GIANT MAUL AND GREAT-HEART.

349

You cannot imagine how many are killed hereabouts, and yet men are so foolishly venturous, as to set out lightly on pilgrimage, and to come without a guide. Poor Christian! it was a wonder that he here escaped; but he was beloved of his God: also he had a good heart of his own, or else he could never have done it. Now they drew towards the end of their way, and just there where Christian had seen the cave when he went by, (a) out thence came forth Maul, a giant. This Maul did use to spoil young pilgrims with sophistry, and he called Great-heart by his name, and said unto him, How many times have you been forbidden to do these things? Then said Mr. Great-heart, What things? What things! quoth the giant; you know what things; but I will put an end to your trade.* But, pray, said Mr. Great-heart, before we fall to it, let us understand wherefore we must fight. (Now the women and children stood trembling, and knew not what to do.)-Quoth the giant, You rob the country, and rob it with the worst of thieves. These are but generals, said Mr. Great-heart; come to particulars,

man.

Then said the giant, Thou practisest the craft of a kidnapper, thou gatherest up women and children, and carriest them into a strange country, to the weakening of my Master's kingdom. But now Great-heart replied, I am a servant of the God of heaven; my business is to persuade sinners to repentance: I am commanded to do my endeavour to turn men, women, and children, from darkness to light, and from the power

How many such giants have we in the present day, who deceive and beguile precious souls into a false and fatal security, by their smooth lectures on morality, and their avowed oppositions to the gospel of Christ, and the way to his kingdom.

(a) Part I. p. 127.

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GREAT-HEART'S COMBAT WITH

of Satan to God; and if this be indeed the ground of thy quarrel, let us fall to it as soon as thou wilt.*

Then the giant came up, and Mr. Great-heart went to meet him; and as he went, he drew his sword, but the giant had a club. So without more ado they fell to it, and at the first blow the Giant struck Mr. Greatheart down upon one of his knees; with that the women and children cried: so Mr. Great-heart recovering himself, laid about him in full lusty 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 nostrils, as the heat doth out of a boiling cauldron.

Then they sat down to rest them, but Mr. Greatheart betook himself to prayer; also the women and children did nothing but sigh and cry all the time that the battle did last.f

When they had rested them, and taken breath, they both fell to it again, and Mr. Great-heart with a full blow, fetched the giant down to the ground: Nay, hold, let me recover, quoth he. So Mr. Great-heart let him fairly get up: so to it they went again, and the giant missed but a little of breaking Mr. Great-heart's skull with his club.

Mr. Great-heart 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-heart seconded his blow, and smote the head of the giant from his shoulders. Then the women and children rejoiced,

To awaken our souls, and lead them to Christ for life and salvation, is the blessed work of faithful ministers. In the spirit of love and meekness, they will contend for the faith, however they may be ill-treated for their work.

The greatest heart cannot withstand without prayer, nor conquer without the almighty power of God. The belief of this will excite prayer.

AND VICTORY OVER GIANT MAUL.

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and Mr. Great-heart also praised God, for the deliverance he had wrought.*

When this was done, they among themselves erected a pillar, and fastened the giant's head thereon, and wrote under it, in letters that passengers might read,

He that did wear this head was one
That pilgrims did misuse;

He stopt their way, he spared none,
But did them all abuse;
Until that I Great-heart arose,
The pilgrims guide to be;
Until that I did him oppose,
That was their enemy.

Many such a battle has been fought, and many such a victory obtained, since the reformation, over the enemies of our most holy faith.

The furious attack made by Maul the giant on the conductor, is to show us, that lively and active ministers of the gospel, who are zealous to win souls, must expect the opposition of Satan and his emissaries. But must they therefore desist? God forbid! The Lord is on their side. Let them be accounted "kidnappers," and treated as enthusiasts: the Master whom they serve will succeed their endeavours; hear the prayers of his people; and make them more than conquerors. Thus were the pilgrims brought out of the valley; while danger and darkness rendered returning light, and the thoughts of heaven, the sweeter; and many thanksgivings redounded to the glory of God.

By glimm'ring hopes, and gloomy fears,
We trace the sacred road;

Through dismal deeps, and dang❜rous snares,
We make our way to God.

Long nights and darkness dwell below,
With scarce a twinkling ray;

But the bright world to which we go,
Is everlasting day.

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THE PILGRIMS ARE REFRESHED.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE PILGRIMS OVERTAKE MR. HONEST, WHO RELATES HIS OWN EXPERIENCE, AND THAT OF MR. FEARING.

NOW I saw that they went to the ascent that was a little way off, cast up to be a prospect for pilgrims (that was the place from whence Christian had the first sight of Faithful his brother.) (a) Wherefore here they sat down, and rested, they also here did eat and drink, and made merry; for that they had gotten deliverance from this so dangerous an enemy. As they sat thus and did eat, Christiana asked the guide, If he had caught no hurt in the battle? Then said Mr. Great-heart, No, save a little on my flesh; yet that also shall be so far from being to my detriment, that it is at present a proof of my love to my master and you, and shall be a means by grace, to increase my reward at last.

But was you not afraid, good Sir, when you saw him come with his club ?*

It is my duty, said he, to mistrust my own ability, that I may have reliance on him that is stronger than all. But what did you think, when he fetched you down to the ground at the first blow? Why, I thought, quoth he, that so my master himself was served, and yet he it was that conquered at last.(b)

MATT. When you all have thought what you please, I think God has been wonderful good unto us, both in bringing us out of this valley, and delivering us out of the hand of this enemy; for my part, I see no reason why we should distrust our God any more, since

This club we may suppose to mean human power, under which many godly ministers in the last century suffered greatly. Blessed be God we have nothing of this to fear in our day.

THEY OVERTAKE MR. HONEST.

353

he has now, and in such a place as this, given us such testimony of his love as this.

Then they got up, and went forward: now a little before them stood an oak, and under it, when they came to it, they found an old pilgrim fast asleep: they knew that he was a pilgrim by his clothes, and his staff, and his girdle.

So the guide, Mr. Great-heart, awaked him; and the old gentleman, as he lifted up his eyes, cried out, What's the matter? Who are you? And what is your business here ?*

GR.-H. Come, man, be not so hot, here is none but friends yet the old man gets up, and stands upon his guard, and will know of them what they were. Then said the guide, My name is Great-heart, I am a guide of these pilgrims, which are going to the Celestial

country.

HONEST. Then said Mr. Honest, I cry you mercy; I feared that you had been of the company of those that some time ago did rob Little-faith of his money, but now I look better about me, I perceive you are honester people.

GR.-H. Why, what would, or could you have done, or have helped yourself, if we indeed had been of that company.

HON. Done! Why I would have fought as long as breath had been in me; and had I so done, I am sure you could never have given me the worst on't; for a Christian can never be overcome unless he should yield of himself.†

GR.-H. Well said, father Honest, quoth the guide ; for by this I know that thou art a cock of the right kind, for thou hast said the truth.

A blessed sign of a watchful heart, ever alarmed at the fear of danger, Though he was found sleeping, yet he could say with the church, “My heart waketh," Song v. 2.

Mind this. A Christian can never be overcome, unless he yields of himself. Then be most jealous over yourself, and most watchful against giving way to carnal reasonings, natural fears, and fleshly lusts.