THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS;
IN THE SIMILITUDE OF A DREAM.

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 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?

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 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 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 Destruction, to yonder gate) is it that this plat is not 
mended, that poor travelers 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 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 
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 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 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 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 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 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 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. 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 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. 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 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 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 manner, 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]

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 Mount Sion.

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. 1:16). And as for this 
coat that is on my back, it was given me by the Lord of the 
place whither I go; and that, as you say, to cover my 
nakedness with. And I take it as a token of His kindness to 
me; for I had nothing but rags before. And, besides, thus I 
comfort myself as I go: Surely, think I, when I come to the 
gate of the city, the Lord thereof will know me for good, 
since I have His coat on my back-a coat that He gave me in 
the day that He stripped me of my rags. I have, moreover, a 
mark in my forehead, of which, perhaps, you have taken no 
notice, which one of my Lord's most intimate associates 
fixed there in the day that my burden fell off my 
shoulders. I will tell you, moreover, that I had then given 
me a roll, sealed, to comfort me by reading, as I go on the 
way; I was also bid to give it in at the Celestial Gate, in 
token of my certain going in after it; all which things, I 
doubt, you want, and want them because you came not in at 
the gate.

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 Celestial City, 
I am sure to be in safety there. I must venture. To go back 
is nothing but death; to go forward is fear of death, and 
life everlasting beyond it. I will yet go forward.[63] So 
Mistrust and Timorous ran down the hill, and Christian went 
on his way. But, thinking again of what he heard from the 
men, be felt in his bosom for his roll, that he might read 
therein, and be comforted; but he felt, and found it not. 
Then was Christian in great distress, and knew not what to 
do; for he wanted that which used to relieve him, and that 
which should have been his pass into the Celestial City. 
Here, therefore, he began to be much perplexed, and knew 
not what to do.[64] At last, he bethought himself, that he 
had slept in the arbour that is on the side of the hill; 
and, falling down upon his knees, he asked God's 
forgiveness for that his foolish act, and then went back to 
look for his roll. But all the way he went back, who can 
sufficiently set forth the sorrow of Christian's heart! 
Sometimes he sighed, sometimes he wept, and oftentimes he 
chid himself for being so foolish to fall asleep in that 
place, which was erected only for a little refreshment for 
his weariness. Thus therefore he went back, carefully 
looking on this side, and on that, all the way as he went, 
if happily he might find his roll, that had been his 
comfort so many times in his journey. He went thus, till he 
came again within sight of the arbour where he sat and 
slept; but that sight renewed his sorrow the more, by 
bringing again, even afresh, his evil of sleeping into his 
mind (Rev. 2:5; 1 Thess. 5:7, 8). Thus, therefore, he now 
went on bewailing his sinful sleep, saying, "O wretched man 
that I am!" that I should sleep in the day time! that I 
should sleep in the midst of difficulty! that I should so 
indulge the flesh, as to use that rest for ease to my 
flesh, which the Lord of the hill hath erected only for the 
relief of the spirits of pilgrims![65]

How many steps have I took in vain! Thus it happened to 
Israel, for their sin; they were sent back again by the way 
of the Red Sea; and I am made to tread those steps with 
sorrow, which I might have trod with delight, had it not 
been for this sinful sleep. How far might I have been on my 
way by this time! I am made to tread those steps thrice 
over, which I needed not to have trod but once; yea, now 
also I am like to be benighted, for the day is almost 
spent. O that I had not slept!

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 story that Mistrust and Timorous told him 
of, how they were frighted with the sight of the lions. 
Then said Christian to himself again, These beasts range in 
the night for their prey; and if they should meet with me 
in the dark, how should I shift them? How should I escape 
being by them torn in pieces? Thus he went on his way. But 
while he was thus bewailing his unhappy miscarriage, he 
lift up his eyes, and behold there was a very stately 
palace before him, the name of which was Beautiful; and it 
stood just by the highway side.[66]

So I saw in my dream, that he made haste and went forward, 
that if possible he might get lodging there. Now before he 
had gone far, be entered into a very narrow passage, which 
was about a furlong off of the porter's lodge; and looking 
very narrowly before him as he went, he espied two lions in 
the way.[67] Now, thought he, I see the dangers that 
Mistrust and Timorous were driven back by. (The lions were 
chained, but he saw not the chains). Then he was afraid, 
and thought also himself to go back after them, for he 
thought nothing but death was before him. But the porter at 
the lodge, whose name is Watchful, perceiving that 
Christian made a halt as if he would go back, cried unto 
him, saying, Is thy strength so small? (Mark 13:34-37). 
Fear not the lions, for they are chained, and are placed 
there for trial of faith where it is, and for discovery of 
those that have none. Keep in the midst of the path, and no 
hurt shall come unto thee.

Then I saw that he went on, trembling for fear of the 
lions, but taking good heed to the directions of the 
porter; he heard them roar, but they did him no harm. Then 
he clapped his hands, and went on till he came and stood 
before the gate, where the porter was. Then said Christian 
to the porter, Sir, what house is this? and may I lodge 
here tonight? The porter answered, This house was built by 
the Lord of the hill, and He built it for the relief and 
security of pilgrims. The porter also asked whence he was, 
and whither he was going.

CHR. I am come from the City of Destruction, and am going 
to Mount Zion; but because the sun is now set, I desire, if 
I may, to lodge here tonight.

POR. What is your name?

CHR. My name is now Christian, but my name at the first was 
Graceless; I came of the race of Japheth, whom God will 
persuade to dwell in the tents of Shem (Gen. 9:27).

POR. But how doth it happen that you come so late? The sun 
is set.

CHR. I had been here sooner, but that, "wretched man that I 
am!" I slept in the arbour that stands on the hill side; 
nay, I had, notwithstanding that, been here much sooner, 
but that, in my sleep, I lost my evidence, and came without 
it to the brow of the hill; and then feeling for it, and 
finding it not, I was forced, with sorrow of heart, to go 
back to the place where I slept my sleep, where I found it, 
and now I am come.

POR. Well, I will call out one of the virgins of this 
place, who will, if she likes your talk, bring you in to 
the rest of the family, according to the rules of the 
house. So Watchful, the porter, rang a bell, at the sound 
of which came out at the door of the house, a grave and 
beautiful damsel, named Discretion, and asked why she was 
called.

The porter answered, This man is in a journey from the City 
of Destruction to Mount Zion, but being weary and 
benighted, he asked me if he might lodge here tonight; so I 
told him I would call for thee, who, after discourse had 
with him, mayest do as seemeth thee good, even according to 
the law of the house.

