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05 - The Pilgrim's Progress - John Bunyan · Wisdom of the Ages Library

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Part one, the third stage. Now, I saw in my dream that
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the highway of which Christian was to go was fenced on either side with a
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wall, and that wall was called Salvation Isaiah twenty six one. Up this
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way therefore did burden Christian run, but not without great difficulty because of the
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load on his back. He ran thus till he came at a place somewhat
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ascending, And upon that place stood across and a little below, in the
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bottom a sepulcher. So I saw in my dream that just as Christian came
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up with the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell
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from off his back, and began to tumble. And so continued to do
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till it came to the mouth of the sepulcher, where it fell in,
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and I saw it no more. Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and
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said, with a merry heart, he hath given me rest by his sorrow
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and life by his death. Then he stood still, awhile to look and
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wonder, for it was very surprising to him that the sight of the cross
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should thus ease him of his burden. He looked therefore, and looked again
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even till the springs that were in his head, sent the waters down his
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cheeks Zechariah twelve ten. Now as he stood looking and weeping, behold,
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three shining ones came to him and saluted him with peace be to thee.
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So the first said to him, thy sins be forgiven thee Mark two five.
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The second stripped him of his rags and clothed him with change of raiment
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Zechariah three four. The third also set a mark on his forehead Ephesians one
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thirteen, and gave him a roll with a seal upon it, which he
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bid him look on as he ran, and that he should give it in
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at the celestial gate. So they went their way. Then Christian gave three
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leaps for joy, and went on singing, Thus far did I come laden
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with my sin, Nor could aught ease the grief that I was in till
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I came hither. What a place as this must here be the beginning of
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my bliss. Must hear the burden fall from off my back? Must hear
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the strings that bound it to me? Crack, blessed, cross, blessed,
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Sepulcha, blessed. Rather be the man that there was put to shame
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for me? Then I saw in my dream that. He went on thus
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even until he came at the bottom, where he saw a little out of
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the way three men fast asleep, with fetters upon their heels. The name
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of the one was Simple, of another, Sloth, and of the third
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presumption. Christian, then, seeing them lie in this case, went to
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them, if peradventure, he might awake them, and cried, you are
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like them that sleep on the top of a mast Proverbs twenty three thirty four.
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For the dead sea is under you a gulf that hath no bottom.
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Awake therefore, and come away, be willing also, and I will help
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you off with your irons. He also told them, if he that goeth
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about like a roaring lion verse Peter five eight comes by, you will certainly
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become a prey to his teeth. With that, they looked upon him and
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began to reply in this sort, Simple said, I see no danger.
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Sloth said, yet a little more sleep, and presumption said every tub must
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stand upon its own bottom. And so they lay down to sleep again,
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and Christian went on his way. Yet he was troubled to think that men
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in that danger should so little esteem the kindness of him that so freely offered
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to help them. Both by awakening of them, counseling of them, and
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proffering to help them off with their irons. And as he was troubled thereabout
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here spired two men come tumbling over the wall on the left hand of the
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narrow way, and they made up a pace to him. The name of
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the one was formalist, and the name of the other hypocrisy. So as
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I said, they drew up unto him, who thus entered with them into
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discourse. Christian gentlemen, whence came you and whither do you go? Formalist
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and hypocrisy? We were born in the land of vain glory, and are
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going for praise to Mount Zion? Christian? Why came you not in at
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the gate which standeth at the beginning of the way, Know ye not that
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it is written that he that cometh not in by the door, but climbeth
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up some other way, the same as a thief and a robber, John
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ten one. Formalist and Hypocrisy. They said that to go to the gate
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for entrance was by all their countrymen counted too far about, and that therefore
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their usual way was to make a short cut of it, and to climb
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over the wall, as they had done Christian, But will it not be
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counted a trespass against the Lord of the city, whither we are bound thus
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to violate his revealed will? Formalist and hypocrisy. They told him that as
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for that, he needed not to trouble his head thereabout. For what they
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did they had customed for and could produce, if need were testimony that would
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witness it for more than a thousand years. Christian, But said Christian,
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will you stand a trial at law? Formalist and hypocrisy? They told him
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that custom it, being of so long standing as above a thousand years,
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would doubtless now be admitted as a thing legal by an impartial judge. And
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besides, said they, if we get into the way, what matter is
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it which way we get in? If we are in, we are in
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thou art, but in the way who, as we perceive, came in
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at the gate, And we also are in the way that came tumbling over
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the wall. Wherein now is thy condition better than ours? Christian, I
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walk by the rule of my Master. You walk by the rude working of
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your fancies. You are counted thieves already by the Lord of the way.
