The Pilgrim's Progress - Part One
The Author's Apology for His Book | Introduction
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
| 11 | 12 | 13
| 14 | 15 | 16
| 17 | 18 | 19
| 20 | 21 | 22
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26
| 27 | 28 | 29
| 30 | 31 | 32
| 33 | 34 | 35
| Conclusion
Back to Pilgrim's Homepage
Mr. By-Ends
So I saw that, quickly after they were got out of the fair, they overtook one that
was going before them, whose name was BY-ENDS; So they said to him, "What countryman,
sir? and how far go you this way?" He told them that he came from the town of
Fairspeech; and he was going to the Celestial City (but told them not his name).
Chr. "From Fairspeech!" said CHRISTIAN; "is there any that
be good live there?"
"When he speaketh fair, believe him not:
for there are seven abominations in his heart."
~ Proverbs 26:25 ~
By-ends. "Yes," said BY-ENDS, "I hope."
Chr. "Pray, sir, what may I call you?" said CHRISTIAN.
By-ends. I am a stranger to you, and you to me: if you be going this way,
I shall be glad of your company: if not, I must be content.
Chr. "This town of Fairspeech," said CHRISTIAN, "I have heard
of; and, as I remember, they say it is a wealthy place."
By-ends. Yes, I will assure you that it is; and I have very many rich kindred
there.
Chr. Pray who are your kindred there, if a man may be so bold?
By-ends. Almost the whole town: and in particular, my Lord TURN-ABOUT; my
Lord TIME-SERVER; my Lord FAIRSPEECH (from whose ancestors that town first took its
name); also Mr. SMOOTH-MAN; Mr. FACING-BOTH-WAYS; Mr. ANY-THING; and the parson of
our parish, Mr. TWO-TONGUES, was my mother's own brother by father's side. And to
tell you the truth, I am become a gentleman of good quality; yet my great-grandfather
was but a waterman, looking one way and rowing another-- and I got most of my estate
by the same occupation.
Chr. Are you a married man?
By-ends. Yes; and my wife is a very virtuous woman--the daughter of a virtuous
woman. She is my Lady FEIGNING'S daughter; therefore she came of a very honourable
family, and is arrived to such a pitch of breeding, that she knows how to carry it
to all, even to prince and peasant. 'Tis true, we somewhat differ in religion from
those of the stricter sort; yet but in two small points: First, we never strive against
wind and tide; secondly, we are always most zealous when religion goes in his silver
slippers--we love much to walk with him in the street if the sun shines, and the
people applaud it.
Then CHRISTIAN stepped a little aside to his fellow HOPEFUL, saying, "It runs
in my mind that this is one BY-ENDS, of Fairspeech and if it be he, we have as very
a knave in our company as dwells in all these parts." Then said HOPEFUL, "Ask
him; methinks he should not be ashamed of his name." So CHRISTIAN came up with
him again, and said, "Sir, you talk as if you knew something more than all the
world doth; and if I take not my mark amiss, I deem I have half a guess of you: Is
not your name Mr. BY-ENDS, of Fairspeech?"
By-ends. That is not my name: but indeed it is a nickname that is given me
by some that cannot abide me: and I must be content to bear it as a reproach, as
other good men have borne theirs before me.
Chr. But did you never give an occasion to men to call you by this name?
By-ends. Never, never! the worst that ever I did to give them an occasion
to give me this name was, that I had always the luck to jump in my judgment with
the present way of the times, whatever it was, and my chance was to gain thereby;
but if things are thus cast upon me, let me count them a blessing, but let not the
malicious load me therefore with reproach.
Chr. I thought indeed that you were the man that I had heard of; and to tell
you what I think, I fear this name belongs to you more properly than you are willing
we should think it doth.
By-ends. Well, if you will thus imagine, I cannot help it. You shall find
me a fair company-keeper, if you will still admit me your associate.
Chr. If you will go with us, you must go against wind and tide, the which,
I perceive, is against your opinion; you must also own religion in his rags as well
as when in his silver slippers; and stand by him too when bound in irons, as well
as when he walks the streets with applause.
