Now, dear young friends, the last chapter of the pilgrim tale, that has had almost countless numbers of readers, both old and young, has to be written.
Soon after their escape from those well-known enemies to pilgrims, Atheist and the Flatterer, Christian and Hopeful entered the Enchanted Ground, which, though pleasant and shady, was not without its dangers. It was not safe to linger there, for the air made those who did so so overcome by sleep that they were unable to continue their journey and they often slept much longer than was good for them.
They had not gone far before Hopeful complained of being very tired and said that since he was so sleepy that he could not keep his eyes open, he must lie down to sleep and rest just for a little while. However, Christian encouraged him to try to keep awake, and they both went on, keeping up a brisk conversation so that their drowsiness should not overcome them. Presently they entered the country of Beulah, a very pleasant land, where the flowers were always blooming and the sweet songs of the birds were to be heard. Here the King's own vineyards were, which He had planted for His own pleasure and for the comfort of pilgrims.
They were now drawing near to the gate of the Celestial City, but before entering, a river, whose name was Death, must be crossed. "But is there no other way?" they asked trembling. "Two men, and two only, Enoch and Elijah, have been taken by another way" was the answer, "but a great company of the redeemed have already passed the river. They overcame by the blood of the Lamb and are safe on the other side."
Just then a horror of great darkness came over the soul of Christian. He could not remember that his Lord had said, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee." Almost in despair he cried out, "I sink in deep waters where there is no standing; the billows go over my head."
But his faithful friend Hopeful, who was still by his side, proved a great comfort and help to him, for he whispered words of faith and hope and bade him look away from himself to the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ and rest upon the promise, "I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee." And as Christian looked to Jesus, darkness melted away, and the light of his Savior's love again shone into his soul, so he crossed the river with a song of triumph and entered into the joy of his Lord, more than a conqueror through Him.
How did it fare with Hopeful? He too had reached the end of his journey, and sheltered by the precious blood of Christ and trusting no merits but those of his Redeemer, he too safely passed the river and went to wait with his Lord for the hour that cannot be very far distant now, the hour of the Lord's return, when He shall come with all His saints to take His kingdom and reign, no longer despised and rejected, as by many He still is, but to be owned as King of kings and Lord of lords.
And now we must bid farewell to John Bunyan. Many of you will, I expect, one day read The Pilgrim's Progress for yourselves. Don't forget that its author wrote it under the figure of a dream, and some portions of Scripture, on which in these closing days clearer light has been given, the writer could only have seen dimly. John Bunyan wrote a second part to the book in which we are told that the wife and children of Christian, who were at first so unwilling that he should become a pilgrim, afterward left the City of Destruction with a friend whose name was Mercy and became pilgrims too.
But I cannot lay down my pen without a word of personal appeal. Are you a pilgrim, dear young reader? Is your face towards the Celestial City? If you are, do your friends and school-fellows know it? Have you confessed Christ before them? or has the fear of being laughed at kept you silent? Oh, do not be
"Ashamed of Jesus, of the Friend
On whom our hopes of heaven depend;
No, when we blush, be this our shame
That we no better love His name."
C. J. L.