6. “’Twas she,” so the guide at last wound up, “that set Absalom against his father, and Jeroboam against his master.  ’Twas she that persuaded Judas to sell his Lord, and that prevailed with Demas to forsake the godly pilgrim’s life.  None can tell all the mischief that Madam Bubble does.  She makes variance between rulers and subjects, between parents and children, ’twixt neighbour and neighbour, ’twixt a man and his wife, ’twixt a man and himself, ’twixt the flesh and the heart.”  Now, I shall leave that last indictment and its lessons and its applications to yourselves, my brethren.  You will get far more good out of this accumulated count against Madam Bubble if you explain it, and open it up, and prove it, and illustrate it to yourselves.  Explain, then, in what way this sorceress set Absalom against his father and Jeroboam against his master.  Point out in what way she makes variance between a ruler and his subjects, and give illustrations.  Put your finger on a parent and on a child between whom there is variance at this moment on her account.  And, if you are that parent or that child, what have you done to remove that variance?  Name two neighbours that to your knowledge Madam Bubble has come between; and say what you have done to be a peacemaker there.  Set down what you would say to a man and his wife so as to put them on their guard against Madam Bubble ever coming in between them.  And, last and best of all, point out to yourself at what times and in what ways this wicked witch tries to make variance between God’s Holy Spirit striving within you and your own evil heart still strong within you.  When you are weary and sleepy and hungry as a howlet, and, Madam Bubble and her three daughters make a ring round you, what do you do?  Do you ever take to your knees?  Really and honestly, do you?  When you find yourself out looking with holy fear on a rich and lofty relation, and with insufferable contempt on a poor and intrusive relation, by what name do you call yourself?  Write it down.  And when she would fain put variance between you and those who do not think well of you, what steps do you take to foil her?  Where and how do you get strength at that supreme moment to think of others as you would have them think of you?  “Oh,” said Standfast, “what a mercy it is that I did resist her! for to what might she not have drawn me?”

GAIUS

   “Gaius, mine host.”—­Paul.

Goodman Gaius was the head of a hostel that stood on the side of the highway well on to the Celestial City.  The hostess of the hostel was no more, and the old hostel-keeper did all her once well-done work and his own proper work into the bargain.  Every day he inspected the whole house with his own eyes, down even to the kitchen and the scullery.  The good woman had left our host an only daughter; but, “Keep her as much out of sight as is possible,” she said, and so fell asleep.  And Gaius remembered