THE
PILGRIM'S PROGRESS
Part
II
Section
8
Valiant-for-Truth's-Victory
- his talk with Great- Heart - the
Enchanted Ground - Heedless and Too-bold - Mr. Stand-fast - Madam Bubble's
temptations - the land of Beulah - Christiana summoned - her parting
addresses - she passes the River - she is followed by Ready-to-halt,
Feeble-mind, Despondency and his daughter, Honest, Valiant, Steadfast -
Author's Farewell
THE LAND OF
BEULAH
After this I beheld
until they were come unto the
land
of
Beulah
,
where the sun shines night and day. Here, because they were weary, they
betook themselves awhile to rest. And because this country was common for
pilgrims, and because the orchards and vineyards that were here belonged to
the King of the Celestial Country, therefore they were licensed to make bold
with any of his things.
But a little while soon refreshed them
here; for the bells did so ring, and the trumpets continually sound so
melodiously, that they could not sleep: and yet they received as much
refreshing as if they had slept their sleep never so soundly. Here also all
the noise of them that walked the streets was, "More pilgrims are come
to town." And another would answer, saying, "And so many went over
the water, and were let in at the golden gates today." They would cry
again, "There is now a legion of shining ones just come to town, by
which we know that there are more pilgrims upon the road; for here they come
to wait for them, and to comfort them after all their sorrow." Then the
pilgrims got up and walked to and fro; but how were their ears now filled
with heavenly noises, and their eyes delighted with celestial visions! In
this land they heard nothing, saw nothing, felt nothing, smelt nothing,
tasted nothing, that was offensive to their stomach or mind; only when they
tasted of the water of the river over which they were to go, they thought
that tasted a little bitterish to the palate, but it proved sweeter when
'twas down.
In this place there was a record kept of
the names of them that had been pilgrims of old; and a history of all the
famous acts that they had done. It was here also much discoursed, how the
river to some had had its flowings; and what ebbings it had had while others
have gone over. It has been in a manner dry for some; while it has
overflowed its banks for others.
In this place, the children of the town would go into the King's gardens,
and gather nosegays for the pilgrims, and bring them to them with much
affection. Here also grew camphor, with spikenard, and saffron, calamus, and
cinnamon, with all its trees of frankincense, myrrh, and aloes, with all
chief spices. With these the pilgrims' chambers were perfumed while they
stayed here; and with these were their bodies anointed, to prepare them to
go over the river when the time appointed was come.
Now, while they lay here, and waited for
the good hour, there was a noise in the town that there was a post come from
the Celestial City, with matter of great importance to one CHRISTIANA, the
wife of CHRISTIAN the pilgrim. So inquiry was made for her, and the house
was found out where she was; so the post presented her with a letter, the
contents whereof were, "Hail, good woman, I bring thee tidings that the
Master calleth for thee, and expecteth that thou shouldest stand in his
presence, in clothes of immortality, within this ten days."
Christiana is Summoned
When he had read this letter to her,
he gave her therewith a sure token that he was a true messenger, and was
come to bid her make haste to be gone. The token was an arrow with a point,
sharpened with love, let easily into her heart; which by degrees wrought so
effectually with her, that at the time appointed she must be gone.
When CHRISTIANA saw that her time was come,
and that she was the first of this company that was to go over, she called
for Mr. GREAT-HEART, her guide, and told him how matters were. So he told
her he was heartily glad of the news; and could have been glad had the post
come for him. Then she bade that he should give advice how all things should
be prepared for her journey.
So he told her: saying, "Thus and thus
it must be; and we that survive will accompany you to the riverside."
Then she called for her children, and gave
them her blessing; and told them that she yet read with comfort the mark
that was set in their foreheads; and was glad to see them with her there;
and that they had kept their garments so white. Lastly, she bequeathed to
the poor that little she had; and commanded her sons and daughters to be
ready against the messenger should come for them.
When she had spoken these words to her
guide and to her children, she called for Mr. VALIANT-FOR-TRUTH; and said
unto him, "Sir, you have in all places showed yourself true hearted: be
faithful unto death, and my King will give you a crown of life. I would also
entreat you to have an eye to my children; and if at any time you see them
faint, speak comfortably to them. For my daughters, my sons' wives, they
have been faithful; and a fulfilling of the promise upon them will be their
end." But she gave Mr. STANDFAST a ring.
Then she called for old Mr. HONEST; and
said of him, "Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile."
Then said he, "I wish you a fair day when you set out for Mount Zion;
and shall be glad to see that you go over the river dry shod." But she
answered, "Come wet, come dry, I long to be gone; for however the
weather is in my journey, I shall have time enough when I come there to sit
down and rest me, and dry me."
Then came in that good man, Mr.
READY-TO-HALT, to see her. So she said to him, "Thy travel hither has
been with difficulty; but that will make thy rest the sweeter. But watch,
and be ready! for at an hour when you think not the messenger may
come."
After him came in Mr. DESPONDENCY, and his
daughter MUCH-AFRAID; to whom she said, "You ought with thankfulness
for ever to remember your deliverance from the hands of Giant DESPAIR, and
out of Doubting Castle. The effect of that mercy is, that you are brought
with safety hither. Be ye watchful, and cast away fear; be sober, and hope
to the end."
