Page:Advantages and disadvantages of the married state.pdf/6

 their affections, the more their instructor insisted on the danger and pernicious consequences which would attend their having such companions; and withal told them, the king had appointed one to attend them in their journey, whose name was Self denial, without whose company, it would be impossible ever to reach the borders of Canaan; and that to choose a stranger for a companion, would be such an insult to him at the first setting out, as might cause a misunderstanding all the way. For his part, he told them, that to pretend to travel to Canaan, and to choose a Babylonian for a companion, was a contradiction; that he could not doubt the sincerity of their hearts, for if it was possible for a sincere traveller to choose such a companion, yet he was very certain, it could not be so long as they continued in the right use of their reason; and he must discharge his conscience in giving them timely, admonition.

I observed the event of those consultations, and I found the oldest, whose name was Theomacus, could not be moved by all these arguments, but absolutely chose one who was an utter stranger to the path, nor had any delight therein, nor desire thereto. And when he had covenanted with her, she proved so averse to going along with him, and so reluctant to pursuing his intended journey, that she prevailed upon him to