The fate of Heedless.

Then said Mercy to Christiana, There is not such pleasant being here as at the Gate, or at the Interpreter's, or at the house where we lay last.

Oh! but, said one of the boys, it is not so bad tõ go through here as it is to abide here always; and, for aught I know, one reason why we must go this way to the house prepared for us, is that our home be made the sweeter to us.

Well said, Samuel, quoth the guide, thou hast now spoke like a man. Why, if ever I get out here again, said the boy, I think I shall prize light and good way, better than ever I did in all my life. Then said the guide, we shall be out by-and-by.

So on they went, and Joseph said, Cannot we see to the end of this valley as yet? Then said the guide, Look to your feet, for we shall presently be among snares: so they looked to their feet, and went on; but were troubled much with the shares. Now when they were come among the snares, they espied a man cast into the ditch on the left hand, with his flesh all rent and torn. Then said the guide, This is one Heedless, that was going this way: he has lain there a great while. (n) There was one Takeheed with him when he was taken and slain but he escaped their hands. You cannot imagine how many are killed hereabouts, and yet men are so foolishly venturous, as to set out lightly on pilgrimage, and to come without a guide.Poor Christian! it was a wonder that he here escaped but he was beloved of his God: "also he had a good heart of his own, or else he could never have done it. Now they drew towards

(n) Heedless professors, be warned. The doctrines of grace were never intended to lull any to sleep in carnal security. If they do so by you, it is a sure sign, that what should have been for your health, proves an occasion to your falling.

Great-heart encounters Giant Maul.

the end of the way and just where Christian had seen the cave when he went by, out thence came forth Maul, a giant. This Maul, did use to spoil young pilgrims with sophistry; and he called Great-heart by his name, and said unto him, How many times have you been forbidden to do these things? Then said Mr. Great-heart, what things? What things? quoth the giant, You know what things: but I will put an end to your trade: (0) But pray, said Mr. Great-heart, before we fall to it, let us understand wherefore we must fight. (Now the women and children stood trembling, and knew not what to do.) Quoth the giant, you rob the country, and rob it with the worst of thieves.These are but generals, said Mr. Great-heart; come to particulars, man. Then said the giant, Thou practisest the part of a kidnapper, thou gatherest up women and children, and carriest them into a strange country, to the weakening of my master's kingdom. But Great-heart replied, I am a servant to the God of heaven: my buisness is, to persuade sinners to repentance: I am commanded to do my endeavour to turn men, women and children, from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God; and if this indeed be the ground of the quarrel, let us fall to it as soon as thou wilt.

Then the giant came up, and Mr.Great-heart went to meet him and as he went, he drew his sword, but the giant had a club. So without more ado, they fell to it, and at the first blow, the giant struck Mr. Great-heart down upon one of his knees: with that the women and children cried: so Mr. Great

(0) How many such giants have we in the present day, who deceive and beguile precious souls into a false and fatal security, by their smooth lectures on morality, and their avowed opposition to the gospel of Christ, and the way to his kingdom.

The Giant slain.

heart recovering himself, laid about him in a full Justy manner, and gave the giant a wound in his arm: that he fought for the space of an hour, to the height of heat, that the breath came out of the giant's nostrils, as the heat doth out of a boiling cauldron. Then they sat down to rest them; but Mr. Great-heart betook himself to prayer; also the women aud children did nothing but sigh and. cry, all the time that the battle did last. When they had rested them, and taken breath, they both fell to it again, and Mr. Great-heart with a full blow fetched the giant down to the ground. Nay, hold, let me recover, quoth he: so Mr. Great-heart let him fairly get up. So to it they went again, and the giant missed but little of breaking Mr. Greatheart's skull with his club.

Mr. Great-heart seeing that, ran to him in the full heat of his spirit, and pierced him under the fifth rib; with that the giant began to faint, and could hold up no longer. Then Mr. Great-heart seconded his blow, and smit the head of the giant from his shoulders. Then the women and children rejoiced, and Mr Great-heart also praised God for the deliverance he had wrought. When this was doue they among themselves erected a pillar, and fastened the giant's head thereon, and wrote under it in letters, that passengers might read:

"He that did wear this head was one

"That pilgrims did misuse;

"He stoppl their way, he spared none,
"But did them all abuse:

"Until that I Great-heart arose,

The pilgrims guide to be;

"Until that I did him oppose,

"Who was their enemy,"

Now I saw that they went to the ascent, that was little way off, cast up to be a prospect for pil

They stop and refresh themselves.

grims, (that was the place from whence Christian had the first sight of Faithful his brother; wherefore here they sat down and rested; they also here did eat and drink, and make merry, for that they had gotten deliverance from this so dangerous au enemy. As they sat thus, and did eat, Christiana asked the guide, if he caught no hurt in the battle? No save a little on my flesh; yet that also shall be so far from being to my detriment, that it is at present a proof of my love to my master and you, and shall be a means, by grace, to increase my reward at last.

But was you not afraid, good sir, when you saw him come with his club? (p) It is my duty, said he, to mistrust my own ability, that I may have reliance on him that is stronger than all.

But what did you think, when he fetched you down to the ground at the first blow? Why I thought, quoth he, that so my master was served, and yet he it was that conquered at last.

Matt. When you have all thought what you please, I think God has been wonderful good unto us, both in bringing us out of this valley, and in delivering as out of the hand of this enemy? for my part, I see no reason why we should distrust our God any more, since he has now, and in such a place as this, given us such a testimony of his lovė.

Then they got up, and went forward. Now a little before them stood an oak; and under it, when they came to it, they found an old pilgrim fast

(p) This club we may suppose to mean human power, under which many godly ministers in the last century suffered greatly. Blessed be God, we have nothing of this to fear in our day.: therefore the more shame for such professors, who desert Christ, when they have nothing to fear but a breath of reproach, a nick name, or a by-word of contempt.

They meet Old Honesty.

asleep; they knew he was a pilgrim by his clothes, staff, and girdle. So the guide, Mr. Great-heart, awaked him; and the old gentleman, as he lift up his eyes, cried out, What's the matter? who are you? and what is your business here?

Great-heart. Come, man, be not so hot; here are none but friends: yet the old man gets up, and stands upon his guard, and will know of them what they were. Then said the guide, my name is Great, heart: I am the guide of these pilgrims, which are going to the Celestial Country.

Honest. Then said Mr. Honest, I cry you mercy; I feared that you had been of the company of those that some time ago did rob Little-faith of his money; but now I look better about me, I perceive you are honester people.

Great-heart. Why, what would or could you have done, or have helped yourself, if we indeed had been of that company?

Hon. Done, why I would have fought as long as breath had been in me ; and, had I so done, I am sure you could never have given me the worst on't; for a Christian can never be overcome, unless he should yield of himself.

Great-heart. Well, said, father Honest, quoth the guide; for by this I know thou art a cock of the right kind, for thou hast said the truth.

Hon. And by this also I know thou knowest what true pilgrimage is: for all others do think, that we are the soonest overcome of any.

Great-heart. Well, now we are happily met, pray let me crave your name, and the name of the place you came from?

Hon. My name I cannot: but I came from the town of Stupidity: it lieth about four degrees beyond the City of Destruction.