tender of sin. He was so afraid of doing; injuries to others, that he often would deny himself of that which was lawful, because he would not offend. (Rom. xiv. 21. 1 Cor. viii. 13.)
Hon. But what should be the reason that such a good man should be all his days so much in the dark?
Great. There are two sorts of reasons for it. One is, the wise God will have it so: some must pipe, and some must weep. (Matt. xi. 16, 17.) 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 which 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 here was the imperfection of Mr. Fearing: he could play upon no other music but this, till towards his latter end.
I make bold to talk thus metaphorically for the ripening of the wits of young readers, and because in the book of the Revelation the saved are compared to a company of musicians, that play upon their trumpets and harps, and sing their songs before the throne. (Rev. vii.; xiv. 2, 3.)
Hon. He was a very zealous man, as one may see by that 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.
Great. You say right; those were the things that were his troublers: and they, as you have well observed, arose from the weakness of his mind thereabout, not from weakness of spirit as to the practical part of a pilgrims life. I dare believe that, as the proverb is, he could have bit a firebrand had it stood in his way; but, the things with which he was oppressed no man ever yet could shake off with ease.