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Therefore I doubt you will not be found true men, at the end of
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the way, you come in by yourselves without his direction, and shall go
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out by yourselves without his mercy. To this they made him little answer.
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Only they bid him look to himself. Then I saw that they went on
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every man in his way without much confidence, one with another, save that
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these two men told Christian that as to laws and ordinances they doubted not,
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but that they should as conscientiously do them. As he therefore said, they
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we see not wherein thou differest from us, but by the coat that is
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on thy back, which was, as we trow, given thee by some
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of thy neighbors to hide the shame of thy nakedness. Christian, by laws
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and ordinances, you will not be saved, since you came not in by
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the door Galatians to sixteen. And as for this coat that is on my
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back, it was given me by the Lord of the place whither I go,
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and that, as you say, to cover my nakedness with. And
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I take it as a token of kindness to me, for I had nothing
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but rags before. And besides, thus I comfort myself as I go.
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Surely think I when I come to the gate of the city, the Lord
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thereof will know me for good, since I have his coat on my back,
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a coat that he gave me freely in the day that he stripped me
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of my rags. I have moreover a mark in my forehead, of which
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perhaps you have taken no notice, which one of my Lord's most intimate associates
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fixed there in the day that my burden fell off my shoulders. I will
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tell you moreover that I had then given me a roll sealed to comfort me
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by reading as I go on the way. I was also bid to give
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it in at the celestial gate in token of my certain going in after it.
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All which things I doubt you want, and want them, because you
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came not in at the gate. To these things, they gave him no
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answer. Only they looked upon each other and laughed. Then I saw that
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they went all on save that Christian kept before, who had no more talk
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but with himself, And that, sometimes sighingly and sometimes comfortably also he would
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be often reading in the role that one of the shining ones gave him,
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by which he was refreshed. I beheld then that they all went on till
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they came to the foot of the hill difficulty, at the bottom of which
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there was a spring. They were also in the same place. Two other
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ways besides that which came straight from the gate. One turned to the left
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hand and the other to the right at the bottom of the hill. But
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the narrow way lay right up the hill. And the name of the going
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up the side of the hill is called difficulty. Christian now went to the
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spring Isaiah forty nine ten, and drank thereof to refresh himself, and then
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began to go up the hill, saying, the hill, though high,
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I covet to ascend, the difficulty, will not me offend, for I
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perceived the way to life lies here. Come. Pluck up heart. Let's
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neither faint nor fear better, though difficult, the right way to go than
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wrong, though easy, where the end is woe. The other two also
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came to the foot of the hill. But when they saw that the hill
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was steep and high, and that there were two other ways to go,
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and supposing also that these two ways might meet again with that up which Christian
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went on the other side of the hill, therefore they were resolved to go
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in those ways. Now the name of one of those ways was danger,
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and the name of the other destruction. So the one took the way which
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is called danger, which led him into a great wood, and the other
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took directly up the way to destruction, which led him into a wide field
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full of dark mountains, where he stumbled and fell and rose no more.
