to rest at noon: for why should we be as those who turn aside to the fold of the stranger?" (Sol. Song i. 7.)

Then I saw that the people of the land pointed out to them the footsteps of the King's flock; and bidding the pilgrims to follow them, behold, they speedily brought them to the Shepherd's tent. There they were joyfully received and bountifully entertained in the royal banqueting-house; where also their garments were rendered as pure as at the beginning. Moreover, they were there adorned with rows of jewels, and their necks with chains of gold; while their garments were enriched with borders of gold and studs of silver. (Sol. Song i. 10, 11.) Thence also they were taken into the garden of their Lord to taste his pleasant fruits: and there, being weary, they slept though their hearts still waked, and their thoughts were still engaged with ineffable delights. So they slept among the myrrh and spices of the King's garden. (Sol. Song v. 1.)

Now there was music and rejoicing through all the land of Beulah on account of the pilgrims' safe arrival; the inhabitants of the land also shewed them all manner of kindness; and nothing was wanting to gratify their wishes. Nevertheless their hearts burned to be at the end of their journey: for they could see the Celestial City itself, although only indistinctly, because of its dazzling brightness. And they longed to be at home with their Lord, their Redeemer and their King, their Almighty Maker, and the Maker of those parents, sisters, and children, whom they had loved upon earth, and who were passed on before. But there lay between them and the Celestial City a deep black river, through which all the children of mortality must pass-even the River of Death.

The pilgrims were at this time so eager to reach the further shore, that they almost longed to

plunge themselves into this river. But secretly struggling with their own impatience, they submissively waited their appointed time. So they pitched their tents in the happy land of Beulah, contented to tarry till the expected messenger should summon them away.

Now the first of the pilgrims thus summoned away, was the mother of Plain Sense. The old woman received the message joyfully, for her heart was with her King; and she cheerfully requested all her fellow-pilgrims to accompany her to the edge of the water. I saw then that, as she approached the river-side, the opposite banks appeared so clear, so bright, and so lovely, that she could not forbear crying out in a transport

one.

"Sweet fields, beyond the swelling flood,
Stand dress'd in living green—

So to the Jews old Canaan stood,
While Jordan roll'd between."

She then took leave of all the pilgrims, one by But when her son came to her, "O my child! my son!" she said, "when thou comest to this hour, with what joy wilt thou recollect that thy persuasions and example were made the means of sweetening these bitter waters to thy aged mother! I lived in sin, a slave of the world, and in bondage to its lusts; when, by the grace of God, my only child became the instrument of leading me from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God. Blessed therefore be the Lord, who in his tender mercy hath saved both mother and son!" Then stepping into the water, she said, "My foot standeth firm upon the Rock of Ages." After which the black waves rolling over her head, they for a season lost sight of her. But presently, with the help of the glass which the shepherds had given them, they distinguished

:

her again and behold, certain shining ones had received her, and were bearing her through the clouds to the gates of heaven. So she vanished from their sight, and they returned to their tents.

Now I saw that after many days had passed, a messenger came, enquiring for Humble Mind and Martha. Then Playful wept, while little Grace and Truth were sorely distressed. But Martha, embracing and kissing them, said, "Do ye sorrow, my children, even as others who have no hope? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Rom. viii. 35, 38, 39.)

The messenger however not being very hasty or urgent, Martha and Humble Mind had time to make known to their friends what they wished them to do after their passage through the river. And first, Humble Mind requested his sister to hold herself in readiness to follow him; "For," said he, “you know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." (Matt. xxv. 13.)

I saw also that Martha besought Playful to take charge of little Grace and Truth; very earnestly entreating, that, as her age and experience were greater than theirs, she would bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Now Humble Mind's last request was, that his friend Plain Sense would take his sister to wife, that they might remain affectionate fellow-helpers to each other through the remainder of their pilgrimage. He also earnestly commended the two children to their care; for he greatly loved little Grace and Truth.

1

When therefore the appointed day was come, they went down to the River of Death together. So being come to the river-side, the departing pilgrims there knelt down in the midst of their kneeling friends: and I saw, that they who were going to pass the river wept not, but that their friends wept sorely. Then they prayed earnestly, in the following words: "O Almighty God, with whom do live the spirits of just men made perfect, after they are delivered from their earthly prisons, we humbly commend our souls into thy hands, as into the hands of a faithful Creator and most merciful Saviour; most humbly beseeching thee that they may be precious in thy sight. Wash them, we pray thee, in the blood of that immaculate Lamb that was slain to take away the sins of the world; that whatsoever defilements they may have contracted in the midst of this miserable and naughty world, through the lust of the flesh or the wiles of Satan, being purged and done away, they may be presented pure and without spot before thee. And teach those who survive, in this and other like daily spectacles of mortality, to see how frail and uncertain their own condition is; and so to number their days, that they may seriously apply their hearts to that holy and heavenly wisdom while they live here, which may in the end bring them to everlasting life, through the merits of Jesus Christ thine only Son our Lord." (See Visitation of the Sick.)

Thus having prayed, they arose and kissed their weeping friends; when Martha, crying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit," stepped down into the water, Humble Mind immediately following. But, no sooner had the soles of their feet touched the cold stream, than Inbred-Sin shrieked aloud, and attempted to pull them back. Whereupon they turned deadly white, while the cold sweat stood upon their brows. Then did the gasping pilgrims

appear to be sinking under the agonies of temporal death insomuch that their earthly friends could commune with them no longer.

Now as they struggled in the water, like persons nearly overcome and ready to perish, their groans and cries for deliverance became exceedingly distressing to those who stood by. When, in the midst of their extremity, behold one, whose beauty was without blemish, advanced to meet them. They who stood upon the shore, beheld him through the glass of Faith, and knew him, by his form, to be the sinner's Saviour, full of grace and truth. And behold, the waters of death fled back at the touch of his feet. (Joshua iii. 13.) So approaching the pilgrims, who had now fainted -by a sudden exertion of his omnipotence, and in virtue of his own all-sufficient merits, he separated Inbred-Sin from their inmost souls, and annihilated him for ever. Upon which I perceived that the bitterness of death passed away from them; for the sting of death is sin. Then speaking tenderly unto the pilgrims, and bearing them up in his arms, their gracious Lord triumphantly conveyed them to the further side.

Here, even they who used the glass of Faith, could scarcely discern any thing further, by reason of their tears. But I continued to look after the pilgrims; and behold, a multitude of the heavenly host were waiting on the other side of the water, ascribing glory to Him who was more than conqueror over death. And they received the pilgrims with acclamations of joy-crying out, "Glory, glory, glory to the Lamb! Death is swallowed up in victory! Hallelujah! hallelujah! hallelujah!" Then casting their crowns at the feet of Him who had brought up the pilgrims from the River of Death, they fell down before him and worshipped.

Now as the pilgrims went up from the River of