Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/70

66 no doubt, therein been smothered, had not He that is able plucked him out. (Ps. lxix. 14.)

The pathway was here also exceedingly narrow, and therefore good Christian was the more put to it; for when he sought in the dark to shun the ditch on the one hand, he was ready to tip over into the mire on the other; also when he sought to escape the mire, without great carefulness he would be ready to fall into the ditch. Thus he went on, and I heard him here sigh bitterly; for besides the danger mentioned above, the pathway was here so dark, that oft times, when he lifted up his foot to go forward, he knew not where or upon what he should set it next.

About the midst of this valley I perceived the mouth of hell to he, and it stood also hard by the wayside, Now, thought Christian, what shall I do? And ever and anon the flame and smoke would some out in such abundance, with sparks and hideous noises (things that cared not for Christian's sword, as did Apollyon before), that he was forced to put up his sword, and he take himself to another weapon, called all—prayer: so he cried in my hearing, "O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul." (Ps. cxvi. 4. Eph. vi. 18.)

Thus he went on a great while, yet still the flames would be reaching towards him: also he heard doleful voices, and rushings to and fro, so that sometimes he thought he should be torn in pieces, or trodden down like mire in the streets, This frightful sight was Seen, and these dreadful noises were heard by him, for several miles together; and coming to a place where he thought he heard a company of fiends coming forward to meet him, he stopped, and began to muse what he had best to do. Sometimes he had half a thought to go back; then again he thought he might be half-way through the Valley. He remembered also how he had already vanquished many a danger; and that the danger of going back might be, much more than to go forward: so he resolved to go on. Yet the fiends seemed to come nearer and nearer.