By-ends. You must not impose nor lord it over my faith; leave me to my liberty,
and let me go with you.
Chr. Not a step farther, unless you will do, in what I propound, as we.
By-ends. Then said BY-ENDS, "I shall never desert my old principles,
since they are harmless and profitable. If I may not go with you, I must do as I
did before you overtook me: even go by myself, until some overtake me that will be
glad of my company."
Now I saw in my dream that CHRISTIAN and HOPEFUL forsook him, and kept their distance
before him; but one of them looking back, saw three men following Mr. BY-ENDS; and
behold, as they came up with him, he made them a very low bow, and they also gave
him a compliment. The men's names were, Mr. HOLD-THE-WORLD, Mr. MONEY-LOVE, and Mr.
SAVE-ALL
--men that Mr. BY-ENDS had formerly been acquainted with; for in their minority they
were schoolfellows, and were taught by one Mr. GRIPEMAN, a schoolmaster in Love-gain,
which is a market town in the county of Coveting, in the north. This schoolmaster
taught them the art of getting, either by violence, fraud, flattery, lying, or by
putting on a guise of religion; and these four gentlemen had attained much of the
art of their master, so that they could each of them have kept such a school themselves.
Well, when they had, as I said, thus saluted each other, Mr. MONEY-LOVE said to Mr.
BY-ENDS, "Who are they upon the road before us?" For CHRISTIAN and HOPEFUL
were yet within view.
By-ends. They are a couple of far countrymen, that, their mode, are going
on pilgrimage.
Money-love. Alas! why did they not stay, that we might have had their good
company; for they, and we, and you, sir, I hope, are all going on a pilgrimage?
By-ends. We are so, indeed; but the men before us are so rigid, and love so
much their own notions, and do also so lightly esteem the opinions of others, that
even if a man be never so godly, yet, if he jumps not with them in all things, they
thrust him quite out of their company.
Mr. Save-all. That's bad; but we read of some that are righteous overmuch,
and such men's rigidness prevails with them to judge and condemn all but themselves.
But, I pray, what and how many were the things wherein you differed?
By-ends. Why, they, after their headstrong manner, conclude that it is their
duty to rush on their journey all weathers; and I am for waiting for wind and tide.
They are for hazarding all for God at a clap; and I am for taking all advantages
to secure my life and estate. They are for holding their notions, though all other
men be against them; but I am for religion in and so far as the times and my safety
will bear it. They are for religion when in rags and contempt; but I am for him when
he walks in his golden slippers in the sunshine, and with applause.
Mr. Hold-the-World. Aye, and hold you there still, good Mr. BY-ENDS; for,
for my part, I can count him but a fool, that, having the liberty to keep what he
has, shall be so unwise as to lose it. Let us be wise as serpents; 'tis best to make
hay when the sun shines: you see how the bee lies still all winter, and bestirs her
only when she can have profit with pleasure. God sends sometimes rain, and sometimes
sunshine; if they be such fools to go through the first, yet let us be content to
take fair weather along with us. For my part, I like that religion best that will
stand with the security of God's good blessings unto us; for who can imagine, that
is ruled by his reason, since God has bestowed upon us the good things of this life,
but that he would have us keep them for his sake? Abraham and Solomon grew rich in
religion. And Job says, "That a good man shall lay up gold as dust." But
he must not be such as the men before us, if they be as you have described them.
Mr. Save-all. I think that we are all agreed in this matter; and therefore
there need be no more words about it.
Mr. Money-love. No, there need be no more words about this matter indeed;
for he that believes neither Scripture nor reason (and you see we have both on our
side), neither knows his own liberty nor seeks his own safety.
Mr. By-ends. My brethren, we are, as you see, going all on pilgrimage; and
for our better diversion from things that are bad, give me leave to propound unto
you this question:
Suppose a man--a minister, or a tradesman,--should have an advantage lie before him
to get the good blessings of this life; yet so as that he can by no means come by
them except-- in appearance at least--he becomes extraordinarily zealous in some
points of religion that he meddled not with before: may he not use this means to
attain his end, and yet be a right honest man?
