That very Providence, whofe faith is death,
Doth oft-times, to the lowly, life bequeath:
I taken was, he did escape and flee;

Hands croft gave death to him, and life to me.

Now, about this time, Matthew and Mercy were married; alfo Gaius gave his daughter Phebe to James, Matthew's brother, to wife: after which time, they yet staid about ten days at Gaius's house; spending their time, and the seasons, like as pilgrims used to do.

When they were to depart, Gaius made them a feaft; and they did eat and drink, and were merry. Now the hour was come that they must be gone; wherefore Mr. Great-heart called for a reckoning. But Gaius told him, that at his house it was not the custom for pilgrims to pay for their entertainment. He boarded them by the year, but looked for his pay from the good Samaritan, who had promifed him, at his return, whatsoever charge he was at with them, faithfully to repay him.

Great-heart. Beloved, thou dost faithfully, whatfoever thou doft, to the brethren and to ftrangers, who have borne witnefs of thy charity before the church; whom if thou yet bring forward on their journey, after a godly fort, thou fhalt do well.

Then Gaius took his leave of them all, and his children, and particularly of Mr. Feeble-mind. He also gave him fomething to drink by the way.

Now Mr. Feeble-mind, when they were going out of the door, made as if he intended to linger:

which when Mr. Great-heart espied, he said, Come, Mr. Feeble-mind, pray do you go along with us, I will be your conductor, and you shall fare as the reft.

Feebl. Alas! I want a fuitable companion: you are all lufty and strong; but, as you fee, I am weak: I therefore choose rather to come behind, left, by reafon of my many infirmities, I fhould be both a burden to myself and you. I am, as I faid, a man of a weak and feeble mind; and fhall be offended and made weak at that which others can bear: I fhall like no laughing; I fhall like no gay attire; I fhall like no unprofitable queftions; nay, I am fo weak a man, as to be offended with that which others have a liberty to do. I do not know all the truth; I am a very ignorant Chriftian: fometimes, if I hear any rejoice in the Lord, it troubles me, because I cannot do fo toof: it is with me as it is

with

We may obferve in Feeble-mind, as well as in his uncle Mr. Fearing, a tender confcience, and a deep fense of their own weakness. These are two things I have found many, who profefs a great zeal for inherent holiness and good works, are as deficient in as their brother Judas, who pretended a great love for the poor, great hatred to extravagance, and moft enlarged bowels of charity; yet he could fell his Mafter, and betray him with a kifs. Many fuch profeffors we have, who, with all their pretended zeal for holiness, can grind the faces of the poor, exact upon their fervants, reduce their wages, and practife the moft wretched extortion."

This is not the barking of a dog, but the bleating of a

lamb.

with a weak man among the strong, or as a lamp defpifed, (he that is ready to flip with his feet, is as a lamp despised in the thought of him who is at eafe ;) fo that I know not what to do.

Great-heart. But, brother, I have it in commiffion to comfort the feeble-minded, and to support the weak. You must needs go along with us; we will wait for you; we will lend you our help; we will deny ourselves of some things, both opinionative and practical, for your fake; we will not enter into doubtful difputations before you; we will be made all things to you, rather than you fhall be left behind.

Now, all this while, they were at Gaius's door; and behold, as they were thus in the heat of their discourse, Mr. Ready-to-halt came by, with his crutches in his hand, and he alfo was going on pilgrimage, Then faid Mr. Feeble-mind to him, How cameft thou hither? I was but now complaining that I had not a fuitable companion, but thou art according to my wish. Welcome, welcome, good Mr. Ready-to-halt, I hope thou and I may be fome help to each other.

Ready-to-balt. I fhall be glad of thy company; and, good Mr. Feeble-mind, rather than we will part, fince we are thus happily met, I will lend thee one of my crutches.

lamb. Wo be to those who offend one of thefe little ones, no lefs dear to God than the most eminent and diftinguished faints!

Feebl.

Feebl. Nay, though I thank thee for thy goodwill, I am not inclined to halt before I am lame. Howbeit, I think, upon occafion, it may help me against a dog.

Ready-to-balt. If either myself or my crutches can do thee a pleasure, we are both at thy command, good Mr. Feeble-mind.

Thus therefore they went on. Mr. Great-heart and Mr. Honest went before, Chriftiana and her children went next, and Mr. Feeble-mind and Mr. Ready-to-halt came behind with his crutches.

Han. Pray, Sir, now we are upon the road, tell us fome profitable things of fome who have gone on pilgrimage before us.

Great-heart. With a good will: I fuppofe you have heard how Chriftian of old did meet with Apollyon in the valley of Humiliation, and what hard work he had to go through the valley of the Shadow of Death: alfo, I think, you cannot but have heard how. Faithful was put to it by Madam Wanton, with Adam the First, with one Difcontent, and Shame; four as deceitful villains as a man can meet with upon the road.

Hon. Yes, I believe I heard of all this: but indeed good Faithful was hardeft put to it with Shame; he was an unwearied one.

Great-heart. Ay, for, as the pilgrim well faid, he, of all men, had the wrong name.

Hon. But, pray, Sir, where was it that Chriftian

and

and Faithful met Talkative? He was alfo a notable

one.

Great-heart. He was a confident fool; yet many follow his ways.

Hon. He had like to have beguiled Faithful. Great-heart. Ay, but Christian put him in a way quickly to find him out.

Thus they went on till they came to the place where the Evangelift met Chriftian and Faithful, and prophefied to them what fhould befall them at Vanity Fair. Then faid their guide, Hereabouts did Christian and Faithful meet Evangelist, who prophefied to them of the troubles they should meet with at Vanity Fair.

Hon. Say you fo! I dare fay it was a hard chapter which he did then read unto them.

Great-heart. It was fo, but he gave them encouragement withal. But what do we talk of them; they were a couple of lion-like men; they had fet their faces like flints. Do not you remember how undaunted they were when they stood before the judge?

Hon. Well, Faithful fuffered bravely.

Great-heart. So he did, and as brave things came on't; for Hopeful and fome others, as the story relates it, were converted by his death.

Hon. Well, but pray go on; for you are well acquainted with things.

Great-heart. Above all whom Chriftian met with,

after