#18 Hopeful heard + saw our 2 pilgrims witness in Vanity Fair + was so touched in his heart, he now joined Christian. The Gospel again proved true: ‘one died to bear testimony to the truth + another rises out of his ashes to be his companion.’ Next: Mr. By-Ends - a wealthy man from the town of Fair-Speech. He would not admit his real name, but as he spoke of his relations, his true identity was known. His wife was Lady Feigning’s daughter; his heritage was ‘looking one way and rowing another’ to ‘never strive against wind + tide’; and he preferred faith ‘when it goes in silver slippers, if the sun shines + people applaud’. In short, By-ends was a downright hypocrite: he believed ‘his end justifies his means’, so he could devise short-cuts; ie lie to get his own way and yet be an honest man? 3 of his friends also showed up. Mr.Hold-the-world+Money-love +Save-all, all taught by Gripe-man of Love-gain in county Coveting. Their names expose their greed that money answers every need, and you can accommodate life’s difficulties by merely altering some of your principles. As they reasoned thus, they came to a Plain called Ease + a Hill named Lucre, where their philosophy proved deadly. All but Christian + Hopeful yielded to Demas’ temptation to detour to a secret silver mine; they got too near the brink of the pit and ‘the ground being deceitful gave way, they fell over + in, and never were seen in the way again.’ So Bunyan sums up the fate of those who seek ill-advised prosperity short-cuts. You cannot follow Christ for loaves.