As I went through the wild waste of this world, I came to a place where there was a den, and I lay down in it to sleep. While I slept, I had a dream.

I saw a man whose cloths were in rags, and he stood with a book in his hand, and a great load on his back. As he read from the book, he wept and shook with fear—then he let out a loud cry, and said, “What will I do to save my soul?”

Now I saw in my dream, that one day as he walked in the fields with his book in his hand, ne groaned. He felt as if a cloud was on his soul, and he cried again, “Who will save me?” He looked about wildly, as if he wanted to run, but didn’t know where to go.

At last a man whose name was Evangelist came up to him and asked, “Why are you crying?”

He said,” Sir, this book in my hand, says that I am to die, and that then God will judge me. Now I dread to die.”

Evangelist asked, “Why are you afraid to die?”

The man said, “I’m afraid that I am doomed and that this load on my back will make me sink down.”

“If that is the case,” said Evangelist, “why do you stand still?”

But the man said, “I don’t know where to go.”

Then Evangelist gave him a scroll with these words on it, Fly from the wrath to come.

When the man read it he said, “Which way must I fly?”

Evangelist held out his hand to point to a gate in a wide field and asked, “Do you see the Wicket Gate?”

“No.”

“Do you see the light?”

“I think I do.”

Keep that light in your eye, “said Evangelist, “and go straight up to it. Then you’ll see the gate. Knock, and you will be told what to do.”

Then I saw in my dream that Christian—for that was his name—set off to run.

He had not gone far from his own door, when his wife and young ones, who saw him, begged him to return; but Christian put his hands to his ears and ran on with a cry of “Life! Life!” His friends came out and mocked him and threatened him. Two ran after him to bring him back forcefully. Their names were Obstinate and Pliable. Christian was a good way off, but they finally caught up to him.

“Friends, why are you after me?” asked Christian

“To take you back with us,” they said.

“But I can’t go back with you. You live in the city of destruction, the place where I too, was born. There you will and sink down to a place which burns with fire. Be wise, good friends, and come with me.”

“What and leave our belongings and all our kin?”

“Yes,” said Christian, “for if you go where I go, you will find all you want and more. Come with me and you will see that I am telling you the truth.”

Obstinate turns back, but Pliable goes with Christian.

“Tell me more about the things for which we search,” said Pliable.

“There are crowns of light in store for us,” said Christian, “and robes that will make us shine like the sun. There will be no more worries or grief because He who owns the place will wipe all tears from our eyes.

“We will be with all the saints, in bright robes. We will meet those who have kept the faith and have been burnt on the stake and thrown to wild beast for their love for God. They will not harm us, but will greet us with love, for they all walk in the sight of God.”

“Well, my good friend,” said Pliable, “I’m glad to hear this. Come on, Let’s hurry.”

“I can’t go as quickly as I want because of this load

on my back.” Said Christian.

Then I saw in my dream that just as they had come to an end of this talk, they drew near to a slough that was in the middle of a plain, and they fell in. The name of the slough was Despond. They lay for a time in the mud; and the load that Christian had on his back made him sink all the more in the mire.

“Is this the joy you have told me to expect?” said Pliable. And with that he got out of the mire and went home. And Christian saw him no more.

So Christian was left to struggle in the Slough of Despond. He could not get out because of the load on his back; till I saw in my dream that a man came to him whose name was Help.

Help: “Give me your hand.”

So Christian gave Help his hand, and Help drew him out, and set him on the ground and sent him off.

Then I saw in my dream that the highway which Christian was to follow, had a wall on each side. The name of that wall was Salvation. Christian ran up this highway, but with the great pain because of the load on his back. He ran until he came near to a place on which stood a cross, and at the foot of it a tomb. Just as Christian came up to the cross, and his load slid from his back, close to the mouth of the tomb, where it fell in. I saw it no more.

Christian joyfully cried, “He gives me rest by his grief, and life by his death.” He stood still for a while because he was struck with awe to think that the sight of the cross eased his load.

And while he stood there crying, three Brite Ones came to him, and one of them said, “Peace be with you! You have been forgiven of your sins.” And one came up to him to strip him of his rags and put a new robe on him, while the third set a mark on his face, and gave him a scroll when he reached the Celestial Gate.

Christian leaped for joy and sang, “What an incredible place this is! Here is where my load was dropped. Blessed cross! Blessed tomb! No, blessed is the Lord who was put to shame for me!”

Christian walks on and encounters many obstacles and terrors. Finally he meets Hopeful, who goes to the Celestial Gate with him.

When they drew up to the gate, a host of saints came to meet them, to whom the Bright Ones proclaimed, “These are men who felt love for our Lord when they were in the world, and left all for His name; and He sent us to bring them here, that they might go in and look on their Lord with joy.”

Great changes took place in Christian and Hopeful at the gate. They were put in robes that shone like gold. Bright hosts surrounded them and said,” Come in the joy of the Lord.”

Just as the gates were flung open for the men to pass in, I had a sight of Zion, which shone like the sun; the ground was of gold, and those who dwelt there had loving faces, crowns on their heads, and palms in their hands, and with one voice they shouted praises to God.

But the gates were now once more shut, and I wished I could share in this bliss. Then I awoke and realized it was a dream.