ApprehendingTruth.net
THE PILGRIM'S
PROGRESS;
IN
THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM.
by
John
Bunyan
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?[3]" (Acts
IN PROGRESS
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 burst out, as he
had done before, crying, "What shall I do to be saved?" (Acts
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.
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
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.
OBST. Tush, said Obstinate, away with your book; will you go back
with us, or no?
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 crazed- headed 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
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 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 De spond.[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
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 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
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 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.
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
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.
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.
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 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
Secondly, Thou must
abhor his labouring to render the cross odious unto
thee; for thou art to prefer it "before the treasures in
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
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 God-speed. 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
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 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
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.
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
traveler, 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
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.
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 subdued, 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.
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 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 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
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.
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]
I saw then in my dream,
that he went on thus, even until he came at a bottom, where he saw, a little
out of the way, three men fast asleep, with fetters upon their heels. The name
of the one was Simple, another Sloth, and the third Presumption.
Christian then seeing
them lie in this case, went to them, if peradventure he might awake them, and
cried, You are like them that sleep on the top of a mast, for the Dead Sea is
under you-a gulf that hath no bottom (Prov. 23:34).
Awake, therefore, and come away; be willing also, and I will help you off with
your irons. He also told them, If he that "goeth about like a roaring
lion" comes by, you will certainly become a prey to his teeth (1 Peter
5:8). With that they looked upon him, and began to reply in this sort: Simple
said, "I see no danger"; Sloth said, "Yet a little more
sleep"; and Presumption said, "Every fat[53] must stand upon its own
bottom; what is the answer else that I should give thee?" And so they lay
down to sleep again, and Christian went on his way.
Yet was he troubled to
think that men in that danger should so little esteem the kindness of him that
so freely offered to help them, both by awakening of them, counseling of them,
and proffering to help them off with their irons.[54] And as he was troubled
thereabout, he espied two men come tumbling over the wall, on the left hand of
the narrow way; and they made up apace to him. The name of the one was
Formalist, and the name of the other Hypocrisy. So, as I said, they drew up
unto him, who thus entered with them into discourse.
CHR. Gentlemen, whence
came you, and whither go you?
FORM. and HYP. We were
born in the land of Vain-glory, and are going for praise to
CHR. Why came you not in
at the gate, which standeth at the beginning of the
way? Know you not that it is written, that he that cometh not in by the door,
"but climbeth up some other way, the same is a
thief and a robber?" (John 10:1).
FORM. and HYP. They
said, That to go to the gate for entrance was, by all their countrymen, counted
too far about; and that, therefore, their usual way was to make a short cut of
it, and to climb over the wall, as they had done.
CHR. But will it not be
counted a trespass against the Lord of the city whither we are bound, thus to
violate His revealed will?
FORM. and HYP. They told
him, that, as for that, he needed not to trouble his head thereabout; for what
they did, they had custom for; and could produce, if need were, testimony that
would witness it for more than a thousand years.
CHR. But, said
Christian, will your practice stand a trial at law?
FORM. and HYP. They told
him, That custom, it being of so long a standing as above a thousand years,
would, doubtless, now be admitted as a thing legal by any impartial judge; and
beside, said they, if we get into the way, what's matter which way we get in?
if we are in, we are in; thou art but in the way, who, as we perceive, came in
at the gate; and we, are also in the way, that came tumbling over the wall;
wherein, now, is thy condition better than ours?
CHR. I walk by the rule
of my Master; you walk by the rude working of your fancies. You are counted
thieves already, by the Lord of the way; therefore, I doubt you will not be
found true men at the end of the way. You come in by yourselves, without His
direction; and shall go out by yourselves, without His mercy.[55]
To this they made him
but little answer; only they bid him look to himself. Then I saw that they went
on every man in his way, without much conference one with another; save that
these two men told Christian, that as to laws and ordinances, they doubted not
but they should as conscientiously do them as he; therefore, said they, we see
not wherein thou differest from us, but by the coat
that is on thy back, which was, as we trow[56] given
thee by some of thy neighbours, to hide the shame of
thy nakedness.
CHR. By laws and
ordinances you will not be saved, since you came not in by the door (Gal.
