"But as God would have it, while Apollyon was fetching of his last blow. thereby to make a full end of this good man, Christian nimbly reached out his hand for his sword, and caught it, saying, "Rejoice not against me, O my enemy! when I fall I shall arise," and with that gave him a deadly thrust, which made him give back as one that had received his mortal wound."

wings, and he saw him no more. for his great deliverance, saying:

Christian, upon this, gave thanks

"Great Beelzebub, the captain of the fiend,
Designed my ruin; therefore to this end,
He sent him harness'd out; and he with rage
That hellish was, did fiercely me engage!
But blessed Michael helped me, and I,
By dint of sword, did quickly make him fly;
Therefore to him let me give lasting praise
And thanks, and bless his holy name always."

The fight between Christian and Apollyon denotes those severe trials and temptations which the children of God experience from Satan, the enemy of their souls. and it is thought, by some commentators, that Mr. Bunyan, the author of the Pilgrim's Progress, here describes conflicts through which

he passed, in the earlier part of his Christian course. Satan is indeed the accuser of the brethren; but by humbling ourselves and pleading the merits and grace of Christ, we can successfully meet all his accusations, and by using the Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit, we will come off conquerors.

Valley of the Shadow of Death. When Christian came to the end of the Valley of Humiliation, he found himself at the entrance of another, where he met a couple of men, who were returning from. it in a violent hurry, with marks of terror in their countenances. Upon his inquiring the reason, they informed him that the valley before him was called the Valley of the Shadow of Death, which was of pitchy darkness, where they beheld more fearful sights, and heard more doleful noises than they had ever met with before, and they thought themselves happy in escaping from such a place. Christian, however, observing that the high road led directly through the place, determined to go forward. As far as the valley reached there was on the right hand a very deep ditch, into which the blind have led the blind, in all ages, and where both have miserably perished. On the left there was a very dangerous quagmire, into which king Dɛvid once fell, and would have been smothered, had he not been pulled out. The pathway here is so exceeding narrow, that when one would avoid the dangers of one side, he would be apt to fall into the other; besides these dangers, the pathway was so covered with darkness that when he would go forward he hardly knew where to set his foot.

About the middle of the valley, he perceived the mouth of Hell, from whence issued volumes of fire and smoke, accompanied with hideous and doleful noises, so that he was forced to cry out in terror,

“O Lord, I beseech thee deliver my soul." In this forlorn manner he was obliged to travel several miles, and coming to a place, he heard a company of fiends approaching, and when it seemed they were within a few yards Christian cried out, in a most vehement voice, "I will walk in the strength of the Lord God," when these demons gave back and came no further. In this perilous passage, Christian at times was so disordered in his mind that he did not know his own voice. Just as he got against the mouth of the burning pit, one of the wicked ones came behind him, and stepping up softly and whispering, suggested many grievous blasphemies, which he verily thought proceeded from his own mind. While Christian was traveling in this disconsolate manner, he thought he heard the voice of a man going before him, saying, "Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me." This gave him some comfort. After awhile the day broke; he then had a more distinct view of the dangers he had escaped. He also saw what a mercy it was to have the light of the sun in passing through the second part of the valley, which, if possible, was more dangerous than the other, for it was thickly set with snares, traps, nets, and pitfalls, so that one could hardly escape without having the light to guide his footsteps.

The Valley of the Shadow of Death seems to represent a time of great discouragement and distress of mind, arising from various causes. The ditch on the right hand may represent error in principle, into which fall the blind (as to spiritual truths blind guides). The ditch on the left may mean outward

sins and wickedness, which many fall into. Many conscientious persons, at times, have suddenly suggested to their minds blasphemous thoughts, which they abhor, and are much troubled, for they hardly know from whence they come.

Christian passes the Giant's Cave and overtakes Faithful. Christian having passed safely through the valley, came to a kind of cave, where two Giants had dwelt for a long time, whose names were Pagan and Pope. Around their habitations were seen the mangled bodies and bones of men, some of whom were Pilgrims, who had gone this way. Of late years, these Giants, by age and other infirmities, had grown so enfeebled that Pilgrims passed by them with little or no apprehension. After Christian had gone by this once dangerous spot, he came to a gentle eminence, from which he discovered Faithful before him upon his journey. As soon as he came within call, he cried out to him to stop. Faithful, not know

ing who he was, kept on without stopping. Christian, somewhat nettled at this, exerted all his strength and ran by him. But while he was smiling in a rather vainglorious manner, because he had got the start of his brother, he stumbled and fell, and could not rise until Faithful came to his assistance. After this they went on lovingly together.

