he thought he might be half way thro' the valley: he remembered alfo, how he had already vanquished many a danger; and that the danger of going back might be much more than to go forward; fo he refolved to go on : yet the fiends feemed to come nearer and nearer; but when they were come even almost at him, he cried out with a most vehement voice, I will walk in the ftrength of the Lord God: fo they gave back, and came no farther.

One thing I would not let flip: I took notice that now poor Chriftian was fo confounded, that he did not know his own voice: and thus I perceived it: Just when he was come over-against the mouth of the burning pit, one of the wicked ones got behind him, and stept up foftly to him, and whisperingly fuggefted many grievous blafphemies to him, which he verily thought had proceeded from his own mind. This put Chriftian more to it than any thing that he met with before, even to think that he should now blafpheme Him that he loved fo much before; yet, if he could have helped it, he would not have done it: but he had not the difcretion either to ftop his ears, or to know from whence those blafphemies

came.

When Chriftian had travelled in this difconfolate condition fome confiderable time, he thought he heard the voice of a man, as going before him, faying, Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no ill, for thou art with me, Pfal. xxiii. 4.

Then was he glad, and that for these reasons: First, Because he gathered from thence, that fome who feared God were in this valley, as well as himself.

Secondly, For that he perceived God was with them, though in that dark and difinal state

and

M 2

why

why not, thought he, with me? though by reafon of the impediment that attends this place, I cannot perceive it. Job ix. 10.

Thirdly, For that he hoped (could he overtake them) to have company by-and-by.

So he went on, and called to him that was before; but he knew not what to answer: for that he also thought himself to be alone. And by-and-by the day broke: then faid Chriftian, He hath turned the Shadow of death into the morning, Amos v. 8.

Now morning being come, he looked back, not out of a defire to return, but to fee, by the light of the day, what hazards he had gone through in the dark; fo he saw more perfectly the ditch that was on the one hand, and the quag that was on the other; also how narrow the way was which led betwixt them both alfo now he faw the hobgoblins, and fatyrs, and dragons of the pit, but all afar off: for after break of day, they came not nigh, yet they were discovered to him, according to that which is written, He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the fhadow of death, Job xii. 22.

Now was Chriftian much affected with his deliverance from all the dangers of his folitary way; which dangers, though he feared them more before, yet he saw them more clearly now, because the light of the day made them confpicuous to him; and about this time the fun was rifing, and this was another mercy to Chriftian: for you must note, that though the first part of the valley of the fhadow of death was dangerous, yet this fecond part, which he was yet to go, was, if poffible, far more dangerous: for, from the place where he now stood, even to the end of the valley, the way was all along fet fo full of fnares, traps, gins and nets here, and fo full of pits, pit-falls, deep holes, and fhelvings down there, that

had

had it been dark, as it was when he came the first part of the way, had he had a thousand fouls, they had in reason been caft away; but, as I said, just now, the fun was rifing. Then faid he, His candle fbineth on my head, and by his light I go through darkness, Job xxix. 3.

In this light therefore he came to the end of the valley. Now I faw in my dream, that at the end of this valley lay blood, bones, afhes, and mangled bodies of men, even of pilgrims that had gone this way formerly and while I was thus musing what should be the reason, I espied a little before me a cave, where two giants, Pope and Pagan, dwelt in old time; by whose power and tyranny the men, whose bones, blood, afhes, &c. lay there, were cruelly put to death. But by this place Chriftian went without much danger, whereat I fomewhat wondered: but I have learnt fince, that Pagan has been dead many a day; and as for the other, tho' he be yet alive, he is, by reafon of age, and also of the many fhrewd brushes that he met with in his younger days, grown fo crazy and stiff in his joints, that he can now do little more than fit in his cave's mouth, grinning at pilgrims as they go by, and biting his nails, because he cannot come at them.

So I faw that Chriftian went on his way; yet, at the fight of the old man, that fat at the mouth of the cave, he could not tell what to think, 'fpecially because he spake to him, though he could not go after him; faying, "You will never mend, till 66 more of you be burnt." But he held his peace, and fet a good face on't, and so went by, and catch'd no hurt. Then fang Chriftian:

O world of wonders! (I can fay no less)
That I fhould be preferv'd in that distress

That

That I have met with here! O blessed be
That band that from it hath deliver'd me!
Dangers in darkness, devils, hell, and fin,
Did compass me, while I this vale was in:
Yea, fnares, and pits, and traps, and nets did lie
My path about, that worthless, filly I,
Might have been catch'd, entangled, and caft down:
But fince I live, let JESUS wear the crown.

Now, as Chriftian went on his way, he came to a little ascent, which was caft up on purpose, that pilgrims might fee before them: up there, therefore, Christian went, and looking forward, he saw Faithful before him upon his journey: then faid Chriftian aloud, Ho, ho: So ho: Stay, and I will be your companion. At that Faithful looked behind him; to whom Christian cried again, Stay, stay, till I come up to you. But Faithful answered, No, I am upon my life, and the avenger of blood is behind me.

At this Chriftian was somewhat moved, and put ting to all his ftrength, he quickly got up with Faith ful, and did also over-run him; fo the last was firft. Then did Christian vain-gloriously smile, because he had gotten the start of his brother; but not taking good heed to his feet, he suddenly stumbled and fell, and could not rife again, until Faithful came up to help him.

Then I faw in my dream, they went very lovingly on together, and had fweet discourse of all things that had happened to them in their pilgrimage; and thus Chriftian began.

Chr.

[Illuftrations from note u to x] "Chriftian meets with Faithful, who was born and educated in the fame town; a child of Adam's degenerate race; but who had obtained like precious faith, and forfaking the prefent world, was feeking a kingdom eternal in the heavens. Chriftian

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