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Timorous said that Zion was the hill they meant to climb, but that when they had got half way they found that they met with more and more risk, so that great fear came on them, and all they could do was to turn back. |
Yes, said Mistrust, for just in front of us there lay two beasts of prey in our path; we knew not if they slept or not, but we thought that they would fall on us and tear our limbs. |
Christian. -- You rouse my fears. Where must I fly to be safe? If I go back to my on town (Destruction) I am sure to lose my life, but if I can get to The Celestial City, there shall I be safe. To turn back is death; to go on is fear of death, but when I come there, a life of bliss that knows no end. I will go on yet. |
So Mistrust and Timorous ran down the hill and Christian went on his way. Yet he thought once more of what he had heard from the men, and then he felt in his cloak for his scroll, that he might read it and find some peace. He felt for it but found it not. Then was Christian in great grief, and knew not what to do for t... |
Thus, then, with tears and sighs, he went back, and with much care did he look on this side and on that for his scroll. At length he came near to the cave where he had sat and slept. How far, thought Christian, have I gone in vain! Such was the lot of the Jews for their sin; they were sent back by the way of the Red Se... |
Now by this time he had come to the vale once more, where for a spell he sat down and wept; but at last, as he cast a sad glance at the foot of the bench, he saw his scroll, which he caught up with haste, and put in his cloak. Words are too weak to tell the joy of Christian when he had got back his scroll. He laid it u... |
Still Christian went on, and while he thought thus on this sad lot he cast up his eyes and saw a great house in front of him, the name of which was Beautiful, and it stood just by the side of the high road. So he made haste and went on in the hope that he could rest there a while. The name of the man who kept the lodge... |
Then I saw, in my dream, that still he went on in great dread of the wild beasts; he heard them roar, yet they did him no harm; but when he had gone by them he went on with joy, till he came and stood in front of the lodge where Watchful dwelt. |
Christian. -- Sir, what house is this? May I rest here to night? |
Watchful. -- This house was built by the Lord of the Hill to give aid to those who climb up it for the good cause. Tell me, whence come you? |
Christian. -- I am come from the Town of Destruction, and am on my way to Mount Zion; but the day is far spent, and I would, with your leave, pass the night here. |
Watchful. -- What is your name? |
Christian. -- My name is now Christian, but at first it was Graceless. |
Watchful. -- How is it you came so late? The sun is set. |
Christian then told him why it was. |
Watchful. -- Well, I will call one that lives here, who, if she like your talk, will let you come in, for these are the rules of the house. |
So he rang a bell, at the sound of which there came out at the door a grave and fair maid, whose name was Discretion. When Watchful told her why Christian had come there, she said: What is your name? |
It is Christian, said he, and I much wish to rest here to night, and the more so for I see this place was build by the Lord of the Hill, to screen those from harm who come to it. |
So she gave a smile, but the tears stood in her eyes; and in a short time she said: I will call forth two or three more of our house, and then she ran to the door and brought in Prudence, Piety, and Charity, who met him and said: Come in, thou blest of the Lord; this house was built by the King of the Hill for such as ... |
Piety. -- Come, good Christian, since our love prompts us to take you in to rest, let us talk with you of all that you have seen on your way. |
Christian. -- With a right good will, and I am glad that you should ask it of me. |
Prudence. -- And, first, say what is it that makes you wish so much to go to Mount Zion? |
Christian. -- Why there I hope to see Him that did die on the Cross; and there I hope to be rid of all those thing that to this day grieve and vex me. There, they say, is no death; and there I shall dwell with such as love the Lord. |
Charity. -- Have you a wife and babes? |
Christian. -- Yes, I have. |
Charity. -- And why did you not bring them with you? |
Christian then wept, and said: Oh, how glad should I have been to do so! but they would not come with me, nor have me leave them. |
Charity. -- And did you pray to God to put it in their hearts to go with you? |
Christian. -- Yes, and that with much warmth, for you may think how dear they were to me. |
Thus did Christian talk with these friends till it grew dark, and then he took his rest in a large room, the name of which was Peace; there he slept till break of day, and then he sang a hymn. |
They told him that he should not leave till they had shown him all the rare things that were in that place. There were to be seen the rod of Moses, the nail with which Jail slew Sisera, the lamps with which Gideon put to flight the host of Midian, and the ox goad with which Shamgar slew his foes. And they brought out t... |
Then I saw in my dream that Christian rose to take his leave of Discretion, and of Prudence, Piety, and Charity, but they said that he must stay till the next day, that they might show him The Delectable Mountains; so they took him to the top of the house, and bade him look to the South, which he did, and lo, a great w... |
What is the name of this land? said Christian. |
Then they told him it was Immanuel's Land. And, said they, It is as much meant for you, and the like of you, as this hill is; and when you reach the place, there you may see the gate of The Celestial City. Then they gave him a sword, and put on him a coat of mail, which was proof from head to foot, lest he should meet ... |
Of a truth, said Christian, it is as great a toil to come down the hill as it was to go up. |
Prudence. -- So it is, for it is a hard thing for a man to go down to The Vale of Humiliation, as thou dost now, and for this cause have we come with you to the foot of the hill. So, though he went with great care, yet he caught a slip or two. |
Then in my dream I saw that when they had got to the foot of the hill, these good friends of Christian's gave him a loaf of bread, a flask of wine, and a bunch of dry grapes; and then they left him to go on his way. |
But now in this Vale of Humiliation poor Christian was hard put to it, for he had not gone far, ere he saw a foe come in the field to meet him, whose name was Apollyon. Then did Christian fear, and he cast in his mind if he would go back or stand his ground. But Christian thought that as he had no coat of mail on his b... |
So he went on, and Apollyon met him with looks of scorn. |
Apollyon. -- Whence come you, and to what place are you bound? |
Christian. -- I am come from The City of Destruction, which is a place of all sin, and I am on my way to Zion. |
Apollyon. -- By this I see you are mine, for of all that land I am the Prince. How is it, then, that you have left your king? Were it not that I have a hope that you may do me more good, I would strike you to the ground with one blow. |
Christian. -- I was born in your realm, it is true, but you drove us too hard, and your wage was such as no man could live on. |
Apollyon. -- No prince likes to lose his men, nor will I as yet lose you; so if you will come back, what my realm yields I will give you. |
Christian. -- But I am bound by vows to the King of Kings; and how can I, to be true, go back with you? |
Apollyon. -- You have made a change, it seems, from bad to worse; but why not give Him the slip, and come back with me? |
Christian. -- I gave Him my faith, and swore to be true to Him: how can I go back from this? |
Apollyon. -- You did the same to me, and yet I will pass by all, if you will but turn and go back. |
Then, when Apollyon saw that Christian was stanch to his Prince, he broke out in a great rage, and said, I hate that Prince, and I hate his laws, and I am come out to stop you. |
Christian. -- Take heed what you do. I am on the King's high way to Zion. |
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