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Pilgrim’s Progress text to follow along with

65
COMBAT WITH
APPOLYON
APOLLYON. Then Apollyon broke out into a grievous rage,
saying, I am an enemy to this Prince; I hate His person, His
laws, and people; I am come out on purpose to withstand
thee.
CHRISTIAN. Apollyon, beware what you do; for I am in
the king’s highway, the way of holiness; therefore take heed
to yourself.
APOLLYON. Then Apollyon straddled quite over the
whole breadth of the way, and said, I am void of fear in this
matter: prepare thyself to die; for I swear by my infernal
den, that thou shalt go no further; here will I spill thy soul.
And with that he threw a flaming dart at his breast; but
Christian had a shield in his hand, with which he caught it,
and so prevented the danger of that.
Then did Christian draw; for he saw it was time to bestir
him: and Apollyon as fast made at him, throwing darts as
thick as hail; by the which, notwithstanding all that Chris-
tian could do to avoid it, Apollyon wounded him in his
head, his hand, and foot. This made Christian give a little
back; Apollyon, therefore, followed his work amain, and
Christian again took courage, and resisted as manfully as he
could. This sore combat lasted for above half a day, even till
Christian was almost quite spent; for you must know, that 66
The Pilgrim’s Progress
Christian, by reason of his wounds, must needs grow weaker
and weaker.
Then Apollyon, espying his opportunity, began to gath-
er up close to Christian, and wrestling with him, gave him a
dreadful fall; and with that, Christian’s sword flew out of his
hand. Then said Apollyon, I am sure of thee now. And with
that he had almost pressed him to death; so that Christian
began to despair of life: 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 stretched out
his hand for his sword, and caught it, saying, “Rejoice not
against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise”89; and
with that gave him a deadly thrust, which made him give
back, as one that had received his mortal wound. Christian
perceiving that, made at him again, saying, “Nay, in all these
things we are more than conquerors, through Him that
loved us”90 And with that Apollyon spread forth his dragon’s
wings, and sped him away, that Christian for a season saw
him no more.91
In this combat no man can imagine, unless he had seen
and heard as I did, what yelling and hideous roaring Apol-
lyon made all the time of the fight—he spake like a dragon;
and, on the other side, what sighs and groans burst from
Christian’s heart. I never saw him all the while give so much
as one pleasant look, till he perceived he had wounded Apol-
lyon with his two-edged sword; then, indeed, he did smile,
and look upward; but it was the most dreadful sight that
ever I saw.
So when the battle was over, Christian said, “I will here
give thanks to Him that delivered me out of the mouth of
89 Micah. 7:8
90 Rom. 8:37
91 James 4:767
Combat with Appolyon
the lion, to Him that did help me against Apollyon.” And
so he did, saying—
Great Beelzebub, the captain of this fiend,
Design’d 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 thank and bless his holy name always.