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I looked then after Christian to see him go up the hill, where I
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perceived he fell from running to going, and from going to clambering upon his
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hands and his knees. Because of the steepness of the place. Now about
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midway to the top of the hill was a pleasant arbor made by the Lord
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of the hill for the refreshment of weary travelers. Thither therefore Christian got,
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where also he sat down to rest him. Then he pulled his roll out
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of his bosom and read therein to his comfort. He also now began afresh
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to take a review of the coat or garment that was given to him as
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he stood by the cross, thus pleasing himself Awhile he at last fell into
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a slumber, and thence into a fast sleep, which detained him in that
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place until it was almost night, And in his sleep his roll fell out
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of hand. Now, as he was sleeping, there came one to him
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and awaked him, saying go to the aunt, thou sluggard, consider her
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ways and be wise Proverbs six six. And with that Christian suddenly started up
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and sped him on his way, and went apace till he came to the
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top of the hill. Now, when he was got up to the top
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of the hill, there came two men running a main. The name of
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the one was Timorous, and of the other Mistrust, to whom Christian said,
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sirs, what's the matter? You run the wrong way? Timorus answered
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that they were going to the city of Zion, and had got up that
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difficult place. But said he, the farther we go, the more danger
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we meet with. Wherefore we turned and are going back again, Yes,
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said Mistrust, for just before us lie a couple of lions in the way,
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whether sleeping or waking, we know not, And we could not think
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if we came within reach, but they would presently pull us in pieces.
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Christian then said, Christian, you make me afraid. But whither shall I
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fly to be safe? If I go back to mine own country that is
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prepared for fire and brimstone, and I shall certainly perish there. If I
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can get to the celestial city, I am sure to be in safety there
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I must venture. To go back is nothing but death. To go forward
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is fear of death, and life everlasting beyond it. I will yet go
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forward. So mistrust and timorous ran down the hill, and Christian went on
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his way, But thinking again of what he had heard from the men,
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he felt in his bosom for his roll, that he might read therein and
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be comforted. But he felt and found it not. Then was Christian in
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great distress and knew not what to do, for he wanted that which used
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to relieve him, and that which should have been his pass into the celestial
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city. Here. Therefore he began to be much perplexed, and knew not
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what to do. At last, he bethought himself that he had slept in
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the arbor, that is, on the side of the hill, and falling
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down upon his knees, he asked God forgiveness for that foolish act, and
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then went back to look for his role. But all the way he went
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back, who can sufficiently set forth the sorrow of Christian's heart? Sometimes he
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sighed, sometimes he wept, and oftentimes he chid himself for being so foolish
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to fall asleep in that place which was erected only for a little refreshment from
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his weariness. Thus therefore he went back, carefully, looking on this side
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and on that all the way as he went, if happily he might find
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his role that had been his comfort so many times in his journey. He
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went thus till he came again in sight of the arbor where he sat and
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slept. But that sight renewed his sorrow the more by bringing again even afresh
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his evil of sleeping unto his mind Revelations two four first the Salonians five six
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to eight. Thus, therefore he now went on bewailing his sinful sleep,
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saying, O wretched man, that I am, that I should sleep in
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the daytime, that I should sleep in the midst of difficulty, that I
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should so indulge the flesh as to use that rest for ease to my flesh,
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which the Lord of the hill hath erected only for the relief of the
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spirits of pilgrims. How many steps have I taken in vain. Thus it
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happened to Israel for their sin they were sent back again by the way of
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the Red Sea. And I am made to tread those steps with sorrow which
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I might have trod with delight. Had it not been for this sinful sleep,
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how far might I have been on my way? By this time I
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am made to tread those steps thrice over which I needed not to have trod.
