The Subordinate Preacher
I do not find in “The Holy War” any reference to a church building or chapel. This is because the City of Mansoul is the church. Mansoul is the bride of Christ or the invisible church. There is however reference made to a church preacher. He is referred to as “The Subordinate Preacher”. The Superior Preacher is God Himself. Isaiah 54 v 13 says “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord”. In New Testament Times the Holy spirit is the teacher of God’s people. We read in John 16 v 13 “Howbeit when he, the spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth”.
We first hear of The subordinate Preacher when Mansoul has strayed away from Christ and followed after “Carnal Security”. When we are so tied up with earning a living, and developing our business that we have no time to worship God. This grieves the Holy Spirit and He departs from our lives. Eph 5 v 30 urges us “And grieve not the holy Spirit of god, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption”. The subordinate preacher, in the absence of the Superior preacher therefore becomes the chief preacher. Mr Prywell in love for Mansoul calls upon the ministry of the Subordinate Preacher.
On p 223 of “The Holy War” we read “When Mr. Prywell had heard this story, he did quickly believe it was true; wherefore he went forthwith to my Lord Mayor’s house, and acquainted him therewith, who, sending for the subordinate preacher, brake the business to him; and he as soon gave the alarm to the town, for he was now the chief preacher in Mansoul, because as yet my Lord Secretary was ill at ease”.
The nest part is the nearest thing we find to a church service mentioned in “Holy War”.
The Sub-ordinate Preacher responds by explaining the gospel to the people, and raising the alarm. No comforting soft words of flattery here! Warnings and exhortations abound.
“And this was the way that the subordinate preacher did take to alarm the town therewith. The same hour he caused the lecture-bell to be rung, so the people came together; he gave them a short exhortation to watchfulness, and made Mr. Prywell’s news the argument thereof. “For” said he, “a horrible plot is contrived against Mansoul, even to massacre us all in a day; nor is this story to be slighted, for Mr. Prywell is the author thereof”.
After Mr Prywell has described the plot for Diabolus to re-take Mansoul the subordinate preacher says the following.
“Sirs, it is not irrational for us to believe it, for we have provoked Shaddai to anger, and have sinned Emmanuel out of town; we have forsaken our former mercies ; no marvel then if the enemy both within and without should design and plot our ruin; and what time like this to do it? The sickness is now in the town, and we have been made weak thereby. Many a good meaning man is dead, and the Diabolonians of late grow stronger and stronger”.
If we find that we have sinned away the Holy Spirit from our lives, and we do not feel the love of Christ as we used to, we should return to the Lord and repent of our sin. We need to go t a place where we will hear the true Gospel of redemption through Christ. We need to seek out a true Chief Preacher who will point us once again to the cross of Christ as the source of all truth and holiness. If we have stopped attending a true place of Worship, we need to return to it, and listen to faithful preaching once again.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Battle of the Plains 2
Battle of the plains 2
The Battle of the Plains represents the battle against worldly temptations.
In Genesis 13 and 14 we read how Lot chose the plains of Jordan over the land of Canaan for his flocks and herds. This indicates the lure of the world to a Christian. Will we chose to live a godly life or a worldly life? All went well for fourteen years, then Kedorlaomar and many other kings rose up against the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot was caught up in the fighting and captured by the worldly kings. It is almost possible for a Christian to be swallowed up by troubles of the world and lost. However help is at hand. As Abraham rescued Lot from the world, so Christ rescues the erring Christian who has become overwhelmed by the world.
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
In Genesis 19 we read of the pouring out of God’s wrath upon the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. In verses 24 to 25 we read “Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground”. However our backsliding believer Lot and his family were warned in advance and managed to escape to a city of mercy nearby called Zoar. In verse 12 we read “And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? Son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it”.
In 2 Peter 2 v 6 to 9 we read the interpretation from the New Testament.
“And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds). The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished”.
Bunyan writes about the “City of Destruction” in his other allegory “The Pilgrims’ Progress”. He says about the city of Destruction that “dying there, sooner or later, you will sink lower that the grave, into a place that burns with fire and brimstone”. This sounds remarkably like the description of Sodom and Gomorrah at destruction. The hero Pilgrim fled from the City of destruction just as Lot fled from Sodom. Pilgrim escaped from the City of Destruction by following the instructions of Evangelist and entering the Wicket Gate. This wicket Gate represents Christ who explained that “I am the door: by ne if any man enter in, he shall be saved”. (John 10 v 9). We too can escape the city of Destruction by entering the door or gate of Christ. We can enter the door by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who died to save the lost.
“He died that we might be forgiven
He died to make us good
That we might go at last to heaven
Saved by His precious blood”.
I would urge you to be like that Pilgrim and Lot and flee from the City of Destruction! Run towards the door or gate of the Lord Jesus Christ trusting in His righteousness.
The Battle of the Plains represents the battle against worldly temptations.
In Genesis 13 and 14 we read how Lot chose the plains of Jordan over the land of Canaan for his flocks and herds. This indicates the lure of the world to a Christian. Will we chose to live a godly life or a worldly life? All went well for fourteen years, then Kedorlaomar and many other kings rose up against the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot was caught up in the fighting and captured by the worldly kings. It is almost possible for a Christian to be swallowed up by troubles of the world and lost. However help is at hand. As Abraham rescued Lot from the world, so Christ rescues the erring Christian who has become overwhelmed by the world.
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
In Genesis 19 we read of the pouring out of God’s wrath upon the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. In verses 24 to 25 we read “Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground”. However our backsliding believer Lot and his family were warned in advance and managed to escape to a city of mercy nearby called Zoar. In verse 12 we read “And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? Son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it”.
In 2 Peter 2 v 6 to 9 we read the interpretation from the New Testament.
“And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds). The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished”.
Bunyan writes about the “City of Destruction” in his other allegory “The Pilgrims’ Progress”. He says about the city of Destruction that “dying there, sooner or later, you will sink lower that the grave, into a place that burns with fire and brimstone”. This sounds remarkably like the description of Sodom and Gomorrah at destruction. The hero Pilgrim fled from the City of destruction just as Lot fled from Sodom. Pilgrim escaped from the City of Destruction by following the instructions of Evangelist and entering the Wicket Gate. This wicket Gate represents Christ who explained that “I am the door: by ne if any man enter in, he shall be saved”. (John 10 v 9). We too can escape the city of Destruction by entering the door or gate of Christ. We can enter the door by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who died to save the lost.
“He died that we might be forgiven
He died to make us good
That we might go at last to heaven
Saved by His precious blood”.
I would urge you to be like that Pilgrim and Lot and flee from the City of Destruction! Run towards the door or gate of the Lord Jesus Christ trusting in His righteousness.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Free Will?
Does the human race have free will?
Adam and Eve were created with free- will; the ability to chose between right and wrong. This is illustrated in the narrative by the character of the gates guarding the city of Mansoul. On page 3 we read
“The wall of the town was well built, yea, so fast and firm was it knit and compact together, that had it not been for the townsmen themselves, it could not have been shaken or broken for ever.
For here lay the excellent wisdom of him that builded Mansoul, that the walls could never be broken down, nor hurt, by the most mighty adverse potentate, unless the townsmen gave consent thereto.
This famous town of Mansoul had five gates, in at which to come, out at which to go, and these were made likewise answerable to the walls; to wit impregnable, and such as could never be opened nor forced, but by the will and leave of those within”.
Sadly the townsmen of Mansoul exercised their free-will and allowed Diabolus to enter the eargate. On page 14 we read
“Now these being dead (Captain resistance and Lord Innocence) what do the rest of the townsfolk but as men that had found a fool’s paradise, they presently, as afore was hinted, fall to prove the truth of the giant’s words; and first they did as Ill-pause had taught them; they looked, they considered, they were taken with the forbidden fruit; they took thereof, and did eat; and having eaten, they became immediately drunken therewith. So they opened the gates, both Ear-gate and eye-gate, and let in Diabolus.”.
At the fall mankind became enslaved to Satan and lost its free-will. Now when Emmanuel comes to redeem the city of Mansoul human kind is unable to exercise free will to allow Emmanuel to enter the Eyegate, Eargate, or any other gate. Emmanuel can only enter the city by force. He has to smash the gates to smithereens in order to gain entry. He uses siege engines and sling shots to break the wood in the gates in order to enter. Bunyan writes in the margin notes (p 31) “The will engaged against the Gospel, Good thoughts must be kept out of the town of Mansoul”. And on P 32 “All good thoughts and words in the town are to be suppressed”. When we first hear the gospel, we cannot believe it. We cannot believe that God created the world or that Christ is the son of God. We refuse to believe that we are sinners. We think that our “good deeds” will get us to heaven. These thoughts will prevent Christ entering our souls and saving us.
The forced entry into Mansoul is on page 103. “But after three or four notable charges by the Prince and his noble captains, Ear-gate was broken open, and the bars and bolts wherewith it was used to be fast shut up against the prince were broken into a thousand pieces”. Emmanuel has by-passed the human will and entered the city by his own strength. We are reminded of Romans 5 v 6 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly”. It is significant that Emmanuel first enters by the Ear-gate. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? …So they faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God?”. (Romans 10 v 13 to 18). If you have not yet received salvation, continue hearing the word of God from The Bible, and from preaching and ask Emmanuel himself to beak down the walls of prejudice and antipathy to enter your soul.
Once Emmanuel has entered the city of Mansoul, does mankind’s free-will return? No! A Christian is now not a slave to Satan but a slave to the Lord Jesus Christ. On page 103 we read “ Well, when the prince’s forces had broken open the gate, himself came up and did set his throne in it”. We become like the apostle Paul who describes himself in Romas 1 v1 “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ…”. If we have become Christians we are Christ’s servant. We wish to obey Him and live lives of sacrifice to him, as described in Matthew 10. Especially think of Matt 10 v 38 “And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me”. If we are not yet willing to make Christ the Lord of our lives, we have yet to receive the gift of salvation. Continue to ask Christ for this gift. It is the Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom (Luke 12 v 32).
812
Adam and Eve were created with free- will; the ability to chose between right and wrong. This is illustrated in the narrative by the character of the gates guarding the city of Mansoul. On page 3 we read
“The wall of the town was well built, yea, so fast and firm was it knit and compact together, that had it not been for the townsmen themselves, it could not have been shaken or broken for ever.
