nderftand, is the mafler of the houfe: So one called the erpreter, who came forthwith to Tender-confcience, and nanded what he would have.

Tender-confcience. Sir, faid Tender-confcience, I was remended to you by one Good-will, who keeps yonder ked-gate: For travelling from the town where I was , in the valley of Defruction, towards the region of I came to the wicked gate, as I was directed; and as a as I knocked there, I was hot with thefe arrows which 1 fee fticking in my ff; and when the gate was of enI made my condition known to Good-will, and told n I was afraid fome of my wounds were mortal, defiring n to acquaint me where I might find a physician; fo he ommended me to you, giving me this certificate of this ad, and bidding me deliver it unto you, affuring me that this place I should find a remedy for my wounds, and many glorious things; he likewife gave me this throng itch which you fee in my hand, which has afforded me eat comfort and affiftance, by refreshing my fainting fpi4, fupporting me in the way, and pu ting a stop to the ceffive bleeding of my wounds; but 'tis from you that I pe for the finishing of my cure.

Interpreter. Welcome, young man, faid the Interpreter, ter he had read the certificate; come in, and partake of e good thinge of this houfe; and before you go away I ope to fee you whole and found.

So he conducted him into a parlour, an. (ked him fevoquestions concerning his country, and the manner of is life there: To all which Tender confcience made parcular anfwers, giving him an exact account of his educaion, and how he had fpent the time of his youth till that ay; after which the Interpre er narrowly fearched the younds which he had received by the arrows that day, and pplied a fovereign balfam to them whereby Tender-concience became ftraightways whole and found; and the Inerpreter caufed the arrows that he had pulled out of his body to be laid up fafe, as a memorial of his narrow efcape from death. Then he carried him into the dining-room, end entertained him at a rich yet frugal, banquet, fealling him with the belt restoratives in the world: Fer he confi dered that Tender-confcience was weak and feeble, and had tedious journey to go; therefore he judged it neceflary to

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treat him with diet of strong nourishment, that he might be the better enabled to undergo the hardships of travel in that tirefore road.

After the banquets was ever, he carried him into the fe veral apartments of the house, and fhewed him all the ex cellent things which Chriflian and Chriftiana his wife with their children and companions, faw in this place: And when it grew towards the going down of the fun, he condufted Tender-confcience to the dining-room, where they rock a moderate repaft together, and spent the residue that evening in profitable difcourfe; the Interpreter taking chat opportunity to inform him fully of the laws and cof toms of that country, and to infruct him in his way, with directions what company he should keep or avoid, and how he should behave himself all along the road. fhewed him to his chamber and left him to his repoíe.

Then he

The next morning, by break of day, Tender-confcience arole, and prepared for his journey; and the Interpreter having performed all the offices of compleat hofpitality tolu him he would bear him company a little way; which kind offer Tender-confcience gladly embraced, both be caufe he was a firanger altogether in those parts, and he cause he was in love with the Interpreter's good conver tion, So they walked out together, and taking their way. over a large corn-field, through which there lay a path into the high-road from the Interpreter's houfe, they came to a jane, on each fide of which there ftood a manor-botfe, with lands belonging to each of them.

Then Tender-confcience took notice that the grounds of one farm were all in a flourishing and profperous condition, a plentiful condition, a plentiful crop of corn, lovely fat patures, and those well flock'd with cattle, the fence every where frong and clofe, and all things in exceeding good cafe: Whereas, on the other fide, the oppofite farm lay at at fixes and fevens, (as the old faying is) fome part of the ground was overgrown with nettles, briars, and thorns, and all manner of unprofitable weeds; the other part was uncultivated, and lay covered with fiones, the fences down, and wild beats breuzing up and down what they could find, all things lying at rack and manger? fo that there

not the leaft fign of a future harvest: At which TenGience greatly marvelled, and afked the Interpreter

the

reafon why there was fo great a difference between the farms, fince, lying fo clufe together, the one was a ly reproach to the other: To which the Interpreter red, He that owns that farm on the right hand, which behold in fo fair and flourishing a condition, is the g's tenant, as likewife is the other, for both the manore ong to the king of the country: Now upon a time the g taking his progrefs this way, and being informed that had two fair farms in this place untenanted, and that, want of looking after, they were both run to ruin, (for that time they were both alike) he put them prefently o the hands of thefe two men who live in them now, ing them withal, for their encouragement, that they uld not only live rent free, (faving fome homage to be id at his court) but fhould alfo be removed to places of ftimable dignity and value, provided they would but be iuftrious and cleanfe the arms, and improve them with : beft husbandry they could, because he loved not that y of the crown-lands fhould run to ruin; fo thefe two n were put in poffeflion of the farms, each had his houfe d lands apart.

