We were singing quite a lot of music either written or influenced by Vaughan Williams yesterday, and so we sang Bunyan’s hymn with some gusto.

Indeed, one was belting it out from the altar table thus:

Hobgoblin nor foul fiend
Can daunt her spirit,
She knows she at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then fancies fly away,
She’ll fear not what men say,
But labour night and day
To be a pilgrim.

This leads straight to this morning’s question.

What is the difference between a hobgoblin and a plain ordinary goblin?

I know that this takes us straight into the realms of how many Evangelicals can dance on the head of a theological pin. Or like asking for the anatomical difference between cherubim and seraphim. However, the truth is, I don’t know the answer and I have not time to look it up.

Your answers please.