They are encouraged by Great heart. fruit of those slips that he got in his going down the hill; for they that get slips there, must look for combats here. And hence it is that this valley has got so hard a name. For the common people, when they hear that some frightful thing has befallen such Jan one in such a place, are of opinion that that place is haunted with some foul fiend or evil spirit; when alas! it is for the fruit of their doing, that such things do befal them there. (b) J This Valley of Humiliation is of itself as fruitful a place as any the crows fly over; and I am persuaded, if we could hit upon it, we might find somewhere hereabout something that might give us an account why Christian was so hardly beset in this place. Then James said to his mother, Lo! yonder stands a pillar, and it looks as if somewhat was written thereon: let us go and see what it is. So they went and found there written. Let Christian's slip. be-fore he came hither, and the burden that he met with in this place, be a warning to those that come (b) What a great blessing is it to have Great-heart in the valley of Humiliation! How sad is it for pilgrims to procure evils to themselves by their sin and folly! How joyful is it to know, "that like a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them who tear him!" Psalm ciii. 13. Yet, if we slip, we shall be sure to smart. If we do not hold fast faith, hope, love, and obedience, Satan will attack, distress us in some sort, and prevail against us, and then we shall bring up an evil report of the safe and fruitful valley of Humiliation. Are you in this valley? Do you see and feel nothing in yourself but what tends to lay you low, and keep you low? Beware of murmuring and complaining, though you continue long in it; yea, all your life through; for your Jesus is proving and trying you, that he may shew you what is in you, that you may see that -you are wholly and solely indebted to his arm that brought salvation to you, and wrought every deliverance for you, that you may ever glory in him, and for him, and give all glory to him, or his loving kindness and tender mercy to such a miserable sinner as you are, and to such an unprofitable servant as you ever will be. (14) 2 S The fruitfulness and beauty of the Valley. after.' Lo, said their guide, did I not tell you that there was something hereabouts that would give intimation of the reason why Christian was so hard beset in this place? Then, turning to Christiana, He said No disparagement to Christian more than to many others whose hap and lot it was. For it is easier going up than down this hill, and that can be said but of few hills in all these parts of the world. But we will leave the good man; he is at rest; he also had a brave victory over his enemy: let Him grant that dwelleth above, that we fare not worse, when we come to be tried, than he. But we will come again to this valley of Humilation. It is the best and most useful piece of ground in all these parts. It is a fat ground and as you see, consisteth much in meadows: and if a man was to come here in the summer time, as we do now, if he knew not any thing before thereof, and if he also delighted himself in the sight of his eyes, he might see that which would be delightful to him. Behold how green this valley is; also how beautiful with lilies, Song ii. 1. James iv. 6. 1 Pet. v. 5. I have also known many labouring men that have got good estates in the Valley of Humilation (for God resisteth the proud, but giveth more grace to the humble:) for indeed it is a very fruitful soil and doth bring forth by handfuls. Some also have wished, that the next way to their father's house was here, that they might be troubled no more with either hills or mountains to go over: but the way is the way, and there is an end. (c) (c) Though this valley of Humiliation, or a clear sight and abiding sense of the sinfulness of our nature, and the wickedness of our hearts, may be very terrifying to pilgrimis, after they have been favored with peace and joy, and comforted by the views of faith and hope: yet it is a very safe place, and though at first entering into it, and seeing more of themselves than was ever before shewed them, they may fear and tremble: yet after some time con The Shepherd's Boy. Now as they were going along, and talking, they. éspied a boy feeding his father's sheep. The boy was in very mean clothes, but of a fresh and wellfavoured countenance; and, as he sat by himself, he sung. Hark! said Mr. Great-heart, to what the shepherd's boy saith: so they hearkened, and he said. "He that is down, needs fear no fall, "Have God to be his guide. "I am content with what I have, "And, Lord, contentment still I crave, "Fulness to such a burden is, "That go on pilgrimage; "Is best from age to age." Then said the guide, Do you hear him? I will dare to say, this boy lives a merrier life, and wears more of the heart's-ease in his bosom, than he that is clad in silk and velvet: but we will proceed in our discourse. In