Then she asked him whence he was, and whither he was going; 
and he told her. She asked him also how he got into the 
way; and he told her. Then she asked him what he had seen 
and met with in the way; and he told her. And last she 
asked his name; so he said, It is Christian, and I have so 
much the more a desire to lodge here tonight, because, by 
what I perceive, this place was built by the Lord of the 
hill, for the relief and security of pilgrims. So she 
smiled, but the water stood in her eyes; and after a little 
pause, she said, I will call forth two or three more of the 
family. So she ran to the door, and called out Prudence, 
Piety, and Charity, who, after a little more discourse with 
him, had him into the family; and many of them meeting him 
at the threshold of the house, said, "Come in, thou blessed 
of the Lord"; this house was built by the Lord of the hill, 
on purpose to entertain such pilgrims in.[68] Then he bowed 
his head, and followed them into the house. So when he was 
come in and sat down, they gave him something to drink, and 
consented together, that until supper was ready, some of 
them should have some particular discourse with Christian, 
for the best improvement of time; and they appointed Piety, 
and Prudence, and Charity to discourse with him; and thus 
they began:

PIETY. Come, good Christian, since we have been so loving 
to you, to receive you into our house this night, let us, 
if perhaps we may better ourselves thereby, talk with you 
of all things that have happened to you in your pilgrimage.

CHR. With a very good will, and I am glad that you are so 
well disposed.

PIETY. What moved you at first to betake yourself to a 
pilgrim's life?

CHR. I was driven out of my native country, by a dreadful 
sound that was in mine ears; to wit, that unavoidable 
destruction did attend me, if I abode in that country place 
where I was.

PIETY. But how did it happen that you came out of your 
country this way?

CHR. It was as God would have it; for when I was under the 
fears of destruction, I did not know whither to go; but by 
chance there came a man, even to me, as I was trembling and 
weeping, whose name is Evangelist, and he directed me to 
the wicket-gate, which else I should never have found, and 
so set me into the way that hath led me directly to this 
house.

PIETY. But did you not come by the house of the 
Interpreter?

CHR. Yes, and did see such things there, the remembrance of 
which will stick by me as long as I live; especially three 
things, to wit, how Christ, in despite of Satan, maintains 
His work of grace in the heart; how the man had sinned 
himself quite out of hopes of God's mercy; and also the 
dream of him that thought in his sleep the day of judgment 
was come.

PIETY. Why, did you hear him tell his dream?

CHR. Yes, and a dreadful one it was. I thought it made my 
heart ache as he was telling of it; but yet I am glad I 
heard it.

PIETY. Was that all that you saw at the house of the 
Interpreter?

CHR. No; he took me and had me where he showed me a stately 
palace, and how the people were clad in gold that were in 
it; and how there came a venturous man and cut his way 
through the armed men that stood in the door to keep him 
out; and how he was bid to come in, and win eternal glory. 
Methought those things did ravish my heart! I would have 
staid at that good man's house a twelvemonth, but that I 
knew I had further to go.

PIETY. And what saw you else in the way?

CHR. Saw! why, I went but a little further, and I saw one, 
as I thought in my mind, hang bleeding upon the tree; and 
the very sight of Him made my burden fall off my back (for 
I groaned under a very heavy burden), but then it fell down 
from off me. It was a strange thing to me, for I never saw 
such a thing before; yea, and while I stood looking up, for 
then I could not forbear looking, three Shining Ones came 
to me. One of them testified that my sins were forgiven me; 
another stripped me of my rags, and gave me this broidered 
coat which you see; and the third set the mark which you 
see in my forehead, and gave me this sealed roll. (And with 
that he plucked it out of his bosom).

PIETY. But you saw more than this, did you not?

CHR. The things that I have told you were the best, yet 
some other matters I saw, as, namely, I saw three men, 
Simple, Sloth, and Presumption, lie asleep a little out of 
the way, as I came, with irons upon their heels; but do you  
think I could awake them? I also saw Formality and 
Hypocrisy come tumbling over the wall, to go, as they 
pretended, to Zion, but they were quickly lost, even as I 
myself did tell them; but they would not believe. But above 
all, I found it hard work to get up this hill, and as hard 
to come by the lions' mouths; and truly if it had not been 
for the good man, the porter that stands at the gate, I do 
not know but that after all I might have gone back again; 
but now, I thank God I am here, and I thank you for 
receiving of me.

Then Prudence thought good to ask him a few questions, and 
desired his answer to them.

PRUD. Do you not think sometimes of the country from whence 
you came?

CHR. Yes, but with much shame and detestation: "truly if I 
had been mindful of that country from whence I came out, I 
might have had opportunity to have returned; but now I 
desire a better country, that is, an heavenly" (Heb. 11:15, 
16). 

PRUD. Do you not yet bear away with you some of the things 
that then you were conversant withal?

CHR. Yes, but greatly against my will; especially my inward 
and carnal cogitations, with which all my countrymen, as 
well as myself, were delighted; but now all those things 
are my grief; and might I but choose mine own things, I 
would choose never to think of those things more; but when 
I would be doing of that which is best, that which is worst 
is with me (Rom. 7). 

PRUD. Do you not find sometimes, as if those things were 
vanquished, which at other times are your perplexity?

CHR. Yes, but that is but seldom; but they are to me golden 
hours, in which such things happen to me.[69]

PRUD. Can you remember by what means you find your 
annoyances, at times, as if they were vanquished?

CHR. Yes; when I think what I saw at the cross, that will 
do it; and when I look upon my broidered coat, that will do 
it; also when I look into the roll that I carry in my 
bosom, that will do it; and when my thoughts wax warm about 
whither I am going, that will do it.[70]

PRUD. And what is it that makes you so desirous to go to 
Mount Zion?

CHR. Why, there I hope to see Him alive that did hang dead 
on the cross; and there I hope to be rid of all those 
things that to this day are in me an annoyance to me; 
there, they say, there is no death; and there I shall dwell 
with such company as I like best (Isa. 25:8; Rev. 21:4). 
For, to tell you truth, I love Him, because I was by Him 
eased of my burden; and I am weary of my inward sickness. I 
would fain be where I shall die no more, and with the 
company that shall continually cry, "Holy, holy, holy."

Then said Charity to Christian, Have you a family? Are you 
a married man? 

CHR. I have a wife and four small children.[71]

CHAR. And why did you not bring them along with you?

CHR. Then Christian wept, and said, O how willingly would I 
have done it! but they were all of them utterly averse to 
my going on pilgrimage.     

CHAR. But you should have talked to them, and have 
endeavoured to have shown them the danger of being behind.

CHR. So I did; and told them also what God had shown to me 
of the destruction of our city; "but I seemed to them as 
one that mocked," and they believed me not (Gen. 19:14).

CHAR. And did you pray to God that He would bless your 
counsel to them?

CHR. Yes, and that with much affection; for you must think 
that my wife and poor children were very dear unto me.

