But to return again to our story. After supper, the lads desired a bed, for that they were weary with travelling. Then Gaius called to show them their chamber; but said Mercy, "I will have them to bed." So she had them to bed, and they slept well; but the rest sat up all night, for Gaius and they were such suitable company, that they could not tell how to part. Then, after much talk of their Lord, themselves, and their journey, old Mr. Honest, he that put forth the riddle to Gaius, began to nod. Then said Great-heart, "What, sir! you begin to be drowsy? come, rub up; now here's a riddle for you." Then said Mr. Honest, "Let us hear it." Then said Mr. Greatheart:

"He that will kill, must first he overcome;
Who live abroad would, first must die at home."

"Ha!" said Mr. Honest, "it is a hard one; hard to expound, and harder to practise."

"But come, landlord," said he, "I will, if you please, leave my part to you; do you expound it, and I will hear what you say." "No," said Gaius, "it was put to you, and it is expected you should answer it." Then said the old gentleman:

"He first by grace must conquered be,
That sin would mortify;

And who that lives would convince me,
Unto himself must die."

"It is right," said Gaius: "Good doctrine and experience teach this. For, first, until grace displays itself, and overcomes the soul with its glory, it is altogether without heart to oppose sin. Besides, if sin is Satan's cord, by which the soul lies bound, how should it make resistance before it is loosed from that infirmity? Secondly, Nor will any one that knows either reason or grace, believe that such a man can be a living monument of grace, that is a slave to his own corruptions. And now it comes into my mind, I will tell you a story worth the hearing. There were two men that went on pilgrimage; the one began when he was young, the other when he was old. The young man had strong corruptions to grapple with; the old man's were decayed with the decays of nature. The young man trod his steps as even as did the old one, and was every way as light as he. Who now, or which of them, had their graces shining clearest, since both seemed to be alike ?"

HON. The young man's, doubtless. For that which heads it against the greatest opposition, gives best demonstration that it is strongest; specially when it also holdeth pace with that which meets not with half so much, as to be sure, old age does not. Besides, I have observed that old men have blessed themselves with this mistake; namely, taking the decays of nature for a gracious conquest over corruptions, and so have been apt to beguile themselves. Indeed, old men that are gracious, are best able to give advice to them that are young, because they have seen most of the emptiness of things; but yet, for an old and a young to set out both together, the young one has the advantage of the fairest discovery of a work of grace within him, though the old man's corruptions are naturally the weakest.

Thus they sat talking till break of day. Now, when the family were up, Christiana bade her son James read a chapter; so he read the 53rd of Isaiah. When he had done, Mr. Honest asked why it was said, "That the Saviour was to come out of a dry ground; and also, that he had no form nor comeliness in him ?"

GREAT. Then said Mr. Great-heart, "To the first I answer, because the Church of the Jews, of which Christ came, had then lost almost all the sap and spirit of religion. To the second I say, words are spoken in the person of the unbelievers, who, because they

the

want that eye that can see into our Prince's heart, therefore they judge of him by the meanness of his outside; just like those that know not that precious stones are covered over with a homely crust, who when they have found one, because they know not what they have found, cast it again away, as men do a common stone."

"Well," said Gaius, now you are here, and since, as I know Mr. Great-heart is good at his weapons, if you please, after we have refreshed ourselves, we will walk into the fields, to see if we can do any good. About a mile from hence there is one Slay-good, a giant, that doth much annoy the King's highway in these parts; and I know whereabout his haunt is. He is master of a number of thieves: 'twould be well if we could clear these parts of him."

So they consented, and went; Mr. Great-heart with his sword, helmet, and shield; and the rest with spears and staves.

When they were come to the place where he was, they found him with one Feeble-mind in his hands, whom his servants had brought unto him, having taken him in the way. Now, the giant was rifling of him, with a purpose, after that, to pick his bones; for he was of the nature of flesh-eaters.

Well, so soon as he saw Mr. Great-heart and his friends at the mouth of his cave, with their weapons, he demanded what they wanted.

