revolt under the discipline, it would One of the best criterions by be an invaluable blessing to you. which to judge of your character, is, What such a friend might do, you to examine the characters of those can do for yourself, by your of whose society you are especially thoughts, when alone, and that with- fond. You will be more intimate out any mortification. A man can thus with some than with others. They be his own teacher, and, after repeat- will be more likely to flatter you; ed trials, can weigh his actions, con- and no better index can ever be duct, and character very accurately. found to a man's real character, than He who does not know himself, those who are his flatterers. If you will never be ready so to make al- can discover-and who cannot, if he lowances for others, as to be greatly tries?-who are most frequently beloved. He will be in danger of flattering you, it will be easy for you being harsh and censorious. While to see where you stand. In no he who is in the habit of measuring moral excellence will you be likely himself, in the cool moments of re- to be above those who pay for your tirement, will seldom fail of know- company by their flatteries. You ing so much of himself, that he will can, in this way, most accurately regard with tenderness the failings know the state of your heart; and of others. In studying your own in your hours of meditation you character, you have a wide field will be unwise to neglect to submit opening before you. You will fail your life to this ordeal. of doing yourself any good, if, in By attention to your thoughts looking at yourself, you do not make when alone, you can obtain what it your determination faithfully to can in no other situation be obreprove yourself for your failings tained-definite and correct views and faults. Mark the places where of the character of God. No readyou trip, and be sure to shun them ing, or preaching, or conversation, the next time. Note every instance can ever give you clear conceptions in which you trespassed upon the on this great subject, without medikindness, the feelings, or the rights tation. From our infancy we hear of others; and in all cases in which the character of God described; we you have failed to observe the golden read the descriptions of his characrule, reprove yourself with due ter in his word; but, after all, we severity, and see that you amend. are not likely to attach correct and You will find that, at some parti- precise ideas to this language, unless cular places, you have shown a heart we reflect much alone. On other that was selfish or wanton-a tem- subjects it is not so. If, from your per that was revengeful and un- infancy, you should hear the charackind-a spirit that was jealous, or teristics of a steam-engine describenvious, or malicious-a self-con-ed, as you grew up, your ideas ceit that was unpleasant-or a posi- would become definite and settled tiveness that required others to ac- by experience. You would see the knowledge your infallibility. No engine frequently, or converse with one can be alone, and look over his those who had seen it. But our character, and the manifestations of conceptions of the character of our that character, long, without seeing Maker do not become definite by numerous deficiencies, and marking experience. The same terms may many places, at which he will set a convey wrong impressions, all the guard in future. way through life, if we never make

this the subject of meditation. Let children, masters, servants, lives, my young reader try it, and he will blood, bodies, souls, silver, gold, find that a single hour of close pearls, precious stones, and what thought alone will give him views not. of the character of God which are more definite, clear, and satisfactory, than anything of which he has ever made trial.

BUNYAN'S DESCRIPTION OF THE

WORLD.

And, moreover, at this fair there is at all times to be seen, jugglings, cheats, games, plays, fools, apes, knaves, and rogues, and that of every kind.

Here are to be seen, too, and that for nothing, thefts, murders, adulteries, false swearers, and that of a blood-red colour.

And as in other fairs of less moment there are several rows and streets under their proper names, where such wares are vended, so here likewise you have the proper places, rows, streets, (viz. countries and kingdoms,) where the wares of this fair are soonest to be found. Here is the Britain row, the French row, the Italian row, the Spanish row, the German row, where several

THEN I saw in my dream, that when they were got out of the wilderness, they presently saw a town before them; the name of that town is Vanity; and in that town there is a fair kept, called Vanity fair: it is kept all the year long: it beareth the name of Vanity fair, because the town where it is kept is " lighter than vanity," and also because all that is there sold, or that cometh sorts of vanities are to be sold. thither, is vanity. As is the saying of the wise, "All that cometh is vanity."

This fair is no new-erected business, but a thing of ancient standing: I will show you the original of it.

But as in other fairs some one commodity is as the chief of all the fair, so the ware of Rome and her merchandise is greatly promoted in this fair: only our English nation, with some others, have taken a dislike thereat.

Almost five thousand years agone, Now, as I said, the way to the there were pilgrims walking to the Celestial City lies just through Celestial City, as these two honest the town where this lusty fair is persons are; and Beelzebub, Apol- kept; and he that will go to the lyon, and Legion, with their com- City, and yet not go through this panions, perceiving by the path that town, "must needs go out of the the pilgrims made, that their way to world." The Prince of princes himthe city lay through this town of self, when here, went through this Vanity, they contrived here to set town to his own country, and that up a fair; a fair, wherein should be upon a fair-day too: yea, and as I sold all sorts of vanity; and that think, it was Beelzebub, the chief it should last all the year long; lord of this fair, that invited him to therefore, at this fair are all such buy of his vanities; yea, would have merchandise sold, as houses, lands, made him lord of the fair, would trades, places, honours, preferments, he but have done him reverence as titles, countries, kingdoms, lusts, he went through the town; yea, pleasures; and delights of all sorts, because he was such a person of as whores, bawds, wives, husbands, honour, Beelzebub had him from

ing the carriages of the men, to say unto them, What will ye buy?' but they looking gravely upon him, said, We "buy the truth."