CHAR. But did you tell them of your own sorrow, and fear of 
destruction? for I suppose that destruction was visible 
enough to you.

CHR. Yes, over, and over, and over. They might also see my 
fears in my countenance, in my tears, and also in my 
trembling under the apprehension of the judgment that did 
hang over our heads; but all was not sufficient to prevail 
with them to come with me.

CHAR. But what could they say for themselves, why they came 
not?

CHR. Why, my wife was afraid of losing this world, and my 
children were given to the foolish delights of youth; so 
what by one thing, and what by another, they left me to 
wander in this manner alone.

CHAR. But did you not, with your vain life, damp all that 
you by words used by way of persuasion to bring them away 
with you?[72]

CHR. Indeed, I cannot commend my life; for I am conscious 
to myself of many failings therein; I know also, that a man 
by his conversation may soon overthrow, what by argument or 
persuasion he doth labour to fasten upon others for their 
good. Yet this I can say, I was very wary of giving them 
occasion, by any unseemly action, to make them averse to 
going on pilgrimage.[73] Yea, for this very thing, they 
would tell me I was too precise, and that I denied myself 
of things, for their sakes, in which they saw no evil. Nay, 
I think I may say, that if what they saw in me did hinder 
them, it was my great tenderness in sinning against God, or 
of doing any wrong to my neighbour.

CHAR. Indeed Cain hated his brother, "because his own works 
were evil, and his brother's righteous" (1 John 3:12); and 
if thy wife and children have been offended with thee for 
this, they thereby show themselves to be implacable to 
good, and "thou hast delivered thy soul from their blood" 
(Ezek. 3:19). 

Now I saw in my dream, that thus they sat talking together 
until supper was ready.[74] So when they had made ready, 
they sat down to meat. Now the table was furnished "with 
fat things, and with wine that was well refined": and all 
their talk at the table was about the Lord of the hill; as, 
namely, about what He had done, and wherefore He did what 
He did, and why He had builded that house. And by what they 
said, I perceived that He had been a great warrior, and had 
fought with and slain "him that had the power of death," 
but not without great danger to Himself, which made me love 
Him the more[75] (Heb. 2:14, 15).

For, as they said, and as I believe (said Christian), He 
did it with the loss of much blood; but that which put 
glory of grace into all He did, was, that He did it out of 
pure love to His country. And besides, there were some of 
them of the household that said they had been and spoke 
with Him since He did die on the cross; and they have 
attested that they had it from His own lips, that He is 
such a lover of poor pilgrims, that the like is not to be 
found from the east to the west.

They, moreover, gave an instance of what they affirmed, and 
that was, He had stripped Himself of His glory, that He 
might do this for the poor; and that they heard Him say and 
affirm, "that He would not dwell in the mountain of Zion 
alone." They said, moreover, that He had made many pilgrims 
princes, though by nature they were beggars born, and their 
original had been the dunghill (1 Sam. 2:8; Psa. 113:7).

Thus they discoursed together till late at night; and after 
they had committed themselves to their Lord for protection, 
they betook themselves to rest: the Pilgrim they laid in a 
large upper chamber, whose window opened toward the sun-
rising; the name of the chamber was Peace;[76] where he 
slept till break of day, and then he awoke and sang[77]-

Where am I now? Is this the love and care Of Jesus for the 
men that pilgrims are? Thus to provide! that I should be 
forgiven! And dwell already the next door to Heaven!

So, in the morning, they all got up; and after some more 
discourse, they told him that he should not depart till 
they had shown him the rarities of that place. And first, 
they had him into the study, where they showed him records 
of the greatest antiquity; in which, as I remember my 
dream, they showed him first the pedigree of the Lord of 
the hill, that He was the Son of the Ancient of Days, and 
came by that eternal generation. Here also was more fully 
recorded the acts that He had done, and the names of many 
hundreds that He had taken into His service; and how He had 
placed them in such habitations, that could neither by 
length of days, nor decays of nature, be dissolved.

Then they read to him some of the worthy acts that some of 
His servants had done: as, how they had "subdued kingdoms, 
wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the 
mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the 
edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed 
valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the 
aliens" (Heb. 11:33, 34).

They then read again in another part of the records of the 
house, where it was showed how willing their Lord was to 
receive into His favour any, even any, though they in time 
past had offered great affronts to His person and 
proceedings. Here also were several other histories of many 
other famous things, of all which Christian had a view; as 
of things both ancient and modern; together with prophecies 
and predictions of things that have their certain 
accomplishment, both to the dread and amazement of enemies, 
and the comfort and solace of pilgrims.

The next day they took him and had him into the armoury, 
where they showed him all manner of furniture, which their 
Lord had provided for pilgrims, as sword, shield, helmet, 
breastplate, all-prayer, and shoes that would not wear 
out.[78] And there was here enough of this to harness out 
as many men, for the service of their Lord, as there be 
stars in the Heaven for multitude.[79]

They also showed him some of the engines with which some of 
his servants had done wonderful things. They showed him 
Moses' rod; the hammer and nail with which Jael slew 
Sisera; the pitchers, trumpets, and lamps too, with which 
Gibeon put to flight the armies of Midian. Then they showed 
him the ox's goad wherewith Shamgar slew 600 men. They 
showed him, also, the jaw-bone with which Samson did such 
mighty feats. They showed him, moreover, the sling and 
stone with which David slew Goliath of Gath; and the sword, 
also, with which their Lord will kill the Man of Sin, in 
the day that he shall rise up to the prey. They showed him, 
besides, many excellent things, with which Christian was 
much delighted. This done, they went to their rest 
again.[80]

Then I saw in my dream, that, on the morrow, he got up to 
go forward; but they desired him to stay till the next day 
also; and then, said they, we will, if the day be clear, 
show you the Delectable Mountains,[81] which, they said, 
would yet further add to his comfort, because they were 
nearer the desired haven than the place where at present he 
was; so he consented and staid. When the morning was up, 
they had him to the top of the house, and bid him look 
south; so he did; and, behold, at a great distance, he saw 
a most pleasant mountainous country, beautified with woods, 
vineyards, fruits of all sorts, flowers also, with springs 
and fountains, very delectable to behold (Isa. 33:16, 17). 
Then he asked the name of the country. They said it was 
Immanuel's Land; and it is as common, said they, as this 
hill is, to and for all the pilgrims. And when thou comest 
there, from thence, said they, thou mayest see to the gate 
of the Celestial City, as the shepherds that live there 
will make appear.

Now, he bethought himself of setting forward, and they were 
willing he should, But first, said they, let us go again 
into the armoury. So they did; and when they came there, 
they harnessed him from head to foot with what was of 
proof, lest, perhaps, he should meet with assaults in the 
way. He being, therefore, thus accoutred, walketh out with 
his friends to the gate, and there he asked the porter if 
he saw any pilgrims pass by. Then the porter answered, Yes.

