Now
I saw in my dream that when the pilgrims had gotten past the enchanted
Ground, they, entering into the country of Beulah, whose air
was very sweet and pleasant and the way lying directly through
it, enjoyed themselves there for a season. Yea, here they heard
continually the singing of birds and saw every day the flowers
appear on the earth, and heard the voice of the turtle-dove
in the land.
BEULAH
LAND
In
this country the sun shines night and day; for this was beyond
the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and also out of the reach
of Giant despair;
neither could they from this place so much as see Doubting
Castle. Here they were within sight of the City they were going
to; also here met them some of the inhabitants thereof; for
in this land the Shining Ones commonly walked, because it was
upon the borders of heaven.
Here
they had no lack of corn and wine for in this place they met
with abundance of what they had sought for in all their pilgrimage.
Here they heard voices from out of the City, loud voices, saying, “Say
ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy Salvation cometh! Behold,
His reward is with Him!” Here all the inhabitants of the country
called them “The holy people and redeemed of the Lord,” “sought
out,”
etc.
As
they drew nearer the City, they had yet a more perfect view
thereof. It was builded of pearls and precious stones, also
the streets thereof were paved with gold. They walked on their
way, and came yet nearer and nearer, where were orchards, vineyards,
and gardens, and their gates opened into the highway. As they
came up to these places, the gardener stood in the way; to
whom the pilgrims said, “Whose goodly vineyards and gardens
are these?” He answered, “They are the King’s, and are planted
here for His own delight and also for the solace of pilgrims.”
So
the gardener led them into the vineyards, and bade them refresh
themselves with the dainties. Here they tarried and slept.
So
I saw, when they awoke, they undertook to go up to the City.
But, the reflection of the sun upon the City (for the city
was pure gold) was so extremely glorious, that they could not,
as yet, with open face behold it, but through a glass made
for that purpose. So I saw that, as they went on, there met
them two men in raiment that shone like gold, and with faces
bright as the light.
These
men asked the pilgrims whence they came; and they told them.
They also asked them where they had lodged, what difficulties
and dangers, what comforts and pleasures they had met in the
way; and they told them.
Then
said the men that met them, “You have but two difficulties
more to meet with, and then you are in the City.”
Christian
and Hopeful asked the men to go along with them; so they told
them that they would. “But,” said they, “you must obtain it
by your own faith.” So I saw in my dream that they went on
together till they came in sight of the gate.
A
RIVER INTERVENES
Now
I further saw that betwixt them and the gate was a river; but
there was no bridge to go over, and the river was very deep.
At the sight of this river, the pilgrims were much stunned.
But
the men that went with them said,
“You must go through, or you cannot come to the gate.”
The
pilgrims then began to inquire if there was no other way to
the gate; to which they answered, “Yes; but only Enoch and
Elijah were permitted to tread that path since the foundation
of the world; nor shall until the last trumpet shall sound.”
Then
they both, but especially Christian, began to be anxious and
looked this way and that; but no way could be found by which
they might escape the river. Then they asked the men if the
waters were all the same depth. They said, “No,” yet they could
not help them in that case; “for,” said they, “you shall find
it deeper or shallower as you believe in the King of the place.”
They
then went into the water; and, entering, Christian began to
sink, and crying out to his good friend Hopeful he said, “I
sink in deep waters; the billows go over my head; all His waves
go over me.”
Then
said Hopeful, “Be of good cheer, my brother; I feel the bottom,
and it is good.”
Christian, “Ah!
My friend, the sorrows of death have compassed me about; I
shall not see the land that flows with milk and honey.”
And with that, a great darkness and horror fell upon Christian,
so that he could not see before him.
Hopeful,
therefore, here had much ado to keep Christian’s head above
the water; sometimes he would be quite gone down, and then
he would rise up again half dead. Hopeful would also endeavor
to comfort him saying, “Brother, I see the gate and men standing
by to receive us.”
Christian
would answer, “It is you, it is you they wait for; you
have always been hopeful.”
Then said Hopeful, “My brother, these troubles and distresses that
you go through in these waters are no sign that god
has forsaken you; but are sent to try you, whether you will
call to mind what you have received of His goodness, and will
live upon Him in your distresses.”
