The Pilgrim's Progress - Part Two
The Author's Way of Sending Forth His Second Part
of the Pilgrim | 1 | 2 | 3
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20
| 21 | 22 | 23
| 24 | 25 | 26
Back to Pilgrim's Homepage
The Slaying of Slay-Good
"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 doth much annoy the King's highway in these parts.
And I know whereabout his haunt is: he is master of a number of thieves; 'twould
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 came to the place where he was, they found him with one FEEBLE-MIND in
his hands, whom his servants had brought unto him, having taken him in the way. Now
the giant was filling of him, with a purpose, after that, to pick his bones; for
he was of the nature of a flesh eater.
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-heart. "We want thee; for we are come to revenge the quarrel of
the many that thou hast slain of the pilgrims, 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 a battle they went, and fought for above an hour, and then stood
still to take wind.
Slay-good. Then said the giant, "Why are you here on my ground?"
Great-heart. "To revenge the blood of pilgrims; as I also 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. So
he smote him and slew him, and cut off 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 showed his head to the family; and then set it up as they
had done others before, for a terror to those that should attempt to do as he hereafter.
Mr. Feeble-Mind
Then they asked Mr. FEEBLE-MIND how he fell into his hands.
Feeble-mind. 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 pilgrims' 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 bade 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 that by one of his servants. Indeed, I have found much relief
from pilgrims; though none was willing to go so softly as I am forced to do. Yet
still, as they came on, they bade me be of good cheer; and said, that it was the
will of their Lord that comfort should be given to the feeble-minded, and so went
on their own pace.
"Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them
that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all
men."
~ 1 Thessalonians 5:14 ~
When I was come up to Assault Lane, then this giant met with me, and bade 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 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 loves 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."
Honest. Then said old Mr. HONEST, "Have you not, some time ago, been
acquainted with one Mr. FEARING, a pilgrim?"
Feeble-mind. Acquainted with him! yes. He came from the town of Stupidity,
which lies four degrees to the northward of the city of Destruction, and as many
off of where I was born. Yet we were well acquainted: for indeed he was mine 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.
Honest. 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-mind. 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; and 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."
Feeble-mind. Then said Mr. FEEBLE-MIND, "This is 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? Did he intend that after
he had rifled my pockets, 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 thunderbolt.
Feeble-mind. "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 crossed give death to him, and life to me."
A Feast and a Farewell
Now about this time MATTHEW and MERCY were married; also GAIUS gave his daughter
PHOEBE to JAMES, MATTHEW'S brother, to wife: after which time, they yet stayed above
ten days at GAIUS's house, spending their time and the seasons like as pilgrims used
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
for 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.
"But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed,
came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went
to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his
own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when
he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto
him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will
repay thee."
~ Luke 10:33-35 ~
Then said Mr. GREAT-HEART to him:
Great-heart. 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".
"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 bring forward on their journey after a godly sort,
thou shalt do well:"
~ 3 John 1:5, 6 ~
Then GAIUS took his leave of them all: and of his children; and particularly of Mr.
FEEBLE-MIND. He also gave him something to drink by the way.
Now Mr. FEEBLE-MIND, when they were going out of 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-mind. 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 offended with that
which others have a liberty to do. I do not yet 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 with a sick man among the healthy; 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."
"He that is ready to slip with his
feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease."
~ Job 12:5 ~
So that I know not what to do.
Great-heart. "But, brother," said Mr. GREAT-HEART, "I have
it in commission to comfort the feeble-minded and to support the weak. You must needs
go along with us: we will wait for you; we will lend you our help; we will deny ourselves
of some things, opinionative and practical, for your sake; we will not enter into
doubtful disputations before you; we will be made all things to you rather than you
shall be left behind".
"Him that is weak in the faith receive ye,
but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things:
another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth
not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received
him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth
or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man
esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every
man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it
unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard
it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that
eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth
to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord:
whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ both
died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But
why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for
we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As
I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess
to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not
therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock
or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. I know, and am persuaded by the
Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth
any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably.
Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil
spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace,
and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable
to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make
for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. For meat destroy not the work
of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who
eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor
any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth
not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he
eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith
is sin."
~ Romans 14:1-23 ~
"Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge.
Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth
any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the
same is known of him. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are
offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world,
and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called
gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But
to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and
we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience
of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their
conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither,
if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse."
~ 1 Corinthians 8:1-8 ~
Now all this while they were at GAIUS's door; and behold, as they were thus in the
heat of their discourse, Mr. READY-TO- HALT came by with his crutches in his hand,
and he also was going on pilgrimage.
"For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow
is continually before me."
~ Psalms 38:17 ~
Feeble-mind. Then said Mr. FEEBLE-MIND to him, "Man, how camest thou
hither? I was but just now complaining that I had not a suitable companion; but thou
art according to my wish. Welcome, welcome, good Mr. READY-TO-HALT; I hope thee and
I may be some help."
Ready-to-halt. "I shall be glad of thy company," said the other;
"and good Mr. FEEBLE-MIND, rather than we will part, since we are thus happily
met, I will lend thee one of my crutches."
Feeble-mind. "Nay," said he, "though I thank thee for thy good-will,
I am not inclined to halt before I am lame. Howbeit, I think, when occasion is, it
may help me against a dog."
Ready-to-halt. If either myself or my crutches can do thee a pleasure, we
are both at thy command, good Mr. FEEBLE-MIND.
The Pilgrim's Progress - Part Two
The Author's Way of Sending Forth His Second Part
of the Pilgrim | 1 | 2 | 3
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
| 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20
| 21 | 22 | 23
| 24 | 25 | 26
Back to Pilgrim's Homepage