CHRISTIAN equipped with divine Armour.

tance,* he saw a most pleasant mountainous country, beautified with woods, vineyards, 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 IMMANUEL'S LAND; and it is 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 the gate of the celestial City, as the shepherds that live there will make it appear.

Now he bethought himself of setting forward and they were willing he should. But first, said they, let us go again into the ARMOURY. So they did; and when he came there they harnessed him from head to foot with what was of proof, lest perhaps he should meet with assaults in the way. He being therefore thus accoutered 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.

CHR. Pray did you know him?

POR. I asked his name, and he told me it was FAITHFUL.

O, said CHRISTIAN, I know him he is my townsman, my near neighbour, he comes from the place where I was born; how far do you think he may be before?

He shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be the munitions of the rocks; his bread shall be given him, his waters shall be sure. Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty, they shall behold the land that is very far off. Isa. xxxiii. 16, 17.

"And when he came there, they harnessed him from head to foot."

Page 72.

CHRISTIAN descends the Valley of HUMILIATION.

POR. He is got by this time below the hill.

Well, said CHRISTIAN, good Porter, the Lord be with thee, and add to all thy blessings much increase, for the kindness that thou hast shewed to me.

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 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.

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 to 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

CHRISTIAN meets APOLLYON,

turn his 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, 'twould be the best way to stand.

So he went on, and APOLLYON met him. 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, 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.

APOL. Whence came 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.

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 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;" 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.