ONE of the most striking accounts of a certain phase of Christian experience is that of Greatheart’s account of Mr. Fearing in The Pilgrim’s Progress. Bunyan was evidently well acquainted with such an experience as Mr. Greatheart describes. Here is his description:—”He was always afraid that he should come short of whether he had a desire to go. Everything frightened him that he heard of any one speak about that had the least appearance of opposition in it. I heard he lay roaring at the Slough of Despond for above a month together, nor durst he for all he saw several go over before him, venture though they many of them offered to lend. He would not go back again neither. The Celestial City he said, he would die if he came not to it, and yet he was dejected at every difficulty and stumbled at every straw anybody cast in his way.
Well, after he had lain at the Slough of Despond, a great while, as I have told you, one sunshiny morning. I know not how he ventured, to go over, but when he was gone over he would scarcely believe it. He had, I think, a Slough of Despond on his own mind, a slough that he carried everywhere with him or he could never be as he was. So he came up to the gate, you know what I mean, that stands at the head of this way, there also he stood a good while before he would venture to knock. When the gate was opened he would give back and give place to others and say that he was not worthy. For all that he got before come to the gate yet many went in before him. There the poor man would stand shaking and shrinking and I daresay it would have pitied one’s heart. Nor would he go back again. At least he took the hammer that hanged on the gate in his hand, and gave a small rap or two then one opened to him but he shrank back as before. He that opened stepped out and said to him: “Thou trembling one what wantest thou?” With that he fell down to the ground. He that spake to him wondered to see him so faint so he said to him: “Peace be to thee, go up, for I have set open the door to thee. Come in for thou art blessed. With that he got up and went in trembling and when he was in, he was ashamed to show his face. Well, after he had been entertained there awhile as you know how his manner is, he was bid to go on his way and told the way he should take; so he came all the way to our house; and as he behaved himself at the gate, so he did at my Master’s, The Interpreter’s door. He lay about in the cold a good while before he would adventure to call; yet he would not go back and the nights were long and cold then. Yea, he had a note of necessity in his bosom to my Master to receive him and grant him the comfort of his house and also to allow him a stout and valiant conduct because he was of himself so chicken-hearted a man and yet for all that he was afraid to call at the door, so he lay thereabouts, till, poor man, he was almost starved, yea, so great was his dejection though he saw several others for knocking get in, yet he was afraid to venture.
At last, I think, I looked out of the window and perceived a man to be up and about the door. I went out to him, and asked what he was; but, poor man, the water stood in his eyes; so I perceived what he wanted. I went therefore in and told it in the house, and we showed the thing to our Lord: so He sent me out again to entreat him to come in; but I daresay, I had work to do it. At last he came in; and I will say that for my Lord, he carried it wonderfully lovingly to him. There were but a few good bits at the table, but some of it was laid upon his trencher. Then he presented the note; and my Lord looked thereon, and said his desire should be granted. So when he had been there a good while, he seemed to get some heart and be a little more comfortable. For my Master, you must know, is one of very tender bowels, especially to them that are afraid; wherefore he carried it so towards him, as might tend most to his encouragement. Well, when he had a sight of the things of the place, and was ready to take his journey to go to the city, my Lord, as He did to Christian before, gave him a bottle of cordial, and some comfortable things to eat. Thus we set forward, and I went before him; but the man was but of few words, only he would sigh aloud.
(To be continued.)