112 CHRISTIAN SEES THE DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS.

Then I saw in my dream, that on the morrow he got up to go forwards, but they desired him to stay till the next day also; and then, said they, we will, if the day be clear, show you the Delectable Mountains;† which, they said, would yet further add to his comfort, because they were nearer the desired haven than the place where at present he was; so he consented and staid. When the morning was up, they had him to the top of the house, and bid him look south: so he did; and behold, at a great distance, (a) 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 Emmanuel's Land; and it is as common, say they, as this hill is, to and for all the pilgrims. And when thou comest there, from thence thou mayest see to the gate of the Celestial City, as the shepherds that live there will make appear.

The Delectable Mountains, as seen at a distance, represent those dis tinct views of the privileges and consolations attainable in this life, with which believers are sometimes favoured, when attending on divine ordinances; or diligently making a subsequent improvement of them, by means whereof, they are animated to "press forward toward the mark, for the prize of the "high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Great is the Lord our God,
And let his praise be great;
He makes his churches his abode,
His most delightful seat.

These temples of his grace,
How beautiful they stand!
The honours of our native place,
And bulwarks of our land.

(a) Isa. xxxiii. 16, 17.

CHRISTIAN ARMED.

113

CHAPTER IX.

CHRISTIAN ENTERS THE VALLEY OF HUMILIATION, WHEREHE IS FIERCELY ATTACKED BY APOLLYON, BUT OVERCOMES HIM.

NOW Christian 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 accoutred,* 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?

PORT. 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?

PORT. 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 showed 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

See what this Christian armour is in Ephes. vi. 18, &c.

114

THE VALLEY OF HUMILIATION.

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 spied 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 stand his ground. But he considered again that he had no armour for his back, and therefore thought that to turn the 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 that the saving of my life, it would 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 was come up to Christian, he be

Thus it is after a pilgrim has been favoured with many special and pecu. liar blessings, there is danger of his being puffed up and exalted on account of them: so did even holy Paul express it; therefore the messenger of Satan was permitted to buffet him, 2 Cor. xii. 7. In our present mixed state, the Lord knows, it would not be best for us always to dwell on the mount of spiritual joy; therefore, for the good of the soul, the flesh must be humbied, and kept low, lest spiritual pride prevail. It is hard going down into the Valley of Humiliation, without slipping into murmuring and discontent, and calling in question the dealings of God with us.

† Apollyon signifies the destroyer; (see Rev. ix. 11.)

APOLLYON INTERROGATES CHRISTIAN.

115

held 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 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 for 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 was such as a man could not live on; "for the wages of sin is death ;(a) therefore when I was come to years I did, as other considerate persons do, look out if perhaps I might mend myself.†

APOL. There is no prince that will thus lightly lose his subjects, neither will I as yet lose thee; but since thou complainest of thy service and wages, be content to go back; what our country will afford, I do here promise to give thee.

* Do not be terrified though you meet Satan, and he assaults you in the most terrible form; but mind this, before satan is suffered to attack Christian, his Lord had provided and fitted him with armour; the armour of God, wherewith he could stand his ground, conquer satan, and repel all his fiery darts. In every conflict with Satan, the battle is the Lord's his strength is engaged for our victory; therefore fight the good fight of faith. † All this is the effect of believing God's word, and the conviction which it brings to the mind, of the evil of sin, of the deplorable state the sinner finds himself in, and of the grace and salvation of the Son of God. As soon as a man believes these truths, he quits the service of the father of lies; and by the faith of the truth, he is armed to resist Satan; for it is the glory of faith to draw all its reasonings from divine truth.

(a) Rom. vi. 23.

116

APOLLYON TEMPTS HIM TO go back,

CHR. But I have let myself to another, even to the king of princes; and how can I with fairness go back with thee?

APOL. Thou hast done in this according to the proverb, " Change a bad for a worse:" but it is ordinary for those that have professed themselves his servants, after a while to give him the slip, and return again to Do thou so too, and all shall be well.*

me.

CHR. I have given him my faith, and sworn my allegiance to him: how then can I go back from this, and not be hanged as a traitor?

I am

APOL. Thou didst the same to me, and yet willing to pass by all, if now thou wilt yet turn again and go back.

CHR. What I promised thee was in my nonage; and besides, I count that the prince under whose banner I now stand, is able to absolve me; yea, and to pardon also what I did as to my compliance with thee: and, besides, O thou destroying Apollyon, to speak truth, I like his service, his wages, his servants, his government, his company, and country, better than thine; and therefore leave off to persuade me further; I am his servant, and I will follow him.

APOL. Consider again, when thou art in cool blood, what thou art like to meet with in the way that thou goest. Thou knowest that, for the most part, his servants come to an ill end, because they are transgressors against me and my ways. How many of them have been put to shameful deaths?-And besides, thou countest his service better than mine, whereas he never came yet from the place where he is to deliver any that

Here the father of lies delivers a most awful truth; but like himself backs it with a lying promise Most dreadful to think of, to set out in the profession of Jesus, and again to turn back to the service of Satan! yet how common is this! Such reject Christ's truth; and believe the devil's lie, "that all shall be well." But their end is ill, and their death damnation.