p101--p150

Page101--Page150

{101}

<Christian has got his Lord's coat on his back, and is

comforted therewith; he is comforted, also, with his mark and his roll>

CHR. By laws and ordinances you will not be saved, since you

came not in by the door. [Gal. 2:16] And as for this coat that is on

my back, it was given me by the Lord of the place whither I go;

and that, as you say, to cover my nakedness with. And I take it as

a token of his kindness to me; for I had nothing but rags before.

And besides, thus I comfort myself as I go: Surely, think I,

when I come to the gate of the city, the Lord thereof will know me

for good since I have this coat on my back--a coat that he gave me

freely in the day that he stripped me of my rags. I have, moreover,

a mark in my forehead, of which, perhaps, you have taken no notice,

which one of my Lord's most intimate associates fixed there in the day

that my burden fell off my shoulders. I will tell you, moreover,

that I had then given me a roll, sealed, to comfort me by reading

as I go on the way; I was also bid to give it in at the Celestial Gate,

in token of my certain going in after it; all which things, I doubt,

you want, and want them because you came not in at the gate.

{102}

To these things they gave him no answer; only they looked upon

each other, and laughed. Then, I saw that they went on all,

save that Christian kept before, who had no more talk but with himself,

and that sometimes sighingly, and sometimes comfortably;

also he would be often reading in the roll that one of the Shining Ones

gave him, by which he was refreshed.

{103}

I beheld, then, that they all went on till they came to the foot

of the Hill Difficulty; at the bottom of which was a spring.

There were also in the same place two other ways besides that

which came straight from the gate; one turned to the left hand,

and the other to the right, at the bottom of the hill;

but the narrow way lay right up the hill, and the name of the going up

the side of the hill is called Difficulty. Christian now went

to the spring, and drank thereof, to refresh himself [Isa. 49:10],

and then began to go up the hill, saying--

"The hill, though high, I covet to ascend,

The difficulty will not me offend;

For I perceive the way to life lies here.

Come, pluck up heart, let's neither faint nor fear;

Better, though difficult, the right way to go,

Than wrong, though easy, where the end is woe."

{104}

The other two also came to the foot of the hill; but when they saw

that the hill was steep and high, and that there were two other ways

to go, and supposing also that these two ways might meet again,

with that up which Christian went, on the other side of the hill,

therefore they were resolved to go in those ways. Now the name of one

of these ways was Danger, and the name of the other Destruction.

So the one took the way which is called Danger, which led him into

a great wood, and the other took directly up the way to Destruction,

which led him into a wide field, full of dark mountains,

where he stumbled and fell, and rose no more.

"Shall they who wrong begin yet rightly end?

Shall they at all have safety for their friend?

No, no; in headstrong manner they set out,

And headlong will they fall at last no doubt."

{105}

I looked, then, after Christian, to see him go up the hill,

where I perceived he fell from running to going, and from going

to clambering upon his hands and his knees, because of the steepness

of the place. Now, about the midway to the top of the hill

was a pleasant arbour, made by the Lord of the hill for the refreshing

of weary travellers; thither, therefore, Christian got, where also

he sat down to rest him. Then he pulled his roll out of his bosom,

and read therein to his comfort; he also now began afresh to take

a review of the coat or garment that was given him as he stood

by the cross. Thus pleasing himself awhile, he at last fell

into a slumber, and thence into a fast sleep, which detained him

in that place until it was almost night; and in his sleep,

his roll fell out of his hand. <He that sleeps is a loser>

Now, as he was sleeping, there came one to him, and awaked him, saying,

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise.

[Prov. 6:6] And with that Christian started up, and sped him on

his way, and went apace, till he came to the top of the hill.

{106}

Now, when he was got up to the top of the hill, there came two men

running to meet him amain; the name of the one was Timorous,

and of the other, Mistrust; to whom Christian said, Sirs,

what's the matter? You run the wrong way. Timorous answered,

that they were going to the City of Zion, and had got up

that difficult place; but, said he, the further we go, the more danger

we meet with; wherefore we turned, and are going back again.

