2.2.4 The House Beautiful (cont.)

From John Bunyan's classic The Pilgrim's Progress, Part II, Section 2, Step 4.3.

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.

Aye, and that with a very good will, said Charity. So they consented, and stayed 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 her youngest, whose name was James.

Prudence: And she said, Come, James, canst thou tell me who made thee?

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

Prudence: Good boy. And canst thou tell who saved thee?

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

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

James: By his grace.

Prudence: How doth God the Son save thee?

James: By his righteousness, death and blood, and life.

Prudence: 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.

Prudence: Then she said, Come, Joseph, (for his name was Joseph,) will you let me catechise you?

Joseph: With all my heart.

Prudence: What is man?

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

Prudence: What is supposed by this word, saved?

Joseph: That man, by sin, has brought himself into a state of captivity and misery.

Prudence: What is supposed by his being saved by the Trinity?

Joseph: 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.

Prudence: What is God's design in saving poor men?

Joseph: The glorifying of his name, of his grace, and justice, etc., and the everlasting happiness of his creature.

Prudence: Who are they that will be saved?

Joseph: They that accept of his salvation.

Prudence: Good boy, Joseph; thy mother hath 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,

Prudence: Come, Samuel, are you willing that I should catechise you?

Samuel: Yes, forsooth, if you please.

Prudence: What is heaven?

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

Prudence: What is hell?

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

Prudence: Why wouldst thou go to heaven?

Samuel: That I may see God, and serve him without weariness; that I may see Christ, and love him everlastingly; that I may have that fullness of the Holy Spirit in me which I can by no means here enjoy.

Prudence: A very good boy, and one that has learned well.