Great-heart relates the History of Mr. Fearing.

I got him in at the house Beautiful, I think before he was willing. Also when he was in, I brought him acquainted with the damsels that were of the place; but he was ashamed to make himself much for company. He desired much to be alone; yet he always loved good talk, and often would get behind the skreen to hear it. He also loved much to see ancient things, and to be pondering them in his mind. He told me afterwards, that he loved to be in those two houses from which he came last, to wit, at the gate, and that of the Interpreter, but that he durst not be so bold as to ask.

When we went also from the house Beautiful, down the hill, into the Valley of Humiliation, he went down as well as I ever saw a man in my life; for he cared not how mean he was, so he might be happy at last. Yea, I think there was a kind of sympathy betwixt that valley and him; for I never saw him better in all his pilgrimage than he was in that valley.

Here he would lie down, embrace the ground, and kiss the very flowers that grew in this valley. (Lam. iii. 27, 29.) He would now be up every morning by break of day, tracing and walking to and fro in the valley.

But when he was come to the entrance of the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I thought I should have lost my man not for that he had any inclination to go back; that he always abhorred; but he was ready to die for fear. "Oh, the hobgoblins will have me, the hobgoblins will have me!" cried he; and I could not beat him out of it. He made such a noise, and such an outcry here, that had they but heard him, it was enough to encourage them to come and fall upon us.

But this I took very great notice of, that this valley was as quiet when he went through it, as ever I knew it before or since. I suppose those enemies here had now a special check from our Lord, and a command not to meddle until Mr. Fearing was passed over it. It would be too tedious to tell you of all: we will

Great-heart's reflection on Mr. Fearing's History.

therefore only mention a passage or two more. When he was come to Vanity Fair, I thought he would have fought with all the men in the fair. I feared that we

should both have been knocked on the head, so hot was he against their fooleries. Upon the Enchanted Ground he was also very wakeful. But when he was come to the river where was no bridge, there again he was in a heavy case. Now, now, he said, he should be drowned for ever, and so never see that face with comfort, which he had come so many miles to behold.

And here also I took notice of what was very remarkable; the water of the river was lower than ever I saw it at any other time in all my life: so he went over at last, not much above wetshod. When he was going up to the gate, I began to take leave of him, and to wish him a good reception above. He answered, “I shall, I shall." Then parted we asunder, and I saw him no more.

HON. Then it seems he was happy at last?

GREAT. Yes, yes, I never had doubt about him. He was a man of a choice spirit, only he was always kept very low, which made his life so burdensome to himself, and so very troublesome to others. (Psa. lxxxviii. 15.) He was above many, tender of sin he was so afraid of doing injuries to others, that he often would deny himself of that which was lawful, because he would not offend. (Rom. xiv. 21. 1 Cor. viii. 13.) HON. But what could be the reason that such a good man should be all his days so much in the dark?

GREAT. There are two sorts of reasons for it. One is, the wise God will have it so: some must pipe, and some must weep. (Matt. xi. 16.) Now Mr. Fearing was one that played upon the bass. He and his fellows sound the sackbut, whose notes are more doleful than the notes of other music are: though indeed some say, the bass is the ground of music. And for my part, I care not at all for that profession which begins not in heaviness of mind. The first string that

1

Conversation on Mr. Fearing's History.

the musician usually touches, is the bass, when he intends to put all in tune. God also plays upon this string first, when he sets the soul in tune for himself. Only here was the imperfection of Mr. Fearing; he could play upon no other music but this, till towards his latter end.°

HON. He was a very zealous man, as one may see by the relation which you have given of him. Difficulties, lions, or Vanity Fair, he feared not at all; it was only sin, death, and bell, that were to him a terror, because he had some doubts about his interest in the celestial country.

GREAT. You say right; those were the things that were his troubles: and this, as you have well observed, arose from the weakness of his mind thereabout, not from weakness of spirit as to the practical part of a pilgrim's life. I dare believe that, as the proverb is, he could have bit a firebrand, had it stood in his way; but those things with which he was oppressed, no man ever yet could shake off with ease.

CHR. Then said Christiana. This relation of Mr. Fearing has done me good: 1 thought nobody had been like me. But I see there was some semblance betwixt this good man and me: only we differ in two things. His troubles were so great, that they brake out; but mine I have kept within. His also lay so hard upon him, that they made him that he could not knock at the houses provided for entertainment; but my troubles have always been such as made me knock the louder.

