📔 The Pilgrim's Progress from This World, to That Which Is to Come

The Porter answered, This Man is in a Journey from the City of Destruction to Mount Zion, but being weary, and benighted, he asked me if he might lodge here to night; so I told him I would call for thee, who after discourse had with him, mayest do as seemeth thee good, even according to the Law of the House.

How far might I have been on my way by this time! I am made to tread those steps thrice over, which I needed not to have trod but once: Yea now also I am like to be benighted, for the day is almost spent.

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.

Behold ye how these crystal streams do glide, / To comfort pilgrims by the highway side; / The meadows green, beside their fragrant smell, / Yield dainties for them; and he that can tell / What pleasant fruit, yea, leaves, these trees do yield, / Will soon sell all, that he may buy this field.

Wherefore let Christiana look out some Damsels for her Sons, to whom they may be Betroathed, &c. that the Name of their Father, and the House of his Progenitors may never be forgotten in the World.

Then Christian took his leave of his Friend, and he again bid him God speed.

For to tell you truth, I love him [Jesus], because I was by him eased of my burden, and I am weary of my inward sickness; I would fain be where I shall die no more, and with the Company that shall continually cry Holy, Holy, Holy.

Then Proclamation was made, that they that had ought to say for their Lord the King against the Prisoner at the Bar, should forthwith appear and give in their evidence.

Then said Faint-heart, Deliver thy Purse; but he making no haste to do it (for he was loth to lose his Money,) Mistrust ran up to him, and thrusting his hand into his Pocket, pull'd out thence a bag of Silver.

He [Envy] neither regardeth Prince nor People, Law nor Custom: but doth all that he can to possess all men with certain of his disloyal notions, which he in the general calls Principles of Faith and Holiness.