They
went on till they came to the Delectable Mountains. These mountains
belong to the Lord of that hill of which we have spoken before.
So they went up to the mountains to behold the gardens and
orchards, the vineyards and fountains of water. There they
drank and rested, and did freely eat of the vineyards.
THE
DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS
On
the tops of these mountains there were shepherds feeding their
flocks, and they stood by the high-way side. The pilgrims,
therefore, went to them, and leaning upon their staves, (as
is common with weary pilgrims when they stand to talk with
any by the way) they asked, “Whose delightful mountains are
these, and whose be the sheep that feed upon them?”
SHEPHERD. These
mountains are Immanuel’s Land, and they are within sight of
His city; and the sheep also are His, and He laid down his
life for them.
CHRISTIAN. Is
this the way to the Celestial city?
SHEPHERD. You
are just in your way.
CHRISTIAN. How
far is it thither?
SHEPHERD. Too
far for any but those who shall get there indeed.
CHRISTIAN. Is
the way safe or dangerous?
SHEPHERD. Safe
for those for whom it is to be safe; but “sinners shall fall
therein.”
CHRISTIAN. Is
there in this place any relief for pilgrims that are weary
and faint in the way?
SHEPHERD. The
Lord of these mountains hath given us a charge not to be “forgetful
to care for strangers”; therefore the good of the place is
before you.
I
saw also in my dream that when the shepherds perceived that
they were wayfaring men, they asked questions (to which they
made answer as in other places), as, “Whence came you?” and “How
got you into the way?” When the shepherds heard their answers,
being pleased with them, they looked very lovingly upon them,
and said, “Welcome to the Delectable Mountains!”
The
shepherds whose names were Knowledge, Experience, Watchful,
and Sincere, took them by the hand and led them to their tents,
and they ate what was ready at hand. They said also, “We would
that you should stay here awhile, to be acquainted with us,
and yet more to cheer yourselves with the good of these Delectable
Mountains.” So the pilgrims said that they were content to
stay. So they went to rest that night, because it was very
late.
THE
SHEPHERDS CONDUCT THEM
Then
I saw in my dream that in the morning the shepherds called
up Christian and Hopeful to walk with them upon the mountains.
So they went forth with them and walked a while, having a pleasant
view on every side. Then said the shepherds one to another, “Shall
we show these pilgrims some wonders?”
Having
concluded to do it, they led them first to the top of the hill
called Error, very steep on the farther side, and had them
look down to the bottom. They say at the bottom several men
dashed to pieces by the fall they had had from the top. Then
Christian asked,
“What means this?” the
shepherds answered: “Have you not heard of them that were made
to err, by hearkening to Hymeneus and Philetus, as concerning
the resurrection from the dead?”
“Yes,” they
replied.
Then
said the shepherds, “Those you see at the bottom of this mountain
are they; to this day they are unburied, as you see, for an
example to others who might meet the same fate.”
DISTANT
VIEW OF DOUBTING CASTLE
Then
they led to another mountain named Caution, and bade them look
afar off; they saw, as they thought, several men walking among
the tombs that were there; and they perceived that the men
were blind, because they stumbled and could not get out from
among the tombs. Then said Christian, “What means this?”
SHEPHERD. Did
you not see a little below these mountains a stile that led
into a meadow on the left hand side of this way?
They
answered “Yes.”
SHEPHERD.
From that stile is a path that leads to Doubting Castle, which
is kept by Giant Despair; and these men (pointing to them among
the tombs) came once on pilgrimage until they got to that same
stile. And because the right way was rough, they went out of
it through that meadow. There they were caught by Giant Despair,
and cast into Doubting Castle; after they had been a while
in the dungeon, he put out their eyes, and led them among those
tombs, where he has left them to wander.
Then
Christian and Hopeful looked upon one another with tears in
their eyes, but said nothing to the shepherds.
Then
I saw, in my dream, that the shepherds led them to another
place in a bottom, where was a door on the side of a hill;
and they opened the door, and bade them look in. they
looked in, therefore, and saw that within it was very dark
and smoky; they also thought that they heard there a rumbling
noise, as of fire, and a cry of some tormented, and that they
smelt the scent of brimstone.
Then
said Christian, “What means this?”
THE
FATE OF HYPOCRITES
The
shepherds told them, “This is a byway to hell, a way that hypocrites
go in at; namely, such as sell their birthright, with Esau;
such as sell their masters, with Judas; such as blaspheme the gospel,
with Alexander; and that lie and deceive with Ananias and Sapphira
his wife.”
Then
said the pilgrims one to another,
“We have need to cry to the Strong for strength.”
SHEPHERD. Ay,
and you will have need to use it when you have it too.
By
this time the pilgrims had a desire to go forward, and the
shepherds a desire they should; so they walked together toward
the end of the mountains.
GATE
OF THE CELESTIAL CITY
Then
said the shepherds, “Let us show the pilgrims the gate of the
Celestial City, if they have skill to look through our glass.” The
pilgrims accepted the motion; so they led them to the top of
a hill called Clear, and gave them their glass to look.
