to lie down and rest, which I was glad to do, being weary with my walk, and I fell asleep in the full consciousness of excessive enjoyment.a

My friend soon awakened me, and advised me to take a draught of the water that was rising in fountains all around; and being so near the source, I found it had a most delicious taste." He, then, seeing that I was sufficiently refreshed, made me walk with him to a part of the grove, where a vista had been opened through which I beheld the Temple before me. He checked my endeavour to press towards it, and told

y Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Is. xxvi. 3. I sat down under his shadow with great delight. Cant. ii. 3.

a He brought me to the banqueting-house, and his banner over me was love. Cant. ii. 4.

b Drink, yea, drink abundantly, Obeloved. Cant. v. 1. c My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times. Ps. cxix. 20.

me that the clearness of the air, made it appear to be nearer than it actually was. Besides which, he added, there is a deep chasm between, that was occasioned by a violent earthquake soon after the creation. Our kind Prince has made

d

a bridge across, and I am in hopes that my path may soon reach it.

e

A breathless stillness pervaded the place, and my friend left me alone without my perceiving his departure, as I was awed by the solemnity of the scene and my mind was absorbed in contemplation. A few moments after, I met the Prince.f

d But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Eph. ii. 13. The Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him. Hab. ii. 20.

f He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be

loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John xiv. 21.

Such pleasures are not frequently of long duration, but sweet earnests of future bliss. I was told that those who

i

lived in the grove,h had these interviews frequently, and sometimes conversed with the Prince for hours together.

"You will not wonder," said my friend, "that we love to be here, and prefer this quiet grove, to the bustle near the walls. We are not, however, useless, for having so many opportunities of speaking to the Prince, we gain for our friends who live more active lives,

g Ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession. Eph. i. 13, 14.

h A people near unto him. Ps. cxlviii. 14.

i Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Rev. iii. 20.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James v. 16.

many privileges and advantages' they might not otherwise have, and their labour is greatly forwarded by these

He then took me to a door, through which he shewed me how near an access there was to those persons who were outside the walls, and I saw many of the inhabitants of the grove passing in and out, as they went to minister to their necessities," or returned from so doing; but the path was so concealed, and

Then stood up Phinehas and prayed, and so the plague ceased. (Prayer Book Trans.) Ps. cvi. 30.

m And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand Amalek prevailed. Ex. xvii. 11.

n If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day. And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. Is. lviii. 10, 11.

their proceedings so quiet, that they were scarcely perceived. Besides this, I observed, that for the most part, they were people bearing the marks of sickness or distress, such as would not have been noticed at the gate, or supposed to be capable of any exertion.

r

q

I soon began to complain of an oppression which, I was told, was a common feeling with casual visitors. "Go back,” said my friends, "and work at your path till it reaches our grove, and then

• When thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. Matt. vi. 3, 4.

P Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Matt. v. 4.

q Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him. James ii. 5.

And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. Ex. xx. 21. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall