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 the 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 that 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 but this till towards his latter end.

Honest. He was a very zealous man, as one may see by the relation which you have given of him.  Difficulties, 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.

When he was come at the river where was no bridge, there he was in a heavy case.  “Now, now,” he said, “he should be drowned for ever, and so never see that face with comfort, that he had come so many miles to behold.”  And here I took notice of what was very remarkable—­the water of that river was lower at this time than ever I saw it in all my life; so he went over at last, not much above wet-shod When he was going up to the gate, Mr. Great-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.

Encouragement for the doubting Christian.

Doth this water of life run like a river, like a broad, full, and deep river?  Then let no man, be his transgressions never so many, fear at all but there is enough to save his soul and to spare.  Nothing has been more common to many, than to doubt the grace of God:  a thing most unbecoming a sinner of any thing in the world.  To break the law, is a fact foul enough; but to question the sufficiency of the grace of God to save therefrom, is worse than sin, if worse can be.  Wherefore, despairing soul, for it is to thee I speak, forbear thy mistrusts, cast off thy slavish fears, hang thy misgivings as to this upon the hedge, and believe; thou hast an invitation sufficient thereto, a river is before thy face.  And as for thy want of goodness and works, let that by no means daunt thee; this is a river of water of life, streams of grace and mercy.  There is, as I said, enough therein to help thee, for grace brings all that is wanting to the soul.  Thou, therefore, hast nothing to do—­I mean as to the curing of thy soul of its doubts and fears and despairing thoughts—­but to drink and live for ever.

Prudence.  Can you remember by what means you find your annoyances, at times, as if they were vanquished?