The Pilgrims go in search of Giant Slay-good,

Christ came, had then lost almost 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, judge of him by the meanness of his outside. just like those, who, not knowing that precious stones are covered over with a homely crust, 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 does much annoy the King's highway in these parts; and I know whereabout his haunt is. He is master of a number of thieves: it 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.

When they were come to the place where he was, they found him with one Feeble-mind in his hand, 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.

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 quarrels of the many pilgrims that thou hast

At the beginning of the day the scriptures will be read in every christian family; and it looks well when young people select the most edifying parts of the Bible for family reading. This will suggest matter for evangelical conversation, and give experienced christians an opportunity of shewing the folly of those unbelievers who despise and reject the Saviour.

"His worth if all the nations knew,

Sure the whole earth would love him too."-Watts.

and destroy bim.

slain, 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 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. Then he smote him, and slew him, and cut of 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 shewed his head to the family, and set it up as they had done others before, for a terror to those that should attempt to do as he hereafter.'

f Giant Slay-good represents a wicked cruel man, a mere can nibal, invested with judicial authority. The character is founded upon the following scriptures. "The wicked have drawn out the word, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation," Psal. xxxvii. 14. "Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart," Psa. cix. 16. It is probable, as the Rev. Mr. Scott suggests, that "the author had in view certain selfish and malignant persecutors," who intimidated feeble-minded, "professors, by fines and imprisonments, to the hazard of their lives and of their souls." By the thieves, of whom he was master, were perhaps intended the common informers, who got their living by giving evidence against persons for attending conventicles. Some cruel magistrates not only plundered the nonconformists of their property by fines, but also committed them to prison, where not a few of them died, The proposal of Gaius to find out this giant and attack him, and the whole company going out against him" with spears and staves,' while Great-heart was armed with "sword, helmet, and shield," may perhaps represent some benevolent and zealous dissenters, encouraging their faithful pastor to attack their persecutors with criptural arguments, whilst they themselves appealed to the laws of

Conversation with Feeble-mind

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 to 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 it 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 that comfort should be given to the feeble-minded, (1 Thess. v. 14.) and so went on their own pace. When 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 thought, however, that he would 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 heart-whole towards his Master, is,

the land, for the purpose of preventing such malepractices, saying, as the people did to Ezra, "Arise for this matter belongeth unto thee we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it ". Ezra x. 4.

& Mark this

on his Deliverance.

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 have, as you see, escaped with life, for the which I thank my King as the 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 walk when I cannot run, and to creep when I cannot walk. As to the main, I thank him that loved 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.

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 lieth four degrees northward of the City of Destruction, and as many from the place where I was born: yet we were wel. 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 knew him, and I am apt to believe also that you were related one to another; for you have his whitely look, a cast like his with your and your speech is much alike.

eye,

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.

Then said Mr. Feeble-mind, "This is an unexpected favour, and as the sun shining out of a very dark cloud. Did Giant Slay-good intend me this favour when he stopped me, and resolved to let me go no farther?

Gaius provides a Feast, preparatory to the Pilgrims' Departure.

Did he intend, that after he had rifled my pocket, I should go to Gaius mine host? Yet so it is."

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 pilgrim, struck dead upon the place where he was, with a thunderbolt."

FEEBLE. Alas! said Mr. Feeble-mind, is he slain? He overtook me some days before I came so far as hither, and would be my company-keeper. He also was 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 give death to him, and life to me.b

Now about this time Matthew and Mercy were married; also 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 as pilgrims use to do.

When they were to depart, Gaius made them a feast, 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 of pilgrims to pay for their entertainment. He boarded

The deliverance of Feeble-mind from prison, and the awful death of Not-right, who avoided persecution by flight, are a comment upon our Lord's words. "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it, Matt. xvi. 25.-Circumstances which threaten the destruction of good people, are oftentimes overruled for their spiritual advantage. "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God," Rom. vii. 28.-The most weak, feeble-minded christians are the objects of divine compassion, and are peculiarly the bjects of christian affection.