Christian with his goes Great Beelzebub, the captain of this fiend, Design'd my ruin; therefore to this end He sent him harness'd out; and he with rage, That hellish was, did fiercely me engage. But blessed Michael helped me, and I, By dint of sword, did quickly make him fly. Therefore to him let me give lasting praise, And thank and bless his holy name always. Then there came to him a hand, with some of the leaves of the tree of life, the which Christian took, and applied to the wounds that he had received in the battle, and was healed immediately.1 He also sat down in that place to eat bread, and to drink of the bottle that was given him a little before; so being refreshed, he addressed himself to his journey, with his sword drawn in his hand; for he said, I know not but some other enemy may be at hand. But he met with no other affront from Apollyon quite through this valley. Now, at the end of this valley, was another, called the Valley of the Shadow of the Shadow of Death, and Christian must needs go Death. through it, because the way to the Celestial City lay through the midst of it. Now this valley is a very solitary place. The prophet Jeremiah thus describes it: 'A wilderness, a land of deserts, and of pits, a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, a land that no man' (but a Christian) 'passed through, and where no man dwelt.' Je. ii. 6. on his journey drawn in his hand. The Valley of Now here Christian was worse put to it than in his fight with Apollyon; as by the sequel you shall see.2 I saw then in my dream, that when Christian The children of was got to the borders of the Shadow the spies go back. of Death, there met him two men, children of them that brought up an evil report of the good land, Nu. xiii., making haste to go back; to whom Christian spake as follows:— CHR. Whither are you going? MEN. They said, Back! back! and we would have you to do so too, if either life or peace is prized by you. 1 By 'leaves' here (Rev. xxii. 2), we are to understand the blessed and precious promises, consolations, and encouragements, that, by virtue of Christ, we find everywhere growing on the new covenant, which will be handed freely to the wounded conscience that is tossed on the reckless waves of doubt and unbelief. Christ's leaves are better than Adam's aprons. He sent his Word, and healed them.-(Bunyan's Holy City.) We shall 1 CHR. Why? what's the matter? said Christian. MEN. 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 little further, we had not been here to bring the news to thee. CHR. 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. Ps. xliv. 19; evii. 10. CHR. But what have you seen? said Christian. MEN. Seen! Why, the valley itself, which is as dark as pitch; 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 hangs 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. Job iii. 5; x. 26. CHR. Then said Christian, I perceive not yet, by what you have said, but that this is my way to the desired haven.3 Je. ii. 6. 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 which the blind have led the blind in all ages, and have both there miserably perished. Ps. Ixix. 14, 15. Again, behold, on the left hand, there was a very dangerous quag, into which, if even a good man falls, he can find 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 dangers mentioned above, the pathway was here so dark, that ofttimes, when he lift 3 Desired heaven,' in some of Bunyan's editions.-(ED.) However terrible these conflicts are, they are what every Christian pilgrim has to encounter that is determined to win heaven. Sin and death, reprobates and demous, are against him. The Almighty, all good angels and men, is for him. Eternal life is the reward. Be not discouraged, young Chris-which the blind, as to spiritual truth, fall. 4 The ditch on the right hand is error in principle, into tian! If God be for us, who can be against us?' The ditch on the come off more than conquerors, through him that hath loved left hand means outward sin and wickedness, which many fail us. Equal to our day so shall be our strength. The enemies into. Both are alike dangerous to pilgrims: but the Lord had a special check from our Lord, while Mr. Fearing passed Dr. Dodd considers that by the deep ditch is intended pre'will keep the feet of his saints.' 1 Sa. ii. 9.- (Mason.) through. sumptuous hopes,' and the no less dangerous quag to be 'despairing fears.'-(ED.) 'Though death and hell obstruct the way up his foot to set forward, he knew not where, or upon what he should set it next. Christian put to a stand, but for a while. About the midst of this valley, I perceived the mouth of hell to be, and it stood also hard by the way-side. 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. Eph. vi. 18. So he cried in my hearing, O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul!' Ps. cxvi. 4. Thus he went on a great while, yet still the flames would be reaching towards him.1 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, coming to a place, where he thought he heard a 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 half way 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 further. 