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shall be glad if you will ask me questions that tend to godly edifying.

Now, by that these Pilgrims had been at this place a week, Mercy had a visitor, that pre- MERCY HAS A tended some good-will unto her, and his sweetheart. 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 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 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.

MERCY ENQUIRES OF

THE MAIDS CONCERN

ING MR. BRISK.

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 him; her continuing so as she had begun to do for the quickly cool his courage.

poor would

TALK BETWIXT

MERCY AND MR.
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? Yes, said she, either for myself or for others. And what canst thee earn a-day? quoth he. I do these things, said she, "That I may be rich in good works, laying a good foundation against the time to come, that I may lay hold on eternal life." Why,

AND WHY.

pr'ythee, what dost thou with them? said he. Clothe HE FORSAKES HER, the naked, said she. With that his countenance fell. So he forbore 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.'

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

When he had left her, Prudence said, Did I not tell thee that Mr. Brisk would soon forsake thee? yea, he will raise up an ill report of thee; for, notwithstanding his pretence to religion, and his seeming love to Mercy, yet Mercy and he are of tempers so different, that I believe they will never come together.

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

1 1 Tim. vi. 17-19.

me,

Well, said Mercy, if nobody will have MERCY'S REI will die a Maid, or my conditions SOLUTIONS. 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 a sister named Bounti

ful, that was married to one of these churls; but he and she could never

HOW MERCY'S SISTER
WAS SERVED BY HER
HUSBAND.

agree: but because my sister was resolved to do as she had begun, that is, to shew kindness to the poor, therefore her husband first cried her down at the Cross, and then turned her out of his doors.

FALLS SICK.

Prud. And yet he was a professor, I warrant you. Mercy. 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. Now Matthew, the eldest son of Chris- MATTHEW tiana, 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 GRIPES of he was sick of the gripes. Then he said CONScience. to his mother, What diet has Matthew of late fed upon? Diet, said Christiana, nothing but what is wholesome. The Physician answered, THE PHYSICIAN'S This boy has been tampering with JUDGEMENT. something that lies in his maw undigested, and that will not away without means; and I tell you he must be purged, or else he will die.

SAMUEL PUTS HIS
MOTHER IN MIND

OF THE FRUIT HIS
BROTHER DID EAT.

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.

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 the most hurtful of all. It is 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.

Skill. Nay, I hope I shall be reasonable.

So he made him a purge, but it was too weak: t'was said it was made of the blood of a goat, the ashes of a heifer, and with some of the juice of hyssop, &c.2 When Mr.Skill had seen that that purge was too weak, he made him one to the purpose: t'was made ex carne et sanguine Christi;3 (you know physicians give

THE LATIN I BOR-
ROW.

2 Heb. x. 1-4.

3 John, vi. 54—57. Heb. ix. 14.

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. When this potion THE BOY LOATH TO was prepared and brought to the TAKE THE PHYSIC. boy, he was loath to take it, though torn with the gripes, as if he should be pulled in pieces. Come, come, said the physician, you must take it. It goes against my stomach, said the boy. I must have you take it, said his mother. I shall vomit it up again, said the boy. Pray, Sir, said Christiana to Mr. Skill, how does it taste? It has no ill taste, said the doctor; and with that she touched one of the THE MOTHER TASTES IT pills with the tip of her tongue. AND PERSUADEs him. Oh, Matthew ! said she, this potion is sweeter than honey. If thou lovest thy mother, if thou lovest thy brothers, if thou lovest Mercy, if thou lovest thy life, take it. So with much ado, after a short prayer for the blessing of God upon it, he took it; and it wrought kindly with him. It caused him to purge, it caused him to sleep, and rest quietly; it put him into a fine heat, and breathing sweat, and did quite rid him of his gripes. So in a little time he got up, and walked about with a staff, and would go from room to room, and talk with Prudence, Piety, and Charity, of his distemper, and how he was healed.

So, when the boy was healed, Christiana asked Mr. Skill, saying, Sir, what will content

A WORD OF GOD

you for your pains and care to and IN THE HAND OF of my child? And he said, You must

4 Zech. xii. 10.

FAITH.

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