The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan Every Child Can ReadBunyan, John
Religion
The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan Every Child Can Read
Bunyan, John
Christian life -- Juvenile literature; Christian pilgrims and pilgrimages -- Juvenile literature
Whoso looks well upon Great-Grace's face will see those scars and cuts
there, that shall easily give proof of what I say. Yea, once I heard
that he should say (and that when he was in the combat), "We despaired
even of life." How did these sturdy rogues and their fellows make David
groan, mourn, and roar! Yea, Heman, and Hezekiah too, though champions
in their days, were forced to bestir when by these attacked; and yet,
notwithstanding, they had their coats soundly brushed by them. Peter,
upon a time, would go try what he could do; but though some do say of
him that he is the prince of the apostles, they handled him so that they
made him at last afraid of a sorry girl.
[Sidenote: LITTLE-FAITH AMONG THIEVES]
Besides, their king is at their whistle--he is never out of hearing; and
if at any time they be put to the worst, he, if possible, comes in to
help them; and of him it is said, "The sword of him that layeth at him
cannot hold; the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon. He esteemeth iron
as straw, and brass as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee;
sling-stones are turned with him into stubble. Darts are counted as
stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear." What can a man do in
this case? It is true, if a man could at every turn have Job's horse,
and had skill and courage to ride him, he might do notable things. For
his neck is clothed with thunder. He will not be afraid as the
grasshopper: "the glory of his nostrils is terrible. He paweth in the
valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he goeth on to meet the armed
men. He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted, neither turneth he his
back from the sword. The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering
spear and the shield. He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage;
neither believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet. He saith among
the trumpets, Ha! ha! and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder
of the captains, and the shouting."
But for such footmen as thee and I are, let us never desire to meet with
an enemy, nor vaunt as if we could do better, when we hear of others
that have been foiled, nor be tickled at the thoughts of our manhood;
for such commonly come by the worst when tried. Witness Peter, of whom I
made mention before: he would swagger, ay, he would; he would, as his
vain mind prompted him to say, do better and stand more for his Master
than all men; but who so foiled and run down by those villains as he?
Then Christian sang:
"Poor Little-Faith! hast been among the thieves?
Wast robbed? Remember this: whoso believes
And gets more faith, shall then a victor be
Over ten thousand; else, scarce over three."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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