I never had in all my life so great an inlet into the word of God as now, [in prison.] Those scriptures that I saw nothing in before, were made in this place and state to shine upon me.  Jesus Christ also was never more real and apparent than now.  Here I have seen and felt him indeed:  O that word, “We have not preached unto you cunningly devised fables,” and that, “God raised Christ from the dead and gave him glory, that our faith and hope might he in God,” were blessed words unto me in this condition.

These three or four scriptures also have been great refreshments in this condition to me, John 14:1-4; 16:33; Heb. 12:22-24; so that sometimes, when I have been in the savor of them, I have been able to laugh at destruction, and to fear neither the horse nor his rider.  I have had sweet sights of the forgiveness of my sins in this place, and of my being with Jesus in another world.  Oh the mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the innumerable company of angels, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of just men made perfect; and Jesus has been sweet to me in this place:  I have seen that here, which I am persuaded I shall never while in this world be able to express.  I have seen a truth in this scripture, “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

The glass was one of a thousand.  It would present a man one way with his own features exactly, and turn it but another way and it would show one the very face and similitude of the Prince of the pilgrims himself.  Yes, I have talked with them that can tell, and they have said that they have seen the very crown of thorns upon his head by looking in that glass; they have therein also seen the holes in his hands, in his feet, and in his side.  Yea, such an excellency is there in that glass, that it will show him to one where they have a mind to see him, whether living or dead, whether in earth or in heaven, whether in a state of humiliation or in his exaltation, whether coming to suffer or coming to reign.  James I:  23-25; I Cor. 13:12; 2 Cor. 3:13.

Then said Greatheart to Mr. Valiant-for-Truth, “Thou hast worthily behaved thyself; let me see thy sword.”  So he showed it him.  “When he had taken it into his hand, and looked thereon awhile, he said, Ha, it is a right Jerusalem blade.”

Valiant.  “It is so.  Let a man have one of these blades, with a hand to wield it and skill to use it, and he may venture upon an angel with it.  He need not fear its holding, if he can but tell how to lay on.  Its edge will never blunt.  It will cut flesh and bones, and soul and spirit, and all.”