Stories of the Prosperity Gospel in the 1600s

Same Story, Different Year

It was my under standing that the Prosperity Gospel was a recent development to skew us from the true gospel. But in fact, nothing under the sun is truly new.
Here's an excerpt from the highest sold book written in English, Pilgrim's Progress (1657). The speaker who makes the opening statement is named Mr. Holds-The-World 

      Mr. Holds-The-World-  for for my part I can count him but a Fool, that having the liberty to keep what he has, shall be so unwise as to lose it. Let us be wise as Serpents; ’tis best to make hay when the Sun shines; you see how the Bee lieth still all winter, and bestirs her only when she can have Profit with Pleasure. God sends sometimes Rain, and sometimes Sun-shine; if they be such fools to go through the first, yet let us be content to take fair weather along with us. 

He goes on the say, "I like Religion best when it shows the security of God’s good blessings to us...Since God has given us all these good things in life, wouldn't he want us to keep and enjoy them for his sake?" Don't these assumptions sound familiar? I am not talking about particular people on television, I am talking about the conversation happening all around us. More than just a all the of TV preachers, this is a position of the heart.

This man is with  three companions. One whose name is, Mr. By-Ends poses a question. A very reasonable question if we were all honest with ourselves. He asks Mr Holds (I paraphrase), "What if a man comes to a sort of christian faith or other to increase himself?" To which his friend answers, 

     Suppose a Minister, a worthy man, possess’d but of a very small benefice, and has in his eye a greater, more fat and plump by far; he has also now an opportunity of getting of it, yet so as by being more studious, by preaching more frequently and zealously and because the temper of the people requires it, by altering of some of his principles; for my part I see no reason but a man may do this, (provided he has a Call) ay, and more a great deal besides, and yet be an honest man. 

"Besides," he continues, "if his desire for benefits makes him more studies and educated in the bible, it improves his preaching. Making him a better man."

Christian's Answer...

It is interesting too that these three talk about how to approach Christian (the book's main character) and to convince him that they are in the right for believing this way. Doesn't our conscious bear witness to this? Aren't we apt to justify through Reason our disagreements with Christianity?

But Christian's response is perfect. First he says,

     For if it be unlawful to follow Christ for loaves, as it is John 6. how much more abominable is it to make of him and Religion a Stalking-horse, to get and enjoy the world. 

Jesus would not even be used by men and women to be the solution to world hunger. If his primary purpose is not this, why would it be to add cushion to an already privileged life?

My favorite line is when Christian says, "if a person takes up Jesus to gain the world, they will throw away Jesus for it also." 

Let us be watchful and full of repentance when this desire arises in us. There is abounding mercy for us, but we must see it for what it is and renounce it. 

John Bunyan (1628–1688).  The Pilgrim’s Progress.
The Harvard Classics.  1909–14.