at that time as a garden of delights: there was nothing therein but what was very good;1 and the Lord was as a brother and a friend to the inhabitants of the land, walking with them in the shade of their woods, and speaking with them face to face. But they rebelled against him, and admitted one into their hearts and affections, who had been his enemy from the beginning; and he beguiled them with lies and deceit, for he is a liar, and the father of lies; and they rebelled against the Lord, and sold themselves to the enemy, and were as persons lost and undone for ever; and thus time went on, and their case appeared to be without hope, and there is no doubt but that the enemy triumphed and counted on this land and the people residing thereon as his own for ever. Nevertheless the Lord had not forgotten them, neither had the King who is the Father of the Lord; for our Lord is a King's son, nay, a King himself, and the King of Kings, being one in power, authority, and majesty with his father, although according to the old feudal laws, it behoved him to do his father homage, nay, and himself homage too, for this his inferior principality, which he purchased from the enemy under this charter, to wit, that he was to become a servant, and, as it were, a vassal

1 "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." Gen. i. 31.

2 "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John iii. 8.

to his own princely authority. But, as I was saying,' continued my uncle, the Father of our Lord, viz. the King of Kings, as we find in the letters of which I spoke before, had ever borne in mind the afflictions of the miserable people of this land, and had prepared a ransom for them which was to be paid by his Son; and in order for the payment of which, it behoved this last to leave his glorious state, and become as one of us, 1 and in that lowly estate, being as a servant 2 rather than a prince amongst us, he paid our ransom and set us free, and thus we are his possession, first by right, and next by conquest, and anon we shall be his in his visible presence, by a union as close as that of the members of one body to the head. Nevertheless, for the trial of our faith and patience, and that we may all by experience know what the thraldom is from which he has redeemed us, he has judged it right in his great wisdom to leave us for a time under the visible government of the prince, his enemy; for, as he has said, My people have made to themselves another Lord, let them bear his yoke awhile, and bend to

1 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John iii. 16.

2 "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high-priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." John ii. 17.

3 "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." Ephes. v. 30.

his dominion-let them bend till their shoulders are galled-let them wear his livery till it fall in rags from their backs; and then perhaps they will hearken unto my call, for " my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

'But,' added my uncle, 'I should tell you that although the government in this place is not carried on according to the Lord's principles, and though the rule is not in the hands of his servants, yet that since the coming of the Lord to redeem the people, there has been always in this house a sort of imperium in imperio, or kingdom within kingdom; or I should say, a party, which, although seldom having any of its members placed in a seat of government, has always exercised so strong an influence, that the adverse party are obliged more or less, to accommodate themselves to what they call their prejudices; hence this castle is always called by the name of the Lord, and all the public deeds and papers are made out in that name. The steward as yet, has never dared to do other than call him Master, and make some sort of reference to his authority, even when doing the things which he knows to be most contrary to his will. Formerly, that is before the Lord paid the price of our redemption, this was not the case with us, for then the enemy was more openly acknowledged; but since that time, the followers of the Master have always had more or less influence in the house; though as to

making a head and obtaining any thing like rule or power in this place, we have not attempted it, or if we have attempted it, we have always failed,1 and for this reason, that it is not the time for the revelation of the Master's kingdom. It is to be a hidden and a secret one for the present, and we are commanded in the letters to be patient and submissive to the powers that be; 2 being content with that we have, and waiting quietly for the glory and happiness which is promised to us when the Master comes, for we know that our Master lives and reigns, and that we shall see him and stand before him even in these our servants' garbs. And you, my nephew, he added, you will then be among the number of those blessed ones, since you have been called to the service of the Lord, and have been set down in the Master's roll of his servants; hence I fear not but that you will be helped to do that which is pleasing in his sight.'5

My uncle then proceeded to inform me, that

1 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds." 2 Cor. x. 4.

2 "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." Rom. xiii. 1.

"And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." 1 Peter v. 4.

"For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." Job xix. 25.

5" According as he hath chosen us in him before the founda. tion of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." Eph. i. 4.

although the Lord's party had no visible head in the house, yet that they were not without a friend who secretly comforted and directed them in all cases of trial. 'This person,' said he,' whom we call the interpreter, is one of whom I dare not lightly speak, inasmuch as his power, his glory, and his honour are equal with that of the King of Kings. He knows all things belonging to the Lord, and is ready to explain the written will of the Master, to all who are made willing to be instructed. But,' continued my worthy relation, ' inasmuch as this holy person is spoken of in my Lord's letters, I refer you to these for a further account of him, lest by using my own words I should darken counsel without knowledge. Nevertheless, I wish to tell you that this sacred interpreter is shy of the pomp or assemblies of men, and seldom mingles his counsels where there is a display of human wisdom.'

My uncle then proceeded to speak of the manner in which the Lord had been treated, when he had last appeared among the people, telling him they abused him, and covered him with injuries; 2

1 "If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." John xiv. 15-17.

2 "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave