The conduct of Little-faith.

Hope. But did they take from him all that ever he had?

Chr. No: the place where his jewels were, they never ransacked: so those he kept still. But as I was told, the good man was much afflicted for his loss: for the thieves got most of his spending money. That which they got not (as I said) were jewels; also he had a little odd money left, but scarce enough to bring him to his journey's end, * nay, if I was not misinformed, he was forced to beg as he went, to keep himself alive, for his jewels he might not sell. But beg and do what he could, he went (as we say) with many a hungry belly, the most part of the rest of the way. (d)

Hope. But is it not a wonder they got not from him his certificate, by which he was to receive his admittance at the Celestial Gate?

Chr. It is a wonder; but they got not that; though they missed it not through any good cunning of his; for he, being dismayed with their coming upon him, had neither power nor skill to hide any thing; so it was more by good providence than by his endeavour, that they missed of that good thing. (e)

* 1 Pet. iv. 18.

(d) By his jewels, we may understand these radical graces of the Spirit, Faith, Hope, and Love. By his spending money, understand the sealing an earnest of the Spirit in his heart, 2 Cor. i. 22. Of this divine assurance, and the sense of peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, he was robbed; so that, though he still went on the ways of the Lord, yet he dragged on but heavily and uncomfortably, for though safe in Jesus, yet he was not happy in himself. O how much evil and distress are brought upon us by neglecting to watch and pray.

(e) What was this good thing? His precious faith, whose author, finisher, and object, is precious Jesus. And where he gives this precious gift of faith, though it be but little, even as a grain of mustard seed, not all the powers of earth and hell can rob the

The sorrows of Little-faith.

Hope. But it must needs be a comfort to him, that they got not his jewels from him.

Chr. It might have been great comfort to him, had he used it as he should; but they that told me the story, said, that he made but little use of it all the rest of the way: and that because of the dismay that he had in the taking away his money; indeed he for. got it in a great part of the rest of his journey; besides, when at any time it came into his mind, and he began to be comforted therewith, then would fresh thoughts of his loss come again upon him, and those thoughts would swallow up all.

Hope. Alas! poor man! This could not but be a great grief to him.

Would it

Chr. Grief! Ay, a grief indeed. not have been to many of us, had we been used as he, to be robbed and wounded too, and that in a strange place, as he was? It is a wonder he did not die with grief, poor heart. I was told that he scattered almost all the rest of the way with nothing but doleful and bitter complaints; telling also to all that overtook him, or that he overtook in the way, as he went, where he was robbed, and how ; who they were that did it, and what he lost; how he was wounded, and that he hardly escaped with his life. (f)

heart of it. Christ prayed for his disciple, that his faith should not fail, or be totally lost; therefore, though Peter lost his comforts for a season, yet not his faith totally, nor his soul eternally; for says Jesus of all his dear flock, yea, of those of little faith too, none shall pluck them out of my hand; there is one blessed security, not in ourselves, but it our Lord.

(f) Here is a discovery of true, though it be but little faith. It mourns its loss of God's presence, and comforts of his Spirit, and laments its folly for sleeping, when it should have been watching and praying. He that pines under the sense of the loss of Christ's love, has faith in his heart, and a measure of love to Christ in his soul; though he goes on his way weeping, yet he shall find joy in

Little-faith and Esau compared.

Hope. But it is a wonder that his necessity did not put him upon selling or pawning some of his jewels, that he might have wherewithal to relieve himself in his journey.

Chr. Thou talkest like one upon whose head is the shell to this very day; for what should he pawn them? or to whom should he sell them? In all that country where he was robbed, his jewels were not accounted of; nor did he want that relief which could from thence be administered to him. Besides, had his jewels been missing at the gate of that Celestial City, he had, (and that he knew well enough) been excluded from an inheritance there, and that would have been worse to him than the appearance and villainy of ten thousand thieves.

