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the Way again. But this Turn-away refifted him, and having done much Despite unto him, he got away over the Wall, and fo efcaped his Hand.

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Then they went on, and juft at the Place where Little-Faith formerly was robbed, there ftood a Man with his Sword drawn, and his Face all bloody. Then faid Mr. Great-heart, What art thou? The Man made Anfwer, faying, I am One Valiant one whofe Name is Valiant-for-truth. I for truth befet am a Pilgrim, and am going to the Cowith Thieves. leftial City. Now, as I was in my Way, there were three Men that did befet me, and propounded unto me these three Things: 1. Whether I would become one sof them? 2. Or go back from whence I came 3. Or die upon the Place? To Prov. 1. 10, the first I answered, I had been a true Man a long Seafon, 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. So I told them the Place from whence I came, had I not found Incommodity there, I had not 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. And I told them, my Life coft more dear far than that I fhould 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. Then thefe three, to wit, Wild-head, Inconfiderate, and Pragmatick,

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drew upon me, and I alfo drew upon them..

So we fell to it, One againft Three, for the Space of three Hours. They have left upon me, as you fee, fome of the Marks of their Valour, and have alfo carried away with them fome of mine. They are but just now gone: I fuppofe they might, as the Saying is, hear your Horse dafh, and fo they betook themselves to Flight! Great-heart. But here was great Odds, Three against One.

Valiant. It is true; but Little or More are nothing to him that has the TRUTH on his Side: Though an Hoft fhould encamp against me, faid One, my Heart Shall not fear: Though War fhall rife 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 Sampfon flay with the Jaw-bone of an Afs?

Great-heart. Then faid the Guide, Why did you not cry out, that fome might have come in for your Succour.

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

Great-heart. Then faid Great-heart to Mr. Valiant-for-truth, Thou haft worthily behaved thyself, let me fee thy Sword; fo he fhewed it him.

When he had taken it in his Hand, and looked thereon a While, he said, Ha! It is a right Jerufalem Blade.

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Valiant. It is fo. Let a Man have one of these Blades, with a Hand to wield it, and Skill to ufe 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. It's Edge will never blunt. It will cut Flesh and Bones, and Soul and Spirit and all.

Great-beart. But you fought a great While, I wonder you was 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 run through my Fingers, then I fought with moft Courage.

-Great-heart. Thou haft done well, thou haft refifted unto Blood, ftriving against Sin; 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 together. Now as they went on, becaufe 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 them that were feeble and weak: Therefore he queftioned 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, faith the Guide, Doth not that lie on the fame Coast with the City of Destruction?

Valiant.

Valiant. Yes, it doth. Now that which caused me to come on Pilgrimage, was this; we had Mr. Tell-true came in our Parts, and he told it about what Chriftian had done, that went from the City of Deftrullion. Namely, how he had forfaken his Wife and Children, and had betaken himself to a Pilgrim's Life. It was alfo confidently reported, how he had killed a Serpent, that did come out to refift him in his Journey; and how he got through to whither he intended. It was alfo told, what Welcome he had to all his Lord's Lodgings, efpecially when he came to the Gates of the Coelestial City: For there, faid the Man, he was received with Sound of Trumpet, by a Company of Shining Ones. He told it alfo, How all the Bells in the City did ring for Joy at his Reception, and what golden Garments he was cloathed with; with many other Things that now I fhall forbear to relate. In a Word, That Man fo told the Story of Chriftian and his Travels, that my Heart fell into a burning Heat, to be gone 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 alfo told us, that all would be nothing, if we did not begin to enter this Way at the Gate.

Great-heart. Look you, faid the Guide to Cbriftiana, the Pilgrimage of your Huf band

band, 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 thefe are alfo 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 fhall fee them that would not go with him, to enter before him, in at the Gates into the Cœleftial 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, 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 fhall rejoice to fee themfelves in that Bliss; and if they think they fhall know and do thefe, why not know others, and rejoice in their Welfare alfo ?

Again, Since Relations are our fecond felf, though that State will be diffolved, yet why may it not be rationally concluded, that we shall be more glad to see them there, than to fee they are wanting?

Valiant. Well, I perceive whereabouts you are to this. Have you any more. Things to ask me about my beginning to come on Pilgrimage?

Great

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