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FEEBLE-MIND'S ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF.

379

I

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 a 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 that 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, was carried up that by one of his servants. Indeed I have found much relief from pilgrims, though none was willing to go 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;"(a) 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 conceived 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 heart-whole towards his master, is, by the laws of providence, to die by the hand of the enemy. Robbed I looked to

All pilgrims are not alike vigorous, strong, and lively. Some are weak, creep and crawl on, in the ways of the Lord. No matter; if there be but a pilgrim's heart, all shall be well at last : for Omnipotence itself is for us and then we may boldly ask, while we are obedient to the truth, Who shall be against us?

(a) 1 Thess. v. 14.

380

FEEBLE-MIND CONTINUES HIS NARRATIVE.

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 when I can, to go when I cannot run, and to creep when I cannot go. 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 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 were 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.

Come, Sir, said good Gaius, be of good cheer; you are welcome to me, and to my house; and what thou hast a mind to, call for freely; and what thou wouldest have my servants do for thee, they will do 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.

What a sweet, simple relation is here! doth it not suit many a feebleminded Christian? Poor soul, weak as he was, yet his Lord provided against his danger. He sent some strong ones to his deliverance, and to slay his enemy. Mind his belief, even in his utmost extremity. Learn somewha*. from this Feeble-mind.

NOT-RIGHT STRUCK DEAD.

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Did giant Slay-good intend me this favour when he stopt me, and resolved to let me go no further? 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 comes one running, and called at the door and told, 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 thunder-bolt.

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 took to live.t

"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."

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 staid about ten days at Gaius's house; spending their time, and the seasons, like as pilgrims used to do.

* O how sweet to reflect, the most gigantic enemy shall be conquered, and their most malicious designs shall be over-ruled for our good: yea, what they intend for our ruin shall be made to work for our health and prosperity.

See the various dealings of God, and more and more adore him in all his ways of providence and grace.

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Know, all the ways of God to men are just ;

And, where you can't unriddle, learn to trust."

The reader may remember that Mercy had sometime before refused the addresses of Mr. Brisk, alleging that she was determined not to have a clog to her soul: but now the Lord provides an help-meet for her in Matthew, a sincere young pilgrim. Happy is the match which is made in the Lord, and the partners who are united in eternal bonds!

382

THE HOSPITALITY OF GAIUS.

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 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. (a) Then said Mr. Great-heart to him, "Beloved, thou doest faithfully, whatsoever thou doest to the brethren and to strangers, which have borne witness of thy charity before the church, whom if thou yet bring forward on their journey, after a godly sort, thou shalt do well.”(b)

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

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THE PILGRIMS LEAVE THE HOUSE OF GAIUS. 383

CHAPTER XII.

THE PILGRIMS ARE JOINED BY MR.

READY-TO-HALT,

AND PROCEED TO THE TOWN OF VANITY, WHERE
THEY ARE AGREEABLY LODGED BY MR. MNASON;
AND MEET WITH AGREEABLE COMPANY.THEY EN-
COUNTER A FORMIDABLE MONSTER.

NOW Mr. Feeble-mind, when they were going out at the door, made as if he intended to linger. The 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 rest."

FEEBLE. Alas! I want a suitable companion; you are all lusty and strong; but I, as you see, am weak; I choose therefore rather to come behind, lest by reason of my many infirmities, I should be both a burden to myself and to you, I am, as I said, a man of a weak and feeble mind, and shall be offended and made weak at that which others can bear. I shall like no laughing; I shall like no gay attire: I shall like no unprofitable questions. Nay, I am so weak a man, as to be of fended at that which others have a liberty to do. I do not know all the truth: I am a very ignorant Christian man sometimes, if I hear some rejoice in the Lord, it troubles me, because I cannot do so too. It is with me, as it is with a weak man among the strong, or as a lamp, despised, "He that is ready to slip with his feet, is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease;"(a) so that I know not what to do.*

But, brother, said Mr. Great-heart, I have it in commission to "comfort the feeble-minded," and to

* What an open ingenuous confession is here! though feeble in mind, he was strong in wisdom and sound judgment.

(a) Job xii. 5.

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