ooks out, anxiously surveying him who waiteth
at the door.

Within this mortal mansion are adulterers, fornicators,
idolaters; drunkenness, witchcraft, variance, envy, emu-
lation, hatred, wrath, murder. Appetites and passions [15]
have so dimmed their sight that he alone who looks from
that dwelling, through the clearer pane of his own heart
tired of sin, can see the Stranger.

Startled beyond measure at beholding him, this mortal
inmate withdraws; but growing more and more troubled, [20]
he seeks to leave the odious company and the cruel walls,
and to find the Stranger. Stealing cautiously away from
his comrades, he departs; then turns back,--he is afraid
to go on and to meet the Stranger. So he returns to the
house, only to find the lights all wasted and the music [25]
fled. Finding no happiness within, he rushes again
into the lonely streets, seeking peace but finding none.
Naked, hungry, athirst, this time he struggles on, and
at length reaches the pleasant path of the valley at the
foot of the mountain, whence he may hopefully look for [30]
the reappearance of the Stranger, and receive his heavenly
guidance.

[Page 325.]

The Stranger enters a massive carved stone mansion, [1]
and saith unto the dwellers therein, "Blessed are the
poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." But
they understand not his saying.

These are believers of different sects, and of no sect; [5]
some, so-called Christian Scientists in sheep's clothing;
and all "drunken without wine." They have small con-
ceptions of spiritual riches, few cravings for the immortal,
but are puffed up with the applause of the world: they
have plenty of pelf, and fear not to fall upon the Stranger, [10]
seize his pearls, throw them away, and afterwards try to
kill him.

Somewhat disheartened, he patiently seeks another
dwelling,--only to find its inmates asleep at noontide!
Robust forms, with manly brow nodding on cushioned [15]
chairs, their feet resting on footstools, or, flat on their
backs, lie stretched on the floor, dreaming away the
hours. Balancing on one foot, with eyes half open,
the porter starts up in blank amazement and looks at
the Stranger, calls out, rubs his eyes,--amazed beyond [20]
measure that anybody is animated with a purpose, and
seen working for it!

They in this house are those that "provoke Him in
the wilderness, and grieve Him in the desert." Away
from this charnel-house of the so-called living, the Stranger