Christian walks alone for only a short while, for immediately upon leaving Vanity, he comes upon another pilgrim named Hopeful, who is one of the people whose heart was moved by the testimony of Christian and Faithful in their trial detailed in the previous chapter. Hopeful joins up with Christian and they journey together, Hopeful even tells Christian that there are many others like him back in Vanity who will undertake the journey shortly.
The pilgrims meet another man on the path, named ByEnds1, who tells them he is from the town of Fairspeech and also going to Celestial City, though he does not divulge his name, even after he is asked for it. Christian resumes the conversation by commenting of the town of Fairspeech, saying he is familiar with it, that it is a wealthy place. ByEnds agrees, "Yes, I'll assure you it is, and I have very many rich relatives there." Christian asks who his relatives, and ByEnds replies "Almost the whole town," and lists a number of them: the honorable Mr. Time Server, Mr. Fair Speech, Mr. Smooth Man, Mr. Facing Bothways, Mr. Anything, and the pastor, Mr. Two Tongues. Christian asks if ByEnds is married, and it turns out that yes, indeed he is, and his wife is a very virtuous woman, and is the daughter of a virtuous woman. ByEnds sounds like a very socially respectable fellow, but Christian says, in an aside to Hopeful, "It crosses my mind that this is a certain Mr. ByEnds of Fairspeech. If it is him, we have as great a rascal in our company as lives in all these parts." Hopeful says, "Ask him, I wouldn't think he'd be ashamed of his name." So Christian asks, and ByEnds reveals that that is not his true name, but a nickname given to him by people who do not like him.
Christian asks ByEnds if he might have done anything to deserve the nickname, to which ByEnds replies, "Never! Never! The worst I ever did to give them a reason to give me this name was that I always had the luck to look ahead when making judgments regarding the state of the times--whatever the decisions--and my fate was to get wealth through them. But if things are bestowed upon me, let me count them a blessing, and don't let malicious people load me up with reproach because of it."
Christian hears ByEnds defense of his character, and replies, "I thought you were surely the man I'd heard of. To tell you what I think, I'm afraid this name belongs to you more properly than you would like to have us believe."
Christian then tells ByEnds that if he wants to continue in their company, he must be willing to go against wind and tide, and Christian anticipates that this will not sit well with ByEnds. Sure enough, ByEnds refuses to go with any restrictions on his liberty, so Christian and Hopeful continue without him. Now three individuals approach ByEnds and talk with him, Mr. Holdtheworld, Mr. Moneylove, and Mr. Saveall. They are all old friends from youth, and engage in a long conversation about using religion to get wealthy, getting in a few jabs at Christian and Hopeful, who are still in sight as they proceed up ahead. They decide to engage Christian and Hopeful in the conversation, and move to catch up.
When they catch up, Mr. Holdtheworld presents a question to Christian, one which had been asked by ByEnds in their previous discussion, "Suppose a man, a minister, a tradesman, or such should see before him the favorable possibility of getting good things from this life. And suppose there is no way he can obtain them without at least in appearance becoming extraordinarily zealous in some points of religion with which he has no experience. May he not use this means to attain his end and yet remain a perfectly honest man?" Christian sees through the ruse and replies, "Even a babe in religion may answer ten thousand such questions. If it's unlawful to follow Christ to obtain loaves, as shown in John six, how much more abominable is it to make of Him and religion a stalking-horse2 to get and enjoy the world? Nor do we find anyone but heathen, hypocrites, devils, and sorcerers who hold this opinion..." He goes and lists several examples from Scripture of people who used religion to get dishonest gain, such as Hamor and Shechem (from Genesis - the man who wanted to marry Dinah, Jacob's daughter, he and his countrymen agreed to be circumcised in order to share in Jacob's prosperity); the Pharisees who prayed long prayers in public, but whose intent was to gain the houses of widows; Judas, who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver; Simon, the sorcerer, who wanted the gift of the Holy Spirit, so he could add miracles to his repertoire of magic. Everyone is speechless at Christian's answer, so Christian and Hopeful continue on while the other four stay behind, dumbfounded.
Christian and Hopeful soon pass through a smooth plain called Ease, which they quickly pass through, and then come upon a hill called Lucre, and hear a man called Demas calling out, "Hey! Turn aside here, and I'll show you something." Christian and Hopeful ask what it is that is worthy of their attention, and Demas tells them there is a silver mine in the hill. If they will just turn aside, everyone can get rich. Hopeful says, "Let's go see", but Christian stops him--saying he has heard of this place and it is very dangerous. Many have slipped on bad ground and killed themselves by falling into the mine. "Besides, that treasure is a snare to those who seek it, for it hinders them in their Pilgrimage." Christian confronts Demas, "Isn't that place dangerous? Hasn't it hindered many in their Pilgrimage?" Demas replies, "Not very dangerous, except to those who are careless" But he blushes as he speaks. Hopeful reminds Christian of the others behind them in the path, and predicts they will turn aside for the mine. After a few more exchanges with Demas, Christian and Hopeful walk on. Then, sure enough, ByEnds and his friends turn off the path at the first call of Demas. They are never seen again.
Christian and Hopeful proceed on, soon passing a pillar in the shape of a woman. They read an inscription on the pillar which says, "Remember Lot's Wife". They then talk about the temptation offered by the silver mine and Hopeful expresses sorrow at his desire to turn off the path, and that he deserved the same fate as Lot's wife. Christian tells him to learn from the example, and be glad they were not made to be an example for others themselves.
As the chapter ends, Christian and Hopeful find the path going by a river, what David called the "river of God", and John called the "river of the water of life". There are fruit-bearing trees here, bearing medicinal fruit, and a pleasant meadow. Christian and Hopeful rest here for several days.
Thoughts on this chapter
Prayer of Jabez? - NOT! The Reverend Bunyan tells us ever so sternly that those who think walking with God will guarantee prosperity are not fit to call themselves Christians. Also, those who would leave the life of Christian discipleship in order to pursue riches are not fit to be called Christians.
Again, just as yesterday, the concepts that Bunyan presents are challenging. Is it ok for a businessman to do business with a fellow church-member? I'd be inclined to say yes, but if the businessman is using the church directory for a calling list, I'd say he's gone too far. Another example cited in this chapter is a minister who becomes more religious in order to receive a greater salary. I've got a little disagreement with that. Ministers generally aren't paid a lot of money, many of them probably deserve more than they get, and I see no problem with someone becoming better educated and well-trained in order to be worth more in their career market. If it improves their ministry, great. On the other hand, for those who use deception and showmanship, such as what many associate with televangelists, I've got no respect at all.
Definitions of some archaic terms used in this chapter:
1 ByEnds: an object lying aside from the main one; a subordinate end or aim; especially a secret selfish purpose, a covert purpose of private advantage.
2 stalking-horse: a horse trained to allow a hunter to hide behind it while hunting. Bunyan presents the idea of an individual using religion and the person of Christ to hide behind while pursuing worldly gain.