For here lay the excellent wisdom of him that builded Mansoul, that the walls could never be broken down, nor hurt, by the most mighty adverse potentate, unless the townsmen gave consent thereto.
This famous town of Mansoul had five gates, in at which to come, out at which to go, and these were made likewise answerable to the walls; to wit impregnable, and such as could never be opened nor forced, but by the will and leave of those within”.
Sadly the townsmen of Mansoul exercised their free-will and allowed Diabolus to enter the eargate. On page 14 we read
“Now these being dead (Captain resistance and Lord Innocence) what do the rest of the townsfolk but as men that had found a fool’s paradise, they presently, as afore was hinted, fall to prove the truth of the giant’s words; and first they did as Ill-pause had taught them; they looked, they considered, they were taken with the forbidden fruit; they took thereof, and did eat; and having eaten, they became immediately drunken therewith. So they opened the gates, both Ear-gate and eye-gate, and let in Diabolus.”.
At the fall mankind became enslaved to Satan and lost its free-will. Now when Emmanuel comes to redeem the city of Mansoul human kind is unable to exercise free will to allow Emmanuel to enter the Eyegate, Eargate, or any other gate. Emmanuel can only enter the city by force. He has to smash the gates to smithereens in order to gain entry. He uses siege engines and sling shots to break the wood in the gates in order to enter. Bunyan writes in the margin notes (p 31) “The will engaged against the Gospel, Good thoughts must be kept out of the town of Mansoul”. And on P 32 “All good thoughts and words in the town are to be suppressed”. When we first hear the gospel, we cannot believe it. We cannot believe that God created the world or that Christ is the son of God. We refuse to believe that we are sinners. We think that our “good deeds” will get us to heaven. These thoughts will prevent Christ entering our souls and saving us.
The forced entry into Mansoul is on page 103. “But after three or four notable charges by the Prince and his noble captains, Ear-gate was broken open, and the bars and bolts wherewith it was used to be fast shut up against the prince were broken into a thousand pieces”. Emmanuel has by-passed the human will and entered the city by his own strength. We are reminded of Romans 5 v 6 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly”. It is significant that Emmanuel first enters by the Ear-gate. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? …So they faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God?”. (Romans 10 v 13 to 18). If you have not yet received salvation, continue hearing the word of God from The Bible, and from preaching and ask Emmanuel himself to beak down the walls of prejudice and antipathy to enter your soul.
Once Emmanuel has entered the city of Mansoul, does mankind’s free-will return? No! A Christian is now not a slave to Satan but a slave to the Lord Jesus Christ. On page 103 we read “ Well, when the prince’s forces had broken open the gate, himself came up and did set his throne in it”. We become like the apostle Paul who describes himself in Romas 1 v1 “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ…”. If we have become Christians we are Christ’s servant. We wish to obey Him and live lives of sacrifice to him, as described in Matthew 10. Especially think of Matt 10 v 38 “And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me”. If we are not yet willing to make Christ the Lord of our lives, we have yet to receive the gift of salvation. Continue to ask Christ for this gift. It is the Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom (Luke 12 v 32).
812
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
The senses
The senses
On page 3 we read:
“This famous town of Mansoul had five gates, in at which to come, out at which to go, and these were made likewise answerable to the walls; to wit impregnable, and such as could never be opened nor forced, but by the will and leave of those within. The names of the gates were these, Ear-gate, Eye-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate and Feel-gate”.
Bunyan is not referring to physical senses of hearing, seeing, touch, taste, and smell, but to spiritual senses. In Psalm 115 v 4 to 8 we hear the heathen idols, and their creators described:
“Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: They have hands , but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them”.
Without faith in Christ we are deaf, blind, senseless, tasteless, and unable to smell the truth as revealed in the Bible. The human mind refuses to open the gates of the spiritual senses and allow Christ the redeemer to enter. Christ has to forcible break down these gates in order to save a human soul. We are reminded of 2 Cor 4 v 3-4
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them”.
If you find yourself unable to understand or believe the gospel of saving grace through faith in the crucified Christ it is because the god of this world has blinded you. You cannot see beyond the tangible to the spiritual. You cannot think of anything except making money, friends, and having fun. Still there is hope. Christ is the light that will help you to see spiritual things. Ask Him in prayer to awaken all of your senses to the spiritual things in life.
On page 3 we read:
“This famous town of Mansoul had five gates, in at which to come, out at which to go, and these were made likewise answerable to the walls; to wit impregnable, and such as could never be opened nor forced, but by the will and leave of those within. The names of the gates were these, Ear-gate, Eye-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate and Feel-gate”.
Bunyan is not referring to physical senses of hearing, seeing, touch, taste, and smell, but to spiritual senses. In Psalm 115 v 4 to 8 we hear the heathen idols, and their creators described:
“Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: They have hands , but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them”.
Without faith in Christ we are deaf, blind, senseless, tasteless, and unable to smell the truth as revealed in the Bible. The human mind refuses to open the gates of the spiritual senses and allow Christ the redeemer to enter. Christ has to forcible break down these gates in order to save a human soul. We are reminded of 2 Cor 4 v 3-4
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them”.
If you find yourself unable to understand or believe the gospel of saving grace through faith in the crucified Christ it is because the god of this world has blinded you. You cannot see beyond the tangible to the spiritual. You cannot think of anything except making money, friends, and having fun. Still there is hope. Christ is the light that will help you to see spiritual things. Ask Him in prayer to awaken all of your senses to the spiritual things in life.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Diabolus
Diabolus.
Diabolus is the Devil as defined in Bunyan’s marginal note. Diabolus is first introduced as “king of the Blacks or Negros”. I wish to pre-emp any questions which readers might pose about these words. Bunyan is not making racist remarks.George Offor who edited the Banner of Truth three volume version of Bunyan’s works explains that this is a reference to the slave trade. He refers to tribal kings who capture their tribal enemies and send them into slavery for money. This is what Satan does. He captures souls, and sells them into slavery to sin. (John 8 v 34 “Whoever committeth sin is the servant of sin”). Compare it with Joseph who was sold by his brothers to some Arab traders for money, and became a slave in Egypt. Even today we read about children being captured and sold into slavery. Josephine Kamm in her book “Men who served Africa” writes on p 14 “The supply of slaves seemed endless, for chiefs in the interior of Africa engaged in tribal warfare solely for the purpose of capturing prisoners, driving them to the coast, and selling them to the Europeans. Large tracts of the country were being laid waste, and thousands of innocent, peace-loving Africans were being sold into slavery by their own rulers”.
Diabolus commits an act of treason by planning to murder the King’s Son so that he can inherit the town of Mansoul (See Rev 12 v 1 -6). “The first founder and Builder of this town was Shaddai (God, see Genesis 17 v 1-2 where El Shaddai is translated as Almighty God). He built it for his own pleasure, and it was beautiful. It was so beautiful that some said the gods came down to look at it and rejoiced”. In Genesis we read “God saw that it was good”. (Genesis 1 v 4, 10,12). The allegory continues with the spiritual rebellion in High Places.. Ephesians 6 v 12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. The sequence of events starts with “Well, upon a time there was one Diabolus, a mighty giant”. He had started well, and had been given much glory in heaven. But he showed himself in his true colours by wanting more. He started as an angel. And fell becoming a fallen angel. Isaiah 14 v 12 says “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which ididst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the starts of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north;: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit”.
The act of treason was spotted by The King (Shaddai) and Prince (Emmanuel) who can see everything and Diabolus (and his devilish companions) are banished from the royal court. “this done, he banishes them from the court, turns them down into the horrible pits, as fast bound in chains, never more to expect the least favour from his hands, but to abide the judegement that he had appointed, and that forever”. How is this arrest to be effected? By Christ’s death on the cross. Satan’s power is curbed because Christ is stronger. Compare it with Rev 20 v 1. “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil,. And Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled”. After the redemptive death of Christ on the cross, the Gospel or church age commenced. Satan’s power was much reduced and this enables the gospel to be preached to the whole world. The key to the rest of the narrative is that Diabolus is so angry and jealous after this banishment that he takes out his anger on the city of Mansoul. Diabolus has been foiled in his attempt to kill the Son of God so he decides to steal the city of Mansoul.
Diabolus is a flatterer and a deceiver as shown by these words from his persuasion of Mansoul (compare with the conversation with Eve in the Garden of Eden).
“Gentlemen of the famous town of Mansoul, ..I will assure you it is not myself, but you- not mine, but your advantage that I seek by what I now do, as will full well be made manifest by that I have opened my mind unto you”. LIES.
“For, gentlemen, I am (to tell you the truth) come to show you how you may obtain great and ample deliverance from a bondage that, unawares to yourselves, you are captivated and enslaved under”. LIES
“Tis not true, for that wherewith he hath hitherto awed you shall not come to pass, nor be fulfilled, though you do the thing that he hath forbidden” Lies. See Genesis 3 v 4 “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die”. LIES.
“Touching his laws, this I say further, they are both unreasonable, intricate, and intolerable. …there is great difference and disproportion betwixt the life and an apple”. LIES
“that fruit you are forbidden to eat of ( if you are forbidden any) is that, and that alone, which is able , by your eating to minister to you a good as yet unknown by you. This is manifest by the very name of the tree; it is called the tree of knowledge of good and evil;”. LIES and Flattery.
The inhabitants of Mansoul believe the lies of Diabolus, and let him onto the city. Disaster! Sin has now entered the world.
Diabolus is the Devil as defined in Bunyan’s marginal note. Diabolus is first introduced as “king of the Blacks or Negros”. I wish to pre-emp any questions which readers might pose about these words. Bunyan is not making racist remarks.George Offor who edited the Banner of Truth three volume version of Bunyan’s works explains that this is a reference to the slave trade. He refers to tribal kings who capture their tribal enemies and send them into slavery for money. This is what Satan does. He captures souls, and sells them into slavery to sin. (John 8 v 34 “Whoever committeth sin is the servant of sin”). Compare it with Joseph who was sold by his brothers to some Arab traders for money, and became a slave in Egypt. Even today we read about children being captured and sold into slavery. Josephine Kamm in her book “Men who served Africa” writes on p 14 “The supply of slaves seemed endless, for chiefs in the interior of Africa engaged in tribal warfare solely for the purpose of capturing prisoners, driving them to the coast, and selling them to the Europeans. Large tracts of the country were being laid waste, and thousands of innocent, peace-loving Africans were being sold into slavery by their own rulers”.
