While, however, he uttered these sorrowful expressions, it pleased Him who ruleth all things to bring certain words of the Sheik Olislam with power to his mind; importing, that one Huzrut Esau had aforetime been sent to mankind with offers of pardon and peace. "If this be true," thought Goonah Purist, "this Huzrut Esau may prove to be the deliverer whom I have so long and so earnestly sought. At any rate, it will be worth my while to make some inquiry concerning him among the followers of this holy prophet."

At the same time Goonah Purist recollected that there were certain Feringhees, or white people, living not far from his own house, who were followers of this holy prophet: and he remembered a neighbour of his own, who lived by trading in the market of these Feringhees. Goonah Purist, therefore, arose in haste, and went forthwith to join himself to those merchants who traded with the Feringhees. So I looked again, after a while, and behold Goonah Purist had joined himself to a company of merchants, and was on his way to the nearest mart of the Feringhees; his companions being attracted thither by the hope of worldly gain, and eagerly bent upon buying and selling, while Goonah Purist had left caring for these things.

Now the street of the Feringhees, to which the merchants were travelling, was a fair street; and Goonah Purist, on his introduction to it, observed more decency and order therein, and heard less filthy and obscene discourse there, than in such other parts of the City of the Wrath of God as he had before frequented. He went, therefore, into the market-place, and, while his companions were busily employed in buying and selling, he set himself to inquire earnestly about the prophet Huzrut Esau; asking one and another concerning him, whence he came, and what he taught when upon earth, with many other questions to the same purport.

I saw then, in my dream, that for a long while poor Goonah Purist could get no direct answers to his questions: many laughed at him, some seemed as if they heard not what he said, and others answered, "There are many ways to heaven, and thy way is as good as ours for any thing we know." So Goonah Purist seemed at a loss what to think or to do; moreover, he observed that the Feringhees ate all kinds of meat, clean and unclean, not only beef, but pork also; and in this

particular he thought that they were even worse than the Mussulmauns, who did assuredly abstain from one kind of meat.

While Goonah Purist was making these inquiries, and no one seemed to pay him any attention, behold one came forward to him dressed in a robe of black silk, which almost swept the ground. A black cord was tied round his waist, to which a string of beads was attached, at the end of which hung a small cross, and on his head was a cap or hood. He addressed Goonah Purist in a courteous and benign manner, saluting him by the name of son, and inquiring as to the intent of the questions which he had heard him proposing.

To him Goonah Purist made answer, that he was a man laden with sins, who felt the need of salvation, and that he had been long inquiring for one who was able and willing to save him.

On hearing this, the person, who was a Roman Catholic priest, one of the sect of those calling themselves Christians, put several questions to Goonah Purist concerning his birth, his former manner of life, and his present state of mind: and having received answers to these questions, he said, "My son, bless God, who in his infinite mercy has at length granted your prayers. In me you see a servant of Jesus Christ the Son of God, who being one with God, and equal with him, took man's nature upon him, becoming incarnate in the womb of the blessed and immaculate Virgin Mary; after which, he voluntarily endured the death of the cross, suffering and dying for the sins of the whole world."

Then was Goonah Purist glad when he heard these words: "And think you, sir," said he, "that the holy person of whom you speak is able to save me?"

"There can be no doubt of it," replied the priest; "but as this place is inconvenient for conversation, if you are willing to follow me to my abode, I will there instruct you in the doctrines of our holy religion."

I saw then, in my dream, that the priest led the way, and Goonah Purist followed him to a court, or enclosure, where was an ancient and exceedingly beautiful building of wrought stone erected in the form of a cross. Around the inner wall of this building were a number of little recesses, or chapels, in each of which Goonah Purist observed an image and an altar placed before it. In the most conspicuous part of the building

was a lofty cross of wood, on which was a figure representing a man bleeding and dying: and before this also was an altar. All these figures were ornamented with gold, precious stones, and beautiful vestments; and before many of them were candles of wax and perfumes burning; so that the whole building was filled with fragrant odours. Moreover Goonah Purist was charmed with the sweet voices of many singers, and the sound of ravishing music, such as he had never before heard; with which he was so delighted, that he broke out in an ecstasy, saying, "Surely this is the gate of heaven!" Then I hearkened to the conversation which passed between the priest and Goonah Purist; which the latter began thus:

"I have told you my history, sir; that I am a man burdened with sins, and have long been seeking one able to save me. And now I begin to hope that I have found this Saviour, although I as yet know nothing of him, but that he is the Son of God: may I beg to be further instructed in your holy faith?"