Now the man on the left hand taking a furvey of his w farm, and finding it all grown with wees and briars, vered with ftones, the fences down, wild beats ranging and down in the grounds, and all things like a wilderfs, he fat down and folded his arms, defpairing ever to eanfe his farm, or bring it into any order; fo he fell to oting and drunkennels, to gaming and wantonnefs, never garding his farm, or fo much as once thinking of it; that he is run deeply in debt, and has loft his reputation nong all his neighbours, and unless he fpeedily take up nd fet himself to clearfing and manuring his farm, he ill certainly fall into his farm, (for fo he threatened them : the firft) whence he cannot escape till he has made fullatisfaction to the king for his heinous offence.

But, on the contrary, the tenant on the right hand haing furveyed his farm in like manner as the other did, nd finding it in the fame condition, all run to ruin and iforder, he confidered with himself the great favor he had eceived in being intrufted with one of the king's farms, and how heinous a crime it would be to flight fuch a benefit as was proposed to him, both for the prefent and fu

ture.

ture, if he would but improve his gift; then he confidered likewife, that tho' it was a great farm and all in a manner like a wilderness, yet by endeavouring every day to cleane it, in time he should compass the whole.

Thefe confiderations mace him fet about it with all speed, and began by little to remove the ftones off from the ground; and fo, by daily labouring at it, he at length reduced i to this good order you fee it in now; and he is in affure hopes of obtaining the king's promife, and of being reme ved to a more noble and honourable flation.

In my opinion, faid Tender-conscience, the farmer c the left hand is very much to blame, in neglecting fo fat an opportunity of raifing himfelf: Had he but followed the feps of his oppofite neighbour, and done fomething every day toward the cleanfing of his farm, he might by thi time have reaped the benefit of it, and had the returns of plentiful crops, befides the continuance and increase of the king's favor, who would, no doubt, in time, have been good as his word, and preferred him to fome higher dig nity.

Interpreter. Just fuch, faid the Interpreter, is the condi tion of you travellers, who come from the valley of De fruction, and are going to the region of life and gled The king of that place only requires of you to bulband well his gifts and graces, to improve your talents, and per fevere to the end of your pilgrimage, and then you w be tranflated to eternal marifiens. Now the way to do tha is, not to be difcouraged with the length of your journey nor frightened with the apprehenfions you have of the dif ficulties to be overcome and the dangers to be encountered by the way, but you must arm yourself with a firm refolution to go through all, making fome progrefs every day for to and fil is to go back: And therefore like the wife and induftrious farmer on the right hand, who every day weeded and ftoned fome part of his grounds, fo ju muft daily go on, and gain ground; thus, like him, you will in due time perfect your labour and travel, and fis.th your courfe with joy.

The Interpreter gave him many more good counfels ar admonitions, as they walked along, till they came to th highway that was fenced in on either fice with the wa of Salvation, and there the Interpreter gave to Tencel

confcience

nfcience the king's royal pafs, fignifying to him that is uld be of fingular ufe to him throughout his journey to e heavenly country: So withing him a profperous jour y, and eternal happinefs, he bid him heartily farewell. Then I faw in my dream that Tender-concience wept en he was to part with the Interpreter, been gravifhed fpirit with inexpreffible love to his company, forafmuchhe had healed his wounds, entertained him molt courtefly, fhewed him many excellent and glorious things, and ven him the king's warrant, or pafs, whereby he should enabled to travel more fecurely and quietly to the region life: Befide he was naturally very affectionate, and could tbrook fuch a feparation from a friend without burfling o tears: But at leagth, overcoming his pallion, he fet ward on his journey, and came to the place where the >fs flood, where Chriftian's burden fell from off his back, d tumbling into the fepulchre, (which was at the bottom the rifing ground whereon the crufs-flood) was here bu

d.

Now I am in my dream, that hard by the crofs were ilt two houfes; the one was called the Houte of Mourng, and the other was called the Houfe of Mirth, and ey were firuated on each fide of the crofs, the one of the ght hand, and the other on the Lift: Now, as Tendernfcience kept the path up the hill, there came out of the oufe of Mirth Yome young men met him, and they fpake him, faying, Whence comeft thou, and whither art thousa bing? Then Tender-confcience made anfwer, I am come om the valley of Destruction, am going to the heavenly ty, the region of life and glory; but I perceive it grows te, and I am a ftranger in the way, and therefore would adly take my repofe this night fomewhere hereabouts, if might find fo much faveur among any of the inhabitants this place: Then the young men made anfwer, and id, There are none but thefe two houfes which thou leeft, all this parish, that give entertainment to ftrangers, and thou wilt go along with us to yonder houfe, (poin ir o that on the left hand) there thou wilt find good ufag merry company, and all things that your heart can with. or, and in the morning we will travel along with you, Or we only lodge there to hight; and in the morning will t forward toward the heavenly city.

By.