up his loins, and to address himself
to his journey. Then said the Interpreter, The Comforter be always
with thee, good Christian, to guide thee in the way that leads to
the City. So Christian went on his way, saying--

"Here I have seen things rare and profitable; Things pleasant,
dreadful, things to make me stable In what I have begun to take
in hand; Then let me think on them, and understand Wherefore they
showed me were, and let me be Thankful, O good Interpreter, to
thee."

{92} Now I saw in my dream, that the highway up which Christian
was to go, was fenced on either side with a wall, and that wall
was called Salvation. [Isa. 26:1] Up this way, therefore, did
burdened Christian run, but not without great difficulty, because
of the load on his back.

{93} He ran thus till he came at a place somewhat ascending, and
upon that place stood a cross, and a little below, in the bottom,
a sepulchre. So I saw in my dream, that just as Christian came up
with the cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell
from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do,
till it came to the mouth of the sepulchre, where it fell in, and
I saw it no more.

{94} Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said, with a
merry heart, "He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his
death." Then he stood still awhile to look and wonder; for it was
very surprising to him, that the sight of the cross should thus
ease him of his burden. He looked therefore, and looked again,
even till the springs that were in his head sent the waters down
his cheeks. [Zech. 12:10] Now, as he stood looking and weeping,
behold three Shining Ones came to him and saluted him with "Peace
be unto thee". So the first said to him, "Thy sins be forgiven
thee" [Mark 2:5]; the second stripped him of his rags, and clothed
him with change of raiment [Zech. 3:4]; the third also set a mark
on his forehead, and gave him a roll with a seal upon it, which he
bade him look on as he ran, and that he should give it in at the
Celestial Gate. [Eph. 1:13] So they went their way.

"Who's this? the Pilgrim. How! 'tis very true, Old things are
past away, all's become new. Strange! he's another man, upon my
word, They be fine feathers that make a fine bird.

Then Christian gave three leaps for joy, and went on singing--

"Thus far I did come laden with my sin;
Nor could aught ease the grief that I was in
Till I came hither: What a p