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But once yea, Now also I am like to be benighted for the
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days almost spent, Oh that I had not slept. Now by this time
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he was come to the arbor again. Wherefore while he sat down and wept,
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But at last, as Providence would have it, looking sorrowfully down under
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the settle, there he espied his role, the which he was trembling in
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haste, catched up and put it into his bosom. But who can tell
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how joyful this man was when he had gotten his role again, For this
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role was the assurance of his life and acceptance at the desired haven. Therefore
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he laid it up in his bosom, gave thanks to God for directing his
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eye to the place where it lay, and with joy and tears, betook
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himself again to his journey. But oh how nimbly did he go up the
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rest of the hill. Yet before he got up, the sun went down
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upon Christian, and this made him again recall the vanity of his sleeping to
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his remembrance, and thus he again began to condole with himself, O thou
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sinful sleep, how for thy sake and my light to be benighted in my
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journey, I must walk without the sun. Darkness must cover the path of
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my feet, and I must hear the noise of the doleful creatures because of
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my sinful sleep. Now also he remembered the story that Mistrust and Timorus told
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him of how they were frightened with the sight of the lions. Then said
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Christian to himself again, these beasts range in the night for their prey,
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And if they should meet with me in the dark, how should I shift
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them? How should I escape being by them torn in pieces? Thus he
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went on his way. But while he was bewailing his unhappy miscarriage, he
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lift up his eyes and behold there was a very stately palace before him,
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the name of which was beautiful, and it stood by the highwayside. So
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I saw in my dream that he made haste and went forward, that if
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possible, he might get lodging there. Now, before he had gone far,
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he entered into a very narrow passage, which was about a furlong off
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the porter's lodge, and looking very narrowly before him. As he went,
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he espied two lions in the way. Now thought he I see the dangers
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that Mistrust and Timorus were driven back by. The lions were chained. But
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he saw not the chains. Then he was afraid, and thought also himself
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to go back after them, for he thought nothing but death was before him.
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But the porter at the lodge, whose name is Watchful, perceiving that
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Christian made a halt as if he would go back, cried unto him,
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saying, is thy strength so small? Mark four forty. Fear not the
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lions, for they are chained and are placed there for a trial of faith
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where it is, and for discovery of those that have none. Keep in
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the midst of the path, and no hurt shall come unto thee. Then
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I saw that he went on trembling for fear of the lions, but taking
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good heed to the directions of the porter. He heard them roar, but
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they did him no harm. Then he clapped his hands and went on till
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he came and stood before the gate where the porter was. Then said Christian
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to the porter, sir, what house is this? And may a lodge
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here to night? The porter answered, this house was built by the Lord
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of the hill, and he built it for the relief and security of pilgrims.
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The porter also asked whence he was and whither he was going. Christian,
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I am come from the city of Destruction and am going to Mount Zion.
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But because the sun is now set, a desire if I may to
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lodge here tonight? The porter. What is your name, Christian? My
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name is now Christian, but my name at the first was graceless. I
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came of the race of Jayfith, whom God will persuade to dwell in the
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tents of shem Genesis nine twenty seven. The porter, but how does it
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happen that you come so late the sun is set? Christian? I had
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been here sooner, but that wretched man that I am, I slept in
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the arbor that stands on the hillside. Nay, I had notwithstanding that,
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been here much sooner, but that in my sleep I lost my evidence and
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came without it to the brow of the hill, And then, feeling for
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it and not finding it, I was forced with sorrow of heart to go
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back to the place where I slept my sleep, where I found it.
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And now I am come, the porter, well, I will call out
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one of the virgins of this place, who will, if she likes your
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talk, bring you in to the rest of the family, according to the
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rules of the house. So watchful, The porter rang a bell, at
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the sound of which came out of the door of the house a grave and
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beautiful damsel named Discretion, and asked why she was called. The porter answered,
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this man is on a journey from the city of Destruction to Mount Zion.
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But being weary and benighted, he asked me if he might lod tonight.
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So I told him I would call for thee who, after discourse had
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with him. Mayors, do as seemeth thee good, even according to the
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law of the house. Then she asked him whence he was and whither he
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was going, and he told her. She asked him also how he got
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into the way, and he told her. Then she asked him what he
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had seen and met with in the way, and he told her. And
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at last she asked his name, So he said, it is Christian.
