frame my lips to a prayer, behold, two shining ones appeared in the east; whence they approached with an exceeding swift motion, and rested in the heavens over where the dying infant lay, waiting to receive her spirit—but they who were below perceived them not. Presently, the paleness left her face for a moment, when she looked affectionately at her brother and sister, saying, "Sweet companions of my pilgrimage, I am about to leave you: but I go to him who died for me-to him who shed his blood for me upon the cross-to him who loved me more than his own life; and he will present me to himself without spot or stain of sin." Then suddenly lifting up her eyes, she saw the pitying angels, as messengers waiting to convey her home, and holding in their hands the crown of glory which was prepared for her, through the free grace and mercy of her Lord. Then did all earthly scenes pass for ever from her view, wrapped together as a scroll-and at that moment did heavenly joy contend with mortal anguish. She smiled in the agony of death, continuing to look steadfastly at the angels till her eyes became fixed; when she breathed slower, and slower, and slower, till at length her fair spirit, made pure by her Redeemer's blood, and holy with his imputed righteousness, quitted her little languid body, resigning it to corruption and the worm, until that day when the trumpet shall sound, and when that which was sown in corruption shall be raised in incorruption-that which was sown in dishonour shall be raised in glory-that which was sown in weakness shall be raised in power -and that which was sown in a natural body shall be raised a spiritual body. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.' 1 Cor. xv. 42-44. 55-57. 6 Then I saw that the holy angels who were waiting above, received her spirit in their arms, and bore her away to the gates of heaven-and I saw her no more. Thus she was delivered from Inbred-Sin, and from the devil, that adversary of mankind, who, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.' 1 Pet. v. 8. And now she walks with God, high in salvation and the climes of bliss; where she sees the King in his beauty, and beholds the land which is very far off. Isaiah xxxiii. 17. So for awhile I could look no longer, by reason of the tears which filled my eyes and obscured my sight: nevertheless, I blessed God for delivering this little fair one from all her spiritual enemies, as well as from all the troubles and mischances of this present life. Then perceiving that Peace could not dwell with vanity, I applied to the little departing pilgrim these words of the wise man-For she pleased God, and was beloved of him: so that living among sinners she was translated. Yea, speedily was she taken away, lest that wickedness should alter her understanding, or deceit beguile her soul. She, being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time: for her soul pleased the Lord: therefore hasted he to take her away from among the wicked.' Wisdom iv. 10, 11. 13, 14. CHAPTER XVII. As soon as I could wipe away my tears, I looked after poor Humble Mind and Playful; and behold they were fallen down by the body of their sister, each holding one of her pale cold hands: and there they lay like persons more dead than alive. And behold, the noisy multitude had fled, terrified at the sight of deathfor the wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.' Prov. xxviii. 1. 66 Now, about this time, good Mr. Orthodox, of whom mention hath been before made, received a letter from the damsels of the palace Beautiful, entreating him to have regard to the little pilgrims, Humble Mind, Playful, and Peace, who about that time were to pass through the town of Vanity. For after the little ones had left the palace Beautiful, Prudence said to her sisters, "I am much afraid lest those little ones should miss the house of Mr. Orthodox, and carry our letters to some other person; since there are several individuals in the town of Vanity, whơ assume the name of that worthy and discreet pastor. I therefore advise that we write another letter to Mr. Orthodox, and send it by some trusty person, entreating him to look after the young pilgrims." So the damsels approving what Prudence suggested, the letter was written in haste, and Mr. Watchful, the porter, charged with providing a fit person to carry it. On the receipt of this letter, good old Mr. Orthodox lost no time in making diligent search after the little ones; when he shortly found Humble Mind and Playful as I before described them, lying beside the body of Peace. After being much affected at the sight of so pitiable a spectacle, Mr. Orthodox caused Humble Mind and Playful to be lifted up and carried to his wife, whose name was Bountiful, and who he well knew would spare no pains to administer unto them every consolation of which their situation was capable. He ordered also the body of little Peace to be raised from the ground, and conveyed to his house; where it was placed in a fair chamber, from whence it was removed at a convenient time, and buried according to the custom of Christians in those parts. Mr. Orthodox likewise caused a fair white monument to be placed over the body of the little pilgrim, in order that such young persons as should hereafter visit her grave, might be encouraged by the example of Peace to trust in that blessed Saviour who'enabled the little saint to stand fast unto the end. Upon this monument was the following inscription: Remember PEACE, WHO DIED IN THE SEVENTH YEAR OF HER AGE; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, Thou didst make me hope when I was upon Now I saw, in my dream, that Mr. Orthodox and his wife, Mrs. Bountiful, used their utmost endeavours to comfort Humble Mind and his sister: for which purpose they kept them in their own house and used them very tenderly; so that after awhile they were enabled calmly to listen to such words of consolation as Mr. Orthodox thought suitable to their state. I perceived then that this pious man arranged his motives of comfort under two heads: first, the gain accruing to little Peace herself from her death; and secondly, the benefit which her brother and sister might reap from their present affliction. And first, he spoke of the gain which little Peace herself had made. "She was," said he, "a poor and helpless orphan, wandering in the wide wilderness of this wicked world, as a hart upon the Mountains of the Leopards. Her body was liable to sickness, pain and death; while Inbred-Sin was the close, the intimate, though I trust the abhorred, companion of her steps. He was inseparable from her. And as she found it impossible to escape him, so you well know, that she could have no solid rest or ease, by reason of this internal tormentor. Her blessed Saviour had indeed called her, and separated her from those who are the willing slaves of Inbred-Sin: nevertheless, though her only hope was in the merits of her Saviour's death, yet Inbred-Sin was continually interrupting her intercourse with that dear Redeemer. But now," continued Mr. Orthodox, "she is set free from sin, and her union with her Saviour rendered complete!-she dwells for ever with him!-yea, she is built up as a polished corner-stone in the church triumphant of which he is the foundation! "Happy Peace! her warfare is finished, and she is made more than conqueror. She mixes with that happy multitude who stand before the |