and before it, towards the road, a broad plate, with a copy of verses written thereon; and, underneath, the reason of raising up of that stage in that place rendered. The verses were

Let him that sees this stage, take heed

Unto his heart and tongue;
Lest, if he do not, here he speed
As some have long agone.

The words underneath the verses were, This stage was built to punish those upon, who, through timorousness or mistrust, shall be afraid to go further on pilgrimage also on this stage both Mistrust and Timorous were burnt through the tongue with a hot iron, for endeavouring to hinder Christian on his journey."

Then said Mercy, This is much like to the saying of the Beloved: "What shall be given unto thee, or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue? Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of juniper.”

So they went on, till they came within sight of the lions. Now Mr. Great-heart was a strong man, so he was not afraid of a lion: but yet when they were come up to the place where the lions were, the boys that went before were now glad to cringe behind, for they were afraid of the lions;

AN EMBLEM OF THOSE THAT GO ON BRAVELY

WHEN

THERE IS NO DAN

GER, BUT SHRINK

WHEN TROUBLES

COME.

so they stept back, and went behind. At this their guide smiled, and said, How now, my boys;

k Psalm cxx. 3, 4.

* Christians, take heed to your tongue. O beware, beware, lest in any wise you make an evil report of the good land, through fear or mistrust! The Lord notes what you boldly speak for his ways and to his glory; and he marks your words which in any wise have a contrary tendency. The tongue is an unruly evil. "If any man offend not in word (in speaking contrary to the truth as it is in Jesus) the same is a perfect man," James iii. 2.

OF GRIM THE GIANT,
AND OF HIS BACKING
THE LIONS.

do you love to go before when no danger doth approach, and love to come behind so soon as the lions appear? Now, as they went on, Mr. Great-heart drew his sword, with intent to make a way for the pilgrims in spite of the lions. Then there appeared one, that it seems had taken upon him to back the lions; and he said to the pilgrims' guide, What is the cause of your coming hither? Now, the name of that man was Grim, or Bloody-man, because of his slaying of pilgrims: and he was of the race of the giants.*

Then said the pilgrims' guide, These women and children are going on pilgrimage; and this is the way they must go; and go it they shall, in spite of thee and the lions.

GRIM. This is not their way, neither shall they go therein. I am come forth to withstand them, and to that end will back the lions.

Now, to say truth, by reason of the fierceness of the lions, and of the grim carriage of him that did back them, this way had of late lain much unoccupied, and was almost grown over with grass.

Who is this giant Grim, who backs the lions, and terrifies the hearts of pilgrims with a sense of danger in the right way to the kingdom? It is an evil heart of unbelief. This, Great-heart will fight with, and conquer. O how does unbelief multiply dangers, and magnify difficulties; call up fears, and deject our hearts! Unbelief makes every danger wear a grim and terrible aspect. The only weapon to slay this enemy, is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, Eph. vi. 17. O pilgrim, when dangers beset you, and fears arise in you, hear what the Lord speaks to you; and in the belief of his truth, quit yourself manfully; fight the good fight of faith; ever remembering, that you are more than conqueror through Christ who hath loved you. Faith will exalt the love and power of Christ, above the fear of

every enemy.

Then said Christiana, Though the highways have been unoccupied heretofore, and though the travellers have been made in times past to walk through by-paths, it must not be so now I am risen, now I am risen a

mother in Israel."

Then he swore by the lions, that it should: and therefore bid them turn aside, for they should not have passage there.

But Great-heart their guide made first his approach unto Grim, and laid so heavily on him with his sword, that he forced him to retreat.

A FIGHT BETWIXT GRIM AND GREATHEART.

Then said he that attempted to back the lions, Will you slay me upon my own ground?

GREAT. It is the King's highway that we are in, and in this way it is that thou hast placed the lions; but these women and these children, though weak, shall hold on their way in spite of thy lions. And with that he gave him again a downright blow, and brought him upon his knees. With this blow also he broke his helmet, and with the next he cut off an arm. Then did the giant roar so hideously, that his voice frighted the women; and yet they were glad to see him lie sprawling upon the ground. Now the lions were chained, and so of themselves could do nothing." Wherefore, when old Grim, that intended to back them, was dead,

1 Judges v. 6, 7.

THE VICTORY.

How often, after we have fought with the courage of faith, and the resolution of hope, and have overcome a grim enemy, have we seen the fiercest of our enemies chained by the power of God, so as not to have the least power to hurt us? O pilgrim! it is sweet to reflect, that every lion-like foe is under the control of thy God, and cannot come one link of his chain nearer to thee than thy Lord will permit. Therefore, when fears and terrors beset thee, think of thy Lord's love to thee, his power engaged to preserve thee, and his promises to comfort thee. For "the Lord is nigh unto all them who call upon him," Psalm cxlv. 18.

THEY PASS BY
THE LIONS.

Mr. Great-heart said to the pilgrims, Come now, and follow me, and no hurt shall happen to you from the lions. They therefore went on, but the women trembled as they passed by them; the boys also looked as if they would die; but they all got by without further hurt.

Now, when they were within sight of the Porter's lodge, they soon came up unto it; but they made the more haste after this to go thither, because it is danTHEY COME TO THE gerous travelling there in the night.

PORTER'S LODGE.

So

when they were come to the gate, the guide knocked, and the porter cried, Who is there? But as soon as the guide had said, It is I, he knew his voice, and came down; for the guide had oft before that come thither as a conductor of pilgrims. When he was come down, he opened the gate, and, seeing the guide standing just before it, (for he saw not the women, for they were behind him,) he said unto him, How now, Mr. Great-heart, what is your business here so late at night? I have brought, said he, some pilgrims hither, where, by my Lord's commandment, they must lodge: I had been here some time ago, had I not been opposed by the giant that used to back the lions. But I, after a long and tedious combat with him, have cut him off, and have brought the pilgrims hither in safety.*

POR. Will not you go in, and stay till morning?

GREAT-HEART

ATTEMPTS TO GO
BACK.

GREAT. No; I will return to my Lord to-night.

How mindful is our Lord of us! How gracious is he to us! What blessed provision doth he make for us! If pilgrims are attacked by giant Grim, and terrified with the sight of lions, they may be sure, that it is only a prelude to some sweet enjoyment of their Lord's love, and that they are near to some sweet asylum, some sanctuary of rest, peace, and comfort. Some bitter generally precedes the sweet, and inakes the sweet still sweeter.

CHR. O, sir, I know not how to be willing you should leave us in our pilgrimage: you have been so faithful and so loving to us, you have fought so stoutly for us, you have been so hearty in counselling of us, that I shall never forget your favour towards us.

Then said Mercy, O that we might have thy company to our journey's end! How can such

THE PILGRIMS IMPLORE HIS COMPANY STILL.

poor women as we hold out in a way so full of troubles as this way is, without a friend and defender ?

Then said James, the youngest of the boys, Pray, sir, be persuaded to go with us and help us, because we are so weak, and the way so dangerous as it is.*

HELP LOST FOR WANT OF ASKING FOR.

GREAT. I am at my Lord's commandment: if he shall allot me to be your guide quite through, I will willingly wait upon you. But here you failed at first; for when he bid me come thus far with you, then you should have begged me of him to have gone quite through with you, and he would have granted your request. However, at present I must withdraw; and so, good Christiana, Mercy, and my brave children, adieu.

Then the Porter, Mr. Watchful, asked Christiana of her country, and of her kindred and she said, I came from the city of Destruction; I am a widow-woman, and my husband is dead; his name was Christian, the pilgrim.

How! said the Porter, was he your husband? Yes, said she, and these are his children; and this (pointing to Mercy) is one of my townswomen.

*

Oh, it is hard work to part with Great-heart! How many blessings do we lose for want of asking! Great-heart is at the command of our Lord. O for more power to cry incessantly to the Lord, for the presence of Great-heart, that we may go on more cheerfully and more joyfully in the ways of the Lord!