48 moreover, gave an instance of what they affirmed; and that was, he had stripped himself of his glory that he might do this for the poor; and that they had heard him say and affirm, that he would not dwell in Christ makes prin- the mountain of Zion alone. They said, moreover, ces of beggars. that he had made many pilgrims princes, though by nature they were beggars born, and their original had been the dunghill, 1 Sam. ii. 8; Ps. cxiii. 7. THE WONDERS SHOWN TO CHRISTIAN. 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 Christian's bed- window opened toward the sun-rising. The name of the chamber was Peace (t), where he slept till break of day, and then he awoke and sang, chamber. Christian had into he saw there. 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 shown him the rarities of that place. And first they had him into the study, where they showed him records of the greatest antiquity; in which, the study, and what as I remember my dream, they showed him the pedigree of the Lord of the hill, that he was the Son of the Ancient of days, and came by an 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 the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight the armies of the aliens, Heb. xi. 33, 34. Then they read again in another part of the records of the house, where it was shown 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. The next day they took him, and had him into the armoury, where Christian had into they showed him all manner of furniture which their Lord had provided for pilgrims, as sword, shield, the armoury. (t) Christian's bed-chamber.-Its name was Peace, and the window opened to the sun-rising, Isa. xxvi. 3; Mal. iv. 2. THE WONDERS SHOWN TO CHRISTIAN. 49 helmet, breastplate, 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. They also showed him some of the engines with which some of his servants had done wonderful things. They showed Christian is made to him Moses' rod; the hammer and nail with which Jael see ancient things. slew Sisera (u); 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. This done, they went to their rest again. 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, show you the Delectable Mountains (v); 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 Christian shown Mountains. up, they had him to the top of the house, and bid him the look south. So he did, and behold, at a great distance, he saw a must pleasant, mountainous country, beautified with woods, vineyards, fruits of all sorts, flowers also, with springs and fountains, very delectable to behold, Isa. xxxiii. 16, 17. 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 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 as go again into the Christian sets for armoury. So they did, and when he came there, they ward. harnessed him from head to foot with what was of proof, lest perhaps he should meet with assaults in the way (w). He being therefore thus (u) Jael and Sisera. Few will be found to agree with Bunyan in his estimate of Jael. (v) Christian shown the Delectable Mountains.-This represents the glimpses of higher truths and more spiritual joys which the Pilgrim obtains on his travels. "We have not attained, neither are we already perfect." But one great season of spiritual enjoyment prepares for another. At first he was satisfied provided he could obtain the favour of God, and this he had on entering the Wicket-gate; then his burden must be loosed at the cross; and now all he saw in the House Beautiful kindles desires for something more divine, and qualifies him for seeing it. The hundred and thirtieth Psalm,-a little Pilgrim's Progress, begins in darkness, "Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord." Then we hear, "There is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared." Then a bolder note, "I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope." Then the desire becomes more vivid, "My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning.' Then all darkness passes away. "Let Israel hope in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption, and he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities." (w) Christian sent away armed.-The armour is described in Eph. vi. 13-17. This D 50 THE VALLEY OF HUMILIATION. accoutred, walked out with his friends to the gate; and there he asked the Porter if he saw any pilgrim pass by Then the Porter answered, Yes. Christian sent away armed. CHR. Pray did you know him? said he. PORT. I asked his name, and he told me it was Faithful. CHR. O, 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? PORT. He is got by this time below the hill. How Christian and How far do CHR. Well, said Christian, good Porter, the Lord be the Porter greet at with thee, and add to all thy blessings much increase for the kindness thou hast showed to me. 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 The Valley of Hu- Prudence, so it is; for it is a hard matter for a man to go down into the Valley of Humiliation (x), as thou art now, and to 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. miliation. 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 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 to cast in his mind whether to go back, or to stand his ground. But he considered again that he had no Christian has no armour for his back, and therefore thought that to armour for his back. 