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When Christian saw that the man was "wise in his own conceit," he said to Hopeful whisperingly, "There is more hope of a fool than of him." (Prov. xxvi. 12.) And said, moreover, "When he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.” (Eccles. x. 3.) What, shall we talk further with him, or out-go him at present, and so leave

How to carry

it to a fool.

him to think of what he hath heard already, and then stop again for him afterwards, and see if by degrees we can do any good to him?

Hopeful

Then said

Let Ignorance a little while now muse
On what is said, and let him not refuse
Good counsel to embrace, lest he remain
Still ignorant of what's the chiefest gain.
God saith, those that no understanding have,
Although he made them, them he will not save.

HOPE. He further added, It is not good, I think, to say all to him at once; let us pass him by, if you will, and talk to him anon, even as he is able to bear it.

So they both went on, and Ignorance he came after. Now when they had passed him a little way, they entered into

[graphic][subsumed][merged small]

a very dark lane, where they met a man whom seven devils had bound with seven strong cords, and were carrying of him back to the door that they saw on the side of the hill. (Matt. xii. 45; Prov. v. 22.) Now good Christian began to tremble, and so did Hopeful his companion; yet as the devils led away the man, Christian looked to see if he knew him; and he thought it might be one Turn-away, that dwelt in the The destruction town of Apostasy. But he of one Turn-away. did not perfectly see his face, for he did hang his head like a thief that is found. But being once past, Hopeful looked after him, and espied on his back a paper with this inscription, "Wanton professor and damnable apostate." Then said Christian to his fellow, Now I call to remembrance, that which was told me of a thing that happened to

Christian telleth

story of Little

a good man hereabout. The The his companion a name of the man was Little- faith. faith, but a good man, and he dwelt in the town of Sincere. The thing was this: At the entering in at

this passage, there comes down

Broad-way Gate.

from Broad-way Gate, a lane called Dead

R

Man's Lane; so called because of the murders that are commonly Dead Man's Lane. done there; and this Littlefaith going on pilgrimage, as we do now, chanced to sit down there, and slept. Now there happened at that time to come down the lane, from Broad-way Gate, three sturdy rogues, and their names were Faint-heart, Mistrust, and Guilt (three brothers), and they, espying Little-faith, where he was, came galloping up with speed. Now the good man was just awake from his sleep, and was getting up to go on his journey. So they came up all to him, and robbed by Faint with threatening language bid and Gullt. him stand. At this Littlefaith looked as white as a clout, and had neither power to fight nor fly. Then said Faint-heart, Deliver thy purse. But he making no haste to do it (for he was loth to lose his money), Mis

Little faith

heart, Mistrust,

They got away

his silver, and trust

knocked him down.

ran up to him, and thrusting his hand into his pocket, pulled out thence a bag of silver. Then he cried out, Thieves! Thieves! With that Guilt, with a great club that was in his hand, struck Little-faith on

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