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charitable soul; a great lover of honourable actions, and as great a despiser of base things; especially loving to oblige others, and very unwilling to be in arrear to any upon the stock of courtesies and liberality so free in all acts of favour, that she would not stay to hear herself thanked, as being unwilling that what good went from her to a needful or an obliged person should ever return to her again. She was an excellent friend, and singularly dear to very many, especially to the best and most discerning persons, to all that conversed with her, and could understand her great worth and sweetness. She was of an honourable, a nice, and tender reputation; and of the pleasures of this world, which were laid before her in heaps, she took a very small and inconsiderable share, as not loving to glut herself with vanity, or to take her portion of good things here below. If we look on her as a wife, she was chaste and loving, discreet and humble. If we remember her as a mother, she was kind and severe, careful and prudent, very tender, and not at all fond; a greater lover of her children's souls than of their bodies, and one that would value them more by the strict rules of honour and proper worth than by their relation to herself. Her servants found her prudent and fit to govern, and yet openhanded and apt to reward; a just exacter of their duty, and a great rewarder of their diligence.

John Bunyan.

(FROM THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.")

THE FAITHFUL MINISTER OF CHRIST.

CHRISTIAN proceeded on his journey, till he came at the house of the Interpreter, where he knocked over and over at last, one came to the door, and asked who was there.

Chr. "Sir, here is a traveller, who was bid by an acquaintance of the good man of this house to call here for my profit: I would therefore speak with the master of the house." So he called for the master of the house; who, after a little time, came to Christian, and asked him what he would have.

Chr. "Sir," said Christian, "I am a man that am come from the city of Destruction, and am going to the Mount Zion: and I was told, by the man that stands at the gate, at the head of this way, that if I called here, you would show me excellent things, such as would be a help to me in my journey."

Inter. Then said the Interpreter, “Come in: I will show thee that which will be profitable to thee." So he commanded his man to light the candle, and bid Christian follow him: so he had him into a private

room, and bid his man open the door; which, when he had done, Christian saw the picture of a very grave person hanging against the wall: and this was the fashion of it :-It had eyes lifted up to heaven; the best of books in his hand; the law of truth was written upon his lips; the world was behind his back it stood as if it pleaded with men, and a crown of gold did hang over its head.

Chr. Then said Christian," What meaneth this?" Inter. "The man whose picture this is, is one of a thousand. Whereas thou seest him with his eyes lifted up to heaven, the best of books in his hand, and the law of truth written on his lips: it is to show thee, that his work is to know and unfold dark things to sinners; even as also thou seest him stand as if he pleaded with men. And whereas thou seest the world as cast behind him, and that a crown hangs over his head; that is to show thee, that, slighting and despising the things that are present, for the love that he hath for his Master's service, he is sure, in the world that comes next, to have glory for his reward. Now," said the Interpreter, "I have showed thee this picture first; because the man, whose picture this is, is the only man whom the Lord of the place, whither thou art going, hath authorised to be thy guide in all difficult places thou mayest meet with in the way: wherefore take good heed to what I have showed thee; and bear well in mind what thou hast seen; lest, in thy journey, thou meet with some that pretend to lead thee right, but their way goes down to death."

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THE SWEEPING AND SPRINKLING OF THE ᎻᎬᎪᎡᎢ.

THEN he took him by the hand, and led him into a very large parlour that was full of dust, because never swept; which, after he had reviewed a little while, the Interpreter called for a man to sweep. Now, when he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly to fly about, that Christian had almost therewith been choked. Then said the Interpreter to a damsel that stood by, "Bring hither the water, and sprinkle the room;" which, when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with pleasure.

Chr.-Then said Christian, "What means this?" Inter. The Interpreter answered, "This parlour is the heart of a man that was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the Gospel: the dust is his original sin, and the inward corruptions that have defiled the whole man. He that began to sweep, at first, is the Law; but she that brought water, and did sprinkle it, is the Gospel. Now, whereas thou sawest, that as soon as the first began to sweep, the dust did so fly about, that the room by him could not be cleansed, but that thou wast almost choked therewith; this is to show thee, that the Law, instead of cleansing the heart (by its working) from sin, doth revive (Rom. vii. 9.), put strength into (1 Cor. xv. 56.), and increase it in the soul (Rom. v. 20.), even as it doth discover and forbid it; for it doth not give power to subdue it.

Again, as thou sawest the damsel sprinkle the

room with water, upon which it was cleansed with pleasure; this is to show thee, that when the Gospel comes, in the sweet and precious influences thereof, to the heart, then, even as thou sawest the damsel lay the dust by sprinkling the floor with water, so is sin vanquished and subdued, and the soul made clean, through the faith of it, and consequently fit for the King of Glory to inhabit."

PASSION AND PATIENCE.

I saw, moreover, in my dream, that the Interpreter took him by the hand, and had him into a little room, where sat two children: the name of the eldest was Passion, and the name of the other Patience. Passion seemed to be much discontented, but Patience was very quiet. Then Christian asked, "What is the reason of the discontent of Passion ?" The Interpreter answered, “The governor of them would have him stay for his best things, till the beginning of the next year; but he will have all now. But Patience is willing to wait."

Then I saw that one came to Passion, and brought him a bag of treasure, and poured it down at his feet; which he took up, and rejoiced therein, and withal laughed Patience to scorn. But I beheld but awhile; and he had lavished all away, and had nothing left him but rags.

Chr.-Then said Christian to the Interpreter, “Expound this matter more fully to me."

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