THE COUNTRY OF BEULAH. 168

2. Then they cast off by degrees private duties, as closet prayer, curbing their lusts,
watching, sorrow for sin, and the like.

3. Then they shun the company of lively and warm Christians.

4. After that they grow cold to public duty, as hearing, reading, godly conference,
and the like.

5. Then they begin to pick holes, as we say, in the coats of some of the godly, and
that devilishly, that they may have a seeming color to throw religion (for the sake of
some infirmity they have espied in them) behind their backs.

6. Then they begin to adhere to, and associate themselves with, carnal, loose, and
wanton men.

7. Then they give way to carnal and wanton discourses in secret; and glad are they
if they can see such things in any that are counted honest, that they may the more
boldly do it through their example.

8. After this, they begin to play with little sins openly.

9. And then, being hardened, they show themselves as they are. Thus, being
launched again into the gulf of misery, unless a miracle of grace prevent it, they ever-
lastingly perish in their own deceivings.

CHAPTER XI.

Hy OW I saw in my dream, that by this time the pilgrims were got over the En-
| chanted Ground, and entering into the country of Beulah,*” whose air was
very sweet and pleasant: the way lying directly through it, they solaced them-
selves there for aseason. Yea, here they heard continually the singing of birds,
and saw every day the flowers appear on the earth, and heard the voice of the turtle in
the land. In this country the sun shineth night and day; wherefore this was beyond
the Valley of the Shadow of Death, and also out of the reach of Giant Despair ; neither
could they from this place so much as see Doubting Castle. Here they were within

 

sight of the City they were going to; also here met them some of the inhabitants
thereof; for in this land the Shining Ones commonly walked, because it was upon the
borders of heaven. In this land also the contract between the bride and the bride-
groom was renewed ; yea, here, “as the bridegroom rejoiceth over his bride so did their