should be attended to only in its Prosperity. 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?. This answer, thus made by this Mr. Money-Love to Mr. By-Ends's 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 were yet within call, they jointly agreed to assault them with this question as soon as they overtook them; and the rather because they had opposed Mr. By-Ends before. So they called after them, and they stopped and stood still, till they came up to them: but they concluded, as they went, that not Mr. By-Ends, but old Mr. Hold-the-World, 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 to answer it if they could. 7 Here is worldly wisdom, infernal logic, and the sophistry of We hear this 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 that a covetous man is an idolater, Col. iii 5. Hear this and tremble, ye avaricious professors. Remember, ye followers of the Lamb, you are called to let your conversation be without covetousness, Heb. xiii. 5. Your Lord testifies, "Ye cannot serve God and mammon," Luke xvi. 13. Christian proves that Religion 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 is it abominable to make of him and 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. Heathens: for when Hamor and Shechem had a mind to the daughter and cattle of Jacob, and saw that there were no ways for them to come at them, but by becoming circumcised; they say to their companions, "If every male of us become circumcised, as they are circumcised, shall not their cattle, and their substance, and every beast of theirs, be ours?" Their daughter and their cattle were that which they sought to obtain, and their religion the stalking-horse they made use of to come at them. Read the whole story, Genesis xxxiv. 20-24. The hypocritical Pharisees were also of this religion; long prayers were their pretence; but to get widows' houses was their intent, and greater damnation was from God their judgment'. Judas the devil was also of this religion: he was religious for the bag, that he might be possessed of what was therein; but he was lost, a castaway, and a very son of perdition. 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". Neither will it be out of my mind, but that that man, that takes up religion for the world, will throw away religion for the world; for so surely as Judas designed the world in becoming religious, so surely did he also sell religion and his Master for the same. 1 must be pursued at all Hazards. To answer the question therefore 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 outgo 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? Then Christian and Hopeful outwent them again, and went till they came at a delicate plain, called Ease; where they went with much content: but that plain was but narrow, so they were quickly got over it. Now at the further 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 brim of the pit, the ground being deceitful under them, broke, and 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 happily distinguishes between the carnal reasonings of the flesh, and the spiritual wisdom which cometh from above. 9 In the plain of prosperity some men fall asleep, or, like Jeshurun, wax fat, and kick against the authority of God. It is not easy to carry a full cup, and not spill the liquor: nor to be successful in business, and keep the heart right with God. Christian and Hopeful meet Demas, they were slain: some also had 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 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 so deserving as to turn us out of the way to see it? 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 have been slain there and, besides, that treasure is a snare to those that seek it, for it hindereth them in their pilgrimage'. 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 still keep on our way. HOPE. I will warrant you, when By-Ends comes up, if he hath the same invitations 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. But how few act so faith- 1 See the value of a faithful friend. fully! How few professors will bear it! 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. and happily escape his Snares. DEMAS. Then Demas called again, saying, But you not come over and see. will CHR. Then Christian roundly answered, saying, Demas, thou art an enemy to the right ways of the Lord of this way, and hast been already 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 should 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 same 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 deservest no better reward". Assure thyself, that when we come to the King we will tell him of this thy behaviour. Thus they went their way. By this time By-Ends and his companions were come again within sight, and they at the first beck went over to Demas. Now, whether they fell into the pit by looking over the brink thereof, or whether they went down to dig, or whether they were smothered in the bottom by the damps that commonly arise, of these things I am not certain; but this I observed, that they never were seen again in the way. Then sang Christian 2 Here you see the end of double-minded men, who vainly attempt to unite the love of money with the love of Christ. They * 2 Tim. iv. 10. 2 Kings v. 20-27. Matt. xxvi. 14, 15. xxvii. 3—5. y |