we will lend you our help, we will deny ourselves of some things, both
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 that you shall be left behind."
7. The first thing that did Mr. Feeble-mind any real good was his being
made military guard over the women and the children while the men went
out to demolish Doubting Castle. _Quis custodiet_? you will smile and
say when you hear that. Who shall protect the protector? you will say.
But wait a little. Greatheart knew his business. For not only did
Feeble-mind rise to the occasion, when he was put to it; but, more than
that, he was the soul of good company at supper-time that night. "Jocund
and merry" are the very words. Yes; give your feeble and fault-finding
folk something to do. Send them to teach a class. Send them down into a
mission district. Lay a sense of responsibility upon them. Leave them
to deal with this and that emergency themselves. Cease carrying them on
your back, and lay weak and evil and self-willed people on their back.
Let them feel that they are of some real use. As Matthew Arnold says,
Let the critic but try practice, and you will make a new man of him. As
Greatheart made of Feeble-mind by making him mount guard over the
Celestial caravan while the fighting men were all up at Doubting Castle.
8. "Mark this," says Mr. Feeble-mind's biographer on the early margin of
his history, lest we should be tempted to forget the good parts of this
troublesome and provoking pilgrim--"Mark this." This, namely, which
Feeble-mind says to his guide. "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." And that
leads us with returning regard and love to turn to the end of his
history, where we read: "After this Mr. Feeble-mind had tidings brought
him that the post sounded his horn at his chamber door. Then he came in
and told him, saying, I am come to tell thee that thy Master hath need of
thee, and that in very little time thou must behold His face in
brightness. Then Mr. Feeble-mind called for his friends, and told them
what errand had been brought to him, and what token he had received of
the truth of the message. As for my feeble mind he said, that I shall
leave behind me, for I shall have no need of that in the place whither I
go. Nor is it worth bestowing upon the poorest pilgrim. Wherefore, when
I am gone, I desire that you would bury it in a dung-hill. This done,
and the day being come in which he was about to depart, he entered the
river as the rest. His last words were, Hold out, faith and patience! So
he went over to the other side."
GREAT-HEART
"--when thou shalt enlarge my heart."--_David_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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