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The Pilgrims arrive at By-path Meadow.

eat of, that fell over the wall out of Beelzebub's garden; but fruit that procureth health where there is none, and continueth and increaseth it where it is. So they were content to commit their little ones to nim; and that which was also an encouragement to them so to do, was, that all this was to be at the charge of the King, and so was an hospital for young children and orphans.

Now they went on. And when they were come to By-path meadow, to the stile over which Christian went with his fellow Hopeful, when they were taken by Giant Despair, and put into Doubting-castle, they sat down, and consulted what was best to be done; to wit, now they were so strong, and had got such a man as Mr. Great-heart for their conductor, whether they had not better make an attempt upon the giant, demolish his castle, and if there were any pilgrims in it, set them at liberty, before they went any farther. So one said one thing, and another said the contrary. One questioned if it was lawful to go upon unconsecrated ground; another said they might, provided their end was good; but Mr. Great-heart said," Though the assertion offered last cannot be universally true, yet I have a commandment to strive against sin, to overcome evil, and to fight the good fight of faith: and I pray, with whom should I fight this good fight, if not with Giant Despair? I will therefore attempt the taking away of his life and the demolishing of Doubtingcastle." He added, "Who will go with me?" Then said old Honest, "I will." "And so will we too," said Christiana's four sons, Matthew, Samuel, James, and Joseph; for they were young inen and strong. (1 John ii. 13. 14.) So they left the women in the road, and with them Mr. Feeble-mind, and Mr. Ready-tohalt with his crutches, to be their guard, until they came back; for though to that place Giant Despair welt so near, yet they keeping in the road, a little child might lead them. (Isa. xi. 6.)

So Mr. Great-beart, old Honest, and the four young men, went to go up to Doubting-castle, to

Mr. Great-heart and the Pilgrims attack Doubting-castle.

look for Giant Despair. When they came to the castle-gate, they knocked for entrance with an unusual noise. With that the old giant came to the gate, and Diffidence his wife followed. Then said he, "Who and what is he that is so hardy, as after this manner to molest the Giant Despair?" Mr. Great-beart replied, "It is I, Great-heart, one of the King of the celestial country's conductors of pilgrims to their place; and I demand of them that thou open thy gates for my entrance: prepare thyself also to fight, for I am come to take away thy head, and to demolish Doubting-castle."

Now Giant Despair, because he was a giant, thought no man could overcome him; and again he thought, "Since heretofore I bave made a conquest of angels, shall Great-heart make me afraid ?" So he harnessed himself, and cane out. He had a cap of steel upon his head, a breast-plate of fire girded to him, and he came out in iron shoes, with a great club in his hand. Then these six men made up to him, and beset him behind and before: also when Diffidence the giantess came up to help him, old Mr. Honest cut her down at one blow. Then they fought for their lives, and Giant Despair was brought down to the ground, but was very loath to die. He struggled hard, and bad, as they say, as many lives as a cat; but Great-heart was his death, for he left him not till he had severed his head from his shoulders."

• Our author foresaw that objections would be justly made to Its being represented as the duty of Christians to divest their minds. of all doubts respecting their character and safety, inasmuch as this would be in opposition to the approbation which he had ex pressed, by describing the character of Mr. Fearing, of a cautious, circumspect, watchful deportment, as highly ornamental and beneficial. It should, however, be recollected, that doubts and fears generated by unbelief are very different from caution and circumspection produced by a reverence of the Divine Majesty, and from a fear of sinning against God arising from a suspicion of the hu❤ man heart, and a dread of the devices of Satan.-It is a sound

The Pilgrims demolish Doubting-castle.

Then they fell to demolishing Doubting-castle, and that you know might with ease be done, since Giant Despair was dead. They were seven days in destroying that; and in it of pilgrims they found one Mr. Despondency, almost starved to death, and one Much-afraid his daughter: these two they saved alive. But it would have made you wonder to see the dead bodies that lay here and there in the castle-yard, and how full of dead men's bones the dungeon was.