Diabolus commits an act of treason by planning to murder the King’s Son so that he can inherit the town of Mansoul (See Rev 12 v 1 -6). “The first founder and Builder of this town was Shaddai (God, see Genesis 17 v 1-2 where El Shaddai is translated as Almighty God). He built it for his own pleasure, and it was beautiful. It was so beautiful that some said the gods came down to look at it and rejoiced”. In Genesis we read “God saw that it was good”. (Genesis 1 v 4, 10,12). The allegory continues with the spiritual rebellion in High Places.. Ephesians 6 v 12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. The sequence of events starts with “Well, upon a time there was one Diabolus, a mighty giant”. He had started well, and had been given much glory in heaven. But he showed himself in his true colours by wanting more. He started as an angel. And fell becoming a fallen angel. Isaiah 14 v 12 says “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which ididst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the starts of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north;: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit”.
The act of treason was spotted by The King (Shaddai) and Prince (Emmanuel) who can see everything and Diabolus (and his devilish companions) are banished from the royal court. “this done, he banishes them from the court, turns them down into the horrible pits, as fast bound in chains, never more to expect the least favour from his hands, but to abide the judegement that he had appointed, and that forever”. How is this arrest to be effected? By Christ’s death on the cross. Satan’s power is curbed because Christ is stronger. Compare it with Rev 20 v 1. “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil,. And Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled”. After the redemptive death of Christ on the cross, the Gospel or church age commenced. Satan’s power was much reduced and this enables the gospel to be preached to the whole world. The key to the rest of the narrative is that Diabolus is so angry and jealous after this banishment that he takes out his anger on the city of Mansoul. Diabolus has been foiled in his attempt to kill the Son of God so he decides to steal the city of Mansoul.
Diabolus is a flatterer and a deceiver as shown by these words from his persuasion of Mansoul (compare with the conversation with Eve in the Garden of Eden).
“Gentlemen of the famous town of Mansoul, ..I will assure you it is not myself, but you- not mine, but your advantage that I seek by what I now do, as will full well be made manifest by that I have opened my mind unto you”. LIES.
“For, gentlemen, I am (to tell you the truth) come to show you how you may obtain great and ample deliverance from a bondage that, unawares to yourselves, you are captivated and enslaved under”. LIES
“Tis not true, for that wherewith he hath hitherto awed you shall not come to pass, nor be fulfilled, though you do the thing that he hath forbidden” Lies. See Genesis 3 v 4 “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die”. LIES.
“Touching his laws, this I say further, they are both unreasonable, intricate, and intolerable. …there is great difference and disproportion betwixt the life and an apple”. LIES
“that fruit you are forbidden to eat of ( if you are forbidden any) is that, and that alone, which is able , by your eating to minister to you a good as yet unknown by you. This is manifest by the very name of the tree; it is called the tree of knowledge of good and evil;”. LIES and Flattery.
The inhabitants of Mansoul believe the lies of Diabolus, and let him onto the city. Disaster! Sin has now entered the world.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Mansoulians
Who are the Mansoulians?
Mansoulians are the people who live in Mansoul, not the bricks and mortar. We have seen that the bricks and mortar of Mansoul are the bride of Christ, or individual Christians. The inhabitants of Mansoul are the thoughts and desires of the Bride of Christ collectively and individually, both bad (Diabolonians) and good (Mansoulians). Bunyan’s margin notes state that Mansoulian men are good thoughts and women are good conceptions, intentions, and children are good desires. Indeed Bunyan states that Mansoulians were the original inhabitants of Mansoul (characters from before the fall).
On p9 the Mansoulians before the fall are described as “simple and innocent, all honest and true; nor do they yet know what it is to be assaulted with fraud, guile, and hypocrisy. They are strangers to lying and dissembling lips”.
The two most important Mansoulians are Captain Resistance and Lord Innocence. They are known to be brave men, who protected Mansoul from the onslaught of the enemy Diabolus. The first Mansoulian to be named is Captain Resistance (p 9). He is greatly feared by Diabolus and his evil spirits. We are reminded of the verse “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” in James 4 v 7. Resistance is shot dead by Tisiphone (p 12) and Mansoul is left devoid of any courage and resistance to Diabolus. Next to be named are the Mansoulians Lord Innocent, Lord Willbewill and Mr Recorder. Lord Innocent is killed in the attack of Diabolus on Mansoul. He appears to be suffocated by the stinking breath of Ill-pause. The poisonous words of Ill-pause cause Mansoul to sin. Thus mankind looses its innocence and becomes guilty of original sin. With Resistance and Innocence dead, Mansoul eats the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3 v 6).
Lord Willbewill and Mr Recorder (Mr Conscience) and the Lord Mayor, who is called Lord Understanding survive the attack, but are deposed from their offices as the decision makers in the human soul . Each will be looked at in more detail later.
Other Mansoulians are Mr Mind, Mr Affection, the clerks or “yes men” of Mr conscience and Lord Willbewill respectively. Mr Mind had a daughter called Carnal Lust. The name tells us that she was a Diabolonian. It is therefore possible for a Mansoulian to be the parent of a Diabolonian. Remembering Bunyan’s definition that Diabolonian children are evil desires, we see that Mansoulians in their unconverted states have evil desires. Carnal lust marries Mr Affection. Since he also is unconverted, he is called Vile Affection and we must conclude that he marries Carnal Lust from motives of sexual gratification only. This marriage results on the bearing of more children, Impudent, Black-mouth, and Hate-reproof (boys) and Scorn-truth, Slight-God and Revenge. Evil desires give birth to more evil desires. The unconverted soul enters a spiral of sin, leading to worse and worse sins (See the prophet Ballam). This reminds us of Luke 7 v 35 “Wisdom is justified of all her children”. Humanly speaking there is no hope for Mansoul now since the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6 v 23)
Mansoulians who appear later in the narrative are Mr Desires Awake, Mr Wet eyes, Mr Experience, and Godly fear. These represent the soul’s desire to meet with God and be forgiven by Him.
Mansoulians are the people who live in Mansoul, not the bricks and mortar. We have seen that the bricks and mortar of Mansoul are the bride of Christ, or individual Christians. The inhabitants of Mansoul are the thoughts and desires of the Bride of Christ collectively and individually, both bad (Diabolonians) and good (Mansoulians). Bunyan’s margin notes state that Mansoulian men are good thoughts and women are good conceptions, intentions, and children are good desires. Indeed Bunyan states that Mansoulians were the original inhabitants of Mansoul (characters from before the fall).
On p9 the Mansoulians before the fall are described as “simple and innocent, all honest and true; nor do they yet know what it is to be assaulted with fraud, guile, and hypocrisy. They are strangers to lying and dissembling lips”.
The two most important Mansoulians are Captain Resistance and Lord Innocence. They are known to be brave men, who protected Mansoul from the onslaught of the enemy Diabolus. The first Mansoulian to be named is Captain Resistance (p 9). He is greatly feared by Diabolus and his evil spirits. We are reminded of the verse “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” in James 4 v 7. Resistance is shot dead by Tisiphone (p 12) and Mansoul is left devoid of any courage and resistance to Diabolus. Next to be named are the Mansoulians Lord Innocent, Lord Willbewill and Mr Recorder. Lord Innocent is killed in the attack of Diabolus on Mansoul. He appears to be suffocated by the stinking breath of Ill-pause. The poisonous words of Ill-pause cause Mansoul to sin. Thus mankind looses its innocence and becomes guilty of original sin. With Resistance and Innocence dead, Mansoul eats the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3 v 6).
Lord Willbewill and Mr Recorder (Mr Conscience) and the Lord Mayor, who is called Lord Understanding survive the attack, but are deposed from their offices as the decision makers in the human soul . Each will be looked at in more detail later.
Other Mansoulians are Mr Mind, Mr Affection, the clerks or “yes men” of Mr conscience and Lord Willbewill respectively. Mr Mind had a daughter called Carnal Lust. The name tells us that she was a Diabolonian. It is therefore possible for a Mansoulian to be the parent of a Diabolonian. Remembering Bunyan’s definition that Diabolonian children are evil desires, we see that Mansoulians in their unconverted states have evil desires. Carnal lust marries Mr Affection. Since he also is unconverted, he is called Vile Affection and we must conclude that he marries Carnal Lust from motives of sexual gratification only. This marriage results on the bearing of more children, Impudent, Black-mouth, and Hate-reproof (boys) and Scorn-truth, Slight-God and Revenge. Evil desires give birth to more evil desires. The unconverted soul enters a spiral of sin, leading to worse and worse sins (See the prophet Ballam). This reminds us of Luke 7 v 35 “Wisdom is justified of all her children”. Humanly speaking there is no hope for Mansoul now since the “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6 v 23)
Mansoulians who appear later in the narrative are Mr Desires Awake, Mr Wet eyes, Mr Experience, and Godly fear. These represent the soul’s desire to meet with God and be forgiven by Him.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Diabolonians
What are Diabolonians?
On p 1 Bunyan describes the people in the country of Universe. “Some are right and some are wrong”. There are “goodies” and “baddies”. The Diabolonians are definitely “baddies”. The Diabolonians are our sins and sinful thoughts. Bunyan makes a distinction between the original inhabitants of Mansoul (Mansoulians) , and the newcomers. It is the newcomers or strangers that are the Diabolonians. The Diabolonians are driven by fallen angels. Hebrews 1 v 14 defines angels as “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation”. Therefore fallen angels are hindering spirits sent forth to hinder them who shall be heirs of salvation. Bunyan comments in “A Jerusalem Sinner Saved”. “Now, sin swarms and lieth by legions. And whole armies, in the souls of the biggest sinners, as in garrisons”. (see vol 1 p 78 of the Banner of Truth three-volume set of bunyan’s complete works). Further proof is provided by Bunyan’s use of the word “sins” in the margin text next to the words of Diabolus “Nor shall any of those dear friends of mine, that now, for the fear of you, lie lurking in dens and holes and caves in Mansoul, be hurtful to you any more”.
