is Civility, that can do it (to speak on) as

well as the old gentleman himself; there, I

say, thou mayest be eased of thy burden;

and if thou art not minded to go back to thy

former habitation, as, indeed, I would not

wish thee, thou mayest send for thy wife

and children to thee to this village, where

there are houses now stand empty, one of

which thou mayest have at reasonable

rates; provision is there also cheap and

good; and that which will make thy life the

more happy is, to be sure, there thou shalt

live by honest neighbours, in credit and

good fashion.

Now was Christian  somewhat at a

stand; but presently he concluded, if this be

true, which this gentleman hath said, my

wisest course is to take his advice; and with

that he thus further spoke.

CHR. Sir, which is my way to this honest man’s house?

WORLD. Do you see yonder hill?

CHR. Yes, very well.

WORLD. By that hill you must go, and

the first house you come at is his.

So Christian turned out of his way, to

go to Mr. Legality’s house for help; but, behold, when he was got now hard by the

hill, it seemed so high, and also that side of

it that was next the wayside, did hang so

much over, that Christian was afraid to

venture further, lest the hill should fall on

his head; wherefore there he stood still, and

wotted[22] not what to do. Also his burden

now seemed heavier to him, than while he

was in his way. There came also flashes of

fire out of the hill, that made Christian

afraid that he should be burned (Exo. 19:16,

18). Here, therefore, he sweat and did 7

quake for fear (Heb. 12:21). And now he

began to be sorry that he had taken Mr.

Worldly-wiseman’s counsel. And with that

he saw Evangelist coming to meet him; at

the sight also of whom he began to blush

for shame. So Evangelist drew nearer and

nearer; and coming up to him, he looked

upon him with a severe and dreadful countenance, and thus began to reason with

Christian.

EVAN. What dost thou here, Christian?

said he: at which words Christian knew not

what to answer; wherefore at present he

stood speechless before him. Then said

Evangelist further, Art not thou the man

that I found crying without the walls of the

City of Destruction?

CHR. Yes, dear Sir, I am the man.

EVAN. Did not I direct thee the way to

the little wicket-gate?

CHR. Yes, dear Sir, said Christian.

EVAN. How is it, then, that thou art so

quickly turned aside? for thou art now out

of the way.

CHR. I met with a gentleman so soon as

I had got over the Slough of Despond, who

persuaded me that I might, in the village

before me, find a man that could take off

my burden.

EVAN. What was he?

CHR. He looked like a gentleman,[23]

and talked much to me, and got me at last

to yield; so I came hither: but when I beheld this hill, and how it hangs over the

way, I suddenly made a stand, lest it

should fall on my head.

EVAN. What said that gentleman to

you?

CHR. Why, he asked me whither I was

going? And I told him.

EVAN. And what said he then?

CHR. He asked me if I had a family.

And I told him. But, said I, I am so loaden

with the burden that is on my back, that I

cannot take pleasure in them as formerly.

EVAN. And what said he then?

CHR. He bid me with speed get rid of

my burden; and I told him it was ease that I

sought. And, said I, I am therefore going to

yonder gate, to receive further direction

how I may get to the place of deliverance.

So  he  said  that  he  would  show  me  a  better

way, and short, not so attended with difficulties as the way, Sir, that you set me in;

which way, said he, will direct you to a

gentleman’s house that hath skill to take off

these burdens: so I believed him,[24] and

turned out of that way into this, if haply I

might be soon eased of my burden. But

when I came to this place, and beheld

things as they are, I stopped for fear (as I

said) of danger: but I now know not what

to do.

EVAN. Then, said Evangelist, stand still

a little, that I may show thee the words of

God.  So  he  stood  trembling.  Then  said

Evangelist, “See that ye refuse not Him that

speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more

shall not we escape, if we turn away from

Him that speaketh from Heaven” (Heb.

