Mrs. Bountiful. Well, my dear child, if the faults you have committed serve to make you humble, it is well. With this view, no doubt, the Lord left you to yourself for a little while; as it is written-That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God.' Ezek. xvi. 63.

I saw then that Mrs. Bountiful asked Playful if she could mention some of those good works, which seem to be particularly required of women?

"I think," said Playful, "I could tell some few of them; yet would I rather hear them from you."

Mrs. Bountiful. There are two duties, which more especially lie upon women; first, that of bringing up children, and, secondly, that of relieving the afflicted. And whereas the necessities of infants and those of the sick are two-fold, a woman should learn to administer to both, otherwise' she does but half her duty towards such persons.

Playful. Dear Madam, I do not understand you exactly.

Mrs. Bountiful. To explain my meaning more fully-Every infant is formed of two parts; the immortal soul, and the little tender body. If either of these is neglected, injury, if not ruin, must be the consequence of such neglect. A woman, therefore, who takes the charge of an infant, should not only know how to make its clothes, to administer its proper food, to comfort and cherish it, and, under God, to preserve its health: but, since we are all born in sin, she should also know how, as its sense increases, to

correct its evil tempers, and lead it into that knowledge of God which is eternal life. Sick and afflicted persons likewise often require the same attention as infants: nourishing food and comfortable clothing must be provided for their bodies, while their poor weak minds should be drawn towards God by holy conversation, prayer, and pious reading. I would, therefore," added good Mrs. Bountiful, "have young females, from their tender youth, to store their minds with chosen portions of Scripture, together with pleasant and profitable histories of pious persons; even such as may excite the attention of children and sick persons of all ages and all degrees, to the great work of their own salvation. They should also learn to sing such sweet psalms and hymns as may soothe infants to sleep, or compose the uneasy minds of the sick. They should moreover labour to become patient, selfdenying, long-suffering, kind, gentle, and courteous; since all these qualities are necessary to form a good and tender nurse. Females should also early be taught to make cheap and convenient clothing for the needy, as well as to prepare wholesome, simple, and economical dishes, for their occasional support and comfort. And, lastly, they should learn to dress themselves in such a manner as might be decent, cleanly, and modest, with as little expense as possible of that precious time and of those other talents which must hereafter be accounted for at the judgmentseat of Christ.

Now the conversation of Mrs. Bountiful was very pleasant to Playful, who endeavoured to store up in her heart the instructions of that excellent woman.

I saw also, in my dream, that, when the minds of the children became more composed, and their grief a little abated, Mr. Orthodox showed them, from time to time, such things as were worthy of notice about his house and his church.

One day in particular, I observed that he took them into a large room adjoining to his church, where many persons were engaged in printing; and the types which they used were those of every language under the sun. Now at the door of this room there stood many persons, who received the books as soon as they were printed, and ran off with them, in order to disperse them through the different districts of the city. Then inquired the children, "What are those books?"

Mr. Orthodox. They are all copies of the one great Book of Life; even that same Book by the reading of which you found your way hither, and by which I trust you will also find your way to a better home. And I have orders from my Master to distribute these books through every street of the city.

Then I saw that Mr. Orthodox took one of the books in his hand, and said, "This Holy Volume, my dear children, containeth all things, the knowledge of which is necessary to salvation: so that whatsoever is not read therein, nor may be proved thereby, ought not to be required of any man to be believed as an article of the faith, or be thought requisite or necessary to salvation. And here you must carefully note that by the term, Holy Scriptures, we understand those Canonical Books of the Old and New Testament, of whose authority there was never any doubt in the Church." (See 6th Article of the Church.)

Now the young pilgrims remained many days ith good Mr. Orthodox and Mrs. Bountiful;

where they increased in stature and in favour with God and man. At length the period ap

6

proached at which they were to continue their pilgrimage. But, before they departed, Mr. Orthodox led them into his church, and caused them there to receive the holy sacrament of the body and blood of Christ; explaining unto them how that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.' 1 Cor. xi. 23-26. Moreover, before they departed, he would have them to visit the grave of Peace: for 'it is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.' Eccles. vii. 2. So Mr. Orthodox and Mrs. Bountiful led the way, and the children followed.

Now, when they came to the grave, and read the name of Peace upon the fair white monument, and the verses which Mr. Orthodox had caused to be graven underneath, Humble Mind looked very pale, and Playful began to weep. Upon which Mr. Orthodox said, "Wherefore are you sorrowful? If you loved your sister Peace, you ought to rejoice; because she is gone to her heavenly Father."

So Playful wiped away her tears.

Then spake Mr. Orthodox, as he stood by the grave, "Hearken unto me, my children. You

have been often taught, and I hope have many times sensibly felt, that having received forgiveness of sins through the Lord Jesus Christ, you are become one with him, as he is one with the Father; according as it is written-At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.' John xiv. 20. This mystical union," continued Mr. Orthodox, "between Christ and his children, is a doctrine held not only altogether in contempt by the world, but one which even many who are constant comers to my church cannot receive: and for this reason, because they love the world and cleave to it, though it be a stranger and an enemy to the Spirit of truth.

"Now this mystical union," added the good man, "is neither a fancied nor a figurative thing, but a sacred reality. When you were joined to Christ, my children, sin lost, in some measure, its power over you: the Holy Spirit at that time entered your hearts, and you became temples of the living God. 1 Cor. iii. 16. Christ is the head of all believers, and believers are his members; so that a Christian hath no power to do any one good thing, but through the help of the Holy Spirit, which he receives as a member of Christ. Through faith the believer is enabled to bring forth the fruits of righteousness; by faith is he strengthened in the inner man: and when he fails to seek the help of the Spirit, he becomes weak and faint as other men, and perhaps falls into grievous sins, as was the case with King David.

"Our little sister," continued Mr. Orthodox, "whose body lies in this grave, was, through the grace of God, born again in Christ, and had her old nature renewed, many months before her