Mr. Money-love. I see the bottom of your question; and, with these gentlemen's
good leave, I will endeavour to shape you an answer. And first, to speak to your
question as it concerns a minister himself: Suppose a minister, a worthy man, possessed
but of a very small benefice, and has in his eye a greater, more fat and plump by
far; he has also, now an opportunity of getting of it; yet so as by being more studious,
by preaching more frequently and zealously, and because the temper of the people
requires it, by altering of some of his principles; for my part, I see no reason
but a man may do this--provided he has a call. Aye, and more a great deal besides,
and yet be an honest man. For why?
1. His desire of a greater benefice is lawful (this cannot be contradicted), since
'tis set before him by Providence; so, then, he may get it if he can, making no question,
for conscience' sake.
2. Besides, his desire after that benefice makes him more studious, a more zealous
preacher, and so on; and so makes him a better man. Yea, makes him better improve
his parts, which is according to the mind of God.
3. Now, as for his complying with the temper of his people by dissenting--to serve
them--some of his principles, this argues, 1st, that he is of a self-denying temper;
2nd, of a sweet and willing deportment; 3rd, and so more fit for the ministerial
function.
4. I conclude then, that a minister that changes a small for a great, should not
for so doing be judged as covetous; but rather, since he is improved in his parts
and industry thereby, be counted as one that pursues his call, and the opportunity
put into his hand to do good.
And now to the second part of the question, which concerns the tradesman you mentioned:
Suppose such 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 more and far better customers
to his shop--for my part, I see no reason but that this may be lawfully done. For
why?
1. To become religious is a virtue, by what means soever a man becomes 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.
This answer, thus made by this Mr. MONEY-LOVE to Mr. BY-ENDS' question, was highly
applauded by them all; therefore 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 joyfully agreed
to assault them with the 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 betwixt 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 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:
"After these things Jesus went over the
sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. And a great multitude followed
him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus
went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. And the passover, a
feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a
great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that
these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them,
that every one of them may take a little.
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad
here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among
so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place.
So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and
when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them
that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. When they were
filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing
be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets
with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto
them that had eaten.
Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a
truth that prophet that should come into the world. The day following, when the people
which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there,
save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with
his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;
(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did
eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:) When the people therefore saw that
Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to
Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And when they had found him on the other side of the
sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because
ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour
not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting
life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus
answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom
he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we
may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the
desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said
unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven;
but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which
cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.
Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them,
I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth
on me shall never thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe
not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I
will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but
the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that
of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again
at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth
the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up
at the last day. The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which
came down from heaven.
And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?
how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and
said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father
which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written
in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath
heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen
the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say
unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life.
Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.
This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and
not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this
bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which
I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves,
saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink
his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood,
hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat
indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood,
dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the
Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which
came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth
of this bread shall live for ever. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught
in Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said,
This is an hard saying; who can hear it?"
~ John 6:1-60 ~
how much more abominable is it 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.
"1. 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 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 the stalking-horse they made use of to come
at them. Read the whole story.
"And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto
the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying, These men
are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein;
for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters
to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. Only herein will the men consent
unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised,
as they are circumcised. Shall not their cattle and their substance
and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they
will dwell with us."
~ Genesis 34:20-23 ~
"2. The hypocritical Pharisees were also of this religion; long prayers were
their pretence, but to get widows' houses were their intent; and greater damnation
from God was their judgment.
"Beware of the scribes, which desire to
walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the
synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; Which devour widows' houses, and for a
shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation."
~ Luke 20:46, 47 ~
"3. 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, 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 according.
"Saying, Give me also this power, that on
whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy
money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased
with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right
in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps
the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee."
~ Acts 8:19-22 ~
"5. Neither will it out of my mind, but that the 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. To answer the question more affirmatively, as I perceive you have done,
and to accept 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?"
The Pilgrim's Progress - Part One
The Author's Apology for His Book | Introduction
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
| 11 | 12 | 13
| 14 | 15 | 16
| 17 | 18 | 19
| 20 | 21 | 22
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26
| 27 | 28 | 29
| 30 | 31 | 32
| 33 | 34 | 35
| Conclusion
Back to Pilgrim's Homepage