12:25). He said, moreover, “Now the just

shall live by faith: but if any man draw

back, My soul shall have no pleasure in

him” (Heb. 10:38). He also did thus apply

them: Thou art the man that art running

into this misery; thou hast begun to reject

the counsel of the Most High, and to draw

back thy foot from the way of peace, even

almost to the hazarding of thy perdition!

Then Christian fell down at his foot as

dead, crying, “Woe is me, for I am undone!” At the sight of which, Evangelist

caught him by the right hand, saying, “All

manner of sin and blasphemies shall be

forgiven unto men” (Matt. 12:31; Mark

3:28); “Be not faithless, but believing” (John

20:27). Then did Christian again a little revive, and stood up trembling, as at first, before Evangelist.[25]

Then Evangelist proceeded, saying,

Give more earnest heed to the things that I

shall tell thee of. I will now show thee who

it was that deluded thee, and who it was

also to whom he sent thee.—The man that

met thee is one Worldly-wiseman, and 8

rightly is he so called; partly, because he

savoureth only the doctrine of this world (1

John 4:5), (therefore he always goes to the

town of Morality to church); and partly because he loveth that doctrine best, for it

saveth him best from the cross (Gal. 6:12).

And  because  he  is  of  this  carnal  temper,

therefore he seeketh to prevent my ways,

though right. Now there are three things in

this man’s counsel, that thou must utterly

abhor.

 1. His turning thee out of the way. 2.

His labouring to render the cross odious to

thee. And, 3. His setting thy feet in that

way that leadeth unto the administration of

death.

First, Thou must abhor his turning thee

out of the way; yea, and thine own consenting thereto: because this is to reject the

counsel of God for the sake of the counsel

of a Worldly-wiseman. The Lord says,

“Strive to enter in at the strait gate” (Luke

13:24), the gate to which I send thee; for

“strait is the gate which leadeth unto life,

and few there be that find it” (Matt. 7:14).

From this little wicket-gate, and from the

way thereto, hath this wicked man turned

thee, to the bringing of thee almost to destruction; hate, therefore, his turning thee

out of the way, and abhor thyself for

hearkening to him.

Secondly, Thou must abhor his labouring to render the cross odious unto thee; for

thou art to prefer it “before the treasures in

Egypt” (Heb. 11:25, 26). Besides, the King

of glory hath told thee, that he that “will

save his life shall lose it” (Mark 8:35; John

12:25; Matt. 10:39). And, “He that comes

after Him, and hate not his father, and

mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also,

he cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26). I

say, therefore, for man to labour to persuade thee, that that shall be thy death,

without which, THE TRUTH hath said,

thou canst not have eternal life; this doctrine thou must abhor.

Thirdly, Thou must hate his setting of

thy feet in the way that leadeth to the ministration of death. And for this thou must

consider to whom he sent thee, and also

how unable that person was to deliver thee

from thy burden.

He to whom thou wast sent for ease, being by name Legality, is the son of the bond

woman which now is, and is in bondage

with her children (Gal. 4:21-27); and is, in a

mystery, this mount Sinai, which thou hast

feared will fall on thy head. Now, if she,

with her children, are in bondage, how

canst thou expect by them to be made free?

This Legality, therefore, is not able to set

thee free from thy burden. No man was as

yet ever rid of his burden by him; no, nor

ever is like to be: ye cannot be justified by

the works of the law; for by the deeds of

the law no man living can be rid of his burden: therefore, Mr. Worldly-wiseman is an

alien, and Mr. Legality is a cheat; and for

his son Civility, notwithstanding his simpering looks, he is but a hypocrite, and

cannot help thee. Believe me, there is nothing in all this noise, that thou hast heard of

these sottish men, but a design to beguile

thee of thy salvation, by turning thee from

the way in which I had set thee. After this,

Evangelist called aloud to the heavens for

confirmation of what he had said: and with

that there came words and fire out of the

mountain under which poor Christian

stood, that made the hair of his flesh stand

up. The words were thus pronounced: “As

many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is

everyone that continueth not in all things

which are written in the book of the law to

do them[26] (Gal. 3:10).

