A Lion. A Pit and faw as fhe thought, fomething almost like a Lion, and it came a great padding Pace after; and it had a hollow Voice of roaring; and at every Roar that it gave, it made the Valley eccho, and all their Hearts to ach, fave the Heart of him that was their Guide. So it came up, and Mr. Great-heart went behind, and put the Pilgrims all before him. The Lion alfo came on apace, and Mr. Great-heart addreffed himself to give him Battle, 1 Pet. 5. 8. But when he faw that it was determined, that Resistance should be made, he alfo drew back, and came no farther. Then they went on again, and their Conductor did go before them, till they came to a Place where was caft up a Pit, the whole Breadth of the Way, and before they could be prepared to go over that a great Mift and Darkness fell upon them, fo that they could not fee. Then faid the Pilgrims, Alas! Now what shall we do; But their Guide made Answer, Fear not, ftand ftill, and see what an End will be put to this alfo; fo they ftaid there, because their Path was marr'd. They then also thought that they heard more apparently the Noife and Rushing of the Enemies; the Fire alfo, and Smoke of the Pit, was much easier to be difcerned. Then faid Chriftiana to Mercy, Now I fee what my poor Husband went through; I have heard much of this Place, but I never was here afore now; poor Man, he went here all alone in the Night; he had Night almost quite through the Way: Alfo thefe Fiends were bufy about him, as if they would what her luf have torn him in Pieces. Many have spoke Chriftiana of it, but none can tell what the Valley of now knows The Shadow of Death fhould mean until band felt. they came in themfelves. The Heart knows it's own Bitterness, a Stranger intermeddletb not with it's Joy. To be here, is a fearful Thing. Great-Heart. This is like doing Business Great-heart's in great Waters, or like going down into Reply. the Deep; this is like being in the Heart of the Sea, and like going down to the Bottoms of the Mountains: Now it feems as if the Earth, with it's Bars, were about us for ever. But let them that walk in Darkness, and have no Light, trust in the Name of the Lord, and stay upon their God. For my Part, as I have told you already, I have gone often through this Valley, and have been much harder put to it than now I am; and yet you fee I am alive. I would not boast, for that I am not my own Saviour. But I trust we fhall have a good Deliverance. Come, pray for Light to him that can lighten our Darkness, and that can rebuke, not only thefe, but all the Satans in Hell. So they cried and prayed, and God fent They prayLight and Deliverance, for there was now no Let in their Way; no not there, where but now they were ftopt with a Pit. Yet they were not got through the Valley; fo they went on ftill, and behold great Stinks and loathfome Smells, to the great Annoyance of them. Then faid Mercy to Chriftiana, There is not fuch pleafant Being here as at the Gate, or at Y 2 the the Interpreter's, or at the Houfe where we lay laft. O but, faid one of the Boys, it is not fo bad to go through here, as it is to abide here always; and for ought I know, one Reafon why we must go this Way to the Houfe prepared for us, is, that our Home might be made the fweeter to us. Well faid Samuel, quoth the Guide, thou haft now spoke like a Man. Why, if ever I get out here again, faid the Boy, I think I fhall prize Light and good Way, better than ever I did in all my Life. Then faid the Guide, We fhall be out by and by. So on they went, and Jofeph said, Cannot we fee to the End of this Valley as yet? Then faid the Guide, Look to your Feet, for we fhall presently be among Snares: So they looked to their Feet, and went on, but were troubled much with the Snares. Now when they were come among the Snares, they efpied a Man caft into the Ditch on the left Hand, with his Elefh all rent and torn. Then faid the Guide, That is one Heedlefs, that was going this Way; he has lain there a great while: There was one Takebeed with him when he was taken and flain; but he efcaped their Hands. You cannot imagine how many are killed hereabouts, and yet Men are fo foolishly venturous, as to fet out lightly on Pilgrimage, and to come without a Guide. Poor Chriftian! it was a Wonder that he here escaped; but he was beloved of his God: Alfo he had a good Heart of his own, or else he he could never have done it. Now they drew towards the End of the Way, and just there where Chrißian had feen the Part I. p. 78. Cave when he went by, out thence came forth Maul a Giant. This Maul did ufe Maul a Giant. to fpoil young Pilgrims with Sophiftry and he, called Great-heart by his Name, and faid unto him, How many Times have you been forbidden to do thefe Things? Then Quarrels with faid Mr. Great-beart, What Things? what Great-heart. Things, quoth the Giant; you know what Things; but I will put an End to your Trade. But, pray, faid Mr. Great-heart, before we fall to it, let us understand wherefore we must fight. (Now the Women and Children food trembling, and know not what to do.) Quoth the Giant, you rob the Country, and rob it with the worst of Thieves. Thefe are buc Generals, faid Mr. Great-heart; come to Particulars, Man. pers. Then faid the Giant, Thou practifeft God's Minithe Craft of a Kidnapper, thou gathereft fers counted up Women and Children, and carrieft them as Kidnapinto a ftrange Country, to the weakening of my Mafter's Kingdom. But now Greatheart replied I am a Servant of the God of Heaven; my Business is to perfuade Sin ners to Repentance: I am commanded to do The Giant and my Endeavour to turn Men, Women, and Mr. GreatChildren, from Darkness to Light, and heart muft from the Power of Satan to God; and fight. if this be indeed the Ground of thy Quarrel, let us fall to it as foon as thou wilt. Then the Giant came up, and Mr. Great-beart went to meet him; and as he went, Y 3 Weak Folkes' Prayers at Jome Times be'p strong Folkes' Cries. The Giant went, he drew his Sword, but the Giant had a Club. So without more ado they fell to it, and at the firft Blow the Giant ftruck Mr. Great-beart down upon one of his Knees; with that the Women and Children cried: So Mr. Great-heart recovering himfelf, laid about him in full lufty Manner, and gave the Giant a Wound in his Arm; that he fought for the Space of an Hour, to that Height of Heat, that the Breath came out of the Giant's Noftrils, as the Heat doth out of a boiling Cauldron. Then they fat down to rest them, but Mr. Great-heart betook himself to Prayer; alfo the Women and Children did nothing but figh and cry all the Time that the Battle did laft. When they had rested them, and taken Breath, they both fell to it again, and Mr. Great-beart, with a full Blow, fetched the Giant down to the Ground: Nay, hold, Arack down. let me recover, quoth he. So Mr. Greatbeart let him fairly get up; So to it they went again, and the Giant miffed but little of breaking Mr. Great-heart's Skull with his Club. Mr. Great-beart seeing that, runs 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 his Club no longer. Then Mr. Great-beart feconded his Blow, and finit, the Head of He is flain, the Giant from his Shoulders. Then the and his Head Women and Children rejoiced, and Mr. difpofed of. Great-heart alfo praised God, for the Deliverance he had wrought. When |