Feeble mind in the hands of Giant

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 rifling of him, with a purpose after that to pick his bones, for he was of the nature of flesh-eaters.

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 High-way, 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. 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 shewed 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.

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, tho' I can but crawl, spend my life in the Pilgrim's 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 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 that by one of his servants. Indeed I have found much relief from Pilgrims, tho' none was willing to o so softly as I am forced to do; yet still as they came on, they bid 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. When I was come up to Assault Lane, then this Giant met with me, and bid 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 conceited 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 only 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, tho' 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 lieth 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, 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 would'st have my servants to do for thee, they will do it with a ready 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 further? Did he intend that after he had rifled my pockets, I should go to Gaius mine host? Yet so it is.

Mr Not-right

Now just as Mr Feeble-mind and Gaius was 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 took to live.

What one would think doth seek to slay outright,

Ofttimes delivers from the saddest plight.

That very Providence whose face is Death,

Doth ofttimes to the lowly Life bequeath.

I taken was, he did escape and flee,

Hands crossed gives Death to him, and Life to me.

Interpretation:

It is the responsibiliy of ministers likened to Great-heart to spiritually annihilate the work of the devil in the lives of those children of God who are with a fearful heart or with a feeble-mind, to protect these pilgrims from the hands of the False Prophet of the Revelation, the Slay-good the Giant and to bring them to a right kind of fellowship like the house of Gaius.

They have also to minister to pilgrims like Mr. Not Right who escaped the hands of the said Giant but was slain by the thunderbolt, a judgment of God. There are some who can spiritually discern the ministry of false prophets and false teachers but do not wish to break their relationship with such such false ministers. But the divine judgment devour them ultimately.

Ministers of the Word have to rightly divide the word of truth to pilgrims who are not taught the right doctrines. The False Prophet spiritually annihilates those children of God who have gone through the Cross and the Sepulchre but have been stuck between a rock and a hard place during their journey to the Celestial City. The False Prophet of the Revelation is portrayed as the Slay-good the Giant who was rifling of Mr. Feeble-mind in the previous chapter.

Next.......Family in the vanity town