Now Christian looked for nothing but

death, and began to cry out lamentably;

even cursing the time in which he met with

Mr. Worldly-wiseman; still calling himself

a thousand fools for hearkening to his

counsel: he also was greatly ashamed to

think that this gentleman’s arguments,

flowing only from the flesh, should have 9

the prevalency with him as to cause him to

forsake the right way. This done, he applied himself again to Evangelist, in words

and sense as follows:—

CHR. Sir, what think you? Is there

hope? May I now go back, and go up to the

wicket-gate? Shall I not be abandoned for

this, and sent back from thence ashamed? I

am sorry I have hearkened to this man’s

counsel. But may my sin be forgiven?

EVAN. Then said Evangelist to him,

Thy sin is very great, for by it thou hast

committed two evils; thou hast forsaken the

way that is good, to tread in forbidden

paths; yet will the man at the gate receive

thee, for he has good-will for men; only,

said he, take heed that thou turn not aside

again, “lest thou perish from the way,

when His wrath is kindled but a little” (Psa.

2:12). Then did Christian address himself to

go back; and Evangelist, after he had kissed

him, gave him one smile, and bid him Godspeed. So he went on with haste, neither

spake he to any man by the way; nor, if any

asked him, would he vouchsafe them an

answer. He went like one that was all the

while treading on forbidden ground, and

could by no means think himself safe, till

again he was got into the way which he

left, to follow Mr. Worldly-wiseman’s

counsel. So, in process of time, Christian

got up to the gate. Now, over the gate there

was written, “Knock, and it shall be opened

unto you” (Matt. 7:8).

He knocked, therefore, more than once

or twice, saying—“May I now enter here?

Will He within Open to sorry me, though I

have been An undeserving rebel? Then

shall I Not fail to sing His lasting praise on

high.”

At last there came a grave person to the

gate, named Good-will, who asked who

was there? and whence he came? and what

he would have?[27]

CHR. Here is a poor burdened sinner. I

come from the City of Destruction, but am

going to Mount Zion, that I may be delivered from the wrath to come. I would,

therefore, Sir, since I am informed that by

this gate is the way thither, know if you are

willing to let me in!

GOOD-WILL. I am willing with all my

heart, said he; and with that he opened the

gate.[28]

So when Christian was stepping in, the

other gave him a pull. Then said Christian,

What means that? The other told him. A

little distance from this gate, there is

erected a strong castle, of which Beelzebub

is the captain; from thence, both he and

them that are with  him shoot arrows at

those that come up to this gate, if haply

they may die before they can enter in.[29]

Then said Christian, I rejoice and tremble. So when he was got in, the man of the

gate asked him who directed him thither?

CHR. Evangelist bid me come hither,

and knock (as I did); and he said that you,

Sir, would tell me what I must do.

GOOD-WILL. An open door is set before thee, and no man can shut it.

CHR. Now I begin to reap the benefits

of my hazards.

GOOD-WILL. But how is it that you

came alone? CHR. Because none of my

neighbours saw their danger, as I saw

mine.

GOOD-WILL. Did any of them know of

your coming?

CHR. Yes; my wife and children saw me

at the first, and called after me to turn

again; also, some of my neighbours stood

crying and calling after me to return; but I

put my fingers in my ears, and so came on

my way.

GOOD-WILL. But did none of them follow you, to persuade you to go back?

CHR. Yes, both Obstinate and Pliable;

but when they saw that they could not prevail, Obstinate went railing back, but Pliable came with me a little way.

GOOD-WILL. But why did he not come

through?

CHR. We, indeed, came both together,

until we came at the Slough of Despond,

into the which we also suddenly fell. And 10

then was my neighbour, Pliable, discouraged, and would not adventure further.

Wherefore getting out again on that side

next to his own house, he told me I should

possess the brave country alone for him; so

he went his way, and I came mine—he after

Obstinate, and I to this gate.

GOOD-WILL. Then said Good-will,

Alas, poor man! is the celestial glory of so

small esteem with him, that he counteth it

not worth running the hazards of a few difficulties to obtain it?

