Pilgrim's Progress

These men asked the pilgrims whence they came; and they told them. Then said the men: " 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; and they said they would.

So they went on together until they came within sight of the gate. But betwixt them and the gate was a river, and there was no bridge
to go over. The river was very deep.
The men that were with them, in answer to their questions, told them that they must go through the river, which they would find deeper or shallower as they believed in the King of the place.
They then entered the water, and Christian began to sink, crying out to his good friend Hopeful: " I sink in deep waters ; the billows go over my head."

Then Hopeful bade him be of good cheer, and had much ado to keep his brother's head above water. But after a while they both took courage, and Christian presently found ground to stand upon, and so it followed that the rest of the river was but shallow. Thus, they got over.

Now, upon the bank of the river, on the other side, they saw the two Shining Ones again, who there waited for them.
Wherefore, being come out of the river, they saluted them, saying : " We are ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for those that shall be heirs of salvation."
Thus they went along towards the gate.

Now, you must note that the city stood upon a mighty hill, but the pilgrims went up that hill with ease, because they had these two men to help them up by the arms.
They had likewise left their mortal garments behind them in the river.
And I saw in my dream that Christian and Hopeful, after giving in their certificates, went in at the gate ; and lo, as they entered, they were transfigured, and they had raiment put on that shone like gold.
There were also those that met them with harps and crowns, and gave these to them.
Then I heard in my dream that all the bells in the city rang again for joy, and that it was said to them : " Enter ye into the joy of your Lord."
So I awoke, and behold it was a dream.

But Bunyan dreamed another dream, and in this dream he saw how Christian's wife and children set forth from the City of Destruction, and, reaching the Interpreter's house, were put in charge of one Great-heart, who guided them to the Celestial City, whither Christian had gone before them. The story of this forms the second part of his great work: "The Pilgrim's Progress."