The good woman therefore sat down, while the chil dren ran for what was required; and surely I never saw a happier party. For Christian-Cheerfulness was a man of so pleasant conversation, that he entertained the company in a very agreeable manner; and particularly he amused the little ones, who were wonderfully taken with his pleasant discourse. But I perceived that the company never once forgot that they were conversing together on Mount Sabbath.

Dinner being over, the elder part of the company sat talking, while the little ones walked into the woods to gather flowers. Playful went with the young ones; but Humble Mind staid with the elder ones, although he took no part in their conversation, well aware that it became him not to speak before his elders, unless first spoken to. So as the evening came on they all returned home to the shepherds' house.

Humble Mind and Playful remained many days with the shepherds; where Martha was as a mother to them, while little Grace and Truth were as their sisters. Every seventh day they went with the shepherds to Mount Sabbath, always spending a part of the day with ChristianCheerfulness; who generally in the course of the week returned the friendly visit, accompanied by his wife.

Thas many weeks passed happily away at this place: nevertheless, when it was signified to the pilgrims that they must continue their journey, they murmured not— "for they desired a better country, that is, an heavenly: God having prepared for them a city." Heb. xi. 16. But, before the pilgrims departed, the shepherds gave them a map of the road, bidding them particularly to beware of the Enchanted Ground.

Then asked the pilgrims, "What is the Enchanted Ground?"

"It is that state," answered the shepherds, "in which the flesh, that is, the unrenewed part, frequently prevails so far as to make the pilgrim slothful and secure, neglecting for a season the exercise of grace. In some cases the renewed part strives vehemently against this stupifying distemper, applying at the same time for that assistance which is promised in temptation-but," continued the shepherds, "there have been instances, and those terrifying ones too, in which the flesh has prevailed to the destruction of both body and soul, and that at a very advanced period of the Christian profession."

I heard then that the shepherds related several awful instances of pilgrims, who had apparently held a prosperous course as far as the Delectable Mountains on their way to Mount Zion, but, nevertheless, were finally lost on the Enchanted Ground, upon the very confines of the promised land—thus affording an awful example to Christians how dangerous it is to confide in their own strength.

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Awful, indeed!" said Martha: "and earnestly do I pray that we, profiting by the failure of these miserable persons, may walk in the strength of the Lord, and not in our own!"

Then said the shepherds, "A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool is confident." Prov. xiv. 16.

After which, the shepherd Watchful added this caution-" Exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end." Heb. iii. 13, 14.

So the shepherds, having kissed and blessed the little company, after conducting them a few steps on their journey, returned to the hills to take care of the flocks over which the Holy Ghost had made them overseers; while the pilgrims went on their way.

CHAPTER XXI.

THEN looking after the pilgrims, I saw that Inbred-Sin was with them; and he walked as one planning mischief. But the pilgrims held pleasant discourse one with another, from time to time looking upon their books, and meditating upon the contents of them.

Now I observed, in my dream, that, after a while, the pilgrims came to a place where a certain way put itself into the King's highway, which was to all appearance as straight and even as the highway itself. This was the place where certain pilgrims of old time had been turned aside by the flatterer. And here, just at the junction of the two roads, sat a company of persons

dressed in pilgrims' habits, who we corrupting each other with flatteri they spoke a language nearly resen used by pilgrims, Humble Mind and vate suggestion of Inbred-Sin, felt knowledge them as brethren. Now of the number of those who love g ket-place, and who make their pray the streets. So they called to th them to join their company, and freshments as they had.

But Martha said, "We are going f Zion; and as we do not just now s of refreshment or rest, and as the su heavens, we are unwilling to be del

"But," said they who were sitti "deny us not your company, whi prove exceedingly edifying to us, a salvation. For we know that you favoured of the Lord and becau reached us from far, we have come h meet with you."

"Well," said Inbred-Sin in the ear grims, "this appears to be a goodly words are full of wisdom." But Ma not with them that flatter with their So the children, being influenced a Holy Spirit of God, hearkened to th and passed on.

