22

CHRISTIAN MEETS TWO MEN GOING BACK:

CHAPTER X.

CHRISTIAN SORELY DISTRESSED IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, THROUGH WHICH, HOWEVER, HE PASSES UNHURT.

I SAW then in my dream, that when Christian was got on the borders of the Shadow of Death, there met him two men, children of them that brought up an evil report of the good land, (a) making haste to go back; to whom Christian spake as follows:

Whither are you going?

They said, Back! back! and we would have you to do so too, if either life or peace is prized by you. Why, what's the matter? said Christian.

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.

But what have you met with? said Christian.

MEN. Why, we were almost in the valley of the Shadow of Death; (b) but that by good hap we looked before us, and saw the danger before we came to it. 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 people under

* Such we frequently meet with; who set out without a sense of sin, true faith, real hope, and sincere love to Christ; and as sure as they go back from a profession, they bring up an evil report of the way to the kingdom of Christ.

THEY IN VAIN ATTEMPT TO DISCOURAGE HIM. 123

anutterable misery, who there sat bound in affliction and irons; and over that valley hang the discouraging clouds of confusion: death also doth always spread his wings over it.(a) In a word, it is every whit dreadful, being utterly without order.

Then said Christain, 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.* 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 hath led the blind in all ages, and have both there miserably perished.† 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 this quag king David once did fall, and had, no doubt, therein been smothered, had not he that is able plucked him out.(6)

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 in

• 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.

†The ditch on the right hand is error in principle, into which the blind (as to spiritual truths, blind guides) lead the blind, who are not 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.

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THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH.

to the ditch. * Thus he went on, and I heard him here sigh bitterly: for besides the danger mentioned above, the pathway was here so dark, that oft-times when he lifted up his foot to go forward, he knew not where, nor 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 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: so he cried, in my hearing, "O Lord, I beseech thee deliver my soul."(a) 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 fiendst coming forward to meet him, he stopt, 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

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 is assaulted by the most violent and complicated temptations.

But it may be asked, Why doth the Lord suffer his children to be so afflicted? It is for his glory; it tries their faith in him, and excites prayer to him; but his love abates not in the least towards them, since he lovingly inquires after them: "Who is there among you that feareth the Lord, and walkêth 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. 1. 10.

(a) Psal. cxvi. 4. Ephes. vi. 18.

CHRISTIAN'S TERROR AND PERPLEXITY.

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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 behind him, and stept up softly to him, and whisperingly 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 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 those blasphemies came.*

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 was he 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 impedi

Now here the conscience manifests its tenderness, by abhorring the evil of Satan's suggestions. O what nigh access has the enemy to our hearts! But the Lord is also nigh, to save to the uttermost all who trust in him: he will hear their cry, and save them. Psal. civ. 19.

†The experience of other saints is very encouraging, for the soul finds that others have gone before in dreadful and dreary paths.

(a) Psal. xxiii. 4.

126 HE IS CHEERED BY THE Breaking of DAY.

ment that attends this place I cannot perceive it (a)—— thirdly, for that he hoped (could he overtake them) to have company by and by.-So he went on, and call. ed 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 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 the 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."(c)

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:† for, from the place where he now stood, even to the end of the val

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

This means the raging of 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 here Christian had the blessed light of the glorious gospel.

(a) Job ix. 11.

(b) Amos v. 8.

(c) Job xii. 22.