throughly from thy sins. Moreover, taking from thee these vile garments which thou now wearest, he will clothe thee with the vesture of innocence; yea, he will cover thee with the robe of righteousness, and adorn thee with the garments of salvation: as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, so will he deck thee; and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels, so shalt thou be adorned. (Isaiah lxi. 10.) His very name is as ointment poured forth, among them that love him." (Sol. Song i. 3.)

Immediately I saw that Goonah Purist began to gird up his loins, turning his eyes on every side, and saying, "Whither shall I fly?"

Christian Messenger.-Thou must leave this city in which thou wast born, and turn thy back upon this 'Valley of Destruction.' Art thou willing to give up all for Christ?

Goonah Purist.-But whither can I fly, Sir? I see no door for escape.

Christian Messenger.-Nevertheless, if thou remainest here thou art utterly undone; for the Evil One is the prince of this valley, and the natural lord thereof. Unless, therefore, thou renouncest thy old lord, and fleest to a new master, thou art utterly lost; for no man can

serve two masters, and thy former master's wages are eternal death.

Goonah Purist.-But how shall I escape? Christian Messenger.-Call upon Him who is able to help thee.

So Goonah Purist prayed, and called aloud upon Esau Messeeh; and behold, while he yet prayed, certain dark clouds which had hung upon the horizon, towards the east of the 'Valley of Destruction,' rolled speedily away, and disclosed a brilliant light.

Then Goonah Purist in great amazement lifted up his hands and his eyes towards that beauteous light; while the Christian messenger thus addressed him-" Brother, thy prayer is heard; for upon thee the Sun of Righteousness is now arisen with healing on his wings.' (Malachi iv. 2.) Hasten, my brother; follow that light look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain, lest thou be consumed in the iniquity thereof.' (Gen. xix. 17.) And behold, thou shalt find before thee a door of escape, even that gate of the Lord, into which 'the righteous man runneth, and is safe.' (Proverbs xviii. 10.)

Under these

these encouraging circumstances,

Goonah Purist lost no time, but set his face eastward, and began to run: yet before he departed, I saw that the Christian teacher presented him with the book which he had endeavoured to explain. Now that book had been carefully translated into the native tongue of Goonah Purist; and the Christian teacher bade him to keep it as the apple of his eye, that it might at once direct and comfort him through the journey which he was about to undertake. So, bidding him God-speed, he went about his master's business in the city, while Goonah Purist hastened towards the rising light with all the speed he could make.

H

CHAPTER V.

SHOWING HOW GOONAH PURIST WAS RECEIVED AT THE GATE WHICH IS AT THE HEAD OF THE WAY OF SALVATION.

"Then Jesus said, I am at the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved."--John x. 9.

So I looked wistfully after Goonah Purist, who went joyfully forward towards the shining light which had burst upon his view. And, for a while, he met not with any difficulty, but proceeded, solacing himself as he went, with the prospect of being speedily delivered from his burden, and freed from the plague of his leprosy. And I heard him, from time to time, breaking forth in the praises of him whom he looked to as his future deliverer.

In this manner he continued his course, till he came to a place where, owing to the inequality of the ground, he lost sight of the shining light. Moreover, the place was an

exceedingly dismal one, full of pits and black pools of water. And the land brought forth frogs, whose dismal croaking, added to the rankness of the vegetation, should have warned the pilgrim to step carefully along; nevertheless, being in haste, and not taking heed, he was up to his knees in a bog, or quagmire, before he was aware. No sooner did Goonah Purist feel the ground giving way beneath his feet, than he found a sensible depression of spirits, occasioned by the influence of the air in that place; for this was that Slough of Despondency, into which all sinners, on their first setting out from the 'City of the Wrath of God,' are liable to fall, before they have experienced the mighty power of God unto salvation.

And now, while he was tumbling and tossing in the mire, endeavouring to extricate himself by his own exertions, behold, there came forth from the city a number of his neighbours and old companions. And who should be at the head of the company but that very Bramhun, who had formerly been his teacher; and with him came certain Mussulmauns, sent by the Sheik Olislam: for, by this time, it was noised in the town, that Goonah Purist had left the