CHAPTER IX.

SHOWING HOW THE PILGRIMS ARRIVED AT THE GREAT CITY OF VANITY, WITH WHAT BEFEL THEM THERE.

"And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou, therefore, wilt worship me, all shall be thine."-Luke iv. 5-7.

Now I saw, in my dream, that the pilgrims continued their journey for several days, and I could not but admire the uniform course which the old man kept, leaning upon his staff at every step, and neither turning aside to the right hand nor to the left: and as he went he oft refreshed himself with the precious promises which his book contained. In the meanwhile I perceived that he had frequent occasion either to urge his brother forward; or to restrain his wanderings from their proper path, for the

purpose of obtaining, as he said, a sight of the surrounding country.

After travelling thus some days, the pilgrims came to a wide plain; but by reason of the jungle and long grass growing on each side of the way, their prospect was shut up on every side. At length the travellers arrived at a more open country, where the fields were adorned with clumps of trees and gardens, as in the neighbourhood of some great city but the trees, though fair to look upon, bare either no fruit, or such as was of an evil nature. And advancing to the brow of a hill, where they intended to pass the night under a tope of tall trees; they saw before them, in the plain below, a city, of which, for extent and magnificence, they had never beheld the like.

"Ah!" said the old pilgrim, "there is, I perceive, the 'City of Vanity:' would to God we were well through it!" So the pilgrims sat down on the edge of the hill, and looked with wonder towards the city, which contained four great divisions, and was inhabited by some of every nation under the sun. Now that quarter

of the city, which faced the pilgrims, and

through which their road lay, was possessed by

Mussulmauns and by idolaters: for, just at the entrance of the city, upon an eminence to the right, was a very sumptuous mosque, the lofty minarets of which seemed to pierce the clouds; and on the left, backed by a grove of trees, was a pagoda, covered with three cupolas, adorned with gold and scarlet colour, having figures of various debtas, painted upon the walls, of such monstrous size, that the pilgrims (even from the distant spot on which they sat) could plainly distinguish them. These temples of Satan raised. themselves above the houses of the inhabitants, which were built very thickly together, forming narrow streets in various directions. All this the pilgrims could observe from the side of the hill on which they halted; from whence also they could hear the buzz of various voices out of the city, mingling with the distant sound of their idolatrous music. Then did the hearts of the pilgrims sink within them, under inexpressible concern, not only for themselves, but for the wicked inhabitants of the city.

Now I saw, in my dream, that, as they sat lamenting themselves, one came up to them, and said, "Peace be with you, my brethren." And when the pilgrims looked up, behold, it was the

Christian messenger, who, through the appointment of God, had been the means of guiding them into the way of peace. So they were glad to see him, and made room for him to sit down between them. Then I saw that he comforted them, and prayed with them, confirming their faith. After which, he spake to them on this wise:

"My brethren, the Lord Jesus Christ, when he sent forth his disciples into the world, addressed them in these terms- Beware of men! for I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you; and ye shall be brought before kings for my sake. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak; for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.' (Matt. x. 16-20, 22.) "As it was in the days of our Lord," continued the Christian messenger," so it is at this pre

sent time. The children of this world are and ever will be at enmity with the children of light; but blessed are ye, when men revile you and persecute you for your Master's sake."

Then said Bartholomew, "Do the prejudices of that city run as high and as violently against pilgrims at this day, as in former times?"

Christian Messenger.-This depends greatly upon what part of the city pilgrims are ordained to pass through. In different streets of yonder city, pilgrims are differently treated. There are many streets the inhabitants of which call themselves Christians. Through these a man may pass without fear of bodily sufferings; though he will be exposed therein to various and dangerous temptations; temptations of gain-temptations of worldly pleasure and fleshly lusts-temptations from the ridicule of his companions, and the sinful fear of his brethren-temptations from the persuasions and blandishments of his kindred: and these trials, as the great tempter knoweth, are hard to be endured, having been the utter destruction of many pilgrims, yea, of all those who have walked in their own strength.

Nazareenee. Well, I cannot but persuade myself, that a pilgrim must be a poor pilgrim