CHR. Pray, did you know him? said he.

POR. I asked his name, and he told me it was Faithful.

CHR. O, said Christian, I know him; he is my townsman, my 
near neighbour; he comes from the place where I was born. 
How far do you think he may be before?

POR. He is got by this time below the hill.

CHR. Well, said Christian, good Porter, the Lord be with 
thee, and add to all thy blessings much increase, for the 
kindness that thou hast showed to me.

Then he began to go forward; but Discretion, Piety, 
Charity, and Prudence, would accompany him down to the foot 
of the hill. So they went on together, reiterating their 
former discourses, till they came to go down the hill. 
Then, said Christian, as it was difficult coming up, so, so 
far as I can see, it is dangerous going down. Yes, said 
Prudence, so it is, for it is a hard matter for a man to go 
down into the Valley of Humiliation, as thou art now, and 
to catch no slip by the way; therefore, said they, are we 
come out to accompany thee down the hill. So he began to go 
down, but very warily; yet he caught a slip or two.[82]  
Then I saw in my dream that these good companions,  when 
Christian was gone to the bottom of the hill, gave him  a 
loaf of bread, a bottle of wine, and a cluster of raisins; 
and then he went on his way.

But now, in this Valley of Humiliation, poor Christian was 
hard put to it; for he had gone but a little way, before he 
espied a foul fiend coming over the field to meet him; his 
name is Apollyon. Then did Christian begin to be afraid, 
and to cast in his mind whether to go back or to stand his 
ground. But he considered again that he had no armour for 
his back; and, therefore, thought that to turn the back to 
him might give him the greater advantage, with ease to 
pierce him with his darts.[83] Therefore he resolved to 
venture and stand his ground; for, thought he, had I no 
more in mine eye than the saving of my life, it would be 
the best way to stand.

So he went on, and Apollyon met him. Now the monster was 
hideous to behold; he was clothed with scales, like a fish 
(and they are his pride), he had wings like a dragon, feet 
like a bear, and out of his belly came fire and smoke, and 
his mouth was as the mouth of a lion.[84] When he was come 
up to Christian, he beheld him with a disdainful 
countenance, and thus began to question with him.

APOL. Whence come you? and whither are you bound?

CHR. I am come from the City of Destruction, which is the 
place of all evil, and am going to the City of Zion.

APOL. By this I perceive thou art one of my subjects, for 
all that country is mine, and I am the prince and god of 
it. How is it, then, that thou hast run away from thy king? 
Were it not that I hope thou mayest do me more service, I 
would strike thee now, at one blow, to the ground.

CHR. I was born, indeed, in your dominions, but your 
service was hard, and your wages such as a man could not 
live on, "for the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23); 
therefore, when I was come to years, I did as other 
considerate persons do, look out, if, perhaps, I might mend 
myself.

APOL. There is no prince that will thus lightly lose his 
subjects,[85] neither will I as yet lose thee; but since 
thou complainest of thy service and wages, be content to go 
back; what our country will afford, I do here promise to 
give thee.

CHR. But I have let myself to another, even to the King of 
princes; and how can I, with fairness, go back with thee?

APOL. Thou hast done in this according to the proverb, 
"Changed a bad for a worse"; but it is ordinary for those 
that have professed themselves His servants, after a while 
to give Him the slip, and return again to me. Do thou so 
too, and all shall be well.

CHR. I have given Him my faith, and sworn my allegiance to 
Him; how, then, can I go back from this, and not be hanged 
as a traitor?

APOL. Thou didst the same to me, and yet I am willing to 
pass by all, if now thou wilt yet turn again and go back.

CHR. What I promised thee was in my nonage;[86] and, 
besides, I count the Prince under whose banner now I stand 
is able to absolve me; yea, and to pardon also what I did 
as to my compliance with thee; and besides, O thou 
destroying Apollyon! to speak truth, I like His service, 
His wages, His servants, His government, His company, and 
country, better than thine; and, therefore, leave off to 
persuade me further; I am His servant, and I will follow 
Him.

APOL. Consider again, when thou art in cool blood, what 
thou art like to meet with in the way that thou goest. Thou 
knowest that, for the most part, His servants come to an 
ill end, because they are transgressors against me and my 
ways. How many of them have been put to shameful deaths! 
and, besides, thou countest His service better than mine, 
whereas He never came yet from the place where He is to 
deliver any that served Him out of their hands; but as for 
me, how many times, as all the world very well knows, have 
I delivered, either by power or fraud, those that have 
faithfully served me, from Him and His, though taken by 
them; and so I will deliver thee.

CHR. His forbearing at present to deliver them is on 
purpose to try their love, whether they will cleave to Him 
to the end; and as for the ill end thou sayest they come 
to, that is most glorious in their account; for, for 
present deliverance, they do not much expect it, for they 
stay for their glory, and then they shall have it, when 
their Prince comes in His and the glory of the angels.

APOL. Thou hast already been unfaithful in thy service to 
Him; and how dost thou think to receive wages of Him?

CHR. Wherein, O Apollyon! have I been unfaithful to Him?

APOL. Thou didst faint at first setting out, when thou wast 
almost choked in the Gulf of Despond; thou didst attempt 
wrong ways to be rid of thy burden, whereas against thou 
shouldest have stayed till thy Prince had taken it off; 
thou didst sinfully sleep, and lose thy choice thing; thou 
wast, also, almost persuaded to go back, at the sight of 
the lions; and when thou talkest of thy journey, and of 
what thou hast heard and seen, thou art inwardly desirous 
of vain-glory in all that thou sayest or doest.[87]

CHR. All this is true, and much more which thou has left 
out; but the Prince, whom I serve and honour, is merciful, 
and ready to forgive; but, besides, these infirmities 
possessed me in thy country, for there I sucked them in; 
and I have groaned under them, been sorry for them, and 
have obtained pardon of my Prince.[88]

APOL. Then Apollyon broke out into a grievous rage, saying, 
I am an enemy to this Prince; I hate His person, His laws, 
and people; I am come out on purpose to withstand thee.

CHR. Apollyon, beware what you do; for I am in the king's 
highway, the way of holiness; therefore take heed to 
yourself.

APOL. Then Apollyon straddled quite over the whole breadth 
of the way, and said, I am void of fear in this matter: 
prepare thyself to die; for I swear by my infernal den, 
that thou shalt go no further; here will I spill thy soul.

And with that he threw a flaming dart at his breast;[89] 
but Christian had a shield in his hand, with which he 
caught it, and so prevented the danger of that.