CHR. Truly, said Christian, I have said

the truth of Pliable, and if I should also say

all the truth of myself, it will appear there

is no betterment[30] betwixt him and myself. It is true, he went back to his own

house, but I also turned aside to go in the

way of death, being persuaded thereto by

the carnal arguments[31] of one Mr.

Worldly-wiseman.

GOOD-WILL. Oh! did he light upon

you? What! he would have had you a

sought for ease at the hands of Mr. Legality. They are, both of them, a very cheat.

But did you take his counsel?

CHR. Yes, as far as I durst; I went to

find out Mr. Legality, until I thought that

the mountain that stands by his house

would have fallen upon my head; wherefore, there I was forced to stop.

GOOD-WILL. That mountain has been

the death of many, and will be the death of

many more; it is well you escaped being by

it dashed in pieces.

CHR. Why, truly, I do not know what

had become of me there, had not Evangelist

happily met me again, as I was musing in

the midst of my dumps; but it was God’s

mercy that he came to me again, for else I

had never come hither. But now I am come,

such a one as I am, more fit, indeed, for

death, by that mountain, than thus to stand

talking with my Lord; but, O! what a favour is this to me, that yet I am admitted

entrance here!

GOOD-WILL.  We  make  no  objections

against any, notwithstanding all that they

have done before they come hither. They

are “in no wise cast out” (John 6:37); and

therefore, good Christian, come a little way

with me, and I will teach thee about the

way thou must go. Look before thee; dost

thou see this narrow way? THAT is the

way thou must go; it was cast up by the patriarchs, prophets, Christ, and His Apostles;

and it is as straight as a rule can make it.

This is the way thou must go.[32]

CHR. But, said Christian, are there no

turnings nor windings, by which a stranger

may lose his way?

 GOOD-WILL. Yes, there are many

ways butt down upon this, and they are

crooked and wide. But thus thou mayest

distinguish the right from the wrong, the

right only being straight and narrow (Matt.

7:14).

Then I saw in my dream, that Christian

asked him further if he could not help him

off with his burden that was upon his back;

for as yet he had not got rid thereof, nor

could he by any means get it off without

help.

He told him, as to thy burden, be content to bear it, until thou comest to the

place of deliverance; for there it will fall

from thy back of itself.

 Then Christian began to gird up his

loins, and to address himself to his journey.

So  the  other  told  him,  That  by  that  he  was

gone some distance from the gate, he

would come at the house of the Interpreter;

at whose door he should knock, and he

would show him excellent things. Then

Christian took his leave of his friend, and

he again bid him God-speed.

Then he went on till he came at the

house of the Interpreter,[33] where he

knocked over and over; at last one came to

the door, and asked who was there.

CHR. Sir, here is a traveller, who was

bid by an acquaintance of the good man of

this house to call here for my profit; I

would therefore speak with the master of

the house. So he called for the master of the

house, who, after a little time, came to 11

Christian, and asked him what he would

have.

CHR. Sir, said Christian, I am a man

that am come from the City of Destruction,

and am going to the Mount Zion; and I was

told by the man that stands at the gate, at

the head of this way, that if I called here,

you would show me excellent things, such

as would be a help to me in my journey.[34]

 INTER. Then said the Interpreter,

Come in; I will show thee that which will

be  profitable  to  thee.  So  He  commanded

His man to light the candle,[35] and bid

Christian follow Him: so He had him into a

private room, and bid His man open a

door; the which when he had done, Christian saw the picture of a very grave person

hang up against the wall; and this was the

fashion of it. It had eyes lifted up to

Heaven, the best of books in his hand, the

law of truth was written upon his lips, the

world was behind his back. It stood as if it

pleaded with men, and a crown of gold did

hang over its head.[36]

CHR. Then said Christian, What

meaneth this?

