200 THEY ENTER THE CITY, AND ARE CROWNED WITH GLORY. pilgrims are come from the city of DESTRUCTION, for the love that they bear to the King of this place;" and then the pilgrims gave in unto them each man his certificate, which they had received in the beginning: those therefore were carried in unto the King, who, when he had read them, said, Where are the men?" to whom it was answered, They are standing without the gate.' The king then commanded to open the gate, "that the righteous nation," said he, "that keepeth truth may enter in'." Now I saw in my dream that these two men went in at the gate; and, lo! as they entered, they were transfigured; and they had raiment put on that shone like gold. There were also that met them with harps and crowns, and gave them to them; the harps to praise withal, and the crowns in token of honour.— Then I heard in my dream that all the bells in the city rang again for joy, and that it was said unto them, "Enter ye into the joy of your LORD." LORD." I also heard the men themselves, that they sang with a loud voice, saying, Blessing, honour, and glory and power, be "to Him that sitteth upon the throne, and to the "Lamb for ever and ever." Now, just as the gates were opened to let in the men, I looked in after them, and behold the city shone like the sun; the streets also were paved with gold; and in them walked many men with crowns on their heads, palms in their hands, and golden harps, to sing praises withal. There were also of them that had wings, and they I Isa. xxvi. 2. 2 Rev. v. 13, 14. IGNORANCE FERRIED OVER THE RIVER BY VAIN-HOPE. 201 answered one another without intermission, saying, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord." And after that they shut up the gates: which when I had seen, I wished myself among them. Now, while I was gazing upon all these things, I turned my head to look back, and saw IGNORANCE come up to the river' side: but he soon got over, and that without half that difficulty which the other two men met with. For it happened that there was then in that place one VAIN-HOPE, a ferry-man, that with his boat helped him over: so he, as the other I saw, did ascend the hill, to come up to the gate; only he came alone; neither did any man meet him with the least encouragement. When he was come up to the gate, he looked up to the writing that was above, and then began to knock, supposing that entrance should have been quickly administered to him: but he was asked by the man that looked over the top of the gate, Whence come you? And what would you 'have?' He answered, I have eat and drunk in the presence of the King, and he has taught in our 'streets.' Then they asked him for his certificate, that they might go in and show it to the King:so he fumbled in his bosom for one, and found none. Then said they, You have none: but the man answered never a word. So they told the King, but he would not come down to see him, but commanded the two shining ones, that conducted CHRISTIAN and HOPEFUL to the city, to go out, and take IGNORANCE, and bind him hand and foot, and have him away. Then they took him up, and 202 BUT CARRIED BACK THE BY-WAY TO HELL. carried him through the air to the door that I saw in the side of the hill, and put him in there. Then I saw that there was a way to hell, even from the gates of heaven, as well as from the city of DɛSTRUCTION. So I awoke, and beheld it was a dream. END OF PART I. |