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
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 a
while, he would rise up again half dead. Hopeful did also endeavor
to comfort him, saying, "Brother, I see the gate, and men standing
by to receive us; but Christian would answer, "It is you, it is 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 are no bands in their death,
but their strength is firm: they are not troubled as other men,
neither are they plagued like other men.
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