doth not at all love, but when sickness comes he is grievously troubled with him; and he made him at this season cry out, Who is there? Who is at my door?

Godli. I am here, and have a long time waited at your door.

Riches. What is your name?

Godli. My name is True Godliness, one that you have little reason to slight, neglect, and condemn as you have done; for there is none of whom you stand more in need, or who can do you that good which I can and will do, if you but open your door and receive me.

Riches. Sir, I am troubled that I have not regarded you all this while, for I have a great reverence and respect for Godliness; God forbid I should keep you out any longer!

Upon this the whole house was in an uproar, for he had (as I told you before) divers loose, ill-bred, or rather hell-bred servants, all bitter enemies to True Godliness; their names were Presumption, Pride, Unbelief, Ignorance, Malice, Vain-hope, Covetousness, and several other base persons, whom he had brought up, and a long time cherished in his house. These

*The more sensually and carelessly men live when at ease, the more violent is their distress and alarm at the apprehension of immediate death.

Ed.

seemed greatly concerned, that the least heed. or attention should be given to True Godliness. They also inquired who was the cause of the proposal to admit Godliness. At last, understanding it was Mr. Fearful, they presently joined together to fall upon him, and expel him from the house. Presumption struck the first blow, and spoke to this purpose:

Presump. Are not you a base fellow, so to disturb my master, as to cause him to doubt of the sufficiency of his strong and impregnable fortification, wherein he hath long and satisfactorily placed his confidence, and now to force him to incline to open to True Godliness, who is our utter enemy? Is not our master an honest man? With what wrong can you charge him? What cause or ground is there for this disturbance? Hath he not done much good in the parish where he lives, and given many a piece of bread at his door? 1 engage it will go well with him. Fearful, what do you say?

Fearful. Truly, Sir, seeing him very sick, I thought he might die in his sins.

*It is the snare and guilt of the rich to trust in riches. This it is, and not the mere possession of wealth, that makes it "hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

Ed.

God is

Presump. Thou fool! what if he should, did not Jesus Christ die for sinners? merciful, and will forgive men their sins at any time, even at the last hour, if they do but call upon him. Besides, Fearful, are you not mad, to give way, much more to force him to incline to open to True Godliness? for if once he is admitted to the house, you will be immediately turned out, and hardly, if ever, have the least countenance.

Fearful, Truly, Presumption, the fault was not principally mine; I was partly forced to do what I did.

Presump. Forced? by whom? who forced you?

Fearful. It was the steward of the house, who keeps the records, or an account of all that is done, whose name is Conscience. He, finding much guilt lying upon Riches through his cruelty, hard-heartedness, and debauched life, stirred me up to do what I have done : nay, Conscience told him he had been so vile and graceless, that if he died, he would go mediately to hell; therefore you cannot censure me for disquieting him.

im

Pride. Hearken to me a little, fellow servants. Is it not below such a brave and heroic spirit as always attends Riches, to be

troubled about sin, or to give way to a clamorous Conscience, and this illbred Fearful? I hate the thoughts of it; this is the way to bring him to reproach and shame amongst his neighbors, and to make men of distinction, who have been his companions, laugh at him, and contemn him. My great prince, Lucifer, sent me into his service, and I will not betray my trust, ever to consent that this unwelcome and hateful traveller should be admitted, who would beguile my prince of his right.

Unbelief. Dear sirs, there is no danger. I agree with my friend and brother, Presumption, that his condition is good enough, let Conscience say what he will. If there be a hell, (though I much question it,) yet he will go, should he die, I will assure you, to heaven.

Ignor. What a tumult is here! If our master were poor, there might be some ground for this base Fearful, to disquiet him. I can give as good counsel as any of you: "Money answers all things;" he may "make him friends with the mammon of unrighteousness;" let him give a little more than usual to the poor, and that will merit God's favor. Who would not part with a little money, to get peace of

conscience, and purchase a place in heaven ?* Charity is more than all your new notions of religion Charity covers a multitude of sins. Though I know but little, yet I am not such an ignoramus as some think.

Vain-Hope. I am of the mind with my brother, Unbelief; and it was I also, you know, who have kept up his spirits all along, and did what I could to stop steward Conscience from giving way to Mr. Fearful to open the door : let him therefore put his trust in me, and he need fear nothing.

Presump. Come, cease this noise, all is well yet: Godliness is not let in, and our master is much better than he was; and though Conscience inclines to embrace this our enemy, yet you will find he will not be regarded in a little while. Let us all agree, at present, to stir up our Master's eldest son, whose name is Honor, the father's favorite, and the hopes of all the family, to see what he can effect, in order to keep our enemy Godliness out. Now our friend Pride is the fittest to be employed in

* When men relentlessly gripe their money during life, and just as they leave the world, make nagnificent bequests to charitable uses, there is no mall reason to fear that "Ignorance" has been their ounsellor.

Ed.