The Dangers attending the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

Then they went on again, and their conductor did go before them, till they came at a place where was cast up a pit the whole breadth of the way; and before they could be prepared to go over that, a great mist and a darkness fell upon them, so that they could not see. Then said the pilgrims, "Alas! now what shall we do? But their guide made answer, "Fear not, stand still, and see what an end will be put to this also." So they staid there because their path was marred. They then also thought they did hear more apparently the noise and rushing of the enemies; the fire also and smoke of the pit much easier to be discerned. Then said Christiana to Mercy, Now I see what my poor husband went through. I have heard much of this place, but I never was here before now. Poor man! he went here all alone in the night; he had night almost quite through the way? also these fiends were busy about him, as if they would have torn him in pieces. Many have spoken of it, but none can tell what the valley of the Shadow of Death should mean until they come in themselves. "The heart knows its own bitterness; a stranger intermeddleth not with its joy." To be here is a fearful thing.

· GREAT. This is like doing business in great waters, or like going down into the deep? this is like

"Be sober; be vigilant!" These pilgrims kept up their watch. Satan did not come upon them unawares: they heard his approach, they were prepared for his attack: lo, Satan drew back.

That there is something solemn in death, cannot with any truth or reason be denied; and in some cases not only great bodily pains precede the moment of dissolution, but also severe conflicts with Satan, and great anguish of mind. But the last of these is generally the effect of loitering in, or turning out of the way of holiness, which fills the shadow of death with gloom and horror. If we live holy lives, we shall die happy deaths.

7 To hear of the severe conflicts of others, is one thing: to experience them ourselves, is very different.

The Dangers attending the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

being in the heart of the sea, and like going down to the bottoms of the mountains; now it seems as if the earth, with its bars, were about us for ever, "But let them that walk in darkness, and have no light, trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon their God." For my part, as I have told you already, I have gone often through this valley; and have been much harder put to it than I now am; and yet you see I am alive. I would not boast, for that I am not my own Saviour. But I trust we shall have a good deliverance. Come, pray for light to Him that can lighten our darkness, and that can rebuke not only these, but all the Satans in hell.

So they cried and prayed, and God sent light and deliverance; for there was now no let in their way, no not even there where but now they were stopt with a pit. Yet they were not got through the valley: so they went on still, and behold great stinks and loathsome smells, to the great annoyance of them. Then said Mercy to Christiana, "There is not such pleasant being here as at the gate, or at the Interpreter's, or at the house where we lay last."

"Oh! but," said one of the boys, " it is not so bad to go through here, as it is to abide here always; and, for ought I know, one reason why we must go this way to the house prepared for us, is that our home might be made the sweeter to us'.'

This precious text, Isa. i. 10, has been a sheet-anchor to my soul under dark providences. I doubt not but it has been so to many others. Oh, there is an amazing depth of grace, and a wonderful height of mercy in it. Bless God for it; study it deeply.

9 In seasons of distress, the most painful sense of vile lusts, and filthy corruptions, is generally felt by real pilgrims.

1 Precious thoughts! under the worst and most distressing circumstances think of this. Their continuance is short. The appointment, love. Their end shall be crowned with glory. Our dark and tedious nights should make us prize our light and joyful days the more.

They arrive at the End of the Valley of the shadow of Death.

"Well said, Samuel," quoth the guide; "thou hast now spoke like a man."-" Why, if ever I get out here again," said the boy, "I think I shall prize light and good way better than ever I did in all my life." Then said the guide, "We shall be out by and by."

"

So on they went, and Joseph said, "Cannot we see to the end of this valley as yet?" Then said the guide, "Look to your feet, for we shall presently be among snares. So they looked to their feet, and went on; but were troubled much with the snares. Now when they were come among the snares, they spied a man cast into the ditch on the left hand, with his flesh all rent and torn. Then said the guide, That is one Heedless, that was going this way; he has lain there a great while'. There was one Take-Heed with him when he was taken and slain, but he escaped their hands. You cannot imagine how many are killed hereabouts, and yet men are so foolishly venturous, as to set out lightly on pilgrimage, and to come without a guide. Poor Christian, it was a wonder that he here escaped! but he was beloved of his God: also he had a good heart of his own, or else he could never have done it.

