[Illustration:  The nearer we drew to it, the more my joy increased; and when I came in view of it, I pleased myself extremely with looking at it, and viewing the towers and turrets that were upon it, and the excellent carvings and paintings, with which it was adorned; and there was as much art in setting it forth as could be imagined.]

After long and tedious thinking, I pleased myself with this:  it may be better to-morrow.  So I fell into a slumber a pretty while; but in the morning before I arose, I heard two or three contending about some accounts, in which one laid fraud to the other’s charge; the other instead of vindicating himself, fell to twitting him in the teeth, with something of the like kind:  they grew so hot in words, that one threatened to turn the other out of doors, and drive him back through the river, and never suffer him to come into the house any more.

[Illustration:  I was not again beguiled:  for I found the house foul and dirty, in almost every part, and so belined with spiders and cobwebs, that I thought in myself it had never been swept clean since it was built.]

My heart was ready to burst with sorrow; and in the anguish of my spirit I arose and went to them, and told them, I little thought to have found such doings, or heard such language, in the house of God.  I fear, said I, I am deceived; and brought in amongst you by a fair show, but see not the glory, peace and tranquillity which I expected.  So I walked away to another part of the house; where I heard a great noise and hard words; as I drew near, I understood it was about choosing an officer; and two were striving for it, and each of them had got a party, and each party grew hot against the other.  As soon as I could be heard, I spake to them, and told them, such kind of doings as this, did more resemble a place in the world called Billingsgate, than the house of God.  I went a little farther; and there I heard some women scolding about taking the upper hand, and about fashions in their clothes; and others about getting their children’s play-things from each other.  All this, and much more than I shall mention, increased my sorrow.

[Illustration:  So I walked away to another part of the house; where I heard a great noise and hard words; as I drew near, I understood it was about choosing an officer; and two were striving for it, and each of them had got a party, and each party grew hot against the other.]

I now began to long to speak with my guide that brought me thither; and with diligent search at last I found him, and began with him in this manner:  Whither hast thou brought me? and where are the rules and orders thou toldest me were in the house of God?  I have often read of the beauty, order, peace and purity of the house of God, but here I find nothing but the contrary.  I fear thou hast brought me to a wrong house, and hast beguiled me.  So I rehearsed to him what I had met withal; to which he