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And I have so much the more desired to lodge here to night, because
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by what I perceive, this place was built by the Lord of the hill
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for the relief and security of pilgrims. So she smiled, but the water
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stood in her eyes, and after a little pause she said, I will
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call forth two or three more of the family. So she ran to the
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door and called out Prudence, Piety, and Charity, who are so a
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little more discourse with him. Had him into the family, and many of
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them, meeting him at the threshold of the house, said, come in,
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thou, blessed of the Lord. This house was built by the Lord
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of the hill on purpose to entertain such pilgrims in. Then he bowed his
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head and followed them into the house. So when he was come in and
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sat down, they gave him something to drink, and consented together that until
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supper was ready, some of them should have some particular discourse with Christian for
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the best improvement of time. And they appointed Piety, Prudence, and Charity
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to discourse with them. And thus they began, Piety, Come good,
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Christian, since we have been so loving to you as to receive you into
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our home this night, let us, if perhaps we may better ourselves thereby
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talk with you of all things that have happened to you in your pilgrimage.
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Christian, with a very good will, And I am glad that you are
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so well disposed, Piety. What moved you at first to betake yourself to
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a pilgrim's life? Christian? I was driven out of my native country by
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a dreadful sound that was in mine. Ears to wit, that unavoidable destruction
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did attend me if I abode in that place where I was, Piety.
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But how did it happen that you came out of your country this way?
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Christian? It was as God would have it, For when I was under
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the fears of destruction, I did not know whither to go. But by
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chance they came a man even to me as I was trembling and weeping,
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whose name is Evangelist, And he directed me to the wicket gate, which
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else I should never have found, And so set me into the way that
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hath led me directly to this house, Piety. But did you not come
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by the house of the interpreter? Christian? Yes? And did see such
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things there, the remembrance of which will stick by me as long as I
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live. Especially three things to wit, how Christ in despite of Satan,
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maintains his work of grace in the heart. How the man had sent himself
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quite out of hopes of God's mercy, and also the dream of him that
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thought in his sleep the day of judgment was come, Piety. Why did
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you hear him tell his dream? Christian? Yes, and a dreadful one
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it was. I thought it made my heart ache as he was telling of
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it. But yet I am glad I heard it, Piety. Was this
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all you saw at the house of the Interpreter, Christian? No, he
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took me and had me where. He showed me a stately palace, and
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how the people were clad in gold that were in it, And how there
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came a venturous man and cut his way through the armed men that stood in
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the door to keep him out, and how he was bid to come in
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and win eternal glory. Methought, those things did ravish my heart. I
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would have stayed at that good man's house a twelvemonth, but that I knew,
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I had father to go, Piety. And what saw you else in
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the way, Christian saw? Why? I went but a little father,
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And I saw one as I thought in my mind, and bleeding upon a
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tree, And the very sight of him made my burden fall off my back,
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for I groaned under a very heavy burden. But then it fell down
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from off me. It was a strange thing to me, for I never
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saw such a thing before. Yea. And while I stood looking up,
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for then I could not forbear looking, three shining ones came to me.
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One of them testified that my sins were forgiven me. Another stripped me of
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my rags and gave me this broidered coat which you see, and the thirds
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at the mark which you see in my forehead, and gave me this sealed
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roar, And with that he plucked it out of his bosom piety. But
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you saw more than this, did you, not, Christian? The things
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I have told you were the best. Yet some other I saw as Namely,
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I saw three men, simple, sloth and presumption, lie asleep a
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little out of the way as I came, with irons upon their heels.