Then she said to Mr. FEEBLE-MIND, "Thou wast delivered from the mouth
of Giant SLAY-GOOD, that thou mightest live in the light of the living for
ever, and see thy King with comfort. Only I advise thee to repent thee of
thy aptness to fear and doubt of his goodness, before he sends for thee;
lest thou shouldest, when he comes, be forced to stand before him for that
fault with blushing."
Now the day drew on that CHRISTIANA must be
gone. So the road was full of people to see her take her journey. But
behold, all the banks beyond the river were full of horses and chariots,
which were come down from above to accompany her to the City gate. So she
came forth, and entered the river with a beckon of farewell to those that
followed her to the riverside. The last word she was heard to say here was,
"I come, Lord, to be with Thee, and bless Thee!"
So her children and friends returned to
their place; for that those that waited for CHRISTIANA had carried her out
of their sight. So she went and called, and entered in at the gate with all
the ceremonies of joy that her husband CHRISTIAN had done before her.
At her departure her children wept; but Mr.
GREAT-HEART and Mr. VALIANT played upon the well-tuned cymbal and harp for
joy. So all departed to their respective places.
Through the River One by One
In process of time
there came a post to the town again; and his business was with Mr.
READY-TO-HALT. So he inquired him out, and said to him, "I am come to
thee in the name of him whom thou hast loved and followed, though upon
crutches. And my message is to tell thee, that he expects thee at his table
to sup with him in his Kingdom the next day after Easter. Wherefore prepare
thyself for this journey."
Then he also gave him a token that he was a
true messenger; saying, "I have broken thy golden bowl, and loosed thy
silver cord".
"Or
ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher
be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern."
Ecclesiastes 12:6
After this, Mr. READY-TO-HALT called for
his fellow pilgrims, and told them, saying, "I am sent for; and God
shall surely visit you also." So he desired Mr. VALIANT to make his
will. And because he had nothing to bequeath to them that should survive
him, but his crutches and his good wishes; therefore thus he said:
"These crutches I bequeath to my son that shall tread in my steps; with
a hundred warm wishes that he may prove better than I have done."
Then he thanked Mr. GREAT-HEART for his conduct and kindness; and so
addressed himself to his journey. When he came at the brink of the river, he
said, "Now I shall have no more need of these crutches; since yonder
are chariots and horses for me to ride on." The last words he was heard
to say were, "Welcome, life!" So he went his way.
After this Mr. FEEBLE-MIND had tidings
brought him that the post sounded his horn at his chamber door. Then he came
in and told him, saying, "I am come to tell thee that thy Master has
need of thee; and that in very little time thou must behold his face in
brightness. And take this as a token of the truth of my message: 'Those that
look out at the windows shall be darkened".
"In
the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men
shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those
that look out of the windows be darkened" Ecclesiastes 12:3
Then Mr. FEEBLE-MIND called for his
friends; and told them what errand had been brought unto him, and what token
he had received of the truth of the message. Then he said, "Since I
have nothing to bequeath to any, to what purpose should I make a will? As
for my feeble mind, that I will leave behind me; for that I have no need of
in the place whither I go; nor is it worth bestowing upon the poorest
pilgrim: wherefore, when I am gone, I desire that you, Mr. VALIANT, would
bury it in a dunghill. This done, and the day being come in which he was to
depart, he entered the river as the rest. His last words were, "Hold
out, faith and patience !" So he went over to the other side.
When many days had passed away, Mr.
DESPONDENCY was sent for. For a post was come, and brought this message to
him: "Trembling man, these are to summon thee to be ready with the King
by the next Lord's day, to shout for joy for thy deliverance from all thy
doubtings."
And said the messenger, "That my message is true, take this for a
proof." So he gave him the grasshopper to be a burden unto him.
"Also
when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall
be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper
shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long
home, and the mourners go about the streets:" Ecclesiastes 12:5
Now Mr. DESPONDENCY'S daughter, whose name
was MUCH-AFRAID, said, when she heard what was done, that she would go with
her father. Then Mr. DESPONDENCY said to his friends, "Myself and my
daughter, you know what we have been; and how troublesomely we have behaved
ourselves in every company. My will and my daughter's is, that our desponds
and slavish fears be by no man ever received from the day of our departure
for ever; for I know that after my death, they will offer themselves to
others. For, to be plain with you, they are ghosts; the which we entertained
when we first began to be pilgrims, and could never shake them off after.
And they will walk about, and seek entertainment of the pilgrims: but for
our sakes shut ye the doors upon them."
When the time was come for them to depart,
they went to the brink of the river. The last words of Mr. DESPONDENCY were,
"Farewell, night! welcome, day!" His daughter went through the
river singing; but none could understand what she said.
Then it came to pass, awhile after, that
there was a post in the town that inquired for Mr. HONEST. So he came to the
house where he was, and delivered to his hand these lines:-- "Thou art
commanded to be ready against this day seven nights, to present thyself
before thy Lord at his Father's house. And for a token that my message is
true, 'all the daughters of musick shall be brought low'".
