"and terrible giant, the giant DESPAIR, cut "off by the hand of Mr. GREAT-HEART?

66

Truly you will not eafily perfuade me that

any new foes, who may in later times have "arifen to annoy the pilgrims, can have equal power with those I have named to work their "final deftruction."

At that Mr. SAGACITY fimiled, but withal he fhook his head. "There are many," said he, "even among the pilgrims themselves, who "reafon as you do, and accordingly fet out on "their courfe with much confidence; but fo "much the lefs as they fear the dangers which "await them, fo much the more easily are they "brought to perdition. If, however, you de"fire any proof of what I fay, you may quickly "fee and judge for yourfelf: for turn your eyes "yonder;"-And as he spoke, he pointed with his hand-"Do you perceive that young 66 man, who is croffing the plain with fuch a "cheerful demeanour, and is fpeeding towards "the wicket gate?"

Very plainly," quoth I; "there are many whofe fteps tend the fame way, but the youth "in white garments far outgoes the reft; and as "I fee, he hath already fafely passed the flough "of Defpond, and hath almoft reached the gate." Keep him in your view, then," rejoined my companion, "and-obf.rve what fhall befal

him

"him on his pilgrimage. He is of the family "of CHRISTIAN; fo that, for the fake of his "fathers, you will take the greater intereft in "his adventures: and when next we meet, you "fhall tell me whether the way has proved lefs (6 perilous to him, than it did of old time to "thofe who trod it before him."

When he had thus fpoken, Mr. SAGACITY took his leave of me; and I, pleafed with the opportunity of beholding the progrefs of a youth, with whofe countenance and deportment I was fo greatly taken, continued to watch him, and that with more attention than at firft.

Then I perceived that he had in his hand a book, like unto that which EVANGELIST had given to the pilgrim CHRISTIAN; and as he walked, he fometimes read therein, and fometimes he fixed his eyes on the fhining light which was over the gate, towards which he bent his courfe. Alfo it was not long before he reached the gate; and being at it, he put forth his hand and knocked. Now I faw not that any arrows were fhot at him from the caftle of BEELZEBUB, neither did the terrible dog come forth to affault him; but the porter, who was named GOOD-WILL, quickly opened the gate unto him, and demanded of him who he was, and whence he came.

"My name," anfwered the

"is young man, "GOOD-INTENT; I am of the lineage of "CHRISTIAN, being indeed the great-grand "fon of his firft-born MATTHEW, who took "MERCY to wife: I come from the town of "Sincerity, and I am on my way towards the Caeleftial City."

"Then," faid GooD-WILL," thou comest of "a good parentage, and thy countenance agreeth "thereto? for I have feen many of thy race,. "who have travelled this way before thee; "and truly thou doft much resemble them. "Enter freely, young man, and proceed on "thy journey; but walk warily, left thy fur"ther progrefs prove not anfwerable to thy "good beginning."

"I have little fear," faid the young pilgrim, "that I fhall mifs my road."

"Be not too confident," faid GOOD-WILL; "thou mayeft find it more difficult to con"tinue in the right way than thou art yet

aware of."

GOOD-INTENT." But I have a map of the "road, the fame which was used by Mr. "GREAT-HEART in his journey; and I have "also been farther instructed by my father PRE"CEPT and my mother EXAMPLE, who are "themselves both gone to the Caeleftial City, and "would gladly have taken me thither with

them,

"them, but that the meffenger who was fent "to call them forbad them to stay for me."

GOOD-WILL.-"That map is not without "its ufe; yet is it of lefs value now than for"merly it was, by reafon of the changes which "of late have taken place."

GOOD-INTENT.-" Will you not tell me, "Sir, what changes have occurred, that I may "learn to avoid fuch dangers as I now am un"prepared for?"

GOOD-WILL." I would gladly, young man, "I "render thee the fervice for which thou doft "petition; but it is not permitted me to tell "pilgrims beforehand what temptations are pre

pared for them; for where there is no con"teft, there can be no victory; and without "victory, there can be no reward."

Then the young man ftood mufing for a while: but at last again breaking filence, " You "have greatly terrified me, Sir," said he; "I "thought I had fufficiently prepared myfel "against all the dangers I could encounter "but if there be others in my way, which ar "ftill unknown to me, I may be enfnared whe "I am the leaft aware, and may fall, never to "rife again. Is there no counsellor to whom I may resort, in cases of extreme perplexity ?" "Then," faid GooD-WILL, "thou needeft "not seek for a counsellor, when, as I fee, thou "haft

66

B 4

haft the beft of counfellors in thine hand. "Let that book be thy conftant ftudy and me"ditation. Remember what certain affurances "thou haft that it came to thee from Him who "cannot lye: remember that it contains every thing which it is neceffary for thee to know "for thy foul's peace. Whenever thou findet thyfelf in any ftrait, read in that book, and "it fhall be taught thee what it behoveth "thee to do: for, though the things which are "come upon the earth feem ftrange unto men,

yet were they from the beginning foreseen

"and provided against by Him, whofe eye be"holdeth at one glance all time and all space. "Since His will is not that any fhould perifh, "His mercy will at all times uphold in His "paths the goings of thofe, who facerely feek "to know and to perform his pleasure; nor "fhall any temptation befal fuch, but that with "the temptation He will alfo make a way "to escape, that they may be able to bear it. "Whatever may happen to the, therefore, pre"serve that book, though it be at the hazard "of thy life; for if once thou fuffer it to be "taken from thee, thou art at the mercy of thy "enemies; thou wilt lofe, not the force only, "but even the inclination, to repel their at"tacks; and thou wilt have forfeited all claim "to the protection of Him, whose laws thou

haft