Hope. Why art thou so tart my brother? Esau sold his birthright, and that for a mess of pottage,* and that birthright was his greatest jewel: and if he why might not Little-faith do so to?

Chr. Esau did sell his birthright indeed, and so do many besides, and by so doing exclude themselves from the chief blessing, as also that caitiff did; but you must put a difference between Esau and Little-faith, and also betwixt their estates. Esau's birthright was typical, but Little-faith's jewels were not so. Esau's belly was his God, but Little-faith's belly was not so. Esau's want lay in his fleshly appetite; Little-faith's did not so: besides, Esau could see no farther than the fulfilling of his lusts: "For I am at the point to die (said he) and what good will this birthright do to me?"

But

* Heb. xii. 26.

the end. Hold on Little-faith.

O remember thou hast a strong Lord, the very same as Much-faith has, and the same precious faithful promises to hang upon, and the same glory to hope for.

Little-faith and Esau compared.

Little-faith, though it was his lot to have but a little faith, was by his little faith kept from such extravagances, (g) and made to see and prize his jewels more than to sell them as Esau did his birthright. You read not any where that Esau had faith; no not so much as a little; therefore, no marvel, if where the flesh only bears sway, (as it will in that man where no faith is to resist,) if he sells his birthright, and his soul and all, and that to the devil of hell; for it is with such as it is with the ass, "who in her occasions cannot be turned away." When their minds are set upon their lust, they will have them, whatever they cost; but Little-faith was of another temper, his mind was on things divine; his livelihood was upon things that were spiritual, and from above: therefore to what end should he, that is of such a temper sell his jewels, (had there been any that would have bought them,) to fill his mind with empty things? Will a man give a penny to fill his belly with hay? Or can you persuade the turtle dove to live upon carrion like the crow? Though faithless ones, for carnal lusts, pawn, or mortgage, or sell what they have, and themselves outright to boot; yet they that have faith, saving faith, though but a little of it, cannot do so. Here, therefors, my brother, is thy mistake.

Hope. I acknowledge it; but yet your severe reflection had almost made me angry.

Chr. What? I did but compare thee to some of the birds that are of the brisker sort, who will run to and fro in untrodden paths with the shell upon

(g) Faith is said to be obtained by lot, 2 Pet. I. i. O ye of little faith, wherefore do ye doubt? Remember, it is your unspeakable mercy, not to be let shut up in unbelief. What you have, is by lot of free grace, by free gift. Bless the giver, and glory in the righteousness of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Christian relates his experience.

their heads; but pass by that, and consider the matter under debate, and all shall be well betwixt thee and me.

Hope. But, Christian, these three fellows, I am persuaded in my heart, are but a company of cowards: would they have run else, think you, as they did, at the noise of one that was coming on the road? Why did not Little-faith pluck up a greater heart? He might, methinks, have stood one brush with them, and have yielded when there had been no remedy.

Chr. That they are cowards many have said, but few have found it so in the time of trial. As for a great heart, Little-faith had none; and I perceive by thee, my brother, hadst thou been the man concerned, thou art but for a brush, and then to yield. And verily, since this is the height of thy stomach, now they are at a distance from us, should they appear to thee, as they did to him, they might put thee to second thoughts, (h)

But, consider again, they are but journeymen thieves: they serve under the King of the bottomless pit; who, if need be, will come in to their aid himself, and his voice is as the roaring of a lion.* Imyself have been engaged as this Little-faith was, and I found it a terrible thing. These three villains set upon me, and I beginning like a christian to resist, they gave but a call, and in came their master; I would, (as the saying is) have given my life for a

* Psalm viii. 5.

(h) Ah! how easy is it to talk when enemies are out of sight. We too often wax valiant in our own esteem, when we have constant need to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, knowing what mere nothings we are in ourselves. It makes a Christian speak tartly, when one sees self-exaltings in another, Paul fre. quently speaks thus, from warm zeal for Christ's glory, and strong love to the truth, as it is in Jesus Christ.