THE PILGRIM
THE CHRISTIAN'S JOURNEY
TO THE CELESTIAL CITY
CHAPTER 10
WEEK 3 – THURSDAY
Read and pray: "Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name." (Amos 5:8)
Christian in the Valley of the Shadow of Death (2)
My attention was then fixed on a fact I cannot help but relate. I noticed that poor Christian was so frightened that he did not recognize his own voice, and I noticed it from the circumstances I will now recount.
When Christian reached the edge of the burning abyss, one of the demons approached him unnoticed and whispered in his ear many and very terrible blasphemies, and poor Christian believed it was his own soul that uttered them. This distressed Christian more than anything that had yet happened: to think he was blaspheming the One he had once so deeply loved! However, he did not think to cover his ears or investigate where those blasphemies were coming from.
He had been in this sad state for some time when he thought he heard the voice of a man walking ahead of him, exclaiming: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me" (Psalm 23:4). These words brought him joy for several reasons.
1st – Because they proved that someone else who feared God was also in this valley.
2nd – Because he realized that God was with that person, despite the darkness and sadness surrounding them. And why shouldn’t He be with me too? thought Christian to himself, even if I do not perceive Him, given the place I am in (Job 9:11).
3rd – Because he hoped to enjoy the company of the one whose voice he had heard, if he managed to catch up. He gained courage and decided to continue his journey, calling out to the one ahead, but that one, believing himself also alone, never responded. Dawn was then beginning to break, and Christian exclaimed: "He turneth the shadow of death into the morning" (Amos 5:8). Then the day appeared, and Christian continued: "And maketh the day dark with night."
As it was now light, he looked back, not because he wished to go back, but to see, by the light of the sun, the dangers he had passed through during the night.
He then clearly saw the abyss on one side and the bog on the other, and realized how narrow the path was that passed between them. He also saw the phantoms, the werewolves, and the dragons of the abyss, but all from a great distance, as they did not dare approach the light of day. Still, Christian saw them, because, as it is written, "He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death" (Job 12:22). Christian was deeply moved to see himself free from the dangers of that lonely valley; for although he had greatly feared them, he now better understood their gravity by seeing them in the light of day.
Then the sun shone, which was no small favor for the traveler, for although the first part of the valley had been extremely dangerous, the second part he still had to cross promised to be even more so, since, from where Christian stood to the end of the valley, the path was filled with snares, nets, and obstacles, and contained many abysses, precipices, pits, and ravines, so that, had it still been night as it had been in the earlier stretch, a thousand souls Christian might have had, all would have been irretrievably lost. But fortunately, the sun was shining in full splendor. He then said to himself: "When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness" (Job 29:3).
With that light, Christian reached the end of the valley, where I saw, in my dream, blood, bones, ashes, and torn bodies of men: these were the remains of travelers who, in former times, had walked this path. I was wondering what could have caused such destruction when I saw, farther ahead, a cave where two giants had lived—Pope and Pagan—whose power and tyranny had caused those horrors. Christian passed that place without major danger, which greatly surprised me; but I later understood why: Pagan had died long ago, and the other, although still alive, because of his advanced age and the fierce attacks he had endured in his youth, was now so decrepit and in such dire straits that he could do nothing but sit at the mouth of his cave, threatening pilgrims as they passed and despairing at not being able to reach them. Meanwhile, Christian continued on his way. The sight of the old man, seated at the cave’s entrance, gave him much to think about, especially when the old man, unable to move, cried out: You shall have no salvation until many more like you are delivered to the flames.
But Christian said nothing in reply, and passed by without fear and without harm, exclaiming: O world of wonders! And truly it is so, seeing that I am unharmed despite the misery I have found in you. Blessed be the merciful hand to whom I owe my preservation. While I was in this valley, I was surrounded by the dangers of darkness, enemies, hell, and sin. My path was full of snares, abysses, obstacles of every kind; but thanks be to Jesus, who delivered me from them all. His is the crown of triumph.
Enjoy more:
Hymn “Comfort in Trials – For the Gains from Suffering”
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