Then
they tried to look; but the remembrance of that last thing
that the shepherds had showed them, made their hands shake,
and they could not look steadily through the glass; yet they
thought they saw something like the gate, and also some of
the glory of the place. Thus they went away, and sang this
song:
“Thus
by the shepherds secrets are revealed,
Which
from all other men are kept concealed.
Come
to the shepherds, then, if you would see
Things
deep, things hid, and that mysterious be.”
And
I slept and reamed again, and saw the same two pilgrims going
down the mountains along the highway toward the city.
THE
STORY OF LITTLE-FAITH
Then
Christian said to Hopeful, “I recall now the story of Little-Faith
who dwelt in the town of Sincere. The story is this: At the
entering in at this passage, there comes down from Broadway
Gate a lane called Dead Man’s Lane; so-called because of the
murders that are commonly done there; and this Little-Faith,
going on pilgrimage as we do now, chanced to sit down there
and fell asleep.
“Now,
there happened at that time to come down that lane from Broadway
Gate, three sturdy rogues, named Faint-heart, Mistrust, and
Guilt, three brothers; and they, espying Little-Faith, came
galloping up and with threats bade him stand and deliver his
purse. But when he made no haste to do it (for he was loth
to lose his money) Mistrust ran up to him and took from his
pocket a bag of silver. Then he cried out, “Thieves! thieves!” With
that, Guilt, with a great club, struck Little-Faith on the
head, and felled him flat to the ground, where he lay bleeding
as one that would bleed to death. All this while the thieves
stood by.
“But
hearing someone upon the road, and fearing it was Great-Grace
that dwells in the city of Good-Confidence, they took to their
heels and left this good man to shift for himself. Now, after
a while Little-Faith came to himself and, getting up, made
shift to scramble on his way. This was the story.”
HOPEFUL. Did
they take from him all that he had?
CHRISTIAN. No;
the place where his jewels were they never found; so he kept
them still. But he had scarce enough money to bring him to
his journey’s end; so he was forced to beg as he went, to keep
himself alive, for his jewels he dared not sell, for if they
were missing at the gate of the Celestial City, he would be
shut out of an inheritance there.
HOPEFUL. But
is it not a wonder they got not from him his certificate, by
which, he was to be admitted at the Celestial Gate?
CHRISTIAN. It
is a wonder; and it was more by good providence than by his
effort, that they missed getting that good thing.
Then
Christian sang:
“Poor
Little Faith! hast been among the thieves?
Wast
robbed? Remember this: whoso believes
And
gets more faith, shall then a victor be
Over
ten thousand; else scarce over three.”
So
they went on. At last they came to a place where a way put
itself into their way, and seemed to lie as straight as the
way which they were going. Here they knew not which of the
two to take, for both seemed straight before them. And, as
they were thinking about the way, behold a man, black of flesh,
but covered with a very light robe, came to them and asked
them why they stood there.
They
answered they were going to the Celestial City, but knew not
which of these ways to take. “Follow me,” said the man; “it
is there that I am going.”
THE
PILGRIMS FOLLOW FLATTERER
So
they followed him in the way that had come into the road, which
by degrees turned and turned so that, in a little time, their
faces were turned away from the city; yet they followed him.
But by-and-by, before they were aware, he led them both within
the folds of a net, in which they were both so entangled that
they knew not what to do; and with that, the white robe fell
off the black man’s back. Then they saw where they were. Wherefore,
there they lay crying some time, for they could not get themselves
out.
Then
said Christian to Hopeful, “Now do I see my error. Did not
the shepherds bid us beware of flatterers?”
HOPEFUL. They
also gave us directions about the way, but we have forgotten
to read, and have not kept ourselves from the path of the destroyer.
A
SHINING ONE APPEARS
As
they lay groaning in the net, they saw a Shining One coming
towards them with a whip of small cord in his hand. When he
came to where they were, he asked them whence they came, and
what they did there. They told him that they were poor pilgrims
going to Zion, but were led out of their way by a black man
clothed in white, “Who bid us,” said they, “follow him, for
he was going there too.” Then said he with the whip,
“It is Flatterer, a false prophet, that hath changed himself
into an angel of light.” So he rent the net, and let the men
out.
Then
said he to them, “Follow me, that I may set you in your way
again.” So he led them back to the way which they had left
to follow the Flatterer. Then he asked them, saying,
“Where did you lie the last night?” They said,
“With the shepherds upon the Delectable Mountains.”
He
asked them, moreover, if the shepherds did not bid them beware
of the Flatterer. They answered, “Yes; but we did not imagine
that this fine-spoken man could be he.”
Then
I saw in my dream, that he commanded them to lie down; which
when they did, he punished them sore, to teach them the good
way wherein they should walk; and, as he punished them, he
said, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous,
therefore, and repent.”
Then
he bade them go on their way, and take good heed to the other
directions of the shepherds.
So they thanked
him for all his kindness, and went softly along the right way
singing:
“Come
hither, you that walk along the way,
See
how pilgrims fare that go astray;
They catched are in an entangling net,
‘Cause
they good counsel lightly did forget;
‘Tis
true, they rescued were; but yet, you see,
They’re
scourged to boot; let this your caution be.”