 INTER. The man whose picture this is,

is one of a thousand; he can beget children

(1 Cor. 4:15), travail in birth with children

(Gal. 4;19), and nurse them himself when

they are born. And whereas thou seest him

with his eves lift up to Heaven, the best of

books in his hand, and the law of truth writ

on  his  lips,  it  is  to  show  thee,  that  his work

is to know and unfold dark things to sinners; even as also thou seest him stand as if

he pleaded with men; and whereas thou

seest the world as cast behind him, and that

a crown hangs over his head, that is to

show thee that slighting and despising the

things that are present, for the love that he

hath to his Master’s service, he is sure in

the world that comes next to have glory for

his reward. Now, said the Interpreter, I

have showed thee this picture first, because

the man whose picture this is, is the only

man whom the Lord of the place whither

thou art going, hath authorized to be thy

guide in all difficult places thou mayest

meet with in the way; wherefore, take good

heed to what I have showed thee, and bear

well in thy mind what thou hast seen, lest

in thy journey thou meet with some that

pretend to lead thee right, but their way

goes down to death.

Then He took him by the hand, and led

him into a very large parlour that was full

of dust, because never swept; the which,

after He had reviewed a little while, the Interpreter called for a man to sweep. Now,

when he began to sweep, the dust began so

abundantly to fly about, that Christian had

almost therewith been choked. Then said

the Interpreter to a damsel that stood by,

Bring hither the water, and sprinkle the

room; the which, when she had done, it

was swept and cleansed with pleasure.

CHR. Then said Christian, What means

this?

INTER. The Interpreter answered, This

parlour is the heart of a man that was never

sanctified by the sweet grace of the Gospel;

the dust is his original sin and inward corruptions, that have defiled the whole man.

He that began to sweep at first, is the Law;

but she that brought water, and did sprinkle it, is the Gospel. Now, whereas thou

sawest, that so soon as the first began to

sweep, the dust did so fly about that the

room by him could not be cleansed, but

that thou wast almost choked therewith;

this is to show thee, that the law, instead of

cleansing the heart (by its working) from

sin, doth revive, put  strength into, and increase it in the soul, even as it doth discover and forbid it, for it doth not give

power to subdue[37] (Rom. 7:6; 1 Cor.

15:56; Rom. 5:20).

Again, as thou sawest the damsel sprinkle the room with water, upon which it was

cleansed with pleasure; this is to show thee,

that when the Gospel comes in the sweet

and precious influences thereof to the

heart, then, I say, even as thou sawest the

damsel lay the dust by sprinkling the floor

with water, so is sin vanquished and sub-12

dued, and the soul made clean, through the

faith of it, and consequently fit for the King

of glory to inhabit (John 15:3; Eph. 5:26;

Acts 15:9; Rom. 16:25, 26; John 15:13).

 I saw, moreover, in my dream, that the

Interpreter took him by the hand, and had

him into a little room, where sat two little

children, each one in his chair. The name of

the elder was Passion, and the name of the

other Patience. Passion seemed to be much

discontented; but Patience was very quiet.

Then Christian asked, What is the reason of

the discontent of Passion? The Interpreter

answered, The Governor of them would

have him stay for his best things till the beginning of the next year; but he will have

all now; but patience is willing to wait.

Then I saw that one came to Passion,

and brought him a bag of treasure, and

poured it down at his feet, the which he

took up and rejoiced therein, and withal

laughed Patience to scorn. But I beheld but

a while, and he had lavished all away, and

had nothing left him but rags.

CHR. Then said Christian to the Interpreter, Expound this matter more fully to

me.

INTER. So He said, These two lads are

figures: Passion, of the men of this world;

and Patience, of the men of that which is to

come; for, as here thou seest, Passion will

have all now this year, that is to say, in this

world; so are the men of this world: they

must have all their good things now, they

cannot stay till next year, that is, until the

next world, for their portion of good. That

proverb,  “A  bird  in  the  hand  is  worth  two

in the bush,” is of more authority with

them than are all the Divine testimonies of

the good of the world to come. But as thou

sawest that he had quickly lavished all

away, and had presently left him nothing

but rags; so will it be with all such men at

the end of this world.[38]

CHR. Then said Christian, Now I see

that Patience has the best wisdom, and that

upon many accounts. First, Because he

stays for the best things. Second, And also

because he will have the glory of his, when

the other has nothing but rags.

