Cha. Indeed *Cain hated his Brother, because his own works were evil, and his Brothers righteous; and if thy Wife and Children have been offended with thee for this, they thereby shew themselves to be implacable to good, * and thou hast delivered thy Soul from their blood. * Christian clear of their Blood, if they perish. * Ezek. 4. 19. Table was * What Christian had to his Supper. Now I saw in my Dream, that thus they sat talking together until Supper was ready. So when they had made ready, they sat down to meat: Now the furnished with *fat things, and with Wine that was well refined, and all their talk at the Table was about the LORD of the Hill: as namely, about that HE had done, and whereof HE did what HE did, and why he had builded that House: and by what they said, I perceived that HE had been a great Warriour, and had fought with, and slain *him that had the power of Death, but not without great danger to himself: which made me love him the more. + Their Talk at Supper time. * Heb. 2. 14, 15. For, as they said, and as I believe (said Christian) he did it with the loss of much blood: but that which put glory of Grace into all he did, was, that he did it out of pure love to this Countrey. And beside, there were some of them of the Houshold that said, they had been and spoke with him since he did dye on the Cross; and they have attested, that they had it from his own lips, that he is such a lover of poor Pilgrims, that the like is not to be found from the East to the West. They moreover gave an instance of what they affirm'd, and that was, He had stript himself of his glory, that he might do this for the Poor; and that they heard him say and affirm, That he would not dwell in the Mountain of Zion alone. They said moreover, That he had made many Pilgrims *Princes, though by nature they were Beggars born, and their original had been the Dunghil. * Christ makes Princes of Beggars. Thus they discoursed together till late at night, and after they had committed themselves to their Lord for Protection, they betook themselves to rest: The Pilgrim they laid in a large upper * Chamber, whose Window opened towards the Sun-rising : the name of the Chamber was Peace, where he slept till break of day, and then he awoke, and sung, * Christians Bed-Chamber. Where am I now! is this the love and care So in the morning they all got up, and after some more discourse, they told him that he should not depart till they had shew'd him the Rarities of that place. And first they had him * Christian had into the Study, and what he saw there. into the Study, *where they shewed Records of the greatest Antiquity; in which, as I remember my Dream, they shewed him the first Pedegree of the Lord of the Hill, that he was the Son of the Ancient of Days, and came by that eternal Generation. Here also was more fully Recorded the Acts that he had done, and the names of many hundreds that he had taken into his Service; and how he had placed them in such Habitations that could neither by length of Days, nor decays of Nature be dissolved. Then they read to him some of the worthy Acts that some of his Servants had done. As how they had subdued Kingdoms, wrought Righteousness, obtained Promises, stopped the mouths of Lions, quenched the violence of Fire, escaped + Heb. 11. 33, the edge of the Sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned 34. to flight the Armies of the Aliens. Then they read again in another part of the Records of the House, where it was shewed how willing their Lord was to receive into his favour, any, even any, though they in time past had offered great affronts to his Person and Proceedings. Here also were several other Histories of many other famous things, of all which Christian had a view: as of things both Ancient and Modern, together with Prophecies and Predictions of things that have their certain accomplishment, both to the dread and amazement of Enemies, and the comfort and solace of Pilgrims. + Christian had into the Armory. The next day they took him, and had him into the †Armory, where they shewed him all manner of Furniture, which their Lord had provided for Pilgrims, as Sword, Shield, Helmet, Brest-plate, All Prayer, and Shoes that would not wear out. And there was here enough of this to harness out as many men for the service of their Lord, as there be Stars in the Heaven for multitude. * Christian is made to see ancient They also shewed him some of the Engines with which some of his Servents had done wonderful things. *They shewed him Moses's Rod, the Hammer and Nail with which Jaelslew Sisera, the Pitchers, Trumpets, and Lamps too, with which Gideon things. put to flight the Armies of Midian. Then they shewed him the Oxes Goad wherewith Shamgar slew six hundred men. They shewed him also the Jaw-bone with which Sampson did such mighty feats; they shewed