Christiana Page 15

  "If you can, we will share our best with you," added Charity eagerly.

  "And teach you such things as we shared with your husband," urged Piety.

  "Oh, we would love to stay!" answered Christiana, to the delight of the boys.

  "Yes," added Mercy. "This place seems almost next door to heaven. Which reminds me, did anyone hear music yesterevening?"

  At this, all they of the house looked upon each other with puzzlement. At last Piety said, "No. No music. But some of us thought we heard someone laughing."

  So they remained in that place for a month or so. During their stay, they blessed and were blessed. The ladies helped with the indoor chores and the boys worked in the gardens with manly gusto. Now one day after lunch, Prudence began to quiz the boys about what they believed.

  Prudence teaching the boys

  "Do tell, James. Can you tell me who made you?"

  "Sure! It was God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost."

  "Good boy! And can you tell me who saves you?"

  "Sure! It's God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost."

  "Good boy again! And how does God the Father save you?"

  "By His grace."

  "How does God the Son save you?"

  "By His righteousness, death, blood, and life."

  "And God the Holy Ghost?"

  "He gives us a new heart by using Scripture to shine truth into our minds. And He protects us."

  Then said Prudence to Christiana, "My, Christiana! You have certainly been faithful in instructing these children. When your Lord calls you to account for your ministry I wager that you will be able to give Him a good report."

  "Oh, I do hope so. I have high hopes to meet them all in the kingdom. Indeed, if even one of them were missing, I don't know how I could enjoy the place."

  "Joseph?" said Charity.

  "Yes, Ma'am?"

  "Do tell? What is man?"

  "A creature made by God in His own image."

  "In what way is he like Him?"

  "In that he has a mind wherewith to think, and a will that is free to choose its master."

  "What does Jesus 'save' you from?"

  "From a life of slavery and misery."

  "Slavery to what, Joseph?"

  "Slavery to my own selfish heart, which keeps me from the things I want to do and forces me to do the things I don't want to do."

  "Since it required such a great investment by God to save us, what does that tell us about sin?"

  "That it is a great and mighty a tyrant from whose whip none can deliver us but God."

  "How does God deliver us?"

  "By giving us a new heart."

  "And where does this new heart come from?"

  "From nowhere."

  "Please explain."

  "It is a new thing . . . an act of divine creation."

  "How much an act of creation?"

  "As much an act as was the creation of the world . . . or perhaps more."

  "In what way could it be more?"

  "Because to create a world, God only needs raw power."

  "And He has got lots of that!" piped up James.

  "Indeed," agreed Joseph. "But before God can create within us a new heart, He has to get our permission. I think that's why its harder."

  "Very good, Joseph. Tell me, how was the world created?"

  "By the spoken word of God."

  "How long did it take?"

  "No time at all, for 'He commanded and it stood fast'."

  "And when He creates in us a new heart?"

  "He commands and it stands fast."

  "And what is our part?"

  "Our part is to believe that the Word of God will do what it says it can do."

  "Why does God desire to save us?"

  "Oh that's an easy one. He saves us for happiness."

  "Whose happiness?"

  "Ours: for the joy of living in His presence forevermore. And His: for the delight of seeing His children enjoying His kingdom."

  "And who may be saved?"

  "Any who choose to believe that the Word of God can create a new heart and who choose to obey the promptings of that new heart."

  "My, Christiana! You have indeed taught these boys well."

  Then Piety addressed Samuel, saying, "Samuel? What is heaven?"

  "A place and a life most blessed."

  "Why blessed?"

  "Because God is there."

  "And what is hell then?"

  "A place and a life most miserable."

  "Why?"

  "Because God is not there. But rather sin, and the wages of sin which is the second death."

  "Why do you want to go to heaven?"

  "Oh, that's easy. So I may see Christ and serve Him with joy greater than I can imagine. And . . . "

  Now for a moment Samuel was choked with emotion and had to keep his silence.

  "Yes?" asked Piety tenderly.

  "Well, I also wanna see my father."

  "Ah, a good lad you are. Your mother has taught you well and I see that you have taken her words to heart. Your days shall 'be long upon the land that the Lord thy God giveth thee'."

  Then Prudence addressed herself to Matthew, saying, "Tell me, Matthew, what was before God?"

  "Nothing, Ma am. For God is eternal and until His first act of creation there was nothing but God."

  "How does God go about the business of creating? Is He like our builders?"

  "No Ma'am. He creates by His Word alone. 'By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made . . . He spake and they stood fast'."

