The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan Every Child Can ReadBunyan, John
Religion
The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan Every Child Can Read
Bunyan, John
Christian life -- Juvenile literature; Christian pilgrims and pilgrimages -- Juvenile literature
After this, I beheld until they were come unto the Land of Beulah, where
the sun shineth night and day. Here, because they were weary, they
betook themselves awhile to rest. And because this country was common
for pilgrims, and because the orchards and vineyards that were here
belong to the King of the Celestial Country, therefore they were
permitted to make bold with any of His things. But a little while soon
refreshed them here; for the bells did so ring, and the trumpets
continually sound so melodiously, that they could not sleep and yet they
received as much refreshing as if they had slept their sleep never so
soundly. Here also the noise of them that walked in the streets was,
"More pilgrims are come to town!" And another would answer, saying, "And
so many went over the water, and were let in at the golden gates,
to-day!" They would cry again, "There is now a legion of Shining Ones
just come to town, by which we know that there are more pilgrims upon
the road; for here they come to wait for them, and comfort them after
all their sorrow!" Then the pilgrims got up, and walked to and fro. But
how were their ears now filled with heavenly voices, and their eyes
delighted with celestial visions! In this land they heard nothing, saw
nothing, felt nothing, smelt nothing, tasted nothing, that was offensive
to their stomach or mind; only when they tasted of the water of the
river over which they were to go, they thought that it tasted a little
bitterish to the palate, but it proved sweeter when it was down.
In this place there was a record kept of the names of them that had been
pilgrims of old, and a history of all the famous acts that they had
done. It was here also much spoken of, how the river to some had had its
flowings, and what ebbings it had had while others have gone over. It
has been in a manner dry for some, while it has overflowed its banks for
others.
In this place, the children of the town would go into the King's
gardens, and gather nosegays for the pilgrims, and bring them to them
with much affection. Here also grew camphire, with spikenard, and
saffron, calamus, and cinnamon, with all the trees of frankincense,
myrrh, and aloes, with all chief spices. With these the pilgrims'
chambers were perfumed while they stayed here; and with these were their
bodies anointed, to prepare them to go over the river, when the time
appointed was come.
[Sidenote: CHRISTIANA RECEIVES MESSAGE]
Now, while they lay here, and waited for the good hour, there was a
noise in the town that there was a messenger come from the Celestial
City with matter of great importance to one Christiana, the wife of
Christian the pilgrim. So inquiry was made for her, and the house was
found out where she was. So the messenger presented her with a letter;
the contents whereof were, "Hail, good woman! I bring thee tidings that
the Master calleth for thee, and expecteth that thou shouldest stand in
His presence, in clothes of everlasting life, within these ten days."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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