When Mansoul does confess her sin and repent, Emmanuel asks whether all the inhabitants of Mansoul are repenting. The inhabitants answer “All the natives, Lord, but for the Diabolonians that came into our town when the tyrant got possession of us, we can say nothing for them”. Thus the Diabolonians are the sinful thoughts and actions. Some are put to death (repented of) at conversion and others remain in our hearts after conversion. Some of these residual sins are mortified (put to death) after conversion.
Isobel Kuhn talks about the Diabolitians (read as Diabolonians) in her autobiography entitled “By Searching” on p 100. She speaks as a converted person who is training for missionary service and confesses her sins of pride, disobedience and rebellion as her personal Diabolonians.
The Diabolonians are not meant to be seen as unconverted people as Christ would not have us commit murder! Killing Diabolonians is meant to be understood as mortifying the deeds of the flesh. See Romans 8 v 13 “for if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live”.
The sins which are put to death at conversion include Mr Atheism, Mr Lusting, Mr Incredulity, Mr forget Good, Mr Hard Heart, Mr False Peace, Mr No Truth, Mr Pitiless, and Mr Haughty ( see p 145). Notice that they are all commoners – just plain Mr and not Lord. In mediaeval times Lords could escape judgement by bringing their wealth and influence to bear. Commoners had nothing to place between them and justice, and were executed for their crimes.
After the conversion experience, there remains un-repented of sin. These are Lord fornication, Lord Adultery, Lord Murder, Lord Anger, Lord Lasciviousness, Lord Deceit, Lord Evil Eye, Mr Drunkenness, Mr Revelling, Mr Idolatry, Mr Witchcraft, Mr Varience, Mr Emulation, Mr Wrath, Mr Strife, Mr Sedition, and Mr Heresy (see p 176). Notice that there are several “gentry” or Lords who would be able to escape justice in a Mediaeval setting. These are particularly entrenched sins which Christians need to try very hard over a prolonged period of time to achieve mortification.
On p 1 Bunyan describes the people in the country of Universe. “Some are right and some are wrong”. There are “goodies” and “baddies”. The Diabolonians are definitely “baddies”. The Diabolonians are our sins and sinful thoughts. Bunyan makes a distinction between the original inhabitants of Mansoul (Mansoulians) , and the newcomers. It is the newcomers or strangers that are the Diabolonians. The Diabolonians are driven by fallen angels. Hebrews 1 v 14 defines angels as “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation”. Therefore fallen angels are hindering spirits sent forth to hinder them who shall be heirs of salvation. Bunyan comments in “A Jerusalem Sinner Saved”. “Now, sin swarms and lieth by legions. And whole armies, in the souls of the biggest sinners, as in garrisons”. (see vol 1 p 78 of the Banner of Truth three-volume set of bunyan’s complete works). Further proof is provided by Bunyan’s use of the word “sins” in the margin text next to the words of Diabolus “Nor shall any of those dear friends of mine, that now, for the fear of you, lie lurking in dens and holes and caves in Mansoul, be hurtful to you any more”.
When Mansoul does confess her sin and repent, Emmanuel asks whether all the inhabitants of Mansoul are repenting. The inhabitants answer “All the natives, Lord, but for the Diabolonians that came into our town when the tyrant got possession of us, we can say nothing for them”. Thus the Diabolonians are the sinful thoughts and actions. Some are put to death (repented of) at conversion and others remain in our hearts after conversion. Some of these residual sins are mortified (put to death) after conversion.
Isobel Kuhn talks about the Diabolitians (read as Diabolonians) in her autobiography entitled “By Searching” on p 100. She speaks as a converted person who is training for missionary service and confesses her sins of pride, disobedience and rebellion as her personal Diabolonians.
The Diabolonians are not meant to be seen as unconverted people as Christ would not have us commit murder! Killing Diabolonians is meant to be understood as mortifying the deeds of the flesh. See Romans 8 v 13 “for if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live”.
The sins which are put to death at conversion include Mr Atheism, Mr Lusting, Mr Incredulity, Mr forget Good, Mr Hard Heart, Mr False Peace, Mr No Truth, Mr Pitiless, and Mr Haughty ( see p 145). Notice that they are all commoners – just plain Mr and not Lord. In mediaeval times Lords could escape judgement by bringing their wealth and influence to bear. Commoners had nothing to place between them and justice, and were executed for their crimes.
After the conversion experience, there remains un-repented of sin. These are Lord fornication, Lord Adultery, Lord Murder, Lord Anger, Lord Lasciviousness, Lord Deceit, Lord Evil Eye, Mr Drunkenness, Mr Revelling, Mr Idolatry, Mr Witchcraft, Mr Varience, Mr Emulation, Mr Wrath, Mr Strife, Mr Sedition, and Mr Heresy (see p 176). Notice that there are several “gentry” or Lords who would be able to escape justice in a Mediaeval setting. These are particularly entrenched sins which Christians need to try very hard over a prolonged period of time to achieve mortification.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Who is Mansoul?
Mansoul is the Bride of Christ, the invisible church, the gathering of all Christians. The last passage in the Holy War gives us the key to it. The passage annotated “Emmanuel’s speech to Mansoul” states “For yet a little while, O my Mansoul, even after a few more times are gone over thy head, I will take down this famous town of Mansoul, stick and stone, to the ground. And I will carry the stones thereof, and the timber thereof, and the walls thereof, and the dust thereof, and the inhabitants thereof, into mine own country, even into the kingdom of my father; and will there set it up in such strength and glory as it never did see in the kingdom where it is now placed. I will even there set it up for my Father’s habitation, for, for that purpose if was first erected in the kingdom of Universe; and there will I make it a spectacle of wonder, a monument of mercy, and the admirer of its own mercy”.
Compare this with the description of the city of God in Revelation 21 v 2. “And I John saw the Holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” … v 12 “And had a great wall and high and had twelve gates; and at the gates twelve angels, and names written theron, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” Therefore in the analogy the invisible Christian Church is represented by the bricks and mortar of the city of Mansoul. This is consistent with the building analogy in the Bible. See 1 Peter 2 v 5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house”. Also in Hebrews 11 v 10 we read “For he (Abraham) looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God”. The Lord Jesus himself has told us in John 14 v 2 “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you”. Christ Himself is the corner stone of this building. Mark 12 v 10 (and Isaiah 28 v 16) “The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner”.
Mansoul is referred to as “She” which is consistent with Mansoul being the Bride of Christ. On p 62 we read that Shaddai says “If now poor Mansoul would humble herself”. In the Old Testament the type of the invisible church is Jerusalem, Israel’s daughter (Lamentations 2 v 8), and the daughter of Zion (Lamentations 2 v 13). In the New Testament Mansoul is the Kingdom of God in the hearts of believers. Luke 17 v 21 “The Kingdom of God is within you”.
Bunyan also uses the word “they” when referring to Mansoul. The invisible church is made up of individual believers. On P 112 we read Now, what death they should die, and how long they should be in dying, was that which most perplexed their heads and hearts; yea they were afraid that Emmanuel would command them into the deep, the place that the Prince Diabolus was afraid of, for they knew that they had deserved it”.
Would you not like to live in this heavenly city? It is beautiful, richly decorated, eternal and fully furnished with all your needs. It is full of God’s people, each of which lives in a mansion. But this heavenly city is not here on earth, it is in the world to come. You only have one opportunity to live on this earth, and one life in which to repent of your sin, ask for forgiveness and have faith in Christ’s vicarious death. Do not put it off! Turn today to Christ for repentance.
Compare this with the description of the city of God in Revelation 21 v 2. “And I John saw the Holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” … v 12 “And had a great wall and high and had twelve gates; and at the gates twelve angels, and names written theron, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel. On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” Therefore in the analogy the invisible Christian Church is represented by the bricks and mortar of the city of Mansoul. This is consistent with the building analogy in the Bible. See 1 Peter 2 v 5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house”. Also in Hebrews 11 v 10 we read “For he (Abraham) looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God”. The Lord Jesus himself has told us in John 14 v 2 “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you”. Christ Himself is the corner stone of this building. Mark 12 v 10 (and Isaiah 28 v 16) “The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner”.
Mansoul is referred to as “She” which is consistent with Mansoul being the Bride of Christ. On p 62 we read that Shaddai says “If now poor Mansoul would humble herself”. In the Old Testament the type of the invisible church is Jerusalem, Israel’s daughter (Lamentations 2 v 8), and the daughter of Zion (Lamentations 2 v 13). In the New Testament Mansoul is the Kingdom of God in the hearts of believers. Luke 17 v 21 “The Kingdom of God is within you”.
Bunyan also uses the word “they” when referring to Mansoul. The invisible church is made up of individual believers. On P 112 we read Now, what death they should die, and how long they should be in dying, was that which most perplexed their heads and hearts; yea they were afraid that Emmanuel would command them into the deep, the place that the Prince Diabolus was afraid of, for they knew that they had deserved it”.
Would you not like to live in this heavenly city? It is beautiful, richly decorated, eternal and fully furnished with all your needs. It is full of God’s people, each of which lives in a mansion. But this heavenly city is not here on earth, it is in the world to come. You only have one opportunity to live on this earth, and one life in which to repent of your sin, ask for forgiveness and have faith in Christ’s vicarious death. Do not put it off! Turn today to Christ for repentance.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Between two worlds
Between the two worlds
Bunyan describes on p 2 that the town of Mansoul “lieth just between the two worlds”.
These two worlds are heaven and hell. Our progress through life determines whether heaven or hell is our destiny. Both can be reached from the city of Mansoul. It is not popular in our day to point out that there is a heaven and hell. However the Bible is clear on this matter. Psalm 139 v 8 shows us David praying “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there”. Christ explains to us in a kindly way that we can so easily be lost to heaven. In Matthew 5 v 22 the Lord Jesus says “whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgement: and whosoever shall say to his brother Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire”. In Matt 7 v 13 Christ urges us to “enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat”. It is our sin which condemns us to death and hell. However there is a way of escape from hell and that is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the son of God. The strait gate (represented by the wicket gate in Pilgrim’s Progress) is accessed by faith in Christ. Have you ever been angry with someone and called them a fool? Have you ever sinned? We all have! “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” says Paul in Romans 3 v 23. If we think that we are not sinners and are really quite “good” people then we are badly mistaken. 1 John 1 v 8 says “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us”. The first battering ram blow in the Holy war is to accept that we are sinners. 1 John 1 v 9 tells us “If we confess our sins, he (Christ) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all un-righteousness”.