INTER. Nay, you may add another, to

wit, the glory of the next world will never

wear out; but these are suddenly gone.

Therefore Passion had not so much reason

to laugh at Patience, because he had his

good things first, as Patience will have to

laugh at Passion, because he had his best

things last; for first must give place to last,

because last must have his time to come;

but last gives place to nothing; for there is

not another to succeed. He, therefore, that

hath his portion first, must needs have a

time to spend it; but he that hath his portion last, must have it lastingly; therefore it

is said of Dives, “Thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise

Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented” (Luke

16:25).

CHR. Then I perceive it is not best to

covet things that are now, but to wait for

things to come.

INTER. You say the truth: “For the

things which are seen are temporal; but the

things which are not seen are eternal” (2

Cor. 4:18). But though this be so, yet since

things present, and our fleshly appetite, are

such near neighbours one to another; and

again, because things to come, and carnal

sense, are such strangers one to another;

therefore it is that the first of these so suddenly fall into amity, and that distance is so

continued between the second. Then I saw

in my dream that the Interpreter took

Christian by the hand, and led him into a

place where was a fire burning against a

wall, and one standing by it, always casting

much water upon it, to quench it; yet did

the fire burn higher and hotter.

Then said Christian, What means this?

The Interpreter answered, This fire is

the work of grace that is wrought in the

heart; he that casts water upon it, to extinguish and put it out, is the Devil; but in that

thou seest the fire notwithstanding burn

higher and hotter, thou shalt also see the 13

reason of that. So he had him about to the

backside of the wall, where be saw a man

with a vessel of oil in his hand, of the which

He did also continually cast, but secretly,

into the fire.[39]

Then said Christian, What means this?

The Interpreter answered, This is Christ,

who continually, with the oil of his grace,

maintains the work already begun in the

heart: by the means of which, notwithstanding what the devil can do, the souls of

His people prove gracious still (2 Cor. 12:9).

And in that thou sawest that the man stood

behind the wall to maintain the fire, that is

to teach thee that it is hard for the tempted

to see how this work of grace is maintained

in the soul.

I saw also, that the Interpreter took him

again by the hand, and led him into a

pleasant place, where was builded a stately

palace, beautiful to behold; at the sight of

which Christian was greatly delighted; he

saw also, upon the top thereof, certain persons walking, who were clothed all in gold.

Then said Christian, May we go in

thither?

Then the Interpreter took him, and led

him up towards the door of the palace; and

behold, at the door stood a great company

of men, as desirous to go in, but durst not.

There also sat a man at a little distance

from the door, at a table-side, with a book

and his inkhorn before him, to take the

name of him that should enter therein; he

saw also, that in the doorway stood many

men in armour to keep it, being resolved to

do the men that would enter what hurt and

mischief they could. Now was Christian

somewhat in amaze. At last, when every

man started back for fear of the armed men,

Christian saw a man of a very stout countenance come up to the man that sat there

to write, saying, “Set down my name,

Sir”:[40] the which when he had done, he

saw the man draw his sword, and put an

helmet upon his head, and rush toward the

door upon the armed men, who laid upon

him with deadly force: but the man, not at

all discouraged, fell to cutting and hacking

most fiercely. So after he had received and

given many wounds to those that attempted to keep him out, he cut his way

through them all (Acts 14:22), and pressed

forward into the palace, at which there was

a pleasant voice heard from those that were

within, even of those that walked upon the

top of the palace, saying—“Come in, come

in; Eternal glory thou shalt win.”

So he went in, and was clothed with

such garments as they. Then Christian

smiled and said, I think verily I know the

meaning of this.[41]

Now, said Christian, let me go hence.

Nay, stay, said the Interpreter, till I have

showed thee a little more, and after that

thou shalt go on thy way. So He took him

by the hand again, and led him into a very

dark room, where there sat a man in an

iron cage.

