conceal her enmity to the truth, that she may the more effectually lead men away from it. She may feel indifferent which of the various schemes of error is embraced; but she hates the truth with all her heart, and sometimes she will avow it. She commonly professes this indifference in the company of those who believe the truth, that she may conceal her true character and gain their confidence. She knows that if she can weaken their attachment to the truth, and lead them to embrace her favorite maxim, that it is of no importance what men believe, she has already gained much. On some accounts, it is most for the promotion of her cause, to have some such persons among the friends of truth. While they are ranked among the friends of truth, they will retain an influence there, which they would lose if they became its open enemies. And having embraced her maxims they can propagate them with success; and thus prepare the way for her own influence to be more directly exerted.

Ard. It is often objected against giving any thing to promote objects of benevolent enterprise, that we ought to save it for our children. And it is written, "if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."

Char. The connection in which that is written, shows what it means. The primitive churches made provision for the support of those members who were unable to provide for themselves. But if any man, who was able to provide for his aged parents, should throw them upon the funds of the church, it would be such a proof of his covetousness, as would destroy his Christian character. The passage is against covetousness: but it is often made use of as a cloak of covetousness.

Ard. But how shall the objection be answered?

Char. It is not the duty of parents to let their children suffer, in order to give away what is needed to supply their actual wants. But children who enjoy health, and are trained to habits of industry and self-denial, do not need to have property laid up for them. It more frequently proves a curse than a blessing. Covetous parents commonly have profligate children. And the latter waste an estate quicker than the former accumulated it. Those children are more likely to do well for themselves, as well as for the public, who are trained up by benevolent parents, than those who are trained up by covetous ones. Those who are taught habits of industry, prudence, self-denial, generosity, and public-spiritedness, will not be likely to come to want. Such habits will gain them friends and employment; and, with the blessing of God, will insure success in their enterprises. But those who are trained up to the

habit of making their own gratification their only object, will be destitute of the qualifications which are most necessary to success in the world. And if they have been led to depend upon a patrimony for support, rather than on their own industry, it is so much the worse for them. I think, therefore, that if parents studied the good of their children in this life only, and had no regard for the great cause of Christian benevolence, it would be much wiser for them to give away what is not needed, than to hoard it up for those that are to come after.

Th. It is also objected, that what is spent in sending the Gospel to the heathen is thrown away, because they are better without the Gospel than with it.

Char. That objection can be made by none but such as do, at heart, disbelieve the Gospel itself. If the Gospel is chargeable with doing more hurt than good, then it is a curse to the world, and is not true.

Th. Perhaps those who make the objection would not admit this consequence. But they think the heathen are as likely to be saved in their present state, as they would be if they had the Gospel.

Char. The present state of the heathen world is no better than it was in the days of the apostles. They labored to spread the Gospel among those who were then heathens, that they might thereby save souls from everlasting perdition. Those who make this objection condemn the conduct of the apostles.

After this conversation, the pilgrims were taken to the library, and shown the records of the house, in which they found the history of many excellent pilgrims who had gone this way before them. So the company had much conversation on what those pilgrims had met with in their travels, on the dangers they had escaped, the difficulties they had surmounted, and the deliverances they had experienced, and also the snares into which some of them had fallen, through neglect of watchfulness and prayer. And Piety, Prudence, and Charity, made many remarks on those incidents, and the use which the pilgrims ought to make of them for their own instruction and consolation.

And when they had spent some time in this way, both pleasantly and profitably, they returned, and sat down to supper. Now, the supper, I perceived, was the principal meal of this family; and though served up in a plain and simple manner, it is prepared of more costly materials, even such as were brought from a far country, and were bought with a price far exceeding in value the wealth of the Indies. There was set before them a lamb, of the firstlings of the flock, a male without blemish and without spot, prepared for them to feed upon,

without a bone of him being broken. Their bread was such as came down from heaven, and like that which fed the Israelites in the wilderness. Their drink was water from the river of life, which flows from the paradise of God, and wine made from the first ripe clusters of Eshcol. Their food was seasoned with the salt that never loses it savor, and spices from the gardens of king Solomon.

So the pilgrims sat down to this feast with great delight, and the food was sweet to their taste. Moreover, at the table they had much discourse about the Lord of the way, and what he had done for pilgrims. They spoke of his illustrious birth, his exalted character, his wonderful condescension, his bitter sufferings, and cruel death. They discoursed also of his resurrection on the third day, his ascension to his Father's right hand, the wisdom and equity of the government he is now exercising, and of his coming again in the glory of his Father, to execute judgment upon his enemies, and receive his friends to be partakers of his glory. They discoursed also of the manner of life which it becomes those to lead who are admitted to these high privileges, and allowed to indulge these glorious hopes. And after having renewed their solemn pledges to be faithful to each other, and faithful to the Lord of the way, and having offered their thanksgivings to their Lord for the enjoyment of this refreshing season, they concluded by singing the following hymn:

"Lord, at thy table I behold

The wonders of thy grace:
But most of all admire, that I
Should find a welcome place.
"I, that am all defiled with sin,
A rebel to my God;

I, that have crucified his Son,
And trampled on his blood."

