know not what they have found, cast it away again as men do a common ftone.

Well, faid Gaius, now you are here, and fince, 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 fee if we can do any good. About a mile from hence there is one Slaygood, a giant, who does much annoy the King's highway in thefe parts. I know whereabout his haunt is; he is master of a number of thieves, and it would be well if we could clear thefe parts of him.

So they confented and went: Mr. Great-heart with his fword, helmet, and shield; and the reft with fpears and ftaves".

When they came to the place where he was, they found him with one Feeble-mind in his hand, whom his fervants had brought unto him, having taken him in the way: now the giant was rifling him, and after that intended to pick his bones; for he was of the nature of flesh-eaters.

As foon as he faw Mr. Great-heart and his friends at the mouth of his cave, with their weapons, he demanded what they wanted.

It may be asked, How far it may be right in us to expofe ourfelves to dangers and difficulties, fince it is rashness, not courage, to expofe ourselves to unneceffary danger, or to give unneceffary offence? I would answer, It can never be improper to expose error, or oppofe a prevailing vice, by which God's children are in danger of being beguiled.

Great

Great-heart. We want thee, for we are come to revenge the quarrels of the many pilgrims whom thou haft flain, when thou haft dragged them out of the King's highway; wherefore come out of thy cave. He armed himfelf, and came out; and to battle they went, and fought for above an hour; and then ftood ftill to take wind.

Slay. Why are you here on my ground?

Great-heart. To revenge the blood of pilgrims, as I told thee before.

Upon this they went to it again, and the giant made Mr. Great-heart draw back; but he came up again, and, in the greatness of his mind, let fly with fuch ftoutnefs at the giant's head and sides, that he made him drop his weapon out of his hand; then he fmote him, and flew him, and cut off his head, and brought it away to the inn. He alfo took Feeble-mind the pilgrim, and brought him with him to his lodgings. When they were come home, they fhewed his head to the family; and fet it up, as they had done others before, for a terror to those who should hereafter attempt to do as he had done.

Then they afked Mr. Feeble-mind, how he fell into his hands?

Feeble-mind. I am a fickly man, as you fee; and because Death did usually once a-day knock at my door, I thought I should never be well at home: fo 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 ftrength at all of body, nor yet of mind, but would, if I could, though I can but crawl, fpend my life in the pilgrim's way. When I came at the gate which is at the head of the way, the Lord of that place did entertain me freely; neither did he object to my weakly looks, nor to my feeble mind; but gave me fuch things as were neceffary 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 Difficulty was judged too hard for me, I was carried up by one of his fervants. Indeed I have found much relief from pilgrims, though none were willing to go fo foftly as I am forced to do: yet ftill, as they came on, they bid me be of good cheer; and faid, that it was the will of their Lord that comfort fhould be given to the feeble-minded; and fo they went on their own pace. When I was come to Affault-lane this giant met with me, and bad me prepare for an encounter: but, alas! feeble as I was, I had more need of a cordial fo he came up and took me. I conceived he could not kill me; and when he had got me into his den, fince I went not with him willingly, I believed I should come out alive again; for I have heard, that no pilgrim, if taken captive by violent hands, who keeps his heart whole towards his Master, is, by the laws of Providence, to die by the hand of the enemy. I looked to be robbed, and robbed to be fure I am; but I am, as you fee, ef

caped

caped with life; for which I thank my King as the author, and you as the means. Other brunts I alfo look for; but this I have refolved on, namely, to run when I can, to walk when I cannot run, and to creep when I cannot walk. As to the main, thanks be to him who loved me, I am fixed: my way is before me, and my mind is beyond the river which has no bridge, though I am, as you fee, but of a feeble mind.

Hon. Have not you fome time ago been acquainted with one Mr. Fearing, a pilgrim?

Feebl. Acquainted with him, Yes; he came from the town of Stupidity, which lieth four degrees northward of the city of Deftruction, 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 fhorter than I, but yet we were much of a complexion.

Hon. I perceive you know him; and I am apt to believe that you were related one to another: you have his whitely look, a cast like his with your eye, and your speech is much alike.

Feebl. Moft have faid fo who have known us both; befides, what I have read in him, I have for the moft part found in myself,

Gaius. Come, Sir, be of good cheer; you are welcome to me and to my house; and what thou haft a mind to, call for it freely; and what thou

wouldest have my fervants do for thee, they will do it with a ready mind.

Feebl. This is an unexpected favour, and is as the fun fhining out of a very dark cloud: did giant Slaygood intend me this favour when he stopped me, and refolved to let me go no further? Did he intend, that after he had rifled my pocket, I fhould go to Gaius mine hoft? Yet fo it is.

Juft as Mr. Feeble-mind and Gaius were thus in talk, there came one running, and called at the door, and told them, 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.

Feebl. Alas! is he flain? He overtook me, fome days before I came as far as this place, and would be my company-keeper: he was also with me when Slay-good the giant took me, but he was nimble of his heels and escaped; but, it feems, efcaped to die, and I was taken to lived.

! What, one would think, doth feek to flay outright, Oft-times delivers from the faddeft plight.

The believing foul cannot but admire the interpofitions of Divine Providence, and is ready to acknowledge that overruling hand by which he has been protected and preferved. Events which at first appeared big with mifery and misfortune, have been found afterwards to have been as fo many dark paffages to lead into brighter and more glorious difplays of the divine power, wisdom, and goodness.

That