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But do you think I could awake them? I also saw formality and hypocrisy
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come tumbling over the wall to go as they pretended desion. But they were
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quickly lost, even as I myself did tell them, but they would not
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believe. But above all, I found it hard work to get up this
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hill, and as hard to come by the lion's mouths. And truly,
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if it had not been for the good man, the porter that stands at
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the gate, I do not know, but that, after all I might
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have gone back again. But I thank God I am here, and thank
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you for receiving me. Then Prudence thought good to ask him a few questions,
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and desired his answer to them. Prudence, do you not think sometimes
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of the country from whence you came Christian? Yea, but with much shame
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and detestation. Truly, if I had been mindful of that country from whence
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I came out, I might have had opportunity to have returned. But now
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I desire a better country, that is a heavenly one Hebrews eleven, fifteen
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and sixteen. Prudence, do you not yet bear a way with you some
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of the things that then you were conversant with all Christian? Yes, but
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greatly against my will, especially my inward and kernal cogitations, with which all
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my countrymen, as well as myself were delighted. But now all those things
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are my grief, And might I but choose mine own things? I would
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choose never to think of those things more. But when I would be a
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doing that which is best, that which is worse is with me. Romans
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seventh, fifteen and twenty one. Prudence, do you not find sometimes as
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if those things were vanquished, which at other times are your perplexity? Christian?
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Yes? But that is but seldom. But they are to me golden
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hours in which such things happen to me, Prudence. Can you remember by
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what means you find your annoyances at times as if they were vanquished? Christian?
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Yes? When I think what I saw at the cross, that will
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do it. And when I look upon my broidered coat, that will do
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it. And when I look into the role that I carry in my bosom,
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that will do it. And when my thoughts wax warm about whither I
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am going, that will do it. Prudence. And what is it that
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makes you so desirous to go to Mount Zion Christian? Why? There I
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hope to see him alive that did hang dead on the cross, And there
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I hope to be rid of all those things that to this day are in
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me an annoyance to me. There they say there is no death Isaiah twenty
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five eight, Revelations twenty one four. And there I shall dul with such
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company as I like best, for to tell you the truth, I love
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him because I was by him eased of my burden, and I am weary
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of my inward sickness. I would fain beware. I shall die no more,
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and with the company that shall continually cry, Holy, Holy, Holy.
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Then said Charity to Christian. Have you a family? Are you a
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married man? Christian? I have a wife and four small children, Charity.
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And why did you not bring them along with you? Christian? Then
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Christian wept and said, oh, how willingly would I have done it?
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But they were all of them utterly averse to my going on pilgrimage. Charity.
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But you should have talked to them and have endeavored to show them the
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danger of staying behind Christian. So I did, and told them also what
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God had shund me of the destruction of our city. But I seemed to
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them as one that mocked, and they believed me not Genesis nineteen fourteen.
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Charity. And did you pray to God that he would bless your counsel to
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them? Christian? Yes? And that with much affection. For you must
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think that my wife and poor children were very dear to me, Charity.
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But did you tell them of your own sorrow and fear of destruction? For
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I suppose that destruction was visible enough to you, Christian. Yes, over
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and over and over, they might also see my fears in my countenance,
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in my tears, and also in my trembling under the apprehension of the judgment
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that did hang over our heads. But all was not sufficient to prevail with
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them to come with me, Charity. But what could they say for themselves?
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Why they came not, Christian? Why my wife was afraid of losing
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this world, and my children were given to the foolish delights of youth.
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So what by one thing and what by another? They left me to wander
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in this manner alone? Charity? But did you not, with your vain
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life, damp all that you, by words use by way of persuasion to
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bring them away with you? Christian? Indeed, I cannot commend my life,
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for I am conscious to myself of many failings therein. I know also
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that a man, by his conversation may soon overthrow what by argument or persuasion
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he doth labor to fasten upon others for their good. Yet this I can
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say, I was very wary of giving them occasion by any unseemly action to
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make them averse to going on pilgrimage. Yea for this very thing, they
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would tell me I was too precise, and that I denied myself of things
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for their sakes in which they saw no evil. Nay, I think I
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may say that if what they saw in me did hinder them, it was
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my great tenderness in seeing against God, or of doing any wrong to my
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neighbor charity. Indeed, Kain hated his brother because his own works were evil
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and his brothers righteous First John three twelve. And if thy wife and children
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have been offended with THEE for this, they thereby show themselves to be implacable
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to good. Thou hast delivered thy soul from their blood Ezekiel three nineteen.