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; and thus I perceived it. Just when he was come over against the mouth of the burning pit, one of the wicked ones got beChristian made hind him, and stept up softly to him, believe that he and, whisperingly, suggested many mies, when it grievous blasphemies to him, which he suggested them verily thought had proceeded from his own mind. This put Christian more to it than anything 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." spake blasphe was Satan that into his mind. 1 The sight of an immortal soul in peril of its eternal interests, beset with enemies, engaged in a desperate conflict, with hell opening her mouth before, and fiends and temptations pressing after, is a sublime and awful spectacle. Man cannot aid him; all his help is in God only.-(Cheever.) 2 And as for the secrets of Satan, such as are suggestions to question the being of God, the truth of his Word, and to be annoyed with devilish blasphemies, none are more acquainted with these than the biggest sinners at their conversion; where Then he was 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. Job ix. 11. 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 to be alone. And by and by the Christian glad at day broke; then said Christian, He hath turned the shadow of death into the morning.' Am. v. 8.1 break of day. Now morning being come, he looked back, not out of desire to return, but to see, by the light of the day, what hazards he had gone through in the dark. So he 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.' Job xii. 22. Now was Christian much affected with his deliverance from all the dangers of his solitary way; which dangers, though he feared them more before. yet he saw them more clearly now, because the light of the day made them conspicuous to him. And about this time the sun was rising, and this relieve and comfort others.-(Jerusalem Sinner Saved, vol. i. fore thus also they are prepared to be helps in the church to p. 80.) See also a very interesting debate upon this subject in Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ, vol. i. p. 250. O, Abounding, Nos. 100-102.) no one knows the terrors of these days but myself.-(Grace Satan and his angels trouble his head with their stinking breath. How many strange, hideous, and amazing blasphemies have some, that are coming to Christ, had injected upon their spirits against him.— (Christ a Complete Saviour, vol. i. p. 209.) He brought me up also out of a horrible pit; a pit of noise of devils, and of my heart answering them with distrust and fear.—(Saints' Knowledge of Christ's Love.) 3 The experience of other saints is very encouraging; for the soul finds that others have gone before him in dreadful, dark, and dreary paths.-(Mason.) 4 To walk in darkness, and not be distressed for it, argues stupidity of the soul. To have the light of God's countenance shine upon us, and not to rejoice and be thankful for it, is impossible.—(Mason.) very danger ous. 6 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 of this valley possible, far more dangerous:1 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, pitfalls, 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 shineth upon my head, and by his light I walk through darkness.' Job xxix. 3. In this light, therefore, he came to the end of the valley. Now I saw in my dream, that at the end of this valley lay blood, bones, ashes, and mangled bodies of men, even of pilgrims that had gone this way formerly; and while I was musing what should be the reason, I espied a little before me a cave, where two giants, POPE and PAGAN, dwelt in old time; by whose power and tyranny the men whose bones, blood, ashes, &c., lay there, were cruelly put to death. But by this place Christian went without much danger, whereat I somewhat wondered; but I have learnt since, that PAGAN has been dead many a day; and as for the other, though he be yet alive, he is, by reason of age, and also of the many shrewd brushes that he met with in his younger days, grown so crazy and stiff in his joints, that he can now do little more than sit in his cave's mouth, grinning at pilgrims as they go by, and biting his nails because he cannot come at them.* 3 I would not be too confident, but I apprehend that by this second part of the valley we are taught that believers are not most in danger when under the deepest distress; that the snares and devices of the enemy are so many and various, through the several stages of our pilgrimage, as to baffle all description; and that all the emblems of these valleys could not represent the thousandth part of them. Were it not that the Lord guides his people by the light of his Word and Spirit, they never could possibly escape them.