this valley our Lord formerly had his country-house; he loved much to be here: he loved also to walk in these meadows; and he found the air was pleasant. Besides, here a man shall be free from the noise and from the hurryings of this life all states are full of noise and confusion, only the Valley of Humiliation is that empty and solitary place. Here a man shall not be let and hindered in his contemplation, as in other tinuing here, they are more reconciled and contented; for here they find the visits of their Lord, and in the depths of their humility they behold the heights of his love, and the depths of his mercy, and cry out in joy. Where sin abounds, grace superabounds. Though sin abound in me, the grace of Jesus superabounds towards me. Though I am emptied of all, yet I have an inexhaustible fulness in Jesus, to supply me with all I want, and all I hope. Forgetful Green. places he is apt to be. This is a valley that nobody walks in, but those that love a pilgrim's life. And though Christian had the hard hap to meet with Apollyon, and to enter with him into a brisk en counter, yet I must tell you, that in former times, men have met with angels here, have found pearls here, and have in this place found the words of life. Hosea xii. 4, 5. (d) Did I say our Lord had here in former days his country-house, and that he loved here to walk? I will add, in this place, and to the people that live and trace these grounds, he has left a yearly revenue, to be faithfully paid them at certain seasons for their maintenance by the way, and for their further encouragement to go on their pilgrimage, Hosea xi. 29. Samuel. Now, as they went on, Samuel said to Mr. Great-heart, Sir, I perceive that in this valley, my father and Apollyon had their battle; but whereabout was the fight? For I perceive this valley is large, Great-heart. Your father had the battle with Apollyon at a place youder before us, in a narrow passage, just beyond Forgetful Green. And in (d) Ever remember the word of our dear Lord, "It is enough for the disciple, that he be as his master." If your Lord made it his chief delight to be in this valley of Humiliation; learn from his example to prize this valley. Though you may meet with an Apollyon, or a destroyer here; yet you are safe in the arms and under the power of your all-conquering Lord; for though the Lord is bigh, yet hath he respect unto the lowly. Therefore you may add with David, " Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me. Thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.” The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me; thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands." Psalm exxxviii. 6, 7, 8. Such are the confidence, the reasoning, and the pleading of humble souls, in the power of faith, which leads them quite out of themselves to their Lord. Forgetful Green. deed that place is the most dangerous in all these parts. For if at any time pilgrims meet with any brunt, it is when they forget what favors they have received, and how unworthy they are of them. (e) This is the place also, where others have been hard put to it; but more of the place when we are come to it; for I persuade myself that, to this day, there remains either some sight of the battle, or some monument to testify that such a battle there was fought. Mercy. Then said Mercy, I think I am as well in this valley as I have been any where else in all my journey: the place methinks, suits with my spirit. I love to be in such places where there is no rattling with coaches nor rumbling with wheels: methinks, here one may, without much molestation, be thinking what he is, whence he came, what he has done, and to what the king has called him: here one may think, and break at heart, and melt in one's spirit, until one's eyes become the "fish-pools of Heshbon."Song vii. 5. Psalm lxxxiv. 5, 6, 7: Hosea ii. 15. They that go rightly through this valley of Bacha, make it a well: the rain that God sends (e) O pilgrims, attend to this! Pride and ingratitude go hand in hand. Study, ever study, the favors of your Lord; how freely they are bestowed upon you; and how utterly unworthy you are of the least of them. Beware of Forgetful Green, many after going some way in pilgrimage get into this green and continue here; and talk of their own faithfulness to grace received, the merit of their works, and a second justification by their works, &c. Hence it is plain, that they are fallen asleep on this Forgetful Green, and talk incoherently, as men do in their sleep; for they forget that they are still sinners, poor, needy, wretched sinners, and that they want the blood of Christ to cleanse them, the righteousness of Christ to justi fy them, and the spirit of Christ to keep them humble, and to enable them to live by faith upon the fulness of Christ to sanctify them, as much as they did when they first set out as pilgrims. O'tis a most blessed thing to be kept mindful of what we are, and of the Lord's free grace and unmerited goodness to us! |