122 THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS.

such questions. For if it be unlawful to follow Christ for loaves, as it is,“* 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
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 was no way for them to come at them but by be
coming 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 daughter 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.*

“2. 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.”

“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 the Holy Ghost,
that he might have got money therewith; and his sentence from Peter’s mouth was
according.”

“5. Neither will it out of my mind, but that that man who takes up religion for the
world, will throw away religion for the world; for so surely as Judas resigned 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 heathenish, hypocritical, and devilish ;
and your reward will be according to your works.”

Then they stood staring one upon the other, 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, “Tf 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 devouring fire?”

Then Christian and Hopeful outwent them again, and went till they came to a deli-
eate 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