The Children Catechised.

277

see how Christiana had brought up her children, she asked leave of her to catechise them. So she gave her free consent. Then

she began at the youngest, whose name was James.

Prudence desires to catechise Christiana's children

Prud. And she said, Come, James, canst thou tell me who made thee?

Fames cate

James. God the Father, God the Son, chised. and God the Holy Ghost.

Prud. Good boy. And canst thou tell me who saves thee?

James. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.

Prud. Good boy still. But how doth God the Father save thee?

James. By his grace.

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 preservation.

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?

Jos. With all my heart.

Prud. What is man?

Joseph cate

chised.

Jos. A reasonable creature, so made by God, as my brother said.

Prud. What is supposed by this word, "saved"? Jos. 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?

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The Children Catechised.

Jos. That Sin is so great and mighty a tyrant, that none can pull us out of his 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 poor men?

Jos. 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?

Jos. Those that accept of his salvation.

Prud. Good boy, Joseph; thy mother has taught thee well, and thou hast hearkened unto what she has said unto thee.

Then said Prudence to Samuel (who was the eldest but one), Come, Samuel, are you willing that I should catechise you also?

Samuel cate

chised.

Sam. Yes, forsooth, if you please.
Prud. What is heaven?

Sam. A place and state most blessed, because God dwelleth there.

Prud. What is hell?

Sam. A place and state most woful, because it is the dwelling-place of sin, the devil, and death.

Prud. Why wouldst 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 catechise you?

Matthew cate chised.

Matt. With a very good will.

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,

The Children Catechised.

279

except 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 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 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 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.

much in the

Now, by that these pilgrims had been at this place a week, Mercy had a visitor that pretended some goodwill unto her, and his name was Mr. Brisk; a man of

280

Mercy's Visitor.

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.

Mercy has a sweetheart.

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 Mercy's temhad nothing to do for herself, she would be making hose and garments for others, and would bestow them upon them that had need.

per.

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 of the maids concerning 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 very busy young man, and one that pretended to religion; but

Mr.

Mr. Brisk Leaves Mercy.

281

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; for continuing so as she had begun to do for the poor, would quickly cool his courage.

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 my self or 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, pr'ythee, what dost thou with them? said he. Clothe 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.

He forsakes her, and why.

Mercy in the practice of mercyrejected; while Mercy in the name of merey 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. Mer. I might have had husbands afore now, though I spake 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 further than as to its name: the practice, which is set forth by thy conditions, there are but few that can abide.

Mer. Well, said Mercy, if nobody will have me, I