got over.  Now upon the bank of the River on the other side, they saw the two shining men again, who there waited for them; wherefore being come out of the River, they saluted them saying, We are ministring Spirits, sent forth to minister for those that shall be heirs of salvation. Thus they went along towards the Gate.  Now you must note that the City stood upon a mighty Hill, but the Pilgrims went up that Hill with ease because they had these two men to lead them up by the arms; also they had left their Mortal Garments behind them in the River, for though they went in with them, they came out without them.  They therefore went up here with much agility and speed, though the foundation upon which the City was framed was higher than the Clouds.  They therefore went up through the Regions of the Air, sweetly talking as they went, being comforted, because they safely got over the River, and had such glorious Companions to attend them.

The talk they had with the Shining Ones was about the glory of the place, who told them that the beauty and glory of it was inexpressible.  There, said they, is the Mount Sion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the innumerable company of Angels, and the Spirits of Just Men made perfect.  You are going now, said they, to the Paradice of God, wherein you shall see the Tree of Life, and eat of the never-fading fruits thereof; and when you come there, you shall have white Robes given you, and your walk and talk shall be every day with the King, even all the days of Eternity.  There you shall not see again such things as you saw when you were in the lower Region upon the earth, to wit, sorrow, sickness, affliction, and death, for the former things are passed away.  You are now going to Abraham, to Isaac, and Jacob, and to the Prophets, men that God hath taken away from the evil to come, and that are now resting upon their Beds, each one walking in his righteousness.  The men then asked, What must we do in the holy place?  To whom it was answered, You must there receive the comfort of all your toil, and have joy for all your sorrow; you must reap what you have sown, even the fruit of all your Prayers and Tears, and sufferings for the King by the way.  In that place you must wear Crowns of Gold, and enjoy the perpetual sight and vision of the Holy One, for there you shall see him as he is.  There also you shall serve him continually with praise, with shouting, and thanksgiving, whom you desired to serve in the World, though with much difficulty, because of the infirmity of your flesh.  There your eyes shall be delighted with seeing, and your ears with hearing the pleasant voice of the Mighty One.  There you shall enjoy your friends again, that are gone thither before you; and there you shall with joy receive even every one that follows into the holy place after you.  There also shall you be cloathed with Glory and Majesty, and put into an equipage fit to ride out with the