Christian. Beware what thou dost. I am in the King’s highway, the way of holiness.
Then did Apollyon stride quite over the way, and said, “I am void of fear in this matter. Prepare thyself to die. For no farther shalt thou go. Here will I spill thy soul.”
With that he threw a flaming dart at his breast: but Christian caught it with his shield, and drew his sword while Apollyon continued throwing darts as thick as hail. This made Christian give a little back; but he soon took courage again: yet the combat lasted for above half a day, he at length began to grow faint and weary.
Apollyon seeing this, came up close to Christian, and wrestling with him, gave him a dreadful fall; and withal Christian’s sword flew out of his hand. Then said Apollyon, “I am sure of thee now.” But as he was fetching his last blow, Christian nimbly stretched out his hand for his sword, and caught it, saying, Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy; when I fall, I shall arise; and with that he gave him a dreadful thrust, which made him draw back. Christian perceiving this, made at him again, saying, Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loveth us. But Apollyon, spread forth his dragon’s wings, and fled away, that Christian saw him no more.
Then there came to him a hand with some of the leaves of the tree of life, which he applied to his wounds, and they were immediately healed. After this he addressed himself to his journey, but with his sword drawn in his hand. Now at the end of this valley was another called, The valley of the Shadow of Death. The prophet Jeremiah describes it thus, A wilderness, a land of deserts and of pits, a land of drought, a land that no man (but a Christian[¹]) passeth through, and where no man dwelt.
[¹] N. B. I cannot learn, either from scripture or experience, that every Christian passes through this.
On the right-hand of this valley was a deep ditch, that is it into which the blind have led the blind, in all ages, and have both there miserably perished together. On the left, there was a dangerous quagmire, into which whoever falls, (as David did once) finds no bottom for his foot to stand on.
The path also was exceeding narrow. So that when Christian sought to shun the ditch, he was ready to drop into the mire; and when he sought to shun the mire, to fall into the ditch. Likewise the night was so dark, that often when he lift up his foot, he knew not where he should set it next.
About the midst of the valley was the mouth of hell; and it stood hard by the way side. Now, thought Christian, What shall I do? For ever and anon the smoak and flame would come out, with such abundance of sparks and hideous noises, that he found no weapon availed but prayer. So he cried aloud, with all his might, O Lord I beseech thee deliver my soul. He walked on a great while in the midst of the flames. Also he heard doleful voices, and rushing to and fro; so that sometimes he thought he should be trodden down like mire in the streets. Thus he went on for several miles, till he heard a company of fiends coming forward to meet him. At this he knew not what to do; but at length resolved to go on. They seemed to come nearer and nearer; but when they were just come up, he cried out, with a most vehement voice, I will walk in the strength of the Lord God. So they gave back, and came no further.
I took notice, that Christian was now so amazed, he did not know his own voice: for just as he was over-against the mouth of the pit, one of the wicked ones stepped up softly, and whispered many grievous blasphemies to him, which he verily thought had proceeded from his own mind.