Then did Christian draw; for he saw it was time to bestir 
him: and Apollyon as fast made at him, throwing darts as 
thick as hail; by the which, notwithstanding all that 
Christian could do to avoid it, Apollyon wounded him in his 
head, his hand, and foot. This made Christian give a little 
back; Apollyon, therefore, followed his work amain, and 
Christian again took courage, and resisted as manfully as 
he could. This sore combat lasted for above half a day, 
even till Christian was almost quite spent; for you must 
know, that Christian, by reason of his wounds, must needs 
grow weaker and weaker.

Then Apollyon, espying his opportunity, began to gather up 
close to Christian, and wrestling with him, gave him a 
dreadful fall; and with that, Christian's sword flew out of 
his hand. Then said Apollyon, I am sure of thee now.[90] 
And with that he had almost pressed him to death; so that 
Christian began to despair of life: but as God would have 
it, while Apollyon was fetching of his last blow, thereby 
to make a full end of this good man, Christian nimbly 
stretched out his hand for his sword, and caught it, 
saying, "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, 
I shall arise" (Micah. 7:8); and with that gave him a 
deadly thrust, which made him give back, as one that had 
received his mortal wound. Christian perceiving that, made 
at him again, saying, "Nay, in all these things we are more 
than conquerors, through Him that loved us" (Rom. 8:37). 
And with that Apollyon spread forth his dragon's wings, and 
sped him away, that Christian for a season[91] saw him no 
more[92] (James 4:7).

In this combat no man can imagine, unless he had seen and 
heard as I did, what yelling and hideous roaring Apollyon 
made all the time of the fight-he spake like a dragon; and, 
on the other side, what sighs and groans burst from 
Christian's heart. I never saw him all the while give so 
much as one pleasant look, till he perceived he had wounded 
Apollyon with his two-edged sword; then, indeed, he did 
smile, and look upward; but it was the most dreadful sight 
that ever I saw.[93]

So when the battle was over, Christian said, "I will here 
give thanks to Him that delivered me out of the mouth of 
the lion, to Him that did help me against Apollyon." And so 
he did, saying-

Great Beelzebub, the captain of this fiend, Design'd my 
ruin; therefore to this end He sent him harness'd out; and 
he with rage, That hellish was, did fiercely me engage. But 
blessed Michael helped me, and I, By dint of sword, did 
quickly make him fly. Therefore to him let me give lasting 
praise, And thank and bless his holy name always.

Then there came to him a hand, with some of the leaves of 
the tree of life, the which Christian took, and applied to 
the wounds that he had received in the battle, and was 
healed immediately.[94] He also sat down in that place to 
eat bread, and to drink of the bottle that was given him a 
little before; so being refreshed, he addressed himself to 
his journey, with his sword drawn in his hand; for he said, 
I know not but some other enemy may be at hand. But he met 
with no other affront from Apollyon quite through this 
valley.

Now, at the end of this valley, was another, The Valley of 
the Shadow of Death. and Christian must needs go through 
it, because the way to the Celestial City lay through the 
midst of it. Now this valley is a very solitary place. The 
prophet Jeremiah thus describes it: "A wilderness, a land 
of deserts, and of pits, a land of drought, and of the 
shadow of death, a land that no man" (but a Christian) 
"passed through, and where no man dwelt" (Jer. 2:6). 

Now here Christian was worse put to it than in his fight 
with Apollyon; as by the sequel you shall see.[95]

I saw then in my dream, that when Christian was got to the 
borders of the Shadow of Death, there met him two men, 
children of them that brought up an evil report of the good 
land (Num. 13), making haste to go back; to whom Christian 
spake as follows-

CHR. Whither are you going?

MEN. They said, Back! back! and we would have you to do so 
too, if either life or peace is prized by you.

CHR. Why? what's the matter? said Christian. 

MEN. Matter! said they; we were going that way as you are 
going, and went as far as we durst; and indeed we were 
almost past coming back; for had we gone a little further, 
we had not been here to bring the news to thee.

CHR. But what have you met with? said Christian.

MEN. Why, we were almost in the Valley of the Shadow of 
Death; but that, by good hap, we looked before us, and saw 
the danger before we came to it (Psa. 44:19; 107:10).

CHR. But what have you seen? said Christian.

MEN. Seen! Why, the valley itself, which is as dark as 
pitch; we also saw there the hobgoblins, satyrs, and 
dragons of the pit; we heard also in that Valley a 
continual howling and yelling, as of a people under 
unutterable misery, who there sat bound in affliction and 
irons; and over that Valley hangs the discouraging clouds 
of confusion. Death also doth always spread his wings over 
it. In a word, it is every whit dreadful, being utterly 
without order (Job 3:5; 10:26). 

CHR. Then said Christian, I perceive not yet, by what you 
have said, but that this is my way to the desired haven[96] 
(Jer. 2:6). 

MEN. Be it thy way; we will not choose it for ours. So they 
parted, and Christian went on his way, but still with his 
sword drawn in his hand; for fear lest he should be 
assaulted.

I saw then in my dream so far as this valley reached, there 
was on the right hand a very deep ditch: that ditch is it 
into which the blind have led the blind in all ages, and 
have both there miserably perished[97] (Psa. 69:14, 15). 
Again, behold, on the left hand, there was a very dangerous 
quag, into which, if even a good man falls, he can find no 
bottom for his foot to stand on. Into that quag king David 
once did fall, and had no doubt therein been smothered, had 
not HE that is able plucked him out.

The pathway was here also exceeding narrow, and therefore 
good Christian was the more put to it; for when he sought, 
in the dark, to shun the ditch on the one hand, he was 
ready to tip over into the mire on the other; also when he 
sought to escape the mire, without great carefulness he 
would be ready to fall into the ditch. Thus he went on, and 
I heard him here sigh bitterly; for besides the dangers 
mentioned above, the pathway was here so dark, that 
ofttimes, when he lift up his foot to set forward, he knew 
not where, or upon what he should set it next.

About the midst of this valley, I perceived the mouth of 
hell to be, and it stood also hard by the way-side. Now, 
thought Christian, what shall I do? And ever and anon the 
flame and smoke would come out in such abundance, with 
sparks and hideous noises (things that cared not for 
Christian's sword, as did Apollyon before), that he was 
forced to put up his sword, and betake himself to another 
weapon, called All-prayer (Eph. 4:18). So he cried in my 
hearing, "O Lord, I beseech Thee, deliver my soul!" (Psa. 
116:4). Thus he went on a great while, yet still the flames 
would be reaching towards him.[98] Also be heard doleful 
voices, and rushings to and fro, so that sometimes he 
thought he should be torn in pieces, or trodden down like 
mire in the streets. This frightful sight was seen, and 
these dreadful noises were heard by him for several miles 
together. And, coming to a place, where be thought he heard 
a company of fiends coming forward to meet him, he stopped 
and began to muse what he had best to do. Sometimes he had 
half a thought to go back; then again he thought he might 
be half way through the valley; he remembered also how be 
had already vanquished many a danger, and that the danger 
of going back might be much more than for to go forward; so 
he resolved to go on. Yet the fiends seemed to come nearer 
and nearer; but when they were come even almost at him, he 
cried out with a most vehement voice, "I will walk in the 
strength of the Lord God"; so they gave back, and came no 
further.