-(Scott.) The wicked spirits have made and laid for us snares, pits, holes, and what not, if peradventure by something we may be destroyed. Yea, and we should most certainly be so, were it not for the rock that is higher than they.-(Bunyan's Saints' Knowledge of Christ's Love, vol. ii. p. 8.) 3 Alas, my dear country! would to God it could not be said to thee, since the departure of paganism and popery, The blood of the poor innocents is found in thy skirts, not by a sceret search, but upon thy kings, princes, priests, and prophets.' Je. ii. 34, 26. Let us draw a veil over the infamy of PROTESTANT PERSECUTION, and bless Jehovah, who has broken the arrow and the bow.-(Andronicus.) It may be questioned whether popery may not yet so far recover its vigour as to make one more alarming struggle against vital Christianity, before that Man of Sin be finally destroyed. Our author, however, has described no other persecution than what Protestants, in his time, carried on against one another with very great alacrity.—(Scott.) 4 The quaint and pithy point of this passage stamps it as one of Bunyan's most felicitous descriptions. We who live in O world of wonders! (I can say no less) Might have been catch'd, entangled, and cast down; But since I live, let JESUS wear the crown. Now, as Christian went on his way, he came to a little ascent, which was cast up on purpose, that pilgrims might see before them. Up there, therefore, Christian went; and looking forward, he saw Faithful before him, upon his journey. Then said Christian aloud, Ho! ho! Soho! stay, and I will be your companion.' At that, Faithful looked be a later age may, indeed, suspect that he has somewhat antedated the death of Pagan, and the impotence of Pope; but his survivor of this fearful pair, rank among those master-touches picture of their cave and its memorials, his delineation of the which have won such lasting honour for his genius.—(Bernard Barton.) Christian having passed the gloomy whirlwind of temptation to despair, now walks in the light of the Sun of Righte ousness, through the second part of the valley. There he encounters the persecution of the state church. Act after act imprisonments, transportation, and hanging-to deter poor of Parliament had been passed-full of atrocious penalties, pilgrims from the way to Zion. The way was full of snares, traps, gins, nets, pitfalls, and deep holes.' Had the darkness of mental anguish been added to these dangers, he must have perished. The butcheries of Jefferies strewed the way with blood, bones, ashes, and mangled bodies of pilgrims. Pope reared his ugly head, and growled out, More of you must be burned.' The desolating tyranny of the church was curbed by the King's turning papist, which paved the way for the glorious Revolution of 1688. It appears from the Grace Abounding, that to the time of Bunyan's imprisonment for preaching the gospel, he was involved frequently in deeply-distressing spiritual darkness; but, from his entering the prison, he walked in the light of God's countenance to his dying day. (ED.) 6 We are now to be introduced to a new pilgrim, and Christian is no more to go on his way alone. The sweet Christian communion depicted in this book forms one of the most delightful features in it, and Faithful and Hopeful are both of them portraits that stand out in as firm relief as that of Christian himself. Faithful is the Martyr Pilgrim, who goes in a chariot of fire to heaven, and leaves Christian alone; Hopeful springs, as it were, out of Faithful's ashes, and supplies his place all along the remainder of the pilgrimage. The communion between these loving Christians, their sympathy and share in each other's distresses, their mutual counsels and encouragements, temptations and dangers, experience and discipline, their united joys and sorrows, and their very passing of the river of death together, form the sweetest of all examples of the true fellowship of saints, united to the same Saviour, made to drink into the same Spirit, baptized with the same sufferings, partakers of the same consolations, crowned with the same crown of life, entering together upon glory everlast takes Faithful. At this, Christian was somewhat moved, and Christian over- putting to all his strength, he quickly got up with Faithful, and did also overrun him; so the last was first. Then did Christian vain-gloriously smile, because he had gotten the start of his brother; but not taking good heed to his feet, he suddenly stumbled and fell, and could not rise again, until Faithful came up to help him. Then I saw in my dream, they went very lovingly Christian's fall on together, and had sweet discourse makes Faithful of all things that had happened to ingly together. them in their pilgrimage; and thus Christian began. and he go lov CHR. My honoured and well-beloved brother, Faithful, I am glad that I have overtaken you; and that God has so tempered our spirits, that we can walk as companions in this so pleasant a