of the trials to which we shall probably be exposed in the wicked city before us.

I saw then that Peace began to weep; and presently she broke out in these words-"O my sweet brother and sister! how pleasant it is to sit apart from all the world, thinking and speaking of holy things as we now do! Ah, beloved companions! what pleasant hours have we spent together in these days of our pilgrimage!—in the fields of the shepherd Sincerity; in the house of Mr. Interpreter; at the foot of the holy cross; in the fields of Innocent Pleasure; in the palace Beautiful; in the Valley of Humiliation; and lastly, in this wilderness-happy hours, in which we have communed with our Saviour and our God! while weak, poor, sinful, and utterly vile as we are, we have been brought, step by step, on our way towards his heavenly kingdom. Let us earnestly pray that the dear Saviour who has hitherto led and supported us, may never leave nor forsake us, till the glorious work of our salvation be finished: and then shall we spend a happy eternity together in praising God and the Lamb for ever and ever."

Now I wondered greatly to hear such words proceeding from the mouth of such a babe, though I had for some time past observed her greatly outgrowing her elder sister in grace. Upon which I recollected that God is no respecter of persons; but that he giveth much to one and less to another, according to his own free will and pleasure.

After awhile I looked again at the little pilgrims, when they were engaged in prayer; which being concluded, they laid themselves down upon the grass and fell asleep. Now in this part of the wilderness, which lies near to the City of Vanity, were many wolves and dogs prowling about, creatures who find subsistence among the buryinggrounds on the skirts of the city. And I became

alarmed for the sleeping children, when I saw these animals approaching their resting-place, and sculking around them among the brakes and bushes.

But, while I wondered wherefore they did not spring upon them and tear them limb from limb, I looked, and behold, there sat beside the little sleepers a certain shepherd, clothed in white, with a crook in his hand; and the face of this shepherd was all glorious and beautiful, such as I could not stedfastly look upon. Then I recollected the words of the holy psalmist―The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. (Psalm xxiii. 1, 2.)

CHAPTER XVI.

Now I saw, in my dream, that, when the children awoke in the morning, they beheld the great city before them all resplendent with the rays of the rising sun. And behold, its golden domes, palaces, temples, pagodas, mosques, pantheons, theatres, walls, gates, towers, and bulwarks, filled them with amazement; and while they stood gazing upon them, Inbred-Sin broke into loud expressions of admiration. I heard then that Humble Mind reproved him: but Playful was pleased with his remarks. So, being encouraged by Playful, he took upon him to say that the City of Vanity was by no means such a place as the damsels of the palace Beautiful and many other over-much righteous persons had represented; that the city itself was an exceeding fair city to look upon, and indeed the prime glory of the world: moreover, he added, that they were very uncharitable who asserted that there were not many good persons in that city. In this manner he ran on, to the great perplexity of Humble Mind and Peace; who while they thought it their duty to reprove him, performed that duty in too timid and trembling a manner. Whereupon this bold one became still more bold, as I shall have occasion to shew by and by. For he that reproveth sin, and doth it not courageously and effectually, gives an advantage to the Evil One of which he will not fail to avail

himself. The little pilgrims then, having looked awhile on the city, betook themselves to their journey.

Now it was not long before they approached the outer wall of the city. And behold, many of the inhabitants were walking forth to take the air; and as they brushed by the little pilgrims, they looked upon them just as men look upon a person whom they despise. Nevertheless they suffered the strangers to pass on: for, as hath been before remarked, it is not now usual in the town of Vanity to imprison pilgrims and put them to violent deaths, as in former times. In ancient days, pilgrims passing through the town of Vanity had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, and of sundry other bitter persecutions; of which an account is given in the eleventh chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews. But the influence of the better part of the inhabitants of the town having now become greater, the enemies of the Lord are not able to carry it towards Christians as in former times. So the little pilgrims might have passed on in perfect peace to the gate of the city, if Inbred-Sin would have suffered them: but as soon as he observed the scornful looks of those who passed by, he failed not to point them out to the pilgrims. And though Humble Mind reproved him, saying, "We are servants of him who was crucified in this town-Is the servant greater than his Lord? If they persecuted him, will they not also persecute us?" (John xv. 20.)-yet this inbred tormentor would not remain quiet, but kept continually observing how the inhabitants discovered their scorn, shooting out their lips and shaking their heads. I perceived also that even Peace and Humble Mind, who had, as I thought, made up their minds to expect nothing better than contempt and ridicule in the town of Vanity, became much discomposed, as their glowing cheeks

testified; while Playful was thrown into such a state of confusion, that she seemed hardly to know what she was doing.

In this manner they proceeded till they came to the city gate, which they found wide open; for the gate of Vanity is never shut. So passing through the gate, they entered into a wide street, which stretched away before them as far as they could see. Now there was such a bustle and noise in the street, such passing to and fro of carriages, horsemen, and foot-passengers, that the little children were jolted and hustled at every step. Moreover, their eyes were continually turned towards the fine things which they saw displayed in the windows of the shops on every side: so that, instead of hastening over this dangerous ground, they made little or no progress forward. Now this was Inbred-Sin's time; and never did I see him more active, more insolent, or more unreasonable, than he was in these streets of Vanity. He had twenty conceits in a single minute, his humour changing as fast as the colours on the back of the cameleon. He would one minute assert that the town of Vanity was a very good place, its customs honourable, and its people worthy of esteem; the next minute he would be filling the hearts of the little pilgrims with the dread of persecution and ridicule; then again he would have them put off their pilgrims' garments, and put on some of the gaudy dresses which were exposed in the shop-windows-and thus he went on, not giving the little pilgrims a moment for collecting their thoughts or lifting up their hearts in prayer.

Now I perceived, in my dream, that, as the pilgrims advanced, the children of Vanity, who were playing in the streets, began to gather after them, and to use such by-words and terms of reproach as are there generally applied to pilgrims.

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