One thing I would not let slip; I took notice that now poor 
Christian was so confounded, that he did not know his own 
voice; and thus I perceived it. Just when he was come over 
against the mouth of the burning pit, one of the wicked 
ones got behind him, and stept up softly to him, and, 
whisperingly, suggested many grievous blasphemies to him, 
which he verily thought had proceeded from his own mind. 
This put Christian more to it than anything that he met 
with before; even to think that he should now blaspheme Him 
that he loved so much before; yet, if he could have helped 
it, he would not have done it; but he had not the 
discretion either to stop his ears, or to know from whence 
these blasphemies came.[99]

When Christian had traveled in this disconsolate condition 
some considerable time, he thought he heard the voice of a 
man, as going before him, saying, "Though I walk through 
the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for 
Thou art with me" (Psa. 23:4).[100]

Then he was glad, and that for these reasons:

First, Because he gathered from thence, that some who 
feared God, were in this valley as well as himself.

Secondly, For that he perceived God was with them, though 
in that dark and dismal state; and why not, thought he, 
with me? though, by reason of the impediment that attends 
this place, I cannot perceive it (Job. 9:11). 

Thirdly, For that he hoped, could he overtake them, to have 
company by and by. So he went on, and called to him that 
was before; but he knew not what to answer; for that he 
also thought himself to be alone. And by and by the day 
broke; then said Christian, He hath turned "the shadow of 
death into the morning" (Amos 5:8).[101]

Now morning being come, he looked back, not out of desire 
to return, but to see, by the light of the day, what 
hazards he had gone through in the dark. So he saw more 
perfectly the ditch that was on the one hand, and the quag 
that was on the other; also how narrow the way was which 
led betwixt them both; also now he saw the hobgoblins, and 
satyrs, and dragons of the pit, but all afar off (for after 
break of day, they came not nigh); yet they were discovered 
to him, according to that which is written, "He discovereth 
deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the 
shadow of death" (Job 12:22). 

Now was Christian much affected with his deliverance from 
all the dangers of his solitary way; which dangers, though 
he feared them more before, yet he saw them more clearly 
now, because the light of the day made them conspicuous to 
him. And about this time the sun was rising, and this was 
another mercy to Christian; for you must note, that though 
the first part of the Valley of the Shadow of Death was 
dangerous, yet this second part which he was yet to go, 
was, if possible, far more dangerous:[102] for from the 
place where he now stood, even to the end of the valley, 
the way was all along set so full of snares, traps, gins, 
and nets here, and so full of pits, pitfalls, deep holes, 
and shelvings down there, that had it now been dark, as it 
were when he came the first part of the way, had he had a 
thousand souls, they had in reason been cast away;[103] 
but, as I said, just now the sun was rising. Then said he, 
"His candle shineth upon my head, and by His light I walk 
through darkness" (Job 29:3).

In this light, therefore, he came to the end of the valley. 
Now I saw in my dream, that at the end of this valley lay 
blood, bones, ashes, and mangled bodies of men, even of 
pilgrims that had gone this way formerly; and while I was 
musing what should be the reason, I espied a little before 
me a cave, where two giants, POPE and PAGAN, dwelt in old 
time; by whose power and tyranny the men whose bones, 
blood, ashes, &c., lay there, were cruelly put to 
death.[104] But by this place Christian went without much 
danger, whereat I somewhat wondered; but I have learnt 
since, that PAGAN has been dead many a day; and as for the 
other, though he be yet alive, he is, by reason of age, and 
also of the many shrewd brushes that he met with in his 
younger days, grown so crazy and stiff in his joints, that 
he can now do little more than sit in his cave's mouth, 
grinning at pilgrims as they go by, and biting his nails 
because he cannot come at them.[105]

So I saw that Christian went on his way; yet, at the sight 
of the Old Man that sat in the mouth of the cave, he could 
not tell what to think, especially because he spake to him, 
though he could not go after him; saying, "You will never 
mend, till more of you be burned." But he held his peace, 
and set a good face on it, and so went by and catched no 
hurt.[106] Then sang Christian,

O world of wonders! (I can say no less) That I should be 
preserv'd in that distress That I have met with here! O 
blessed be That hand that from it hath deliver'd me! 
Dangers in darkness, devils, hell, and sin, Did compass me, 
while I this vale was in: Yea, snares and pits, and traps, 
and nets, did lie My path about, that worthless, silly I 
Might have been catch'd, entangled, and cast down; But 
since I live, let JESUS wear the crown.

Now, as Christian went on his way, he came to a little 
ascent, which was cast up on purpose, that pilgrims might 
see before them. Up there, therefore, Christian went; and 
looking forward, he saw Faithful before him, upon his 
journey. Then said Christian aloud, "Ho! ho! Soho! stay, 
and I will be your companion."[107] At that, Faithful 
looked behind him; to whom Christian cried again, "Stay, 
stay, till I come up to you." But Faithful answered, "No, I 
am upon my life, and the avenger of blood is behind me."

At this, Christian was somewhat moved, and putting to all 
his strength, he quickly takes got up with Faithful, and 
did also overrun him; so the last was first. Then did 
Christian vain-gloriously smile, because he had gotten the 
start of his brother;[108] but not taking good heed to his 
feet, he suddenly stumbled and fell, and could not rise 
again, until Faithful came up to help him.

Then I saw in my dream, they went very lovingly on 
together, and had sweet discourse of all things that had 
happened to them in their pilgrimage; and thus Christian 
began.

CHR. My honoured and well-beloved brother, Faithful, I am 
glad that I have overtaken you; and that God has so 
tempered our spirits, that we can walk as companions in 
this so pleasant a path.

FAITH. I had thought, dear friend, to have had your company 
quite from our town; but you did get the start of me, 
wherefore I was forced to come thus much of the way alone.

CHR. How long did you stay in the City of Destruction, 
before you set out after me on your pilgrimage

FAITH. Till I could stay no longer; for there was great 
talk presently after you were gone out, that our city 
would, in short time, with fire from Heaven, be burned down 
to the ground.

CHR. What! did your neighbours talk so?

FAITH. Yes, it was for a while in everybody's mouth.

CHR. What! and did no more of them but you come out to 
escape the danger?

FAITH. Though there were, as I said, a great talk 
thereabout, yet I do not think they did firmly believe it. 
For in the heat of the discourse, I heard some of them 
deridingly speak of you, and of your desperate journey (for 
so they called this your pilgrimage), but I did believe, 
and do still, that the end of our city will be with fire 
and brimstone from above; and therefore I have made my 
escape.