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Now I saw in my dream that thus they sat talking together until supper was
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ready. So when they had made ready, they sat down to eat.
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Now the table was furnished with fat things, and with wine that was well
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refined. And all their talk at the table was about the Lord of the
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hill, as namely about what he had done, and wherefore he did what
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he did, and why he had builded that house. And by what they
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said I perceived that he had been a great warrior, and had fought with
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and slain him that had the power of death Hebrews two fourteen and fifteen,
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but not without great danger to himself, which made me love him the more.
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For as they said, and as I believe said Christian, he did
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it with the loss of much blood. But that which put the glory of
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grace into all he did was that he did it out of pure love to
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his country. And besides, there were some of them of the household that
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said they had been and spoke with him since he did die on the and
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they have attested that they had it from his own lips, that he is
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such a lover of poor pilgrims, that the like is not to be found
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from the east to the west. They moreover gave an instance of what they
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affirmed, and that was he had stripped himself of his glory, that he
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might do this for the poor, and that they heard him sayd affirm that
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he would not dwell in the mountain of Zion alone. They said, moreover,
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he had made many pilgrim princes, though by nature they were beggars born,
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and their original had been the Dunghill first Samuels two eight Psalms one hundred
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and thirteen seven. Thus they discoursed together till late at night, and after
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they had committed themselves to their lord for protection, they betook themselves to rest.
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The pilgrim they laid in a large upper chamber whose window opened towards the
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sun rising. The name of the chain was peace. Where he slept till
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break of day, and then he awoke and sang, where am I?
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Now? Is this the love and care of Jesus for the men that pilgrims
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are? Thus to provide that I should be forgiven and dwell already the next
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door to heaven. Now I saw in my dream that thus they sat talking
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together until supper was ready. So when they had made ready, they sat
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down to eat. Now the table was furnished with fat things, and with
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wine that was well refined. And all their talk at the table was about
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the Lord of the hill, as namely about what he had done, and
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wherefore he did what he did, and why he had builded that house.
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And by what they said I perceived that he had been a great warrior,
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and had fought with and slain him that had the power of death Hebrews two
37:57
fourteen and fifteen, but not without great danger to himself, which made me
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love him the more for as they said, and as I believe said Christian,
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he did it with the loss of much blood. But that which put
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the glory of grace into all he did was that he did it out of
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pure love to his country. And besides, there were some of them of
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the household that said they had been and spoke with him since he did die
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on the cross, and they have attested that they had it from his own
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lips, that he is such a love of poor pilgrims, that the like
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is not to be found from the east to the west. They moreover gave
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an instance of what they affirmed, and that was he had stripped himself of
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his glory that he might do this for the poor, and that they heard
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him say it affirm that he would not dwell in the mountain of Zion alone.
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They said. Moreover, he had made many pilgrim princes, though by
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nature they were beggars born, and their original had been the Dunghill first Samuels
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two eight Psalms one hundred and thirteen seven. Thus they discoursed together till late
39:13
at night, and after they had committed themselves to their lord for protection,
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they betook themselves to rest the pilgrim. They laid in a large upper chamber
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whose window opened towards the sun rising. The name of the chamber was Peace.