GREAT. We want thee: for we are come to revenge the quarrel of the many that thou hast slain of the pilgrims, when thou hast dragged them out of the King's highway: wherefore, come out of thy cave. So he armed himself and came out; and to a battle they went, and fought for above an hour, and then stood still to take wind.

SLAY. Then said the giant, "Why are you here on my ground ?"

GREAT. "To revenge the blood of pilgrims, as I told thee before." So they went to it again, and the giant made Mr. Great-heart give back: but he came up again, and, in the greatness of his mind he let fly with such stoutness at the giant's head and sides, that he made him let his weapon fall out of his hand. So he smote him, and slew him, and cut off his head, and brought it away to the inn. He also took Feeble-mind, the pilgrim, and brought him with him to his lodgings. When they were come home, they showed his head to the family, and then set it up as they had done others before, for a terror to those that should attempt to do as he hereafter.

Then they asked Mr. Feeble-mind how he fell into his hands.

FEEBLE. Then said the poor man, "I am a sickly man, as you see; and, because death did usually once a day knock at my door, I thought I should never be well at home: so I betook myself to a pilgrim's life, and have travelled hither from the town of Uncertain, where I and my father were born. I am a man of no strength at all of body, nor yet of mind, but would, if I could, though I can but crawl, spend my life in the pilgrim's way. When I came at the gate that is at the head of the way, the Lord of that place did entertain me freely neither objected he against my weakly looks, nor against my feeble mind; but gave me such things as were necessary for my journey, and bid me hope to the end. When I came to the house of the Interpreter, I received much kindness there; and, because the hill Difficulty was judged too hard for me, I was carried up that by one of his servants. Indeed, I have found much relief from pilgrims: though none were willing to go so softly as I am forced to do, yet still, as they came on, they bid me be of good cheer, and said that it was the will of their Lord

FEEBLE-MIND NARRATES HIS ADVENTURES.

Mark this!

237

that comfort should be given to the feeble-minded (1 Thes v. 14), and so went on their own pace. When I was come to Assaultlane, then this giant met with me, and bid me prepare for an encounter. But, alas! feeble one that I was, I had more need of a cordial; so he came up and took me. I conceited he should not kill me. Also when he had got me into his den, since I went not with him willingly, I believed I should come out alive again; for I have heard, that not any pilgrim that is taken captive by violent hands, if he keeps heartwhole towards his Master, is, by the laws of providence, to die by the hands of the enemy. Robbed I looked to be, and robbed to be sure I am; but I have, as you see, escaped with life, for the which I thank my King as author, and you as the means. Other brunts I also look for, but this I have resolved on; to wit, to run when I can, to go when I cannot run, and to creep when I cannot go. As to the main, I thank him that loves me, I am fixed; my way is mind is beyond the river that has no bridge, though I am as you see, but of a feeble mind."

Mark this!

before me, my

HON. Then said old Mr. Honest, "Have not you some time ago been acquainted with one Mr. Fearing, a pilgrim ?"

FEEBLE. Acquainted with him! Yes; he came from the town of Stupidity, which lies four degrees northward of the City of Destruction, and as many off of where I was born; yet we were well acquainted, for indeed he was my uncle, my father's brother. He and I have been much of a temper: he was a little shorter than I, but yet we were much of a complexion.

HON. I perceive you know him, and I am apt to believe also that you are related one to another; for you have his whitely look, a cast like his with your eye, and your speech is much alike.

FEEBLE. Most have said so that have known us both: and besides, what I have read in him, I have for the most part found in myself.

GAIUS. " Come, sir," said good Gaius, "be of good cheer: you are welcome to me and to my house. What thou hast a mind to, call for freely; and what thou wouldst have my servants do for thee, they will do it with a ready mind."

Did Giant Slay

Then said Mr. Feeble-mind, "This is an unexpected favour, and as the sun shining out of a very dark cloud. good intend me this favour when he stopped me, and resolved to let me go no farther? Did he intend that, after he had rifled my pocket, I should go to Gaius mine host? Yet so it is."

Notice to be taken of Providence.

Now, just as Mr. Feeble-mind and Gaius were thus in talk, there came one running, and called at the door, and said, "that about a mile and a half off there was one Mr. Not-right, a