Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/240

236 should he pulled in pieces. Come, come, said the physician, you must take it. It goes against my stomach, said the boy. I must have you take it, said his mother. (Zech. xii. 10.l I shall vomit it up again, said the boy. Pray, sir, said Christiana to Mr. Skill, how does it taste? It has no ill taste, said the doctor; and with that she touched one of the pills with the tip of her tongue. O Matthew, said she, this potion is sweeter than honey. If thou lovest thy mother, if thou lovest thy brother's, if thou lovest Mercy, if thou lovest thy life, take it. So with much ado, after a short prayer for the blessing of God upon it, he took it, and it wrought kindly with him. It worked effectually: it caused him to sleep and-rest quietly; it put him into a fine heat and breathing sweat, and it quite rid him of his gripes.

So in a little time he got up, and walked about with a staff, and would go from room to room, and talk with Prudence, Piety, and Charity, of his distemper, and how he was healed.

So when the boy was healed, Christiana asked Mr. Skill, saying, Sir, what will content you for your pains and care tome and my child? And he said, You must pay the Mas ter of the College of Physicians, according to rules made in that case and provided. (Heb. xiii. 15.)

But, sir, said she, what is this pill good for else?

Skill. It is a universal pill: it is good against all diseases that pilgrims are incident to; and when it is well prepared, it will keep good, time out of mind.

Chr. Pray, sir, make me up twelve boxes of them; for if I can get these, I will never, take other physic.

Skill. These pills are good to prevent diseases, as well. as to cure when one is sick. Yea, I dare say it, and stand, to it, that if a man will but use this physic as he should, it will make him live for: ever. (John vi. 51.) But, good Christiana, thou, must give these pills no other way than as I have, prescribed; for if you do, they will do no good.