HONEST. It seems he was well at last.
GREAT-HEART. Yes, yes; I never had a doubt about him. He was a man
of a choice spirit; only he was always kept very low, and that made
his life so burdensome to himself and so very troublesome to others.
He was, above many, tender of sin; he was so afraid of doing
injuries to others, that he would often deny himself of that which
was lawful, because he would not offend.
HONEST. But what should be the reason that such a good man should be
all his days so much in the dark?
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.