The third and the last time on which the pilgrims meet with their old
friend and helper, Evangelist, is when they are just at the gates of the
town of Vanity. They have come through many wonderful experiences since
last they saw and spoke with him. They have had the gate opened to them
by Goodwill. They have been received and entertained in the
Interpreter's House, and in the House Beautiful. The burden has fallen
off their backs at the cross, and they have had their rags removed and
have received change of raiment. They have climbed the Hill Difficulty,
and they have fought their way through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
More than the half of their adventures and sufferings are past; but they
are not yet out of gunshot of the devil, and the bones of many a
promising pilgrim lie whitening the way between this and the city. Many
of our young communicants have made a fair and a promising start for
salvation. They have got over the initial difficulties that lay in their
way to the Lord's table, and we have entered their names with honest
pride in our communion roll. But a year or two passes over, and the
critical season arrives when our young communicant 'comes out,' as the
word is. Up till now she has been a child, a little maid, a Bible-class
student, a young communicant, a Sabbath-school teacher. But she is now a
young lady, and she comes out into the world. We soon see that she has
so come out, as we begin to miss her from places and from employments her
presence used to brighten; and, very unwillingly, we overhear men and
women with her name on their lips in a way that makes us fear for her
soul, till many, oh, in a single ministry, how many, who promised well at
the gate and ran safely past many snares, at last sell all--body and soul
and Saviour--in Vanity Fair.

Well, Evangelist remains Evangelist still. Only, without losing any of
his sweetness and freeness and fulness of promise, he adds to that some