Christian enters the Valley.

people under unutterable misery, who there sat bound in affliction and irons; 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.

Chr. 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. (t)

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 it is, into which the blind have led the blind in all ages, and have both there most miserably perished. (u) 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.

+ Job iii. 5. x. 22. Jer. ii. 5. § Psal. Ixiii. 14.

(t) See what it is, when men are left to will and choose for themselves, they prefer their own ways, though it be to destruction; their wills are averse to God's, and they choose death in the error of their life; but the faithful soul is under the reign of grace, and he chooses to obey the will of God, and to walk in the ways of God, though they are not pleasing to flesh and blood: hence true faith is tried, and a mere empty profession made manifest.

(u) The ditch, on the right hand, is error in principle, into which the blind (as to spiritual truths, blind guides) lead the blind, who were never spiritually enlightened. The ditch on the left-hand means outward sins and wickedness, which many fall into. Both are alike dangerous to pilgrims, but the Lord will keep the feet of his saints. 1 Sam. ii. 9.

All-prayer is Christian's weapon.

The path-way 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. (x) Thus he went on, and I heard him here sigh bitterly; for, besides the danger mentioned above, the path-way was here so dark, that oft-times, 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 the 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 even 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 rushing to and fro, so that sometimes he thought he should be torn to 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 (y) coming forward to meet him,

* Ephes. vi. 18. Psal. cvi. 3.

(x) A tender conscience is as much afraid of corrupt principles, as of sinful practices. This manifests the sincerity of the soul, even when a christian walks in darkness.

(y) But it may be asked, Why doth the Lord suffer his children to walk in such darkness? It is for his glory; it tries their faith in

Satan suggests blasphemous Thoughts.

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: 1 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 behind him, and stepped up softly to him, and whispering, suggested many grievous blasphemies to him which he verily thought had proceeded from his own mind. This put Christian more to it than any thing he had met before, even to think that he should now blaspheme him that he loved 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 those blasphemies came. (z)

him, and excites prayer to him; but his love abates not in the least towards them, since he lovingly enquires after them: "Who is there among you that feareth the Lord, and walketh in darkness, and hath no light ?" Then he gives most precious advice to them. "Let him trust in the Lord, and stay himself upon his God.”— Isa. I. 10.

(z) Now here the conscience manifests its tenderness, by abhorring the evil of Satan's suggestions. O what high access has the enemy to our peace and holiness to our hearts! But the Lord is also nigh, to save to the uttermost all who trust in him bear their cry, and save them. Psalm civ. 19.

he will

The dangers of the Valley.

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 no ill, for thou art with me. (a)

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.

Thirdly, For that he hoped (could he overtake them) to have company by-and-by. So he went, 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 day broke. Then said Christian," He hath turned the shadow of death into the morning." (b)

Now morning being come, he looked back, not out of any desire to return, but to see by the light of the day, what hazards he had gone through in the dark: So he saw now 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

(a) The experience of other sairs is very encouraging, for the soul finds that others have gone before him in dreadful, dark, and dreary paths.

(b) To walk in darkness, and not to be distressed for it, argues stupidity of soul. To have the light of God's countenance shine npon us, and not to rejoice and be thankful is impossible.

Pope and Pagan formerly destroyed Pilgrims.

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 to light the shadow of death."*

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 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 part, which he was yet to go, was, if possible, far more dangerous: (c) 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 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 on my head, t and by his light I go through darkness.”

In this light he came, therefore, 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

(c) This means the ragingof romish persecution for the truth's sake, and those dreadful deaths which the martyrs suffered in the cause of Christ and his glorious gospel and precious salvation. But bere Christian had the blessed light of the glorious reformation.