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Then said their guide, Do you hear him? I will dare to say, this boy lives a merrier life, and wears more of that herb called Heart's-ease in his bosom, than he that is clad in silk and velvet! But we will proceed in our discourse.

CHRIST WHEN IN THE

In this valley our Lord formerly

FLESH HAD HIS COUN- had his Country-House. He loved

TRY HOUSE IN THE VALLEY OF HUMILIA

TION.

much to be here; he loved also to walk these meadows, for he

8 Heb. xiii. 5. Phil. iv. 12, 13.

found the air was pleasant. Besides, here a man shall be free from the noise and from the hurryings of this life. All states are full of noise and confusion; only the Valley of Humiliation is that empty and solitary place. Here a man shall not be so let and hindered in his contemplation, as in other places he is apt to be. This is a Valley that nobody walks in, but those that love a Pilgrim's life. And though Christian had the hard hap to meet here with Apollyon, and to enter with him in a brisk encounter, yet I must tell you, that in former times men have met with Angels here; have found pearls here; and have in this place found the Words of Life.?

Did I say, our Lord had here, in former days, his Country-House, and that he loved here to walk? I will add, in this place, and to the people that love and trace these grounds, he has left a yearly revenue, to be faithfulfy paid them at certain seasons, for their maintenance by the way, and for their further encouragement to go on in their Pilgrimage.1

Now, as they went on, Samuel said to Mr. Greatheart, Sir, I perceive that in this Valley my father and Apollyon had their battle; but whereabout was the fight? for I perceive this Valley is large.

FORGETFUL GREEN.

Great-heart. Your father had the battle with Apollyon at a place yonder before us, in a narrow passage, just beyond Forgetful-green. And indeed that place is the most dangerous place in all these parts. For if at any time Pilgrims meet with any brunt, it is when they forget what favours they have received, and how 9 Hos. xii. 4, 5.

1 Matthew x. 29.

unworthy they are of them. This is the place, also, where others have been hard put to it. But more of the place when we are come to it; for I persuade myself, that to this day there remains either some sign of the battle, or some monument to testify that such a battle was fought there.

HUMILITY A

Then said Mercy, I think I am as well in this Valley as I have been any where else in all our journey. The place, methinks, suits with my spirit. SWEET GRACE. I love to be in such places, where there is no rattling with coaches, nor rumbling with wheels. Methinks here one may, without much molestation, be thinking what he is, whence he came, what he has done, and to what the King has called him. Here one may think, and break at heart, and melt in one's spirit, until one's eyes become as the "fish-pools of Heshbon." They that go rightly through this valley of Baca make it a well; the rain that God sends down from Heaven upon them that are here, " also filleth the pools." This Valley is that from whence also the King will give to his their vineyards; and they that go through it shall sing, as Christian did, for all he met with Apollyon.

AN EXPERI

Tis true, said their guide, I have gone MENT OF IT. through this Valley many a time, and never was better than when here. I have also been a conductor to several Pilgrims, and they have confessed the same. "To this man will I look (saith the King), even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word."

Now they were come to the place where the afore

2 Song vii. 4.

3 Psal. lxxxiv. 6.

4 Hos. ii. 15.

THE PLACE WHERE

FIEND DID FIGHT.

And look, did I husband's blood

SOME SIGNS OF THE

BATTLE REMAIN.

mentioned battle was fought. Then said the guide to Christiana, her children, and Mercy, This is the place; on this CHRISTIAN AND THE ground Christian stood, and up there came Apollyon against him. not tell you? here is some of your upon these stones to this day. Behold, also, how here and there are yet to be seen, upon the place, some of the shivers of Apollyon's broken darts! See also how they did beat the ground with their feet as they fought, to make good their places against each other! how also, with their by-blows, they did split the very stones in pieces! Verily Christian did here play the man, and showed himself as stout as Hercules could, had he been here, even he himself. When Apollyon was beat, he made his retreat to the next Valley, that is called the Valley of the Shadow of Death, unto which we shall come

anon.

Lo! yonder also stands a Monument, A MONUMENT on which is engraven this battle, and OF CHRISTIAN'S Christian's victory, to his fame through- VICTORY.

out all ages. So, because it stood just on the way-side before them, they stepped to it, and read the writing, which, word for word, was this:

Hard by here was a battle fought,
Most strange, and yet most true;
Christian and Apollyon sought

Each other to subdue.

The Man so bravely play'd the Man,

He made the Fiend to fly;
Of which a monument I stand,
The same to testify.

When they had passed by this place, they came upon the borders of the Shadow of Death; and this Valley was longer than the other; a place also most strangely haunted with evil things, as many are able to testify; but these women and children went the better through it, because they had day-light, and because Mr. Great-heart was their conductor.

GROANINGS
HEARD.

THE GROUND
SHAKES.

When they were entered upon this Valley, they thought that they heard a groaning as of dying men; a very great groaning. They thought also they did hear words of lamentation spoken, as of some in extreme torment. These things made the boys to quake; the women also looked pale and wan; but their Guide bid them be of good comfort. So they went on a little farther, and they thought that they felt the ground begin to shake under them, as if some hollow place was there they heard also a kind of a hissing as of serpents; but nothing as yet appeared. Then said the boys, Are we not yet at the end of this doleful place? But the Guide also bid them be of good courage, and look well to their feet, lest haply, said he, you be taken in some snare.

JAMES SICK

Now James began to be sick; but I WITH FEAR. think the cause thereof was fear; so his mother gave him some of that glass of spirits that had been given her at the Interpreter's house, and three of the pills that Mr. Skill had prepared, and the boy began to revive. Thus they went on, till they came to about the middle of the Valley; and then Christiana THE FIEND said, Methinks I see something yonder upon the road before us, a thing of a shape such

APPEARS.

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