The convinced and afflicted sinner may, indeed, through ignorance and legality of mind, be inclined to try other remedies; but finding their insufficiency, will at length be glad to apply to Christ, His blood is the true Panacea, or universal medicine, adapted not only to the cure, but the prevention also, of every spiritual disease. Those who know its sovereign efficacy, in purging the conscience from tormenting fear, will, like Christiana, wish to have it always at hand, and resolve, as she did, never to take any other physic.

Among the improving objects, with which the pilgrims were entertained, was Eve's apple:-an explanation of the first sin and its awful consequences, caused Christiana to hold up her hands and wonder; for" a true sight of sin is amazing," even to a confirmed believer. It is necessary frequently to meditate on the evil of sin, that our aversion to it may be increased, and our love to Jesus inflamed.

In

Jacob's ladder was a sight as pleasing, as the former was affecting. This represented to them, not only the condescensions of Divine Providence, in behalf of the afflicted, and the ministry of angels in favour of the heirs of salvation, but afforded a figure of Christ himself, who is the blessed medium of communication between heaven and earth. the person of Immanuel, the human and divine natures are united; and by his mediation, a path is made for the approach of God to sinners, that he may dwell with them on earth; and for their access to him, that they may dwell with him in glory. On this pleasing object, the pilgrims fixed and feasted their admiring eyes.

The golden anchor of hope, was not only beheld, but received by them; this precious grace lays hold of that within the vail, and keeps the soul steady, even in the storms of temptation and affliction. No wonder that the pilgrims were thankful for their kind entertainment, or that they testified their esteem of the gospel and its glorious Author, by the present they made to the porter; for, says St. Paul, in be-. half of the ministers of the word, "If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?"

CHAP. VII.

The Pilgrims pursue their Journey, and pass through the Falleys of Humiliation, and of the Shadow of Death.

Now I saw in my dream, that they went for

ward until they were come to the brow of the hill where Piety bethinking herself, cried out, Alas! Í have forgot what I intended to bestow upon Christiana and her companions; I will go back and fetch it; so she ran and fetched it. When she was gone, Christiana thought she heard in a grove, a little way off, on the right hand, a most curious, melodious note, with words much like these:

Thro' all my life thy favour is
So frankly show'd to me,
That in thy house for evermore
My dwelling place shall be.

And listening still, she thought she heard another answer, saying,

For why? the Lord our God is good;
His mercy is for ever sure;

His truth at all times firmly stood,

And shall from age to age endure.

So Christiana asked Prudence, what it was that made those curious notes (a). They are, said she, our country birds: they sing these notes but seldom, except it be at the spring, when the flowers appear, and the sun shines warm, and then you may hear them all the day long. I often, said she, go to hear them; we also oft-times keep them tame in our

(a) Song. ii. 11, 12,

house. They are very fine company for us when we are melancholy; also they make the woods and groves, and solitary places desirous to be in.

By this time Piety was come again; so she said to Christiana, Look here, I have brought thee a scheme of all those things that thou hast seen at our house, upon which thou mayst look when thou findest thyself forgetful, and call all those things again to remembrance for thy edification and comfort.

Now they began to go down the hill into the Valley of Humiliation. It was a steep hill, and the way was slippery; but they were very careful, so they got down pretty well. When they were down in the valley, Piety said to Christiana, This is the place where your husband met with the foul fiend Apollyon, and where they had the great fight that they had: I know you cannot but have heard thereof. But be of good courage, as long as you have here Mr. Great-heart to be your guide and conductor, we hope you will fare the better. So when these two had committed the pilgrims unto the conduct of their guide, he went forward, and they went after.

Great-heart. Then said Mr. Great-heart, We need not be so afraid of this valley, for here is nothing to hurt us, unless we procure it ourselves. It is true, Christian did here meet with Apollyon, with whom he had also a sore combat; but that fray was the fruit of those slips that he got in his going down the hill: for they that get slips there, must look for combats here. (See Part I. page 64.) And hence it is, that this valley has got so hard a name. For the common people, when they hear that some frightful thing has befallen such a one in such a place, are of opinion that that place is haunted with some foul fiend or evil spirit; when, alas! it is for the fruit of their own doing, that such things do befal them there.

This Valley of Humiliation is of itself as fruitful

a place as any the crow flies over; and I am persuaded, if we could hit upon it, we might find some where hereabout something that might give us an account why Christian was so hardly beset in this place.

Then James said 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 burden that he met with in this place, be a warning to those that come after." Lo, said their guide, did I not 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 to Christiana, he said, No disparagement to Christian more than to many 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 no worse, when we come to be tried than he.

But we will come again to this Valley of Humiliation. It is the best and most useful piece of ground in all these parts. It is a 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 whch would be delightful to him. Behold how green this valley is, also how beautified with lilies (6). I have also known many labouring men, that have got good estates in this Valley of Humiliation: (for God resisteth the proud, but gives more 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

(b) Song . 1. James iv. 6. 1 Pet. v. 5.
O

house was 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.

Now as they were going along, and talking, they espied a boy feeding his father's sheep. The boy was in very mean clothes, but of a fresh and wellfavoured countenance; and as he sat by himself he Hark, said Mr. Great-heart, to what the shepherd's boy saith; so they hearkened, and he said,

sung.

He that is down, needs fear no fall;
He that is low, no pride (c):
He that is humble, ever shall
Have God to be his guide.

I am content with what I have,
Little be it or much:

And, Lord, contentment still I crave,
Because thou savest such.

Fullness to such a burden is (d),
That go on Pilgrimage:
Here little, and hereafter bliss,
Is best from age to age.

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

In this valley our Lord formerly had his countryhouse: he loved much to be here; he loved also to walk in these meadows, and he 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 let and hindered in his contemplations, as in other places he is apt to be. This (d) Heb. xiii, 5.

(c) Phil. iv. 12, 13.