ld
be discerned; but all the stones were curiously joined together from
the top to the bottom. I also took notice, that all the stones of
the building were transparent, some more and some less; and I saw no
windows to let in light from without; and, drawing nearer to it, I saw
it had a large outward court, and a pretty large gate to go into it,
so that a man might go in with a large burden on his back. So, coming
to it, in I went; and there I saw many people that were very cheerful,
and appeared to live very pleasant lives. Some of them told me,
they had lived there many years, were well contented, and wanted for
nothing; for there was a mighty tree grew in the midst of the court,
and the fruit thereof was good, and the leaves also, and it bore fruit
all the year long. And many of them were so kind as to invite me to
sit down and eat with them; but that I refused; and they showed me a
great cistern, which they had hewn out to themselves, to catch water
from the elements; and they had made themselves convenient lodgings in
the sides of the court, to lodge in.

[Illustration: And when I was stripped stark naked as ever I was born,
I tried to enter, and found no great difficulty.]

But all this did not satisfy me; for I saw my beloved guide pass
through them all, and enter in at a little narrow door at the farther
side of it. Whereupon I left them, and made haste to the door, where
I saw my guide had entered; and I attempted to enter in thereat, but
could not, it was so strait; which put me in great sorrow of mind,
and what to do I knew not; my thoughts troubled me on every side, and
all ways I tried, but in vain. Oh! thought I, are all my troubles and
labours come to this? Must I be shut out at the last? What shall I do?
As I was thus perplexing myself, I thought I heard a voice, but knew
not from whence it came, which said, "Young man, strip thee of thy old
garments, and so thou mayest enter." This occasioned yet more trouble
of mind; for I was loth to go naked: but at last thought it better
to go in naked, than not at all. So I at last fell to stripping,
thinking that a few pitiful rags should not hinder me of so great an
enjoyment.--And when I was stripped stark naked as ever I was born,
I tried to enter, and found no great difficulty; and so soon as I was
entered, one met me, and cast a garment of pure white linen over me,
which reached to my feet; and he brought me into a narrow room and
said, "Rest here awhile." T