Then answered the priest, "My son, we have a book, called the Bible, consisting of two parts, viz. the Old and the New Testament. The Old Testament contains an account of the creation of the world, the law delivered by Moses, the history of the descendants of Abraham, together with the books and sayings of a long succession of prophets, who from the beginning of the world have showed forth the coming of Christ Jesus our Saviour. The New Testament contains the actual history of the Son of God when upon the earth; how he being very God, became incarnate in the womb of the blessed Virgin, being miraculously conceived of the Holy Ghost, and after having dwelt upon earth during the space of thirty years, gave up his life upon the cross for the sins of the whole world. These are the contents (besides other inestimable matters too precious for vulgar eyes) of the New Testament, which, together with the Old Testament, we by distinction call the Bible or Book."

"O, sir," said Goonah Purist, "were I but in possession of that holy book, I should indeed consider myself as blessed."

A slight flush which passed over the cheek of the priest indicated his displeasure at these words of Goonah Purist; nevertheless he answered mildly, saying,

"You are, I perceive, a stranger to our customs, my son, for which ignorance you are rather to be pitied than condemned. I shall therefore consider it as my duty to give you full information on these points.

"There are and have been, from the time of Christ, many sects of persons in this city, who take upon them the name of Christ merely to blaspheme, and who, being ignorant of sound doctrine, presumptuously wrest the Holy Scriptures to their own destruction, putting, through the influence of Satan, who is the devil, or prince of the evil spirits, heretical and damnable constructions on the words of God. On this account, we, who are of the only true Christian church upon earth, withhold the Bible from such of the common people as are under our jurisdiction, suffering it only to be in the hands of the priests, that, through their medium, the holy doctrines of the Scripture may be conveyed in purity to the people: from this consideration, it will be impossible for us to place the Bible in your hands, although we shall most willingly instruct you as to its contents."

Goonah Purist looked not altogether pleased, yet he continued questioning the priest to this effect: "You say, sir, that there are many castes of persons calling themselves Christians in this city, who in fact are not such, and that your own is the only true Christian church upon earth; may I presume to ask what are the distinguishing marks of your church? But first I would wish to be informed what is the meaning of the word church?"

"This word," replied the priest, "in the sense I have now used it, signifies any particular denomination of Christians, distinguished by particular doctrines and ceremonies. There can, however, exist upon earth but one true church; for although heresies and false religions may be multiplied without end, the worship of the true and only God must ever be the same.

"I have affirmed that our church, to which the name of Roman Catholic is given, is the only true church on the face of the earth, and I now proceed to point out to you wherein it differs from the various erroneous sects of Christians with which this city abounds. Our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, when on earth, had twelve apostles, who afterward became bishops or pastors of various Christian churches; one of these,

namely, St. Peter, our Lord appointed to act as chief pastor under himself, to watch over his whole flock here on earth, and to preserve the unity of it, investing him with all the power requisite to that end; ordaining also that he should have successors, with the like charge and power, to the end of time. This successor, therefore, of our first great bishop, for the time being, we consider as universal pastor of the whole Catholic church; to him we give the name of Papa, or Father; he is the centre of Catholic unity; the inferior bishops and priests communicate with him, and by his means, with one another, every one of them receiving authority from him in their respective situations."

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Then," said Goonah Purist, "I am to understand that you consider it as a duty to obey implicitly this your supreme head, whom you call Father?"

"We hold it as one of the fundamental tenets of our holy religion," replied the priest, "that our church is infallible; for we consider that an infallible living judge is absolutely necessary to determine controversies, and to secure peace in the Christian church." See Coun

cil of Trent.

I saw then that Goonah Purist began to look perplexed and troubled, and, after some hesitation, I heard him put this question to the priest, "How can this man whom you call Father, being of the same corrupt nature with ourselves, be an infallible judge, or faultless guide? You do not pretend that he is more than man?"

The priest replied, "We know that our holy apostolic father, when considered as a private teacher, is liable to mistakes as well as any other man; but we believe that when he teaches the whole church, he is divinely preserved from error."

You, no doubt," returned Goonah Purist, "have authority for all this in your holy Book?"

The priest answered that many unwritten traditions ought and must be added to the Holy Scriptures, in order to supply their defects, inasmuch as in some points the Scriptures were not found to be sufficiently large and full.

I heard then that Goonah Purist put further questions to the priest, as, for instance, what their belief was concerning man's depraved and sinful state? Whether any thing depended on man himself for justification from