The works of the Rev. John Wesley, Vol. 09 (of 32)

by John Wesley

That night, about midnight, they began to pray, and continued in prayer till near break of day.

Now, a little before it was day, Christian as in amaze, broke out, “What a fool am I to continue in this noisome dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty? I have a key in my bosom, called Promise, that will, I am persuaded open any lock in Doubting-castle.” “That, said Hopeful, is good news indeed; pluck it out of thy bosom and try.”

Then Christian tried it at the dungeon door, whose bolt (as he turned the key) gave back, and the door flew open with ease. They went next to the outward door that leads into the castle-yard, and, with this key, opened that door also. The iron gate was next: but that lock went very hard. Yet in awhile did the key open it: so they stopped not till they came to the king’s highway, where they were out of the giant’s jurisdiction.

Then they went on till they came to the Delectable Mountains, where were gardens and orchards, and vineyards, and fountains of water: here they drank and washed themselves, and did freely eat of the fruit of the vineyards. Now there were on the top of these mountains, shepherds feeding their flocks by the way-side. The pilgrims therefore went to them, and asked, whose mountains are these? And whose are the sheep that feed upon them?

Shepherd. These mountains are Immanuel’s land, and they are within sight of his city. And the sheep that feed here are his also, and he laid down his life for them.

Christian. Is there any relief in this place for pilgrims that are weary and faint in the way?

Shepherd. The lord of these mountains has given a charge, not to be forgetful to entertain strangers: “Therefore the good of the place is before you.” So they took them by the hand, and led them to their tents. After a short refreshment, (it being now late) they all betook them to their rest.

In the morning they called up Christian and Hopeful to walk with them upon the mountains. So they went forth and walked with them, having a pleasant prospect on every side. From thence they led them to the top of a hill called Error, which was very steep on the further side, and bid them look down to the bottom. They looked down, and saw at the bottom several men dashed to pieces by a fall from the top. Then said Christian, who are these? “Have you not heard,” said the shepherds, “of them that were made to err, by hearkening to Hymenæus and Philetus, concerning the resurrection of the body? These that you see lie dashed in pieces are they; and they continue unburied to this day, for an example to others, that they clamber not too high, nor come too near the brink of this mountain.”

*Then I saw in my dream, that the shepherds had them to another place, where was a door in the side of a hill. They opened the door and bad them look in. They looked, and saw that it was very dark and smoaky; also they heard a roaring noise, as of fire, and cries and groans, as of men in torment. Then said Christian, what means this? This, answered the shepherds, is a bye-way to hell; a way that hypocrites go, and those that did run well, but do not endure to the end. Then said the pilgrims, looking on each other, We have need to cry to the strong for strength. “True,” said the shepherds, “and you have need to use it when you have it too.”

When they were about to depart, one of the shepherds gave them a note of the way. Another bid them, “Beware of the flatterer.” The third said, “Sleep not on inchanted ground.” So they went down the mountains, along the highway. Now a little below the mountains, on the left-hand, lies the country of Conceit; from which country a little crooked lane runs into the way where the pilgrims walked. Here they met with a very brisk young man, who came out of that country: his name was Ignorance. So Christian asked, “Whence he came, and whither he was going?”