the
house." At which I was exceeding glad; for now I thought I had not
spent my labour in vain. The nearer we drew to it, the more my joy
increased; and when I came in view of it, I pleased myself extremely
with looking at it, and viewing the towers and turrets that were
upon it, and the excellent carvings and paintings, with which it was
adorned; and there was as much art in setting it forth as could be
imagined. Oh! thought I, if there be so much glory without, surely
there is more within, which I shall shortly be a partaker of.

As I was thus contemplating my happiness, and was come within as it
were a bow-shot of the house, we were to go down into a valley; which
we did: and in the bottom of the valley, glided along a small river,
and I looked about to see a bridge to go over it, but could see none;
at which I wondered; but on we went till we came to the river side;
then I asked my guide where the bridge was. Truly, he told me, there
was none, but we must go through it, and so must all that go into that
house.

[Illustration: Upon which I awaked my guide, and told him my mind,
and paid him what I had agreed for, and advised him never to serve any
poor soul as he had done me.]

I was a little troubled within myself; but he told me he had been
through it, and there was no danger at all. With that I began to think
within myself, have I taken all these pains, and shall I give over for
so small a matter as this? What would I have gone through, when in my
father's house, to attain to the knowledge of the house of God, and a
possession therein? Not water, nor verily fire would have stopped me
then, if I had so fair a prospect of it as I now have.

I told my guide if he pleased to go before, I would follow him: so in
he went, and I after him; but when I came at the middle, there it was
so deep that the water went over my head, but I made shift to keep my
feet to the ground, and got well on the other side; and my guide and
I went up together very pleasantly. When we came to the top of the
hill, there was a wide plain, and in the middle thereof the house
stood. So we went apace and drew near to it; and there I saw a very
stately porch at the west end of the house, and at the door stood a
strong tall porter, to whom my guide spake, and said to him on this
wise:--"This young man hath long had a desire to be entertained in the
house of God; thereupon I have conducted him hither." The porter asked
him which way I came thith