CHR. Did you hear no talk of neighbour Pliable?

FAITH. Yes, Christian, I heard that he followed you till he 
came at the Slough of Despond, where, as some said, he fell 
in; but he would not be known to have so done; but I am 
sure he was soundly bedabbled with that kind of dirt.

CHR. And what said the neighbours to him?

FAITH. He hath, since his going back, been had greatly in 
derision, and that among all sorts of people; some do mock 
and despise him; and scarce will any set him on work. He is 
now seven times worse than if he had never gone out of the 
City.[109]

CHR. But why should they be so set against him, since they 
also despise the way that he forsook?

FAITH. O! they say, Hang him, he is a turn-coat; he was not 
true to his profession. I think God has stirred up even his 
enemies to hiss at him, and make him a proverb, because he 
hath forsaken the way (Jer. 29:18, 19).

CHR. Had you no talk with him before you came out?

FAITH. I met him once in the streets, but be leered away on 
the other side, as one ashamed of what he had done; so I 
spake not to him.

CHR. Well, at my first setting out, I had hopes of that 
man; but now I fear he will perish in the overthrow of the 
city; For it is happened to him according to the true 
proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the 
sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire" (2 Peter 
2:22).

FAITH. These are my fears of him too; but who can hinder 
that which will be?

CHR. Well, neighbour Faithful, said Christian, let us leave 
him, and talk of things that more immediately concern 
ourselves. Tell me now, what you have met with in the way 
as you came; for I know you have met with some things, or 
else it may be writ for a wonder.

FAITH. I escaped the Slough that I perceived you fell into, 
and got up to the gate without that danger; only I met with 
one whose name was Wanton, who had like to have done me a 
mischief.

CHR. It was well you escaped her net; Joseph was hard put 
to it by her, and he escaped her as you did; but it had 
like to have cost him his life (Gen. 39:11-13). But what 
did she do to you?

FAITH. You cannot think, but that you know something, what 
a flattering tongue she had; she lay at me hard to turn 
aside with her, promising me all manner of content.

CHR. Nay, she did not promise you the content of a good 
conscience.

FAITH. You know what I mean; all carnal and fleshly 
content.

CHR. Thank God you have escaped her; "the abhorred of the 
Lord shall fall into her ditch" (Pro. 22:14).

FAITH. Nay, I know not whether I did wholly escape her or 
no.

CHR. Why, I trow[110] you did not consent to her desires? 

FAITH. No, not to defile myself; for I remembered an old 
writing that I had seen, which said, "Her steps take hold 
on hell" (Prov. 5:5). So I shut mine eyes, because I would 
not be bewitched with her looks (Job 31:1). Then she railed 
on me, and I went my way.[111]

CHR. Did you meet with no other assault as you came?

FAITH. When I came to the foot of the hill called 
Difficulty, I met with a very aged man, who asked me what I 
was, and whither bound. I told him that I am a pilgrim, 
going to the Celestial City. Then said the old man, Thou 
lookest like an honest fellow; wilt thou be content to 
dwell with me for the wages that I shall give thee? Then I 
asked him his name, and where he dwelt. He said his name 
was Adam the First, and that he dwelt in the town of Deceit 
(Eph. 4:22). I asked him then, what was his work, and what 
the wages that he would give. He told me, that his work was 
many delights; and his wages, that I should be his heir at 
last. I further asked him, what house he kept, and what 
other servants he had. So he told me, that his house was 
maintained with all the dainties in the world; and that his 
servants were those of his own begetting. Then I asked if 
he had any children. He said that he had but three 
daughters; the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes, and 
the Pride of Life, and that I should marry them all[112] if 
I would (1 John 2:16). Then I asked how long time he would 
have me live with him? And he told me, As long as he lived 
himself.

CHR. Well, and what conclusion came the old man and you to, 
at last?

FAITH. Why, at first, I found myself somewhat inclinable to 
go with the man, for I thought he spake very fair; but 
looking in his forehead, as I talked with him, I saw there 
written, "Put off the old man with his deeds."

CHR. And how then?

FAITH. Then it came burning hot into my mind, whatever he 
said, and however he flattered, when he got me home to his 
house, he would sell me for a slave.[113] So I bid him 
forbear to talk, for I would not come near the door of his 
house. Then he reviled me, and told me, that he would send 
such a one after me, that should make my way bitter to my 
soul. So I turned to go away from him; but just as I turned 
myself to go thence, I felt him take hold of my flesh, and 
give me such a deadly twitch back, that I thought he had 
pulled part of me after himself. This made me cry, "O 
wretched man!" (Rom. 7:24). So I went on my way up the 
hill.

Now when I had got about half way up, I looked behind, and 
saw one coming after me, swift as the wind; so he overtook 
me just about the place where the settle stands.

CHR. Just there, said Christian, did I sit down to rest me; 
but being overcome with sleep, I there lost this roll out 
of my bosom

FAITH. But, good brother, hear me out. So soon as the man 
overtook me, he was but a word and a blow, for down he 
knocked me, and laid me for dead.[114] But when I was a 
little come to myself again, I asked him wherefore he 
served me so. He said, because of my secret inclining to 
Adam the First: and with that he struck me another deadly 
blow on the breast, and beat me down backward; so I lay at 
his foot as dead as before. So, when I came to myself 
again, I cried him mercy; but he said, I know not how to 
show mercy; and with that knocked me down again.[115] He 
had doubtless made an end of me, but that One came by, and 
bid him forbear.

CHR. Who was that that bid him forbear.

FAITH. I did not know Him at first, but as He went by, I 
perceived the holes in His hands, and in His side; then I 
concluded that He was our Lord. So I went up the hill.

CHR. That man that overtook you was Moses. He spareth none, 
neither knoweth he how to show mercy to those that 
transgress his law.

FAITH. I know it very well; it was not the first time that 
he has met with me. It was he that came to me when I dwelt 
securely at home, and that told me he would burn my house 
over my head, if I stayed there.

CHR. But did you not see the house that stood there on the 
top of the hill, on the side of which Moses met you?

FAITH. Yes, and the lions too, before I came at it; but for 
the lions, I think they were asleep; for it was about noon; 
and because I had so much of the day before me, I passed by 
the porter, and came down the hill.

CHR. He told me indeed, that he saw you go by, but I wish 
you had called at the house, for they would have showed you 
so many rarities, that you would scarce have forgot them to 
the day of your death. But pray tell me, Did you meet 
nobody in the Valley of Humility?

