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Now, when they came to the grave, and read the name of Peace upon the fair white monument, and the verses, which Mr. Orthodox had caused to be graven underneath, Humble Mind looked very pale, and Playful began to weep. Upon which Mr. Orthodox said, "Wherefore are you sorrowful? If you loved your sister Peace, you ought to rejoice; because she is gone to her heavenly Father."

So Playful wiped away her tears.

Then spake Mr. Orthodox, as he stood by the grave, "Hearken unto me, my children. You have been often taught, and I hope have many times sensibly felt, that having received forgiveness of sins through the Lord Jesus Christ, you have become one with him, as he is one with the Father; according as it is written-' At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.' John xiv. 20. This mystical union," continued Mr. Orthodox, "between Christ and his children, is a doctrine not only held altogether in contempt by the world, but it is a doctrine which even many who are constant comers to my church cannot receive; and for this reason, because they love the world, and cleave to it, though it be a stranger and an enemy to the Spirit of truth.

"Now this mystical union," added the good man, “is neither a fancied nor a figurative thing, but a sacred reality. When you were joined to Christ, my children, sin lost its absolute power over you; the Holy Spirit at that time entered your hearts, and you became temples of the living God. 1 Cor. iii. 16. Christ is the head of all believers, and believers are his members; so that a Christian hath no power to do any one good thing, but through the help of the Holy Spirit, which he receives as a member of Christ. Through faith the believer is enabled to bring forth the fruits of righteousness; by faith he is strengthened in the inner man and when he fails to seek the help of the Spirit, he becomes weak and faint as other men, and perhaps falls into grievous sins, as was the case with King David.

"Our little sister," continued Mr. Orthodox, "whose body lies in this grave, was, through the grace of God, born again in Christ, and made a new creature, many months before her death, as we have abundant reason to believe from her orderly and even course, as well as from the delight she took in communing with her God.

She must then have been a true member of Christ-for 'the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine' (John xv. 4); and therefore is her salvation sure."

"Now understand, my children," continued he, "that our mystical union with our great Head is not destroyed by death; but we are as near to Christ, and as much a part of him, when lying in the grave and in the dust, as when living on the earth. For it is written, 'Whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live, therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.' Rom. xiv. 8, 9. In this grave, therefore, and under this little white stone, lies a part of the mystical body of Christ, a member belonging to the Divine Head. All that remained of sin and corruption in this mortal body is now destroyed-for 'except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.' John xii. 24. But the better part of this your dear sister still remains; and at the last day, when the trumpet shall sound, she will be raised up, and joined for ever to her glorious Head. When Christ, who is her life, shall appear, then shall she also appear with him in glory.' Col. iii. 4. For while in the flesh, she received forgiveness of sins through the Redeemer; and having been justified by him, she will be also glorified (Rom. viii. 30), and shall stand with him to judge the world. 1 Cor. vi. 2. Therefore, my dear children, grieve no more for your beloved Peace, but rejoice that she was enabled to fight the good fight of faith; and abide ye in the Lord Jesus Christ, that, when he shall appear, ye may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming (1 John ii. 28): but that ye may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are his children."" 1 John iv. 17.

Now the time was come for the children to depart. So Mrs. Bountiful prepared for them such things as she thought might serve for their refreshment by the way; while Mr. Orthodox, taking them aside, knelt down with them and prayed, saying, “ Plead thou the cause of these little ones, O Lord, with those that oppose them, and fight thou against them that fight against these. For the eyes of these pilgrims are unto thee, O God the

Lord, and in thee is their trust. Let the souls of these thy servants be precious in thy sight. Leave them not, neither forsake them, O God of our salvation! Many are the afflictions of the righteous but thou deliverest them out of all. The Lord conduct these youthful travellers safely on their way, and bring them at length to his holy hill of Zion, even to the place which he loveth. Praies the Lord!"

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Thus prayed the holy Mr. Orthodox: after which he rose up and kissed the children. Then Humble Mind and his sister being fully prepared for their journey, Mr. Orthodox and his wife thought it proper to see them safe out of the town. So having passed the populous parts of the city, and reached the skirts of the town, Mr. Orthodox and Mrs. Bountiful again kissed the young pilgrims, and returned to their house.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Now it came to pass, when Mr. Orthodox and Mrs. Bountiful had taken their leave of the little pilgrims at the gates of Vanity (for it suited not the convenience of these excellent persons to accompany them farther on their journey), that Humble Mind and Playful proceeded along the suburbs for some time, weeping as they went and Inbred-Sin was with them.

