it were, a narrow gap, like a little doorway in the wall, through
which I attempted to pass. Now, the passage being very strait and
narrow, I made many offers to get in, but all in vain, even until I
was wellnigh quite beat out, by striving to get in. At last, with
great striving, methought I at first did get in my head, and after
that, by a sideling striving, my shoulders and my whole body. {1}
Then was I exceeding glad; went and sat down in the midst of them,
and so was comforted with the light and heat of their sun. Now, this
mountain and wall were thus made out to me: The mountain signified
the church of the living God; the sun that shone thereon, the
comfortable shining of his merciful face on them that were therein:
the wall, I thought, was the world, that did make separation between
the Christians and the world; and the gap which was in the wall, I
thought was Jesus Christ, who is the way to God the Father. But
forasmuch as the passage was wonderful narrow, even so narrow that I
could not, but with great difficulty, enter in thereat, it shewed me
that none could enter into life but those that were in downright
earnest, and unless they left that wicked world behind them; for here
was only room for body and soul, but not for body and soul and sin."
The dream did him good, for, though it brought him no absolute
assurance, it inspirited his efforts after it.

There is scarcely a fear which can assail an inquiring spirit which
did not at some stage of his progress arrest the mind of Bunyan. At
one time he was afflicted by an erroneous view of the doctrine of
election. Looking at them from the outer and under side, those
purposes of everlasting love which secure their safety who have
already got within the precincts of salvation, appeared bristling and
forbidding--a frowning chevaux de frise, rather than a fence of
protection and preservation. And when somewhat relieved from this