120 THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS.

eount 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. It is best to make hay while the sun shines.
You see how the bee lieth still all winter, and bestirs her only when she can have
profit and 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 should lay up gold as dust ;” but he must not be such as the men before us,
if they be as you have described them.

Save. I think that we are all agreed in this matter, and therefore there needs no
more words about it.

Money. No, there needs 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.

By. 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, etc., 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?

Money. I see the bottom of your question, and, with these gentlemen’s good leave,
I will endeavor 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 of but 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 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 why a man may not do
this, provided he has a call, ay, 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 it is
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 -