When Mr. Standfast had thus set things in order, and the time being
come for him to haste him away, he went down to the river. Now there
was a great calm at that time in the river; wherefore Mr. Standfast,
when he was about half way in, stood a while and talked to his
companions that had waited upon him thither: and he said, "This
river has been a terror to many; yea, the thoughts of it also have
often frightened me: now, methinks, I stand easy; my foot is fixed
upon that on which the feet of the priests that bare the ark of the
covenant stood, while Israel went over this Jordan.
"The waters indeed are to the palate bitter and to the stomach cold;
yet the thoughts of what I am going to, and of the convoy that waits
for me on the other side, doth lie as a glowing coal at my heart. I
see myself now at the end of my journey; my toilsome days are ended.
I am going to see that head that was crowned with thorns, and that
face that was spit upon for me. I have formerly lived by hearsay and
faith, but now I go where I shall live by sight, and shall be with
him in whose company I delight myself. I have loved to hear my Lord
spoken of; and whenever I have seen the print of his shoe in the
earth, there I have coveted to set my foot too. His name has been to
me as a civet-box, yea, sweeter than all perfumes. His voice to me
has been most sweet, and his countenance I have more desired than
they that have most desired the light of the sun. His words I did
use to gather for my food, and for antidotes against my faintings.
He has held me, and hath kept me from mine iniquities, yea, my steps
have been strengthened in his way."
Now while he was thus in discourse, his countenance changed; his
"strong man bowed under him;" and after he had said, "Take me, for I
am come unto thee," he ceased to be seen of them.
But glorious it was to see how the open region was filled with
horses and chariots, with trumpeters and pipers, with singers and
players on stringed instruments, to welcome the pilgrims as they
went up, and followed one another in at the beautiful gate of the
city.