"What strange, surprising grace is this,
That such a soul has room!

My Saviour takes me by the hand,
My Jesus bids me come.

"With trembling faith, and bleeding hearts,
Lord, we accept thy love:

'Tis a rich banquet we have had,

What will it be above!"

Then, after the company had discoursed together of these things a long while, and had committed themselves to the protection of Him that never slumbers nor sleeps, they retired to rest; and the pilgrims were lodged in the chamber of Peace, the same in which the pilgrim Christian had slept, when he was there.

CHAPTER XII.

Now, in the morning, I perceived that the pilgrims arose strong and vigorous to pursue their journey; and having taken leave of the family, and having received from them a letter of introduction to such other houses as had been built by their Lord for the accommodation of pilgrims on the road, they departed and went on their way. And as they went along, they discoursed with each other of the things they had seen and heard at the house Beautiful, and of the high privileges they had enjoyed there; and they were so taken up with these things that they forgot to read any in their books, as they had been wont to do while they passed along.

I think, said Ardent, that we shall be willing to bear cheerfully any reproach or persecution to which we may be subjected, for the sake of the Lord of the way, since he has endured so much for us.

Thoughtful. It would, indeed, be unworthy of the name we bear, and of the privileges to which we have been admitted, if we should shrink from any sufferings to which our Lord shall call us.

Ardent. I have been rash and hasty, heretofore, and have brought myself into many difficulties by it, but I hope that the experience I have had will teach me better in future.

Th. I hope the things we have learned will do us good as long as we live; and that the high privileges we have lately enjoyed will lead us to seek after yet greater attainments, and to be bold and zealous in the service of our Lord and Master.

Then I perceived, that just as they were saying these things, a man came up behind them, whose name was Flatterwell; but the pilgrims knew him not. And having overheard some of their conversation, he said:

Flatterwell. Hail! ye highly favored ones, ye servants of the Prince Immanuel, who have undertaken this long and perilous journey for the love you bear to his name. Your Prince regards you with great affection, and is willing to give you a further proof of it. You have indeed enjoyed high privileges at the house Beautiful, but there are higher privileges to be yet enjoyed. You have seen great things there; but you shall see greater things than these.

Ard. We have never seen you before; but you speak like

one that has some knowledge of us, and of the object of our journey. We should like to know who you are.

Fl. Ask not after my name, seeing it is a secret. I am a friend to you and to the Lord of the way; and am not ignorant of your history. I know how you forsook all that you had, for the love you bare to the Lord of pilgrims. And I know all the pains you have taken to show that love to him, and all the difficulties you have surmounted for his sake. I have done so before you, and have been rewarded for it by being appointed to an honorable station. I am sent forth to accompany you a little in your way, and to speak words of comfort to you; and also to give you some further manifestations of the regard which your Lord has to you.

Th. No praise is due to us for what we have done. It is the King alone that has made us to differ. Had it not been for his distinguishing grace, we had remained to this day in the city of Destruction.

Fl. I know it; and I am glad to see you so sensible of it. Humility is a most excellent trait in the pilgrim's character. But I knew you possessed it in an eminent degree; for otherwise I should not have been sent out to accompany you, and to confer further privileges upon you. It is written, "before honor is humility;" and "he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." I am persuaded that the Lord of the way intends to make you eminent among pilgrims, and to prepare you for great usefulness among them: and therefore it is, that having tried you hitherto, and found you so faithful to him, he is ready to grant you further marks of his regard.

Ard. I have not been so faithful to him as I ought; nor so firm in his ways as my brother Thoughtful. But I hope I shall be more so hereafter.

Fl. No; none are so faithful to him as they ought to be. But you have been more so than many others. Your low opinion of yourself, however, is a good sign; and it promises well with regard to your future progress.

Th. Your commendation makes me ashamed of myself; for it brings to mind my numerous imperfections and short comings in duty.

Fl. That is well. It shows that you are not easily flattered; and so are in less danger of being deceived and led astray, than those who have less knowledge of their own hearts.

By this time I perceived that Flatterwell had got a little before them, and as they were engaged in conversation, had turned out of the straight road into another path, which yet seemed almost as direct as the right one, and was leading them on in it with a quicker step, while the path by degrees turned