At that, there was an occasion taken to despise the men the more : some mocking, some taunting, some speaking reproachfully, and some calling upon others to smite them. At last, things came to an hubbub and great stir in the fair, insomuch that all order was confounded.

street to street, and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world in a little time, that he might, if possible, allure that Blessed One to cheapen and buy some of his vanities; but he had no mind to the merchandise, and therefore left the town without laying out so much as one farthing upon these vanities. This fair, therefore, is an ancient thing, of long standing, and a very great fair. Now these pilgrims, as I said, must needs go through this fair. Now was word presently brought Well, so they did; but, behold, even to the great one of the fair, who as they entered into the fair, all the quickly came down, and deputed people in the fair were moved, and some of his most trusty friends to the town itself, as it were, in a hub- take those men into examination, bub about them; and that for seve- about whom the fair was almost ral reasons for, overturned. So the men were First, The pilgrims were clothed brought to examination; and they with such kind of raiment as was that sat upon them, asked them diverse from the raiment of any whence they came, whither they that traded in that fair. The people went, and what they did there in of the fair, therefore, made a great such an unusual garb? The men gazing upon them: some said they told them, that they were pilgrims were fools; some, they were bed- and strangers in the world; and that lams; and some, they were out- they were going to their own landish men. country, which was the heavenly Secondly, And, as they wondered Jerusalem; and that they had given at their apparel, so they did likewise no occasion to the men of the town, at their speech; for few could un-nor yet to the merchandisers, thus derstand what they said: they na- to abuse them, and to stop them in turally spoke the language of Ca- their journey; except it was for naan; but they that kept the fair that, when one asked them what were men of this world: so that they would buy, they said they from one end of the fair to the other they seemed barbarians each to the other.

Thirdly, But that which did not a little amuse the merchandisers was, these pilgrims set very light by all their wares they cared not so much as to look upon them: and if they called upon them to buy, they would put their fingers in their ears, and cry, "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity"; and look upwards, signifying that their trade and traffic was in heaven.

One chanced, mockingly, behold

would buy the truth. But they that were appointed to examine them, did not believe them to be any other than bedlams and mad, or else such as came to put all things into a confusion in the fair. Therefore they took them and beat them, and besmeared them with dirt, and then put them into the cage, that they might be made a spectacle to all the men of the fair. There they lay for some time, and were made the objects of any man's sport or malice, or revenge; the great one of the fair laughing still at all that befel

Then were they remanded to the cage again, until further order should be taken with them. So they put them in, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

them. But, the men being patient, into a greater rage, insomuch that and "not rendering railing for rail- they concluded the death of these ing, but contrariwise blessing," and two men. Wherefore they threatgiving good words for bad, and ened that neither cage or irons kindness for injuries done, some should serve their turn, but that men in the fair, that were more they should die for the abuse they observing and less prejudiced than had done, and for deluding the men the rest, began to check and blame of the fair. the baser sort for their continual abuses done by them to the men: they therefore in angry manner let fly at them again, counting them as bad as the men in the cage, and telling them that they seemed con- Here, therefore, they called again federates, and should be made par- to mind what they had heard from takers of their misfortune. The their faithful friend Evangelist, and other replied, that, for aught they were the more confirmed in their could see, the men were quiet and ways and sufferings by what he told sober, and intended nobody any them would happen to them. They harm; and that there were many also now comforted each other, that that traded in their fair that were whose lot it was to suffer, even he more worthy to be put into the cage, should have the best of it; thereyea, and pillory too, than were the fore each man secretly wished that men that they had abused. Thus he might have that preferment: but after divers words had passed on committing themselves to the allboth sides, (the men behaving wise disposal of Him that ruleth themselves all the while very all things, with much content they wisely and soberly before them,) abode in the condition in which they fell to some blows among they were, until they should be themselves, and did harm one to otherwise disposed of.-Pilgrim's another. Then were these two poor Progress, pp. 96-102. men brought before their examiners again, and there charged as being guilty of the late hubbub that had been in the fair. So they beat them pitifully, and hanged irons upon them, and led them in chains up and down the fair, for an example and terror to others, lest any should speak in their behalf, or join them-appeals by the most powerful motives to the social sympathies of man's nature. their fruits ye shall know them," is the practical test which this divine religion affords to the world to demonstrate its true teristics of our Saviour, whilst upon earth, professors. One of the most striking characwas that "he went about doing good," and his disciples are by the obligations of their faith required to be copyists of their Divine Master in all his imitable perfections. After revealed truth have urged against the obligaall the arguments which the friends of tions of infidelity, none is so convincing and

selves unto them.

But Christian and Faithful behaved themselves yet more wisely, and received the ignominy and shame that was cast upon them with so much meekness and patience, that it won to their side, though but few in comparison of the rest, several of the men in the fair. This put the other party yet

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