They then addressed themselves to the Water; and entring, 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, Selah.

Then said the other, Be of good chear, 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 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 spake, 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.  ’Twas 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 adoe to keep his Brother’s head above water; yea sometimes he would be quite gone down, and then ere a while he would rise up again half dead. Hopeful also would endeavour to comfort him, saying, Brother, I see the Gate, and men standing by to receive us.  But Christian would answer, ’Tis you, ’tis you they wait for, you have been hopeful ever since I knew you.  And so have you, said he to Christian.  Ah Brother, said he, surely if I was right, he would now arise to help me; but for my sins he hath brought me into the snare, and hath left me.  Then said Hopeful, My Brother, you have quite forgot the Text, where it is said of the wicked, There is no band in their death, but their strength is firm, they are not troubled as other men, neither are they plagued like other men.  These troubles and distresses that you go through in these Waters are no sign that God hath forsaken you, but are sent to try you, whether you will call to mind that which heretofore you have received of his goodness, and live upon him in your distresses.

Then I saw in my Dream, that Christian was as in a muse a while.  To whom also Hopeful added this word, Be of good cheer, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole; and with that Christian brake out with a loud voice, Oh I see him again, and he tells me, When thou passest through the Waters, I will be with thee; and through the Rivers, they shall not overflow thee.  Then they both took courage, and the Enemy was after that as still as a stone untill they were gone over. Christian therefore presently found ground to stand upon, and so it followed that the rest of the River was but shallow.  Thus they