Then they went on, and juft at the place where Little-faith formerly was robbed there stood a man with his fword drawn, and his face all bloody. Then faid Mr. Great-heart, What art thou? The man made anfwer, faying, I am one whofe name is Valiant-for-truth. I am a pilgrim, and am going to the celeftial city. Now, as I was in my way, there were three men who did befet me, and propounded unto me these three things: 1. Whether I would become one of them? 2. Or go back from whence I came ? 3. Or die upon the place? To the first I anfwered, I had been a true man a long season, and therefore it could not be expected that I now fhould caft in my lot with thieves. Then they demanded what I would fay to the fecond: fo I told them, If I had not found incommodity in the place from whence I came, I fhould not have forfaken it at all; but finding it altogether unfuitable to me, and very unprofitable for me, I forfook it for this way. Then they asked me what I faid to the third, I told them, my life coft more dear far than that should lightly give it away. Befides, you have nothing to do thus to put things to my choice; wherefore at your peril be it, if you meddle. these three, to wit, Wild-head, Inconfiderate, and Pragmatic 9, drew upon me, and I alfo drew upon them,

Then

This is intended to fhew the dangers and temptations to which we are particularly expofed when moft warm and zealous in the caufe of God and truth. Whatever change grace

them. So we fell to it, one against three, for the space of three hours. They have left upon me, as you fee, fome marks of their valour, and they have alfo carried away with them fome marks of mine. They are but just now gone: I fuppofe they might, as the faying is, hear your horse dash, and then they betook themselves to flight.

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

one.

Valiant. It is true; but few or many are nothing to him who has the truth on his fide. "Though an "hoft should encamp against me," faid one, my "heart fhall not fear: though war fhall rise against "me, in this will I be confident," &c. Befides, faid he, I have read in fome records, that one man has fought an army: and how many did Samson slay with the jaw-bone of an ass?

Then faid the guide, Why did you not cry out, that fome might have come to your fuccour?

Valiant. So I did; to my King, who I knew could hear me, and afford invifible help: that was enough for me,

Then faid Great-heart to Mr. Vallant-for-truth,

may make in our profpects and pursuits, our ends and aims our affections and defires, our conduct and converfation, yet the natural temper and difpofition will at times difcover itfelf; and nothing is more common than for those who have been more particularly diftinguished for their oppofition to the gofpel, afterwards to become most bold and valiant for the truths of God. Inftance, Paul.

Thou

Thou haft worthily behaved thyself; let me fee thy fword: fo he fhewed it him.

When he had taken it in his hand, and looked upon it a while, he faid, Ha! It is a right Jerufalem blade.

Valiant. It is fo. Let a man have one of these 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 on. Its edge will never blunt: it will cut flesh and bones, and foul and spirit and all.

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

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

Great-beart. Thou haft done well, thou haft refifted unto blood, ftriving against fin: thou fhalt 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 fo they went on together. Now as they went on, because Mr. Great-heart was delighted in him (for he greatly loved one whom he found to be a man of his hands), and because there were in company those who were feeble and weak: therefore he queftioned with him about many things; as first, what countryman he was?

Valiant.

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

Dark-land, faith the guide, doth not that lie on the fame coalt with the city of Destruction?

Valiant. Yes, it doth. That which caused me to come on pilgrimage, was this: we had one Mr. Tell-true who came into our parts, and told it about what Chriftian had done, who 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 alfo confidently reported, that he had killed a ferpent, who came out to refift him in his journey; and that he got safe through all to the place where he intended: it was also told, what welcome he had to all his Lord's lodgings, efpecially when he came to the gates of the celeftial city; for there, faid the man, he was received with found of trumpet, by a company of fhining 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 which now I fhall forbear to relate. In a word, that man fo told the ftory of Christian and his travels, that my heart felt a burning heat to go after him; nor could father or mother ftay 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 fame man also told us,

that

that all would be nothing, if we did not begin to enter this way, at the gate.

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

Valiant. Why, is this Chriftian's wife?

Great-heart, Yes, that it is; and these are also his four fons.

Valiant. What! and going on pilgrimage too? Great-beart. Yes, verily, they are following

after.

Valiant. I am glad at heart. Good man! How joyful will he be, when he fhall fee them who would not go with him before, now to enter in at the gates into the celeftial city?

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

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

Great-beart. Do they think that they shall know themselves then, or that they fhall rejoice to fee themselves in blifs? if they think they fhall know and do this, why not know others, and rejoice in their welfare also ?

Again, fince relations are our second self, though that state will be diffolved, yet why may it not be

rationally