"This boy wears more of the heart's-ease in his bosom, than he that is clad in silk and velvet." Page 335.

The advantage of a lowly condition.

Then said the Guide, Do you hear him? I will ' dare to say, this boy lives a merrier life, and wears 'more of the herb called heart's-ease in his bosom, 'than he that is clad in silk and velvet. But we will proceed in our discourse.'

In this valley our LORD formerly had his countryhouse, he loved much to be here: he loved also to walk in these meadows, and he found the air was pleasant. Besides, here a man shall be free from the noise, and from the hurryings of this life: all states are full of noise and confusion, only the Valley of HUMILIATION is that empty and solitary place. Here a man shall not be let and hindered in his contemplation, as in other places he is apt to be. This is a valley that nobody walks in, but those that love a Pilgrim's life. And though CHRISTIAN had the hard hap to meet with APOLLYON, and to enter with him in a brisk encounter; yet I must tell you, that in former times men have met with angels here, have found pearls here, and have in this place found the words of life.*

Did I say our LORD had here in former days his country-house, and that he loved here to walk? I will add, in this place, and to the people that live and trace these grounds, he has left a yearly revenue, tent with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Heb. xiii. 5.

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• Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept and made supplication unto him he found him in Beth-cl, and there he spake with us; even the LORD God of hosts: the LORD is his memorial. Hos. xii. 4, 5.

FORGETFUL GREEN.

to be faithfully paid them at certain seasons for their maintenance by the way, and for their further encouragement to go on their pilgrimage.

Now, as they went on, SAMUEL said to Mr. GREAT-HEART; Sir, I perceive that in this Valley, my father and APOLLYON had their battle; but whereabout was the fight? for I perceive this Valley is large.'

GR.-H. Your father had the battle with APOLLYON, at a place yonder before us, in a narrow passage, just beyond FORGETFUL GREEN. And indeed that place is the most dangerous place in all those parts; for if at any time Pilgrims meet with any brunt, it is when they forget what favours they have received, and how unworthy they are of them. This is the place also where others have been hard put to it.---But more of the place when we are come to it: for I persuade myself, that to this day there remains either some sign of the battle, or some monument to testify that such a battle there was fought.

Then said MERCY, I think I am as well in this Valley, as I have been any where else in all our journey the place methinks, suit with my spirit. I love to be in such places where there is no rattling with coaches, nor rumbling with wheels: methinks, here one may, without much molestation, be thinking what he is, whence he came, what he has done, and to what the KING has called him : here one may think, and break at heart, and melt in one's

MERCY is well in the valley.

spirit, until one's eyes become " as the fish-pools of "HESHBON." They that go rightly through this Valley of BACA, make it a well; the rain," that GOD sends down from heaven upon them that are here," also filleth the pools." This Valley is that from whence also the KING will give to them their vineyards; and they that go through it shall sing as CHRISTIAN did, for all he met with APOLLYON. It is true,' said their Guide, I have gone 'I through this Valley, many a time, and never was 'better than when here. I have also been a Con'ductor to several Pilgrims, and they have confessed 'the same. "To this man will I look," (saith the KING,)" even to him that is poor, and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word."

Now they were come to the place where the aforementioned battle was fought. Then said the Guide to CHRISTIANA, her children, and MERCY, This is the place : on this ground CHRISTIAN 'stood, and up there came APOLLYON against him. and, look, did I not tell you, here is some of your

Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fish pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim : thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon, which looketh toward Damascus. Sol. Song vii. 4. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them, who passing through the valley of Baca make a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go on from strength to strength; every one of them in Zion appeareth before God, Psalm lxxxiv. 5--7. And I will give her he vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope; and she shall sing tnere, as in the aays of ner youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt, Hos. ii. 15.