Yes, said Mistrust, for just before us lie a couple of lions in the way,

whether sleeping or waking we know not, and we could not think,

if we came within reach, but they would presently pull us in pieces.

{107}

CHR. Then said Christian, You make me afraid, but whither shall I fly

to be safe? If I go back to mine own country, that is prepared

for fire and brimstone, and I shall certainly perish there.

If I can get to the Celestial City, I am sure to be in safety there.

I must venture. To go back is nothing but death; to go forward

is fear of death, and life-everlasting beyond it. I will yet

go forward. So Mistrust and Timorous ran down the hill,

and Christian went on his way. <Christian missed his roll

wherein he used to take comfort> But, thinking again of what

he had heard from the men, he felt in his bosom for his roll,

that he might read therein, and be comforted; but he felt,

and found it not. Then was Christian in great distress,

and knew not what to do; for he wanted that which used to relieve him,

and that which should have been his pass into the Celestial City.

<He is perplexed for his roll> Here, therefore, he begun to be

much perplexed, and knew not what to do. At last he bethought himself

that he had slept in the arbour that is on the side of the hill;

and, falling down upon his knees, he asked God's forgiveness for that

his foolish act, and then went back to look for his roll.

But all the way he went back, who can sufficiently set forth the sorrow

of Christian's heart? Sometimes he sighed, sometimes he wept,

and oftentimes he chid himself for being so foolish to fall asleep

in that place, which was erected only for a little refreshment

for his weariness. Thus, therefore, he went back, carefully looking

on this side and on that, all the way as he went, if happily he might

find his roll, that had been his comfort so many times in his journey.

He went thus, till he came again within sight of the arbour

where he sat and slept; but that sight renewed his sorrow the more,

by bringing again, even afresh, his evil of sleeping into his mind.

[Rev. 2:5; 1 Thes. 5:7,8] <Christian bewails his foolish sleeping>

Thus, therefore, he now went on bewailing his sinful sleep, saying,

O wretched man that I am that I should sleep in the day-time!

that I should sleep in the midst of difficulty! that I should

so indulge the flesh, as to use that rest for ease to my flesh,

which the Lord of the hill hath erected only for the relief

of the spirits of pilgrims!

{108}

How many steps have I took in vain! Thus it happened to Israel,

for their sin; they were sent back again by the way of the Red Sea;

and I am made to tread those steps with sorrow, which I might have trod

with delight, had it not been for this sinful sleep. How far might I

have been on my way by this time! I am made to tread those steps

thrice over, which I needed not to have trod but once; yea,

now also I am like to be benighted, for the day is almost spent.

O, that I had not slept!

{109}

Now, by this time he was come to the arbour again, where for a while

he sat down and wept; but at last, as Christian would have it,

looking sorrowfully down under the settle, there he espied his roll;

the which he, with trembling and haste, catched up, and put it into

his bosom. But who can tell how joyful this man was when he had gotten

his roll again! for this roll was the assurance of his life

and acceptance at the desired haven. Therefore he laid it up

in his bosom, gave thanks to God for directing his eye to the place

where it lay, and with joy and tears betook himself again

to his journey. But oh, how nimbly now did he go up the rest

of the hill! Yet, before he got up, the sun went down upon Christian;

and this made him again recall the vanity of his sleeping

to his remembrance; and thus he again began to condole with himself:

O thou sinful sleep; how, for thy sake, am I like to be benighted

in my journey! I must walk without the sun; darkness must cover

the path of my feet; and I must hear the noise of the doleful creatures,

because of my sinful sleep. [1 Thes. 5:6,7] Now also he remembered

the story that Mistrust and Timorous told him of; how they were frighted

with the sight of the lions. Then said Christian to himself again,

These beasts range in the night for their prey; and if they should

meet with me in the dark, how should I shift them? How should I escape

being by them torn in pieces? Thus he went on his way.

But while he was thus bewailing his unhappy miscarriage,

he lift up his eyes, and behold there was a very stately palace

before him, the name of which was Beautiful; and it stood just by

the highway side.

