tell them fome other things which might be profitable.

Then the Interpreter began and faid: The fatter the fow is, the more fhe defires the mire; the fatter the ox is, the more gamefomely he goes to the flaughter; and the more healthy and lusty man is, the more prone he is unto evil.

There is a defire in women to go neat and fine; let them know that the most comely thing to be adorned with is that which is of great price in the fight of God.

It is eafier watching a night or two, than to fit up a whole year together: fo it is easier for one to begin to profess well, than to hold out, as he should, to the end.

Every fhip-mafter, when in a storm, will willingly caft that overboard which is of the smallest value in the veffel; but who will throw the best out firft? None but he that feareth not God.

One leak will fink a fhip, and one fin will deftroy a finner.

He that forgets his friend, is ungrateful unto him; but he that forgets his Saviour, is unmerciful to himself.

He that lives in fin, and looks for happiness hereafter, is like him who foweth cockles, and thinks to fill his barn with wheat or barley.

If a man would live well, let him bring his laft day near, and make it always his companykeeper.

Whispering

Whispering and change of thoughts prove that fin is in the world.

If the world, which God fets light by, is counted a thing of that worth with men, what is heaven, which God commendeth?

If the life which is attended with fo many troubles is fo loth to be let go by us, what is the life above?

Every body will cry up the goodness of men: but who is there that is affected, as he should be, with the goodness of God?

We feldom fit down to meat, but we eat and leave. So there is in Jefus Chrift more merit and righteousness than the whole world has need of.

When the Interpreter had finished these sayings, he took them out into his garden again, and had them to a tree, whose infide was all rotten and gone %, and yet the tree grew and had leaves. Then faid Mercy, What means this? This tree, faid he, whofe outfide is fair, and whofe infide is rotten, is like many who are in the garden of God: with their mouths they speak high in behalf of God, but indeed will do nothing for him; whose leaves are fair, but their heart good for nothing but to be tinder for the devil's tinder-box.

This must be the cafe where Chrift is not formed in the heart. There is no foundness in us by nature; that comes only by grace. The strictest moralist, the most fair and flourishing profeffor, who is not renewed by the Holy Ghoft, will be found rotten at heart.

Now fupper was ready, the table spread, and all things fet on the board; fo they fat down and did eat, when one had given thanks. Now the Interpreter did ufually entertain thofe who lodged with him with mufic at meals; fo the minstrels played. There was alfo one who did fing, and a very fine voice he had. His fong was this:

The Lord is only my support,

And he that doth me feed;
How can I then want any thing

Whereof I ftand in need?

When the fong and music was ended, the Interpreter asked Christiana, What it was that at first did 'move her thus to betake herself to a pilgrim's life? Christiana answered, First, the lofs of my husband came into my mind, at which I was heartily grieved: but all that was natural affection. Then, after that, the troubles and pilgrimage of my husband came into my mind, and also how like a churl I had carried it to him in that refpect. Now guilt took hold of my mind, and would have drawn me into the pond; but, opportunely, I had a dream of the well-being of my husband, and a letter fent by the King of the country where my husband dwells, to invite me to come to him: the dream and the letter together fo wrought upon my mind, that they forced me to this way.

Inter. But met you with no oppofition before you fet out of doors?

Chrift. Yes, a neighbour of mine, one Mrs. Ti

morous

morous (he was a-kin to him who would have perfuaded my husband to have gone back, for fear of the lions). She called me fool for intending fuch a defperate adventure as fhe called it; the alfo urged what she could to difhearten me from it; particularly the hardship and troubles which my husband met with in the way: all this I got over pretty well; but a dream which I had of two ill-looking ones, who, as I thought, did plot how to make me mifcarry in my journey, was that which hath troubled me most: yea, it still runs in my mind, and makes me afraid of every one I meet, left they fhould meet me to do me a mischief, and turn me out of my way. Yea, I may tell my Lord, though I would not that every body should know it; between this and the gate by which we got into the way, we were both fo forely affaulted, that we were made to cry out murder; and the two who made this affault upon uş were like the two whom I faw in my dream.

Then faid the Interpreter, Thy beginning is good, and thy latter end fhall greatly increase. He then addreffed himself to Mercy, and faid unto her, And what moved thee to come hither, fweetheart?

Mercy. Then Mercy blufhed and trembled, and for a while continued filent.

Inter. Be not afraid, only believe, and speak thy mind.

Mer. Then she began, and faid, Truly, Sir, my want of experience is that which makes me covet to

be in filence, and which also fills me with fears of coming fhort at laft. I cannot tell of visions and dreams, as my friend Christiana can: nor know I what it is to mourn for my refufing the counsel of those who were good relations.

Inter. What was it then, dear heart, that prevailed with thee to do as thou haft done?

Mercy. Why, when our friend here was packing up to be gone from our town, I and another went accidentally to fee her. So we knocked at the door, and went in; and when we were within, feeing what she was doing, we asked her what was her meaning? She faid, fhe was fent for to go to her husband; and then she up and told us how she had feen him in a dream, dwelling in a curious place, among immortals; wearing a crown; playing upon a harp; eating and drinking at his prince's table; and finging praises to him for bringing him thither, &c. Now methought, while fhe was telling these things unto us, that my heart burned within me. And I faid in my heart, If this be true, I will leave my father and my mother, and the land of my nativity, and will, if I may, go along with Christiana,

So I

h How different is this answer of Mercy from the borrowed experience which is often given by profeffors, who would be thought fomething when they are nothing! Be but fincere, and all thy cafe, juft as it is, difplay. Claffes and bands, as they are generally conducted among a certain denomination of profeffors, are no better than fo many fchools for hypocrify. Mercy's answer plainly proves that she had been brought up at a better school.

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