Come, neighbour Christian, since there are none but us two here, tell me now further what the things are, and how to be enjoyed, whither we are going.
CHRISTIAN: I can better conceive of them with my mind, than speak of them with my tongue. God’s things unspeakable: but yet, since you are desirous to know, I will read of them in my book.
PLIABLE: And do you think that the words of your book are certainly true?
CHRISTIAN: Yes, verily; for it was made by Him that cannot lie.21
PLIABLE: Well said; what things are they?
CHRISTIAN: There is an endless kingdom to be inhabited, and everlasting life to be given us, that we may inhabit that kingdom for ever.22
PLIABLE: Well said; and what else?
CHRISTIAN: There are crowns and glory to be given us, and garments that will make us shine like the sun in the firmament of heaven.23
PLIABLE: This is very pleasant; and what else?
CHRISTIAN: There shall be no more crying, nor Sorrow: for He that is owner of the place will wipe all tears from our eyes.24
PLIABLE: And what company shall we have there?
CHRISTIAN: There we shall be with seraphims and cherubims, creatures that will dazzle your eyes to look on them.25 There also you shall meet with thousands and ten thousands that have gone before us to that place; none of them are hurtful, but loving and holy; every one walking in the sight of God, and standing in his presence with acceptance for ever.26 In a word, there we shall see the elders with their golden crowns27, there we shall see the holy virgins with their golden harps28, there we shall see men that by the world were cut in pieces, burnt in flames, eaten of beasts, drowned in the seas, for the love that they bare to the Lord of the place, all well, and clothed with immortality as with a garment.29
PLIABLE: The hearing of this is enough to ravish one’s heart. But are these things to be enjoyed? How shall we get to be sharers thereof?
CHRISTIAN: The Lord, the Governor of the country, hath recorded that in this book; the substance of which is, If we be truly willing to have it, he will bestow it upon us freely.
PLIABLE: Well, my good companion, glad am I to hear of these things: come on, let us mend our pace.
CHRISTIAN: I cannot go so fast as I would, by reason of this burden that is on my back.
References
21 Titus 1:2
22 Isa. 45:17; John 10:28,29
23 2 Tim. 4:8; Rev. 3:4; Matt. 13:43
24 Isa. 25.6-8; Rev. 7:17, 21:4
25 Isa. 6:2
26 1 Thess. 4:16,17; Rev. 5:11
27 Rev. 4:4
28 Rev. 14:1-5
29 John 12:25; 2 Cor. 5:4
4 CHRISTIAN AND PLIABLE CONFRONT THE SLOUGH OF DESPOND
NOW I saw in my dream, that just as they had ended this talk they drew near to a very miry slough, that was in the midst of the plain; and they, being heedless, did both fall suddenly into the bog. The name of the slough was Despond. Here, therefore, they wallowed for a time, being grievously bedaubed with the dirt; and Christian, because of the burden that was on his back, began to sink in the mire.
PLIABLE: Then said Pliable; Ah! neighbour Christian, where are you now?
CHRISTIAN: Truly, said Christian, I do not know.
PLIABLE: At this Pliable began to be offended, and angrily said to his fellow, Is this the happiness you have told me all this while of? If we have such ill speed at our first setting out, what may we expect betwixt this and our journey’s end? May I get out again with my life, you shall possess the brave country alone for me. And, with that, he gave a desperate struggle or two, and got out of the mire on that side of the slough which was next to his own house: so away he went, and Christian saw him no more.
Wherefore Christian was left to tumble in the Slough of Despond alone: but still he endeavoured to struggle to that side of the slough that was still further from his own house, and next to the wicket-gate; the which he did, but could not get out, because of the burden that was upon his back: but I beheld in my dream, that a man came to him, whose name was Help, and asked him, What he did there?
CHRISTIAN: Sir, said Christian, I was bid go this way by a man called Evangelist, who directed me also to yonder gate, that I might escape the wrath to come; and as I was going thither I fell in here.
HELP. But why did not you look for the steps?
CHRISTIAN: Fear followed me so hard, that I fled the next way, and fell in.
HELP. Then said he, Give me thy hand: so he gave him his hand, and he drew him out, and set him upon sound ground, and bid him go on his way.30
Then I stepped to him that plucked him out, and said, Sir, wherefore, since over this place is the way from the City of Destruction to yonder gate, is it that this plat is not mended, that poor travellers might go thither with more security? And he said unto me, This miry slough is such a place as cannot be mended; it is the descent whither the scum and filth that attends conviction for sin doth continually run, and therefore it is called the Slough of Despond; for still, as the sinner is awakened about his lost condition, there ariseth in his soul many fears, and doubts, and discouraging apprehensions, which all of them get together, and settle in this place. And this is the reason of the badness of this ground.
It is not the pleasure of the King that this place should remain so bad.31 His labourers also have, by the direction of His Majesty’s surveyors, been for above these sixteen hundred years employed about this patch of ground, if perhaps it might have been mended: yea, and to my knowledge, said he, here have been swallowed up at least twenty thousand