{110}

So I saw in my dream that he made haste and went forward,

that if possible he might get lodging there. Now, before he had

gone far, he entered into a very narrow passage, which was about

a furlong off the porter's lodge; and looking very narrowly before him

as he went, he espied two lions in the way. Now, thought he,

I see the dangers that Mistrust and Timorous were driven back by.

(The lions were chained, but he saw not the chains.)

Then he was afraid, and thought also himself to go back after them,

for he thought nothing but death was before him. But the porter

at the lodge, whose name is Watchful, perceiving that Christian

made a halt as if he would go back, cried unto him, saying,

Is thy strength so small? [Mark 8:34-37] Fear not the lions,

for they are chained, and are placed there for trial of faith

where it is, and for discovery of those that had none.

Keep in the midst of the path, no hurt shall come unto thee.

"Difficulty is behind, Fear is before,

Though he's got on the hill, the lions roar;

A Christian man is never long at ease,

When one fright's gone, another doth him seize."

{111}

Then I saw that he went on, trembling for fear of the lions,

but taking good heed to the directions of the porter;

he heard them roar, but they did him no harm. Then he clapped

his hands, and went on till he came and stood before the gate

where the porter was. Then said Christian to the porter,

Sir, what house is this? And may I lodge here to-night?

The porter answered, This house was built by the Lord of the hill,

and he built it for the relief and security of pilgrims.

The porter also asked whence he was, and whither he was going.

{112}

CHR. I am come from the City of Destruction, and am going

to Mount Zion; but because the sun is now set, I desire, if I may,

to lodge here to-night.

POR. What is your name?

CHR. My name is now Christian, but my name at the first was Graceless;

I came of the race of Japheth, whom God will persuade to dwell

in the tents of Shem. [Gen. 9:27]

POR. But how doth it happen that you come so late? The sun is set.

{113}

CHR. I had been here sooner, but that, "wretched man that I am!"

I slept in the arbour that stands on the hillside; nay, I had,

notwithstanding that, been here much sooner, but that, in my sleep.

I lost my evidence, and came without it to the brow of the hill

and then feeling for it, and finding it not, I was forced

with sorrow of heart, to go back to the place where I slept my sleep,

where I found it, and now I am come.

POR. Well, I will call out one of the virgins of this place, who will,

if she likes your talk, bring you into the rest of the family,

according to the rules of the house. So Watchful, the porter,

rang a bell, at the sound of which came out at the door of the house,

a grave and beautiful damsel, named Discretion, and asked why

she was called.

{114}

The porter answered, This man is in a journey from

the City of Destruction to Mount Zion, but being weary and benighted,

he asked me if he might lodge here to-night; so I told him I would call

for thee, who, after discourse had with him, mayest do as seemeth

thee good, even according to the law of the house.

{115}

Then she asked him whence he was, and whither he was going,

and he told her. She asked him also how he got into the way;

and he told her. Then she asked him what he had seen and met with

in the way; and he told, her. And last she asked his name; so he said,

It is Christian, and I have so much the more a desire to lodge

here to-night, because, by what I perceive, this place was built

by the Lord of the hill for the relief and security of pilgrims.

So she smiled, but the water stood in her eyes; and after

a little pause, she said, I will call forth two or three more

of the family. So she ran to the door, and called out Prudence,

Piety, and Charity, who, after a little more discourse with him,

had him into the family; and many of them, meeting him at the threshold

of the house, said, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord;

this house was built by the Lord of the hill, on purpose to entertain

such pilgrims in. Then he bowed his head, and followed them

into the house. So when he was come in and sat down, they gave him

something to drink, and consented together, that until supper was ready,

some of them should have some particular discourse with Christian,

for the best improvement of time; and they appointed Piety,

and Prudence, and Charity to discourse with him; and thus they began:

{116}

PIETY. Come, good Christian, since we have been so loving to you,

to receive you in our house this night, let us, if perhaps we may

better ourselves thereby, talk with you of all things

that have happened to you in your pilgrimage.