I had remarked that Inbred-Sin kept himself very quiet in the house of Mr. Orthodox. Not that he refrained from his secret whisperings and evil suggestions; but only that he took unusual care to avoid every open breach of decency or good manners: insomuch that, notwithstanding their former experience of his deceit on like occasions, the young pilgrims were inclined to hope, and almost to believe, that he had really become so much weaker that they should never again be so harassed by him as in former days. And thus many persons, far more experienced and advanced than these little pilgrims, have frequently been deceived with respect to their victory over sin; when, by certain outward circumstances, such as the failure of health, the influence of holy society, or some other restraining

consideration, they have experienced a temporary relief from the tormentings of their inbred corruptions: till, being thrown off their guard, by vainly supposing themselves no longer liable to the baneful influence of their sinful tendencies, they have presently fallen again into the snares of the enemy. So great is the deceptive power of sin; and on this account it is that the Lord of pilgrims exhorts his people to watch continually. But to return to the little pilgrims.

I hoped to see them presently freed from the suburbs of Vanity. But I perceived, much to my surprise, that those suburbs extended along the Way of Salvation to a great distance, and that, like the city itself, they were set forth with all manner of enticing delights; especially with summer-houses and pleasure-gardens, abounding with fruit of various kinds-not such as grew in the Interpreter's garden, or in the fields of innocent pleasure; but fruits of an intoxicating and poisonous tendency, and partaking of the nature of that tree whereby our first parents acquired the knowledge of evil.

Now the odour of the fruits and flowers which grew in these gardens seemed to be particularly sweet and exhilarating to Inbred-Sin; for he no sooner began to snuff it, than he stepped forward, and walking in a line with the little pilgrims (a liberty which I had not observed him to take during the whole time of their residence in the house of Mr. Orthodox), he began to give his opinion in a very free and familiar manner. And this he did without asking permission, well knowing that such a request would only put the little pilgrims upon their guard; whereas it was probable that, on taking them by surprise, he might carry his point, as many an unhappy point is carried in the world. So, stepping forward, he began to speak with an impudent and unblushing face; for Inbred-Sin cannot blush, neither can he be disconcerted or diverted from his purpose: and hence it is said, that they who are ruled by him, to wit, "the children of this world, are wiser than the children of light." Luke xvi. 8. First, he began to compliment and congratulate the little pilgrims upon their escape from the dangers of Vanity. And this he did through deceit; that, lulling their fears to sleep, he might the more easily succeed in beguiling their minds. For, although they had passed safely through the high places and chief streets of the city, he was well aware that

many snares and dangers awaited them in the suburbs and outskirts of Vanity. "You have," said he, addressing himself to them both, "fought a good fight, and obtained a great victory; nothing therefore now remains but to give thanks for this victory."

To this Humble Mind replied, "Let us at least wait till we are wholly clear of this City of Vanity, before we sing the song of triumph."

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But," said Inbred-Sin, are you not already clear of the city? We see nothing here but gardens and summer-houses-places to which the inhabitants of the town retire to refresh themselves in the summer-season with innocent pleasures and rural sports. Surely here can be no snares laid for pilgrims, nor any employments or pleasures of which they may not innocently partake." I desire to know no pleasures," returned Humble Mind, "except such as are to be found in the presence and service of Him who was nailed to the cross for my salvation; but as for the pleasures of the world, I will have nothing to do with them. These are the pleasures for which thousands and tens of thousands of immortal creatures, being ensnared by such as thou art, thou child of hell, have given up the favour of their heavenly Father, and the love of their Redeemer. For these they have renounced the joys of heaven; eternal youth, immortal health, everlasting peace, the society of saints and angels, together with a crown that fadeth not away: in exchange for which they have received nothing but pain, and death, and everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord." Then Humble Mind read these words from his book-"The heart of the sons of men is full of evil; madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead." Eccles. ix. 3.

I perceived that about this time the little pilgrims had come to a place where was a house of entertainment, which projected its sign quite across the Way of Salvation, bearing the emblem of a youth crowned with rosebuds. And behold, in the court of this house a number of young people were gathered together, dancing, singing, and quaffing wine from golden cups. Then did Inbred-Sin direct the eyes of the pilgrims towards the young persons within the court. Moreover, he made them observe the emblem upon the sign, saying, "Come on, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that are present; and let us speedily use the creatures like as

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