Bible Stories and Religious ClassicsWells, Philip P. (Philip Patterson)
Religion
Bible Stories and Religious Classics
Wells, Philip P. (Philip Patterson)
Bible stories, English -- Juvenile literature; Christian literature for children
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 flows 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 a great
measure lost his senses, so that he could neither remember nor orderly
talk of any of those sweet refreshments that he had met with in the way
of his pilgrimage. But all the words that he spoke still tended to
discover that he had horror of mind, and heart-fears that he should die
in that river, and never obtain entrance in at the gate. Here also, as
they that stood by perceived, he was much in the troublesome thoughts of
the sins that he had committed, both since and before he began to be a
pilgrim. It was also observed, that he was troubled with apparitions of
hobgoblins and evil spirits; for ever and anon he would intimate so much
by words.
Hopeful therefore here had much ado to keep his brother's head above
water; yea, sometimes he would be quite gone down, and then, ere awhile,
he would rise up again half dead. Hopeful also would endeavor to comfort
him, saying, Brother, I see the gate, and men standing by to receive us;
but Christian would answer, It is you, it is you they wait for; you have
been hopeful ever since I knew you. And so have you, said he to
Christian. Ah, brother! said he, surely if I was right, he would now
arise to help me; but for my sins he hath brought me into the snare, and
hath left me. Then said Hopeful, My brother, you have quite forgot the
text where it is said of the wicked, "There are no bands in their death,
but their strength is firm; they are not troubled as other men, neither
are they plagued like other men." These troubles and distresses that you
go through in these waters, are no sign that God hath forsaken you; but
are sent to try you, whether you will call to mind that which heretofore
you have received of his goodness, and live upon him in your distresses.
Then I saw in my dream, that Christian was in a muse awhile. To whom
also Hopeful added these words, Be of good cheer, Jesus Christ maketh
thee whole. And with that Christian brake out with a loud voice, Oh, I
see him again; and he tells me "When thou passest through the waters, I
shall be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow
thee." Then they both took courage, and the enemy was, after that, as
still as a stone, until they were gone over. Christian, therefore,
presently found ground to stand upon, and so it followed that the rest
of the river was but shallow. Thus they got over.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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