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CHAPTER XX.

Now it came to pass that, when the pilgrims had travelled for some days through the Valley of Adversity, the country became more open and pleasant; soon after which they came out from the valley upon a pleasant plain scattered over with clumps of trees, affording a delightful shade. The air on this plain, though fresh, was not so piercing as in the Valley of Adversity, while all the surrounding objects wore a cheerful and lightsome appearance. Then I looked after the pilgrims,

and saw that Humble Mind walked first with little Truth; for Humble Mind loved the little girl exceedingly, fancying that he discovered in her some resemblance of his beloved Peace: and I heard that he endeavoured to instruct her, as he had been acustomed to instruct his departed little sister.

After proceeding thus for awhile, Inbred-Sin crept softly up to the ear of Playful; when I immediately became alarmed for the consequence, though unable to imagine what kind of mischief could be brought out of their present circumstances-not considering that Inbred-Sin is never at a loss how to produce evil, and that he is a workman capable of effecting great things with few or no apparent materials. So Inbred-Sin, as I said, drew up close to Playful, and whispered something in her ear: upon which, she fell back behind the other pilgrims, for the purpose of me

ditating at leisure upon the whisperings of the tempter. Then said Inbred-Sin, fetching a course about, as his manner often was before he came to the point at which he aimed, "Tell me, Playful, do you not love your brother above all the world besides?"

"Certainly I do," said Playful.

"But do you imagine," replied the other, "that he has an equal regard for you?"

"I always thought so," said Playful.

"You thought so, because your heart is good, and free from suspicion," returned Inbred-Sin: "but cannot you recollect, that he generally shewed a preference for your sister Peace, and that he more frequently conversed with her than with you?"

"If he loved Peace more than he loved me, he did but what was right, and I cannot blame him," said Playful; "for my beloved little Peace was more lovely than I am, and more worthy the regard of those who are taught to prefer that which is excellent."

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"That may have been so far true," said InbredSin, "as to form some excuse for your brother's loving Peace better than he loved you. But what excuse can be made for his preferring the company of Truth to that of his only sister?"

"I have no reason to think that he does so," said Playful.

"Do you not perceive then," said Inbred-Sin, "how he seeks her company at all times, and how frequently he shares his morsel with her? And even now," continued he, "see how he leads her by the hand, and bends his ear to her prattle."

Here I perceived that the poison began to work. Playful's cheek grew flushed, and her eye began to kindle with anger: nevertheless she stood her ground a little longer, and made this reply-" If my brother prefers the company of yonder little

stranger to that of his only remaining sister, does it not become me, as a follower of our meek and lowly Master, to bear this seeming neglect without murmuring? nay, and even to return love for hatred?"

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'Assuredly," said Inbred-Sin, who could talk religion whenever it suited his purpose, even while he was seeking to undermine it, "assuredly it is your duty, if need be, to forgive your offending brother not only seven times, but seventy times seven: nevertheless I see no occasion why you should bear every affront he chooses to put upon you, when perhaps, by a single word, you might bring him back to a more attentive behaviour." I heard then that Inbred-Sin proceeded to place the conduct of Humble Mind in a still stronger light, till he had gradually wrought Playful into such a humour as prepared her for the commission of any kind of folly that could be proposed to her.

Inbred-Sin then, perceiving his advantage, was not long before he actually proposed what at another time she would have started from with abhorrence, but which now, by reason of the ill state of her mind, she closed with immediatelythis proposal was, that she should turn her back upon the whole company, aye, and upon Mount Zion itself, directly setting her face as if she intended to return. This indignity she was to put upon her King, by way of testifying, as Inbred-Sin expressed it, the great displeasure she felt at her brother's marked neglect. Without therefore considering the consequences of so unreasonable an action, she turned herself about, and began to measure her steps back again.

Now Playful meant nothing more, when she turned about, than to recal the attention of her brother, and to exercise her power of tormenting him: but when Inbred-Sin had influenced her thus far, it was not in his nature to stop there.

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sooner therefore did he see her with her back towards Mount Zion, than he began to whisper in her ears expressions of contempt for the religion of Jesus; outrageously railing at a pilgrim's life, and setting before her the advantage she would derive from an immediate return to the town of Vanity. And to such lengths did he proceed, that I could hardly believe my own ears; never supposing it possible that he could exercise such power over the heart of a regenerate person, as now appeared evident. So Playful hearkened to Inbred-Sin: and how long or how far he might have misled her, cannot easily be determined, had not the other pilgrims who were gone forward about a stone's throw before they perceived her defection, disturbed her communications with the tempter by calling to her aloud. Whereupon she came to a sudden stand: yet would she not make any movement towards them.

I heard then that the pilgrims called earnestly to her to come on; and Humble Mind was on the point of running back to her in order to persuade her to reconsider her ways. But the pilgrim Martha would not allow him so to do, saying that, not even to save a brother, was it lawful for a pilgrim to turn his back on Mount Zion. Humble Mind therefore having nothing in his power but prayer, I saw that he prostrated himself on the ground in earnest intercession for his sister. And while he made his request known to God in the name of his Saviour, behold, the pilgrim Martha and the two little ones joined in his importunate supplication.

Now I saw, in my dream, that, while the pilgrims were engaged in prayer, behold, the Evil One, who is ever going about seeking whom he may devour, having discovered the advantage which Inbred-Sin had obtained over Playful, judged this a suitable time for the successful exertion

of his own superior influence. So drawing near to the young pilgrim, without her perceiving it, (because being a spirit he is invisible to eyes of flesh,) he began, as aforetime, to practise his enchantments. And first, by a process which I could not understand, but by which it is well known one spirit can act upon another, he began to entice and entangle the affections of Playful, setting before her the many pleasures which she might enjoy in the City of Vanity, could she be prevailed upon to give up a pilgrim's life and return thither. And behold, when he had in some measure excited her affections and inflamed her imagination with the delusive pleasures of sense, he caused his servants (for he was accompanied by several of his ministering spirits) to throw certain invisible bands round the limbs of the young pilgrim; by which he directed them to draw her back with a gentle force. And behold, the young pilgrim gave way as the enemies applied their strength; insomuch that, unless assistance were given from on high, it appeared to me that she would assuredly be lost; there seeming to be no power of resistance left in her, nor indeed even so much as the will to resist, or to call out for help.

But while I looked on, I perceived one coming along the King's highway, who held in his hand a whip of small cords. And behold, he came up close to Playful, whom he first sharply rebuked, and then sorely chastised. Whereupon, starting up as from a deep sleep or trance, she suddenly broke all the ligatures with which the enemy had bound her. And behold, as she continued to feel the lash which was appointed to correct her wanderings, she hastily turned her back on the City of Vanity, and fled forwards till she reached the place, where the other pilgrims were anxiously tarrying for her. So she happily escaped for that time.

Then did Humble Mind and Martha receive her

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