him moreover the Sling and Stone with which David slew Goliah 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 shewed him besides, many excellent things, with which Christian was much delighted. This done, they went to their rest again. * Christian shewed the delectable Mountains. Then I saw in my Dream, that on the morrow he got up to go forwards, but they desired him to stay till the next day also; and then said they, we will (if the day be clear) shew you the * delectable Mountains, which they said, would yet further add to his comfort, because they were nearer the desired Heaven, than the place where at present he was. So he consented and staid. When the morning was up, they had him to the top of the House, fand bid him look South, so he did: and + Isa. 33.16,17. behold at a great distance he saw a most pleasant Mountainous Country, beautified with Woods, Vine-yards, 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 Immanuels Land: and it is as Common, say they, as this Hill is, to and for all the Pilgrims. And when thou comest there, from thence 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 Armory; so they did, and when he came there, they tharnessed him from head to foot, with what was of proof, lest perhaps + Christian he should meet with assaults in the way. He being therefore thus accoutred, walketh out with * Christian set forward. sent away armed. his Friends to the Gate, and there he asked the Porter if he saw Por. I asked his name, and he told me it was Faithfull. Chr. O said Christian, I know him, he is my Towns-man, my near Neighbour, he comes from the place where I was born; how far do you think he may be before? Por. He is got by this time below the Hill. Chr. Well, * said Christian, good Porter, the Lord be with thee, and add to all thy blessings much increase of the kindness that thou hast shewed to me. * How Christian and the Porter greet at parting. 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 Prudence, so it is: for it is an hard matter for a man to go down into the Valley of Humiliation, as thou art now, and to The Valley of catch no slip by the way: Therefore, said they, are we come out to accompany thee down the Hill. So he began to go down; but very warily, yet he caught a slip or two. Humiliation. 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. But 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 did Christian begin to be afraid, and 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 Christian no Armour for his Back. resolved to venture, and stand his ground. For, thought he, *had I no more in mine eye than the saving of my life, 'twould be the best way to stand. * Christian's resolution in the approach of Apollyon. So he went on, and Apollyon met him: now the Monster was hideous to behold, he was cloathed 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 Lyon. When he was come up to Christian, he beheld him with a disdainful countenance, and thus began to question with him. Apol. Whence come you, and whither are you bound? Chr. I am come from the City of Destruction which is the place of all evil, and am going to the City of Zion. + Discourse betwixt Christian and Apollyon. Apol. By this I perceive thou art one of my Subjects, for all that Country is mine, and I am the Prince and God of it. How is it then that thou hast run away from thy King? Were it not that I hope thou mayest do me more service, I would strike thee now at one blow to the Ground. Chr. I was born indeed in your Dominions, but your service was hard, and your Wages such as a man could not live on, *for the Wages of sin is death; therefore * Rom. 6. 23. when I was come to years, I did as other considerate Persons do, look out, if perhaps I might mend my self. Apol. There is no Prince that will thus lightly lose his Subjects, neither will I as yet lose thee; but since thou complainest of thy Service and Wages, be content to go back, what our Countrey will afford, I do here promise to + Apollyon's give thee. flattery. Chr. But I have let my self to another, even to the King of Princes, and how can I with fairness go back with thee? + Apollyon undervalues Apol. Thou hast done in this according to the Proverb, †change a bad for a worse: but it is ordinary for those that have professed themselves his Servants, after a while to give him the slip, and return again to me : do thou so too, and all shall be well. Christs Chr. I have given him my Faith, and sworn my Allegiance to him, how then can I go back from this, and not be hanged as a Traitor? Apol. Thou didst the same by me, and yet I am willing to pass by all, if now thou wilt yet turn again, and go back. Chr. What I promised thee was in my non-age, and besides, I count that the Prince under whose Banner now I stand, is able to absolve me, yea, and to pardon also what I did |