path. FAITH. I had thought, dear friend, to have had your company quite from our town; but you did get the start of me, wherefore I was forced to come thus much of the way alone. CHR. How long did you stay in the City of Destruction, before you set out after me on your pilgrimage? FAITH. Till I could stay no longer; for there Their talk about was great talk presently after you were the country gone out, that our city would, in short they came. time, with fire from heaven, be burned down to the ground. from CHR. What! did your neighbours talk so? ing. (Cheever.) The author has displayed great skill in introducing a companion to his Pilgrim in this place. Thus far the personal adventures of Christian had been of the most extraordinary kind, and sufficient of themselves to exercise the reader's sympathies for him; but these feelings would have languished from weariness, however intensely the sequel might have been wrought, had attention been claimed for a solitary wanderer to the end of the journey. Here then the history, which had probably reached its climax in the preceding scenes, revives, by taking a new form, and exciting a fresh interest, rather doubled than divided, though two have thenceforward to share it instead of one. Besides, the individual experience of one man, however varied, would not have been sufficient to exemplify all the most useful lessons of the gospel, unless the trials of many persons, of different age, sex, and disposition, were interwoven. The instance at hand will illustrate this point. (Moutgomery.) 1 Ah, what a smile was that! How much sin was there in it, instead of humble spiritual gratitude, and joy. Now see how he that exalteth himself shall be abased, and how surely, along with spiritual pride, comes carelessness, false security, and a grievous fall.-(Cheever.) The very person's hand we need to help us, whom we thought we had exceeded.-(Mason.) When a consciousness of superiority to other Christians leads to vain glory, a fall will be the consequence; but while it excites compassion, it also cements Christian friendship.(Ivimey.) FAITH. Yes, it was for a while in everybody's mouth. CHR. What! and did no more of them but you come out to escape the danger? FAITH. Though there was, as I said, a great talk thereabout, yet I do not think they did firmly believe it. For in the heat of the discourse, I heard some of them deridingly speak of you, and of your desperate journey (for so they called this your pilgrimage), but I did believe, and do still, that the end of our city will be with fire and brimstone from above; and therefore I have made my escape. CHR. Did you hear no talk of neighbour Pliable? FAITH. Yes, Christian, I heard that he followed you till he came at the Slough of Despond, where, as some said, he fell in; but he would not be known to have so done; but I am sure he was soundly bedabbled with that kind of dirt. CHR. And what said the neighbours to him? FAITH. He hath, since his going back, been had greatly in derision, and that among How Pliable was all sorts of people; some do mock and despise him; and scarce will any set him on work. He is now seven times worse than if he had never gone out of the city.2 accounted of, when he got home. CHR. But why should they be so set against him, since they also despise the way that he forsook? FAITH. O! they say, Hang him, he is a turn-coat; he was not true to his profession. I think God has stirred up even his enemies to hiss at him, and make him a proverb, because he hath forsaken the way. Je. xxix. 18, 19. CHR. Had you no talk with him before you came Out. ? FAITH. I met him once in the streets, but he leered away on the other side, as one ashamed of what he had done; so I spake not to him. CHR. Well, at my first setting out, I had hopes of that man; but now I fear he will perish in the overthrow of the city; For 'it is happened to him according to the true proverb, The The dog and the dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire.' 2 Pe. ii. 22. FAITH. These are my fears of him too; but who can hinder that which will be? CHR. Well, neighbour Faithful, said Christian, let us leave him, and talk of things that more immediately concern ourselves. Tell me now, what you have met with in the way as you came; for I know you have met with some things, or else it may be writ for a wonder. FAITH. I escaped the Slough that I perceived 2 Mr. Anything became a brisk man in the broil; but both sides were against him, because he was true to none. He had, for his malapertness, one of his legs broken, and he that did it wished it had been his neck.-(Holy War.) you fell into, and got up to the gate without that Faithful assault danger; only I met with one whose ed by Wanton. name was Wanton, who had like to have done me a mischief. CHR. It was well you escaped her net; Joseph was hard put to it by her, and he escaped her as you did; but it had like to have cost him his life. Ge. xxxix. 