lesson they might learn from their error, to wit, that God had permitted them to wander from the right way lest they should become self-sufficient, and should begin to imagine that they had hitherto walked in their own strength, and not in the strength of the Lord. "Learn, my children," added the venerable man, "from the miscarriages of this day, that whosoever thinketh himself to be something deceiveth himself, (Gal. vi. 3.) for man is nothing even in his best estate; and it becomes every one of us to cry out with shame, O Lord, we are unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." (Isaiah Ixiv. 6.) Moreover, he reproved the woman for her behaviour to her husband; yet not in a contemptuous way, as the manner of many is towards women; but with peculiar gentleness, and in such terms as these "It behoveth thee, my daughter, as a Christian woman, to submit thyself unto thine own husband, as unto the Lord: for the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. See, therefore, my daughter, that thou reverence thine husband, and give none occasion to the Heathen to speak ill of thee on this account.". Then, having charged Nazareenee on his part to love his wife, and not to be bitter against her; he dismissed them to their tents: but I saw that they spent the remainder of the night in tears and lamentations on account of their sinful wanderings from the way of salvation.

Now early the next morning the leader of the company assembled the pilgrims in the tabernacle, and thus addressed them:-" My children, hitherto, in the strength of God, we have proceeded happily, and are come thus far in safety on our way to Mount Zion. But we are not yet arrived

at the end of our journey; we have still a great difficulty to surmount; we must pass through a dreadful land, even that land of forgetfulness, where the wonders of the Lord are not known by reason of the darkness of the heart, and his righ teousness is forgotten. (Psalm lxxxviii. 12.) Many pilgrims have seemed like us to go on well through the beginning and the middle of their course, who in the end have fallen into a deadly security; and, believing the celestial crown within their grasp, have ceased any longer to exert themselves in the race. There is a country before us which we cannot avoid, the air of which is of such a nature that it relaxes every nerve, and causes a deadly sleepiness and stupefaction, which, if not steadily resisted, will end in eternal death. To travel through this country alone is extremely dangerous: for when the heaviness it generates comes over a man, if he has no Christian brother to awaken and stir him up, he will, without a miracle, become a lost man. In passing through this country we shall find the benefit of journey. ing in a body, having the advantage of daily com munion, and the privilege of attending upon holy ordinances. My children, watch over yourselves; watch over your brethren; suffer not the spirit of slumber to settle upon your neighbours: but be instant with each other in season and out of season, still diligently exercising yourselves unto godliness; yea, intreat, reprove, rebuke, exhort each other with all long-suffering and doctrine. (2 Tim. iv. 2.) And, my sons, have an eye unto me also; for I am old and feeble, and shall be liable to be overcome sooner than the young ones among us; see then that ye suffer me not to fall asleep in that dangerous land." Then, having prayed with his people, the venerable man gave order to strike the tents, and begin the march. A

So I looked after the company, and behold, they kept close together. Now their road, for the former part of the day, was through a dry and healthy country; but towards noon they descended into a low and boggy ground, which at first sight had no unpleasing appearance: for although it was quite flat, it was somewhat varied by many stagnant pools of water, on the borders of which were numbers of water plants and aquatic birds; and the fields between these pools of water were of a deep green, the vegetation being quite rank. Here also were many trees growing in clusters, the fo liage of which was exceedingly luxuriant, the blossoms emitting a faint and oppressive odour. Here too the sun was observed through a mist which continually exhaled from the plashy ground, while the air was moist and wet.

At first, as I before said, this place had no disagrecable appearance, nor did the pilgrims immediately discover the enervating effects of its air. Shortly afterwards, however, even while their bodies were as cold to the touch as that of a corpse, they found themselves covered with a profuse perspiration; their limbs at the same time aching very painfully, and all their powers growing languid. Several of them also now began to complain of heaviness; which, when the leader. heard, he issued orders to the musicians and singers to prepare a psalm of praise, commanding the people to move forward in measured steps adapted to the music; and never did I bear any thing so animating in my life.

Now I saw, in my dream, that when the birds which frequented those marshes heard the voices of the pilgrims, they rose on their flaggy wings, and setting up a horrid scream, wheeled far away their heavy flight, to the no small comfort of the travellers. So the pilgrims marched on: but, not

withstanding all the aid that music could give, they found it laborious work to hold on their way; some sinking in the miry ground, others sliding back at every step, and every one fainting with heat and fatigue; insomuch that their course was maintained, at any rate, with extraordinary difficulty.

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About sun-set the pilgrims came to a place near the middle of this land of mist and damp, where, on the borders of one of those pools, just between that and a grove of trees which, on account of their greenness, were exceedingly beautiful to the eye, was built a very elegant pavilion, with many fair porches and balconies of polished marble, which being reflected in the still water, afforded an idea of perfect repose. Not a breath of air disturbed the face of the water, or agitated the leaves of the lotus, which spread themselves upon the surface of the pool; neither was there the voice or sound of any living creature here, but all was still and inviting to sleep.

I saw then that the pilgrims being arrived at this place, proposed to the guide, that they should remain there during the night; since in that pavilion there was lodging-room for all the company: moreover, they were extremely pressing with him to give the signal for halting. But he resolutely resisting their entreaties, remonstrated with them thus-" Did I not tell you beforehand that the air of this place was deadly, and that they who go to sleep here seldom, if ever, awake? why, therefore, will ye persuade me?" Nevertheless, some of the pilgrims were so obstinate, that they would turn into the pavilion, right or wrong: when on looking about for a place to lay themselves down in, they beheld a sleeping traveller in one of the porches. So they went up to him, and sirove to awake him; very anxious to make experiment of

the truth of what their leader had asserted, to wit, that he who falls asleep in this place can never more be roused, unless by a miracle wrought in his favour. So they went to him; and behold, he' was a feringhee, and appeared, from his garments, to be a man of some consequence among those people. And they shook him, and shook him, and roused him so much, that at length he spake; but they understood not what he said, neither did he understand them. Whereupon, furning him round he went to sleep; neither could they afterwards rouse him again.

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Now while they stood in the porch of this fair building, the heavy vapours had nearly overcome them: and surely they had been lost in that place, had it not been for their fellow-pilgrims without, who called to them, and called to them, till, at last, they came out. Then I looked after the pilgrims; and just as they had passed the pavilion, with the pool which is near to it, it became so dark, by reason of the heavy fog, that the venerable guide could not observe the heavens: in which case he caused a light to be struck, and, fixing it upon the banner, even the banner of the cross, which they carried at the head of the caravan, he was enabled, by its feeble rays, to pick out the way; while the rest, through the guidance of that light, found it easy to follow. So the company went on all night; and a dismal night it was, no evening breezes arising for their relief; while, involved in suffocating fogs, they were every moment ready to sit down in despair. However, the holy leader went forward, praying aloud for his people, and exhorting them to follow.

Now towards day-break, the pilgrims began to feel some relief; the air appearing purer, and the ground becoming more firm and dry under their feet. For an hour before day-light, it was