"And
the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is
low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of
musick shall be brought low;" Ecclesiastes 12:4
Then Mr. HONEST called for his friends; and
said unto them, "I die; but shall make no will. As for my honesty, it
shall go with me: let him that comes after be told of this." When the
day that he was to be gone was come, he addressed himself to go over the
river. Now the river at that time overflowed the banks in some places. But
Mr. HONEST, in his lifetime, had spoken to one GOOD-CONSCIENCE to meet him
there; the which he also did, and lent him his hand, and so helped him over.
The last words of Mr. HONEST were, "Grace reigns." So he left the
world.
After this it was noised abroad that Mr.
VALIANT-FOR-TRUTH was taken with a summons by the same post as the other;
and had this for a token that the summons was true, that his pitcher was
broken at the fountain.
"Or
ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher
be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern."
Ecclesiastes 12:6
When he understood it, he called for his
friends, and told them of it. Then said he, "I am going to my Father's;
and though with great difficulty I am got hither, yet now I do not repent me
of all the trouble I have been at to arrive where I am. My sword I give to
him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage; and my courage and skill to him
that can get it. My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me
that I have fought his battles who now will be my Rewarder." When the
day that he must go hence was come, many accompanied him to the riverside;
into which as he went he said, "Death, where is thy sting?" And as
he went down deeper, he said, "Grave, where is thy victory?" So he
passed over; and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side.
Then there came forth a summons for Mr.
STANDFAST (this Mr. STANDFAST was he that the rest of the pilgrims found
upon his knees in the Enchanted Ground); for the post brought it him open in
his hands. The contents whereof were, that he must prepare for a change of
life; for his Master was not willing that he should be so far from him any
longer. At this Mr. STANDFAST was put into a muse; "Nay," said the
messenger, "you need not doubt the truth of my message; for here is a
token of the truth thereof: thy wheel is broken at the cistern".
"Or
ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher
be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern."
Ecclesiastes 12:6
Then he called to him Mr. GREAT-HEART, who
was their guide; and said unto him, "Sir, although it was not my hap to
be much in your good company in the days of my pilgrimage, yet, since the
time I knew you, you have been profitable to me. When I came from home, I
left behind me a wife and five small children. Let me entreat you at your
return (for I know that you will go, and return to your Master's house, in
hopes that you may yet be a conductor to more of the holy pilgrims), that
you send to my family; and let them be acquainted with all that hath and
shall happen unto me. Tell them, moreover, of my happy arrival at this
place; and of the present blessed condition that I am in. Tell them also of
CHRISTIAN and CHRISTIANA his wife; and how she and her children came after
her husband. Tell them also of what a happy end she made, and whither she is
gone. I have little or nothing to send to my family, except it be prayers
and tears for them; of which it will suffice if thou acquaint them, if
peradventure they may prevail." When Mr. STANDFAST had thus set things
in order, and the time being come for him to haste him away, he also went
down to the river. Now there was a great calm at that time in the river;
wherefore Mr. STANDFAST, when he was about half way in, he stood awhile, and
talked to his companions that had waited upon him thither. And he said:
"This river has been a terror to many;
yea, the thoughts of it also have often frightened me. But now, methinks I
stand easy; my foot is fixed upon that upon which the feet of the priests
that bore the ark of the covenant stood, while Israel went over this Jordan.
"And
the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry
ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry
ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan." Joshua
3:17
The waters, indeed, are to the palate
bitter, and to the stomach cold; yet the thoughts of what I am going to, and
of the conduct that waits for me on the other side, doth lie as a glowing
coal at my heart.
"I see myself now at the end of my
journey; my toilsome days are ended. I am going now to see that head that
was crowned with thorns, and that face that was spit upon for me.
"I have formerly lived by hearsay and
faith; but now I go where I shall live by sight, and shall be with him in
whose company I delight myself.
"I have loved to hear my Lord spoken
of; and wherever I have seen the print of his shoe in the earth, there I
have coveted to set my foot too.
"His name has been to me as a civet
box, yea, sweeter than all perfumes. His voice to me has been most sweet;
and his countenance I have more desired than they that have most desired the
light of the sun. His Word I did use to gather for my food, and for
antidotes against my fainting. He has held me, and I have kept me from mine
iniquities; yea, my steps hath he strengthened in his way."
Now while he was thus in discourse, his
countenance changed; his strong man bowed under him; and after he had said,
"Take me, for I came unto Thee!" he ceased to be seen of them.
But glorious it was to see how the open
region was filled with horses and chariots; with trumpeters and pipers; with
singers and players on stringed instruments--to welcome the pilgrims as they
went up, and followed one another in at the beautiful gate of the City.
As for CHRISTIAN'S children, the four boys
that CHRISTIANA brought with her, with their wives and children, I did not
stay where I was till they were gone over. Also, since I came away, I heard
one say, that they were yet alive; and so would be for the increase of the
Church in that place where they were for a time.
Shall it be my lot to go that way again, I
may give those that desire it an account of what I here am silent about;
meantime, I bid my reader
ADIEU!
THE END.
The
Pilgrim's Progress - Contents
