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

6
their affections, the more their instructor
insisted on the danger and pernicious con-
sequences 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-de-
nial, without whose company, it would be
impossible ever to reach the borders of Ca-
naan ; 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 tra-
vel 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 lie must discharge his consci-
ence in giving them timely admonition.
I observed the event of those consulta-
tions, 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 de-