fand, is able to absolve me; yea, and to pardon alfo what I did as to my compliance with thee: And befides (O thou defroying Apollyon) to fpeak the truth, I like his fervice,. his wages, his fervants, his government, his company, and country, better than thine; and therefore leave off to perfuade me farther, I am his fervant, and I, will follow him. Apol, Confider again, when thou art in Apollyon pleads cool blood, what thou art like to meet with the grievous end: in the way, that thou goeft. Thou know- of Chriftians, to eft, that, for the most part, his fervanta diffuade Chrifticome to an ill end, because they are tranf- an from persistgreffors against me and my ways. How ing in his way. many of them have been put to shameful deaths? And be des, thou counteft this fervice better than: mine, whereas he never came yet from the place where he is to deliver any that served him out of their hands; but as for me, how many times, as all the world very well knows, have I delivered, either by power or fraud, thofe that have faithfully ferved me, from him and his, though taken by. them; and fo will I deliver thee. Chr. His forbearing at prefent to deliver them, is on purpose to try their love, whether they will cleave to him to the end; and as for the ill end thou fayest they come to,, that is most glorious in their account; but for prefent deliverance they do not much expect it for they stay for their glory, and then they hall have it, when their Prince comes in his, and the glory of the angels. ** Apol. Thou haft already been unfaithful in thy fervice to him, and how dost thou think to receive wages of him? Chr. Wherein, O Appollyon! have I been unfaithful to him? Apol. Thou didst faint at first fetting out, Apollyon pleads when thou was almost choaked in the gulph Chriftian's in-of Defpond; thou didst attempt wrong ways firmities ato be rid of thy burden, whereas they fhould gainst him. have ftayed till thy Prince had taken it off. Thou didst finfully fleep, and lofe thy choice things. Thou waft almoft perfuaded to go back at the fight of the lions; and when thou talkeft of thy journey, and of what thou haft heard and feen, thou art inwardly defirous of wain-glory. in all that thou fayeft or doeft. Her six Chr Chr. All this is true, and much more which thou haft left out; but the Prince who I ferve and honour is merciful and. A more unequal match can hardly be: and ready to forgive: But befides, these infirmities poffeffed me in thy country; for there I fucked them in, and I have groaned under them, been forry for them, and have obtained pardon of my prince. Apol. Then Apollyon broke out into a grie- Apollyon, in a Tous rage, faying, I am an enemy to this rage, falls upon Prince; I hate his perfon, his laws, and Chriftian, people; I am come out on purpose to withftand thee. Chr. Apollyon, beware what you do, for I am in the King's highway, the way of holiness; therefore take heed to yourself. Apol. Then Apollyon ftraddled quite over the whole breadth of the way, and faid, I am void of fear in this matter; prepare thyself to die; for I fwear by my infernal den, that thou shalt go no further; here will I fpill thy foul! And with that he threw a flaming dart at his breaft, but Chriftian had a fhield in his band, with which he caught and fo prevented the danger of that, Then did Chriftian draw; for he faw it was time to be fir him; and Apollyon as fait made at him, throwing darts as thick as hail by which, notwithstand ing all that Chriftian could do to avoid it, Chriftian Apollyon wounded him in his head, his band, wounded in his and foot. This made Chriflian give a lit- understanding, tle back; Apollyon therefore followed his faith, and conwork amain, and Chriftian again, took cou- verfation. rage, and refifted as manfully as he could. This fore combat lafted for above half a day, even till Chrif tian was almost quite fpent; for you muit know that Chrif tian, by reafon of his wounds, muft needs grow weaker and weaker. Then Apollyon efpying his opportunity, began to gather up clofe to Chriftian, and wrestling with him, gave him a dreadful fall, and with that Chriftian's word flew out of his hand. Then faia Apollyon cafteth Apollyon, I am fure of thee now: And with Christian down that he had almost preffed him to death; to to the ground. that Chriftian began to defpair of life, Bat, as God would have it, while Apollyon was fetching his laft blow, thereby to make an end of this good mang over that valley hangs the difcouraging cloud of confufion; death alfo doth always fpread his wings over it. In a word, it is every being utterly without order. Job. 3.5. whit dreadful Jer. 2. 6. Chr. Then, faid Chriftian, I perceive not yet, by what you have faid, "but that this is my way to the defired heaven. Men. Be it thy way, we will not chufe it for ours. So they parted, and Chriftian went on his way, but fill with his fword drawn in his hand, for fear left he should be affaulted. I faw then in my dream, fo far as this valley reached, there was on the right hand a very deep ditch; that ditch is it into which the blind have led the blind in all ages, and have both there miferably perifhed. Again, behold on the left hand, there was a dangerous quag, into which, if even a good man falls, he finds not bottom for his feet to ftand on; into that quag king David once did fall, and had, no doubt, therein been fmothered, had not he that is able plucked him out. M The path way was here alfo exceeding narrow, and therefore good Chriftian was the more put to it; for when he fought, in the dark, to fhun the ditch on the one hand, he was ready to tip over into the mire on the other; alfo when he fought to escape the mire, without great carefulmels he would be ready to fall into the ditch. Thus he went on, and I heard him figh bitterly: For befides the danger, mentioned above, the path-way was here fo dark, that oft-times, when he lift up his foot, to fet forward, he knew not where or upon what he should fet it next. About the midst of this valley I perceived the mouth of hell to be, and it stood alfo hard by the way-fide: Now, thought Chriftian, what shall I do! And ever and anon the Bame and fmoke would come out in fuch abundance, with (parks and hideous noifes (things that cared not for Chrif tian's sword, as did Apollyon before), that he was forced to put up his fword, and betake himself to another weapon, called all prayer; so he cried, in my hearing, O Lord, ▲ beseech thee, deliver my joul. Thus he went on a great while, yet ftill the flames would be reaching towards him; sifo he heard doleful voices, and ruffings to and fro, fo that Epbes, 6, 8: that fometimes he thought he should be torn in pieces, or trodden down like mire in the streets. This frightful fight Poor man where art thou now? The day is night. |