So he went on his way, rejoicing that he had escaped the fnare; and carrying along with him this motto, "The Lord is my portion," enjoying great fatisfaction in his own mind; faying to himself, if my king fees it good for me to walk alone, I know he will blefs that state unto me; but if it be for my good to enjoy a companion, I know his goodnefs will provide one for me, without my going out of the way to find one.

But as he was thus going on his way, he obferved a young virgin, who was walking the fame road, and he began to defire to be favoured with her company, but thought it advisable to be very deliberate, because many feem to walk the fame road, which only go part of the way, and then turn off into fome other path. Therefore he diligently obferved, whether the closely attended to the right way. So he perceived her to take fomething out of her bofom, and diligently perufe it for a while, and then put it into her bofom again, and pursue the ftrait path; whereupon he went up to her, and inquired where the was bound. She told him she was setting her face towards Zion. He asked her, what it was she had been perufing? And the fhewed him, that it was the map of the road, which she took along with her for her guide. He then began to inquire further, who she was, and whence she came. She told him, she was by birth a Chaldean; by education and conversation a Babylonian; but the king of Ifrael had fent for her, to go forth and seek a better country. He also asked, what expectations or encouragement fhe had in taking fuch a journey. She told him, fhe had the king's word, to make her an inhabitant in his royal palace, when fhe arrived at the upper Bethel; and to grant her fufficient defence, and fuftenance all the way thither. He asked if she could be fully fatisfied in the king's veracity. She told him the frauds and jealoufies of Babylon had made fuch impreffions upon her mind, that he had found it very difficult to believe him that could not lie; but his majefty had condefcended to give her the strongest demonftrations of his fidelity; fo that now fhe was con

vinced the had no reafon to doubt of his goodness, for he had confirmed his promife with an oath, and had given her to fee, that, in his own records, it was fealed with blood; and the counterpart he had written upon her breast, and fealed it in characters of life; and hitherto she had found his word verified to her, in ftrongly defending and abundantly fupplying her, fo that the could fet to her feal, that he was true. Then she alfo afked him divers queftions, relating to his travels and enjoyments; and he likewife anfwered her, in a free and fatisfactory manner; fo that their affections began to grow warm towards each another. It was a very comfortable interview; and their minds were refreshed by each other's converfation.

And they appeared fo agreeable one to another, that he began to think they might be pleasant and profitable companions all the way. But, at firft, he retired for a while to deliberate on the conversation that had paffed already. When the more he thought of her diligence, in the pursuit of her journey, and her fixed fatisfaction concerning the end of it; her understanding in those things laid down for the guiding her experience in the way; and the delight the appeared to take in meditating on, and converfing about the joys of the city of habitation, &c. the more he was fatisfied that he was a prince's daughter, travelling to the royal palace. And when he had lifted up his eyes to heaven, and earnestly befought the Moft High God for direction; and a bleffing upon further converfation, he came again into her company. And, after fome further difcourfe, he afked the reason of her walking on her journey alone. She told him she found but few travelling the fame road, and fhe did not think it expedient to turn afide or neglect her way for any company in the world. If the met with company, fuch as delighted in the ways of wisdom, fhe took pleasure therein; for by fuch company her heart was refreshed, and fhe thought herfelf ftrengthened in her journey thereby. But otherwife the chofe rather to be alone, at leifure to divert herself in exam

way, with

ining her map; viewing the fprings by the the fruit-trees and fweet flowers; hearing the finging of birds; and meditating on the glories of her prince, and the joys the fhould have in his prefence, &c. So that as company was pleasant when the could enjoy it, the delights in the way fupplied the want of company when alone. And upon the whole, the neither was anxious to have company, nor had any averfion against it; her defire being to enjoy that only which might be most conducive to forward her in the right way.

