the hurly-burly and the brawl which there unceasingly bewildered men, and for the innumerable and unvarying sins, there was nothing to be seen here but sobriety, kindness and cheerfulness, peace and thankfulness, compassion, innocence and contentment stamped upon the face of every man, except where one or two silently wept, grieving that they had tarried so long in the enemy’s city.  There was no hatred or anger, except towards sin, and this was certain to be overcome; no fear, but of displeasing their king, who was more ready to be reconciled than to be angry with his subjects; no sound, but that of psalms of praise to their Saviour.  By this we had come in sight of an exceedingly fine building, oh, so magnificent!  No one in the City of Destruction, neither the Turk nor the Mogul nor any one else, has anything equal to it.  “This is the Catholic Church,” said the Angel.  “Is it here Emmanuel holds his court?” asked I.  “Yes, this is the only royal court he has on earth.”  “Are there many crowned heads beneath his sway?” “A few—­thy queen, some of the princes of Scandinavia and Germany, and a few other petty princes.”  “What is that compared with those over whom great Belial rules—­emperors and kings without number?” “For all that,” said the Angel, “not one of them can move a finger without Emmanuel’s permission—­no, not even Belial himself.  For Emmanuel is his rightful liege too, only that he rebelled, and was in consequence bound in chains to all eternity; although he is still allowed for a short period to visit the City of Destruction where he entices all he can into like rebellion, and to bear a share of his punishment; and though he well knows that by so doing he increases his own penalty, {34a} yet malice and envy urge him on whenever he has a pretext, and so much does he love evil that he seeks to destroy this city and this edifice, although he knows of yore that its Saviour is invincible.”

“Prithee, my lord,” said I, “may we approach so as to obtain a better view of this magnificent royal court (for my heart waxed warm towards the place since first I had beheld it).  “Oh yes, easily,” answered the Angel, “for therein is my place, my duty and my work.”  The nearer I came thereto the more I wondered at the height, strength, splendour, grandeur, and beauty of its every part, how skilful the work was, and how apt the materials.  Its base was an enormous rock wondrously fashioned, and of strength impregnable; upon it were living stones, laid and joined in such perfect order that no stone could possibly appear finer elsewhere than in its own place.  One part of the church projected in the form of a wonderfully handsome cross, and the Angel saw me looking at it, and said, “Dost thou recognise that part?” I knew not what to answer.  “That is the Church of England,” he said.  I was somewhat startled, and looking up beheld Queen Anne on the church-top enthroned, with a sword in each hand--the one in the left called “Justice,” to defend