FOURTH LESSON
Ahead Lay the Valley of the Shadow of Death
Christian found two men refusing to go through the
Valley of the Shadow of Death.
CHRISTIAN. But what
have you met with? said Christian.
MEN. Why, we were
almost in the Valley of the Shadow of Death; but that, by good hap, we looked
before us, and saw the danger before we came to it. [Ps. 44:19; 107:10]
CHRISTIAN. But what
have you seen? said Christian.
MEN. Seen! Why, the
Valley itself, which is as dark as pitch; we also saw there the hobgoblins,
satyrs, and dragons of the pit; we heard also in that Valley a continual
howling and yelling, as of a people under unutterable misery, who there sat
bound in affliction and irons; and over that Valley hangs the discouraging
clouds of confusion. Death also doth always spread his wings over it. In a
word, it is every whit dreadful, being utterly without order. [Job 3:5; 10:22]
CHRISTIAN. Then, said
Christian, I perceive not yet, by what you have said, but that this is my way
to the desired haven. [Jer. 2:6]
MEN. Be it thy way; we
will not choose it for ours. So, they parted, and Christian went on his way,
but still with his sword drawn in his hand, for fear lest he should be
assaulted. P.
Christian found himself
assaulted by many blasphemies whispered in his ears, coming from demons from
the pit. This is a good picture of our entertainment industry and academic
theologians, who glory in their blasphemies, like the late ELCA bishop who
denied the articles of the Christian Faith and led his denomination away from
traditional marriage.
The Valley of the
Shadow of Death was overwhelming for Christian until he called upon the Lord for
help. When he discussed this experience with Faithful, his friend said his
journey through the Valley was peaceful and full of sunshine. They meet with
Talkative, who impresses Faithful with his recitation of doctrine, but
Christian warns him that Talkative is well known at home, living on Prating
Lane –
I
have been in his family, and have observed him both at home and abroad; and I
know what I say of him is the truth. His house is as empty of religion as the
white of an egg is of savor. There is there neither prayer nor sign of
repentance for sin; yea, the brute in his kind serves God far better than he.
He is the very stain, reproach, and shame of religion, to all that know him; it
can hardly have a good word in all that end of the town where he dwells,
through him. [Rom. 2:24,25] Thus say the common people that know him, A saint
abroad, and a devil at home. His poor family finds it so; he is such a churl,
such a railer at and so unreasonable with his servants, that they neither know
how to do for or speak to him. Men that have any dealings with him say it is
better to deal with a Turk than with him; for fairer dealing they shall have at
their hands. P. 88
Along the way, Faithful
and Christian met Evangelist, who rejoiced not in their difficulties but in
their victories. He warned them of Vanity Fair ahead.
EVANGELIST.
My sons, you have heard, in the words of the truth of the gospel, that you
must, through many tribulations, enter into the kingdom of heaven. And, again,
that in every city bonds and afflictions abide in you; and therefore you cannot
expect that you should go long on your pilgrimage without them, in some sort or
other. You have found something of the truth of these testimonies upon you
already, and more will immediately follow; for now, as you see, you are almost
out of this wilderness, and therefore you will soon come into a town that you
will by and by see before you; and in that town you will be hardly beset with
enemies, who will strain hard but they will kill you; and be you sure that one
or both of you must seal the testimony which you hold, with blood; but be you
faithful unto death, and the King will give you a crown of life. P. 96.
Vanity Fair – Founded by Beelzebub, Apollyon, Legion,
et al.
Almost
five thousand years agone, there were pilgrims walking to the Celestial City,
as these two honest persons are: and Beelzebub, Apollyon, and Legion, with
their companions, perceiving by the path that the pilgrims made, that their way
to the city lay through this town of Vanity, they contrived here to set up a
fair; a fair wherein, should be sold all sorts of vanity, and that it should last all the year long: therefore at
this fair are all such merchandise sold, as houses, lands, trades, places,
honors, preferments, titles, countries, kingdoms, lusts, pleasures, and
delights of all sorts, as whores, bawds, wives, husbands, children, masters,
servants, lives, blood, bodies, souls, silver, gold, pearls, precious stones,
and what not.
And,
moreover, at this fair there is at all times to be seen juggling cheats, games,
plays, fools, apes, knaves, and rogues, and that of every kind.
