Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/211

Rh had a brooding note And, 4. She had an outcry, (Matt. xxiii. 37.)

Now, said he, compare this hen to your King, and these chickens to his obedient ones. For, answerable to her, he himself hath his methods, "which he walketh in towards his people. By his common call he gives nothing; by his special call he always has something to give: he also has a brooding voice for them that are under his wing; and he has an outcry, to give the alarm when he seeth the enemy come. I chose, my darlings, to lead you into the room where such things are, because you are women, and they are easy for you.

Chr. And, sir, said Christiana, pray let us see some more. So he had them into the slaughter-house, where was the butcher killing sheep; and, behold, the sheep was quiet, and tool: her death patiently. Then said the Interpreter, You must learn of this sheep to antler, and to put up with wrongs without murmurings and complaints. Behold how quietly she takes her death and, without objecting, she suffereth her skin to he pulled over her ears. Your King doth call you. his sheep.

After this he led them into his garden, where was great variety of flowers; and he said, Do you see all these? So Christiana said, Yes. Then said he again, Behold, the flowers are diverse in stature, in quality, and colour, and smell, and Virtue; and some are better than others: also, where the gardener hath set them, there they stand, and quarrel not with one another.

Again, he had them into his field, which he had sown with wheat and corn; but when they beheld, the tops of all were cut off, and only the straw remained. He said again, This ground was dunged, and ploughed, and sowed; but what shall we do with the crop? Then said Christiana, Burn some, and make much of the rest. Then said the Interpreter again, Fruit, you see, is that thing you look for, and for want of