Into the Quag King David did once f 11, and had no doub: there been smoothered had not he that is able plucked him out. The Path-way was here also exceeding Barrow, and therefore good Chriftian was the more put to it; for when he fought in the Dark to fhun the D.tch on the one Ha d, he was ready to tip over into the M re on the other; alfo when he fought to efcape the Mire, without great Carefulmef, he would be ready to fall into the Ditch: Thus he went on, and I heard him here figh bitterly; for befides the Danger mentioned above, the Path-way was there fo dark, that oftentimes when he lift up his Foot to go forward, he knew not where, nor upon what he fhould fet it next. About the Midft of this Valley, I perceived the Mouth of Hell to be and it flood alfo hard by the Way.fide: Now, thought Chriftian what fhall I do? And ever and anon the Flame and Sm ke would cm: cut in fuch Abundance, with Sparks and hideous Noifes, ( Things that cared net for Chriftian's Sword, as did Apollyon before) that he was forced to put up his Scrd, and be ake himself to another Eph 6.18. We pon, called A Prayer; So he cryed P. 1.6.3 in my Hearing, O Lord, I beseech thee deliver my Soul. Thus he went on a great while, yet fill the Flames wou'd be reaching towards him: Alfo he heard doleful Voices,and rushing to and fro, fo that fametimes he thought he should be t od in Pieces, or trodden down like Mire in the Sweets Poor Ma! whe e art thou now? thy Days Night; an put to a Stand; but for a mhile. Streets This frightful Sight was feen, and + Chrifti- thefe dreadfu† Noises were heard by him for feveral Miles together; and coming to a Place where he thought he heard a Com. pany of Fiends coming forward to meet him, he ftopt, and began to mufe what he had beft to do. Sometimes he had half a Mind to go back; then again he thought he migh; be half way thro' the Valley: He remembred alfo how he had already var quifh'd many a Danger; but that the Dan ger of going back might be much more than to go forward; fo he refolved to go on: Yet the Fiends feemed to come nearer and nearer: But when they were come even a moft at him, he cried out with a moft vehement Voice, I will walk in the Strength of the Lord God. So they gave back, and came no farther. OneThing I would not let flip: I took Notice that now poor Chriflian was fo confounded, that he did not know his own Voice: And thus I perceived it, Juft when he was come over against the Mouth of the burning Pit, one of the wicked ones got behind him, and fept up foftly to him, and, + Chrifti- whispering, fuggefted many grievous $lafanmade be- phemies to him t which he verily thought lieve that had proceeded from his own Mind. This he Spake put Chriftian more to it than any Thing that Blafphe- he met with befo e; even to think that he fhould now blafpheme Him that he loved when'twas fo much before; yet if he could have Saran that helped it, he would not have done it: But feggefed he had not the Difcretion either to stop them into his Ears, or to know from whence thofe his Mind. Blafphemies came. mies When When Chriftian had travelled in this dif confolate Condition fome confiderable Time, he thought he heard the voice of a Man as going before him, faying, Though Pfal. 23. I walked through the valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no ill; for thou art. with me. Then was he glad; and that for the fe Reasons. Firft, Because he gathered from thence That fome who feared God, were in this Va ley as well as himself. Secondly, For that he perceive God was with them, though in that dark and difmal State: And why not, thougi he, with me? Though by Reafon of the Impe diment that attends this Place, I cannot Job 9. 10. perceive it. Thirdly, For that he hoped (could he overtake them) to have Company by and by. So he went on, ad called to him that was before; but he knew not what to an fwer. For tha: he also thought himself to be alone. And by, and by the Day broke: Then faid Chriftian, He hath turned the Shadow of Death into the Mornir g. Ames 5 8. * Now Morning being come, he looked back, not out of Defire to return, but to fee, by the Light of the Day whatH zards Chrifti. he had gone through in the Dark: So he an glad at faw more perfectly the Ditch that was on break of the one Hnd, and the Quag that was on Day. the other; alfo how narrow the Way was which led betwixt them both; alfo how he faw the Hobgoblins, and Satyrs,and Dea gons of the Pit, but all afar off; for after break Job, 12. 22. break of the Day, they came not nigh yet they were d fcover'd to him, according to that which is written, He d fcovereth deep Things out of Darknef, and bringeth out to Light the Shadow of Death. Now was Chriftian much affected with his Deliverance from all the Dangers of bis folitary Way, which Dangers, though he feared them more before, yet he faw them more clearly now, because the Light of the day made then confpicuous to him: And about this Time the Sun was rifing, and this was another Mercy to,Chriftian; for you must note, That though the Firft Part of the Valley of the Shadow of Death The Se as dangerous t yet this Second Part, cond Part which he was yet to go, w.s, if poffible, far more dangerous : For, from the Place where he now flood, even to the End of of this Valley ve rous. ry dange- the Valley, the Way was all along fet fo full of Snares, Traps, Gns, and Nets, here, and fo full of Pits, Pitfalls, deep Holes and Shelvings down there, tha had it now been dark as it was when he came the Firft part of the Way, had he had a Thoufand Souls, they had in Reafon been caft away; but, as I faid, juft now the Sun was rifing. Then faid te, His Candle fhineth on my Head, and by his Light I go through Daikeefs. Job 29. 37. In this Light therefore he came to the End of the Valley. Now I faw in my Dream, That at the End of this Valley lay. Blo d, Bones, Athes and mingled Bodies of Men, even of Pilgrims that had gre this Way formerly, a d while I was mufing! what fuld be the Keafon, I cfpied a little before |