Here
are to be seen, too, and that for nothing, thefts, murders, adulteries, false
swearers, and that of a blood-red color. P. 98
The Prince of Princes
also traveled through this city and was shown all its allures.
The townsmen were
suspicious of Christian and Faithful, and examined them.
So
they beat them pitifully, and hanged irons upon them, and led them in chains up
and down the fair, for an example and a terror to others, lest any should speak
in their behalf, or join themselves unto them. But Christian and Faithful
behaved themselves yet more wisely, and received the ignominy and shame that
was cast upon them, with so much meekness and patience, that it won to their
side, though but few in comparison of the rest, several of the men in the fair.
This put the other party yet into greater rage, insomuch that they concluded
the death of these two men. Wherefore they threatened, that the cage nor irons
should serve their turn, but that they should die, for the abuse they had done,
and for deluding the men of the fair…
The
judge’s name was Lord Hate-good. Their indictment was one and the same in
substance, though somewhat varying in form, the contents whereof were this:—
“That they were enemies to and disturbers of their trade; that they had made
commotions and divisions in the town, and had won a party to their own most
dangerous opinions, in contempt of the law of their prince.” P. 99
The Three Witnesses, Envy, Superstition, and
Pickthank
PICKTHANK.
My Lord, and you gentlemen all, This fellow I have known of a long time, and
have heard him speak things that ought not to be spoke; for he hath railed on
our noble prince Beelzebub, and hath spoken contemptibly of his honorable
friends, whose names are the Lord Old Man, the Lord Carnal Delight, the Lord
Luxurious, the Lord Desire of Vain Glory, my old Lord Lechery, Sir Having
Greedy, with all the rest of our nobility; and he hath said, moreover, That if
all men were of his mind, if possible, there is not one of these noblemen
should have any longer a being in this town. Besides, he hath not been afraid
to rail on you, my Lord, who are now appointed to be his judge, calling you an
ungodly villain, with many other such like vilifying terms, with which he hath
bespattered most of the gentry of our town. When this Pickthank had told his
tale, the Judge directed his speech to the prisoner at the bar, saying, Thou
runagate, heretic, and traitor, hast thou heard what these honest gentlemen
have witnessed against thee?
Faithful was tortured
and burned at the stake. God allowed Christian to escape the prison.
Hopeful came out of
Vanity Fair, impressed by the speech and conduct of Christian and Faithful. He said
others would be coming along for the same reason.
By-ends came along.
CHRISTIAN.
This town of Fair-speech, said Christian, I have heard of; and, as I remember,
they say it is a wealthy place.
BY-ENDS.
Yes, I will assure you that it is; and I have very many rich kindred there.
CHRISTIAN. Pray, who are your kindred there? if a man may be so bold.
BY-ENDS.
Almost the whole town; and in particular, my Lord Turn-about, my Lord
Time-server, my Lord Fair-speech, (from whose ancestors that town first took
its name), also Mr. Smoothman, Mr. Facing-both-ways,
Mr. Any-thing; and the parson of our parish, Mr. Two-tongues, was my
mother’s own brother by father’s side; and to tell you the truth, I am become a
gentleman of good quality, yet my great-grandfather was but a waterman, looking
one way and rowing another, and I got most of my estate by the same occupation.
Demas tried to attract
Christian and Faithful to his silver mine at Hill Lucre, but they refused. Soon
they saw Lott’s wife, turned to salt.
Doubtful Castle and the Giant Despair
The Pilgrim’s Progress Map
Pages from the Lutheran Library Print Edition
City of Destruction – Christian leaves; Christiana and their children follow in Part 2
Slough of Despond - Pliable, Obstinate,
Worldly Wiseman, Evangelist
Wicket Gate – Good Will
Interpreter’s House - Interpreter (Holy
Spirit)
The Cross – Three Shining Ones
Difficulty Hill – Formalist, Hypocrisy
Palace Beautiful - Discretion,
Prudence, Piety, and Charity
Valley of Humiliation - Apollyon
Vanity Fair – Talkative, Lord
Hate-Good, Hopeful, By-Ends, Witnesses: Envy, Superstition, and Pickthank;
Demas, Lot’s Wife
Doubting Castle - Giant Despair
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| Apollyon - a founder of Vanity Fair |