MER. If I might also speak my mind, I must say that something of him has also dwelt in me. For I bave ever been more afraid of the lake, and of the loss of a place in paradise, than I have been of the loss of

• I make bold to talk thus metaphorically, for the ripening of the wits of young readers, and because in the book of the Revelation, the saved are compared to a company of musicians, that play upon their trumpets and harps, and sing their songs before the throne. Rev. xiv. 2, 3.

Conversation on Mr. Fearing's History.

other things. O, thought I, may I have the happiness to have a habitation there! That will be enough, though I part with all the world to win it.

MATT. Then said Matthew, Fear was one thing that made me think that I was far from having that within me which accompanies salvation. But if it was so with such a good man as he, why may it not also go well with me?

JAMES. No fears, no grace, said James. Though there is not always grace where there is the fear of hell, yet to be sure there is no grace where there is no fear of God.

GREAT. Well said, James; thou hast hit the mark. For the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom; and to be sure they that want the beginning have neither middle nor end. But we will here conclude our discourse of Mr. Fearing, after we have sent after him his farewell.

Well, Master Fearing, thou dist fear
Thy God, and wast afraid

Of doing any thing, while here,
That would have thee betray'd.

And didst thou fear the lake and pit
Would others do so too!

For, as for them that want thy wit,
They do themselves undo. P

P The character which is here drawn with so masterly a hand, is that of a christian whose temperament was so melancholy as to make him a constant burden to himself, and to all about him; "a good man, though much down in spirit;" one who seemed to have "a Slough of Despond in his mind, a slough that he carried every where with him;" one who was constantly writing bitter things against himself, and was under the influence of "the fear which hath torment," 1 John iv. 18.; but yet so scrupulously conscientious, as to be "above many tender of sin, and so afraid of doing injury to others, that he often would deny himself of that which was lawful, because he would not offend." His fear did not relate to duties, or to trials; but proceeded from an apprehension that he should not at last be received into heaven. Serious persons of this cast of mind suffer greatly from desponding thoughts,-from fear that their prayers will not be heard. They are backward to attend public ordinances, and must be almost dragged into the churchd 14

3 B

Honest gives an Account of Self-will.

Now I saw that they all went on in their talk. For after Mr. Great-heart had made an end with Mr. Fearing, Mr. Honest began to tell them of another whose name was Mr. Self-will. "He pretended himself to be a pilgrim," said Mr. Honest; "but I persuade myself he never came in at the gate that stands at the head of the way."

GREAT. Had you ever any talk with him about it?

HON. Yes, more than once or twice; but he was, like himself, self-willed. He neither cared for man. nor argument, nor example; what his mind prompted him to, that he would do, and nothing else could he be got to.

GREAT. Pray what principles did he hold? for I suppose you can tell.

Fears of death and hell much torment them, and the prospect of dying overwhelms them. But they delight to dwell on the atonement of Christ; they take pleasure in solitude, and abound in bumility; and they are provoked at the folly of them who are seeking gratification from the world. It is not the difficulties of the way, nor the frowns of the world, that make them afraid; but "sin, death, and hell," and their "doubts about their interest in the celestial country." The tender care of God is very observable in the history of these conscientious, distressed, and distressing persons. They do not suffer so much in enduring a trial, as they did in expecting its arrival; they are indulged with some sweet manifestations of the love of Christ, and are enabled to enjoy the tender promises of the gospel; and they frequently die remarkably calm and happy. It is to be observed that our author has not censured Mr. Fearing: he considered his state of mind as an affliction, not a fault. Indeed, he intimates a high estimation of his excellencies. "I care not at all," says Mr. Great-heart, "for that profession which begins not in heaviness of mind." And again;"He was a man of a choice spirit." Also ;-"The wise God will have it so; some must pipe, and some must weep." "No fears, no grace," is a good maxim. There can be no grace, where there is no fear of God. "The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Happy is the man that feareth always," Prov. xxviii. 14. Such christians have not so much enjoyment as some others; but they walk in a safe path, and shall have a glorious recompence for all their toils; while many who have despised them as mopes and fools, will find themselves, through their own folly in despising eligious people, eternally undone.