THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
FROM THIS WORLD,
TO THAT WHICH IS TO COME
WEEK 4 – SATURDAY
Christian – Would it be indiscreet to ask who these relatives of yours are?
Self-Interest – They are almost all the inhabitants of the city, but mainly Mr. Turncoat, Mr. Time-Server [accommodating], and Mr. Fair-Speech, from whose ancestors the city took its name, Messrs. Caress, Two-Faced, Anything, the worst of the parish, and Mr. Double-Tongue, who was my mother’s brother on the paternal side, because, truly, to tell the whole truth, I am a nobleman [gentleman] of very good lineage, although my grandfather was nothing but a boatman who looked one way and rowed another, a trade by which I acquired almost all my fortune.
Christian – Are you married?
Self-Interest – Yes. My wife is a very virtuous lady, daughter of a lady equally virtuous, Mrs. Imposture [fraud]; therefore she belongs to a very respectable family, having reached such a high degree of refined education that she knows perfectly how to live with a prince or a villager.
It is true we differ somewhat from other people in our religious opinions, but only on two small points:
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We never stubbornly go against wind and tide;
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We are more zealous for religion when it comes to us in silver shoes; and we very much like to accompany it in public, in broad daylight, when everyone sees and applauds.
Christian turned to his companion Hope and said in a low voice:
– If I’m not mistaken, this fellow is a certain Self-Interest, a native of Fair-Speech. If so, we carry with us the most consummate rogue of these parts.
– Surely he will not be ashamed to admit it – replied Hope.
Christian approached again and said to him:
– Sir, you speak like a great worldwise man, and if I am not misinformed, it seems I already guess who you are. Isn’t your name Self-Interest, from Fair-Speech?
Self-Interest – No, sir, that is not my name, although some people call me that, and while I resign myself to accept it as an insult, like other no less respectable men before me have done.
Christian – And what reason did you give for such a nickname?
Self-Interest – None, absolutely; and I can only attribute it to having been lucky enough always to agree with the opinions of the present time, whatever they are, with which I have gotten along perfectly well. I consider this a great blessing, and I don’t think it fair that half a dozen ill-intentioned people criticize me.
Christian – Well, I had already guessed that you were this fellow I have heard about, and I fear this nickname fits you better and more justly than you and I suppose.
Self-Interest – I have nothing to say against that opinion: you will see, however, that I am a decent companion, if you allow me to continue going with you.
Christian – If you want to accompany us, you will have to row against wind and tide, which, as I see it, is not in your creed. You will have to recognize religion both in its fine clothes [splendor] and in its rags [tatters], and accompany it both when it suffers persecution and when it walks the streets amid general applause.
Self-Interest – Do not seek to impose yourself or subjugate me to take hold of my faith; let me have freedom to act as I wish, and on this sole condition I will accompany you.
Christian – Not one step more! If you do not agree with what we do, leave us.
Self-Interest – I have never renounced my principles, which are otherwise innocent and profitable. If you do not consent to my accompanying you, I will do as before I found you: go alone until I find someone who likes my company.
Then I saw in my dream that Christian and Hope abandoned him, both keeping a certain distance ahead of him. One of them, looking back, saw three men who followed Self-Interest, who greeted them respectfully as they approached, receiving affectionate salutations in return. These three newcomers were Messrs. Worldly-Attachment, Love-of-Money, and Greed, old acquaintances of Self-Interest, who attended the school of Mr. Covetousness in the city of Love-of-Gain together with them.
That wise teacher had taught them the art of acquiring, both by violence, fraud, flattery, and lying, as well as under the pretext of religion, and all four had profited from the lessons so much that any one of them could take on the responsibility of running the school.
After greeting each other as I said, Love-of-Money asked Self-Interest who those ahead were, since he could still see Christian and Hope in the distance.
Self-Interest – They are two inhabitants of a faraway country, who are pilgrimaging in their own way.
Love-of-Money – What a pity they didn’t stay a little longer, so we could enjoy their good company, because we are all pilgrims!
Self-Interest – It’s true; but those are so rigid, love their ideas so much, and have so little consideration for others’, that no matter how pious they are, no one pleases them if they don’t think like them, and they soon part from their company.
Greed – That is bad; but there are many examples of people too righteous, whose rigidity makes them judge and condemn everyone except themselves. What then were the points where their opinions differed?
Self-Interest – They insist, in their inflexibility, that they must go on their way with everyone else, while I want to wait for wind and tide; they do not hesitate to risk everything for God, and I want to take advantage of every opportunity to secure mine and my possessions; they strive to uphold their ideas even if opposed to all the world, and I follow the precepts of religion as far and as long as the times and my own safety allow; they esteem religion even if it is poor and miserable, I esteem it when it walks in splendor and applause.
Worldly-Attachment – You are very, very right. As for me, I consider very foolish the one who, being able to keep what he has, is so silly as to let it go to waste. Let us be wise as serpents and gather the grass in due season. The bee remains still during the winter, and only appears when it can gather profit with pleasure.
God sends sun and rain alternately. If they want to walk in the rain, let them, and we will walk in good weather. As for me, I prefer the religion that is compatible with possession and the gifts of God. For if God has given us the good things of life, who would be so unreasonable as to imagine that the Lord does not want us to keep and guard them because of Him?
Abraham and Solomon grew rich in their religion. Job tells us that the good man will store up gold as dust. But certainly it would be with those who go up ahead, if they are truly as you say.
Enjoy more:
Consecration – “Willingness to Suffer for the Lord”
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