they were both alike; he put them prefently into the Hands of thefe twoMen who live in them now, telling them withal for their Encouragement, that they fhould not only live Rent-free, (faving fome Homage to be paid at his Court) but fhould alfo be removed to Places of ineftimable Dignity and Value, provided they would but be industrious, and cleanfe his Farms, and improve them with the beft Husbandry they could, becaufe he loved not that any of the Crown-lands fhould run to Ruin: So thefe two Men were put into Poffeffion of the Farms, and had each his House and Lands a-part.

Now the Man on the Left-hand taking a Survey of his new Farm, and finding it all over-grown with Weeds and Briars, cover'd with Stones, and Fences down, Wild Beafts ranging up and downin the Grounds, and all Things like a Wildernefs, he fat down and folded his Arms, defpairing ever to cleanse his Farm, or bring it into any Order: So he fell to Rioting and Drunkennefs, to Gaming and Wantonnefs, never regarding his Farm, or to much as once thinking of it, fo that he is run deeply in Debt, and has loft his Reputation among all his Neighbours; and unless he fpeedily take up, and fet himself to cleanfing and manuring his Farm, he will certainly fall into the King's Difpleafure, who will caft him into Prifon for neglecting his Farm (for fo he threatned them at the firf) whence he cannot escape, till he has made for his heinous Offence. But on the contrary, the Tenant on the Righthand, having furvey'd his Farm in like Manner as he other did, and finding it in the fame Condition,

full Satisfaction to the King

all

all to Ruin and Disorder, he confider'd with himfelf the great Favour he had receiv'd in being entrufted with one of the King's Farms, and how heinous a Crime it would be to flight such a Benefit as was propofed to him, both for the prefent and future, if he would but improve his Gift. ha Then he confider'd likewise, that though it was a o great Farm, and in a Manner like a Wilderness, yet by endeavouring every Day to cleanse it, in Time he fhould compass the Whole.

he

Thefe Confiderations made him fet about it with all Speed, and he began by little and little to weed it, and remove the Stones from off the Ground; and fo by daily labouring at it, he at length reduced it to this good Order that you fee it in now; and now he is in affured Hopes of ob-. taining the King's Promife, and of being removed to a more noble and honourable Station.

In my Opinion, faid Tender-confcience, the Farmer on the Left-hand is very much to blame, in neglecting fo fair an Opportunity of raising himfelf: Had he but followed the Steps of his oppofite Neighbour, and done fomething every Day toward the cleanfing of his Farm, he might by this Time have reaped the Benefit of it, and had the Returns of plentiful Crops, befides the Continuation and Increase of the King's Favour, who would, no doubt, in Time have been as good as his Word, and preferred him to higher Dignity.

Inter.] Juft fuch, faid the Interpreter, is the Condition of you Travellers, who come from the Valley of Deftruction, and are going to the Region of Life and Glory: The King of that

Place

Place only requires of you to husband well his Gifts and Graces, to improve your Talents, and perfevere to the End of your Pilgrimage, and then you will be tranflated to eternal Manfions. Now the Way to this, is not to be difcouraged with the Length of your Journey, nor frighted with the Apprehenfions you may have of the Difficulties to be overcome, and the Dangers to be encounter'd by the Way: But you muft arm. yourfelf with a firm Refolution to go through all, making fome Progrefs every Day, for to ftand ftill 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 muft you daily go on and gain Ground; thus, like him, you will in due Time perfect your Labour and Travel, and finish your Courfe with Joy. The Interpreter gave him many more good Counfels and Admonitions, as they walked along, till they came to the Highway that was fenced in on either Side wish the Wall of Salvation, and there the Interpreter gave to Tender-confcience the King's Royal Pals, fignifying to him, that it would be of fingular Ufe to him throughout his Journey to the Heavenly Country: So withing him a profperous Journey, and eternal Happiness, he bid him eternally Farewel.

Then I faw in my Dream, that Tender-con fcience wept when he was to part with the Interpreter, being ravifhed in Spirit with inex preffible Love for his Company, forafmuch as he had healed his Wounds, entertained him

moft

S

moft courteously, fhewed him many excellent and glorious Things, and given him the King's Warrant to pafs, whereby he should be enabled to tra vel more fecurely and quietly to the Region of Life: B fides, he was naturally very affectionate, and could not brook a Separation from fuch a Friend, without bursting into Tears: But at length, overcoming his Paffion, he fet forward on his Journey, and came to the Place where the Crofs food, where Chriftian's Burden fell off from his Back, and tumbling into the Sepulchre fwhich was at the Batrom of the rifing Ground whereon the Crofs flood) was there buried.

Now I faw in my Dream, that hard by the Cro 1 were built t two Hufes, the one was called the Houfe of Mourning, and the other was called the Houfe of Mirth, and they were fituated on each Side of the Crofs, the one on the Right-hand, and the other on the Left. Now as Tender-confcience kept the Path up the Hill, there came out of the Houfe of Mirth fome young Mento meet him, and they fpake to him, yine, hence comeft thou? And whither art thougeing? Then Tender-conscience made anfwer, I come from the Valley of Destruction, and ant going to the Heavenly City, the Region of Life and Glory; but I perceive it grows late, and I am a Stranger in the Way, and therefore would gladly take my Repofe this Night fomewhere hereabouts, if I might find fo much Favour among the Thabitants of this Place. Then the the young Men made anfwer, and Lid, There are none but thefe

S two Houses which thou feeft in all this Parish, that give Entertainment to Strangers, and if thou

t

wilt

*

wilt go along with us to yonder House (pointing to that on the Left-hand) there you will find good Ufage, merry Company, and all Things your Heart can with for; and in the Morning we will travel along with you, for we only lodge here To-night, and in the Morning will fet forward toward the Heavenly City. By fuch enticing Words and Perfuafions as thefe, they prevailed upon Tender-conScience to go along with them. So as he drew near to the Houfe, he heard a great Noife, as of them that make merry, Singing, Dancing, and playing on mufical Inftruments, with much Laughter; at which Tender-confcience was greatly aftonish'd; but as he drew near to the Houfe, he faw written over the Door these Words, THIS IS THE HOUSE OF MIRTH. Then he remembred the Words of the Wife Man, That it is better to go to the House of Mourning, than to go to the House of Feafting. And again, + The Heart of the Wife is in the Houfe of Mourning, but the Hearts of Fools are in the Houfe of Mirth. So he asked the young Men, what that Houfe was called, on the other Side of the Crofs? And they told him it was called, THE HOUSE OF MOURNING. Moreover, they railed and fcoffed at the People that lived in it, and told him, That none but a few dull phlegmatick Fools ever frequented it. But Tender-confcience weighed more the Words of the Wife Man, than their flanderous Words, and told them, He would go feek a Lodging at the Houfe of Mourning. Then they laughed at him, and called out to the reft of their Companions

*Eccl. vii. 2.

+ Eccl. vii. 4.