BEULAHLAND
NowIsawinmydream, thatbythistimethepilgrimsweregotovertheEnchantedGround, andenteringintothecountryofBeulah, whoseairwasverysweetandpleasant: thewaylyingdirectlythroughit, , heretheyheardcontinuallythesingingofbirdsandsaweverydaytheflowersappearontheearth, ; whereforethiswasbeyondtheValleyoftheShadowofDeath, andalsooutofthereachofGiantDespair; ; alsoheremetthemsomeoftheinhabitantsthereof; forinthislandtheShiningOnescommonlywalked, ; , loudvoices, saying, "SayyetothedaughterofZion, Behold, thysalvationcometh! Behold, HisrewardiswithHim!" Herealltheinhabitantsofthecountrycalledthem "Theholypeople, andredeemedoftheLord, soughtout," etc.
Now, astheywalkedinthisland, theyhadmorerejoicingthaninpartsmoreremotefromthekingdomtowhichtheywerebound; anddrawingneartotheCity, , alsothestreetsthereofwerepavedwithgold; sothatbyreasonofthenaturalgloryoftheCity, andthereflectionofthesunbeamsuponit, Christianwithdesirefellsick; Hopefulalsohadafitortwoofthesamedisease, whereforeheretheylaybyitawhile, cryingoutbecauseoftheirpangs, "IfyouseemyBelovedtellHimthatIamsickoflove."
Butbeingalittlestrengthened, andbetterabletobeartheirsickness, theywalkedontheirway, andcameyetnearerandnearer, wherewereorchards, vineyards, andgardens, , astheycameuptotheseplaces, behold, thegardener, stoodintheway; towhomthepilgrimssaid, "Whosegoodlyvineyardsandgardensarethese?" Heanswered, "TheyaretheKing's, andareplantedhereforHisowndelight, andalsoforthesolaceofpilgrims." Sothegardenerhadthemintothevineyards, 'swalks, andthearborswhereHedelightedtobe; andheretheytarriedandslept.
NowIbeheldinmydream, thattheytalkedmoreintheirsleepatthistimethanevertheydidinalltheirjourney; andbeinginthoughtthereabout, thegardenersaideventome, "Whereforedostthoumeditateatthematter? Itisthenatureofthefruitofthegrapesofthesevineyardstogodownsosweetlyastocausethelipsofthemthatareasleeptospeak."
SoIsaw, , asIsaid, thereflectionofthesunupontheCity (fortheCitywaspuregold) wassoextremelyglorious, thattheycouldnot, asyet, withopenfacebeholdit, , astheywenton, theremetthemtwomeninraimentthatshonelikegold, alsotheirfacesshoneasthelight.
Thesemenaskedthepilgrimswhencetheycame; , whatdifficultiesanddangers, whatcomfortsandpleasures, theyhadmetintheway; , "Youhavebuttwodifficultiesmoretomeetwith, andthenyouareintheCity."
Christian, then, andhiscompanion, askedthementogoalongwiththem; sotheytoldthemthattheywould."But," saidthey, "youmustobtainitbyyourownfaith." SoIsawinmydreamthattheywentontogethertilltheycameinsightofthegate.