CHR. With a very good will, and I am glad that you are

so well disposed.

{117}

PIETY. What moved you at first to betake yourself to a pilgrim's life?

CHR. I was driven out of my native country by a dreadful sound

that was in mine ears: to wit, that unavoidable destruction

did attend me, if I abode in that place where I was.

PIETY. But how did it happen that you came out of your country

this way?

CHR. It was as God would have it; for when I was under the fears

of destruction, I did not know whither to go; but by chance

there came a man, even to me, as I was trembling and weeping,

whose name is Evangelist, and he directed me to the wicket-gate,

which else I should never have found, and so set me into the way

that hath led me directly to this house.

{118}

PIETY. But did you not come by the house of the Interpreter?

CHR. Yes, and did see such things there, the remembrance of which

will stick by me as long as I live; especially three things: to wit,

how Christ, in despite of Satan, maintains his work of grace

in the heart; how the man had sinned himself quite out of hopes

of God's mercy; and also the dream of him that thought in his sleep

the day of judgement was come.

PIETY. Why, did you hear him tell his dream?

CHR. Yes, and a dreadful one it was. I thought it made my heart ache

as he was telling of it; but yet I am glad I heard it.

{119}

PIETY. Was that all that you saw at the house of the Interpreter?

CHR. No; he took me and had me where he shewed me a stately palace,

and how the people were clad in gold that were in it; and how

there came a venturous man and cut his way through the armed men

that stood in the door to keep him out, and how he was bid to come in,

and win eternal glory. Methought those things did ravish my heart!

I would have stayed at that good man's house a twelvemonth,

but that I knew I had further to go.

{120}

PIETY. And what saw you else in the way?

CHR. Saw! why, I went but a little further, and I saw one,

as I thought in my mind, hang bleeding upon the tree;

and the very sight of him made my burden fall off my back,

(for I groaned under a very heavy burden,) but then it fell down

from off me. It was a strange thing to me, for I never saw

such a thing before; yea, and while I stood looking up,

for then I could not forbear looking, three Shining Ones came to me.

One of them testified that my sins were forgiven me; another stripped me

of my rags, and gave me this broidered coat which you see;

and the third set the mark which you see in my forehead, and gave me

this sealed roll. (And with that he plucked it out of his bosom.)

{121}

PIETY. But you saw more than this, did you not?

CHR. The things that I have told you were the best;

yet some other matters I saw, as, namely--I saw three men,

Simple, Sloth, and Presumption, lie asleep a little out of the way,

as I came, with irons upon their heels; but do you think

I could awake them? I also saw Formality and Hypocrisy come

tumbling over the wall, to go, as they pretended, to Zion,

but they were quickly lost, even as I myself did tell them;

but they would not believe. But above all, I found it hard work

to get up this hill, and as hard to come by the lions' mouths,

and truly if it had not been for the good man, the porter that stands

at the gate, I do not know but that after all I might have

gone back again; but now I thank God I am here, and I thank you

for receiving of me.

{122}

Then Prudence thought good to ask him a few questions,

and desired his answer to them.

PRUD. Do you not think sometimes of the country from whence you came?

<Christian's thoughts of his native country>

CHR. Yes, but with much shame and detestation: "Truly,

if I had been mindful of that country from whence I came out,

I might have had opportunity to have returned; but now I desire

a better country, that is, an heavenly." [Heb. 11:15,16]

PRUD. Do you not yet bear away with you some of the things

that then you were conversant withal?

CHR. Yes, but greatly against my will; especially my inward

and carnal cogitations, with which all my countrymen, as well as myself,

were delighted; but now all those things are my grief;

and might I but choose mine own things, <Christian's choice>

I would choose never to think of those things more; but when I would

be doing of that which is best, that which is worst is with me.

[Rom 7:16-19]

{123}

PRUD. Do you not find sometimes, as if those things were vanquished,

which at other times are your perplexity?

<Christian's golden hours>

CHR. Yes, but that is seldom; but they are to me golden hours

in which such things happen to me.

