in our way, with a very obtrusive air, desired to know who we were, and what was our business. I was not a little surprised ät tones so peremptory, and language so dictatorial, so uncommon in this house. And observing these gentlemen, I thought their countenances familiar to my recollection, yet their names did not occur.

After a moment's pause, Truth replied to their demand, with great composure; "Gentlemen, this young man is a stranger here, though not unknown to us; he is about engaging in the gospel ministry, and, we think, he would not be an improper person to send abroad as an evangelist and missionary, to carry the glad news of a Saviour to places destitute of that blessing. We have, therefore, shown him the different apartments of this building, and hope he will be acceptable to those whose business it is to commission men for that purpose, and also a blessing to the Church of Christ. But, gentlemen," continued she, "as myself and this lady have dwelt here ever since this fabric was erected, and as we have not the honour of knowing you, we are under the necessity of asking the same favour you which you did of us.”

of

This address of Truth was received with a haughty air, and these men looked as though they would give the reply, given on a somewhat similar occasion, when the arch fiend had entered into the garden of innocence, and was there detected by Ithuriel and Zephon, two of the angelic guards of Paradise, When they demanded his name, he replied,

"Not to know me argues yourselves unknown."

These men were dressed in black, and so exactly resembled three clergymen whom I knew, that had not one of them declared their names to be Orthodoxy, Zeal, and Vigilance, I should have supposed I knew them. It brought to mind, however, what I have often heard asserted, that men who in form and features resemble each other, are generally found to have a likeness in mind and character. A remark, in favour of which, I think philosophy can furnish some reasons, however expertence may decide.

Orthodoxy was a man of middling size, of dark complexion, rather inclining to Roman or aquiline and acute features, remarkably grave, quite precise in his language, affected in his manners, and looked jealous, hypochondriacal, very solemn, and sourly religious. The superciliary and frontal muscles seemed long obedient to the agencies of spleen, pride, and arrogance; and his whole expression seemed to say, that he expected to be treated with great respect.

Zeal was a small man, rather spare, of tolerably regular features, of the light and choleric temperament of complexion, looked sharp, uttered quick, voluble, sententious, and round periods, with a voice which, had the man not been seen, might have been supposed to have proceeded from a much larger body, putting me in mind of the fable of the wolf and nightingale; and I observed that he had a remarkably little head.

Vigilance was a tall, thin figure, without colour in his face, or other expression than the faint gleaming of an uneasy smile, which pain excites, rather than pleasure. He had the brown, unanimated aspect of cloudy November twilight; and if a sheep could be turned into a wolf, he seemed to resemble the mongrel that would be the result, provided that metamorphosis could be suddenly arrested when two thirds accomplished. With a long neck, and rather small features, it appeared as if, after the outline was struck, the contour had been contracted through scarcity of material in the internal fabric. In short, the eyes of this man, which were small, far separated, and of the colour of the dark oxyd of iron, void of all brightness, expressed the dull and wandering glare of morbid wakefulness, and seemed a window through which suspicion, treachery, and cruelty, alone held commerce with the world.

These gentlemen, however, appeared with an assumption of great dignity, and with a scornful smile informed Truth that they had heard of this young man, meaning me, before, and well knew that he was "unsound in the faith," desired to be no further troubled with impertinent intrusions; with which, turning suddenly upon us, they went into the room, and shut the door with such violence that the jarring noise reverberated through the neighbouring apartments to a great distance.*

*This clash was heard from Philadelphia to New-York.-I

In our walks round this building, I discovered that there were two small buildings standing just behind it, resembling it în form, but smaller in size, and built of different materials. They might have been mistaken for wings to the doric edifice, as they joined up to it, and between them was an opening which might have formed a court yard, but that it was overgrown with briars and thorns, and presented no passage but a narrow foot path, through which whoever passed would be liable to be scratched and torn, if not bitten by some noxious reptile that crawled below. These edifices appeared, however, very decent, and as my curiosity prompted me to view their internal arrangements, I proposed to my guides to take a view of them. I saw the ladies smile at each other, but did not know the meaning of it; as it was their object to instruct me more by actual experience than by mere intelligence. They accordingly approached near the door of one of them, and I was not a little surprised to see the same three figures standing before it.

