His terrors in the Shadow of Death.

that his troubles were not about such things as these, his fear was about his acceptance at last. (r)

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 screen 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 he went also from the house Beautiful, down the hill into the Valley of Humiliation, he went down as well as ever I 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. (s) 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. (t)

But, when he was come to the entrance of the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I thought I should

(r) See all through this character, what a conflict there was between fear and the influence of grace. Though it may not be the most comfortable, yet the end of Mr. Fearing was very joyful. O, what a godly jealousy displayed itself all through his life! Better this, than strong vain-glorious confidence.

(s) The Valley of Humiliation suits well with fearing hearts. (t) Fearing souls dwell much early and late, in the Valley of Meditation.

His boldness at Vanity Fair

have lost my man, not for that he had an 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 on't. He made such a noise, and such an outcry here, that had they but heard him, 'twas 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 we 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 would be too tedious to tell you of all; we will 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 there we should both have been knocked on the head, so hot was he against fooleries; (u) upon the enchanted ground, he was also very wakeful.

But when he was come at the river where was no bridge, there again he was in a heavy case: Now, now, said he, he should be drowned for ever, and so never see that face with comfort, that he had come so many miles to behold.

Here also I took notice of what was very remarkable; the water of that river was lower at this time than ever I saw it in my life: so he went over at last, not much above wetshod. (x)

When he was going up to the gate, Mr. Great

(u) Hear is a glorious display of a fearing heart. courage against evil, and fired with zeal for God's glory.

Full of

(x) O, how glorious is our Lord! As thy day is, O pilgrim, so shall thy strength be. Even the river of death, though there be no bridge to go over, yet faith makes one; and the Lord of faith makes the waters low, to suit the state of his beloved ones.

His safe arrival at the Celestial City.

heart began to take his leave of him, and to wish him a good reception above: so he said, "I shall, I shall:" then parted we asunder, and I saw him no

more.

Hon. Then, it seems, he was well at last!

Great-heart. Yes, yes; I never had any doubt about him; he was a man of a choice spirit; only he was always kept very low, and that made his life so burthensome to himself, and so very troublesome to others. Psalm lxxxiii. Rom. xiv. 1. 1 Cor. viii. 13. He was, above many, tender of sin: he was so afraid of doing injury to others, that he would often deny himself of that which was lawful, because he would not offend. (y)

Hon. But what should be the reason that such a good man should be all his days so much in the dark!

Great-heart. There are two sorts of reasons for it: one is, The wise God will have it so: some must pipe, and some must weep: now Mr. Fearing was one that played upon the bass. He and his fellows, sound the sackbut, whose notes are more doleful than 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 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 there was the imperfection of Mr. Fearing, he could play upon no other music than this, till towards his latter end. I make bold to talk thus metaphorically, for the ripening of the

(y) O, this is a blessed spirit! Ye who are strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might, study to exeel therein.

Remarks on the character of Mr. Fearing.

wits of young readers; and because in the book of Revelations the saved are compared to a company of musicians, that play upon their trumpets and harps, and sing their songs before the throne. Rev. viii.-xiv. 2, 3.

Hon. He was a very zealous man, as one may see by what relation you have given of him. Devils, lions, or Vanity Fair he feared not at all: it was only sin, death, and hell, that were to him a terror: because he had some doubts about his interest in that Celestial Country. (z)

Great-heart. You say right; those were the things that were his troubles; and they, 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 the way:" but those things, with which he was oppressed, no man ever yet could shake off with ease.

Christiana. Then said Christiana, this relation of Mr. Fearing has done me no good: I 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 kept within. His also lay so hard upon him, they made him that he could not knock at the houses provided for entertainment; but my troubles were always such as made me knock the louder.

(z) Here is a very striking lesson for professors. Talk not of your great knowledge, rich experience, comfortable frames, and joyful feelings; all are vain and delusive, if the gospel has not a holy influence upon your practice. On the other hand, be not dejected, if you are not favoured with these; for if a holy fear of God, and a godly jealousy over yourselves, possess your heart, verily, you are a partaker of the grace of Christ.

A commendation of godly fear.

Mercy. If I might also speak my mind. I must say, that something of him has also dwelt in me; for I have ever been more afraid of the lake, and the loss of a place in paradise, than I have been at the loss of other things. Oh! thought I, may I have the happiness to have a habitation there, it is 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 that 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-heart. 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 or end. But we will here conclude our discourse of Mr. Fearing, after we have sent after him his farewell.

"Whilst, Master Fearing, thou didst 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.'

Now I saw that they all went on in their talk; for after Mr. Great-heart had made an end of Mr. Fearing, Mr, Honest began to tell them of another; but his name was Mr. Self-will. himself to be a pilgrim, said Mr.

He pretended Honest; but I