tions; for God
saith, all the vessels in my house shall be holy; and they that dwell
in the house of God must have pure hearts and clean hands. And much
more I told him of what I had heard and read concerning the house of
God. I also told him plainly, I had let in such a belief of the peace,
purity, glory and comeliness of the house of God, that I was persuaded
_that_ was none of it; and where to find it, I knew not; but if I
never found it whilst I lived, I would never give over seeking, for my
desires were after it, and I thought nothing would satisfy me short
of the enjoyment of it. But as for your house here, said I, I have no
satisfaction in it; it is not the place I seek for, so I must leave
you. His answer to me was, he was sorry I could not be satisfied there
as well as he; but if I could not, he would lay no restraint upon me:
for his part, he had directed me as far as he knew, and he could do no
more for me.

[Illustration: Several in the house threw things after me, in a
spiteful manner, but none hurt me.]

After our discourse was ended, I got up, and went out, but knew not
where to go. Several in the house threw things after me, in a spiteful
manner, but none hurt me. So I wandered sometimes north, and sometimes
south; and every way that came in my mind. But whithersoever I went,
the anguish of my soul went along with me; which was more than tongue
can utter, or pen can declare, or any one can believe, except this
relation should meet with some one that hath experienced the same
travel; which, if it doth they will understand. But so it was, I had
no comfort night nor day, but still kept going on, whether right or
wrong I knew not, nor durst I ask anybody, for fear of being beguiled
as before.

Thus I got into a vast howling wilderness, where there seemed to be no
way, only now and then I found some men and women's footsteps, which
was some comfort to me in my sorrow; but whether they got out without
being devoured by wild beasts, or whither I should go, I knew not.
But in this woeful state I travelled from day to day, casting within
myself what I had best to do;--whether utterly to despair in that
condition, or whether I had best to seek some other town or city, to
see if I could get some other guide. The first I saw to be desperate;
I also despaired of the last, having been so deceived from time to
time; so that all these consultations did but increase the bitterness
of my soul.

[Illustration: Thus I