Bunyan describes on p 2 that the town of Mansoul “lieth just between the two worlds”.
These two worlds are heaven and hell. Our progress through life determines whether heaven or hell is our destiny. Both can be reached from the city of Mansoul. It is not popular in our day to point out that there is a heaven and hell. However the Bible is clear on this matter. Psalm 139 v 8 shows us David praying “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there”. Christ explains to us in a kindly way that we can so easily be lost to heaven. In Matthew 5 v 22 the Lord Jesus says “whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgement: and whosoever shall say to his brother Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire”. In Matt 7 v 13 Christ urges us to “enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat”. It is our sin which condemns us to death and hell. However there is a way of escape from hell and that is through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the son of God. The strait gate (represented by the wicket gate in Pilgrim’s Progress) is accessed by faith in Christ. Have you ever been angry with someone and called them a fool? Have you ever sinned? We all have! “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” says Paul in Romans 3 v 23. If we think that we are not sinners and are really quite “good” people then we are badly mistaken. 1 John 1 v 8 says “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us”. The first battering ram blow in the Holy war is to accept that we are sinners. 1 John 1 v 9 tells us “If we confess our sins, he (Christ) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all un-righteousness”.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Who is Ill-pause?
Who is “Ill-Pause”?
The name of Ill Pause
Ill Pause is a mere Mr and not a Lord, so Ill Pause does not survive the conversion process. (see p 107). He makes a “low congee” (or bow) to Diabolus so must be of much inferior rank to Diabolus, and is a chattel or slave.
The word “pause” means a hesitation or break in the flow of speech. Ill-Pause is the personal demon who makes a soul hesitate to come to Christ for salvation. We could call Ill-Pause “Mr Procrastination”, or “Mr Put-It-Off”. He says to every Christian enquirer “Wait until you are old before you become a Christian. Enjoy your young life, make money and become a success, THEN when you are old and about to die repent of your sin and ask for forgiveness and salvation. This reminds us of the man who told the Lord Jesus that he would follow Him after his father had died. Christ replies in Matthew 8 v 22 follow me and let the dead bury their dead”. Putting it in the positive style, “behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6 v2). How do you know that you will outlive your parents? If you wait until they are dead before you follow Christ, you may never be saved. When the Lord Jesus reasons with a soul, He demands that we dispose of this procrastinating and delaying tactic. If you hear the Shepherd’s voice calling you today, then follow Him straight away. “My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me” ( John 10 v 27). Following the shepherd gives safety from predators such as wolves (Satan) and human adversaries. Christ’s sheep shall never perish (John 10 v 28).
He is referred to as “Old Ill-pause” on p 95. This is a term of familiarity. We all know Ill-pause from way back. He has been keeping us from becoming a Christian for years!
The nature of Ill-Pause.
Ill-pause is old.
The name Ill-Pause does not describe all the character of the demon as described by Bunyan. Ill-pause is an old man (see p 107). He has been around since the days of Adam and Eve (p 14), as it was Ill-Pause who reasoned with them and invited them to eat the forbidden fruit. “and first they did as Ill-Pause had taught them, and; they looked, they considered, they were taken with the forbidden fruit; they took thereof, and did eat; and having eaten, they became immediately drunken therewith”. He is also old in the sense that he represents the “Old man” or pre-conversion personality. Eph 4 v 22 urges us to “put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts”.
Ill-pause is Satan’s orator.
The first reference to Ill-pause is on p 10. “Nor took he (Diabolus) any with him, but one Ill-pause, who was his orator in all difficult matters”. This is re-affirmed on p 12 with “Then stood forth that he, Mr. Ill-pause that Diabolus brought with him, who was his orator”. Ill-pause has “stinking breath” which causes the death of Lord Innocency (p 13). The words of Ill-pause are poison, and the fall results from his words as seen in the previous quote from p 14. The fall resulted in sin and guilt entering the world. It can be taken as read that Ill-pause is a liar.
Emmanuel challenges Ill-pause.
In the narrative Emmanuel sends his four captains; Captain Boanerges, Captain Conviction, Captain Judgement, and Captain Execution to challenge Mansoul. Mansoul refuses to hear, but asks for more time to consider Emmanuel’s demands to surrender the City to Himself. The captain of Salvation replies by asking Mansoul to dispose of Ill-pause. He will give Mansoul more time to consider if they will dispose of the delaying mentality. It seems like a contradiction in terms, but Christ is re-affirming the urgency of the need to repent. On p 95 Ill-pause gives his reply. He challenges Emmanuel to take Mansoul by force. “I have in commandment from my high lord (Diabolus) to bid you to tell it to your Prince Emmanuel, that Mansoul and their king are resolved to stand and fall together; and that it is in vain for your prince to think of ever having Mansoul in his hand, unless he can take it by force”. Emanuel accepts the challenge and resolves to take Mansoul by force. “I must try the power of my sword, for I will not raise my siege and depart, but will assuredly take my Mansoul, and deliver it from the hand of her enemy”. The taking by force is consistent with the powerful verse in John 6 v 37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out”.
Ill-pause is wounded.
Emmanuel has uttered strong words and has resolved to take Mansoul by force. This can only be achieved by the death of the old man Mr Ill-pause. On p 98 Ill-pause is wounded. He “received a grievous wound in the head; some say that his brain-pan was cracked. This I have taken notice of, that he was never after this able to do that mischief to Mansoul as he had done in times past”. Although not an outright death, this is the beginning of the end of Ill-pause. His skull was fractured resulting in changes in the way that Mansoul thought. Ill-pause is no longer able to send poisoned, lying words of rebellion about Emmanuel into the heart of Mansoul. The soul has started to seek the Lord for Salvation.
Death of Ill-pause.
On p 107 we read in rather low key language that Ill-pause fell by the hand of Captain Good-hope. The hope of heaven has made the un-believer hurry to Christ for salvation. He or she no longer wishes to delay and put off repentance. This is the most joyous sentence in the whole of the Holy War! We are reminded of 2 Cor 5 v 17 “ therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”. Old Ill-pause is dead, time for the new man to appear. We are urged in
Heb 4 v 22 “that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness”. Now that Ill-pause is dead the new birth can proceed.
The name of Ill Pause
Ill Pause is a mere Mr and not a Lord, so Ill Pause does not survive the conversion process. (see p 107). He makes a “low congee” (or bow) to Diabolus so must be of much inferior rank to Diabolus, and is a chattel or slave.
The word “pause” means a hesitation or break in the flow of speech. Ill-Pause is the personal demon who makes a soul hesitate to come to Christ for salvation. We could call Ill-Pause “Mr Procrastination”, or “Mr Put-It-Off”. He says to every Christian enquirer “Wait until you are old before you become a Christian. Enjoy your young life, make money and become a success, THEN when you are old and about to die repent of your sin and ask for forgiveness and salvation. This reminds us of the man who told the Lord Jesus that he would follow Him after his father had died. Christ replies in Matthew 8 v 22 follow me and let the dead bury their dead”. Putting it in the positive style, “behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6 v2). How do you know that you will outlive your parents? If you wait until they are dead before you follow Christ, you may never be saved. When the Lord Jesus reasons with a soul, He demands that we dispose of this procrastinating and delaying tactic. If you hear the Shepherd’s voice calling you today, then follow Him straight away. “My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me” ( John 10 v 27). Following the shepherd gives safety from predators such as wolves (Satan) and human adversaries. Christ’s sheep shall never perish (John 10 v 28).
He is referred to as “Old Ill-pause” on p 95. This is a term of familiarity. We all know Ill-pause from way back. He has been keeping us from becoming a Christian for years!
The nature of Ill-Pause.
Ill-pause is old.
The name Ill-Pause does not describe all the character of the demon as described by Bunyan. Ill-pause is an old man (see p 107). He has been around since the days of Adam and Eve (p 14), as it was Ill-Pause who reasoned with them and invited them to eat the forbidden fruit. “and first they did as Ill-Pause had taught them, and; they looked, they considered, they were taken with the forbidden fruit; they took thereof, and did eat; and having eaten, they became immediately drunken therewith”. He is also old in the sense that he represents the “Old man” or pre-conversion personality. Eph 4 v 22 urges us to “put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts”.
Ill-pause is Satan’s orator.
The first reference to Ill-pause is on p 10. “Nor took he (Diabolus) any with him, but one Ill-pause, who was his orator in all difficult matters”. This is re-affirmed on p 12 with “Then stood forth that he, Mr. Ill-pause that Diabolus brought with him, who was his orator”. Ill-pause has “stinking breath” which causes the death of Lord Innocency (p 13). The words of Ill-pause are poison, and the fall results from his words as seen in the previous quote from p 14. The fall resulted in sin and guilt entering the world. It can be taken as read that Ill-pause is a liar.
Emmanuel challenges Ill-pause.
In the narrative Emmanuel sends his four captains; Captain Boanerges, Captain Conviction, Captain Judgement, and Captain Execution to challenge Mansoul. Mansoul refuses to hear, but asks for more time to consider Emmanuel’s demands to surrender the City to Himself. The captain of Salvation replies by asking Mansoul to dispose of Ill-pause. He will give Mansoul more time to consider if they will dispose of the delaying mentality. It seems like a contradiction in terms, but Christ is re-affirming the urgency of the need to repent. On p 95 Ill-pause gives his reply. He challenges Emmanuel to take Mansoul by force. “I have in commandment from my high lord (Diabolus) to bid you to tell it to your Prince Emmanuel, that Mansoul and their king are resolved to stand and fall together; and that it is in vain for your prince to think of ever having Mansoul in his hand, unless he can take it by force”. Emanuel accepts the challenge and resolves to take Mansoul by force. “I must try the power of my sword, for I will not raise my siege and depart, but will assuredly take my Mansoul, and deliver it from the hand of her enemy”. The taking by force is consistent with the powerful verse in John 6 v 37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out”.
Ill-pause is wounded.
Emmanuel has uttered strong words and has resolved to take Mansoul by force. This can only be achieved by the death of the old man Mr Ill-pause. On p 98 Ill-pause is wounded. He “received a grievous wound in the head; some say that his brain-pan was cracked. This I have taken notice of, that he was never after this able to do that mischief to Mansoul as he had done in times past”. Although not an outright death, this is the beginning of the end of Ill-pause. His skull was fractured resulting in changes in the way that Mansoul thought. Ill-pause is no longer able to send poisoned, lying words of rebellion about Emmanuel into the heart of Mansoul. The soul has started to seek the Lord for Salvation.
