Part 9 (1/2)
”'I thought I did,' I replied.
”'I doubt it. How do you feel now?' said old Giant Doubt.
”'I feel bad, worse than before the examination began.' I replied.
”'I see you do. Something is wrong with you. You have pa.s.sed a poor examination. It is my business to carry you out of Canaan as unworthy to be in this good land. Come on,' and with that he arose and advanced toward me with both hands extended. I trembled violently, but seemed powerless to resist. He picked me up and started off with me. Just then I spotted a st.u.r.dy post with a sign-board nailed to the top. I eagerly sought to read the legend. 'Beware!' it began. 'At this place a certain old giant, named Doubt, has a habit of stopping pilgrims and taking them through a pretended examination. He claims to hold a commission from his lord to do this work. His commission is true; but his lord is Beelzebub.
After the examination, he usually carries off the pilgrim who allows him to question him. Many have fallen to his devices. He is a cruel, old giant, and he carries his victims to'--and here I could read no more.
”We soon left the main road and entered a dark valley called Vale of Destruction.
”'Let me go,' I shouted.
”'I will not, you are not fit to be in Canaan,' he replied.
”I struggled and shouted for help with all my might. He held me close, however, and the vale grew darker and darker.
”'O Immanuel, do send me help! Oh, deliver me from this cruel giant!' I cried. Just then there appeared ahead a stream of light, which came in from one side of the valley. When we reached the light, I saw a beautiful mansion built high up on the sides of a valley that broadened out in a beautiful vale named Hope. Some people were singing on the lawn of the mansion. Either they caught a glimpse of the old giant carrying me, or my loud shouts for help reached them. At any rate, I saw two of them start toward us [Galatians 6:2].
”Old Giant Doubt attempted to run faster, as he also caught sight of them; but a periodic rheumatism attacked him, and he made little progress. The two pilgrims, who I found were Valiant and Faithful, rushed to my rescue.
”'You wicked old Giant Doubt,' they shouted, 'let go of Pilgrim Sincere.'
And they attacked him with their swords.
”'Sincere,' they cried, 'take your sword and use it!'
”By this time my arm was free enough to grasp the sword, and I gave the giant a close thrust. At this he dropped me and ran as fast as he could.
”'Poor pilgrim,' said Valiant. 'How fortunate for you that you shouted!
We heard the call. Praise and honor to Immanuel.' And Valiant reverently lifted his hands and eyes heavenward.
”'Where did the old, evil giant overcome you?' asked Faithful.
”'Back at a place where there is a sign warning pilgrims against Giant Doubt. But I did not see the sign till he started off with me.'
”'I wonder if we can not mark that spot more plainly, so that no pilgrim will ever allow Giant Doubt to hold his false examination there?' asked Valiant.
”'No,' said Faithful. 'It has been tried over and over. No sign except the one that is there ever remains even if it is put up.'
”'What kind of garment is that you are wearing around your waist?' asked Faithful.
”'This is a jacket that Mr. Legality gave me to wear.' I answered.
”'The crafty villain,' exclaimed Faithful. 'Put it away from you!'
”But I was afraid to do this, and told them so. They related how that same jacket had caused them much trouble. They further said that no one could unbuckle it but me, as there was a secret lock on each jacket that no one but the wearer could work.
”After this I got back to the main highway again. But the first thing I knew was that old Giant Doubt was with me again [Matthew 14:28-31]. And he began to talk to me just as if he had never said anything to me before.
I wondered what I should do if he attempted to carry me away. And then I remembered what I read on a monument just after crossing the Jordan: 'Every pilgrim must overcome the giants for himself.' But just how to do this I did not know. So I had another encounter with him.