Valiant-for-truth's encounter continued.

also carried away with them some of mine. They are but just now gone: I suppose they might, as the saying, hear your horse dash, and so they betook themselves to flight.

Great-heart. But here was great odds, three against

one.

Valiant. 'Tis true; but little or more than nothing to him that has the TRUTH on his side: "Though an host should encamp against me," said one, my heart shall not fear: though war shall rise against me, in this I will be confident," &c. Besides, said he, I have read in some records, that one man has fought an army; and how many did Sampson slay with the jaw-bone of an ass? (m)

Great heart. Then said the guide, why did you not cry out, that some might have come in for your succour ?

Valiant, So I did to my King, who I knew could hear me, and afford invisible help, and that was enough for me. (n)

Great heart. Then said Great-heart to Mr. Valiantfor-truth, Thou hast worthily behaved thyself; let me see thy sword; so he shewed it him.

When he had taken it into his hand, and looked thereon awhile, he said, Ha! it is a right Jerusalem blade. (0)

Valiant. It is so. Let a man have one of these

(m) Truth will make a man valiant; and valour for truth will make a pilgrim fight with wild-headed, inconsiderate, and pragmatic opposers. The blood he loses in such a battle, is his honour, the scars he gets are his glory.

(n) Enough indeed. He who is engaged for God's truth, shall never want God's help. To fight for God, and pray to God, is the christian's glory.

(0) Great-heart is an excellent judge of swords. He well knows those which are forged in the fire of love, well tempered with truth, and will do great acution upon enemies to both.

They wash Valiant-for-truth's wounds.

blades, with a hand to wield it, and skill to use it, and he may venture upon an angel with it. He need not fear its holding, if he can but tell how to lay it on. Its edge will never blunt. It will cut flesh and bones, and soul, and spirit, and all.

Great-heart. But you fought a great while; I wonder you were not weary.

Valiant. I fought till my sword did cleave to my hand, and then they were joined together, as if a sword grew out of my arm: and when the blood ran through my fingers, then I fought with the most courage. (p)

Great-heart. Thou hast done well; thou hast resisted unto blood, striving against sin: thou shalt abide by us, come in, and go out with us, for we are thy companions.

Then they took him and washed his wounds, and gave him of what they had to refresh him; and so they went together. Now as they went on, because Mr. Great-heart was delighted in him (for he loved one greatly that he found to be a man of his hands,) and because there were in company those that were feeble and weak: therefore he questioned with him about many things; as, first, what countryman he was ?

Valiant. I am of Dark-land; for there I was born, and there my father and mother are still.

Great-heart. Dark-land! said the Guide; doth not that lie on the same coast with the city of Destruction?

Valiant. Yes, ir doth. Now that which caused me to come on pilgrimage was this: We had Mr.

(p) Blessed Fighting, when hand and heart are engaged, and the sword grows united to both! O ye trimmers and luke-warm professors, who will tamely give up, or meanly compound for peace, by the barter of truth: let this shame and confound you!

Valiant-for-truth relates his manner of setting out on Pilgrimage.

Tell-true came in our parts, and he told it about what Christian had done, that went from the City of Destruction; namely: how he had forsaken his wife and children, and had betaken himself to a pilgrim's life.

It was also confidently reported, how he had killed a serpent, that did come out to resist him in his journey; and how he had got through to whither he intended. It was also told, what welcome he had to all his Lord's lodgings, especially when he came to the gates of the Celestial City; for there, said the man, he was received with sound of trumpet, by a company of singing ones. He told it also how all the bells in the city did ring for joy at his reception, and what golden garments he was clothed with; with many other things, that now I shall forbear to relate. In a word, that man so told the story of Christian and his travels, that my heart fell into a burning heat to be gone after him; nor could father or mother stay me! So I got from them, and am come thus far on my way.

Great-heart. You came in at the gate, did you not? Valiant. Yes, yes, for the same man also told us, that all would be nothing, if we did not begin to enter this way at the Gate. (q)

Great-heart. Look you, said the Guide to Christiana, the pilgrimage of your husband, and what he has gotten thereby, is spread abroad far and near.

(q) The reason why so many professors set out, and go on for a season, but fall away and come to nothing at last, is because they do not enter into the pilgrim's path by Christ, who is the gate. They do not see themselves quite lost, ruined, hopeless and wretched; their hearts are not broken for sin; therefore they do not begin by perceiving Christ as the only Saviour of such miserable sinners. But they set out in nature's strength; and not receiving and living upon Christ, they soon fall away. This is the reason of this inquiry. Did you come in at the Gate? A question we ought to put to ourselves, and be satisfied about.

Valiant-for-truth examined,

Valiant. Why, is this Christian's wife? Great-heart. Yes, that it is; and these are also his four sons.

Valiant. What! and going on pilgrimage too? Great heart. Yes, verily, they are following after. Valiant. It glads me at heart! good man. How joyful will he be, when he shall see them, that would not go with him, to enter after him in at the gates of the Celestial City.

Great-heart. Without doubt it will be a comfort to him; for, next to the joy of seeing himself there, it will be a joy to meet there, his wife and children.

Valiant. But now you are upon that, pray let me hear your opinion about it. Some make a question whether we shall know one another when we are there?

Great-heart. Do they think they shall know themselves then, or that they shall rejoice to see themselves in that bliss; and if they think they shall know and do these, why not know others, and rejoice in their welfare also?

Again: Since relations are our second self, though that state will be dissolved; yet why may it not be rationally concluded, that we shall be more glad to see them there, than to see them wanting?

Valiant. Well, I perceive whereabouts you are as to this. Have you any more things to ask me about my beginning to come on pilgrimage. (r)

Great-heart. Yes: Were your father and mother willing you should become a pilgrim?

Valiant. Oh, no: They used all means imaginable to persuade me to stay at home.

Great-heart. What could they say against it?

(r) A sound Christian is not afraid to he examined, and sifted to the bottom. For he can give a reason of the hope that is in hìm. He knows why and wherefore he commenced a pilgrim.

Carnal objections to going on pilgrimage.

Valiant. They said, it was an idle life; and if I myself were not inclined to sloth and laziness, I would never countenance a pilgrim's condition. Great-heart. And what did they say else?

Valiant. Why, they told me that it was a dangerous way; yea the most dangerous way in the world, said they, is that which the pilgrims go. Great-heart. Did they shew wherein the way was dangerous?

you

Valiant. Yes, and that in many particulars.
Great-heart. Name some of them.

Valiant. They told me of the Slough of Despond where Christian was well nigh smothered. They told me that there were archers standing ready in Belzebub's castle, to shoot them who should knock at the wicket-gate for entrance. They told me, also, of the wood, and dark monuments of the hill Difficulty, of the lions, and also of the three giants, Bloody-man, Maul, and Slay-good: they said moreover, that there was a foul fiend haunted the valley of Humiliation; and that Christian was by him almost bereft of life. Besides, said they, you must go over the Valley of the Shadow of Death, where the hobgoblins are, where the light is darkness, where the way is full of snares, pits, traps, and gins. They told me of Giant Despair, of Doubting Castle, and of the ruin that the pilgrims met with there. Further, they said, I must go over the Enchanted Ground, which was dangerous. And that after all this, I should find a river, over which, I should find no bridge; and that river did lie betwixt me and the Celestial Country.

Great-heart. And was this all?

Valiant. No: they also told me, that this way was full of deceivers; and of persons that lay in wait there, to turn good men out of their path.