they, let us go again into the Armoury.

So they

did; and when he 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 walked 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.*

CHR. Pray did you know him?

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

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 has got by this time below the hill.

Well, said Christian, good Porter, the Lord be with thee, and add to all thy blessings much increase, for the kindness that thou hast shewed to me.

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,

The ordinances of public or social worship are only the means of being religious, not the essence of religion itself. Having renewed our strength by waiting on the Lord, we must go forward by attending with greater diligence to the duties of our several stations; preparing to resist temptations, which often assault us after special seasons of divine consolation. Ministers, therefore, and experienced believers, should warn converts to expect trials and conflicts, and recommend to them such companions as may be a comfort and help in their pilgrimage.

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.

Then I saw in my dream, that these good companions, when Christian was gone down 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.*

The humiliation requisite for receiving Christ, obtaining peace, and making a good confession of faith, is general and indistinct, compared with that which may be acquired by subsequent study, observation, and experience, especially amidst trials and conflicts: and the Lord commonly dispenses comfort and humbling dispensations alternately, that the believer may neither be elated nor depressed above measure.'-The valley of Humiliation, therefore, is judiciously placed beyond the house Beautiful. Some explain it to signify a Christian's outward circumstances, when reduced to poverty, or subjected to great temporal losses by professing the gospel; and perhaps the author had this idea in his mind: yet these could only be viewed as means of producing inward humiliation.-In going down into the valley, the believer will greatly need the assistance of discretion, piety, charity, and prudence, and the recollection of the instructions and counsels of such Christians as are eminent for these endowments: for humiliating dispensations and experiences excite the latent evils of the heart, and often cause men to speak and act unadvisedly; so that, notwithstanding every precaution, the review will commonly discover many things which excite the remorse and sorrow of deep repentance.

12 Cor. xii. 1-5.

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 greater advantage, with ease to pierce him with his darts: 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.*

expose

* Under discouraging circumstances the believer may be tempted to murmur, despond, or seek relief from the world. Finding his too sanguine expectations not answered; that he grows worse rather than better in his opinion of himself; that his comforts are transitory; and that much reproach, contempt, and loss are incurrred by his profession of religion, discontent will often rise up in his heart, and weakness of faith will him to sharp conflicts.-Mr. Bunyan, having experienced, in an uncommon degree, the most dreadful temptations, was probably led by that circumstance to speak on this subject in language not very intelligible to those who have been exempted from such painful exercises. The nature of his work required that they should be described under outward emblems; but the inward suggestions of evil spirits are especially intended. These seem to have peculiar access to the imagination, and are able to paint before that illusive faculty the most alluring or terrifying representations, as if they were realities.-Apollyon signifies the destroyer: and, in carrying on the work of destruction, fallen angels endeavour, by various devices, to deter men from prayer, and to render them afraid of those things without which the life

1 Rev. ix. 11.

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.* APOL. Whence come you? and whither are you bound?

CHR. I am come from the city of Destruction,

of faith cannot be maintained; in order that, after convictions, they may be led to give up religion, as the only method of recovering their composure. Many, "having no root in themselves," thus gradually fall away; and others are greatly retarded: but the well-instructed believer sees no safety except in facing his enemy. If it appear dangerous to persevere, to desist is inevitable ruin;-for Christian had no armour for his back.' So that fear itself will in that case induce a man to stand his ground. And the more resolutely he resists temptation, the sooner will he regain his tranquillity: for, when the suggestions of Satan excite us to pray more fervently, and to be more diligent in every duty, that enemy will soon "flee from us." Perhaps some may remember a time when they were harassed to that degree as almost to despair of relief; who have since been so entirely delivered, that, were it not for the recollection of their own past experience, they would be ready to ascribe these distresses to disease or enthusiasm, notwithstanding all that the scripture contains on the subject.

* The description of Apollyon implies, that the combat afterwards recorded particularly represented the terrors, by which evil spirits attempt to drive professors out of their path. Other temptations, though often more dangerous, are not so distressing: "for Satan can transform himself into an angel of light;" and indeed he is a very Proteus, who can assume any form that best suits his purpose.

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.

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" therefore when I was come to years I did, as other considerate persons do, look out if perhaps I might mend myself.

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?

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?

1 Rom. vi. 23.