As we happened to see them at a distance, I instantly halted, and begged of Toleration to spare me another interview with Orthodoxy, whom I did not very much admire. We accordingly turned about; and as I had seen these men planted at this door, I concluded that we should find the entrance to the other building free, or, at least, guarded by visages less grim and repulsive. We approached the door, and were about to open it, when, looking up, we saw inscribed in large letters over it, "None are admitted here but such as will sign the Covenant."

Truth, however, gave a loud rap, and immediately the door was opened; but the reader may conjecture, if he can, my surprise when, behold, there again stood Orthodoxy, Zeal, and Vigilance, looking more stern and terrific than ever; and I seemed as though I could hear the ancient maxim, "turn or burn," distinctly pronounced. I was ready, with the poor Frenchman, to exclaim, "Monsieur Tonson again!" I also recollected

Milton's famous passage,

"Black he stood as night,

Fierce as ten furies, terrible as hell,

And shook a dreadful dart."

We turned from them without parley, and having now visited most parts of the house my curiosity wished to see, there only remained one apartment in the second story, which, for reasons I do not think proper here to mention, I desired to visit, before I left the house. We accordingly proceeded thither. But here, as usual, while as yet we had scarcely come within sight of the door, which led to this fair and beautiful chamber, for it appeared to have been fitted up with more than usual pomp and elegance, these hopeful figures crossed us, and forbid our entrance. My surprise, on seeing them, yet at a distance, was redoubled, and I could not but remark to my guides, that this extraordinary triumvirate must either be supernatural beings, taking no time for change of place, as I was sure they could not be omnipresent, or else there must be a great number of an appearance too similar to admit of discrimination.

"They are not men," said Truth, "but phantoms, which Almighty Providence has given the semblance of men, and they personate the spirit and disposition of men of a certain description. They appear to the eye of reason in every place, where a spirit of bigotry, intolerance, and persecution are found; and they act, ostensibly, as men of that description would act did they feel no restraint from motives of interest and policy. No eye sees them in these buildings, nor is the number great who feel the disposition they represent. Yet they have their followers, whose real characters are closely veiled, and who, under the cloak of orthodoxy, cherish bigotry; who hide intolerance in the pretence of zeal for the truth, and indulge the bitterest spirit of persecution under a show of vigilance and activity to promote sound doctrine and discipline But they are as destitute of sound policy as they are remote from the truth and the love of God. By disclosing too openly the malignity of their hearts, and baseness of their principles, they shall open the eyes of mankind upon their true characters, which shall be as much detested among men, as they are abhorred in the sight of God. This is your last interview with them, and from what you now see you may judge of their final catastrophe."

As Truth and Toleration drew nearer, these semblances of

men seemed to grow more frightful in their appearance. Their features turned to the colour of ashes, grew indistinct, and lengthened into a distortion beyond all human visage. Their limbs seemed dissolving, and their stature suddenly expanded; they fell together into a column of smoke, which rolled along the wall, and was soon dissipated by a current of air.

Truth at this moment seemed to become more awfully resplendent in her features, and more majestic in her form. Turning to me, she said, "Go, young man, and be a faithful witness for truth in the church of Christ, and in the world. Error, bigotry, and prejudice with all their train, are but empty shadows: they have no power in themselves. If they at times give you trouble, it is but to try your patience; if they present impediments, it is but to prove your strength."

My curiosity was no less satisfied than gratified in viewing this building; and we accordingly descended into the courtyard before described. I was now intending to take a view of the two adjoining fabrics, viz. of the Tuscan and Corinthian structures which lay on either hand. But Truth informed me it might be useful and pleasing for me to take a different view of these entire structures before we entered the others. She led me accordingly into the outward court, at some distance, where the whole might be contemplated at one view.

Here, turning towards this vast and threefold fabric, she adjusted the barrel of her perspective, which she still held in her hand, to a future period, but with no visible mark to indicate its date; she then gave it to me, desiring me to see what I could discover. Having raised it to my eye, and brought the fabric under the field of observation, at first I perceived only an indistinct and tremulous light waving through the field, but a moment after the object became clear, settled, and definite. The distance, indeed, seemed greatly increased, but much more the effulgence and glory of the prospect. These buildings now appeared remote, and separated from me by a broad river, or an arm of the sea, where a tide or current rolled with rapidity and fiercepess, over which low clouds hung, like a sable curtain, covering most parts of its surface. But beyond, and far above this