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.

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 and religion a stalkinghorse, 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 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 the stalking-horse they made use of to come at them. Read the whole story.

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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.125

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.

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. 196

Neither will it go out of my mind, but that that man who takes up religion for the world, will throw away religion for the world; for so sure 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 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 mignt 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 to 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 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 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 (gentlemanlike), to call passengers to come and see; who said to Christian and his fellow, Ho! turn aside hither, and I will show 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.

Then said Hopeful, Let us go see.

Not I, said Christian, I have heard of this place before now, and how many have there been slain; 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.

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 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.

Then Demas called again, saying, But will you not come over and see?

Then Christian, roundly answering Demas, said, 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 would stand with boldness before him.128

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.

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 grand-father, 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.

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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;

By-ends and silver Demas both agree;

One calls, the other runs, that he may be
A sharer in his lucre; so these do

Take up in this world, and no farther go.

Now I saw, that just on the other side of this plain, the pilgrims came to a place where stood an old monument, hard by the highway side; at the sight of which they were both concerned, because of the strangeness of the form thereof; for it seemed to them as if it had been a woman transformed into the shape of a pillar: here therefore they stood looking, and looking upon it, but could not for a time tell what they should make thereof: at last Hopeful espied written upon the head thereof, a writing in an unusual hand; but he, being no scholar, called to Christian (for he was learned) to see if he could pick out the meaning so he came, and after a little laying of the letters together, he found the same to be this, "Remember Lot's wife." So he read it to his fellow; after which they both concluded, that that was the pillar of salt into which Lot's wife was turned, for looking back with a covetous heart, when she was going from Sodom for safety.130 Which sudden and amazing sight gave them occasion of this dis

course.

Chr. Ah, my brother, this is a seasonable sight: it came opportunely to us after the invitation which Demas gave us to come over to view the hill Lucre; and had we gone over, as he desired us, and as thou wast inclined to do (my brother), we had, for ought I know, been made like this woman, a spectacle for those that shall come after, to behold.

Hope. I am sorry that I was so foolish, and am made to wonder that I am not now as Lot's wife; for wherein was the difference between her sin and mine? She only looked back, and I had a desire to go see: let grace be adored, and let me be ashamed, that ever such a thing. should be in mine heart.

Chr. Let us take notice of what we see here, for our help for time to come: this woman escaped one judgment, for she fell not by the destruction of Sodom: yet she was