a man whom seven devils had bound with seven strong cords (c) and were carrying of him back to the door that they saw on the side of the hill: 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 town of Apostacy. But he did not perfectly see his face; for he did hang his head like a thief that is found. But being gone past, Hopeful looked after him, and espied on his back a paper, with this inscription:" Wanton professor, and damiable apostate." Then said Christian to his fellow, Now I call to remembrance that which was told me, of a thing that happened to a good man hereabout. The name of the man was Little-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 from Broad-way-gate, a lane, called Dead-man's-lane; so called, because of the murd rs that are commonly done there; and this Little-Faith 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 Broa l-waygate, 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 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 stand. this, Little-Faith looked s white as a clout, and had neither power to fight nor fly. Then said Faintheart, Deliver thy purse; but he making no haste to do it (for he was loath to lose his money), Astrust ran up to him, and thrusting his hand into his pocket, pulled out thence a bag of silver. Then he

At

(c) Prov. v. 22.

cried out, Thieves! thieves! With that Guilt, with a great club that was in his hand, struck LittleFaith on the 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 stood by. But at last, they hearing that some were upon the road, and fearing lest it should be one Great-Grace, that dweils in the city of Good-Confidence, they betook themselves to their heels, and left this good man to shift for himself. Now after a while Little-Faith came to himself, and getting up, made a shift to scramble on his way. This was the story.

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

Chr. No: the place where his jewels were they never ransacked; so these he kept still. But, as I was told, the good man was much afflicted for his loss; for the thieves got most of his spendingmoney. That which they got not (as I said) were jewels; also he had a little odd money left, but scarce enough to bring him to his journey's end; nay (if I was not misinformed) he was forced to beg as he went, to keep himself alive; for his jewels he might not sell. But beg and do what he could, he went (as we say) with many a hungry belly, the most part of the rest of the way (d).

Hope. But is it not a wonder they got not from him his certificate, by which he was to receive his admittance at the celestial gate?

Chr. 'Tis a wonder; but they got not that; though they missed it not through any good cunning of his; for he being dismayed with their coming upon him, had neither power nor skill to hide any thing, so it was more by good providence, than by his endeavour, that they missed of that good thing.(e).

(d) 1 Peter iv. 18.

(e) 2 Tim. i. 14.

2 Peter i. 9.

Hope. But it must needs be a comfort to him, that they got not his jewels from him.

Chr. It might have been a great comfort to him, had he used it as he should; but they that told me the story, said, that he made but little use of it all the rest of the way; and that because of the dismay that he had in taking away his money; indeed he forgot it a great part of the rest of his journey; and besides, when at any time it came into his mind, and he began to be comforted therewith, then would fresh thoughts of bis loss come again upon him, and those thoughts would swallow up all.

Hope. Alas, poor man! this could not but be a great grief to him.

Chr. Grief! ay, a grief indeed. Would it not have been so to any of us, had we been used as he, to be robbed and wounded too, and that in a strange place, as he was? 'Tis a wonder he did not die with grief, poor heart: I was told that he scattered almost all the rest of the way with nothing but doleful and bitter complaints: telling also 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 lost; how he was wounded, and that be hardly escaped with his life.

Hope. But it is a wonder that his necessity did not put him upon selling or pawning some of his jewels, that he might have wherewithal to relieve himself in bis journey.

Chr. Thou talkest like one upon whose head is the shell to this very day: For what should he pawn them? or to whom should he sell them? In all that country where he was robbed, his jewels were not accounted of; nor did he want that relief which could from thence be administered to him. Besides, had his jewels been missing at the gate of the cœlestial city, he had (and that he knew well enough) been excluded from an inheritance there, and that

would have been worse to him than the appearance and villany of ten thousand thieves.

Hope. Why art thou so tart, my brother? Esau sold his birth-right, and that for a mess of pottage, and that birth-right was his greatest jewel; and if he, why might not Little-Faith do so too (f).

Chr. Esau did sell his birth-right indeed, and so do many besides, and by so doing excluded themselves from the chief blessing, as also that caitiff did; but you must put a difference betwixt Esau and Little-Faith, and also betwixt their estates. Esau's birth-right was typical, but Little-Faith's jewels were not so. Esau's belly was his God, but Little Faith's belly was not so. Esau's want lay in his fleshly appetite, Little-Faith's did not so: besides, Esau could see no farther than to the fulfilling of his lusts: "For I am at the point to die, (said he) and what good will this birth-right do me (g)?" But Little-Faith, though it was his lot to have but a little faith, was by his little faith kept from such extravagances, and made to see and prize his jewels more, than to sell them as Esau did his birth-right. You read not any where that Esau bad faith, no, not so 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 resist), if he sells bis birth-right, and his soul and all, and that to the devil of hell: for it with such as it is with the ass, "who in her occasions cannot be turned away (h)." When their minds are set upon their lusts, they will have them, whatever they cost; but Little-Faith was of another temper; his mind was on things divine; his liveli hood was upon things that were spiritual and from above; therefore, to what end should he, that is of such a temper, sell 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

(f) Heb. xii. 16. (g) Gen. xxv. 32.

(h) Jer. ii. 24.

belly with hay? or can you persuade the turtle-dore to live upon carrion like the crow? Though faithless ones can, for carnal lusts, pawn, or mortgage, or sell what they have, and themselves outright to boot; yet, they that have faith, saving faith, though but a little of it, cannot do so. Here therefore, my brother, is thy mistake.

Hope. I acknowledge it; but yet your severe reflection had almost made me angry.

Chr. What, I did but compare thee to some 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 consider the matter under debate, and all shall be well betwixt thee and me.

Hope. But, Christian, these three fellows, I am persuaded in my heart, are but a company of cowards: would they have run else, think you, as they did, at the noise of one that was coming on the road? Why did not Little-Faith pluck up a greater heart? He might, methinks, have stood one brush with them, and have yielded when there had been no remedy.

Chr. That they are cowards, many have said, but few have found it so in the time of trial. As for a great heart, Little-Faith had none; and I perceive by thee, my brother, hadst thou been the man concerned, thou art but for a brush, and then to yield. And verily, since this is the height of tay stomach, now they are at a distance from us, should they appear to thee, as they did to him, they might put thee to second thoughts.

But consider again, they are but journeymen thieves, they serve under the king of the bottomless pit; who, if need be, will come in to their aid himself, and his voice is as the roaring of a lion (i). I myself have been engaged as this Little-Faith was, and I found it a terrible thing. These three villains

(i) 1 Peter v. 8.