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Now here Christian was worse put to it than in his fight with Apollyon, as by the sequel you shall see.

The children of

I saw then in my dream, that when Christian the spies go back. was got to the borders of the Shadow of Death, there met him two men, children of them that brought up an evil report of the good land, making haste to go back; * to whom Christian spake as follows:

Chr. Whither are you going?

They said, Back! back! and we would have you do so too, if either life or peace is prized by you.

Why, what's the matter? said Christian.

Matter! said they; we were going that way, as you are going, and went as far as we durst; and indeed we were almost past coming back; for had we gone a litttle further, we had not been here to bring the news to thee.

But what have you met with? said Christian.

Men. Why we were almost in the Valley of the Shadow of Death; † but that by good-hap we looked before us, and saw the danger before we came to it.

But what have you seen? said Christian.

Men. Seen! why, the Valley itself, which is as dark as pitch.

* Num. xiii.

† Psalm xliv. 19. Psalm cvii. 19.

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[Christian in the Valley of the Shadow of Death.]

We also saw there the Hobgoblins, Satyrs, and Dragons of the pit. We heard also, in that Valley, a continual howling and yelling, as of a people under unutterable misery, who there sat bound in affliction and irons; and over that Valley hang the discouraging clouds of Confusion: Death also doth always spread his wings over it. In a word, it is every whit dreadful, being utterly without order.* Then said Christian, I perceive not yet, by what you have said, but that this is my way to the desired haven. †

Men. Be it thy way; we will not choose it for ours.

So they parted, and Christian went on his way, but still with his sword drawn in his hand, for fear lest he should be assaulted. I saw then in my dream, so far as this Valley reached, there was on the right hand a very deep ditch: that Ditch is it into

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which the blind have led the blind in all ages, and have both there miserably perished. Again, behold, on the left hand, there was a very dangerous quag, into which if even a good man falls, he finds no bottom for his foot to stand on. Into that Quag King David once did fall, and had, no doubt, therein been smothered, had not He that is able plucked him out.

The pathway was here also exceeding narrow, and therefore good Christian was the more put to it; for when he sought in the dark to shun the ditch on the, one hand, he was ready to tip over into the mire on the other; also, when he sought to escape the mire, without great carefulness, he would be ready to fall into the ditch. Thus he went on; and I heard him here sigh bitterly; for, besides the danger mentioned above, the pathway was here so dark, that ofttimes, when he lifted up his foot to set forward, he knew not where or upon what he should set it next.

About the midst of this Valley I perceived the mouth of Hell to be, and it stood also hard by the wayside. Now, thought Christian, what shall I do? And ever and anon, the flame and smoke would come out in such abundance, with sparks, and hideous noises, (things that cared not for Christian's sword, as did Apollyon before,) that he was forced to put up his sword, and betake himself to another weapon, called All-prayer; so he cried, in my hearing, "O Lord! I beseech thee, deliver my soul."* Thus he went on a great while, yet still the flames would be reaching towards him. Also he heard doleful voices, and rushings to and fro, so that sometimes he thought he should be torn in pieces, or trodden down like mire in the streets. This frightful sight was seen, and these dreadful noises were heard by him for several miles together; and Christian put to a coming to a place where he thought he heard a stand for a while. company of Fiends coming forward to meet him, he stopped, and began to muse what he had best to do. Sometimes he had half a thought to go back; then, again, he thought he might be halfway through the valley; he remembered also how he had already vanquished many a danger, and that the danger of going back might be much more than for to go forward: so he resolved to go on. Yet the Fiends seemed 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 strength of the Lord God;" so they gave back, and came no farther.

One thing I would not let slip: I took notice that now poor Christian was so confounded, that he did not know his own voice;

* Eph. vi. 18. Psalm cxvi. 3.

This

believe that he spake blasphe. Satan that suggest mies, when 'twas ed them into his mind.

and thus I perceived it: just when he was come Christian made to over against the mouth of the burning pit, one of the Wicked ones got behind him, and stepped up softly to him, and, whisperingly suggested many grievous blasphemies to him, which he verily thought had proceeded from his own mind. put Christian more to it than any thing that he met with before, even to think that he should now blaspheme him that he loved so much before: yet, if he could have helped it, he would not have done it, but he had not the discretion either to stop his ears, or to know from whence these blasphemies came.

When Christian had travelled in this disconsolate condition some considerable time, he thought he heard the voice of a man as going before him, saying, "Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear none ill; for thou art with me."* Then was he glad, and that for these reasons:

First, Because he gathered from thence, that some 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 dismal state; and why not, thought he, with me? though, by reason of the impediment that attends this place, I cannot perceive it."†

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 alone. And by-and-by the day broke: Then said Christian, "He hath turned the shadow of death into the morning."‡

Now, morning being come, he looked back, not out of desire to

return, but to see, by the light of the day, what Christian glad at hazards he had gone through in the dark: so he break of day. 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; also now he saw the Hobgoblins, and Satyrs, 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 shadow of death."§

Now was Christian much affected with this deliverance from all the dangers of his solitary way; which dangers, though he feared them much before, yet he saw them more clearly now, because the + Amos v. 8. § Job xii. 22.

• Psalm xxiii. 4. t Job ix. 10.

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of this valley very dangerous.

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[Christian passing the Cave of Giant Pope.]

light of the day made them conspicuous to him; and about this time the sun was rising, and this was another mercy to Christian; for you must note, that though the first part of the Valley of the Shadow of Death was dangerous, yet this second The second part part, which he was yet to go, was, if possible, far more dangerous: for, from the place where he now stood, even to the end of the Valley, the way was all along set so full of snares, traps, gins, and nets here, and so full of pits, pit-falls, deep holes, and shelvings down there, that, had it now been dark, as it was when he came the first part of the way, had he had a thousand souls, they had in reason been cast away; but, as I said, just now the sun was rising. Then said he, "His candle shinetn on my head, and by his light I go through dark

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