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They enter the City in Triumph.

as they walked, ever and anon these trumpeters, even with joyful sound, would, by mixing their music with looks and gestures, still signify to Christian and his brother how wel come they were into their company, and with what gladness they came to meet them. And now were these two men, as 'twere in heaven, before they came at it, being swallowed up with the sight of angels, and with hearing of their melodiousnotes. Here also they had the City itself in view: and they thought they heard all the bells therein to ring, to welcome them thereto. But above all, the warm and joyful thoughts that they had about their own dwelling there with such com pany, and that forever and ever, Oh! by what tongue or pen can their glorious joy be expressed ?-Thus they came up to the Gate.

Now, when they were come up to the Gate, there was written over it, in letters of gold, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." ()

Then I saw in my dream that the Shining Men bid them call at the Gate; the which when they did, some from above looked over the Gate, to wit, Enoch, Moses, and Elijah, &c. to whom it was said, 'These Pilgrims are come from the City of Destruction, for the love that they bear to the King of this place;' and then the Pilgrims gave in unto them each man his certificate, which they had received in the beginning: those therefore were carried in to the King, who, when he had read them, said, 'Where are the men ? to whom it was answered, "They are standing without the Gate.' The King then commanded to "open the Gate, that the righteous nation," said he, "that keepeth truth may enter in."+

Now I saw in my dream, that these two men went in at the Gate; and, lo! as they entered, they were transfigured; and they had raiment put on that shone like gold. There was also that met them with harps and crowns, and gave them to them; the harps to praise withal, and the crowns in

* Rev. xxii. 14. + Isa. xxvi. 2.

(1) The commandments of God, as given to sinners under a dispensation of mercy, call them to repentance, faith in Christ, and the obedience of faith and love; the believer habit ually practises according to these commandments, from the time of his receiving Christ for salvation; and this evidences his interest in all the blessings of the new covenant, and proves that he has a right through grace to the heavenly inheritance.-May the writer of these remarks, and every reader, have such "an abundant entrance," as is here described, "into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!"

Ignorance ferried over by Vain-hope.

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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." I also heard the men themselves, that they sang with a loud voice, saying, "Blessing, and 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 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.

my

Now, while I was gazing upon all these things, I turned 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 had come up to the Gate, he looked up to the writing that was above, and then began to knock, supposing that entrance should have been quickly administered to him: but he was asked by the men that looked over the top of the Gate, 'Whence come you? And what would you have?' He answered, 'I have ate 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 shew it to the King :--so he fumbled in his bosom for one and found none. Then, said they, Have you none? But the man answered never a word. So they told the King, but he would not come down to see him; but commanded the two Shining Ones, that conducted Christian and Hopeful to the City, to go out and take Ignorance, and bind him hand and foot, and have him away. Then they took him up, and carried him through the air to the Door that I

* Rev. v. 13, 14.

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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 Destruction. (m) So I awoke, and beheld it was a dream,

(m) We frequently hear of persons that have lived strangers to evangelical religion, and the power of godliness, dying with great composure and resignation: and such instances are brought forward as an objection to the necessity of faith, or of a devoted life. But what do they prove? What evidence is there, that such men are saved? Is it not far more likely that they continued to the end under the power of ignorance and self-conceit; that Satan took care not to disturb them; and that God gave them over to a strong delusion, and left them to perish with a lie in their right hand? Men, who have neglected religion all their lives, or have habitually for a length of years disgraced an evangelical profession, being when near death visited by pious persons, sometimes obtain a sudden and extraordinary measure of peace and joy, and die in this frame. This should in general be consid ered as a bad sign: for deep humiliation, yea, distress, united with some trembling hope in God's mercy through the gospel, is far more suited to their case, and more likely to be the effect of spiritual illumination. But when a formal visit from a minister of any sect, a few general questions, and a prayer, (with or without the sacrament,) calm the mind of a dying person, whose life has been unsuitable to the Christian profession; no doubt, could we penetrate the veil, we should see him wafted across the River in the boat of Vain-hope, and meeting with the awful doom that is here described. From such delusions, good Lord, deliver us. Amen.

END OF PART I.

THE

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.

PART II.

COURTEOUS COMPANIONS,

SOME time since, to tell you a dream that I had of Christian the Pilgrim, and of his dangerous journey towards the Celestial Country, was pleasant to me and profitable to you. I told you then also what I saw concerning his wife and children, and how unwilling they were to go with him on pilgrimage insomuch that he was forced to go on his progress without them; for he durst not run the danger of that destruction, which he feared would come by staying with them in the City of Destruction. Wherefore, as I then shewed you, he left them and departed. (a)

Now it hath so happened, through the multiplicity of business, that I have been much hindered and kept back from my wonted travels into those parts where he went; and so could not, till now, obtain an opportunity to make further inquiry after whom he left behind, that I might give you an account of them. But, having had some concerns that way

(a) It has been before observed, That the first part of "The Pilgrim's Progress' is in all respects the most complete: Yet there are many things in the second well worthy of the pious reader's attention; nor can there be any doubt, but it was penned by the same author. It is not, however, necessary, that the annotator should be so copious upon it, as upon the more interesting instructions of the preceding part. In general, the leading invidents may be considered as the author's own exposition of his meaning in the former part; or as his delineation of some varieties, that occur in events of a similar nature: yet some particulars will demand, and richly deserve, a more full and exact elucidation.

204

Sagacity gives an Account

of late, I went down again thitherward. Now having taken up my lodging in a wood, about a mile off the place, as I slept I dreamed again.

And, as I was in my dream, behold, an aged gentleman came by where I lay; and because he was to go some part of the way that I was travelling, methought I got up and went with him. So, as we walked, and as travellers usually do, I was as if we fell into a discourse, and our talk happened to be about Christian and his travels for thus I began with the old man :

"Sir,' said I, 'what Town is that there below, that lieth on the left-hand of our way?'

Then said Mr. Sagacity, (for that was his name,) 'It is the City of Destruction, a populous place, but possessed with ill-conditioned and idle sort of people."

a very

"I thought that was that City,' quoth I, I went once myself through that Town; and therefore I know that this report you give of it is true.'

Sag. Too true! I wish I could speak truth in speaking better of them, that dwell therein.

"Well, Sir,' quoth I, then I perceive you to be a wellmeaning man, and so one that takes pleasure to hear and tell of that which is good: pray did you never hear what happened to a man some time ago in this Town, (whose name was Christian,) that went on a pilgrimage up towards the higher regions ?"

Sag. Hear of him! Ay, and I also heard of the molestations, troubles, wars, captivities, cries, groans, frights, and fears that he met with and had on his journey. Besides, I must tell you all our country rings of him; there are but few houses, that have heard of him and his doings, but have sought after and got the records of his pilgrimage: yea, I think I may say, that this hazardous journey has got many wellwishers to his ways; for, though when he was here, he was fool in every man's mouth, yet now he is gone he is highly commended of all. For it is said he lives bravely where he is yea, many of them that are resolved never to run his hazards, yet have their mouths water at his gains.

:

"They may,' quoth I, 'well think, if they think any thing that is true, that he liveth well where he is; for he now lives at and in the Fountain of life, and has what he has without labour and sorrow, for there is no grief mixed therewith. But pray, what talk have the people about him ♪'

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