I heard then that those who sat after them aloud, uttering such cru proaches as brought up the blood the pilgrims. Upon which Humble thanked Martha for her advice: being children, and foolishness being b we should surely have entered into th ensnaring strangers, had you not give

"Fo

"Hence," said Martha, "the folly who flatter young children: for if n wisdom is to be found in the heart of and venerable pilgrim, how much child!"

The pilgrims then went on till nigh to a grove of cedar-trees beside a po place appeared so exceedingly agreea

ellers sat down upon the grass, and partook of that which they had with them: after which they looked upwards and gave thanks.

Now I saw in my dream that, while they sat on the grass enjoying the sweet solitude of the place, behold, two pilgrims advanced towards them along the King's highway of whom one was an aged woman, and the other a boy about the age of Humble Mind. So they sat still till the pilgrims came up, when they addressed them thus: "If you come in the name of the Saviour, we cordially bid you welcome."

Whereupon the pilgrims modestly saluted Martha, meekly speaking of themselves as unprofitable servants, yea, the chief of sinners. But Martha, observing their white robes and the mark on their foreheads, was satisfied that they were true pilgrims: so pressing them to join their company, the strangers thankfully accepted the invitation. The name of the old woman was Ruth, and that of the boy, her son, was Plain Sense.

I saw then that the younger pilgrims presently fell asleep but while they slept, Ruth and Martha conversed with each other for a considerable time after sunset. Ruth informed Martha that she was an inhabitant of a certain country called Darkland, lying to the north of the village of Family-Love, in the Valley of Destruction, where she had lived in total ignorance of her Saviour till within a few months past. "And there," said she, "I should still have lived in the same miserable state, had it not pleased the Lord to make my little son, who is my only child, the means of persuading me to leave my all for the Saviour's sake. But now," continued she, "I humbly trust, although I came not into the vineyard till the last hour of the day, that through the free grace and unsearchable merits of the Redeemer, I shall be counted worthy, though utterly worthless in myself, to enter the kingdom of heaven."

To this Martha returned, "Through faith only are we counted worthy, and not on account of our own works or deservings. Abraham' believed in the Lord, and it was counted to him for righteousness.' Gen. xv. 6. And unless the righteousness of Christ be imputed to us by faith, we must all utterly perish."

I heard then that Ruth informed Martha how her little son was brought to the knowledge of the truth by reading the Holy Book of God, which had been delivered to

him by one of those servants of the Lord who now go to and fro into the dark corners of the earth to publish his Word. Moreover, she told her how unwilling she had been to receive the Gospel at first, and that she had even obstinately shut her ears against it. "Nevertheless," continued she, "I was at length brought to the knowledge of my sin and my need of a Saviour: and now having advanced thus far on my way, behold here I stand before you this day, a miracle of grace."

"Let us then," said Martha, "give glory to God for all that we have received at his hand; and let us humbly confess that it is of his own superabounding grace and goodness, manifested through the Son of his love, that we are not now enduring the punishment due to our transgressions." I heard then that the two pilgrims broke forth with one voice in praise of their Redeemer ; after which, they betook themselves to rest.

The repose of that night was sweet to the whole company, and on the morrow they were ready, by dawn of day, to pursue their journey. And now, whereas for some time past nothing has been said of Inbred-Sin, I think it necessary here to state, although I did not interrupt my pleasant account of the Delectable Mountains by speaking of this evil one, that he was nevertheless continually with the pilgrims during their stay in those mountains, causing them frequent uneasiness, though not breaking out into any very open or glaring act of violence. His apparent quietness, however, during that season is to be attributed to the vigilance of the shepherds, who, knowing him well, and keeping an eye continually towards him, put a check upon his actions at every turn; so that he could gain no ground whatever. But now being set free from the watchful eyes of the shepherds, he began to entertain better hopes of success among the pilgrims, who were at this time, he well knew, approaching their journey's end. He knew perfectly well that his time was now or never-of which his master Beelzebub, the great enemy of pilgrims, was equally sensible -he therefore determined without delay to exert himself to the utmost for the destruction of the pilgrims. Nevertheless, as they were now more experienced, and better acquainted with all his turnings and windings than they formerly had been, he judged it necessary to act with more caution than he had done in the former part of their course. It was not now his wish to bring any