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now; here is a riddle for you. Then said Mr. Honest, Let us hear it.

Then said Mr. Great-heart :

He that would kill, must first be overcome

Who live abroad would, first must die at home.

A riddle.

Ha! said Mr. Honest, it is a hard one; hard to expound, and harder to practice. 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; 't was put to you, and 't is expected you should

answer it.

Then said the old gentleman:

He first by grace must conquered be,

That sin would mortify:

Who, that he lives, would convince me,
Unto himself must die.

The riddle opened.

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 cords, by which the soul lies bound, how should it make resistance, before it is loosed from that infirmity?

Secondly. Nor will any 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.

A question worth the minding.

And now it comes to 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 weak 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

A comparison.

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.

A mistake.

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 man 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 was up, Christiana bid her son James that he should read a chapter; so he read the 53d of Isaiah. When he had Another question. done, Mr. Honest asked, Why it was said that the Saviour is said to "come out of a dry ground?" and also, that "he had no form nor comeliness in him?”

Then said Mr. Great-heart, To the first I answer, Because the church of the Jews, of which Christ came, had then almost lost all the sap and spirit of religion. To the second I say, The words are spoken in the person of Unbelievers, who, because they want the 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 away again, 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. 'T would 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.

Giant Slay-good found with

one

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

hand.

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-heart. We want thee; for we are come to revenge the quarrels 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

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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 The Giant assaulthead and sides, that he made him let his weapon ed and slain. 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 Feeblemind, the Pilgrim, and brought him with him to his lodgings. When they were come home, they showed his head to the family, and set it up, as they had done others before, for a terror to those that shall attempt to do as he, hereafter.

Then they asked Mr. Feeble-mind, how he fell into his hands? 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 grim. mind; but would, if I could, though I can but crawl, spend my

How Feeble-mind

came to be a Pil

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 of 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 was 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 that comfort should be given to the feeble-minded; and so went on their own pace.* When I was come to Assault-lane, 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 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 heart-whole towards his Master, is, by the laws of Providence, to die by the hand of the enemy. Robbed I looked to be, and robbed to be sure I am ; but I am, 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

Mark this.

Mark this.

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 before me, my mind is beyond the river that has no bridge, though I am, as you see, but of a feeble mind.

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

· Feeble-mind. Acquainted with him! yes, he came from the town of Stupidity, which lieth four degrees to the northward of the city of Destruction, and as many off, of where I was born; yet we were well acquainted, for indeed he was mine 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.

Mr. Fearing, Mr. Feeble-mind's un

cle.

Hon. I perceive you knew him, and I am apt to believe also that Feeble-mind has you were related one to another; for you have his whitely look, a cast like his with your eye, and your speech is much alike.

some of Mr. Fear ing's features.

1 Thess. v. 14.

Feeble-mind. 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.

Come, sir, said good Gaius, be of good cheer; Gaius comforts you are welcome to me and to my house; and him.

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. Then said Mr. Feeble-mind, This is unexpected favour, and as the sun shining out of a very dark cloud. Did Notice to be taken Giant Slay-good intend me this favour when he stopped me, and resolved to let me go no further ? that, after he had rifled my pockets, I should go host? Yet so it is.

of Providence.

Did he intend, to Gaius, mine

Tidings how one

Now, just as Mr. Feeble-mind and Gaius were thus in talk, there comes one running, and called Not-right was slain at the door, and told that, about a mile and a half by a thunderbolt. off, there was one Mr. Not-right, a Pilgrim, struck dead upon the place where he was with a thunderbolt. Alas! said Mr. Feebiemind, is he slain! He overtook me some days be- Mr. Feeble-mind's fore I came so far as hither, and would be my com- comment upon it. pany-keeper. He was also with me when Slay-good the Giant took me ; but he was nimble of his heels and escaped; but it seems, he escaped to die, and I was taken to live.

What, one would think, doth seek to slay outright,
Oft-times delivers from the saddest plight.

That very Providence, whose face is death,

Doth oft-times to the lowly life bequeath:

I taken was; he did escape and flee;

Hands cross'd gave death to him, and life to me.

also

Now, about this time, Matthew and Mercy were married; Gaius gave his daughter Phebe to James, Matthew's brother, to wife. After which time they yet stayed about ten days at Gaius's house, spending their time and the seasons like as Pilgrim's use to do.

When they were to depart, Gaius made them a The Pilgrims pre feast, and they did eat and drink, and were merry. pare to go forward. 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 promised him, at his return, whatsoever charge he was at with them, faithfully to repay him.* Then said Mr. Great-heart to him:

* Luke x. 34, 35.

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