FAITH. Yes, I met with one Discontent, who would willingly 
have persuaded me to go back again with him; his reason 
was, for that the valley was altogether without honour. He 
told me, moreover, that there to go was the way to disobey 
all my friends, as Pride, Arrogancy, Self-conceit, Worldly-
glory, with others, who, he knew, as he said, would be very 
much offended, if I made such a fool of myself as to wade 
through this valley.

CHR. Well, and how did you answer him?

FAITH. I told him that although all these that he named 
might claim kindred of me, and that rightly, for indeed 
they were my relations according to the flesh, yet since I 
became a pilgrim, they have disowned me, as I also have 
rejected them; and therefore they were to me now no more 
than if they had never been of my lineage.

I told him, moreover, that as to this valley he had quite 
misrepresented the thing; "for before honour is humility; 
and a haughty spirit before a fall." Therefore, said I, I 
had rather go through this valley to the honour that was so 
accounted by the wisest, than choose that which he esteemed 
most worthy our affections.

CHR. Met you with nothing else in that valley?

FAITH. Yes, I met with Shame; but of all the men that I met 
with in my pilgrimage, he, I think, bears the wrong name. 
The others would be said nay, after a little argumentation, 
and somewhat else; but this bold-faced Shame would never 
have done.[116]

CHR. Why, what did he say to you?

FAITH. What! why, he objected against religion itself; he  
said it was a pitiful, low, sneaking business for a man to 
mind religion; he said that a tender conscience was an 
unmanly thing; and that for a man to watch over his words 
and ways, so as to tie up himself from that hectoring 
liberty, that the brave spirits of the times accustom 
themselves unto, would make him the ridicule of the times. 
He objected also, that but few of the mighty, rich, or 
wise, were ever of my opinion (1 Cor. 1:26; 3:18; Phil. 
3:7, 8); nor any of them neither (John 7:48), before they 
were persuaded to be fools, and to be of a voluntary 
fondness, to venture the loss of all, for nobody knows 
what. He moreover objected the base and low estate and 
condition of those that were chiefly the pilgrims, of the 
times in which they lived; also their ignorance, and want 
of understanding in all natural science. Yea, he did hold 
me to it at that rate also, about a great many more things 
than here I relate; as, that it was a shame to sit whining 
and mourning under a sermon, and a shame to come sighing 
and groaning home; that it was a shame to ask my neighbour 
forgiveness for petty faults, or to make restitution where 
I have taken from any. He said also, that religion made a 
man grow strange to the great, because of a few vices, 
which he called by finer names; and made him own and 
respect the base, because of the same religious fraternity. 
And is not this, said he, a shame?[117]

CHR. And what did you say to him?

FAITH. Say! I could not tell what to say at the first. Yea, 
he put me so to it, that my blood came up in my face; even 
this Shame fetched it up, and had almost beat me quite off. 
But, at last, I began to consider, that "that which is 
highly esteemed among men, is had in abomination with God" 
(Luke 16:15). And I thought again, this Shame tells me what 
men are; but it tells me nothing what God, or the Word of 
God is. And I thought, moreover, that at the day of doom, 
we shall not be doomed to death or life, according to the 
hectoring spirits of the world, but according to the wisdom 
and law of the Highest. Therefore, thought I, what God says 
is best, indeed is best, though all the men in the world 
are against it. Seeing, then, that God prefers His 
religion; seeing God prefers a tender conscience; seeing 
they that make themselves fools for the kingdom of Heaven 
are wisest; and that the poor man that loveth Christ is 
richer than the greatest man in the world that hates Him; 
Shame, depart, thou art an enemy to my salvation. Shall I 
entertain thee against my sovereign Lord? How then shall I 
look Him in the face at His coming? Should I now be ashamed 
of His ways and servants, how can I expect the blessing? 
(Mark 8:38). But, indeed, this Shame was a bold villain; I 
could scarce shake him out of my company; yea, he would be 
haunting of me, and continually whispering me in the ear, 
with some one or other of the infirmities that attend 
religion; but at last I told him it was but in vain to 
attempt further in this business; for those things that he 
disdained, in those did I see most glory; and so at last I 
got past this importunate one. And when I had shaken him 
off, then I began to sing-

The trials that those men do meet withal, That are obedient 
to the heavenly call, Are manifold, and suited to the 
flesh, And come, and come, and come again afresh; That now, 
or sometime else, we by them may Be taken, overcome, and 
cast away. O let the pilgrims, let the pilgrims, then, Be 
vigilant, and quit themselves like men.

CHR. I am glad, my brother, that thou didst withstand this 
villain so bravely; for of all, as thou sayest, I think he 
has the wrong name; for he is so bold as to follow us in 
the streets, and to attempt to put us to shame before all 
men; that is, to make us ashamed of that which is good; but 
if he were not himself audacious, he would never attempt to 
do as he does. But let us still resist him; for 
notwithstanding all his bravadoes, he promoteth the fool, 
and none else. "The wise shall inherit glory," said 
Solomon, "but shame shall be the promotion of fools" (Prov. 
3:35). 

FAITH. I think we must cry to Him for help against Shame, 
who would have us to be valiant for the truth upon the 
earth.

CHR. You say true; but did you meet nobody else in that 
valley? 

FAITH. No, not I, for I had sunshine all the rest of the 
way through that, and also through the Valley of the Shadow 
of Death.[118]

CHR. It was well for you. I am sure it fared far otherwise 
with me; I had for a long season, as soon almost as I 
entered into that valley, a dreadful combat with that foul 
fiend Apollyon; yea, I thought verily he would have killed 
me, especially when he got me down and crushed me under 
him, as if he would have crushed me to pieces; for as he 
threw me, my sword flew out of my hand; nay, he told me he 
was sure of me; but I cried to God, and He heard me, and 
delivered me out of all my troubles. Then I entered into 
the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and had no light for 
almost half the way through it.[119] I thought I should 
have been killed there, over and over; but at last day 
broke, and the sun rose, and I went through that which was 
behind with far more ease and quiet.

Moreover, I saw in my dream, that as they went on, 
Faithful, as he chanced to look on one side, saw a man 
whose name is Talkative,[120] walking at a distance besides 
them; for in this place, there was room enough for them all 
to walk. He was a tall man, and something more comely at a 
distance than at hand. To this man Faithful addressed 
himself in this manner.

FAITH. Friend, whither away? Are you going to the heavenly 
country?

TALK. I am going to the same place.

FAITH. That is well; then I hope we may have your good 
company.

TALK. With a very good will, will I be your companion.

FAITH. Come on, then, and let us go together, and let us 
spend our time in discoursing of things that are 
profitable.

TALK. To talk of things that are good, to me is very 
acceptable, with you, or with any other; and I am glad that 
I have met with those that incline to so good a work; for, 
to speak the truth, there are but few that care thus to 
spend their time (as they are in their travels), but choose 
much rather to be speaking of things to no profit; and this 
hath been a trou