Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. THE MOUNTAIN OF PURIFICATION. "Perfect through sufferings."?Hebrews ii. 10. " Hence comes it that by sufferings they are taught." Virgil, jEneid vi. 740. "This mount is such that still Beginning from below, 'tis rough and steep; But as one climbs, the less he finds it ill." PURGATORIO iv. 88-90. " As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place .... and I laid me down in that place to sleep; and as I slept I dreamed a dream." So Bunyan begins his " Pilgrim's Progress." The vision that is given to him is " of this world;" the vision that is given to Dante is of the world to come. Not very much has been told us in the Bible about the future life after death, but we know that those who have gone to be with God are at peace and rest? that the promise to them is that they shall walk with Him arrayed in white garments; they serve Him day and night in His Temple; they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the sun strike " B upon them, nor any heat; that Christ Himself shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them unto fountains of waters of life, and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning. His servants shall do Him service, and they shall see His face. All these promises have been made to us through the mouth of St. John, to whom were given so many visions of heaven and heavenly things. Life for ever, no more death; joy for ever, no more sorrow or tears; no more pain, or hunger, or thirst, but rest, and glad service of which we can never weary. Is not this a beautiful picture of the Paradise of God, which His love is preparing for us ? But we must remember who it is to whom these promises are made?it is to him who overcom...