Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/270

266 house; forasmuch as I have proved thee, thou art never destitute of that which is convenient.

Then he went down and spake to the cook, whose name was Taste-that-which-is-good, to get ready supper for so many pilgrims. This done, he came up again, saying, Come, my good friends, you are welcome to me, and I am glad that I have a house to entertain you, in; and While supper is making ready, if you please, let us entertain one another with some good discourse. So they all said, Content.

Gaius. Then said Gains, Whose wife is this aged matron? and Whose daughter is this young damsel?

Great. This woman is the Wife of one Christian, a pilgrim of former times; and these are his four children. The maid is one of her acquaintance, one that she hath persuaded to come with her on pilgrimage. The boys take all after their father, and covet to tread in his steps; yea, if they do but see any place Where the old pilgrim hath lain, or any print of his foot, it ministereth joy to their hearts, and they covet to lie or tread in the same.

Gaius. Then said Grains, Is this Christian's Wife, and are these Christian's children? I knew your husband's father, yea, also his father's father. Many have been good of this stock; their ancestors dwelt first at Antioch. (Acts xi. 26;) Christian's progenitors (I Suppose you have heard your husaband talk of them) were very worthy men. They have, above any that I know, showed themselves men of great virtue and, courage for the Lord of the pilgrims, his ways, and them that loved him. I have heard of many of your husband's; relations that have stood all trials, for the sake of the truth. Stephen, that was one of the first, of the family from whence your husband sprang, was knocked, on the head with stones. (Acts vii. 59, 60.) James, another of this generation, was slain, with the edge of the Sword.; (Acts xii. 2.) To say nothing of Paul and Peter, men anciently the family from whence your hushand same, there was