CHAPTER IV.

Now I looked again after Humble Mind; and behold, he was come unto the gate which is at the entrance of the Way of Salvation. That gate is cut in a rock hard as adamant; beyond which I saw the Way of Salvation walled on each side, and straight as an arrow, sometimes ascending dangerous heights, at other times descending into deep valleys, and passing through dreary wildernesses, bogs, and quagmires. Nevertheless, the tendency of that way was, for the most part, upwards, till at length it reached the utmost boundaries of the everlasting hills; where the glory of it became too dazzling for mortal eyes-for the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. (Prov. iv. 18.)

I saw then, in my dream, that, when Humble Mind came up to the gate, he was so spent by his struggle with Inbred-Sin, that he fell upon the step like one fainting, having no power to knock for entrance: nevertheless, the door was speedily opened by a venerable person called Good-Will, who lifted the child from the ground, and carried him in to his Lord. Then thought I on these words-And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. (Isaiah lxv. 24.)

I could not discover in what manner the Lord of the gate revealed himself unto Humble Mind; for

he sheweth himself in various forms unto pilgrims, according to his own good pleasure, and in the manner which he deemeth most suitable and profitable to their tempers and conditions. Sometimes he sheweth himself crowned with thorns, with bleeding hands and feet; sometimes he appeareth full of sorrow, and clad with mourning-garments; and at other times he discovereth himself in the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father. But in whatever form it pleaseth him to reveal himself, he is found to be all lovely, without spot or stain of sin.

So Humble Mind came out from the presence of the Lord, and I wondered at the change which had passed upon him. His Lord had caused him to be washed in a pure fountain of water; and stripping him of his rags, had clothed him in beautiful garments, even the garments of salvation, washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. Moreover, the Lord had set his signet on the brow of the child, which was an ornament so exceedingly becoming, that it made him look like unto the sons of God. One thing, however, grieved me, which was, that Inbred-Sin still accompanied the boy; though he carried it not so imperiously towards him as before, but conducted himself more modestly, restraining his tongue and putting on a demurer look.

Then Humble Mind set his face to go forwards; when I saw that certain servants of the Lord of the gate went with him a little way, and gave him directions for his journey. They bade him beware of turning aside, either to the right, or to the left. Moreover, they told him that he would find many quiet resting-places in the way, which the Lord of pilgrims had prepared for the reception of his servants. "The first of these," said they, "are the pleasant pastures and flowery fields belonging to the shepherd Sincerity, by whom infant pilgrims

are received and fed many days with the fresh milk of the word. Next to these sweet fields, and a little further on, is the house of the Interpreter, where young pilgrims also receive wholesome instruction and nourishment. Beyond this is the palace called Beautiful, where certain holy virgins dwell, and where many rare and excellent things are to be seen. And still further on are to be found the sweet Valley of Humiliation, where lilies grow in shadowy places-the house of Mr. Orthodox, in the very town of Vanity-the hills upon which the shepherds dwell, and which are called Immanuel's Land-also the lovely Land of Beulah-together with sundry little peaceful valleys and verdant solitudes scattered over the pilgrim's path, where the weary traveller may obtain sweet refreshment, freely drinking of the living stream, and gathering honey from the stony rock." After acquainting Humble Mind with these things, and giving him their blessing, the servants of his Lord went back to their Master's house.

I perceived then that Humble Mind went joyfully on his way, even along the Way of Salvation. Now the way was exceedingly beautiful, even like a garden inclosed on each side, and shaded with cedar trees and lign aloes; while many fountains of water gushed out beneath the trees, and ran murmuring along by the way-side. The high-road also was visible in the remote perspective, ascending the blue heights, till, at length, it was lost in the distant clouds.

So Humble Mind pursued his way, sometimes breaking into songs of praise, sometimes leaping for joy like a young hart, and sometimes reading in his book. Thus he passed on for a whole day, being filled with the love of him whom he had lately seen, even the Saviour that bled for him upon the accursed tree. And as night approached, he drank of the water of the fountain by the

way-side, and laid him down to sleep under the shadow of the trees till morning-light; when he arose and pursued his journey, hoping soon to reach the pastures of the shepherd Sincerity, which were then not half a day's journey before him.

Now all this while, to wit, from the time that Humble Mind had left the gate till he arose on the second day of his journey, Inbred-Sin had followed close upon his steps; but so softly and cautiously, that, during the whole of the first day, Humble Mind knew not that he was there. And herein is often displayed the subtilty of Inbred-Sin, in seeming to withdraw himself in seasons of peculiar consolation, by way of lulling the soul into a state of security and carelessness. Thus was it with Humble Mind: during the first day of his pilgrimage, Inbred-Sin was so quiet, that Humble Mind, trusting he had taken his leave for ever, was ready to say in his prosperity, I shall never be moved: thou, Lord, by thy favour hast made my mountain to stand strong. (Psalm xxx. 6, 7.) But on the second day, I saw that Inbred-Sin became bolder, bestirring himself betimes in the morning; and not being properly checked at first, he speedily put an end to all the comfort which the little pilgrim had lately enjoyed.

Inbred-Sin began his operations by disturbing Humble Mind while reading his Bible; for the little pilgrim used to read and meditate upon his Holy Book as he walked along the way. InbredSin at these seasons got close behind him, and peeping first over one shoulder into the book, then over the other, he whispered strange words into his ears, drawing back as quick as lightning whenever Humble Mind turned to discover whence those whisperings proceeded. These suggestions were repeated whenever Humble Mind attempted to read; and I perceived that they generally had some reference to the passage of Scripture which

the boy was perusing. On such occasions, a poor pilgrim has nothing for his support, except earnest prayer: Humble Mind did not, however, fly to this remedy; but, finding that he had not the same delight in reading as at other times, he shut up his book, and put it into his bosom.

Upon this, Inbred-Sin became more daring, and proceeded to pluck and twitch Humble Mind, as he had done several times before, when the boy shewed an inclination to go forward in the way from which he was anxious to withdraw him.

Now I saw, in my dream, that these pulls and twitches had been many times repeated, before Humble Mind was aware whence they came. For he had so buoyed up his mind with the assurance that Inbred-Sin would not be able to follow him into the King's highway, that he was for attributing all his unpleasant feelings either to the malice of Satan who is the declared enemy of the Prince of pilgrims, or to bodily disorder, or indeed to any other outward circumstance, rather than to his own Inbred-Sin, which he supposed had been left on the outside of the gate at the head of the way. He was, therefore, much hurt, and cruelly mortified, on finding that his struggle with sin was not to end where the work of grace began-and going on to infer from his late experience that this warfare might probably continue till the work of grace should be finished at the hour of death, he was hurried into an agony of mind, crying out in his distress, "Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Rom. vii. 24.)

In answer to this, Inbred-Sin, coming forward, began to plead with Humble Mind; and thus he addressed him:-" Wherefore, Humble Mind, do you cry out against me, who am no other than a part of yourself? Was I not born with you? was I not bred with you? have I not always slept in your bosom? have I not provided you with sports