Then he propofed, that fince they had found each other's converfation comfortable and useful, it was his opinion, it might be for their mutual advantage to join together, and engage to keep company all the way.She told him it was not for perfons of their profeffion to do any thing rafhly; fhe would deliberate on it. So fhe retired and proftrated herself before the king her father, telling him the matter, imploring wifdom to direct, declaring herself willing to enjoy or to be denied any thing, fo it were according to his will, and might be for his honour. He told her fhe had already been informed, and well knew, what manner of perfons they must be with whom it would be expedient for king's daughters to keep company; therefore, if the found the perfon to be one of the blood-royal, and endued with princely qualities, he was at her full liberty, and moreover by him it fhould be efteemed honourable. So when these two lovers met again, and had deliberately confulted between themselves all fuch things as they conceived neceffary relating to fuch an engagement; and had duly confidered the king's ftatutes thereupon; and jointly petitioned his majesty's prefence with them, and his bleffing on their undertaking, they joined hands with great fatisfaction and ferenity of mind; rejoicing to fee themfelves preferved from fo many fnares, and thus happily joined together by a divine hand.

I then obferved these two happy companions purfuing their journey: And here I faw verified an ancient counfel; (an help-meet). For they were fincere friends, VOL. II. No. 3.

E

མོ

pleafant companions, faithful partners, and useful affiftants to each other. If they met with difficulties in the way, they would take each other by the hand to fupport them. In dangers, they would counfel, and stand by one another. If befet with enemies, one would watch while the other flept. If one was fick, the other would comfort with cordial. If one was indifpofed in mind, the other would divert with fome fweet fong, or dif courfe concerning the pleafant land. If one was at a lofs concerning any part of the way, the other would affift in fearching and explaining the directions. If one was ready to turn afide, the other would caution and admonish the danger. If one was employed in any fervice, the other would be ready to affift therein. If one found a refreshing fpring by the way, would call the other to come and drink. If one found any refreshing. fruit, fweet spices, or delightful flowers, would pluck and bring them to the other. If one heard any joyful tidings, would come rejoicing and tell the other. If one had any pleasant profpects of the kingdom, would endeavour to fhew them to the other. If one was favoured with an audience of the king, would also remember and intercede for the other. And if one was bleffed with any fpecial favours, the other would congratulate, and rejoice on the occafion.

Then I was convinced, that two are better than one; and yet it was very manifeft, that they were no more twain. For I knew not whether to call them two fouls dwelling in one body, or one foul inhabiting two bodies;. but it appeared very confpicuous that two were become

one.

So I continued obferving this united pair advancing in their way, for they greatly contributed to help each other forward; many difficulties they furmounted, and many rich bleffings they enjoyed as they travelled in the way. At last they arrived at a pleasant hill in view of the land of promife, full of delights, refreshing fruits, pure ftreams, and defirable entertainments. Here they irft fet down and rested in a delightful arbour, bleffing

God, and congratulating one another in confideration of their enjoyments. Then they went and refreshed themfelves among the fruits and fountains. And afterwards they afcended to a tower, where was a large profpective glass, from whence they looked back upon Babylon, and faw it all in flames, and the country turned to burning pitch. Then they gave praife and glory to God for their wonderful deliverance, as well as for all the deliverances they had in the way. Then they took a profpect of the land before them, and faw Jerufalem, the royal palace, the goodly mountain of Lebanon, the clufters of Efhcol, and all the rivers flowing with milk, and the hills dropping down fweet wine. Then they looked below to the ftreams of Jordan, and beheld the great high priest in his fhining robes, waiting to carry them over. They alfo heard the inhabitants on the other fide triumphing, finging, and shouting for joy. Then they alfo, with emulation, lifted up their voices in fongs of praife, and tranfports of joy, to him that is, and that was, and that is to come; which raised my mind to fuch an ecftacy, that I awoke, and behold it was a dream.

But the thing was certain-and the interpretation thereof fure.

I

ON HATING AND CURSING ENEMIES.

[From President EDWARDS' Observations.]

T was not a thing allowed of under the Old Teftament, nor approved of by the Old Teftament faints, to hate perfonal enemies, to wifh ill to them, to wifh for revenge, or to pray for their hurt, except it was as prophets, and as speaking in the name of the Lord. So that there is no inconfistence between the religion of the Old Testament and the New, in this refpect. The apostle Paul himfelf doth thus imprecate vengeance on his enemies; 2 Tim. iv. 14. "Alexander the copperfmith did me much evil; the Lord reward him according to his works." Revenge, or a defire of it, was forbidden by