To these things they
gave him no answer; only they looked upon each other, and laughed.[57] Then I
saw that they went on all, save that Christian kept before, who had no more
talk but with himself, and that sometimes sighingly
and sometimes comfortably;[58] also he would be often reading in the roll that
one of the Shining Ones gave him, by which he was refreshed.
I beheld, then, that
they all went on till they came to the foot of the Hill Difficulty; at the
bottom of which was a spring. There were also in the same place two other ways
besides that which came straight from the gate; one turned to the left hand,
and the other to the right, at the bottom of the hill; but the narrow way lay
right up the hill, and the name of the going up the side of the hill is called
Difficulty. Christian now went to the spring, and drank thereof, to refresh
himself (Isa. 49:10), and then began to go up the
hill, saying-
"The hill, though
high, I covet to ascend, The difficulty will not me offend; For I perceive the
way to life lies here. Come, pluck up heart, let's neither faint nor fear;
Better, though difficult, the right way to go, Than wrong, though easy, where
the end is Woe."
The other two also came
to the foot of the hill; but when they saw that the hill was steep and high,
and that there were two other ways to go; and supposing also that these two
ways might meet again, with that up which Christian went, on the other side of
the hill; therefore they were resolved to go in those ways. Now the name of one
of those ways was Danger, and the name of the other Destruction. So the one
took the way which is called Danger, which led him into a great wood, and the
other took directly up the way to Destruction, which led him into a wide field,
full of dark mountains, where he stumbled and fell, and rose no more.[59]
I looked, then, after
Christian, to see him go up the hill, where I perceived he fell from running to
going, and from going to clambering upon his hands and his knees, because of
the steepness of the place. Now, about the midway to the top of the hill was a
pleasant arbour, made by the Lord of the hill for the
refreshing of weary travelers; thither, therefore, Christian got, where also he
sat down to rest him. Then he pulled his roll out of his bosom, and read
therein to his comfort; he also now began afresh to take a review of the coat
or garment that was given him as he stood by the cross. Thus pleasing himself
awhile, he at last fell into a slumber, and thence into a fast sleep,[60] which
detained him in that place until it was almost night; and in his sleep his roll
fell out of his hand.[61] Now, as he was sleeping, there came one to him, and
awaked him, saying, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and
be wise" (Prov. 6:6). And with that Christian
suddenly started up, and sped him on his way, and went apace, till be came to
the top of the hill.
Now, when he was got up
to the top of the hill, there came two men running to meet him amain; the name of the one was Timorous, and of the other
Mistrust; to whom Christian said, Sirs, what's the matter? You run the wrong
way. Timorous answered, that they were going to the City of Zion, and had got
up that difficult place; but, said he, the further we go, the more danger we
meet with; wherefore we turned, and are going back again.[62]
Yes, said Mistrust, for
just before us lie a couple of lions in the way, whether sleeping or waking we
know not, and we could not think, if we came within reach, but they would
presently pull us in pieces.
CHR. Then said
Christian, You make me afraid, but whither shall I fly to be safe? If I go back
to mine own country, that is prepared for fire and brimstone, and I shall
certainly perish there. If I can get to the
How many steps have I
took in vain! Thus it happened to
Now by this time be was come to the arbour again, where for a while he sat down and wept; but at last, as Christian would have it, looking sorrowfully down under the settle, there he espied his roll; the which he, with trembling and haste, catched up, and put it into his bosom. But who can tell how joyful this man was when he had gotten his roll again! for this roll was the assurance of his life and acceptance at the desired haven. Therefore he laid it up in his bosom, gave thanks to God for directing his eye to the place where it lay, and with joy and tears betook himself again to his journey. But O how nimbly now did he go up the rest of the hill! Yet, before be got up, the sun went down upon Christian; and this made him again recall the vanity of his sleeping to his remembrance; and thus he again began to condole with himself. O thou sinful sleep! how, for thy sake am I like to be benighted in my journey! I must walk without the sun; darkness must cover the path of my feet; and I must hear the noise of the doleful creatures, because of my sinful sleep (1 Thess. 5:6, 7). Now also he remembered the