Christian secs the Delectable Mountains. this to harness out as many men, for the service of their Lord, as there be stars in the heaven for multitude. They also showed him some of the engines with which some of his servants had done wonderful things. They showed him Moses' rod; the hammer and nail with which Jael slew Sisera; the pitchers, trumpets, and lamps too, with which Gideon put to flight the armies. of Midian. Then they showed him the ox's goad wherewith Shamgar slew six hundred men. They showed him also the jaw-bone with which Samson did such mighty feats. They showed him moreover the sling and stone with which David slew Goliath of Gath; and the sword also with which their Lord will "kill the man of sin," in the day that he shall rise up to the prey. They showed him besides many excellent things, with which Christian was much delighted. done, they went to their rest again. This Then I saw in my dream that on the morrow he got up to go forward, but they desired him to stay till the next day also; and then, said they, we will, if the day be clear, show you the Delectable Mountains; which, they said, would yet further add to his comfort, because they were nearer the desired haven than the place where at present he was. So he consented and stayed. When the morning was up, they had him to the top of the house, and bid him look south: so he did; and behold, at a great distance, he saw a most pleasant Isa. 33. 16, 17. mountainous country, beautified with woods, vineyards, fruits of all sorts, flowers also, with springs and fountains, very delectable to behold. Then he asked the name of the country. They said it was Immanuel's Land; and it is as common, said they, as this hill is, to and Beautiful the Delectable Mountains may be seen in the distance; and by-and-by, from those Delectable Mountains will the Pilgrim see the gates of the Celestial City. Thus it is that Faith's wide prospect perpetually expands, and from successive stand-points more distant prospects dawn upon the sight. Faith olden time did fight and win their spiritual | attained. Hence may be seen some of the battles. These relics-not for worship, but great land-marks of the way: from the Palace for remembrance, were evidences of the might of other days, when the strong champions of the Lord went in and out among their people, and were jealous for Jehovah's sovereignty, and avenged his righteous cause against all opposers. This was just such a treasury of ancient lore and deeds of faith as Paul supplies in the eleventh chapter of his Epistle to the Hebrews-that memorable record of men that lived and died in faith. Immanuel's Land.—Who sees with the eye of faith, sees with a far-seeing eye. Not only within the chambers of the Palace, but also from the outer heights are prospects and perspectives of far-off scenes, and stages yet to be "Leads from goal to goal,' And opens still, and opens on the soul." To men of faith is the promise made-" They shall behold the land that is very far off" (Isa. xxxiii. 17). That land is pleasant; even in the distant prospect presenting its vineyards and its woodlands, its fountains and rivers of waters. At this prospect the Pilgrim's for all the pilgrims. And when thou comest there from thence, said they, thou mayest see to the gate of the Celestial City, as the shepherds that live there will make appear. Now he bethought himself of setting forward, and they were willing he should. But first, said they, let us go again into the armoury. So they did; and when he came there, they harnessed him from head to foot with what was of proof, lest perhaps he should meet with assaults in the way. He being therefore thus accoutred, walked out with his friends to the gate, and there he asked the Porter if he saw any pilgrims pass by? Then the Porter answered, Yes. CHR. Pray did you know him? POR. I asked his name, and he told me it was Faithful. Oh, said Christian, I know him: he is my townsman, my near neighbour he comes from the place where I was born. you think he may be before? POR. He has got by this time below the hill. How far do Well, said Christian, good Porter, the Lord be with thee, and add to all thy blessings much increase, for the kindness that thou hast showed to me. Then he began to go forward; but Discretion, Piety, Charity, and Prudence would accompany him down to the foot of the hill. So they went on together, reiterating their former discourses, till they came to go down the hill. Then said Christian, As it was difficult coming up, so, so far as I can see, it is dangerous going down. Yes, said zeal is quickened, and he desires to depart, that he may the sooner gain that goodly outpost of the City. But the journey lies through battle-fields; and through many a hardfought fight is the issue to be attained. (Eph. vi. 14-18). Thus equipped, the Pilgrim is about to be committed to the onward stages of his journey. To some purpose, indeed, was this sojourn in the Palace Beautiful. In very weakness he They harnessed him.-Till now, the Robe entered its portals; but now he is refreshed, received at the Cross is the raiment of the comforted, instructed, edified, enlightened, Pilgrim, and this continues to be his clothing. armed, and strengthened. Having now tasted But besides this dress, he is accoutred with the blessings of Christian communion, he asks a suit of armour from the armoury of the the porter at the gate whether any fellowPalace. To what purpose this precaution was pilgrims have passed by; and he is informed taken will ere long appear. He is now in- that one FAITHFUL has just passed on before vested with armour becoming a Pilgrim-soldier him. This man has not enjoyed the Christian of the Cross-the girdle of truth about his intercourse of the Palace, but shall by-and-by loins, the breastplate of righteousness, his feet reap the benefits of CHRISTIAN'S company, as shod with the preparation of the gospel of CHRISTIAN, in his turn, shall also enjoy the peace; besides all these, there are given to fellowship of FAITHFUL. "Iron sharpeneth him the shield of faith, the helmet of salva- iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance tion, and the sword of the Spirit; and there of his friend" (Prov. xxvii. 17), is added the weapon of All-prayer to these Then he began to go forward.