ble Mind, remembering the trouble he had fallen into once before by hearkening to Mr. Lover-of-Novelty, bethought himself of consulting his book: so plucking it out of his bosom, and opening it, he read these words -"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering." James i. 5, 6. "Here," said Humble Mind, "I have found what I wanted;" then kneeling down and praying, he said, "O God, give us now wisdom and knowledge; for we are little children, and foolishness is bound up in our hearts." Prov. xxii. 15.

Upon this I saw that one more beautiful than rubies, and more precious than silver or choice gold, came towards them, and thus addressed them:-"I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment. Now, therefore, follow me, my children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.” Prov. viii. 17, 20, 32.

Now Humble Mind knew that this was Wisdom, and that she was from on high. At sight of her, Mr. Loverof-Novelty and his sons made off as fast as they could, while Inbred-Sin slunk behind; leaving the children to follow her without interruption. So they went with her rejoicing; and she led them to the house on the right, to wit, the dwelling of the old Interpreter.

As the little pilgrims drew nearer to Mr. Interpreter's house, it appeared to them more and more pleasant and desirable. It was a large old-fashioned house, standing in a fruitful and flourishing garden enclosed with a wall and containing great choice of fruits and flowers. Here were also olive-yards, and fig-trees, and vineyards, with blooming orchards, and little cottages, and fields covered with bees. In short, all things seemed to flourish under the hand of Mr. Interpreter, who took great delight in the culture of his grounds, and would plant no seeds therein but what were of the right sort.

Mr. Interpreter was walking forth to meditate at evening-tide, when he perceived Wisdom leading the little pilgrims towards his house. Upon which he hastened to meet them; and receiving the children at her hand, he led them into the house. He conducted them first into a large parlour, where bidding them to be seated, he immediately entered into discourse with

them. "Welcome, my little children," he said, "welcome to this house; and here I hope, through the good pleasure of God, that ye may abide for a season, to the end that I may show you such things as may be profitable to you." Then I heard that he called to his servants, and ordered them to prepare such tender meats as were best adapted to the state of his guests, saying at the same time, "Ye have hitherto been fed with milk, my children, but now I shall set before you a little solid food; for every one that useth milk is a babe." Heb. v. 13.

So Humble Mind thanked him for his kindness, and added, that they should rejoice to tarry awhile with him, if God permitted.

"Well, my children," answered the Interpreter, "I trust that it will so please him: and now, while you are waiting for your evening meal, I must request you to relate unto me such things as have happened to you both before and since you became pilgrims."

The little ones therefore immediately began their histories and the Interpreter spake not until they had finished.

Now when they had done speaking, he said unto them, "My dear children, give glory to God, 'who hath delivered you from the power of darkness, and hath translated you into the kingdom of his dear Son; in whom you have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.' Col. i. 13, 14. For ye were born in sin, 'and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others' (Eph. ii. 3.): but now are ye made the children of grace. While you yet dwelt in the land of your nativity, you trod the ways of sin and death: and not you only, my children, but all the sons of Adam do the same, being by nature utterly depraved; as it is written-' Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?' Job xiv. 4. 'What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous ?' Job xv. 14. These are the words of that book which cannot lie; which also saith in another place, without holiness no man shall see the Lord.' Heb. xii. 14

"This being the unhappy state of mankind, all men being sinners by nature, and the wages of sin being death -according to that which is written, 'Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die' (Ezek. xviii. 4.)—such being as I said, the unhappy

state of all mankind, the Lord Jesus Christ gave himself for them, that he might endure the punishment which they had incurred.

"This blessed Saviour, the Son of God, who is equal with God, and one with God, took man's nature upon him in the womb of the blessed Virgin; so that two whole and perfect natures, the divine and the human, were joined together in one person. And this holy person was crucified, in order to reconcile offending man to his offended God, actually dying on our account, and descending into the grave; from whence he afterward triumphantly arose, and ascended up into heaven, where he is now seated at the right hand of God. Moreover, at his departure, he left with his disciples this gracious command-Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.' Matt. xxviii. 19.

