kinds, with all the gaudy fopperies of modern learning. Whereupon Inbred-Sin insisted that Humble Mind should take possession of these things; which indeed he himself was so greedily disposed to do, that he filled his pockets and his bosom therewith, overloading himself in such a manner, that he dropped the book which Evangelist had given him among the rubbish of the place, without perceiving that he had lost it.

Immediately upon this, Inbred-Sin gathered strength and courage; so that taking Humble Mind by the hand, he led him along the mazy windings of this garden, still further and further from the Way of Salvation: while Humble Mind, being puffed up with the fine things he had gotten, adverted not to the situation in which he was placed. He continued therefore till towards evening, strolling about the garden, amusing himself with the baubles it presented, and playing with the children and young people who were there assembled.

Now I beheld that, at the back of the garden, there was a howling wilderness full of wild beasts, which used to come in the night and commit dreadful ravages in the place; there being no secure fence or wall between the garden and the wilderness. So about sun-set the beasts began to howl in a frightful manner; till all who were in the garden, being filled with consternation, fled some one way, some another-but there was no place of security to be found in the whole garden.

Hereupon Humble Mind became sensible of the fault he had committed in leaving the right way, even the Way of Salvation. He then looked about for some passage by which he might return: but, alas! he could find none; and the dark night was coming on apace. At length I heard that he brake out in angry reproaches against Inbred-Sin,

which the other as angrily retorted; so that their words ran very high on both sides. And first Humble Mind spake. "Oh, child of hell!" said he, "to what have you now brought me? You have beguiled me from my straight, my safe, and pleasant path, into this forbidden place; where I am in danger every moment of being devoured by wild beasts. Oh, Inbred-Sin! you will never be content, till you have plunged me, soul and body, into hell."

In answer to this, Inbred-Sin replied, "Am I not a part of yourself? am I not indeed your own self? How then can you reproach yourself?"

To this Humble Mind answered, "I well know that you are a part of myself; I know that you were born with me, and bred with me: and more than this, I fear that I never shall get quit of you, till we go down together into the grave."

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Nay, but," said Inbred-Sin, “ are not the things which I have shewn you very excellent, and worthy of the most serious attention?"

Humble Mind. But, if I should gain the whole world, and lose my own soul, what would it profit me? (Matt. xvi. 26.)

"As for the welfare of the soul," said Inbred-Sin, "I am not so much concerned about that."

"But are you not afraid of hell-fire?" asked Humble Mind.

Inbred-Sin. I love to indulge my own longings-the things in this garden please me.

Humble Mind. You are, I see, no better than a brute.

Inbred-Sin. What I am, you are; if I am even a devil incarnate, you are the same.

Humble Mind answered, "I know that I am exceedingly vile, and altogether filthy, and that no good thing dwelleth in me: nevertheless I will not submit to your control; since he who died for

me upon the cross, intended thereby to deliver me from your dominion. So, take my defiance."

"We shall soon see which is the stronger," said Inbred-Sin. So they rushed together; and Inbred-Sin shewed himself mighty in war. There was no beating him off. Although Humble Mind did his utmost, he could by no means prevail; because, as I said before, Inbred-Sin was a stranger to fatigue. He required no time to take breath or gather strength, but heaped blow upon blow, and stroke upon stroke, in such sort, that Samson himself would have been no match for him; since what he wanted in strength was more than made up by his perseverance. They continued struggling therefore for a long while. At length InbredSin, grasping Humble Mind in his arms, and entangling him with his feet, tripped him up and laid him at his full length on the ground: by which unlucky fall the poor boy was so disabled, that he had not power to lift himself up. In that place therefore he lay all the night, moaning and crying; while Inbred-Sin stamped upon him with all his might, triumphantly exulting over him, and whispering in his ears evil words against the King of pilgrims. During this sad interval Humble Mind had no power to pray, being filled with horror at the blasphemous suggestions of his own inbred corruption. Thus he lay all that night: but the Lord of pilgrims would not suffer the evil beasts to come near him. For the Lord will not cast off for ever: but though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men. (Lament. iii. 31—33.)

CHAPTER V.

Now it was an extraordinary thing, that this same night, towards dawn of day, the shepherd Sincerity, (the same who has the care of the little ones of our Lord,) dreamed a dream as he lay asleep on his bed. And in his dream there was presented to his view a fair white lamb in the jaws of a dreadful wolf, that was just about to devour him when lo, a voice from heaven awakened the shepherd, saying, "Save my lamb."

At this he arose in haste, and taking his crook in his hand, he went forth in search of him that was in the power of the wolf. So at break of day he came to the door of the garden into which HumbleMind had strayed; and turning in thither, he soon espied the child lying groaning on the ground. Now the shepherd knew by his white garment and the mark upon his forehead, that he was one of the lambs of his Lord. Therefore stretching out his staff, and bidding him take hold thereof, he raised him up and drew him towards himself. Then taking him by the hand, all trembling as he was, he led him through the winding ways of the garden towards the King's highroad.

The shepherd was so well known in these parts, that no one dared to ask him what he did there, or wherefore he meddled with the child. When the shepherd, however, had passed on a little way, I heard that all the inhabitants of the garden broke

out into loud hissings and mockings-but Sincerity heeded them not.

Now when the shepherd had brought Humble Mind to the place where he had dropped his book, causing him immediately to cast away all the toys and trifles with which he had loaded himself the day before, he made him take up his book again. So he led the boy on, till he had brought him out upon the King's highway, where he smartly corrected him with his shepherd's crook; agreeably to the words of holy writ-Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he hall give delight unto thy soul. (Prov. xxix. 17.) After this the shepherd addressed him in the following manner.

Shepherd. How has it come to pass, after being so kindly received by the Lord of pilgrims, after being invested with the white garments of salvation, and sealed with your Lord's own signet: how comes it, I say, that you have so speedily turned aside from the right way? Have you so quickly lost the remembrance of your Lord, and how lovely he appeared in your eyes when you were first admitted into his presence? How is it, that you have so soon forgotten your first love?

Then Humble Mind began to weep; and, as he wept, he thus replied:-"It is my wish to do well; I have no desire to have any other king than the Saviour Christ. His ways are ways of pleasantness, and all his paths are peace. (Prov. iii. 17.) But though I wish to do well, I find I cannot; for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." (Rom. vii. 18.)

Shepherd. Can you tell what it is that holds you back from doing that which you wish to do?

Humble Mind. Yes, Sir, it is my Inbred-Sin, the sin that was born with me, and which I fear I shall never get quit of, till I go down into the grave. Oh, Sir! you know not what a deceitful, dangerous companion this Inbred-Sin is.