Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These are one, but their offices are distinct; and in the great work of man's salvation, each is equally engaged. The Father so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John iii. 16.) The Son, by his death, joyfully accomplished the will of his Father, and gave himself a sacrifice for sin. The Holy Spirit, by his powerful influence, regenerates and sanctifies the believing sinner.

"Thus, by this glorious scheme of salvation, lost man being redeemed from the power of sin, of Satan, of death, and of hell, is fully restored to the divine favour. This is the message I have to deliver to you," added the Christian teacher: "and if you are willing to leave your father's house, your fleshly lusts, your earthly pleasures, and worldly friendships, and to follow Christ, you will assuredly be saved; but if you remain here, in this Valley of Destruction, you will as certainly sink into a place of everlasting torment."

Then answered Goonah Purist, "O Sir, you have, indeed, delivered unto me joyful tidings. You have revealed unto me one worthy to be called a Saviour,-one in whom I can put my trust without fear,-one who is able to save even me. He who raised himself from the dead, can, no doubt, raise me from the death of sin. But, Sir," added the trembling sinner, "what must I do? whither must I fly? where shall I find this Saviour? for as yet I see him not; I know him not; still remaining as one blind. Tell me where I may go and join myself unto him: for I would, were I permitted, cast the whole burden of my sins upon him; since he only has power to sustain it. Yea, I would shew him my leprosy, and open unto him all my sores, fully confiding in his power to heal But where, O where shall I find him?”

me.

"He will wash

To this the messenger replied, thee in his own blood, and cleanse thee 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

G

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 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.

CHAPTER V.

Shewing how Goonah Purist was received at the Gate which is at the Head of the Way of Sal

vation.

"Then Jesus said, I am 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, occasion-
for
ed by the influence of the air in that place;
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 gods of his fathers, renounced his kindred, broken his cast, and was gone after the god of the Feringhees: so they came forth, And in this big and little, to compel his return.

crowd I saw his aged parents, his brethren and sisters, his wives and children, together with his kinsfolk of various descriptions. And behold, they all opened their mouths with much noise and vehemence: some using vile and filthy language, some mocking, and others lamenting; among whom the Bramhun cursed him in the name of his gods. Moreover, his wives and his mother laid hold on him, trying all the force of tears and entreaties to draw him back: so that, indeed, the poor man was hard put to it. Then thought I on these words, A man's foes shall be they of his own house: (Matt. x. 36.) but God is faithful, who will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able; but will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape. (1 Cor. x. 13.) So was it with the pilgrim: he escaped; but not till the idolaters had handled him roughly. For, as I before said, his