PRUD. Can you remember by what means you find your annoyances,

at times, as if they were vanquished?

CHR. Yes, when I think what I saw at the cross, that will do it;

and when I look upon my broidered coat, that will do it;

also when I look into the roll that I carry in my bosom,

that will do it; and when my thoughts wax warm about whither I am going,

that will do it.

{124}

PRUD. And what is it that makes you so desirous to go to Mount Zion?

CHR. Why, there I hope to see him alive that did hang dead on the cross;

and there I hope to be rid of all those things that to this day are in me

an annoyance to me; there, they say, there is no death; and there I shall

dwell with such company as I like best. [Isa. 25:8; Rev. 21:4]

For, to tell you truth, I love him, because I was by him eased of

my burden; and I am weary of my inward sickness. I would fain be where

I shall die no more, and with the company that shall continually cry,

"Holy, Holy, Holy!"

{125}

Then said Charity to Christian, Have you a family? Are you

a married man?

CHR. I have a wife and four small children.

CHAR. And why did you not bring them along with you?

<Christian's love to his wife and children>

CHR. Then Christian wept, and said, Oh, how willingly

would I have done it! but they were all of them utterly averse

to my going on pilgrimage.

CHAR. But you should have talked to them, and have endeavoured

to have shown them the danger of being behind.

CHR. So I did; and told them also of what God had shown to me

of the destruction of our city; "but I seemed to them as one

that mocked", and they believed me not. [Gen. 19:14]

CHAR. And did you pray to God that he would bless your counsel to them?

CHR. Yes, and that with much affection: for you must think

that my wife and poor children were very dear unto me.

CHAR. But did you tell them of your own sorrow, and fear

of destruction? for I suppose that destruction was visible enough

to you.

<Christian's fears of perishing might be read in his very countenance>

CHR. Yes, over, and over, and over. They might also see my fears

in my countenance, in my tears, and also in my trembling under

the apprehension of the judgement that did hang over our heads;

but all was not sufficient to prevail with them to come with me.

CHAR. But what could they say for themselves, why they came not?

{126}

CHR. Why, my wife was afraid of losing this world, and my children

were given to the foolish delights of youth: so what by one thing,

and what by another, they left me to wander in this manner alone.

CHAR. But did you not, with your vain life, damp all that you

by words used by way of persuasion to bring them away with you?

{127}

<Christian's good conversation before his wife and children>

CHR. Indeed, I cannot commend my life; for I am conscious to myself

of many failings therein; I know also that a man by his conversation

may soon overthrow what by argument or persuasion he doth labour

to fasten upon others for their good. Yet this I can say,

I was very wary of giving them occasion, by any unseemly action,

to make them averse to going on pilgrimage. Yea, for this very thing

they would tell me I was too precise, and that I denied myself

of things, for their sakes, in which they saw no evil. Nay,

I think I may say, that if what they saw in me did hinder them,

it was my great tenderness in sinning against God, or of doing

any wrong to my neighbour.

CHAR. Indeed Cain hated his brother, "because his own works were evil,

and his brother's righteous" [1 John 3:12]; and if thy wife and children

have been offended with thee for this, they thereby show themselves

to be implacable to good, and "thou hast delivered thy soul

from their blood". [Ezek. 3:19]

{128}

Now I saw in my dream, that thus they sat talking together

until supper was ready. So when they had made ready,

they sat down to meat. <Their talk at supper time> Now the table

was furnished "with fat things, and with wine that was well refined":

and all their talk at the table was about the Lord of the hill;

as, namely, about what he had done, and wherefore he did what he did,

and why he had builded that house. And by what they said,

I perceived that he had been a great warrior, and had fought with

and slain "him that had the Power of death", but not without

great danger to himself, which made me love him the more.

[Heb. 2:14,15]

{129}

For, as they said, and as I believe (said Christian), he did it with

the loss of much blood; but that which put glory of grace

into all he did, was, that he did it out of pure love to his country.