Now the man, to look on, seemed very

sad; he sat with his eyes looking down to

the ground, his hands folded together, and

he sighed as if he would break his heart.

Then said Christian, What means this? At

which the Interpreter bid him talk with the

man.

Then Said Christian  to the man, What

art thou? The man answered, I am what I

was not once.

CHR. What wast thou once?

MAN. The man said, I was once a fair

and flourishing professor, both in mine

own eyes, and also in the eyes of others; I

once was, as I thought, fair for the Celestial

City, and had then even joy at the thoughts

that I should get thither (Luke 8:13).

CHR. Well, but what art thou now?

MAN. I am now a man of despair, and

am shut up in it, as in this iron cage. I cannot get out. O now I cannot!

CHR. But how camest thou in this condition?

MAN. I left off to watch and be sober; I

laid the reins upon the neck of my lusts; I

sinned against the light of the Word, and

the goodness of God; I have grieved the 14

Spirit, and He is gone; I tempted the devil,

and he is come to me; I have provoked God

to anger, and He has  left me; I have so

hardened my heart, that I cannot repent.

Then said Christian to the Interpreter,

But is there no hope for such a man as this?

Ask him, said the Interpreter. Nay, said

Christian, pray Sir, do you.

INTER. Then said the Interpreter, Is

there no hope, but you must be kept in the

iron cage of despair?

MAN. No, none at all.

INTER. Why, the Son of the Blessed is

very pitiful.

MAN. I have crucified Him to myself

afresh (Heb. 4:6); I have despised His person (Luke 19:14); I have despised His righteousness; I have “counted His blood an

unholy thing”; I have “done despite to the

Spirit of grace” (Heb. 10:28, 29). Therefore I

have shut myself out of all the promises,

and there now remains to me nothing but

threatenings, dreadful threatenings, fearful

threatenings of certain judgment and fiery

indignation, which shall devour me as an

adversary.[42]

INTER. For what did you bring yourself

into this condition?

MAN. For the lusts, pleasures, and profits of this world; in the enjoyment of which

I did then promise myself much delight;

but now every one of those things also bite

me, and gnaw me like a burning worm.

INTER. But canst thou not now repent

and turn?

MAN. God hath denied me repentance.

His Word gives me no encouragement to

believe; yea, Himself hath shut me up in

this iron cage; nor can all the men in the

world let me out. O eternity! eternity! how

shall I grapple with the misery that I must

meet with in eternity!

INTER. Then said the Interpreter to

Christian, Let this man’s misery be remembered by thee, and be an everlasting caution to thee.[43]

CHR. Well, said Christian, this is fearful! God help me to watch and be sober,

and to pray that I may shun the cause of

this man’s misery![44] Sir, is it not time for

me to go on my way now?[45]

INTER. Tarry till I shall show thee one

thing more, and then thou shalt go on thy

way.

So He took Christian by the hand again,

and led him into a chamber, where there

was one rising out of bed; and as he put on

his raiment, he shook and trembled. Then

said Christian, Why doth this man thus

tremble? The Interpreter then bid him tell

to Christian the reason of his so doing. So

he began and said, This night, as I was in

my sleep, I dreamed, and behold the heavens grew exceeding black; also it thundered

and lightened in most fearful wise, that it

put me into an agony; so I looked up in my

dream, and saw the clouds rack[46] at an

unusual rate, upon which I heard a great

sound of a trumpet, and saw also a man sit

upon a cloud, attended with the thousands

of Heaven; they were all in flaming fire:

also the heavens were in a burning flame. I

heard then a voice saying, “Arise, ye dead,

and come to judgment”; and with that the

rocks rent, the graves opened, and the dead

that were therein came forth. Some of them

were exceeding glad, and looked upward;

and some sought to hide themselves under

the mountains (1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:16;

Jude 14; John 5:28, 29; 2 Thess. 1:7, 8; Rev.

20:11-14; Isa. 26:21; Micah 7:16, 17; Psa.

