Abash'd, Apollyon spread his dragon wings,
And fled away—while Christian VICTORY sings:

"Great BEELZEBUB, the captain of this fiend,

66

Design'd my ruin-therefore to this end

“He sent him harness'd out; and he with rage "That hellish was, did fiercely me engage: "But blessed Michael helped me, and I,

66

By dint of sword, at length, have made him fly: "Therefore to Him be given lasting praise, "I'll bless and thank his Holy name always."

THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.

CHRISTIAN

THE SIXTH BOOK.

PASSES THROUGH THE VALLEY OF

THE SHADOW OF DEATH IS GREATLY DISTRESSED, BUT ESCAPES UNHURT HAPPILY OVERTAKES FAITHFUL, ANOTHER PILGRIM, WHO PROVES AN EXCELLENT

COMPANION.

*

CHRISTIAN, refresh'd had scarcely taken breath, When lo! The Valley of the Shade of Death* Presents itself—through this dread passage lay The road that leads to everlasting day. And now, he meets the children of the spies, Fast running back: each base apostate cries, 'Back! back! in that dark valley we have been, And there such horrid spectres we have seen! 'There sport the fiends and dragons of the pit, 'Back! back with us, if you "What you report," said Christian, "may be true, "And yet, this be the road I should

*

have any

wit.'

pursue;

This valley is a state of spiritual depression; when the believer, hindered from enjoying the light of God's countenance, walketh in darkness and hath no light. It is particularly applicable to persons who, under the power of those bodily diseases by which the mind is depressed, are in this state.

“I'll venture on, and with my sword in hand,
"Still urge my journey to the Holy Land."

It was a dang'rous path the Pilgrim trod,
Sure never mortal trac'd so dire a road;
On his right hand, a ditch, tremendous lay;
A dang'rous quag on t'other side the way;
So that when, carefully, the ditch he'd shun,
Into the quag his feet had nearly run:
Avoiding that, 'twas hard to miss the ditch;
For now 'twas grown almost as dark as pitch.
And now, what terror on his spirit fell,

When, near at hand, he spied the gate of hell!
Forth issued, in abundance, smoke and flame,
While dismal shrieks from ev'ry quarter came.
All this continued-not a little while-

But he trembling crept for many a mile.

Nor sword nor shield could serve his purpose here, No weapon now of any use but prayer.

"O God," he cried, "while thus the billows roll, "Vouchsafe to help! O Lord, preserve my soul!" This prayer prevail'd; for soon he heard a voice Which made his fainting spirit to rejoice;

6

6

'Twas thus, Tho' I walk through the gloomy vale, 'My faith and hope in Christ shall never fail ;

What though th' infernal spirits all appear,

'I'll fear them not, my Shepherd's with me here.'