should be called the Catholic Church, and the members of which she would fain have the world consider, as the only people destined to be saved; it must be owned, indeed, that they had the true spectacle-glass, but they spoiled it by cutting upon the glass numerous images; and they had true faith, but they mingled that precious ointment with their own novel inventions, so that at present they see no more than the heathen.”  Thence we went to a barn, where stood a pert, conceited fellow preaching with great glibness, frequently repeating the same thing three times.  “This man and his hearers,” said the angel, “possess the true spectacle-glass, to see the things which pertain to their peace, but they lack now in their old age, a very essential matter which is called perfect love.  Various are the causes which drive folks hither; some come out of respect to their forefathers, some out of ignorance, and many for worldly advantage.  They will make you believe with their faces that they are being strangled, but they can swallow a toad if necessary; and thus the princess Hypocrisy does not disdain to teach some in barns.”  “Pray,” said I, “where now is the Church of England?”  “O,” said he, “in the city high above, it constitutes a great part of the Catholic Church, and in the city here below, there are some probationary churches belonging to it, where the English and Welsh are under probation for a time, in order to become qualified to have their names written in the book of the Catholic Church, and they who become so, blessed are they for ever.  But

alas, there are but very few who are adapting themselves to obtain honour above; because, instead of looking thitherward, too many suffer themselves to be blinded by the three princesses below, and Hypocrisy keeps many with one eye upon the city above, and the other on that below; yea, Hypocrisy has succeeded in enticing many from their path, after they have overcome the three other deceivers.  Come in here,” said he, “and you will see something more;” whereupon he carried me to the gallery of one of the churches in Wales, the people being in the midst of the service.  And lo! some were whispering, talking and laughing; some looking upon the pretty women; others were examining the dress of their neighbours from top to toe; some were pushing themselves forward and snarling at one another about rank; some were dozing; others were busily engaged in their devotions, but many of these were playing a hypocritical part.  “You have not seen yet,” said the angel, “no, not amongst the infidels, shamelessness as open and barefaced as this: but thus, alas, we see that the corruption of the best thing is the corruption worst of all.”  The congregation then proceeded to take the sacrament, and every one displayed reverential feelings at the altar.

However, (through the glass of my companion,) I could see one receiving the bread into his belly, under the figure of a mastiff, another under that of a swine, another like a mole, another like a winged serpent, and a few, O how very few, receiving a ray of celestial light with the bread and the wine.  “Yonder,” said he, “is a roundhead who is about to become sheriff, and because the law enjoins, that every one shall receive the communion in the church before he obtains the office, he has come hither rather than lose it; but though there are many here who rejoice at seeing him, there has been no joy

amongst us for his conversion, for he has only turned for the time; and thus you see how bold Hypocrisy must be to present herself at the altar before Emmanuel, who is not to be deceived.  But however great she be in the city of Perdition, she can effect nothing in the city of Emmanuel, above the wall yonder.”

Thereupon we turned our faces from the great city of Perdition, and went up to the other little city.  In going along I could see at the upper end of the streets, many turning half-way from the temptations of the gates of Perdition, and seeking for the gate of Life; but whether it was that they failed to find it, or grew tired upon the way, I could not see that any went through, except one sorrowful faced man, who ran forward resolutely, while thousands on each side of him were calling him fool, some scoffing him, others threatening, him and his friends laying hold upon him, and entreating him not to take a step by which he would lose the whole world at once.  “I only lose,” said he, “a very small portion of it, and if I should lose the whole, pray what loss is it?  For what is there in the world so desirable, unless a man should desire deceit, and violence, and misery, and wretchedness, giddiness and distraction.  Contentment and tranquillity,” said he, “constitute the happiness of man; but in your city there are no such things to be found.  Because who is there here content with his station?  Higher, higher, is what every one endeavours to be in the street of Pride; give, give us a little more, says every one in the street of Lucre; sweet, sweet, pray give me some more of it, is the cry of every one in the street of Pleasure.  And as for tranquillity, where is it? and who obtains it?  If you be a great man, flattery and envy are killing you; if you be poor, every one is trampling upon and despising

you; after having become an inventor, if you exalt your head and seek for praise, you will be called a boaster and a coxcomb; if you lead a godly life and resort to the church and the altar, you will be called a hypocrite; if you do not, then you are an infidel or a heretic; if you be merry, you will be called a buffoon; if you are silent, you will be called a morose wretch; if you follow honesty, you are nothing but a simple fool; if you go neat, you are proud, if not, a swine; if you are smooth speaking, then you are false, or a trifler without meaning; if you are rough, you are an arrogant, disagreeable devil.  Behold the world that you magnify,” said he, “pray take my share of it.”  Whereupon he shook himself loose from them all, and away he went undauntedly to the narrow gate, and in spite of every obstacle he pushed his way through, we following him; while many men dressed in black upon the walls, on both sides of the gate, kept inviting the man and praising him.  “Who,” said I, “are the men above dressed in black?”  “The watchmen of the king Emmanuel,” replied the angel, “who, in the name of their master, are inviting people and assisting them through this gate.”

By this time we were by the gate; it was very low and narrow, and mean in comparison with the lower gates.  On the two sides of the door were the ten commandments; upon the first slab on the right side was written, “love the Lord with thy whole heart, &c.,” and upon the second slab on the other side, “love thy neighbour as thyself;” and above the whole, “love not the world nor the things which are therein.”  I had not looked long before the watchmen began to cry out to the men of Perdition, “Flee! flee, for your lives!”  Only a very few turned towards them once, some of whom asked, “flee from what?”  “From the prince of this world, who reigns in the

children of disobedience,” said the watchman; “flee from the pollutions which are in the world through the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the vanities of life; flee from the wrath which is coming to overwhelm you!”  “What,” exclaimed the other watchman, “is your beloved city but a vast glowing roof cast over Hell, and if you were here, you might see the fire on the