MONEY-LOVE’S PRINCIPLES. 121

preacher, etc., 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 deserting, to serve
them, some of his principles, this argueth, first, that he is of a self-denying temper;
secondly, of a sweet and winning deportment; and, thirdly, so more fit for the minis-
terial 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 has improved in his parts and
industry thereby, be counted as one that pursues his call, and the opportunity put into
his hands to do good.

And now to the second part of the question, which concerns the tradesman you
mentioned. Suppose such a one to have but a poor employ in the world, but by be-
coming 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 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 Mr. Money-love to Mr. By-ends’ 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 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 it if they
could.

Curis. Then said Christian, “ Even a babe in religion may answer ten thousand
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