though
one would have thought the fear of being turned out would have
whetted his diligence in preparing for _a better and more enduring
inheritance_. For though the people were only tenants at will in
these crazy tenements, yet, through the goodness of the same lord,
they were assured that he never turned them out of these habitations
before he had on his part provided for them a better, so that there
was not such a landlord in the world, and though their present
dwelling was but frail, being only slightly run up to serve the
occasion, yet they might hold their future possession by a most
certain tenure, the _word of the lord himself_. This word was
entered in a covenant, or title-deed, consisting of many sheets,
and because a great many good things were given away in this deed, a
book was made of which every soul might get a copy.

This indeed had not always been the case, because, till a few ages
back, there had been a sort of monopoly in the case, and "the wise
and prudent," that is the cunning and fraudful, had hid these things
from "the babes and sucklings;" that is, from the low and ignorant,
and many frauds had been practiced, and the poor had been cheated of
their right; so that not being allowed to read and judge for
themselves, they had been sadly imposed upon; but all these tricks
had been put an end to more than two hundred years when I passed
through the country, and the meanest man who could read might then
have a copy; so that he might see himself what he had to trust to;
and even those who could not read, might hear it read once or twice
every week, at least, without pay, by learned and holy men, whose
business it was. But it surprised me to see how few comparatively
made use of these vast advantages. Of those who had a copy, many
laid it carelessly by, expressed a _general_ belief in the truth of
the title-deed, a _general_ satisfaction that they should come in
for a share of the inheritance, a _general_ good opinion of the lord
whose word it was, and a _general_ disposition to take his promise
upon trust, always, however, intending, at a _convenient season_ to
inquire further into the matter; but this convenient season seldom
came; and this neglect of theirs was construed by their lord into a
forfeiture of the inheritance.

At the end of this country lay the vast gulf mentioned before; it
was shadowed over by a broad and thick cloud, which prevented the
pilgrims from seeing in a distinct manner wha