Now they drew towards the end of the way; and just there where Christian had seen the cave when he went by, out thence came forth Maul, a giant. This Maul did use to spoil young pilgrims with sophistry; and he called Great-Heart by his name, and said unto him, "How many times have you

2 Heedless professors, be warned. The doctrines of salvation were never intended to lull any asleep in carnal security. If they do so by you, it is a sure sign that what should have been for your health, proves an occasion of your falling.

Part I. page 81-87.

Great-Heart fights with a Giant.

66

been forbidden to do these things?" Then said Mr. Great-Heart," what things?""What things!" quoth the giant; you know what things: but I will put an end to your trade3."-" But, pray," said Mr. Great-Heart," before we fall to it, let us understand wherefore we must fight. (Now the women and children stood trembling, and knew not what to do.) Quoth the giant, "You rob the country, and you rob it with the worst of thieves.""These are but generals," said Mr. Great-Heart; "come to particulars, man."

Then said the giant, Thou practisest the part of a kidnapper, thou gatherest up women and children, and carriest them into a strange country, to the weakening of my master's kingdom.-But now Great-Heart replied, I am a servant of the God of heaven; my business is to persuade sinners to repentance; I am commanded to do my endeavours to turn men, women, and children, " from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God," and if this be indeed the ground of thy quarrel, let us fall to it as soon as thou wilt.

Then the giant came up, and Mr. Great-Heart went to meet him! and as he went he drew his sword; but the giant had a club. So, without more ado, they fell to it, and at the first blow the giant struck Mr. Great-Heart down upon one of his knees; with that the women and children cried. So Mr. Great-Heart, recovering himself, laid about him in

3 How many such giants have we in the present day, who deceive and beguile precious souls into a false and fatal security, by their smooth lectures on morality, and their avowed opposition to the gospel of Christ, and the way to his kingdom.

• To awaken souls, and lead them to Christ for life and salvation, is the blessed work of faithful ministers. In the spirit of love and meekness they will contend for the faith, however they may be nicknamed, and ill-treated for their work.

Great-Heart kills the Giant.

a lusty manner, and gave the giant a wound in his arm; that he fought for the space of an hour to that height of heat, that the breath came out of the giant's nostrils as the heat doth out of a boiling caldron.

Then they sat down to rest them, but Mr. GreatHeart betook himself to prayer: also the women and children did nothing but sigh and cry all the time that the battle did last3.

When they had rested them, and taken breath, they both fell to it again; and Mr. Great-Heart with a full blow fetched the giant down to the ground. "Nay, hold, let me recover," quoth he: so Mr. Great-Heart let him fairly get up. So to it they went again, and the giant missed but little of breaking Mr. Great-Heart's skull with his club.

Mr. Great-Heart seeing that, runs to him in the full heat of his spirit, and pierced him under the fifth rib; with that the giant began to faint, and could hold up his club no longer. Then Mr. GreatHeart seconded his blow, and smote the head of the giant from his shoulders. Then the women and children rejoiced, and Mr. Great-Heart also praised God for the deliverance he had wrought..

When this was done, they among them erected a pillar, and fastened the giant's head thereon, and wrote under it in letters that passengers might read:

"He that did wear this head was one
That pilgrims did misuse;

He stopp'd their way, he spared none,
But did them all abuse:

5 The greatest heart cannot withstand without prayer, nor conquer without the almighty power of God. The belief of this will excite prayer.

6 Many such a battle has been fought, and many such a victory has been obtained, since the Reformation, over the enemies of our most holy faith.