CHRIS. We shall see what they will do. So when they were up and ready, they came down, and they asked one another of their rest, and if it was comfortable or not. MERCY. Very good, said Mercy; it was one of the best night's lodgings that ever I had in my life. Then said Prudence and Piety, If you will be persuaded to stay here awhile, you shall have what the house will They stay here afford. some time. Prudence desires to catechise Christiana's chil CHAR. Ay, and that with a very good will, said Charity. So they consented and staid there about a month or above, and became very profitable one to another. And because Prudence would see how Christiana had brought up her dren. children, she asked leave of her to catechise them. free consent. James. PRUDENCE. So she gave her Then she began at the youngest, whose name was And she said, Come, James, canst thou James catechised. tell who made thee? PRUD. How doth God the Son save thee? JAMES. By his righteousness, death, and blood, and life. PRUD. And how doth God the Holy Ghost save thee? JAMES. By his illumination, by his renovation, and by his pre servation. Then said Prudence to Christiana, You are to be commended for thus bringing up your children. I suppose I need not ask the rest these questions, since the youngest of them can answer them so well. I will therefore now apply myself to the next youngest. PRUD. Then she said, Come, Joseph (for his name was Joseph), will you let me catechise you? Joseph catechised. JOSEPH. With all my heart. PRUD. What is man? JOSEPH. A reasonable creature, so made by God, as my brother said. PRUD. What is supposed by this word "saved?" JOSEPH. That man, by sin, has brought himself into a state of captivity and misery. PRUD. What is supposed by his being saved by the Trinity? JOSEPH. That sin is so great and mighty a tyrant, that none can pull us out of its clutches, but God; and that God is so good and loving to man, as to pull him indeed out of this miserable state. PRUD. What is God's design in saving of poor men? JOSEPH. The glorifying of his name, of his grace and justice, &c., and the everlasting happiness of his creature. PRUD. Who are they that must be saved? JOSEPH. Those that accept of his salvation. PRUD. Good boy, Joseph: thy mother has taught thee well, and thou hast hearkened to what she hath said unto thee. Then said Prudence to Samuel, who was the eldest but one, Samuel catechised. PRUD. Come, Samuel, are you willing that I should catechise you also? SAMUEL. Yes, forsooth, if you please. SAM. A place and state most blessed, because God dwelleth there. PRUD. What is hell? SAM. A place and state most woeful, because it is the dwelling-place of sin, the devil, and death. PRUD. Why wouldest thou go to heaven? SAM. That I may see God, and serve him without weariness; that I may see Christ, and love him everlastingly; that I may have that fulness of the Holy Spirit in me that I can by no means here enjoy. PRUD. A very good boy also, and one that has learned well. Then she addressed herself to the eldest, whose name was Matthew; and she said to him, Come, Matthew, shall I also cate chise you? MATTHEW. With a very good will. Matthew catechised. PRUD. I ask, then, if there was ever anything that had a being antecedent to, or before God? MATT. No; for God is eternal; nor is there anything excepting himself, that had a being until the beginning of the first day. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is. PRUD. What do you think of the Bible? MATT. It is the holy Word of God. PRUD. Is there nothing written therein but what you understand? MATT. Yes; a great deal. PRUD. What do you do when you meet with such places therein that you do not understand? MATT. I think God is wiser than I. I pray also that he will please to let me know all therein that he knows will be for my good. PRUD. How believe you as touching the resurrection of the dead? MATT. I believe they shall rise, the same that was buried: the same in nature, though not in corruption. And I believe this upon a double account: First, because God has promised it; secondly, because he is able to perform it. Prudence's con clusion upon the catechising of the boys. Then said Prudence to the boys, You must still hearken to your mother, for she can learn you more. You must also diligently give ear to what good talk you shall hear from others; for, for your sakes do they speak good things. Observe, also, and that with carefulness, what the heavens and the earth do teach you; but especially be much in the meditation of that Book that was the cause of your father's becoming a pilgrim. I, for my part, my children, will teach you what I can while you are here, and shall be glad if you will ask me questions that tend to godly edifying. Mercy has a Now, by that these Pilgrims had been at this place a week, Mercy had a visitor that pretended some good-will unto her, and sweet-heart. his name was Mr. Brisk, a man of some breeding, and that pretended to religion; but a man that stuck very close to the world. So he came once or twice, or more, to Mercy, and offered love unto her. Now Mercy was of a fair countenance, and therefore the more alluring. Mercy's temper. Her mind also was, to be always busying of herself in doing; for when she had nothing to do for herself, she would be making of hose and garments for others, and would bestow them upon them that had need.69 And Mr. Brisk, not knowing where or how she disposed of what she made, seemed to be greatly taken, for that he found her never idle. I will warrant her a good housewife, quoth he to himself.70 Mercy then revealed the business to the maidens that were of the house, and inquired of them concerning him, for they did Mercy inquires of the maids concerning Mr. Brisk. know him better than she. So they told her, that he was a very busy young man, and one that pretended to religion; but was, as they feared, a stranger to the power of that which was good. Nay then, said Mercy, I will look no more on him; for I purpose never to have a clog to my soul. Prudence then replied that there needed no great matter of discouragement to be given to him, her continuing so as she had begun to do for the poor, would quickly cool his courage. Talk betwixt Brisk. So the next time he comes, he finds her at her old work, a-making of things for the poor. Then said he, What! always at it? Mercy and Mr. Yes, said she, either for myself or for others. And what canst thou earn a-day? quoth he. I do these things, said she, "that I may be rich in good works, laying up in store a good foundation against the time to come, that I may lay hold on eternal life." (1 Tim. vi. 17-19.) Why, prithee, what dost thou with them? Clothe the naked, said she. With that his countenance fell. So he |