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They escape from Doubting Castle.

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they trespassed on my grounds as you have done; and when I thought fit, I tore them in pieces: and so within ten days I will do you. Go, get you down to your den again! and with that he beat them all the way thither. They lay, therefore, all day on Saturday, in lamentable case, as before. Now, when night was come, and when Mrs. Diffidence and her husband the Giant were got to bed, they began to renew their discourse of their prisoners; and withal the old Giant wondered that he could neither by his blows nor counsel bring them to an end. And with that his wife replied, I fear, said she, that they live in hopes that some will come to relieve them; or that they have pick-locks about them, by the means of which they hope to escape. And sayest thou so, my dear, said the Giant; I will therefore search them in the morning.

Well, on Saturday, about midnight, they began to pray, and continued in prayer till almost break of day.1

Now, a little before it was day, good Christian, as one half amazed, brake out into this passionate speech: What a fool, quoth he, am I, to lie in a stinking dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty! I have a key in my bosom, called Promise,' that will, I am persuaded, open any lock in Doubting-castle. Then said Hopeful, That's good news: good brother, pluck it out of thy bosom, and try.

Then Christian pulled it out of his bosom, and began to try at the dungeon-door, whose bolt, as he turned the key, gave back, and the door flew open with ease, and Christian and Hopeful both came out. Then he went to the outward door, that leads into the Castle-yard, and with his key opened that door also. After that he went to the iron gate, for that must be opened too; but that lock went damnable hard, yet the key did open it. Then they thrust open the gate to

1 Perhaps the author selected 'Saturday at midnight' for the precise time when the prisoners began to pray, in order to intimate, that the return of the Lord's day, and that preparation which serious persons are reminded to make for its sacred services, are often the happy means of recovering those that have fallen into sin and despondency.

2 The promise of eternal life, to every one without exception who believeth in Christ, is especially intended by the Key; but without excluding any other of "the exceeding great and precious promises" of the gospel.

3 The believer, being enabled to recollect such promises as peculiarly suit his case, and, conscious of cordially desiring the promised blessings, has the Key in his bosom, which will open any lock in Doubting-castle.'

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