Snares and Giant Maul
So on they went, and Joseph said, Cannot we see to the end of this valley as yet? Then said the Guide, Look to your feet, for you shall presently be among the snares. So they looked to their feet and went on, but they were troubled much with the snares.
Heedless and Take Heed
Now when they were come among the snares, they espied a man cast into the ditch on the left hand, with his flesh all rent and torn. Then said the Guide, That is one Heedless, that was a going this way, he has lain there a great while. There was one Take-heed with him when he was taken and slain, but he escaped their hands. 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 a done it.
Giant Maul
Now they drew towards the end of the way, and just there where Christian had seen the cave when he went by, 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 thefts. 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 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 stroke Mr Great-heart down upon one of his knees; with that the women and children cried out; so Mr Great - heart recovering himself, laid about him in full lusty manner, and gave the Giant a wound in his arm; thus 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 caldron.
Then they sat down to rest them, but Mr Great-heart betook him to prayer; also the women and children did nothing but sigh and cry all the time that the battle did last.
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 and let me recover, quoth he. So Mr Great-heart fairly let him get up. So to it they went again, and the Giant missed but little of all to 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 pierceth 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 smit the head of the Giant from his shoulders. Then the women and children rejoiced, and Mr Great-heart also praised God for the deliverance he had wrought.
When this was done, they among them erected a pillar, and fastened the Giant's head thereon, and wrote underneath 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 Pilgrim's Guide to be;
Until that I did him oppose
That was their Enemy.
Interpretation:
There are multitudes in our midst likened to Mr. Heedless who are not serious in setting out on pilgrimage to the Celestial City. Mr. Heedless had fallen into the snares and perished. But Mr.Takeheed escaped the snares because he took heed to the warning of Mr.Great-heart about the snares. Those who are not under the tutelage of ministers who preach sound doctrines as Mr. Great-heart did may likely fall into the snares and may perish. Snares are set by the devil in this world. Pilgrims need to have constant fellowship with apostles and prophets in the body of Christ who would warn them of impending snares in their paths.
Today, no warning of snares is given in our churches and many people have fallen into these snares and perished. They lay dead without life. They have a name that they live but are really dead (Rev.3:1). Many children of God set out lightly on Pilgrimage, and have fallen into deadly snares as they had no guide. They merely hear messages on every Sunday from pulpits on inheritance of blessings but not on warning of snares. "But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. (Eze.33:1 to 9). Where are watchmen in our churches who warn about impending snares and of God's sword of judgment on them who commit sins and iniquities?
We need to have fellowship with ministers like Mr.Great-heart who would fight the false prophets and false teachers with the two edged sword of the Spirit. The Giant Maul faught with Mr. Great-heart with his club but Mr. Great-heart prevailed with the giant by his sword.
Giant Maul represents the kingdom of darkness of Satan who attacks every pilgim with his sophistry to deceive pilgrims into believing that there is no need for them to go on pilgrimage leaving the city of destruction. Ministers like Great-heart who minister to pilgrims have a greater role in fighting this giant who represents the devil and in annihilating him spiritually so that he may not get resurrected again to attack them. Great-heart betook to prayer and fought with the giant. Great-heart prevailed with the giant; erected a pillar, and fastened the Giant's head thereon. Satan once defeated will not rest. He again comes and attacks them through the other Giants like Giant Bloody man (Giant Despair) and Slay-the good Giant, the False Prophet.