ly call two or three more Friends of mine, who are very defirous to travel towards the Heavenly Country, and would be glad to take the Opportunity of your good Company: So he ran into the Cave, and called for Zealous mind, Weary-o'th’Wold Convert, and Yielding, wno al cane out what he would have, to 19 nd. Have lays Zealous-mind, you may be fute, that 'tis no Hurt he would have, when Seek-truth calls us. 4 Srek-truth. No, my Frien's, I call you for your Gosd, I hope, and to fulfill your own Withes for you have often told me now defirous you wor to travel towards the Heavenly Ferüfatın, and How here is a Man going that Way, that would be glad of your Company; for my Part, I am refolved to go along with him, do as you please. Wearth World. And I faid Mary-oth World, But for here's nothing in this Country Trouble, Vexation, Cares, Grief, and all manner of Evil, I would not tarry a Day longer in it, if I might be a King: Come, let's be going. Convert Fouth with De fire to go to that glób lous Place, of which I have heard fo' many re nowned Thing. I care not what Hardships I undergo, nor what Torments I fuff r, piovided I may get thither at last. Fielding. And or my Part, Flike your Com panies well, that I will go with you to the i End of the Wold with all my Heart. For you talk to wifly, and tell fuen prety Stories, that you have won my very Heart, I am ready to melt, when I hear Seek truth difcourfe of tuch frange ftrange Things as are in the Heavenly Country, and tells his Father's Travels from the Valley of Deftruction, and how kindly he was entertained by the Way at fome good Houfes. Seek-truth. Well, if you are all agreed, come follow me, and I will bring you to the Man that is now on his Pilgrimage to Sion, he stands not far off from the Cave's Mouth, hard by the Pillar of Hiftory. So they all followed him by one Confent, and went out of the Cave, where they found Tender-confcience waiting for their Appearance: Then they went up to him, and faluted him one by one, and after fome Queftions paffed on. both Sides, they all fet forward together.. Now I Law in my Dream, that as they were going up a Kind of rifing Ground, they faw before them a Man walking an even moderate Pace, and they made hafte to overtake him; for by his Gait they gueffed he was no ordinary Man, as a cerain Wife Man obferved, By a Man's Gait you may know what he is. So when they came up to him, they faluted him courtecufly, and he returned their Salutation with an Air, which difcover'd the Tranquility and Peace of his, Soul. Then Tender-confcience faid to him, Sir, if a Stranger may take the Liberty to ask you a Queftion, I intreat you to tell me, Whether your Nanie be not Spiritual-mun; for I think I have feen you before, and was told that you were. called by that Name.. Spiritual-man. Yes, faid Spiritual-man, I am the fame you take me for, and tho' your Knowledge of me be but as yet imperfect, yet I very well know you, and all your Company, and am glad glad to fee you fo far in your Journey towards the Heavenly City, whither we are all going. Tender-conf. I do not wonder that you know me and my Fellow Travellers here with me; for Cor.. ii. 15. I have heard a very learned and holy Man, one Paul the Apoftle fay, That you know *all Things,. and judge all Things; and therefore I am very glad that we are fo happy as to overtake you upon the Road: I hope we fhall have your good Company to our Journey's End, Spiritual-man. With a very good Will, for it is my Delight to keep Company with thofe that fet their Faces Sion-wards, and are going thither, as I perceive you are at this Time; but I 'Ipy a young Man in your Company, who, I doubt, will not be able to go thro' this tedious Journey, but will either faint by the Way, or turn afide with the Flatterer, or take up his Abode in Kanity-Fair. Then turning himfelf to Yielding, he faid unto him, Young Man, you are the Perfon I mean; Do you think you fhall be able to hold out to the Heavenly Jerufalem ? Yielding. I make no doubt of it, Sir, for I find myfelf in good Health, and as able to Foot it as any of the Company. Then they went on together till they came to a great Wildernefs, where were feveral Paths leading divers Ways;, fo that had it not been for Spiritual man, (who alone knew the right 1 Way) they had wandered no doubt into fome dangerous. Parts or other, and had either been deyoured by Wild Beafts, or taken Prifoners by fome Caftles ftood in the re fume crue Giants, who mote Corner of the Wildernes. This made 'em alhe a great_eal of Refp & and Obedience to Spiritual man, and to cfteen him as their Guide and Patron: So they went along together til they came to a Place where was an Akar buit, and there was Incenie buning thereon, and the Smell of the Incenfe was very fragrant, rir fhing the Spirts of the Pilgrims. Then Spiritual-man spake to this Effect My Brethren, you must know that this Wildeine fs is much hausted with Wild Beafts, as alfo by Thieves and Murd rers, Spirits: Murderers, and Hobgoblins, which oftentiates allault poor Pigme in the Night-time, and fometimes by Day: Now had we taken any other Path, we had been in Danger of failing into the Clutches; but now, I hope, there will be no fu Danger, you will follow my Counfe!. Tender-conf. We will readily obey thee in all This, for we fee that thou art a Man of God and haft the Mind of Chrift. Ted us therefore what we fhall do to be fafe from the Dangers that threaten us in this Pave. Installte der Spiritual man. You fee this Altar of Incense Bere perpetually finoaxing and thing up Clouds of a tweet feiling Savour to Heaved. Now the Smoke of this Incenfe keeps off all Spirits' and Hobgoblin, and the Fire upon the Altar keeps offan Wat Belts. It then you would be free from the Danger of Wild Baits, led every Man take a Coal from the Altar, and carry along with and if he would be free from the Spirits and Hobgobling let him take or the Ingenfestaat is in the Treasury of the Altar, and carry it along with with him, and as he travels thro' the Wilderness, let him often kindle a Fire with a Coal from the Altar, and burn the Incenfe therein, fo fhall he be protected from all Evil. Let him awaken the Spirit of Prayer, and kindle true Devotion m elf, by making a good Ufe of the Grace of God: For the Heart of a devout Man, and one that fears God, is an Altar of Incenfe always -fending up holy Ejaculations, which are a fweet Savour or Perfume before God. Such a Man attracts the Divine Bleffing and Protection. Tender-conf. But how fhall a Man pray? In Form, or without? With Words, or in Silence? Spiritual-man. That you may be the better fatified in this Point, you ought to confider, that Prayer is the Soul's Difcourfe, or Converfation with God. Now feeing that God knoweth all Things, and difcerneth the fecret Thoughts of our Hearts, it is a Thing indifferent in private Prayer, whether we ale Words or not; for the Soul may difcourfe and converfe with God as well in Silence as with Words; nay, better fometimes, becaule Silence preferves her Att.ntion, and prevents wandering Thoughts; whereas when the Soul is occupied in verbal Prayer, it often proves little better than Lipfervices as God complained of old, This Peaple ferve me with their Lips, but their Hearts are far from me. But however this filent or mental Prayer is a Gift which all Men are not capable of. Some have not the Recollection, of Spirit, that Compofednefs of Mind as to pray in this Manner; and it is convenient that fuch Men Thould |