Then
I saw in my dream that Christian was silent awhile, and Hopeful
added these words, “Be of good cheer, Jesus Christ maketh thee
whole.” With that Christian said with a loud voice, “Oh, I
see Him again; and He tells me, ‘When thou passeth through
the waters I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they
shall not overflow thee.’ ”
Then
they both took courage, and the enemy was, after that, as still
as a stone, until they were gone over. Christian therefore
presently found ground to stand upon; and so it followed that
the rest of the river was but shallow. Thus they got over.
TWO
SHINING MEN
Now
upon the bank of the river, on the other side, they saw the
two shining ones
again, who waited for them. When the pilgrims came out of the
river they saluted them, saying,
“We are heavenly spirits, sent to minister to those that shall
be heirs of salvation.”
Thus
they went along toward the gate. Now, you must note that the
City stood upon a mighty hill; but the pilgrims went up that
hill with ease, because they had these two men to lead them.
Also they left their mortal garments behind them in the river;
for though they went in with them, they came out without them.
They therefore went up with much speed, though the foundation
upon which the City was built was higher than the clouds. They
therefore went up through the air, sweetly talking as they
went, being comforted because they had safely got over the
river, and had such glorious companions to attend them.
The
talk they had with the Shining Ones was about the glory of
the place; they said its beauty and glory were such as could
not be put into words.
“There,” said
they, “is Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, and the innumerable
company of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect.
You are going now,” said they, “to the Paradise of God, wherein
you shall see the tree of life, and eat of the never-fading
fruits thereof; and you shall have white robes given you, and
your walk and talk shall be every day with the King, even all
the days of an eternal life.”
THE
HEAVENLY REWARDS
Then
they asked,
“What must we do in the holy place?” To whom it was answered, “You
must there receive comfort for all your toil, and have joy
for all your sorrow; you must reap what you have sown, even
the fruit of all your prayers, and tears, and sufferings for
the King by the way. In that place you must wear crowns of
gold, and enjoy the perpetual visions of the Holy One; for
there you shall see Him as He is. There also you shall serve
Him continually with praise and thanksgiving, whom you desired
to serve in the world, though with much difficulty, because
of the weakness of your bodies.
“When he
shall come with sound of trumpet in the clouds, you shall come
with Him; and when He shall sit upon the throne of judgment,
you shall sit by Him; and when He shall pass sentence upon
all the workers of evil, you also shall have a voice in that
judgment because they were His and your enemies. Also, when he
shall again return to the City, you shall go too, with sound
of trumpet, and be ever with Him.”
THE
HEAVENLY WELCOME
Now,
while they were thus drawing towards the gate, behold, a company
of the heavenly host came out to meet them; to whom the Shining
Ones said, “These are the men that have loved our Lord when
in the world, and that have left all for His holy name; and he
hath sent us to fetch them, and we have brought them thus far
on their desired journey, that they may go in and look their
Redeemer in the face with joy.”
Then
the heavenly host gave a great shout, saying, “Blessed are
they which are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
There
came out also at this time to meet them a host of the King’s
trumpeters, clothed in white and shining raiment, who, with
melodious noises and loud, made even the heavens to echo with
their sound. These trumpeters saluted Christian and Hopeful
with ten thousand welcomes from the world; and this they did
with shouting and sound of trumpet.
This
done, they compassed them round on every side; some went before,
some behind, and some on the right hand, some on the left (as
it were to guard them through the upper regions), continually
sounding as they went, with melodious noise, in notes on high:
so that the very sight was to them that could behold it as
if heaven itself was come down to meet them.
Thus
they walked on together; and, as they walked, ever and anon
these trumpeters, even with joyful sound, would, by mixing
their music with looks and gestures, still signify to Christian
and Hopeful how welcome they were and with what gladness they
came to meet them. And now were these two men as it were in
heaven before they came to it, being swallowed up with the
sight of angels, and with hearing of their melodious notes.
THE
CELESTIAL CITY
Here
also they had the city
itself in view, and thought they heard all its bells ringing
to welcome them. But, above all, the warm and joyful thoughts
that they had about their own dwelling there with such company,
and that for ever and ever! Oh! by what tongue or pen can their
glorious joy be expressed!