THEY
MEET ATHEIST
Now,
after awhile they saw afar off, one coming softly and alone,
along the highway, to meet them. Then said Christian to Faithful,
“Yonder is a man with his back towards Zion, and he is coming
to meet us.”
HOPEFUL. I
see him: let us take heed to ourselves lest he should prove
a flatterer also.
So
he drew nearer and nearer, and at last came up to them. His
name was Atheist, and he asked them where they were going.
CHRISTIAN. We
are going to Mount Zion.
Then Atheist
fell into a very great laughter.
CHRISTIAN. What
is the meaning of your laughter?
ATHEIST. I
laugh to see what ignorant persons you are, to take so tedious
a journey, and have nothing for your pains.
CHRISTIAN. Why,
man, do you think we shall not be received?
ATHEIST. Received!
There is no such a place as you dream of in all this world.
CHRISTIAN. But
there is in the world to come.
ATHEIST. When
I was at home I heard of this city and have been seeking it
these twenty years, but find no more of it than I did the first
day I set out.
CHRISTIAN. We
believe that there is such a place to be found.
ATHEIST. Had
there been such a place, I would have found it, for I have
gone to seek it farther than you. I am going back and will
refresh myself with the things that I once enjoyed.
CHRISTIAN. Then
said Christian to Hopeful, “Is it true which this man hath
said?”
HOPEFUL. Take
heed; he is one of the flatterers. What! no Mount Zion?
Did we not see from the Delectable Mountains the gate of the
city? Also, are we not now to walk by faith? Let us go on,
lest the man with the whip overtake us again.
So
they turned away from the man, and he, laughing at them, went
his way.
THEY
REACH ENCHANTED GROUND
I
then saw in my dream that they went till they came into a certain
country, whose air naturally made one drowsy if he came a stranger
into it. And here Hopeful began to be heavy for sleep; he said
to Christian, “I do now begin to grow so drowsy, that I can
scarcely hold up mine eyes; let us lie down here, and take
a nap.”
CHRISTIAN. By
no means, lest, sleeping, we never awake more.
HOPEFUL. Why,
my brother? sleep is sweet to the laboring man; we may be refreshed
if we take a nap.
CHRISTIAN. Do
not you remember that one of the shepherds bid us beware of
the Enchanted Ground? He meant that we should beware of sleeping;
let us not sleep as others, but let us watch and be sober.
HOPEFUL. I
acknowledge my fault; and had I been here alone, I had, by
danger of sleeping, been in danger of death. I see it is true
that “Two are better than one.”
CHRISTIAN. Now,
then, to prevent drowsiness, let us talk about something profitable.
HOPEFUL. With
all my heart.
CHRISTIAN. Where
shall we begin?
HOPEFUL. Where
God began with us. But do you begin if you please.
CHRISTIAN. I
will sing you first this song:
“When saints
do sleepy grow, let them come hither,
And hear
how these tow pilgrims talk together;
Yea,
let them learn of them, in any wise,
Thus
to keep open their drowsy, slumbering eyes.
Saints’ fellowship,
if it be managed well,
Keeps
them awake, and that in spite of hell.”
HOPEFUL
NARRATES CONVERSION
CHRISTIAN. I
will ask you a question. How came you to think at first of
doing as you do now?
HOPEFUL. Do
you mean, how came I at first to look after the good of my
soul?
CHRISTIAN. Yes,
that is my meaning.
HOPEFUL. I
continued a great while in the delight of those things which
were seen and sold at our fair; things which I believed now
would have, and I continued in them still, drowned me in ruin;
such as revelling, drinking, swearing, Sabbath-breaking and
the like. But I learned from you, and also the beloved Faithful,
that the end of these things is death; and that the wrath of
God cometh upon those who disobey Him.
Then
he told how Faithful had told him how to be saved, namely,
by trusting in Jesus; and how, when he objected because he
thought Jesus was not willing to save him. Faithful said, “Go
to Him and see, for you are invited to come.”
And
Hopeful said further: I began to pray because of my sins. And,
as I was then looking for nothing but hell and the everlasting
loss of my soul, suddenly, as I thought, I saw the Lord Jesus
looking down from heaven upon me, and saying, “Believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
But
I replied, “Lord, I am a great, a very great sinner.” And He
answered, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” Then I said, “But,
Lord, what is believing?” And then I saw from that saying, “He
that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth
on me shall never thirst,” that believing and coming was all
one; and that he that came, that is ran out in his heart and
desire after salvation by Christ, he indeed believed in Christ.
And now was my heart full of joy, mine eyes full of tears,
and mine affection running over with love to the name, people,
and ways of Jesus Christ.
CHRISTIAN. This
was a revelation of Christ to your soul indeed. But tell me
particularly what effect this had upon your spirit.
HOPEFUL.
It made me love a holy life and long to do something for the
honor and glory of the name of the Lord Jesus. Yea, I thought
that had I now a thousand gallons of blood in my body,
I could spill it all for the sake of the Lord Jesus. |