And besides, there were some of them of the household that said

they had been and spoke with him since he did die on the cross;

and they have attested that they had it from his own lips,

that he is such a lover of poor pilgrims, that the like is not

to be found from the east to the west.

{130}

They, moreover, gave an instance of what they affirmed, and that was,

he had stripped himself of his glory, that he might do this

for the poor; and that they heard him say and affirm,

"that he would not dwell in the mountain of Zion alone."

They said, moreover, that he had made many pilgrims princes,

though by nature they were beggars born, and their original

had been the dunghill. [1 Sam 2:8; Ps. 113:7]

{131}

<Christian's bedchamber>

Thus they discoursed together till late at night; and after

they had committed themselves to their Lord for protection,

they betook themselves to rest: the Pilgrim they laid

in a large upper chamber, whose window opened towards the sun-rising:

the name of the chamber was Peace; where he slept till break of day,

and then he awoke and sang--

"Where am I now? Is this the love and care

Of Jesus for the men that pilgrims are?

Thus to provide! that I should be forgiven!

And dwell already the next door to heaven!"

{132}

So in the morning they all got up; and, after some more discourse,

they told him that he should not depart till they had shown him

the rarities of that place. And first they had him into the study,

where they showed him records of the greatest antiquity; in which,

as I remember my dream, they showed him first the pedigree of the Lord

of the hill, that he was the son of the Ancient of Days, and came by

that eternal generation. Here also was more fully recorded the acts

that he had done, and the names of many hundreds that he had taken

into his service; and how he had placed them in such habitations that

could neither by length of days, nor decays of nature, be dissolved.

{133}

Then they read to him some of the worthy acts that some of his servants

had done: as, how they had "subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness,

obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence

of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness

were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, and turned to flight

the armies of the aliens." [Heb 11:33,34]

{134}

They then read again, in another part of the records of the house,

where it was shewed how willing their Lord was to receive

into his favour any, even any, though they in time past had offered

great affronts to his person and proceedings. Here also were

several other histories of many other famous things, of all which

Christian had a view; as of things both ancient and modern;

together with prophecies and predictions of things that have

their certain accomplishment, both to the dread and amazement

of enemies, and the comfort and solace of pilgrims.

{135}

The next day they took him and had him into the armoury,

where they showed him all manner of furniture, which their Lord

had provided for pilgrims, as sword, shield, helmet, breastplate,

ALL-PRAYER, and shoes that would not wear out. And there was here

enough of this to harness out as many men for the service of their Lord

as there be stars in the heaven for multitude.

{136}

They also showed him some of the engines with which some of his servants

had done wonderful things. They shewed him Moses' rod;

the hammer and nail with which Jael slew Sisera; the pitchers, trumpets,

and lamps too, with which Gideon put to flight the armies of Midian.

Then they showed him the ox's goad wherewith Shamgar slew

six hundred men. They showed him also the jaw-bone with which Samson

did such mighty feats. They showed him, moreover, the sling and stone

with which David slew Goliath of Gath; and the sword, also,

with which their Lord will kill the Man of Sin, in the day

that he shall rise up to the prey. They showed him, besides,

many excellent things, with which Christian was much delighted.

This done, they went to their rest again.

{137}

Then I saw in my dream, that on the morrow he got up to go forward;

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 stayed.

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,

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. [Isa. 33:16,17]

Then he asked the name of the country. They said it was

Immanuel's Land; and it is as common, said they, as this hill is,

to and for all the pilgrims. And when thou comest there from thence,

said they, thou mayest see to the gate of the Celestial City,

as the shepherds that live there will make appear.

{138}

Now he bethought himself of setting forward, and they were willing

he should. But first, said they, let us go again into the armoury.

<Christian sent away armed> So they did; and when they 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, walketh out with his friends to the gate,

and there he asked the porter if he saw any pilgrims pass by.

Then the porter answered, Yes.

{139}

CHR. Pray, did you know him? said he.

POR. I asked him his name, and he told me it was Faithful.

CHR. Oh, 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?

POR. He is got by this time below the hill.

CHR. 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.

{140}

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 a hard 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.