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. armour is another symbolical mode of teaching us that the entertainment, as a great season of spiritual enjoyment, is meant to qualify us for more arduous labours and greater temptations. (x) The Valley of Humiliation.-Believers are often warned against spiritual pride. "I say through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith," Rom. xii. 3. "Not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth." Now Christian had been enjoying very high privileges, and had been feasting his soul with the brightest prospects. He was therefore tempted to be puffed up with a sense of his own piety, and found it very hard to descend from these divine contemplations to the rough journey and every-day duties of life. It is difficult to preserve the same spirituality of mind in ordinary employments, as in the Lord's house on the Lord's day, and to serve God as truly in common life as in the sanctuary. It is this which is meant by Christian finding it difficult to descend the hill; and the temptations to spiritual pride are revealed by the slips he made, even though walking warily, Prov. iii. 21, 23. CHRISTIAN MEETS APOLLYON. 51 So he went on, and Apollyon met him (y). 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, and 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 came up to Christian, he beheld him with a disdainful countenance, and thus began to question with him. APOLLYON. Whence come you, and whither are you bound? Discourse betwixt Christian and Apollyon. CHR. I am come from the City of Destruction, which is the place of all evil, and I am going to the City of Zion. APOL. By this I perceive that 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 Í hope that thou mayest do me more service, I would strike thee now at one blow to the ground. CHR. I was, indeed, born in your dominions, but your service was liard, and your wages such as a man could not live on; for the wages of sin is death, Rom. vi. 23; therefore when I was come to years, I did, as other considerate persons do, look out, if perhaps I might mend myself. APOL. There is no prince that will thus lightly lose his subjects, '(y) Apollyon.-In those days the bodily appearance of Satan to persons was firmly believed. Though this opinion is unwarranted, the reality of his temptations cannot be doubted, Luke iv. 1-13; Matt. xiii. 19, 38, 39; 1 Peter v. 8. The picture which is drawn of the devil being a monster with scales like a fish, wings like a dragon, feet like a bear, fire and smoke coming out of his belly, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion, is the outward representation to the eye of the hateful and dangerous character of the temptations with which he assailed Christian. Such also are the flaming darts which fell as thick as hail, and his yelling and hideous rearing. 52 neither will I as yet lose thee; but since thou complainest of thy service and wages, be content to go back, and what Apollyon's flattery. our country will afford, I do here promise to give thee. CHR. But I have let myself to another, even to the King of princes; and how can I with fairness go back with thee? APOLLYON'S DECEITFUL DISCOURSE. values Christ's ser APOL. Thou hast done in this according to the proverb, "changed a Apollyon under 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. vice. 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 to 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 nonage: 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 as to my compliance with thee. And besides, O thou destroying Apollyon, to speak truth, I like his service, his wages, his servants, his government, his company, and country better than thine; therefore leave off to persuade me further; I am his servant, and I will follow him. the grievous ends of persisting in this way. APOL. Consider again, when thou art in cool blood, what thou art Apollyon pleads like to meet with in the way that thou goest. Thou Christians, to dis- knowest that for the most part his servants come to an suade Christian from ill end, because they are transgressors against me and my ways. How many of them have been put to shameful deaths! And besides, thou countest his service 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, those that have faithfully served me, from him and his, though taken by them! And so I will deliver thee. CHR. His forbearing at present 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 sayest they come to, that is most glorious in their account. For, for present deliverance, they do not much expect it; for they stay for their glory; and then they shall have it, when their Prince comes in his, and the glory of the angels. APOL. Thou hast already been unfaithful in thy service to him; and how dost thou think to receive wages of him? CHR. Wherein, O Apollyon, have I been unfaithful to him? APOL. Thou didst faint at first setting out, when thou wast almost Apollyon pleads choked in the Gulf of Despond. Thou didst attempt Christian's infirmi- wrong ways to be rid of thy burden, whereas thou ties against him. shouldst have stayed till thy Prince had taken it off. Thou didst sinfully sleep and lose thy choice things. almost persuaded to go back at the sight of the lions. talkest of thy journey, and of what thou hast seen and heard, thou art inwardly desirous of vain-glory in all that thou sayest or doest. Thou wast also |