PRUDENCE'S CONCLUSION 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 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 which 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
SWEETHEART.

Now, by that these pilgrims had been at this place a week, Mercy had a visitor that pretended some good-will unto her, and 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. 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. 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.

MERCY INQUIRES OP
THE MAIDS CONCERN-
ING MR. BRISK.

Mercy then revealed the business to the maidens that were of the house, and inquired of them concerning him, for they did know him better than she. So they told her, that he was a

may, we ought to smile at all carnal objections, and trample upon all corrupt reasonings.

very busy young man, and one that pretended to religion; but was, as they feared, a stranger to the power of that which is 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 matter of great discouragement to be given to him; for continuing so as she had begun, to do for the poor, would quickly cool his courage.

TALK BETWEEN MERCY AND

BRISK.

MR.

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? Yes, said she, either for myself or for others. And what canst "I do these things,"

thou earn a day? quoth he.

said she, “that I may be rich in good works, laying the time to come, that I may lay Why, pr'ythee, what dost thou do Clothe the naked, said she. With

a foundation against hold on eternal life." with them? said he. that his countenance

fell. So he forbore

HE FORSAKES HER,
AND WHY.

to come at her again. And when he was asked the reason why, he said, that Mercy was a pretty lass, but troubled with ill conditions.†

When he had left her, Prudence said, Did I not tell thee, that Mr. Brisk would soon forsake thee? yea, he

q 1 Tim. vi. 18, 19.

* Most blessed resolution! Ah, pilgrims, if ye were more wary, lest, by your choice and conduct, ye brought clogs to your souls, how many troubles would ye escape, and how much more happy would ye be, in your pilgrimage! It is for want of this wisdom and conduct, that many bring evil upon themselves.

+ How easily are the best of characters traduced, and false constructions put upon the best of actions? Reader, is this your lot also? Mind your duty. Look to your Lord. Persevere in his works and ways; and leave your character with him, to whom you can trust your soul. For if God be for us, who shall be against us? Who shall harm us, if we be followers of that which is good?

will raise up an ill report of thee: for, notwithstanding THE his pretence to religion, and his seeming

MERCY IN PRACTICE OF MERCY REJECTED, WHILE MERCY IN THE NAME OF MERCY IS LIKED.

love to Mercy, yet Mercy and he are of

tempers so different, that I believe they

will never come together.

MER. I might have had husbands before now, though I spoke not of it to any but they were such as did not like my conditions, though never did any of them find fault with my person. So they and I could not agree.

PRUD. Mercy in our days, is but little set by, any further than as to its name: the practice, which is set forth by thy conditions, there are but few that can abide.

MERCY'S RESOLUTION.

MER. Well, said Mercy, if nobody will have me, I will die a maid, or my conditions shall be to me as a husband: for I cannot change my nature; and to have one that lies cross to me in this, that I purpose never to admit of as long as I live. I had HOW MERCY'S SIS- a sister, named Bountiful, that was married to one of these churls: but he and she could never agree; but, because my sister was resolved to do as she had begun, that is, to show kindness to the poor, therefore her husband first cried her down at the cross, and then turned her out of his doors.

TER WAS SERVED BY
HER HUSBAND.

PRUD. And yet he was a professor, I warrant you! MER. Yes, such a one as he was, and of such as he the world is now full: but I am for none of them all.*

Though we are to beware of a censorious spirit in regard to professors, yet when they give sad evidence by their walk, that they are not what they profess to be, humble, holy followers of the Lamb, we are by no means to be deceived by them. For we have an unerring rule laid down by our Lord, to judge of them, "Ye shall know them by their fruits," Matt. vii. 16. yea, and we ought to be faithful to them too, by reproving them in the spirit of humility and love. O that more of this prevailed!

MATTHEW FALLS SICK.

GRIPES OF CONSCIENCE.

Now, Matthew, the eldest son of Christiana, fell sick, and his sickness was sore upon him, for he was much pained in his bowels, so that he was with it, at times, pulled as it were both ends together.* There dwelt also not far from thence, one Mr. Skill, an ancient and well-approved physician. So Christiana desired it, and they sent for him, and he came when he was entered the room, and had a little observed the boy, he concluded that he was sick of the gripes. Then he said to his mother, What diet has Matthew of late fed upon? Diet! said Christiana, nothing but what is wholesome. The physician answered, This boy has been tampering with something that lies in his maw undigested, and that will not away without means. tell you, he must be purged, or else he will die. Then said Samuel, Mother, what was that which my brother did gather up and eat, so soon as we were come from the gate that is at the head of this way? You know that there was an orchard on the left hand, on the other side of the wall, and some of the trees hung over the wall, and my brother did pluck and eat.†

THE PHYSICIAN'S

JUDGMENT.

And I

SAMUEL PUTS HIS MOTHER IN MIND OF THE FRUIT HIS BROTHER DID EAT.

True, my child, said Christiana, he did take thereof, and did eat: naughty boy as he was, I chid him, and yet he would eat thereof.

SKILL. I knew he had eaten something that was not wholesome food; and that food, to wit, that fruit, is even

* See the effects of sin. It will pinch and gripe the conscience, and make the heart of a gracious soul sick.

+ See how useful pilgrims may be, in faithfully reminding each other of their conduct. Though this sin was committed some time past, and neither Matthew nor his mother thought of it, yet it must be brought to light, and repented of.

the most hurtful of all. It is the fruit of Beelzebub's orchard. I do marvel that none did warn you of it, many have died thereof.

Then Christiana began to cry; and she said, O naughty boy! and O careless mother! what shall I do for my son? SKILL. Come, do not be too much dejected; the boy may do well again, but he must purge and vomit.

CHR. Pray, sir, try the utmost of your skill with him, whatever it costs.

THE LATIN

SKILL. Nay, I hope I shall be reasonable.—So he made him a purge, but it was too weak; 'twas said, it was made of the blood of a goat, the ashes of a heifer, and with some of the juice of hyssop, &c. When Mr. Skill had seen that that purge was too weak, he made one to the purpose; it was made er carne et sanguine Christi ;† (you know physicians give strange medicines to their patients :) and it was made into pills, with a promise or two, and a proportionable quantity of salt. Now, he was to take them three at a time, fasting, in half a quarter of a pint of the tears of repentance.

r Heb ix. 19, x. 14 s John vi. 54-57.

t Mark ix. 49

* Here is conviction for the mother, in not warning of sin, and chiding for it. She takes it home, falls under the sense of it, and is grieved for it. A tender conscience is a blessed sign of a gracious heart. Ye parents, who know the love of Christ, watch over your children: see to it, lest ye smart for their sins, in not warning and teaching them that the fear of the Lord is to depart from all evil, yea, to abstain from the very appearance of it.

+ Mr. Bunyan's great modesty and humility are truly admirable: though he quotes Latin, yet, as he did not understand it, he tells us, "The Latin I borrow." The English is, "Of the flesh and of the blood of Christ." This is the only potion for sin-sick souls. Feeding upon Christ's flesh and blood by faith, keeps us from sinning; and when sick of sin, these, and nothing but these, can heal and restore us. Yet there is in our nature an unaccountable reluctance to receive these, through the unbelief which works in us. So Matthew found it.