Money-love's answer.

And now to the second part of this question, which concerns the tradesman you mentioned: suppose such an one to have but a poor employ in the world, but by becoming religious he may mend his market, perhaps get a rich wife, or better customers to his shop. For my part, I see no reason but this may be lawfully done. For why?

1. To become religious is a virtue, by what means soever a man become so.

2. Nor is it unlawful to get a rich wife, or more custom to my shop.

3. Besides, the man that gets these by becoming religious, gets that which is good of them that are good, by becoming good himself. So then here is a good wife, and good customers, and good gain, and all these by becoming religious, which is good; therefore, to become religious, to get all these, is a good and profitable design. (k)

This answer, thus made by this Mr. Money-love to Mr. By-ends' question was highly applauded by them all; wherefore they concluded, upon the whole, that it was most wholesome and advantageous. And because as they thought, no man was able to contradict it, and because Christian and Hopeful yet were within call, they jointly agreed to assault them with the question as soon as they overtook them, and the rather because they had op

(k) Here is worldly wisdom, infernal logic, and the sophistry of Satan. We hear his language daily from money-loving professors, who are destitute of the power of faith, and the reasoning of godliness. But, in opposition to all this, the Holy Ghost testifies, "The love of money is the root of all evil, 1 Tim. vi. 10; and a covetous man is an idolator, Col. iii. 5. Hear this, and tremble, ye avaricious professors. Remember, ye followers of the Lamb, ye are called to let your conversation be without covetousness, Heb. xiii. 5. Your lord testifies," Ye cannot serve God and Mammon." Luke xvi. 13.

They propose it to Christian.-Christian's answer.

posed Mr. By-ends before. So they called after them, and they stopped and stood still till they came up with them, but they concluded, as they went, that not Mr. By-ends, but Mr. Hold-theworld, should propound the question to them, because, as they supposed, their answer to him would be without the remainder of that heat that was kindled between Mr. By-ends and them, at their parting a little before.

So they came up to each other, and, after a short salutation, Mr. Hold-the-world propounded the question to Christian and his fellow, and bid them answer to it if they could.

Chr. Then said Christian, Even a babe in religion may answer ten thousand such questions. For if it be unlawful to follow Christ for loaves, as it is, John vi. how much more abominable is it to make of him in religion a stalking-horse to get and enjoy the world? Nor do we find any other than heathens, hypocrites, devils, and witches, that are of this opinion.

1. Heathens: for when Hamor and Shechem had a mind to the daughter and cattle of Jacob, and saw that there was no way for them to come at them, but by becoming circumcised; they said to their companions, If every male of us be circumcised, as they are circumcised, shall not their cattle, and their substance, and every beast of theirs be ours? Their daughters and their cattle were that which they sought to obtain, and their religion their stalkinghorse they made use of to come at them. Read the whole story, Gen. xxxiv. 20-24.

2. The hypocritical Pharisees were also of this religion: long prayers were their pretence: but to get widow's houses was their intent, and greater damnation from God was their judgment, Luke xx, 46, 47.

By-ends and his Party silenced.

3. Judas, the devil, who also of his religion; he was religious for the bag, that he might be possessed of what was therein; but he was lost, cast away, and the very son of perdition.

4. Simon, the witch, was of this religion too; for he would have had the Holy Ghost, that he might have got money therewith, and his sentence from Peter's mouth was accordingly, Acts viii. 18-23.

5. Neither will it go out of my mind, but that man who takes up religion for the world; will throw away religion for the world; for so surely as Judas resigned the world in becoming religious, so surely did he also sell religion and his master for the same. To answer the question affirmatively, as I perceive you have done; and to accept of, as authentic, such answer, is both heathenish, hypocritical, and devilish; and your reward will be according to your works. Then they stood staring one upon another, but had not wherewith to answer Christian. Hopeful also approved of the soundness of Christian's answer; so there was a great silence among them. Mr. By-ends and his company also staggered and kept behind, that Christian and Hopeful might out-go them. Then said Christian to his fellow, if these men cannot stand before the sentence of men, what will they do with the sentence of God? And if they are mute when dealt with by vessels of clay, what will they do when they shall be rebuked by the flames of a devouring fire? (1)

Then Christian and Hopeful out-went them again,

(1) Here see the blessedness of being mighty in the scripture, and the need of that exhortation, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." Col. iii. 16. For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword: it pierces through all the subtle devices of Satan, and the cunning craftiness of carnal professors and divideth asunder the carnal reasonings of the flesh, and the spiritual wisdom which cometh from above.

Demas invites Christian to the Silver Mine.

and went till they came to a delicate plain called Ease, (m) where they went with much content; but that plain was but narrow, so they quickly got over it. Now at the farther side of that plain was a little hill called Lucre, and in that hill a Silver Mine, which some of them that had formerly gone that way, because of the rarity of it, had turned aside to see; but going too near the brink of the pit, the ground being deceitful under them, broke, and they were slain: some also have been maimed there, and could not, to their dying day, be their own men again.

Then I saw in my dream, that a little off the road, over against the Silver Mine, stood Demas (gentleman-like, to call to passengers to come and see) who said to Christian and his fellow, Ho! turn aside hither, and I will shew you a thing.

Chr. What thing is so deserving, as to turn us out of the way?

Demas. Here is a Silver Mine, and some digging in it for treasure; if you will come, with a little pains, you may richly provide for yourselves.

Hope. Then said Hopeful, let us go see.

Chr. Not I, said Christian; I have heard of this place before now, and how many there have been slain; and besides that, treasure is a snare to those that seek for it, and hindereth them in their pilgrimage. (n)

(m) In this plain some fall asleep and dream of SINLESS PERFECTION, and talk in their sleep, that they are free from sin, and that it is destroyed root and branch, so that it has no being in them. But real pilgrims go through this plain with ease, sensible that they are still sinners.

(n) See the value of a faithful friend. But how few act so faithfully? How few professors will bear it? What! hold a man back from getting money! Oh! how few are aware that covetousness is idolatry; and attend to our Lord's double caution, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness." Luke xii. 15.

Christian expostulates with Demas.

Then Christian called to Demas, saying, Is not the place dangerous? Hath it not hindered many in their pilgrimage?

Demas. Not very dangerous, except to those that are careless: but withal he blushed as he spake.

Chr. Then said Christian to Hopeful, Let us not stir a step, but keep on our way.

Hope I will warrant you when By-ends comes up, if he hath the same invitation as we, he will turn in thither to see.

Chr. No doubt thereof, for his principles lead him that way, and a hundred to one but he dies there.

Demas. Then Demas called again, saying, but will you not come over to see?

Chr. Then Christian roundly answered, saying, Demas, thou art an enemy to the right ways of the Lord of this way, and hast already been condemned for thine own turning aside, by one of his Majesty's judges; and why seekest thou to bring us into the like condemnation? Besides, if we at all turn aside, our Lord the King will certainly hear thereof, and will there put us to shame, where we would stand with boldness before him.

Demas cried again, That he also was one of their fraternity and that if they would tarry a little, he also himself would walk with them.

Chr. Then said Christian, What is thy name? Is it not the name by which I have called thee?

Demas. Yes, my name is Demas; I am the son of Abraham.

Chr. I know you: Gehazi was your great grandfather, and Judas your father, and you have trod in their steps; it is but a devilish prank that thou usest: thy father was hanged for a traitor, and thou

* 2 Kings v. 20.

Matt. xxvi. 14. xxvii. 1—6.