Death of Ill-pause.
On p 107 we read in rather low key language that Ill-pause fell by the hand of Captain Good-hope. The hope of heaven has made the un-believer hurry to Christ for salvation. He or she no longer wishes to delay and put off repentance. This is the most joyous sentence in the whole of the Holy War! We are reminded of 2 Cor 5 v 17 “ therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”. Old Ill-pause is dead, time for the new man to appear. We are urged in
Heb 4 v 22 “that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness”. Now that Ill-pause is dead the new birth can proceed.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Where is conviction of sin?
Where is conviction of sin?
After Diabolus has been bound and stripped of his power, prisoners of war are taken. Lord Understanding, Mr Conscience and Lord Willbewill are put into prison (p112). Later on the prisoners are told they are to be brought before Emmanuel (p124). They fear for their lives.
“This done, each of the three prepared himself to die (and the recorder said unto them, “this was the thing that I feared”), for they concluded that to-morrow by that the sun went down they should be tumbled out of the world. The whole town also counted of no other but that, in their time and order, they must all drink of the same cup. Wherefore the town of Mansoul spent that night in mourning and sackcloth and ashes. The prisoners also, when the time was come for them to go down before the prince, dressed themselves in mourning attire, with ropes upon their heads.”.
This reminds us of 1 Kings chapter 20 when the enemy Ben- hadad (representative of Satan) has been overpowered by the Israelites under the (backslidden) King Ahab and realises that he is beaten. The servants of Ben-hadad said to their King “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and put ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life. So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Ben-hadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? He is my brother”.
This is a wonderful picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. If a backslidden King of Israel can be merciful, how much more will the Lord Jesus Christ be merciful, even calling the repentant enemy “brother”. Those who turn to Christ for the forgiveness of their rebellion and sin become His brother!
Later on (p127) the prisoners in reply to various soul-searching questions reply “We can say nothing Lord; thou art just, for we have sinned”. Then said the prince “And for what are these ropes on your heads” The prisoners answered “These ropes are to bind us withal to the place of execution, if mercy be not pleasing in thy sight”. The margin notes tell us that “They condemn themselves” and refer us to Proverbs 5 v 22 which says “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins”. The cords of his sins are represented graphically by Bunyan on the heads of the prisoners ready to tether them to the execution block.
If we feel that we are condemned by our sins, we have a merciful Saviour. If we confess our sins to Him, and tell Him that we deserve death and condemnation, he will be merciful, and forgive us. 1 john 1 v 8 to 9 says “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.
After Diabolus has been bound and stripped of his power, prisoners of war are taken. Lord Understanding, Mr Conscience and Lord Willbewill are put into prison (p112). Later on the prisoners are told they are to be brought before Emmanuel (p124). They fear for their lives.
“This done, each of the three prepared himself to die (and the recorder said unto them, “this was the thing that I feared”), for they concluded that to-morrow by that the sun went down they should be tumbled out of the world. The whole town also counted of no other but that, in their time and order, they must all drink of the same cup. Wherefore the town of Mansoul spent that night in mourning and sackcloth and ashes. The prisoners also, when the time was come for them to go down before the prince, dressed themselves in mourning attire, with ropes upon their heads.”.
This reminds us of 1 Kings chapter 20 when the enemy Ben- hadad (representative of Satan) has been overpowered by the Israelites under the (backslidden) King Ahab and realises that he is beaten. The servants of Ben-hadad said to their King “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and put ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life. So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Ben-hadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? He is my brother”.
This is a wonderful picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. If a backslidden King of Israel can be merciful, how much more will the Lord Jesus Christ be merciful, even calling the repentant enemy “brother”. Those who turn to Christ for the forgiveness of their rebellion and sin become His brother!
Later on (p127) the prisoners in reply to various soul-searching questions reply “We can say nothing Lord; thou art just, for we have sinned”. Then said the prince “And for what are these ropes on your heads” The prisoners answered “These ropes are to bind us withal to the place of execution, if mercy be not pleasing in thy sight”. The margin notes tell us that “They condemn themselves” and refer us to Proverbs 5 v 22 which says “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins”. The cords of his sins are represented graphically by Bunyan on the heads of the prisoners ready to tether them to the execution block.
If we feel that we are condemned by our sins, we have a merciful Saviour. If we confess our sins to Him, and tell Him that we deserve death and condemnation, he will be merciful, and forgive us. 1 john 1 v 8 to 9 says “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.
Monday, July 19, 2010
What is the battle of the plains?
What is the battle of the plains?
We read about the battle of the plains (or valleys) towards the end of Bunyan’s Holy War (pages 271 to 275).
The battle of the plains is the battle that Christians fight in their secular lives. In 1 Kings 20 the enemy Ben-Hadad (symbolic of the adversary Satan), declares war on the Israelites. Firstly he fights the Israelites in the hills, and is defeated. The hills or high places are symbolic of the place of worship, or religious life whether Christian or Pagan. Christ has won the battle of the hills by his substitutionary death on the cross for the sins of His people. Christ is Lord of the Sabbath. The Syrians said “Their gods are gods of the hills,; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they” (1 Kings 20 v 23 and 28). Satan whispers in the ear of a Christian and tells him that as long as we attend church on Sunday, the rest of the week is for ourselves. We can please ourselves with entertainments, and run our business life with whatever ethical stance we like. However Christ declares that he is Lord (not just of the Sabbath) but of all the other days of the week too. “Thus saith the Lord, Because the Syrians have said, The Lord is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the Lord” (1 Kings 20 v 28). We must remember to maintain a Christian testimony in our secular lives whether this is at work, school, college or in the home. Christ is Lord of the secular world.
The part of the Holy War referring to the battle on the plain shows how Christ meets us in the battle of the secular life which he has called us to. Captain Credence has told the Mansoulians that Emmanuel will meet them in the field the next day and will fight alongside them. We are reminded of the battle between Joshua and the Amorites in Joshua chapter 10. In verse 11 God sends hailstones to kill the Amorites “The Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them at Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword”. Similarly Moses prevailed by prayer against the Amelekites (Exodus 17 v 8 to 13). The Israelites prevailed over the Moabites (2 Kings 3 v 16 to 27). Is Christ interested in what we do and say at work? Yes he is. He is Lord of the secular. He will fight alongside us in our battle to uphold His name in secular settings. He will send hailstones to dampen the temptations we encounter during the week, and He will give us the victory.
We read about the battle of the plains (or valleys) towards the end of Bunyan’s Holy War (pages 271 to 275).
The battle of the plains is the battle that Christians fight in their secular lives. In 1 Kings 20 the enemy Ben-Hadad (symbolic of the adversary Satan), declares war on the Israelites. Firstly he fights the Israelites in the hills, and is defeated. The hills or high places are symbolic of the place of worship, or religious life whether Christian or Pagan. Christ has won the battle of the hills by his substitutionary death on the cross for the sins of His people. Christ is Lord of the Sabbath. The Syrians said “Their gods are gods of the hills,; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they” (1 Kings 20 v 23 and 28). Satan whispers in the ear of a Christian and tells him that as long as we attend church on Sunday, the rest of the week is for ourselves. We can please ourselves with entertainments, and run our business life with whatever ethical stance we like. However Christ declares that he is Lord (not just of the Sabbath) but of all the other days of the week too. “Thus saith the Lord, Because the Syrians have said, The Lord is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the Lord” (1 Kings 20 v 28). We must remember to maintain a Christian testimony in our secular lives whether this is at work, school, college or in the home. Christ is Lord of the secular world.
The part of the Holy War referring to the battle on the plain shows how Christ meets us in the battle of the secular life which he has called us to. Captain Credence has told the Mansoulians that Emmanuel will meet them in the field the next day and will fight alongside them. We are reminded of the battle between Joshua and the Amorites in Joshua chapter 10. In verse 11 God sends hailstones to kill the Amorites “The Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them at Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword”. Similarly Moses prevailed by prayer against the Amelekites (Exodus 17 v 8 to 13). The Israelites prevailed over the Moabites (2 Kings 3 v 16 to 27). Is Christ interested in what we do and say at work? Yes he is. He is Lord of the secular. He will fight alongside us in our battle to uphold His name in secular settings. He will send hailstones to dampen the temptations we encounter during the week, and He will give us the victory.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Is the Cross depicted in the "Holy War"?
It is the opinion of many people that Bunyan does not refer to the Cross of Christ enough times in the Holy War. For example Faith Cook in her excellent book “Fearless Pilgrim” states on page 382 “Perhaps the weakest point, and the point at which allegory itself fails as a medium for expressing the full-orbed gospel, is in the treatment of redemption by the cross of Christ. Not until the end of the book do we discover, in perhaps one of the finest passages of all, Emmanuel proclaiming his redemptive work on behalf of Mansoul” and then Faith Cook quotes the place starting with “O my Mansoul, I have lived, I have died etc”.
Without wishing to contradict Faith Cook, there are other references to the cross. They fall into two categories, direct and allegorical.
Firstly the direct references will be discussed. There is a passage on “Residual Sin” starting on page 175 starting with the words “Next, O my Mansoul…”. On page 177 we read
“I give you, my Lord Mayor, my Lord Willbewill, and Mr Recorder, with all the inhabitants of the town of Mansoul, full power and commission to seek out, to take, and to cause to be put to death by the cross, all, and all manner of Diabolonians when and wherever you shall find them to lurk within or to range without the walls of the town of Mansoul”.
We should never forget that Christ is a Saviour primarily from Sin. We are saved by our sins being put to death on the cross. What sins is Bunyan talking about? We have too many sins to list, however Bunyan does name some of them on p 176.
“Lord fornication, Lord Adultery, the Lord Murder, the Lord Anger, the Lord Lasciviousness, the Lord Deceit, the Lord Evil-eye, Mr Drunkenness, Mr Revelling, Mr Idolatry, Mr Witchcraft, Mr Variance, Mr Emulation, Mr wrath, Mr Strife, Mr Sedition, and Mr Heresy. These are some of the chief, O Mansoul”.
We must therefore conclude that when Bunyan writes about a Diabolonian being put to death, he is referring to the cross of Christ.
