th _yellow clay_, under the weight of which
millions perished, that they had no time so much as to look at the
king's directions. Many went wrong because they preferred a merry
journey to a safe one, and because they were terrified by certain
notices chiefly intended for the _narrow-way_ travelers; such as,
"ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice;" but had
these foolish people allowed themselves time or patience to read to
the end, which they seldom would do, they would have seen these
comfortable words added, "But your sorrow shall be turned into joy;"
also "your joy no man taketh from you;" and, "they that sow in tears
shall reap in joy."

Now, I also saw in my dream, that many travelers who had a strong
dread of ending at the _Land of Misery_ walked up to the _Strait
Gate_, hoping that though the entrance was narrow, yet if they could
once get in, the road would widen; but what was their grief, when on
looking more closely they saw written on the inside, "Narrow is the
way;" this made them take fright; they compared the inscriptions
with which the whole way was lined, such as, "Be ye not conformed to
this world; deny yourselves, take up your cross," with all the
tempting pleasures of the wilderness. Some indeed recollected the
fine descriptions they had read of the _Happy Land_, the _Golden
City_, and the _River of Pleasure_, and they sighed; but then those
joys were distant, and from the faintness of their light, they soon
got to think that what was remote might be uncertain, and while the
present good increased in bulk the distant good receded, diminished,
disappeared. Their faith failed; they would trust no further than
they could see; they drew back and got into the _Broad Way_, taking
a common but sad refuge in the number, the fashion, and the gayety
of their companions. When these faint-hearted people, who yet had
set out well, turned back, their light was quite put out, and then
they became worse than those who had made no attempt to get in. "For
it is impossible, that is, it is next to impossible, for those who
were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and the
good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they fall
away to renew them again to repentance."

A few honest, humble travelers not naturally stronger than the rest,
but strengthened by their trust in the king's word, came up, by the
light of their lamps, and meekly entered in at the _Strait Gate_; as
th