The bloody remains and the bones of Pilgrims at the Caves of the Giants, show the bloody persecutions and religious intolerance in times that have, in a great measure, gone by. Let us hope that they may never return. Let

us beware of vainglory in thinking we have got the start of our brother in the heavenly race. There is danger, a fall may be a hand to humble, and we may need the assistance of those whom we thought we had excelled.

Faithful relates his Experience. As Christian and Faithful traveled together, each related to the other what had happened during their pilgrimage. Faithful left the City of Destruction after Christian had commenced his journey to the Celestial City, and saw Pliable after he had left Christian in the Slough of Despond. Contrary to his expectation, he was derided and despised as a turn-coat, by all his acquaintance; for even the worst of men have a contempt for those who desert their party from motives of cowardice. "When I was near the Wicket Gate," said Faithful, "I was accosted by a very tempting female, whose name was Wanton. She had such a flattering tongue and fascinating look, that she almost persuaded me to go home with her, but recollecting what was said of her in an ancient writing, that 'Her steps take hold on hell,' I shut my eyes so that I should not be bewitched by her. Then she railed on me, and I went my way."

"When I arrived at the foot of the Hill Difficulty," continued Faithful, "I met with an aged man, who asked me who I was, and where I was bound. I told him I was a Pilgrim, going to the Celestial City. He then tried to make me go home with him. He said his name was Adam the first; he kept a house stored with dainties, and that he had three beautiful and attractive daughters, The Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eye, and the Pride of Life, any one of whom I might marry if I would. At first I was inclined to go with him; but as I looked upon his forehead, I saw it written, 'Put off the old man with his deeds.' I then told him I would not go near his house, and as I turned to go away, he gave me a deadly twitch back, which seemed to tear me asunder, and told me he would send one after me who would make my way bitter."

Faithful and Moses. Just as Faithful got up the Hill Difficulty, to the place where Christian lost his Roll, he espied some one coming after him. "Soon as the man overtook me," said Faithful, "it was but a word and a blow, for he knocked me down in an instant, and I lay as one dead. When I was a little recovered, I asked him why I was so badly used? He answered, it was because of my se cret inclining to Adam the First; and upon this, he gave me another blow on the breast, so that I lay helpless as before, and he would have doubtless made an end of me, had not a compassionate one passed by, and told him to forbear. This person, I afterward understood, was the Prince of Glory himself."

Apostates, as in the case of Pliable, The old Adam, the corrupt nature, often are despised as turn-coats by their proves a constant snare to many bewicked associates. Fleshly tusts plead lievers, by its thirsting after the pleashard for indulgence, and promise much. ures, riches, honors, and pride of the Many have fallen by temptation and world. Moses, or the Law of God, plunged themselves into lasting shame shows no mercy to transgressions, even and misery. Sometimes there is no in thought only, and were it not for safety but in shutting our eyes and the merciful interference of our Refleeing, like Joseph, from temptation. deemer, we should all perish.

"When I was in the

Faithful meets with Discontent and Shame. Valley of Humiliation," continued Faithful, "I met with one Dis content, who would have persuaded me to go back with him, as the valley was altogether without honor. He told me that to be in such a place would disoblige all my old friends, such as Pride, Arrogance, Self-Conceit, Worldly-Glory, and others. I told him that all these, which he had named, might indeed claim a kindred to me, but since I became a Pilgrim, we had disowned each other, and before true and lasting honor there must be humility. Soon after I met with Shame, whom I found it difficult to shake off. He objected against Religion itself He said it was pitiful, low, and mean for a man to mind Religion, to be associated with a set of gloomy and insipid creatures, who had no taste for the noble and refined pleasures of elevated society. He, moreover, objected to the base and low estate and condition of those that were chiefly the Pilgrims of the times in which they lived. Also, that it was undignified and unmanly to sit whining and mourning under a sermon, or to ask my neighbor's forgiveness for every little fault.

Some believers are tempted to repine at the outward reproach, or ridicule, which sometimes attends a consistent

course of practical Christianity. A believer may, perhaps, have flattered himself that by caution, uprightness, and