~ Not alone Prudence, so it is; for it is a hard matter for a man to go down into the Valley of Humiliation, as thou art now, and to catch no slip by the way; therefore, said they, we are come out to accompany thee down the hill. So he began to go down, but very warily, yet he caught a slip or two. Then I saw in my dream, that these good companions, when Christian was gone down to the bottom of the hill, gave him a loaf of bread, a bottle of wine, and a cluster of raisins; and then he went on his way. CHAPTER IX. APOLLYON. How well proportioned to our need is the provision for the way! Our God and Father will not suffer us to be tempted, tried, or tested beyond that we are able to bear. He superintends the proportion of trouble and conflict that is laid upon his children, so that they be not surcharged or over-weighted. He has hitherto mercifully provided for the Pilgrim's welfare; and before difficulties arise, God has bestowed upon him strength, in anticipation of his need. So is it now, at this stage of the journey. We have just seen the Pilgrim provided with weapons in the armoury of the Palace Beautiful; and as a mailed warrior he has departed from that resting-place, which he had entered as a benighted traveller. We now begin to trace in the sequel the object and design of that strengthening counsel and refreshing communion of which he has been a partaker, while enjoying the privileged company of the Christian virtues that dwelt in that fair House. Forth from the Armoury, and in full equipment, he is conducted by the fair sisterhood of the Palace down the hill-to the lowlying Valley of Humiliation. Diverse are the experiences of pilgrims, even in the self-same stage of the pilgrimage. To CHRISTIAN the descent was "dangerous ;" and the Valley (when he got there) became the battle-field of one of the fiercest encounters that fell to his lot in the course of his journey. Yet this Valley is not thus perilous to all pilgrims. In the Second Part of the Progress it is described as "a fruitful place”—“ the best and most fruitful piece of ground in all these parts." It consists of meadow-land and green valleys, "beautiful with lilies;" filled with sheep, and resounding with the pastoral songs of the shepherds; and its chiefest glory is, that it was the chosen dwelling-place of Jesus, the Lord of all. But to our Pilgrim it was a place of sore conflict. It appears, from the light of interpretation thrown upon it in CHRISTIANA'S pilgrimage, that CHRISTIAN had wandered into a dangerous part of the valley, called Forgetful Green; and that it was here he was exposed to the assault of the great foe, APOLLYON. As a general rule, these hard experiences from without does he depart; for the fair sisters bear him company to the foot of the hill. "The things that accompany salvation" form the escort of the Christian in all difficult places. Accordingly, as the Pilgrim has been enabled to climb the hill Difficulty at the one side, so he is assisted in his descent into the low-lying valley at the other side-the Valley of Humiliation. Oh, how hard it is to walk safely down that steep declivity! Flesh and blood resist "Thus to the vale they all descend, They give him of their goodly store, Christian meets Apollyon. answer to some weakness from within. But if we be forgetful of God, our God and Father is not forgetful of us. Hence the timely provision of armour-the panoply of God, the weapons of the warfare, bright and burnished; and ere long they will be needed. "Descending to the vale below, "Unsheath thy glist'ning, trusty sword; Thy spear bring forth with might. UT now, in this Valley of Humiliation, poor Christian was hard put to it; for he had gone but a little way, before he espied a foul fiend coming over the field to meet him his name is Apollyon. Then Rev. 9. 11. did Christian begin to be afraid, and to cast in his mind whether to go back or to stand his ground. But he considered again that he had no armour for his back, and therefore thought that to turn the back to him might give him greater advantage, with ease to pierce him with his darts: therefore he resolved to venture, and stand his ground: for, thought he, had I no more in mine eye than the saving of my life, it would be the best way to stand. So he went on, and Apollyon met him. Now the monster was hideous to behold: he was clothed with scales like a fish (and they are his pride); he had wings like a dragon, feet like a bear, and out of his belly came fire and smoke, and his mouth was as the mouth of a lion. When he was come up to Christian, he beheld him with a disdainful countenance, and thus began to question with him. A foul fiend-Apollyon. -"And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon."-Rev. ix. 11. Here, then, the Allegory means to depict a conflict with the powers of hell, with Satan himself. It is one of those fierce assaults of the devil with which he seeks to recover his lost prey, and if not this, to destroy them. The name APOLLYON means "The destroyer." Valley of Humiliation. - From the height | familiar with this humble and lowly portion of Christian privilege a descending path and of the Pilgrim's lot. a darkening prospect now lie before the Pilgrim. He that had gone up the hill, must now go down at the other side-down to the valley, the Valley of Humility; lower down - to the Valley of Humiliation; lower still - to the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Very timely, and in anticipation of his direst need, has been the provision and refreshment of the Palace Beautiful, and the conversation of its inhabitants. Now, through scenes of danger and of darkness, CHRISTIAN is appointed to pursue his onward journey. The description of this monster is conveyed in a sentence that gathers into itself the acThe Valley of Humiliation is a deep, low- cumulation of all those characteristics of Satan lying vale. The descent to it is both difficult that are most hideous and horrible, deadly and and dangerous; but to dwell there is profitable dangerous. The scaly leprosy of the old serto the spirit of pilgrims. It tends to the forma-pent covers APOLLYON as with a coat of mail. tion of, at least, one part of the Christ-like He had "wings like a dragon," to indicate the character, for Jesus had his dwelling there; rapidity of his flight, and the ravages of his and he who would be like to Christ, must be march; "feet like a bear," for softness of |