{141}

Then I saw in my dream that these good companions, when Christian

was gone 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 espied 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 to 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 the greater advantage

with ease to pierce him with his darts. <Christian's resolution

at the approach of Apollyon> Therefore he resolved to venture

and stand his ground; for, thought he, had I no more in mine eye

than the saving of my life, it would be the best way to stand.

{142}

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 beheld him

with a disdainful countenance, and thus began to question with him.

{143}

APOL. Whence come 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 that I hope thou mayest do me more service,

I would strike thee now, at one blow, to the ground.

{144}

CHR. I was born, indeed, in your dominions, but your service was hard,

and your wages such as a man could not live on, "for the wages of sin

is death" [Rom 6:23]; therefore, when I was come to years, I did,

as other considerate persons do, look out, if, perhaps,

I might mend myself.

<Apollyon's flattery>

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.

CHR. But I have let myself to another, even to the King of princes;

and how can I, with fairness, go back with thee?

{145}

APOL. Thou hast done in this, according to the proverb,

"Changed 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 me. Do thou so too, and all shall be well.

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?

APOL. Thou didst the same to me, and yet I am willing to pass by all,

if now thou wilt yet turn again and go back.

{146}

CHR. What I promised thee was in my nonage; and, besides,

I count the Prince under whose banner now I 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.

{147}

<Apollyon pleads the grievous ends of Christians, to dissuade Christian

from persisting in his way>

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 served him

out of their hands; but as for me, how many times, as all the world

very well knows, have I delivered, either by power, or fraud,

those that have faithfully served me, from him and his,

though taken by them; and so I will deliver thee.

CHR. His forbearing at present to deliver them is on purpose

to try their love, whether they will cleave to him to the end;

and as for the ill end thou sayest they come to, that is most glorious

in their account; for, for present deliverance, they do not much

expect it, for they stay for their glory, and then they shall have it

when their Prince comes in his and the glory of the angels.

APOL. Thou hast already been unfaithful in thy service to him;

and how dost thou think to receive wages of him?

CHR. Wherein, O Apollyon! have I been unfaithful to him?

{148}

APOL. Thou didst faint at first setting out, when thou wast

almost choked in the Gulf of Despond; thou didst attempt wrong ways

to be rid of thy burden, whereas thou shouldst have stayed

till thy Prince had taken it off; thou didst sinfully sleep

and lose thy choice thing; thou wast, also, almost persuaded to go back

at the sight of the lions; and when thou talkest of thy journey,

and of what thou hast heard and seen, thou art inwardly desirous

of vain-glory in all that thou sayest or doest.

CHR. All this is true, and much more which thou hast left out;

but the Prince whom I serve and honour is merciful,

and ready to forgive; but, besides, these infirmities possessed me

in thy country, for there I sucked them in; and I have groaned

under them, been sorry for them, and have obtained pardon of my Prince.

{149}

APOL. Then Apollyon broke out into a grievous rage, saying,

I am an enemy to this Prince; I hate his person, his laws, and people;

I am come out on purpose to withstand thee.

CHR. Apollyon, beware what you do; for I am in the King's highway,

the way of holiness; therefore take heed to yourself.

APOL. Then Apollyon straddled quite over the whole breadth of the way,

and said, I am void of fear in this matter: prepare thyself to die;

for I swear by my infernal den, that thou shalt go no further;

here will I spill thy soul.

{150}

And with that he threw a flaming dart at his breast; but Christian had

a shield in his hand, with which he caught it, and so prevented

the danger of that.

Then did Christian draw, for he saw it was time to bestir him;

and Apollyon as fast made at him, throwing darts as thick as hail;

by the which, notwithstanding all that Christian could do to avoid it,

Apollyon wounded him in his head, his hand, and foot.

This made Christian give a little back; Apollyon, therefore,

followed his work amain, and Christian again took courage,

and resisted as manfully as he could. This sore combat lasted

for above half a day, even till Christian was almost quite spent;

for you must know that Christian, by reason of his wounds,

must needs grow weaker and weaker.