the fruit of their own doing that such things do befall them there.* This Valley of Humiliation is of itself as fruitful a place as any the crow flies over and I am persuaded, : WHY CHRISTIAN WAS SO BESET IN THE VALLEY OF HUMILIATION. if we could hit upon it, we might find somewhere hereabouts something that might give us an account why Christian was so hardly beset in this place. A PILLAR WITH AN INSCRIPTION ON IT. Then said James to his mother, Lo, yonder stands a pillar, and it looks as if something was written thereon; let us go and see what it is. So they went and found there written, "Let Christian's slips, before he came hither, and the battles that he met with in this place, be a warning to those that come after." Lo, said their guide, did not I tell you that there was something hereabouts that would give intimation of the reason why Christian was so hard beset in this place? Then, turning himself to Christiana, he said, No dis What a great blessing is it to have great-heart in the valley of humility! How sad is it for pilgrims to procure evils to themselves by their sin and folly! How joyful is it to know, that "like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him!" Psa. ciii. 13. Yet, if we slip, we shall be sure to smart. If we do not hold fast faith, hope, love, and obedience, Satan will attack, distress us in some sort, and prevail against us, and then we shall bring up an evil report of the safe and fruitful Valley of Humiliation. Are you in this valley! Do you see and feel nothing in yourself but what tends to lay you low, and keep you low? Beware of murmuring and complaining, though you continue long in it; yea, all your life through, for your Jesus is proving you and trying you, that he may show you what is in you, that you may see that you are wholly and solely indebted to his arm that brought salvation to you, and wrought every deliverance for you, that you may ever glory in him and of him, and give all glory to him, for his lovingkindness and tender mercy to such a miserable sinner as you are, and to such an unprofitable servant as you ever will be. paragement to Christian, more than to any others whose hap and lot it was. For it is easier going up than down this hill, and that can be said but of few hills in all these parts of the world. But we will leave the good man, he is at rest, he also had a brave victory over his enemy: let Him grant that dwelleth above, that we fare not worse, when we come to be tried, than he. THIS VALLEY A But we will come again to this Valley of Humiliation. It is the best and most fruitful piece of ground in all these parts. It is fat ground; and, as you see, consisteth much in meadows; and if a man was to come here in the summer time, as we do now, if he knew not any thing before thereof, and if he also delighted himself in the sight of his eyes, he might see that which would be delightful to him. Behold how green this valley is; also how beautiful with lilies. I have known many labouring men that have got good estates in this Valley of Humiliation; (for "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble;") for indeed it is a very fruitful soil, and doth bring forth by handfuls. Some also have wished that the next way to their Father's house were here, that they might be troubled no more with either hills or mountains to go over: but the way is the way, and there is an end.* MEN THRIVE IN Now as they were going along, and talking, they spied a boy feeding his father's sheep. The boy was in Though this Valley of Humiliation, or a clear sight and abiding sense of the sinfulness of our nature, and the wickedness of our hearts, may be very terrifying to pilgrims, after they have been favoured with peace and joy, and comforted by the views of faith and hope; yet it is a very safe place; and though at first entering into it, and seeing more of themselves than was ever before showed them, they may fear and tremble; yet, after some time continuing here, they are more recon Consenta muve femme hers whose Se is over ging up than down THI FUE DE luils in all these For we will have the good man, he £ 175 396 na iwer his enemy: velect save the we fre not 1 Die het n the summer time, as Di ay time beice theref, I ser masset in the sight of his eyes, File igitial to him. Frem tas miles as how beautiful mƐ SW Day houring men that ses in tus Valey of Hummation; for “Gawl asseth the proud, but giveth to the humble:") fine indeed it is i mnd dh bring freth by handiak Dr AN me shed that the next way to their Cars pas var has, that they might be troubled ** van either hils or montains to go over: but frys te and there is an end.* You as thet were going along, and talking, they a by tying his father's sheep. The b ater some time |