stir, but keep on our way." Danger of love of money. Business often becomes idolatry; dethrones Christ. No time for secret prayer or church duties. Poor as well as rich in danger of loving money. Neither spendthrift nor miser use all for God. Monument of Lot's wife. Warning against looking back to world. No turning back to its follies. No yielding to little sins. Many of these pillars of salt in modern life. They look back. The world's stronghold. Pray against it. Cheering beacon. River of life; peace, joy, holy bliss. Refreshed; strong in God. Went on

Χ

DOUBTING CASTLE.

"O thou of little faith, wherefore dost thou doubt?"

PETER had no reason to doubt. Christ's com

mand involved his help. We, less reason. All of us sometime in Doubting Castle. Despair result of doubt. Tyrannizes over our doubts and fears.

Christian journeys several days in peace along River of Life. River and Narrow Way diverge. Keeps the Narrow Way. Road rough. Discouraged. Murmurs. Discontent with God's ways leads to doubts. Bypath Meadow appears to tempt. Go up to stile to see. Coquets with temptation. Path seemed parallel to Narrow Way. Looked easy. Went over the stile. Danger in seeking a pleasant path. One step wrong, disaster follows. Overtake man and ask if this the way to heaven. "Certain." Bad guide. Night comes on. Darkness and strange road. No safety. Bad guide falls in deep pit and killed. Alarmed. Terrible storm. Distressing anxiety. Remorse at leaving Narrow Way. Voice of God calling them back. Easier going astray than getting back. Sat down and waited for day.

light. Giant Despair comes. On enemy's ground. Arrest for trespass. Cast into dungeon. Remember these Christians had forsaken Narrow Way. In doubt and despair. Many ways getting into Doubting Castle. Unbelief. Dallying with temptation. Neglect of prayer. Neglect means of grace. Neglect Bible. Pleasures of world. Some bypath then allures. Suffer in dungeon for days. Giant Despair beats them. Remorse for disobedience. Conscience severe. Tempted to suicide. Many allured in bypath to suicide. Christian in utter despair. Does nothing to get out. Not once had he prayed. No hope but in prayer. At last return to weapon of all-prayer. Continue all Saturday night. Sunday morning prayer uncovers Saviour's face. Christian finds key in his bosom that unlocks every door. Name of that key, "Promise." Tries the key. Bolt flew back. Door swung open. Free! Outer door flew open. Giant awoke and pursued. Taken in a fit. They escape. once more safe in Narrow Way. ing to others.

Stop not until

Erect a warn

છે.

Lessons. 1. Never depart from God's way. 2. Watch against flowery paths. 3. Prayer, way of deliverance. 4. God's promise, key to all deliver.

ance.

XL

DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS.

"A land flowing with milk and honey."

ESCAPE from Doubting Castle; restored to

Way of Life, next experience on Delectable Mountains. Out of despair into highest joy. Sorrow comes from leaving Narrow Way. Need of higher conscience. No straying if we follow Bible guide. Ways of world always lure to ruin. Christian walked watchfully and prayerfully after Doubting Castle. This led to Delectable Mountains. Describes sweet experience of holy living. Very near to Christ. Enjoying rich communion. Heavenly bliss in Christ. Shown wonders: (1) Mountain of Error. Precipice of Error or Heresy. Many below dashed to pieces. Once pilgrims, but become fanatics. Victims of bypaths. In poverty; in trouble got out of church. Lost. (2) Open door in hill, bypath to hell. Door for hypocrites. Joins church, but goes to Perdition by side door. Never reaches Celestial City. (3) Ascended Mount Clear. Telescope of Faith in hand. See glory of Celestial City, end of their journey. Never doubt again. All clouds lifted. Filled with rapture. God gives true Christians

these glimpses. After climbing mountains some day will see it. Keep climbing Vision girds with strength. Goal of journey yonder. Received clear directions to the city as they went on. Warned not to sleep on Enchanted Ground. (4) Met a religious dude named Ignorance. Born in land of Conceit. Going to heaven in a free and easy way. Knew it all. Several of him in this town. Took a short cut for heaven. Will see him again. Met man with seven devils. Apostate. Dreadful sight. Next came to two roads parallel. Stood still. Flatterer offered to guide. Followed him. Soon entangled in net. Flatterer revealed as Deceiver. Good Evangelist appears with whip. Inquires how they came there., Confess all. Reminds them of note given by Shepherds to guide. They forget. Chastised. Conscience, the whip. Snare broken. Go on with greater caution. Wine, beer, amusements-nets. Go wrong because fail to consult the Bible. Met fashionable infidel. Laughs at their journey to heaven. Investigated for twenty years. No such place. See value of genuine religious experience. Saves from cheap sophistries. Tell him they know. Saw it from Delectable Mountains. Rejoicing in hope, left the infidel sneering. For him only outer dark. ness; for them awaits the City of God.