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Then I saw in my dream that two men leapt from the top of the wall and made great haste to come up to him. Their names were Formalist and Hypocrisy.

 

                                        

 Formalist                                         Hypocrisy

 

Christian: Sirs, from where do you come, and where do you go?

Formalist and Hypocrisy: We were born in the land of Vain-glory, and are on our way to Mount Zion for praise.

Christian: Why did you not come in at the Gate? Don't you know that he who does not come in at the door, but climbs up to get in, is a thief?

They told him that to go through the gate was much too long, that the best way was to take a short cut, and climb the wall, as they had done. 

Christian: I walk by the rule of my Lord, but you walk by the rule of your own lusts. The Lord of the way will count you as thieves, and you will not be found true men in the end.

 
 I saw then that they all went on till they came to the foot of the Hill of Difficulty, where there was a spring. There was in the same place two more ways, one on the left hand and one on the right; but the path that Christian was told to take went straight up the hill, and its name is Difficulty, and he saw that it was the way of life. 

Now when Christian got as far as the Spring of Life he drank of it, and then went up the hill. but when the two men saw that it was steep and high and that there were three ways to choose from, one of them took the path which is named Danger, and lost his way in a great wood; and one of them went by the road of Destruction, which led him to a wide field full of dark rocks, where he fell and rose no more.

I then saw Christian go up the hill, where at first I could see him run, then walk, and then go on his hands and knees, for it was so steep.    

                                                                          

Now half way up was a cave made by the Lord of the hill, that those who came by might rest there.

So Christian sat down and took out the scroll and read it, till at last he fell off in a deep sleep which kept him there till it was dark; and while he slept his scroll fell from his hand.

Then a man came up to him and woke him, and said: "Go to the ant, you man of sloth, and learn of her to be wise."

At this Christian sped on his way, at a quick pace.

 

When he came near to the top of the hill, two men ran up to meet him, whose names were Timorous and Mistrust, to whom Christian said, "Sirs, why do you run the wrong way?"

                                       

Mistrust                                                 Timorous

 

Timorous sad that Zion was the hill they meant to climb, but that when they made it half way they they found that they met with more and more risk, so that great fear came on them, and all they could do was to turn back.

 

    Yes, said Mistrust, "for just in front of us there lay two beasts of prey in our path; we did not know if they slept or not, but we thought that they would fall on us and tear us limb from limb."

Christian: You rouse my fears. Where must I fly to be safe? If I go back to my own town (Destruction) I am sure to lose my life, but if I can get to the Celestial City, there I shall be safe. To turn back is death; to go on is fear of death, but when I come there, I will find a life of bliss that knows no end. So I will press on.

So Mistrust and Timorous ran down the hill and Christian went on his way. Yet he thought once more of what he had heard form the men, and then he felt in his cloak for his scroll, that he might read it and find strength and peace. He felt for it but did not find it. The Christian was in great grief, and did not know what to do for the want of that which was to be his pass to The Celestial City.

 

 

Table Of Contents  Dream begins, A Man with a Burden Evangelist & the Slough of Despond Worldly Wiseman & Entering the Wicket-Gate The House of Interpreter  The Burden meets the Cross, The Shining Ones  Formalist, Hypocrisy, The Hill Difficulty, Arbor, Mistrust&Timorous The Palace Beautiful, Chained Lions,  Lessons from Discretion, Piety, Charity, and Prudence Valley of Humiliation Battle with Apollyon, Valley of Shadow of Death, Faithful  Vanity Fair, The Trial, Burned at the Stake  Hopeful, Pillar of Salt, River of God, Vain-confidence Doubting Castle, Giant Despair, Delectable Mountains   Atheist, Enchanted Ground Passing Through The Waters Of Death Entering the Gates of Heaven 

The Dream