And
thus they came up to the gate.
When
they came up to the gate, they saw written over it in letters
of gold, “BLESSED ARE THEY THAT DO HIS COMMANDMENTS, THAT THEY
MAY HAVE RIGHT TO THE TREE OF LIFE, AND MAY ENTER IN THROUGH
THE GATES INTO THE CITY.”
Then
I saw, in my dream, that the shining
Ones bade them call at the gate; when they did some from above
looked over the gate, such as Enoch, Moses, and Elijah, and
others, to whom it was said, “These pilgrims are come from
the City of Destruction, for the love that they bear to the
King of this place.”
Then
the pilgrims gave to them their certificates, which they had
received in the beginning; these therefore were carried into
the King who, when He had read them, said, “Where are the men?”
To
whom they answered, “They are standing without.”
The
King then commanded to open the gate, “that the righteous nation,” said
He, “which keepeth the truth, may enter in.”
THE
KINGLY ROBE AND CROWN
Then
the pilgrims went in at the gate; and lo! as they entered,
their looks were changed so that their faces became bright;
and they had garments put on that shone like gold. There were
also given them harps and crowns, the harps of praise withal,
and the crowns in token of honor.
Then
I heard in my dream that all the bells in the City rang again
for joy, and that it was said unto them,
“Enter ye into the joy of your Lord.” I also heard the pilgrims
themselves sing with loud voices, “Blessing, and honor,
and glory and power be unto Him that sitteth upon the
throne and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever!”
Now,
just as the gates were opened to let in the men, I looked in
after them, and behold, the City shone like the sun; the streets
also were paved with gold; and in them walked many men with
crowns on their heads, palms in their hands, and golden harps
to sing praises withal.
THE
SONG OF THE SERAPHS
There
were also of them that had wings, and they answered one another
without ceasing, saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord!” And,
after that, they shut up the gates; which when I had seen I
wished myself among them.
IGNORANCE
FAILS TO ENTER
Now
while I was gazing upon all these things, I turned my head
to look back, and saw Ignorance come up to the riverside; but
he soon got over, and that without half the difficulty which
the other two men met with. For it happened that there was
then in the place one Vain-Hope, a ferryman, that with his
boat helped him over; so he, as the others I saw, did ascend
the hill to come up to the gate; only he came alone, neither
did any man meet him with the least encouragement.
When
he was come up to the gate, he looked up to the writing that
was above, and then began to knock, supposing that entrance
should have been quickly given to him; but he was asked by
the men that looked over the top of the gate, “Whence came
you? and what would you have?” He answered, “ I have eaten
and drunk in the presence of the King, and he
has taught in our streets.” Then they asked him for his certificate,
that they might go in and show it to the King: so he fumbled
in his bosom for one, and found none. Then said they, “ Have
you none?” But the man answered never a word.
So
they told the King; but he
would not come down to see him, but commanded the two Shining
Ones that conducted Christian and Hopeful to the city,
to go out and take Ignorance, and bind him hand and foot, and
take him away. Then they took him up and carried him through
the air to the door that I saw in the side of the hill, and
put him in there. Then I saw that there was a way to hell,
even from the gates of heaven, as well as from the city
of destruction!
So
I awoke, and behold, it was a dream.
CONCLUSION
Now
reader, I have told my dream to thee,
See
if thou canst interpret it to me,
Or
to thyself or neighbor; but take heed
Of
misinterpreting; for that, instead
Of
doing good, will but thyself abuse:
By
misinterpreting, evil ensues.
Take
heed also that thou be not extreme
In
playing with the outside of my dream;
Nor
let my figure or similitude
Put
thee into a laughter of feud.
Leave
this for boys and fools; but as for thee,
Do
thou the substance of my matter see.
Put
by the curtains, look within my veil;
Turn
up my metaphors, and do not fail,
There,
if thou seekest them, such things to find
As
will be helpful to an honest mind.
What
of my dress thou findest there, be bold
To
throw away; but yet preserve the gold.
What
if my gold be wrapped up in ore?-
None
throws away the apple for the core.
But
if thou shalt cast all away as vain,
I know
not but ’twill make me dream again. |