Secondly the allegorical references will be discussed. The gospel of Jesus Christ is depicted as a trumpet like the one that made the walls of Jericho fall down. The Gospel must of necessity contain teaching about the Cross of Christ and his substitution for us as the wrath of god the Father was poured out.
“ Well, before the king’s forces had sat before Mansoul three days, Captain Boanerges commanded his trumpeter to go down to Ear-gate, and there, in the name of the great Shaddai, to summon Mansoul to give audience to the message that he, in his master’s name, was to them commanded to deliver. So the trumpeter, whose name was Take-heed-what-you-hear, went up, as he was commanded, to Ear-Gate, and there sounded his trumpet for a hearing”. Sadly this gospel trumpet is not heeded, and neither is the second.
In further support of this line of reasoning I refer to p 56.
“After which they gave out the word, which was, “Ye must be born again”. Then they sounded the trumpet”…
The gospel of Jesus Christ is depicted as a chariot. Take a look at p 110.
“Thus having made Diabolus naked in the eyes of Mansoul, and before the commanders of the Prince, in the next place he commands that Diabolus should be bound with chains to his chariot wheels”. This reminds us of Habakkuk 3 v 8 which refers to the chariots of salvation.
“Thou didst ride upon thine horses and the chariots of salvation”.
Any gospel presentation (chariot or vehicle of salvation) must contain mention of the cross of Christ so we must take it as an allegorical reference to the cross.
The Bible itself uses allegory as a means of depicting the gospel of Christ’s death on the cross (including trumpets and chariots and many more for example the crossing of the Red Sea etc). Our Scientific age has programmed our minds to want things spelt out in literal non-allegorical words.
If we find allegory difficult to understand we should seek the Lord’s face in prayer. The all knowing God will give wisdom.
Without wishing to contradict Faith Cook, there are other references to the cross. They fall into two categories, direct and allegorical.
Firstly the direct references will be discussed. There is a passage on “Residual Sin” starting on page 175 starting with the words “Next, O my Mansoul…”. On page 177 we read
“I give you, my Lord Mayor, my Lord Willbewill, and Mr Recorder, with all the inhabitants of the town of Mansoul, full power and commission to seek out, to take, and to cause to be put to death by the cross, all, and all manner of Diabolonians when and wherever you shall find them to lurk within or to range without the walls of the town of Mansoul”.
We should never forget that Christ is a Saviour primarily from Sin. We are saved by our sins being put to death on the cross. What sins is Bunyan talking about? We have too many sins to list, however Bunyan does name some of them on p 176.
“Lord fornication, Lord Adultery, the Lord Murder, the Lord Anger, the Lord Lasciviousness, the Lord Deceit, the Lord Evil-eye, Mr Drunkenness, Mr Revelling, Mr Idolatry, Mr Witchcraft, Mr Variance, Mr Emulation, Mr wrath, Mr Strife, Mr Sedition, and Mr Heresy. These are some of the chief, O Mansoul”.
We must therefore conclude that when Bunyan writes about a Diabolonian being put to death, he is referring to the cross of Christ.
Secondly the allegorical references will be discussed. The gospel of Jesus Christ is depicted as a trumpet like the one that made the walls of Jericho fall down. The Gospel must of necessity contain teaching about the Cross of Christ and his substitution for us as the wrath of god the Father was poured out.
“ Well, before the king’s forces had sat before Mansoul three days, Captain Boanerges commanded his trumpeter to go down to Ear-gate, and there, in the name of the great Shaddai, to summon Mansoul to give audience to the message that he, in his master’s name, was to them commanded to deliver. So the trumpeter, whose name was Take-heed-what-you-hear, went up, as he was commanded, to Ear-Gate, and there sounded his trumpet for a hearing”. Sadly this gospel trumpet is not heeded, and neither is the second.
In further support of this line of reasoning I refer to p 56.
“After which they gave out the word, which was, “Ye must be born again”. Then they sounded the trumpet”…
The gospel of Jesus Christ is depicted as a chariot. Take a look at p 110.
“Thus having made Diabolus naked in the eyes of Mansoul, and before the commanders of the Prince, in the next place he commands that Diabolus should be bound with chains to his chariot wheels”. This reminds us of Habakkuk 3 v 8 which refers to the chariots of salvation.
“Thou didst ride upon thine horses and the chariots of salvation”.
Any gospel presentation (chariot or vehicle of salvation) must contain mention of the cross of Christ so we must take it as an allegorical reference to the cross.
The Bible itself uses allegory as a means of depicting the gospel of Christ’s death on the cross (including trumpets and chariots and many more for example the crossing of the Red Sea etc). Our Scientific age has programmed our minds to want things spelt out in literal non-allegorical words.
If we find allegory difficult to understand we should seek the Lord’s face in prayer. The all knowing God will give wisdom.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Who is Lord Understanding?
Lord Understanding is the Lord Mayor. He is the most powerful person in Mansoul. Mediaeval Lords had very strong power over their serfs, and could demand forced labour from their underlings. Thus the understanding is the most motivating factor in the human soul. This understanding though is not just understanding of life, wisdom and philosophy. It is the understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our understanding either is a source of salvation or condemnation.
When Diabolus enters the town of Mansoul, Lord Understanding is divested of his power. The view from his palace is spoilt as Satan builds a high and strong tower between the sun and the palace windows. Lord Understanding now lives in darkness or faithlessness. Compare this with Romans 1 v 21.
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened”.
Ephesians 4 v 18 also talks about the un-saved person:
“Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart”.
Such was the enslavement of Lord Understanding that although in the past he had been a benefit to the town he now becomes a hindrance to the town. If you speak to many un-converted persons about Creation, Christ and the path of Salvation they will reply that they think all religion is pointless. They simply cannot understand the gospel. They say that they do not have the imagination to believe in God. This is the darkness of the understanding.
2 Cor 4 v 3 says:
But if the gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them”.
And 1 Cor 1 v 18.
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God”.
What if we find ourselves in this position of having our understanding darkened? What if we simply cannot understand the gospel of Jesus Christ and it appears to us as foolishness? We need to ask the creator God to open the eye gate and let in the light of the gospel. We need to pray to the Lord Jesus Christ and ask Him to open our understanding and give us the ability to believe. Do not delay, and think “I will wait until I am older”. As we go through life our concept of what is “old” changes. When we are 20, old is 30. When we are 80 our idea of old is 90. Do you really know when God is going to end your life? Of course not! Don’t leave it too late. Turn to god today and ask Him that he might kindly let the light shine onto your understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation”. ( 2 Cor 6 v 2)
When Diabolus enters the town of Mansoul, Lord Understanding is divested of his power. The view from his palace is spoilt as Satan builds a high and strong tower between the sun and the palace windows. Lord Understanding now lives in darkness or faithlessness. Compare this with Romans 1 v 21.
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened”.
Ephesians 4 v 18 also talks about the un-saved person:
“Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart”.
Such was the enslavement of Lord Understanding that although in the past he had been a benefit to the town he now becomes a hindrance to the town. If you speak to many un-converted persons about Creation, Christ and the path of Salvation they will reply that they think all religion is pointless. They simply cannot understand the gospel. They say that they do not have the imagination to believe in God. This is the darkness of the understanding.
2 Cor 4 v 3 says:
But if the gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them”.
And 1 Cor 1 v 18.
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God”.
What if we find ourselves in this position of having our understanding darkened? What if we simply cannot understand the gospel of Jesus Christ and it appears to us as foolishness? We need to ask the creator God to open the eye gate and let in the light of the gospel. We need to pray to the Lord Jesus Christ and ask Him to open our understanding and give us the ability to believe. Do not delay, and think “I will wait until I am older”. As we go through life our concept of what is “old” changes. When we are 20, old is 30. When we are 80 our idea of old is 90. Do you really know when God is going to end your life? Of course not! Don’t leave it too late. Turn to god today and ask Him that he might kindly let the light shine onto your understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation”. ( 2 Cor 6 v 2)
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Who is Lord Willbewill?
The first part of the name “Willbewill” confirms that the name describes the human will. The will is the motivating force of our lives. Just as Eve consented to take the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3 v 6), so Mansoul consented to allow Diabolus into the town.
“The wall of the town was well built, yea so fast and firm was it knot and compact together, that had it not been for the townsmen themselves, it could not have been shaken or broken for ever. For here lay the excellent wisdom of him that builded Mansoul, that the walls could never be broken down, nor hurt by the mighty adverse potentate, unless the townsmen gave consent thereto”.
Later on in the narrative, the conscience, the Will and the Understanding confess to the Prince that they chose to disobey.
“Are you the men that did suffer yourselves to be corrupted and defiled by the abominable one, Diabolus?” and they said “We did more than to suffer it, Lord: for we chose it of our own mind”.
And so it is that if we live our lives without faith in Christ we will be held responsible for wilful disobedience. God commands all men everywhere to repent (Read Acts 17 v 30).
However there is more to the name than that. What are we to make of the “bewill” part of the name? I would like to venture the following explanation. The human will is strong but fickle. In the state of innocence the Will is subject to God. After the fall it becomes subject to Satan. Emmanuel brings the will back into subjection to God according to the supreme sovereignty of God. Therefore “willbewill” could be interpreted in the colloquial sense of “whatever will be will be”. That Emmanuel brings back the will into subjection is shown in the narrative when Captain Execution seeks out Lord Willbewill.
“Captain Execution…hunted the Lord Willbewill sorely; he suffered him not to rest in any corner. He pursued him so hard, that he drove his men from him and made him glad to thrust his head into a hole”.
And so it is that the sinner finds himself hunted out by God. Where-ever he goes he meets Christians. Whatever he thinks about reminds him that there is a God, so that eventually he has to say “Lord I surrender! I believe in Thee”.
That Emmanuel brings the will into subjection is also shown in the narrative when Lord Willbewill faints at the feet of Emmanuel.
“now, the prisoners when they did hear the gracious words of Prince emmamuel, and had beheld all that was done unto them, fainted almost quite away… Yea, my Lord Willbewill swooned outright…”.
The newly converted Christian is so overwhelmed by God’s grace and kindness that he wants to obey the Lord. His will becomes subject to Christ.
Lord Willbewill has been overpowered by Emmanuel. Emmanuel has informed Mansoul (through captain Boanerges) that he will take the city by force and this he has now done.