  "And can you give me an example?"

  "'In six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is'."

  "An on the seventh?"

  "He did rest."

  "From weariness?"

  "No Ma'am. From satisfaction over a job well done."

  "And what is the Sabbath to God?"

  "A day to come especially close to His people."

  "And what is it to His people?"

  "A day to come especially close to their Creator."

  "For how long?"

  "For eternity."

  "A rather long time. Do you have a text for that?"

  "Aye. In the last chapter of Isaiah it speaks of those who shall be in heaven in these words: '. . . from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord'."

  "Might not God change His mind?"

  "Nay! For in the third chapter of Malachi, He says, 'For I am the Lord, I change not'."

  "I see. And what is the Bible?"

  "The Holy Word of God."

  "Is there anything written therein that you cannot understand?"

  "Certainly. Much indeed!"

  "And what do such mysteries make you think?"

  "It shows me that the thoughts of God are higher than my thoughts. It also tells me that I must pray for understanding lest I twist the Scriptures to my own destruction, as some have done."

  "And are the truths of salvation difficult to understand?"

  "Nay, Ma'am. But rather simple enough for a little child to understand."

  "Like me!" piped up James again.

  "Like him," said Matthew with a wink and a proud smile.

  "Tell me about the resurrection."

  "I believe we shall rise in the same body wherein we were buried; except that it shall be a glorified new body like Jesus has - a body with no yearnings for the sins that are such an annoyance to us now."

  "A body that can walk through doors - like Jesus did!" exclaimed James. "Wouldn't that be fun!"

  Then everyone smiled as Prudence continued, saying, "Why do you believe in the resurrection?"

  "Well, for three reasons: First, God has promised. Second, He is well able to do it."

  "And the third?"

  "The third is because if there be no resurrection then 'we are of all men most miserable'."

  "Well spoken, Matthew. And the rest of
you as well!" exclaimed Prudence.

  "But these things are only the first milk of the Word, boys," advised Charity. "Listen well to your mother that she may also feed you on the solid food of the Word."

  "Also," added Piety, "Be slow to speak and quick to hear any conversation wherein wisdom is being taught."

  "We shall, Miss Piety," promised Matthew.

  "And even more important, boys," continued Prudence, "you must read often and think much upon the Word of God, for it is here, in the living Words of life, that God speaks directly to your hearts. You may also put your name into all the promises and hear them as if it were Jesus Himself speaking directly to your heart."

  "Can you give an example, Ma'am?" asked Matthew.

  "Certainly, Matthew. Try putting yourself into this one: 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him might not perish, but have everlasting life'."

  After a moment's thought, Matthew answered softly, "For God so loved Matthew, that He gave His only begotten Son, that if Matthew should believe on Him he should not perish but have everlasting life." Then, as the truth of these words came home to his heart, the young man bowed his head in reverent emotion.

  "How do these words make you feel, Matthew?" asked Prudence softly.

  "They make me feel as if the Lord Jesus were personally speaking to me. And . . ." Now here Matthew came to a halt and hesitated to go on.

  "Yes?"

  "Well, these words make me feel as if Christ has so much love for me that have sacrificed Himself even if I had been the only sinner in all God's universe. But . . ."

  "But what?"

  "I fear I am arrogant to think so, for I know my own unworthy heart."

  "Nay, but you are right. Our Lord has such a love for each of us that He would die for one alone. In thinking thusly you are not arrogant but have only come to see yourself as God sees you."

  Now after the pilgrims had been at this place for a week or so, word somehow got out that there was a fair young maiden lodged at the House of the Porter. So there came to visit a rather forward young man named Mr. Brisk. After a brief visit with Mercy, he seemed to be much delighted with her and promised to return again on the morrow. But Mercy had felt a certain uneasiness in his presence, and so took counsel with Prudence, saying,

  "This Mr. Brisk. Who is he? What do you know about him?"

  Mr. Brisk waiting to see Mercy

  "Well, for one thing, I know him to be a well-bred gentleman."

  "Oh? In whose eyes?"

  "Well . . . uh, chiefly in his own."

  "And do you agree?"

  "Oh, probably - as this world defines good breeding."

  "I see. He talked as if he were someone who was quite religious."

  "Aye. He is very good in his talk," answered Prudence with just a hint of a wry smile.

  "Why do you smile at your words? Does he talk his religion more than walk it?"

  "Well, certainly I cannot judge his heart. But I can be a fruit inspector."