Orinciple, that the goodness of the motive does not always prove the lawfulness of the action. If the contrary were universally admitted, it would follow that Saul did right in persecuting the christians, which he did very conscientiously, but which, when he afterwards judged rightly, he most bitterly bewailed and condemned. From general commands it may be safely inferred, that duties which fall under them, though not expressly mentioned, will be pleasing to God. To "strive against sin, and to fight the good fight of faith," are expressly commanded; but for a believer is Christ to despair of obtaining mercy, or to doubt whether God will fulfil his promises, is not to strive against sin, but to cherish it; it is not "to fight the good fight of faith," but to stagger at the promise of God through unbelief. It therefore follows, that it is the duty of every christian to strive against sin even unto blood, and that it will be to the honour of those who are so courageous as to overcome the wicked one, by being strong in faith, giving glory to God. Even weak and feeble-minded or halting christians, if they do not rise to the honour of joining in the conflict, need not, while they "keep in the road," entertain any apprehensions of dying in despair.-The triumph of despair in the case of the "fallen angels," is no argument why repenting men, who believe in the Saviour, should be overcome by it. The former were left as prisoners without hope; but the latter are prisoners of hope: "for Christ took not on him the nature of angels, but the seed of Abraham," Heb. xi. 16.-DIFFIDENCE, or distrust, and want of confidence in the divine faithfulness, will be immediately destroyed by a sincere reliance upon the truth of God's word. The struggle with despair may be dangerous, and painful, and long continued; but it shall be finally successful." I am persuaded," says the apostle, "that neither death, nor life nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, or any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord," Rom. viii, 38, 39.

Mr. Great-heart releases Mr. Despondency aud his Daughter.

When Mr. Great-heart and his companions had performed this exploit, they took Mr. Despondency, and his daughter Much-afraid, into their protection ; for they were honest people, though they were pri soners in Doubting-castle to Giant Despair. They, therefore, I say, took with them the head of the giant, (for his body they had buried under a heap of stones,) and down to the road and their companions they came, and showed them what they had done. Now when Feeble-mind and Ready-to-halt saw that it was the head of Giant Despair indeed, they were very jocund and merry. Now Christiana, if need were, could play upon the viol, and her daughter Mercy upon the lute: so since they were so merrily disposed, she played them a lesson, and Ready-tohalt would dance. So he took Despondency's daugh ter Much-afraid by the hand, and to dancing they went in the road. True, he could not dance without one crutch in his hand; but I promise you, he footed it well also the girl was to be commended, for she answered the music handsomely.

As for Mr. Despondency, the music was not so much to him; he was for feeding, rather than danc. ing, for that he was almost starved. So Christiana gave him some of her bottle of spirits for present relief, and then prepared him something to eat; and in a little time the old gentleman came to himself, and began to be finely revived.

Now I saw in my dream, when all these things were finished, that Mr. Great-heart took the head of Giant Despair, and set it upon a pole by the highwayside, right over against the pillar that Christian erect. ed for a caution to pilgrims who should come after, to take heed of entering into his grounds.

Then he wrote under it upon a marble stone these verses following:

"This is the head of him, whose name only
In former times did pilgrims terrify.

The Pilgrims arrive at the Delectable Mountains.

His castle's down, and Diffidence his wife
Brave Master Great-heart has bereft of life.
Despondency, his daughter Much-afraid,
Great-heart for them also the man has play d.
Who hereof doubts, if he'll but cast his eye
Up hither may his scruples satisfy.

This head also, when doubting cripples dance,
Doth shew from fears they have deliverance."D

When these men had thus bravely showed themselves against Doubting-castle, and had slain Giant Despair, they went forward, and went on till they came to the Delectable Mountains, where Christian and Hopeful refreshed themselves with the varieties of the place. They also acquainted themselves with the Shepherds there, who welcomed them, as they had done Christian before, unto the Delectable Mountains.

Now the Shepherds seeing so great a train follow

It is the privilege of some well-instructed, spiritually-minded, established christians, to be able to say with Paul, "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Anien." 2 Tim. iv. 18. Many who have been at some periods very "desponding," and "much afraid" of perishing, have arrived at the full assurance of hope, and have gained a glorious triumph over despair, and all its tormenting and baneful influence; whilst many professors, (and it may be some real christians in consequence of an insane mind,) have fallen victims to it.-Weak and unstable christians, when convinced that their fears and suspicions were groundless, will join in the joys of hope, and participate in the triumphs of faith; and if there are any who do not rise to these enjoyments, through a desponding mind, they may find reviving consolation and support in the precious promises of the gospel.-The conquests which strong believers have obtained over doubts and despondency should be told for the encouragement of others, that they may exercise an humble confidence in the mercy of God through Christ; but not for the purpose of leading any to indulge a presumptuous confidence, not warranted by the word of God, which always connects happiness with holiness. The lines on the monument inculcate the former; and the following lines under a woodcut in the old editions, guard against the latter.

Though Doubting-castle is demolished, nd the Giant Despair bath bost his head,

Slo can rebuild the castle, make it remain,
And make Despair the giant live

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