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Where he slept till break of day, and then he awoke and sang,
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where am I now? Is this the love and care of Jesus for
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the men? That pilgrims are thus to provide that I should be forgiven and
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dwell already the next door to heaven. So in the morning they all got
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up, and after some more discourse, they told him that he should not
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depart till they had shown him the rarities of that place. At first they
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had him into the study, where they showed him records of the greatest antiquity,
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in which, as I remember my dream, they showed him the pedigree
40:08
of the Lord of the hill, that he was the son of the Ancient
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of days and came by eternal generation. Here also was more fully recorded the
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acts that he had done, and the names of many hundreds that he had
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taken into his service, and how he had placed them in such habitations that
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could neither by length of days nor decays of nature be dissolved. Then they
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read to him some of the worthy acts that some of his servants had done,
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as how they had subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped
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the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of
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the sword. Out of weakness, were made strong, waxed, valiant in
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fight, and turned to flight the armies of the Aliens Hebrews eleven, thirty
41:00
three and thirty four. Then they read again another part of the records of
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the House, where it was shown how willing their lord was to receive into
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his favor any, even any though they in time past had offered great affronts
41:15
to his person and proceedings. Here also were several other histories of many other
41:21
famous things, of all which Christian had a view as of things both ancient
41:25
and modern, together with prophecies and predictions of things that have their certain accomplishment,
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both to the dread and amazement of enemies and the comfort and solace of
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pilgrims. The next day they took him and had him into the armory,
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where they showed him all manner of furniture which their Lord had provided for pilgrims,
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as sword, shield, helmet, breastplate or prayer, and shoes that
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would not wear out, and there was here enough of this to harness out
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as many men for the service of their lord as they there be stars in
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the heaven for multitude. They also showed him some of the engines with which
42:07
some of his servants had done wonderful things. They showed him moses Rod,
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the hammer and nail with which jails slew Sicera, the pictures, the trumpets
42:17
and lamps too, with which Gideon put to flight the armies of Midian.
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Then they showed him the ox Gourde, where with Shamgar slew six hundred men.
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They showed him also the jawbone with which Samson did such mighty feats.
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They showed him moreover the sling and stone which David's lugliath of Gath, and
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the sword also with which their Lord will kill the man of sin in the
42:45
day that he shall rise up to the prey. They showed him, besides
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many excellent things with which Christian was much delighted. This done, they went
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to their rest again. Then I saw in my dream that on the to
43:00
morrow he got up to go forward, but they desired him to stay till
43:04
the next day also, and then said they we will if the day be
43:08
clear show you the delectable mountains, which they said would yet farther add to
43:14
his comfort, because they were nearer the desired haven than the place where at
43:17
present he was. So he consented and stayed. When the morning was up,
43:23
they had him to the top of the house and bid him look south.
43:28
So he did, and behold, at a great distance he saw a
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most pleasant mountainous country, beautified with woods, vineyards, fruits of all sorts,
43:37
flowers, also with springs and fountains, very delectable to behold, Isaiah
43:44
thirty three, sixteen and seventeen. Then he asked the name of the country.
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They said, it was Immanuel's land. And it is as common,
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said they, as this hill is two and four all the pilgrims. And
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when thou comest there, from thence thou mayest see to the gate of the
44:01
celestial city, as the shepherds that live there will make a peer. Now
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he bethought himself of setting forward, and they were willing he should, but
44:14
first said they let us go again into the armory. So they did,
44:17
and when he came there, they harnessed him from head to foot with what
44:22
was of proof, lest perhaps he should meet with assaults in the way.
44:28
He, being therefore thus accouched, walked out with his friends to the gate,
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and there he asked the porter if he saw any pilgrims pass by.
44:37
Then the porter answered yes, Christian. Pray, do you know him?
44:43
Said he the porter. I asked his name. He told me it was
44:49
faithful Christian. Oh, said Christian, I know him. He is my
44:54
townsman, my near neighbor. He comes from the place where I was born.
45:00
How far do you think he may be before the porter? He has
45:04
got by this time below the hill, Christian, Well said Christian, good
45:09
Porter. The Lord be with thee, and add to all thy plain blessings
45:14
much increase for the kindness that thou hast showed me. End Part one,
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the third stage.