t of the gate.

Now I further saw, that between them and the gate was a river: but there
was no bridge to go over; and the river was very deep. At the sight
therefore of this river the pilgrims were much stunned; but the men that
went with them said, You must go through or you cannot come at the
gate.

The pilgrims then began to inquire if there was no other way to the
gate. To which they answered, Yes; but there hath not any, save two, to
wit, Enoch and Elijah, been permitted to tread that path since the
foundation of the world, nor shall until the last trumpet shall sound.
The pilgrims then, especially Christian, began to despond in their
minds, and looked this way and that, but no way could be found by them
by which they might escape the river. Then they asked the men if the
waters were all of a depth. They said, No; yet they could not help them
in that case; for, said they, you shall find it deeper or shallower as
you believe in the King of the place.

They then addressed themselves to the water, and entering, Christian
began to sink, and crying out to his good friend Hopeful, he said, I
sink in deep waters; the billows go over my head, all his waves go over
me.

Then said the other, Be of good cheer, my brother: I feel the bottom,
and it is good. Then said Christian, Ah, my friend, "the sorrows of
death have compassed me about," I shall not see the land that flows with
milk and honey. And with that a great darkness and horror fell upon
Christian, so that he could not see before him. Also here he in a great
measure lost his senses, so that he could neither remember nor orderly
talk of any of those sweet refreshments that he had met with in the way
of his pilgrimage. But all the words that he spoke still tended to
discover that he had horror of mind, and heart-fears that he should die
in that river, and never obtain entrance in at the gate. Here also, as
they that stood by perceived, he was much in the troublesome thoughts of
the sins that he had committed, both since and before he began to be a
pilgrim. It was also observed, that he was troubled with apparitions of
hobgoblins and evil spirits; for ever and anon he would intimate so much
by words.

Hopeful therefore here had much ado to keep his brother's head above
water; yea, sometimes he would be quite gone down, and then, ere awhile,
he would rise up again half dead. Hopeful also would endeavor to comfort
him, saying, Brother, I see the gate, and men standi