And upon a time, as I was breaking my mind to a friend of mine upon this subject, he readily told me, there were men appointed in every place to guide those who were willing to go thither, and it was their business, and they had nothing else to do.  When I heard this I was comforted, and desired him, if he loved me, to make me acquainted with one of those men.  He told me he would; which he did.  When I came to treat with the man, I let him know the fervent desire I had to get to the house of God, of which I had heard such excellent things; and that I understood he was one appointed to guide any thither, who were willing to go, and to persuade people to go, who were not willing.  He very readily answered, and told me, it was his business to guide any thither who were willing to go; and if I would comply with his terms, and follow him, he would lead me thither.  I asked him what his terms were.  He said the way was long, and would lead him from home, and I must bear his charges, and something over, to all of which I agreed.

So we set forward on our journey, early in the morning; but before we had gone one whole day’s journey, I saw my guide sometimes stand still, and look about him, and sometimes he would pull a little book out of his pocket, and read a little to himself; which made me begin to mistrust that he knew the way no better than I. However, I said nothing; but went on following him several days journey after this manner; and the farther we went, the more my guide was at a loss.  Sometimes he went a little on, and then would look about him, and turn another way, and sometimes right back again for a while, and then turn again.  So my suspicions grew very strong, and I began to be in great anxiety of spirit, but said little to him about it.

[Illustration:  These books I got, and read them over and over; which did much strengthen my belief in the truth of the reports:  yet by no means could I tell which was my way.]

But one day, as we were travelling along, we met with a man that took notice of my sad countenance and tired condition.  And he spake very kindly to me; “Young man,” said he, “whither art thou bound?” And when I began to tell him something of my travel, he desired me to sit down upon the grass, in a shady place, and discourse a little about my journey:  and so we did, and I told him how things had gone with me to that very hour.  Whilst I was telling him my story, my guide fell asleep; at which I was not sorry, for thereby I had the more freedom to discourse with the man; and when I had told him all, he pitied me; and withal, told me, to his certain knowledge, this guide of mine had never been at the house, neither did he know the way to it, but as he had got some marks of the way, which he had received, as I or any other may do; and, if I followed him all my days, I should be never the nearer to it, and should find at last, I had spent my time, money and labour to no purpose.