11-13. But what did she do to you? FAITH. You cannot think, but that you know something, what a flattering tongue she had; she lay at me hard to turn aside with her, promising me all manner of content. CHR. Nay, she did not promise you the content of a good conscience. the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life, and that I should marry them all 3 if I would. 1 Jn. ii. 16. Then I asked how long time he would have me live with him? And he told me, As long as he lived himself. CHR. Well, and what conclusion came the old man and you to, at last? FAITH. Why, at first, I found myself somewhat inclinable to go with the man, for I thought he spake very fair; but looking in his forehead, as I talked with him, I saw there written, 'Put off the old man with his deeds.' CHR. And how then? FAITII. Then it came burning hot into my mind, FAITH. You know what I mean; all carnal and whatever he said, and however he flattered, when fleshly content. CHR. Thank God you have escaped her; The abhorred of the Lord shall fall into her ditch.' Pr. xxii. 14. FAITH. Nay, I know not whether I did wholly escape her or no. 1 CHR. Why, I trow, you did not consent to her desires? FAITH. No, not to defile myself; for I remembered an old writing that I had seen, which said, Her steps take hold on hell.' Pr. v. 5. So I shut mine eyes, because I would not be bewitched with her looks. Job xxxi. 1 Then she railed on me, and I went my way.2 he got me home to his house, he would sell me for a slave. So I bid him forbear to talk, for I would not come near the door of his house. Then he reviled me, and told me, that he would send such a one after me, that should make my way bitter to my soul. So I turned to go away from him; but just as I turned myself to go thence, I felt him take hold of my flesh, and give me such a deadly twitch back, that I thought he had pulled part of me after himself. This made me cry, O wretched man!' Ro. vii. 24. So I went on my way up the hill. Now when I had got about half way up, I looked behind, and saw one coming after me, swift as ' CIR. Did you meet with no other assault as you the wind; so he overtook me just about the place came? He is assaulted first. FAITH. When I came to the foot of the hill called Difficulty, I met with a very aged man, who asked me what I was, and whither by Adam the bound. I told him that I am a pilgrim, going to the Celestial City. Then said the old man, Thou lookest like an honest fellow; wilt thou be content to dwell with me for the wages that I shall give thee? Then I asked him his name, and where he dwelt. He said his name was Adam the First, and that he dwelt in the town of Deceit. Eph. iv. 22. I asked him then, what was his work, and what the wages that he would give. He told me, that his work was many delights; and his wages, that I should be his heir at last. I further asked him, what house he kept, and what other servants he had. So he told me, that his house was maintained with all the dainties in the world; and that his servants were those of his own begetting. Then I asked if he had any children. He said that he had but three daughters; 1 'I trow,' I believe or imagine (Imp. Dict.)—(ED.) If the experience of Christian is an exhibition of Bunyan's own feelings, the temptations of Madam Wanton are very properly laid in the way of Faithful, and not of Christian. She would have had no chance with the man who admired the wisdom of God in making him shy of women, who rarely carried it pleasantly towards a woman, and who abhorred the common salutation of women.-(Grace Abounding, No. 316.)—ED. where the settle stands. CHR. Just there, said Christian, did I sit down to rest me; but being overcome with sleep, I there lost this roll out of my bosom FAITH. But, good brother, hear me out. So soon as the man overtook me, he was but a word and a blow, for down he knocked me, and laid me for dead.5 But when I was a little come to myself again, I asked him wherefore he served me so. He said, because of my secret inclining to Adam the First: and with that he struck me another deadly blow on the breast, and beat me down backward; so I lay at his foot as dead as before. So, when I came to myself again, I cried him mercy; but he said, I know not how to show mercy; and with that knocked me down again." He had doubtless made an end of me, but that one came by, and bid him forbear. first; probably a typographical error. 3 'All' is omitted from every edition by Bunyan, except the 4 An awful slavery! None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.' Pr. ii. 19.-(ED.) 5 That sinner who never had a threatening fiery visit from Moses, is yet asleep in his sins, under the curse and wrath of the law of God.-(C.C.V.G.) As the law giveth no strength, nor life to keep it, so it accepteth none of them that are under it. Sin and DIE, is for ever its language. There is no middle way in the law. It hath not cars to hear, nor heart to pity, its penitent ones.(Bunyan on Justification, vol. i. p. 316.) |