95:1-3; Dan. 7:10). Then I saw the man that

sat upon the cloud open the book, and bid

the world draw near. Yet there was, by reason of a fierce flame which issued out and

came from before him, a convenient distance betwixt him and them, as betwixt the

judge and the prisoners at the bar (Mal. 3:2,

3; Dan. 7:9, 10). I heard it also proclaimed to

them that attended on the man that sat on

the cloud, “Gather together the tares, the

chaff, and stubble, and cast them into the

burning lake” (Matt. 3:12; 13:30; Mal. 4:1).

And with that, the bottomless pit opened,

just whereabouts I stood; out of the mouth

of which there came, in an abundant man-15

ner, smoke and coals of fire, with hideous

noises. It was also said to the same persons,

“Gather My wheat into the garner” (Luke

3:17). And with that I saw many catched up

and carried away into the clouds, but I was

left behind (1 Thess. 4:16, 17). I also sought

to hide myself, but I could not, for the man

that sat upon the cloud still kept his eye

upon me: my sins also came into my mind;

and my conscience did accuse me on every

side (Rom. 2:14, 15). Upon this I awaked

from my sleep.

CHR. But what was it that made you so

afraid of this sight?

MAN. Why, I thought that the day of

judgment was come, and that I was not

ready for it: but this frighted me most, that

the angels gathered up several, and left me

behind; also the pit of hell opened her

mouth just where I stood. My conscience,

too, afflicted me; and, as I thought, the

Judge had always his eye upon me, showing indignation in his countenance.[47]

Then said the Interpreter to Christian,

Hast thou considered all these things?

CHR. Yes, and  they put me  in hope and

fear.[48]

INTER. Well, keep all things so in thy

mind that they may be as a goad in thy

sides, to prick thee forward in the way thou

must go. Then Christian began to gird up

his loins, and to address himself to his

journey. Then said the Interpreter, The

Comforter be always with thee, good Christian, to guide thee in the way that leads to

the City. So Christian went on his way, saying—“Here I have seen things rare and

profitable; Things pleasant, dreadful, things

to make me stable In what I have begun to

take in hand; Then let me think on them,

and understand Wherefore they showed

me were, and let me be Thankful, O good

Interpreter, to thee.”

Now I saw in my dream, that the highway up which Christian was to go, was

fenced on either side with a wall, and that

wall was called Salvation (Isa. 26:1). Up this

way, therefore, did burdened Christian

run, but not without great difficulty, because of the load on his back.[49]

He ran thus till be came at a place

somewhat ascending, and upon that place

stood a cross, and a little below, in the bottom, a sepulchre. So I saw in my dream,

that just as Christian came up with the

cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began

to tumble, and so continued to do, till it

came to the mouth of the sepulchre, where

it fell in, and I saw it no more.

Then was Christian glad and lightsome,

and said, with a merry heart, “He hath

given me rest by His sorrow, and life by

His death.” Then he stood still awhile to

look and wonder; for it was very surprising

to him, that the sight of the cross should

thus ease him of his burden. He looked,

therefore, and looked again, even till the

springs that were in his head sent the waters down his checks (Zech. 12:10).[50]

Now, as he stood looking and weeping, behold three Shining Ones came to him and

saluted him with “Peace be to thee.” So the

first said to him, “Thy sins be forgiven

thee” (Mark 2:15): the second stripped him

of his rags, and clothed him “with change

of raiment” (Zech. 3:4); the third also set a

mark in his forehead, and gave him a roll

with a seal upon it, which he bade him look

on as he ran, and that he should give it in at

the Celestial Gate (Eph. 1:13).[51] So they

went their way. Then Christian gave three

leaps for joy, and went on singing—Thus

far I did come laden with my sin; Nor

could aught ease the grief that I was in Till

I came hither: What a place is this! Must

here be the beginning of my bliss? Must

here the burden fall from off my back Must

here the strings that bound it to me crack?

Blest cross! blest sepulchre! blest rather be

The man that there was put to shame for

me![52]