returns within the walls, where he is safe from hearing what is said of him." P

In my office of watchman, I was obliged every day to go into the outer world, but it was great pain and grief to me. There was so much prosperity, and so much comfort, people would not listen to my account of the kingdom of our Prince. The universal feeling was, that they must give up every thing pleasant if they entered, and therefore they persuaded themselves it was time enough to

P Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort. Ps. lxxi. 3.

9 Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar! Ps. cxx. 5.

r I beheld the transgressors and was grieved. Ps. cxix. 158.

Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. Ps. lv. 19.

t Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see and see not, they have ears to hear and hear not, for they are a rebellious house. Ez. xii. 2.

do so, when they were obliged to leave their pleasant things." In vain I told them that the Prince would make it up to them for all they left-that they should have new pleasures for those they relinquished. He had promised this, and I could answer for Him that he fulfilled his promise. I reminded them that no one knew how long the gate might remain open, and that if they should get in at the last, they would have a clear loss of all

y

" Therefore they say unto God, depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what profit should we have if we pray unto him? Job xxi. 14, 15.

* Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open to you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Mal. iii. 10.

y When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence you are. Luke xiii. 25.

the good things within," which were provided for the enjoyment of their whole lives. But as they would not believe the Prince's words, no wonder they would not believe me;a nor could I make them comprehend the nature of the joys to which they might be admitted. They can, indeed, only be known by experience.

Sometimes I would take them up to the wall and make them look over. I would ask them if it did not seem smiling and agreeable; but they said it was foggy and dim, and that no objects.

z O satisfy us early with thy mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Ps. xc. 14.

a Who hath believed our report? Is. li. 1.

bO taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Ps. xxxiv. 8.

c But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, in whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 2 Cor. iv. 3, 4.

were clear to them, and therefore nothing inviting.d

I had the most opposite reasons given to me for the refusals I met with. Some

f

e

were so happy that they desired nothing more. Some were so miserable, that they were afraid of increasing their misery. Some were so busy that they had not time. Some thought it their duty to remain where they were, and that it would be wrong to give up the world. But by far the greater part, imagined that they were in the kingdom already, and that the enclosure of which I spake was merely

d I see men as trees, walking. Mark viii. 24.

e And they all with one consent began to make excuse. Luke xiv. 18.

Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted. Micah ii. 10.

They received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 2 Thess. ii. 10.

k

imaginative. h When I insisted on its being a reality, they were shocked at its exclusiveness.i I told them the time would come when these walls would be thrown down, and the streams of water flow out, till all the world was enriched by them, and the kingdom of the Prince extend to every quarter.' That meanwhile, any who would, might enter, though very few availed themselves of the privilege.

I confessed that as yet, I knew little of

h The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor. ii. 14.

me.

Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in
Matt. xi. 6.

And the Lord shall be king over all the earth. Zech. xiv. 9.

In the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert, and the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water. Is. xxxv. 6, 7.