flept: Now there happened at that Time to come down the Lane from Broad-wayGate, three sturdy Rogues, and their Names were Faint-heart, Miftruft, and Guilt (three Brothers) and they elpying Little Faith, where he was, came galloping up with Speed. Now the good Man was juft awakened from his Sleep, and was getting up to go on his Journey. So they came up all to him, and with threatening Language bid him ftand. At this Little- Little Faith Faith looked as white as a Clout, and had robbed by Faint-heart, neither Power to fight nor fly. Then faid Miftruft, and Faint-heart, Deliver thy Purfe; but he Guilt. making no Hafte to do it (for he was loth to lose his Money) Mistrust ran up to him, and thrusting his Hand into his Pocket, pulled out thence a Bag of Silver. he cried out, Thieves, Thieves. that Guilt, with a great Club that in his Hand, struck Little-Faith on Head, and with that Blow felled him flat to the Ground; where he lay bleeding as one that would bleed to Death. All this while the Thieves ftood by. But at laft, they hearing that fome were upon the Road, and tearing left it should be one Great-Grace, that dwells in the City of Good Confidence, they betook themselves to their Heels, and left this good Man to fhift for himself. Now after a while LittleFaith came to himself, and getting up, made a Shift to scrabble on his Way. This was the Story.

Then

With They get away was bis Silver. the and knock him

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

down.

Little-Faith

Chr. No: The Place where his Jewels

left not bis be were, they never ranfacked; fo thofe he Things. kept ftill. But, as I was told, the good Man was much afflicted for his Lofs; for the Thieves got moft of his Spending1 Pet. 4. 18. Money. That which they got not (as I faid) were Jewels; alfo he had a little Odd Money left, but fcarce enough to bring him to his Journey's End; nay, (if I was not mif-informed) he was forced to beg as he went, to keep himself alive (for his Jewels he might not fell.). But beg and do what he could, he went (as we say). with many a hungry Belly, the most Part of the Reft of the Way.

Little-Faith forced to beg to his four ney's End.

He kept not

by his orun

Cunning.

Hape. But is it not a Wonder they got not from him his Certificate, by which he was to receive his Admittance at the Coleftial Gate?

Chr. It is a Wonder; but they got not his best Things that; though they miffed it not through any good Cunning of his; for he being difinayed with their coming upon him, had 2 Tim. 1. 14 neither Power nor Skill to hide any thing, fo it was more by good Providence than by his Endeavour, that they miffed of that good Thing.

2 Pet. 1. 9.

རྞ་ན་རྗ

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 ufed it as he should: But. they that told me the Story, faid, That he made but little Ufe 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 forgot it a great Part of the

Reft

Reft of his Journey; and befides, when at any Time he came into his Mind, and he began to be comforted therewith, then would fresh Thoughts of his Lofs come again upon him, and thofe Thoughts would fwallow up all.

Hope. Alas, poor Man! This could not He is pitied by but be a great Grief to him!

Chr. Grief! Ay a Grief indeed. Would it not have been fo to any of us, had we been used as he, to be robbed and wounded too, and that in a ftrange Place, as he was? It is a Wonder he did not die with Grief, poor Heart: I was told that he fcattered almost all the Reft of the Way with nothing but doleful and bitter Complaints: Telling alfo 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 loft; how he was wounded, and that he hardly efcaped with his Life.

Hope. But it is a Wonder that his Neceffity did not put him upon felling or pawning fome of his Jewels, that he might have wherewithal to relieve himself in his ·Journey?

both:

Chr. Thou talkeft like one upon whofe Chriftian Head is the Shell to this very Day: For Snubs bis Fel what fhould he pawn them? or to whom low for unad vijed speak fhould he fell them? In all that Country ing. where he was robbed, his Jewels were not accounted of; nor did he want that Relief which could from thence be adminihered to him. Befides, had his Jewels been miffing at the Gate of the Caleftial City, he had (and that he knew well enough) been excluded

M 2

excluded from an Inheritance there, and that would have been worfe to him than the Appearance and Villainy of ten Thoufand Thieves..

Hope. Why art thou fo tart, my BroHeb. 12. 26. ther? Efau fold his Birth-right, and that for a Mefs of Pottage, and that Birth-right was his greatest Jewel; and if he, why might not Little-Faith do fo too?

Difcourfe a

Efau was tu-
led by his
Lufts.
Gen. 25.

32.

Chr. Efau did fell his Birth-right indeed, bout Efau and and fo do many befides, and by fo doing Little-Faith. exclude themselves from the chief Blessing, as also that Caitiff did; but you must put a Difference betwixt Efau and Little-Faith, and also betwixt their Eftates. Efau's Birthright was Typical, but Little-Faith's Jewels were not fo.. Efau's Belly was his God, but Little-Faith's Belly was not fo. Efau's Want lay in his flefhly Appetite, LittleFaith's did not fo: Befides Efau could fee no farther than to the fulfilling of his Lufts: For I am at the Point to die, faid he, and what Good will this Birth-right do me? But Little-Faith, though it was his Lot to have but a little Faith, was by his Little Faith kept from fuch Extravagancies, and made to fee and prize his Jewels more, than to fell them as Efau did his Birthright. You read not any where that Efau had Faith, no not fo 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 refift) if he fells his Birth-right, and his Soul and all, and that to the Devil of Hell, For it is with such as it is with the Afs, who in her Occafions cannot be turned away. When their Minds

Efau never bad Faith.

Jer. 2. 24.

.

are

are fet upon their Lufts, they will have them, whatever they coft; but Littie-Faith Little-Faith was of another Temper, his Mind was on could not live Things divine; his Livelihood was upon Pottage. upon Efau's Things that were Spiritual and from Above; therefore, to what End should he that is of fuch a Temper fell 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 perfuade the Turtle-Dove to live upon Car- Comparison rion like the Crow? Though Faithless between the ones can for carnal Lufts, pawn, or mortgage, or fell what they have, and them felves outright to boot; yet they that have Faith, faving Faith, though but a little of it, cannot do fo. Here therefore, my Brother, is thy Mistake.

Hope. I acknowledge it; but yet your fevere Reflexion had almoft made me angry.

Chr. What, I did but compare thee to fome of the Birds that are of the brisker Sort, who will run to and fro in untrodden Paths with the Shell upon their Heads: But pass by that, and confider the Matter under Debate, and all shall be well betwixt thee and me.

Turtle-Dove

and the Crow.

Hope. But, Christian, these three Fellows, I am perfuaded in my Heart, are but a Company of Cowards: Would they have run elfe, think you, as they did, at the Noife of one. that was coming on the Road? Why did not Little-Faith pluck up Hopeful a greater Heart? He might, methinks, Swaggers, have stood one Brufh with them, and