Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/163

Rh 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 then and his companion 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,

Now I further saw, that between them and the gate was a river; but there was no bridge to go over. The river was very deep. At the sight, therefore, of this river the pilgrims were much stunned; but the men that went with them said, You must go through, or you cannot come at the gate.

The pilgrims then began to inquire if there was no other way to the gate. To which they answered, Yes: but there hath not any, save two—to wit, Enoch and Elijah—been permitted to tread that path since the foundation of the world, nor shall until the last trumpet shall sound. The pilgrims then, especially Christian, began to despond, and looked this way and that, but could ﬁnd no way by which they might escape the river. Then they asked the man if the waters were all of 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.

Then they addressed themselves to 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 the waves go over me. Selah.

Then said the other, Be of good cheer, my brother; I feel the bottom, and it is good. Then said Christian, Ah! my friend, the sorrows of death have compassed me about; I shall not see the land that floweth with milk and honey, And with that a great darkness and horror fell upon Christian, So that he could not see before him. Also here he in great measure lest his senses, so that he could