  "Meaning?"

  "Just let me say that the fruits on his branches are not those of a true believer."

  "Hmmm. So it seemed to me as well. For every mention of Christ, or heaven, or holy things, there were ten comments on himself, his business, and his accomplishments."

  "You are quite observant."

  "'Twas not difficult, I assure you. He is obviously much in love with himself."

  "Well then, sister Mercy, you can understand why neither I nor my sisters have encouraged his attentions toward us."

  "Yes. I wonder how I can discourage his visits, for he slows me up in my work."

  "Oh, that is easy," answered Prudence with a smile.

  "Oh, I know how to rid myself of him using worldly rudeness - indeed, before my conversion I did so many times. But being now a pilgrim, I don't want to wound his heart or offend him."

  "There is no need for that, Mercy."

  "What then?"

  "Simply continue on as you have. Keep on acting out your name."

  "You mean continue sewing clothes for the poor and needy?"

  "Exactly. When he sees that you walk out a pilgrim's life rather than merely talk of it, he will see that there is no profit to be had by a union with you."

  "And then?"

  "He will quickly withdraw all attentions from you."

  "Oh."

  "In fact, he is likely to bad-mouth you to his companions when he sees your wall to be higher than his ladder."

  "Hmmm. Well, that is certainly easy enough. I shall simply continue to be me."

  "A wise course for any pilgrim girl to follow," commented Prudence.

  And sure enough, I saw in my dream that that very afternoon there came a confident rap tapping at the door of Mercy's sewing room. "Tap, tap, ta-tap, tap! Tap, tap!" Mercy winged up a quick prayer for wisdom and then said pleasantly, "Come in, please."

  So I saw that in struts this Mr. Brisk. He wore his hair freshly coiffed, and sported a moustache stiffly waxed and twisted into two dagger points (as dictated by the latest fashions). He twirled a fancy cane and balanced ever so skillfully on his high-heeled boots. Moreover, he exuded enough eau de cologne to warrant a bit of caution when approaching an open flame. Now, when he saw her working as intently today as she had yesterday he could come to no other concussion but that she was indeed a most diligent worker - yea - one that could soon make him a rich man should she become his wife. So it was that, after a quick check in a pocket mirror resulting in a smart twist of his mustache, he began to turn on the charm.

  "A hem, a hem. Well, well, Miss Mercy," says he, leaning jauntily upon his ivory-headed walking stick. "Do I perceive correctly that you are doing the very same thing today as you were yesterday?"

  Mr. Brisk: "Well, well, Miss Mercy, says he . . . "

  "Yes, I hope so," she answered sweetly.

  "My, my! What fine clothes you manufacture here," said he as he admired her rack of skillfully tailored coats and pants.

  "Thank you, sir."

  "And did you truly make these yourself? From scratch?"

  "Aye, sir."

  "Well!" said he as he deftly fingered the fine fabric of a completed suit. "These are extraordinarily fine garments!"

  "Thank you, sir," said she as she skillfully guided a new thread through a needle.

  "Ah!" thought he. "Sharp eyes. No need to waste precious coins on some crazy eye doctor." Then he asked her where she had learned to sew so skillfully.

  "From my father," was her simple answer as she kept at her task.

  "Ah! Your father is a tailor then!"

  "Yes, sir."

  "And is he famous?"

  "Oh, aye, sir. In fact, the robes He weaves are the most highly prized in all the world."

  "Are they now!" he exclaimed, as streams of golden treasure began to flow through the veins of his imagination. "Well, to be sure, you have certainly inherited his skills! Yes, yes, to be sure you have." Then he leaned over so close that the thickness of his perfume was like to have smothered the poor maid. As he watched intently, he was amazed at how deftly her hands darted here and there upon the fabric. After a few moments, he stepped back a bit(much to Mercy's relief as she took a deep breath), flipped out a pad and pencil and asked;

  "Uh, tell me, miss. How many suits can you make in a week?"

  "Oh, I'm not exactly sure, sir. More than some and less than others, I suppose."

  "Not sure! Don't you keep a tally?"

  "No. Not really."

  "Hmmm. Well then, let me put it another way. How much money can you earn in a day?"

  "Oh I'm not sure about that either. More than enough, I'm sure."

  "Yes, indeed," he observed with narrowed eyes and a twisting of his right mustache. "A pretty penny, I'll wager, eh? (And a pretty penny for he who marries her as well)," thought he craftily. "And uh, about how much do you get for one of these fine suits?"