"This is He who opened that door of salvation through which you were admitted to the divine favour, and received into the congregation of Christ's flock. The assurance that your sins are forgiven you, and that you are become the adopted children of God, was signed and sealed upon you at that time; and the promise of the Holy Spirit, which proceedeth from the Father and the Son, and who is also equal with God and one with God, was also granted to you at that time."

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I heard then that the children lamented in the presence of the Interpreter, the many hinderances and drawbacks which they experienced continually in their pilgrimage, from the secret enemy they carried about them, even their own inbred corruptions. Why, sir," said Playful, "it was but this very day that I was secretly inclined to turn out of the right way; on which occasion I was influenced, though I knew I was doing wrong, to speak many reproachful words to my brother." 66 Sir," ," said Humble Mind, "our Inbred-Sin seldom allows us any peace; and if he seems to be quiet for a while, he is sure at that very time to be contriving further mischief: so that when we think ourselves most secure from his attacks, he is then most to be feared." Very true, my children," answered the Interpreter: "it is not when we are on the watch, and up in arms, as it were, against our sins, that they are most to be feared; but rather when they cry, 'Peace, peace,' and persuade us to think that all is well within."

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"Oh!" said little Peace, "what would I give for a complete deliverance from this tormentor!"

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My child," answered the Interpreter, "after this life thou shalt behold the face of thy Redeemer in righteousness; and awaking in his likeness, thou shalt be satisfied. Psalm xvii. 15. Then, and not till then, thou wilt be completely freed from this inbred enemy." The Interpreter then proceeded to point out to the chil. dren how, from the earliest times, this Inbred-Sin had made the saints of God to go groaning on their pilgrimage. "It was this Inbred-Sin," said he, "which made the patriarch Noah to drink of the wine, and be drunken in his tent (Gen. ix. 21.); and it was he which brought righteous Lot to commit the same crime in his old age. Abraham also, and Isaac, and Jacob, went mourning all their days, by reason of this same homebred evil. It was this Inbred-Sin which caused King David to cry out, in his anguish, O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath; neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head; as an heavy burden they are too heavy for My wounds stink, and are corrupt, because of my foolishness. I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease; and there is no soundness in my flesh.' Psalm xxxviii. 1-7. And finally, it was this Inbred-Sin which rendered it necessary to our salvation, that God himself should take our nature upon him, and bleed and die upon the accursed tree.

me.

Now I saw, in my dream, that when the Interpreter had ended his discourse, and supper was finished, he prayed and sang with his family; after which he charged one of the damsels of the house to see that the children were lodged in a comfortable chamber. Moreover, I heard him give commandment to the servants of the family, to take good heed to the children, and provide them with all such things as might be needful for them while they remained in that place; taking special care that their white garments should contract no stain. And I observed that the servants received their master's orders gladly; for they loved young children.

Now I saw in my dream that the betimes in the morning; the Interpr ised to take them into his garden at a bred-Sin, as usual, rose with them waited the coming of the Interpreter after a prodigious rate, and with as ever. "And so," said he, "you are situated! You are not here treated 1 were at the shepherd's, and fed with 1 fed with meat, which is certainly mor present state. For you are not no Christ, as some would have you thi a great deal of teaching, and have a perience; so that you know more t persons. There are many grown p he," who, though they seem wise, are seeking after trifles, and taking no ca but it is otherwise with you. What i and care do you take about everlasting

In this manner Inbred-Sin went on the children, one and all, seemed to lis ing words with great satisfaction. Hun and looked self-sufficient; and Playfu of much complacency. When the I ever, appeared, Inbred-Sin drew behind, began to recollect themselves a little preter took them into his garden.

Now the Interpreter's garden, which w a high wall, was watered with fountains and streams from the hills. A south blew through this garden, and made th to flow. The flowers now appeared ev green turf; the little birds were singing= and the voice of the turtle was heard a Song ii. 12.

The children wondered at the beauty and inquired of the Interpreter, by wha rendered it so exceedingly lovely?

"This garden," replied the Interpre