Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/272

268 sex in the Old Testament coveted children, if happily this or that woman might be the mother of the Saviour of the world. I will say again, that when the Saviour was come, women rejoiced in him, before either man or angel. (Luke ii.) I read not that man ever gave unto Christ so much as one great; but the women followed him, and ministered to him of their substance. 'Twas a woman that washed his feet with tears, and a woman that anointed his body to the burial. They were women who wept when he was going to the cross; and women that followed him from the cross, and that sat over against his sepulchre when he was buried. They were women that were ﬁrst with him at his resurrection—morn; and women that brought tidings first to his disciples that he was risen from the dead. (Luke Vii. 37–50; was, 3; xxiii.:27; xxiv. 22, John ii. 3; xi. 2. Matt. xxvii. 55–61.) Women, therefore, are highly favoured, and show by these things that they are sharers with us in the grace of life.

Now the cook sent up to signify that supper was almost ready, and sent one to lay the cloth, and the trenchers, and to set the salt and bread in order.

Then said Matthew, The Sight of this cloth, and of this forerunner of the supper, begetteth in me a greater appetite to my food than I had before.

Gaius. So let all ministering doctrines to thee in this life beget in thee a greater desire to sit at the supper of the great King his kingdom; for all preaching, books, and ordinances here are but as the laying of the trenchers, and as setting of salt upon the board, when compared with the feast which our Lord will make for us when we come to his house.

So supper came up. And first a. heave—shoulder wave-breast were set on the table before them; to show that they must begin their meal with prayer and praise to God. (Lev. vii. 32–34; x. 14, 15. Ps. xxv. 1. Heb. xiii.