Boy feeding father's sheep
Now as they were going along and talking, they espied a boy feeding his Father's sheep. The boy was in very mean clothes, but of a very fresh and well - favoured countenance, and as he sat by himself, he sung. Hark, said Mr Great-heart, to what the shepherd's boy saith. So they hearkened, and he said,
He that is down needs fear no fall,
He that is low no pride;
He that is humble, ever shall Have God to be his Guide.
I am content with what I have,
Little be it, or much:
And Lord, contentment still I crave,
Because thou savest such.
Fulness to such a burden is
That go on Pilgrimage;
Here little, and hereafter Bliss,
Is best from age to age.
Then said their guide, Do you hear him? I will dare to say, that this boy lives a merrier life, and wears more of that herb called heart's-ease in his bosom, than he that is clad in silk and velvet; but we will proceed in our discourse.
In this valley our Lord formerly had His country-house; He loved much to be here; He loved also to walk these meadows, for He found the air was pleasant. Besides here a man shall be free from the noise, and from the hurryings of this life. All states are full of noise and confusion, only the Valley of Humiliation is that empty and solitary place. Here a man shall not be so let and hindered in his contemplation, as in other places he is apt to be. This is a valley that nobody walks in, but those that love a Pilgrim's life. And tho' Christian had the hard hap to meet here with Apollyon, and to enter with him a brisk encounter, yet I must tell you, that in former times men have met with angels here, have found pearls here, and have in this place found the words of Life.
Did I say our Lord had here in former days His Country-house, and that He loved here to walk? I will add, in this place, and to the people that live and trace these grounds, He has left a yearly revenue to be faithfully payed them at certain seasons, for their maintenance by the way, and for their further encouragement to go on in their Pilgrimage.
Samuel: Now as they went on, Samuel said to Mr. Great-heart, Sir, I perceive that in this valley my father and Apollyon had their battle, but whereabout was the fight, for I perceive this valley is large?
Great-heart: Your father had that battle with Apollyon at a place yonder before us, in a narrow passage just beyond Forgetful Green. And indeed that place is the most dangerous place in all these parts. For if at any time the Pilgrims meet with any brunt, it is when they forget what favours they have received, and how unworthy they are of them. This is the place also where others have been hard put to it; but more of the place when we are come to it; for I persuade myself that to this day there remains either some sign of the battle, or some monument to testify that such a battle there was fought.
Mercy: Then said Mercy, I think I am as well in this valley as I have been anywhere else in all our journey, the place methinks suits with my spirit. I love to be in such places where there is no rattling with coaches, nor rumbling with wheels. Methinks here one may without much molestation, be thinking what he is, whence he came, what he has done, and to what the King has called him. Here one may think, and break at heart, and melt in one's spirit, until one's eyes become like the fishpools of Heshbon. They that go rightly through this Valley of Baca make it a well, the rain that God sends down from Heaven upon them that are here also filleth the pools. This valley is that from whence also the King will give to their vineyards, and they that go through it shall sing, as Christian did for all he met with Apollyon.
Great-heart: 'Tis true, said their Guide, I have gone through this valley many a time, and never was better than when here.
I have also been a conduct to several Pilgrims, and they have confessed the same,
"To this man will I look, saith the King, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and that trembles at My Word".
Interpretation:
The boy feeding his Father's sheep in very mean clothes, but of a very fresh and well - favoured countenance is typical of a model pastor taking care of his Father, the Lord's sheep. This boy lives a merrier life, and wears more of that herb called heart's-ease in his bosom, than he that is clad in silk and velvet. Today, the opposite happens. A pastor is clad in silk and velvet but he does not wear more of that herb called heart's-ease in his bosom. When pastors have no peace of mind themselves so as to impart comforts like a medicinal plant, how can we expect them to give peace to the weary pilgrims in their lodges? They do not llve merrier lives as they want to build buildings or to extend their earthly kingdoms. Many of them have multiple worries about their own families.
The shepherd boy said that he was content with what he had, Little be it, or much and that he would crave contentment from the Lord. This is an apt message for our pastors who tend the Lord's sheep.
John Bunyan describes the valley of humiliation as a country loved by our Lord who loved much to be here, to walk these meadows for He found the air was pleasant. We should love to be free from the noise, and from the hurryings of this life and to flee from those places which are full of noise and confusion in order to take refuge in the Valley of Humiliation. the empty and solitary place. In this place, we will not be hindered in our contemplation in a similar manner as our Lord was in the wilderness all alone. This is a valley that nobody walks in, but those that love a Pilgrim's life. Our Lord faced Apollyon in the valley of humiliation and defeated him on our behalf. In former times men of the Bible met with angels here and found pearls here, and had in this very place found the words of Life.
Saints like Christian of Pilgrim's Progress who had reached the Celestial City after fighting battles with Appolyon and passing through the valley of tears had made it possible for the other saints like his wife and children and ohers who have followed his path without any combat or without going through this Valley of Baca. We should not forget those saints, our forefathers or servants of God who had reached the Celestial City for their prayers of intercession on our behalf and for their burden for us when they were alive ministering to us. We should not be in the most dangerous place "Forgetful Green".
The guide Great-heart said that he had been in this valley many a time. Lillies grow in the valley. Though we meet Apollyon in this valley, he is already a defeated foe. The enemy cannot win in a land which belongs to our Lord who had defeated him on the Cross.
Today, messages in our churches and evangelical meetings do not speak about the glories in the valley of humiliation which pilgrims go through.