his voice. Our heart oft-times wakes when we sleep; and God can speak to that, either by words, by proverbs, by signs and similitudes, as well as if one was awake. Mer. Well, I am glad of my dream, for I hope, ere long, to see it fulfilled, to the making me laugh again. Chr. I think it is now high time to rise, and to know what we must do.

Mer. Pray, if they advise us to stay awhile, let us willingly accept of the proffer. I am the willinger to stay a while here, to grow better acquainted with these maids; methinks Prudence, Piety, and Charity, have very comely and sober countenances.

Chr. 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.

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 a while, you shall have what the house will afford.

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 children, she asked leave of her to catechise. them so she gave her free consent. Then she began with the youngest, whose name was James. And she said, 'Come James, canst thou tell me who made thee?" Jam. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.

Prud. Good boy. And canst thou tell who saved thee? Jam. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost.

* She asked leave of her to catechise them.] Catechetical instruction has ever been viewed as best calculated to train children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Catechising of Youth is a practice which all the reformed Churches have uniformly adopted; and it was reserved for the wisdom of modern Sophists to cry out against so salutary a practice. Strange, that those very persons who oppose creeds and catechisms in every other communion, should fondly adopt them in their own.

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

Jam. By his grace.

Prud. How doth God the Son save thee?

Jam. By his righteousness and blood, and death and life. Prud. And how doth God the Holy Ghost save thee? Jam. 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.

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?

Jos. A reasonable creature, made so 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?

Jos. 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 poor man ?

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 hath taught thee well, and thou hast hearkened to what she has said unto thee.

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

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 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, and one that has learned well. Then she addrest herself to the eldest, whose name was Matthew; and she said to him, Come, Matthew, shall I also catechise you?

Mat. 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 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?.

Mat. It is the holy word of God.

Prud. Is there nothing written therein but what you understand?

Mat. Yes, a great deal.

Prud. What do you when you meet with places therein that you do not understand?

Mat. 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?

Mat. I believe they shall rife, 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.

Then said Prudence to the boys, You must still hearken to your mother, for she can learn you more.

you

You must also diligently give ear to what good talk 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, 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.

CHAP. VI.

Mr. Brisk pays his addresses to Mercy.--Matthew taken ill, but recovers, &c.

OW 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

* Observe what the heavens and the earth do teach you.] The contemplation of the starry heavens has a wonderful tendency to inspire religious awe and holy veneration. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy work.', Astronomy, when simplified and made easy, is a very pleasing science for young persons. Not only the heavens, but the earth is full of instruction, and every thing in it points out the finger of God!

+ Mr. Brisk, a man of some breeding, &c.] It is a scriptural injunction, not to be unequally yoked. A believer and an unbeliever to be united in the dearest ties of nature and affection cannot be productive of happiness. A trifling difference of religious sentiment is of small moment in the marriage state; but for a Roman Catholic and a Protestant, a religious woman and an irreligious man, (and so vice versa) to be joined in so strict an union, must be attended with the most serious inconveniences. Believing parents should endeavour to promote such marriages for their children, and where is Religious Courtship, there most probably will matrimonial felicity be found to

ensue.

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.

Nay then said Mercy, I will look no more on him ; for I purpose never to have a clog for 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.

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 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 a good foundation against the time to come, that I may lay hold of eternal life."" 'Why pr'ythee, what dost thou do 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.*

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 before now, though I spoke not of it to any; but they were such as did not

1 1st Tim. vi. 17-19.

Was a pretty lass, but troubled with ill conditions.] Every thing religious has a strange and ill appearance to worldly-minded persons. The devout fervour of the soul is called fanaticism; sobriety is termed stupidity; a spirit of meekness, cowardice; and charity, want of œconomy.

Mr. Brisk.

It was the exercise of this grace that disgusted