then she began with the youngeft, whofe name was James.

Prudence. Come, James, can't thou tell me who made thee?

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

Prud. Good boy. And canft thou tell me who faved thee?

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

Prud. Good boy ftill. But how doth God the Father fave thee?

James. By his grace.

Prud. How doth God the Son fave thee?

James. By his illumination, by his renovation, and by his preservation.

Then faid Prudence to Chriftiana, You are to be commended for thus bringing up your children. I suppose I need not ask the rest these questions, since the youngest can anfwer fo well. I will therefore now apply myself to the next youngest.

Prud. Come, Jofeph (for his name was Jofeph), will you let me catechise you?

Jofeph. With all my heart.
Prud. What is man?

doctrines, or a string of questions and anfwers, by heart, that will change the heart. Nothing will do this but the engrafted word, received with meeknefs, under the fpecial influence of the Holy Ghoft.

Jofeph. A reasonable creature, made fo by God, as my brother faid.

Prud. What is fuppofed by this word, faved? Jofeph. That man, by fin, has brought himself into a state of captivity and mifery.

Prud. What is fuppofed by his being faved by the Trinity?

Jofeph. That fin is fo great and mighty a tyrant, that none can pull us out of its clutches, but God; and that God is fo good and loving to man, as to pull him out of this miserable state.

Prud. What is God's defign in faving poor man? Jofeph. The glorifying of his name, his grace, and his justice, &c. and the everlasting happiness of his creature.

Prud. Who are they that must be saved?

Jofeph. Thofe who accept of his falvation.

Prud. God boy, Jofeph; thy mother hath taught thee well, and thou hast hearkened to what fhe has faid unto thee.

Then faid Prudence to Samuel, who was the eldest fon but one,

Prud. Come, Samuel, are you willing that I fhould catechife you?

Samuel. Yes, forfooth, if you please.

Prud. What is heaven.

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

Prud. What is hell?

Sam.

Sam. A place and state moft woful, because it is the dwelling-place of fin, the devil, and death. Prud. Why wouldst thou go to heaven?

Sam. That I may fee God, and serve him without weariness; that I may see Chrift, and love him everlastingly; that I may have that fulness of the Holy Spirit in me which I can by no means enjoy here.

Prud. A very good boy alfo, and one who has learned well.

Then fhe addreffed herself to the eldeft, whofe name was Matthew; and she said to him, Come, Matthew, fhall I also catechise you?

Matt. With a very good will.

Prud. I ask then, if there was ever any thing that had a being antecedent to or before God?

Matt. No, for God is eternal; nor is there any thing, excepting himself, that had a being until the beginning of the firft day. For in fix 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

places therein which you do not understand?

Matt. I think God is wifer than I.

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Therefore I

pray

pray that he will let me know all therein as far as he knows it will be for my good.

Prud. How do you believe as touching the refurrection of the dead?

Matt. I believe that the fame body which was buried fhall rife: the fame in nature, though not in corruption. And I believe this upon a double account: First, Because God hath promised it. Secondly, Because he is able to perform it.

Then faid Prudence to the boys, You must still hearken to your mother, for fhe can learn you more. You must also give ear diligently to what good talk you fhall hear from others, who for your fakes do fpeak good things. Obferve also, with carefulnefs, what the heavens and the earth do teach you; but especially, be much in the mediation of that book which was the cause of your father's becoming a pilgrim. For my part, my children, I will teach you what I can, while you are here, and fhall be glad if you will afk me queftions which tend to godly edifying.

Now by the time that these pilgrims had been at this place a week, Mercy had a vifiter who pretended fome good will unto her; his name was Mr. Brifk, a man of fome breeding, who pretended to religion, but who stuck very close to the world. He came once or twice, or more, unto Mercy, and offered love to her; for Mercy was of a fair countenance, and therefore the more alluring. It was

alfo

also her mind to be always bufying of herself in doing fomething; when she had nothing to do for herfelf, fhe would be making hofe or garments for others, and would bestow them upon those who had need of them. Mr. Brifk, not knowing where or how fhe difpofed of what she made, feemed to be greatly taken with her, for he found her never idle. I will warrant her a good housewife, quoth he to himself.

Mercy revealed this bufinefs to the maidens who were of the house, and enquired of them concerning him, for they knew him better than she. They told her, That he was a very busy young man, and one who pretended to religion; but, as they feared, was a stranger to the power of that which is good.

Nay then, faid Mercy, I will look no more upon him; for I purpofe never to have a clog to my foul.

Prudence then replied, That there needed no great matter of difcouragement to be given him for, continuing to do for the poor as fhe had begun, would quickly cool his courage.

b Herein fhe follows the Apostle's rule, not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. How can two walk together, except they be agreed? Remember the reflection caft on David by his wife Michal, Saul's daughter; when the faw the king leaping and dancing before the Lord, the defpifed him in her heart; and, when he returned home, fhe infulted him to his face. For a believer to marry an unbeliever is to pierce himself through with many forrows.

X 4

The