Season 5 Podcast 115 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 34 Chapter 7 A, “By-Ends of Fair Speech.”

Season 5 Podcast 115 John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Episode 34 Chapter 7 A, “By-Ends of Fair Speech.” 

In last week’s episode we discussed the martyrdom of Faithful in Vanity Fair. In this week’s episode we meet characters from Fair Speech. Vanity Fair symbolizes Babylon, or the world. Fair Speech symbolizes hypocrisy.

“Now, I saw in my dream, that Christian went forth not alone; for there was one whose name was Hopeful (being so made by looking upon Christian and Faithful in their words and behavior in their sufferings at the fair,) who joined himself unto him, and, entering into a brotherly pledge told him that he would be his companion. Thus one died to make testimony to the truth, and another rises out of his ashes to be a companion with Christian in his pilgrimage. This Hopeful also told Christian that there were many more of the men in the fair that would take their time and follow after."

Hope, which becomes an anchor to the soul, is a child of patience in adversity. In a way Christian has suddenly been elevated to another level. Though Faithful has become a martyr, he symbolizes enduring to the end. Christian has passed a landmark. He has graduated from Faith which is a step in the dark to Hope which is a step into the light. It is fascinating to watch the interaction of Christian and Hopeful through the eyes of Bunyan. 

As they travel, they meet some of the citizens from the town of Fair-speech who were also on a pilgrimage to the Celestial City. 

“So I saw that, quickly after they were got out of the fair, they overtook one that was going before them, whose name was By-ends; so they said to him, "What countryman, sir? and how far go you this way?" He told them that he came from the town of Fair-speech, and he was going to the Celestial City; but told them not his name."

The town of Fair-speech is a very wealthy town and its citizens very worldly. Mr. By-ends describes them.  

“CHRIS. "From Fair-speech! are there any that be good live there?"

BY. "Yes," said By-ends, "I hope."

CHRIS. Pray, sir, what may I call you?

BY. I am a stranger to you, and you to me: if you be going this way, I shall be glad of your company; if not, I must be content.

CHRIS. This town of Fair-speech, I have heard of it; and, as I remember, they say it's a wealthy place.

BY. Yes, I will assure you that it is; and I have very many rich kindred there.

CHRIS. Pray, who are your kindred there? if a man may be so bold.

BY. Almost the whole town; but in particular my Lord Turnabout, my Lord Timeserver, my Lord Fair-speech, from whose ancestors that town first took its name; also Mr. Smooth-man, Mr. Facing-both-ways, Mr. Anything; and the parson of our parish, Mr. Two-tongues, was my mother's own brother by father's side; and to tell you the truth, I am become a gentleman of good quality; yet my great-grandfather was but a waterman, looking one way and rowing another, and I got most of my estate by the same occupation.”

As you have noticed, the names are delightful. Bunyan does not pretend to be subtle. Mr. By-ends praises his kindred from the town of Fair-Speech as being good; however, it is difficult to tell the difference between the citizens of Fair-Speech and Vanity Fair.  Still, unlike the citizens of Vanity Fair, Mr. By-ends is on a pilgrimage to the Celestial City. 

Clearly, however, it echoes the story of the rich young man who comes to Jesus asking what he should do to inherit eternal life. The rich young man asserted that he had always honored the Ten Commandments; however, having a mission for the young man, Christ asked for more.

Luke 18:22-25

 “...Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.”