“And he (Shaddai) hath commanded me, in case you yield upon my summons, to carry it to you as if you were my friends or brethren; but he also hath bid, that if, after summons to submit, you still stand out and rebel, we should take you by force”.
Thus we see that the fall of Mansoul to Emmanuel is through the power of God. If God has ordained a matter it will happen and no man can stop it. The re-capture of Mansoul had been agreed upon by Shaddai and Emmanuel long, long ago and therefore was inevitable.
“ but by that they (the royal courtiers) had heard the whole of the story, it would have amazed one to have seen, had he been there to behold it, what sorrow and grief, and compunction of spirit there was among all sorts, to think that famous Mansoul was now taken: only the king and his son foresaw all this long before, yea, and sufficiently provided for the relief of Mansoul, though they told everybody thereof”. And a little further on “Well, when the king and his son were retired into the privy chamber, there they again consulted about what they had designed before, to wit, that as Mansoul should in time be suffered to be lost, so as certainly it should be recovered again; recovered, I say, in such a way as that both the king and his son would get themselves eternal fame, and glory thereby. Wherefore, after this consult. The son of Shaddai…having stricken hands with his father, and promised that he would be his servant to recover his Mansoul again, stood by his resolution, nor would he repent of the same. The purport of which agreement was this, to wit, that at a certain time prefixed by both, the king’s son should take a journey into the country of Universe, and there, in a way of justice, and equity, by making amends for the follies of Mansoul, he should lay a foundation of her perfect deliverance from Diabolus , and from his tyranny”.
The salvation of Mansoul as the corporate body of Christ and an individual believer is therefore pre-ordained. Is it possible for salvation not to happen when Christ Himself has promised the Father that he will go onto earth and secure it? No!
The word “Lord” also is important. The Will is a highly motivating factor in the human life. In Mediaeval times the Lords could escape justice because of their money, influence and “friends in high places”. After Lord Willbewill is taken prisoner Bunyan tells us that
“The town was also greatly troubled for the men that were committed to ward, for that they were their stay and their guide, and for that they believed that , if those men were cut off, their execution would be but the beginning of the ruin of the town of Mansoul”.
Emmanuel is very gracious to Lord Willbewill and rather than executing him promotes him.
“Emmanuel called the Lord Willbewill to him, and gave him the militia into his hand, and a special charge to withstand all insurrections and tumults that might be made in Mansoul against the peace of our lord the king, and the peace and tranquillity of the town of Mansoul. He also gave him in commission, that if he found any of the Diabolonians lurking in any corner in the famous town of Mansoul he should forthwith apprehend them, and stay them or commit them to safe custody, that they may be proceeded against according to law”.
Even after conversion the human will can cause us difficulties. We can sin by wilful disobedience. Lord Willbewill still continues to exert his authority over us.
“The wall of the town was well built, yea so fast and firm was it knot and compact together, that had it not been for the townsmen themselves, it could not have been shaken or broken for ever. For here lay the excellent wisdom of him that builded Mansoul, that the walls could never be broken down, nor hurt by the mighty adverse potentate, unless the townsmen gave consent thereto”.
Later on in the narrative, the conscience, the Will and the Understanding confess to the Prince that they chose to disobey.
“Are you the men that did suffer yourselves to be corrupted and defiled by the abominable one, Diabolus?” and they said “We did more than to suffer it, Lord: for we chose it of our own mind”.
And so it is that if we live our lives without faith in Christ we will be held responsible for wilful disobedience. God commands all men everywhere to repent (Read Acts 17 v 30).
However there is more to the name than that. What are we to make of the “bewill” part of the name? I would like to venture the following explanation. The human will is strong but fickle. In the state of innocence the Will is subject to God. After the fall it becomes subject to Satan. Emmanuel brings the will back into subjection to God according to the supreme sovereignty of God. Therefore “willbewill” could be interpreted in the colloquial sense of “whatever will be will be”. That Emmanuel brings back the will into subjection is shown in the narrative when Captain Execution seeks out Lord Willbewill.
“Captain Execution…hunted the Lord Willbewill sorely; he suffered him not to rest in any corner. He pursued him so hard, that he drove his men from him and made him glad to thrust his head into a hole”.
And so it is that the sinner finds himself hunted out by God. Where-ever he goes he meets Christians. Whatever he thinks about reminds him that there is a God, so that eventually he has to say “Lord I surrender! I believe in Thee”.
That Emmanuel brings the will into subjection is also shown in the narrative when Lord Willbewill faints at the feet of Emmanuel.
“now, the prisoners when they did hear the gracious words of Prince emmamuel, and had beheld all that was done unto them, fainted almost quite away… Yea, my Lord Willbewill swooned outright…”.
The newly converted Christian is so overwhelmed by God’s grace and kindness that he wants to obey the Lord. His will becomes subject to Christ.
Lord Willbewill has been overpowered by Emmanuel. Emmanuel has informed Mansoul (through captain Boanerges) that he will take the city by force and this he has now done.
“And he (Shaddai) hath commanded me, in case you yield upon my summons, to carry it to you as if you were my friends or brethren; but he also hath bid, that if, after summons to submit, you still stand out and rebel, we should take you by force”.
Thus we see that the fall of Mansoul to Emmanuel is through the power of God. If God has ordained a matter it will happen and no man can stop it. The re-capture of Mansoul had been agreed upon by Shaddai and Emmanuel long, long ago and therefore was inevitable.
“ but by that they (the royal courtiers) had heard the whole of the story, it would have amazed one to have seen, had he been there to behold it, what sorrow and grief, and compunction of spirit there was among all sorts, to think that famous Mansoul was now taken: only the king and his son foresaw all this long before, yea, and sufficiently provided for the relief of Mansoul, though they told everybody thereof”. And a little further on “Well, when the king and his son were retired into the privy chamber, there they again consulted about what they had designed before, to wit, that as Mansoul should in time be suffered to be lost, so as certainly it should be recovered again; recovered, I say, in such a way as that both the king and his son would get themselves eternal fame, and glory thereby. Wherefore, after this consult. The son of Shaddai…having stricken hands with his father, and promised that he would be his servant to recover his Mansoul again, stood by his resolution, nor would he repent of the same. The purport of which agreement was this, to wit, that at a certain time prefixed by both, the king’s son should take a journey into the country of Universe, and there, in a way of justice, and equity, by making amends for the follies of Mansoul, he should lay a foundation of her perfect deliverance from Diabolus , and from his tyranny”.
The salvation of Mansoul as the corporate body of Christ and an individual believer is therefore pre-ordained. Is it possible for salvation not to happen when Christ Himself has promised the Father that he will go onto earth and secure it? No!
The word “Lord” also is important. The Will is a highly motivating factor in the human life. In Mediaeval times the Lords could escape justice because of their money, influence and “friends in high places”. After Lord Willbewill is taken prisoner Bunyan tells us that
“The town was also greatly troubled for the men that were committed to ward, for that they were their stay and their guide, and for that they believed that , if those men were cut off, their execution would be but the beginning of the ruin of the town of Mansoul”.
Emmanuel is very gracious to Lord Willbewill and rather than executing him promotes him.
“Emmanuel called the Lord Willbewill to him, and gave him the militia into his hand, and a special charge to withstand all insurrections and tumults that might be made in Mansoul against the peace of our lord the king, and the peace and tranquillity of the town of Mansoul. He also gave him in commission, that if he found any of the Diabolonians lurking in any corner in the famous town of Mansoul he should forthwith apprehend them, and stay them or commit them to safe custody, that they may be proceeded against according to law”.
Even after conversion the human will can cause us difficulties. We can sin by wilful disobedience. Lord Willbewill still continues to exert his authority over us.
Monday, June 7, 2010
How should we interpret the "Holy War?"
Many people are familiar with the famous Pilgrim’s Progress by Bunyan but not so familiar with his Holy War. This means that when they begin to read Holy War they carry through the method of interpreting the narrative that has proved so helpful in Pilgrim’s progress. However the present author believes that this would be a mistake that gets in the way of understanding the "Holy War".
The method that we use to interpret the "Holy War" should be different to that of the Pilgrims Progress. In Pilgrim’s Progress we could quite legitimately ascribe each character to a person that we might meet in life. For example we might be able to name a person who is the essence of pliable because he/she showed interest in the Christian gospel but then was swayed by worldly considerations and abandoned the pathway to life. Indeed many have ascribed characters in Pilgrims Progress to persons that Bunyan met in his own life (for example Barry Horner ascribes the character of faithful to William Dell). However in the "Holy War" the characters that we meet are intended to be un-repented of sins in the believer, or the virtues of a believer. For example Mr Good-deed (in Holy War)is the personification of the self-righteousness of the pre-conversion state of the Christian. Mr Carnal security is the personification of the desire of Christians to be wealthy and secure in this life. These could be described as corporate characters of the Bride of Christ. Bunyan often refers to the original inhabitants of the town of Mansoul. These are the pre-fall characteristics of man. “There was not a rascal, rogue, or traitorous person then within its walls; they were all true men”. God created the world “good” or perfect. After the fall, sin is represented by a myriad of characters (for example Mr Forget-good the fallen recorder). The putting to death of characters is representative of mortification of sin. It was not intended to suggest that sinners are to be killed.
This is evident for example on p 60 when we read of the earliest casualties at the had of Shaddai Mr Swearing, Mr Whoring, Mr Fury, Mr Stand-to-lies, Mr drunkenness, and Mr Cheating. Later on (p 93) Emmanuel states “all manner of Diabolonians that now are, or that at any time shall be found in Mansoul, shall not only lose their lands and liberties, but also their lives”.
The method that we use to interpret the "Holy War" should be different to that of the Pilgrims Progress. In Pilgrim’s Progress we could quite legitimately ascribe each character to a person that we might meet in life. For example we might be able to name a person who is the essence of pliable because he/she showed interest in the Christian gospel but then was swayed by worldly considerations and abandoned the pathway to life. Indeed many have ascribed characters in Pilgrims Progress to persons that Bunyan met in his own life (for example Barry Horner ascribes the character of faithful to William Dell). However in the "Holy War" the characters that we meet are intended to be un-repented of sins in the believer, or the virtues of a believer. For example Mr Good-deed (in Holy War)is the personification of the self-righteousness of the pre-conversion state of the Christian. Mr Carnal security is the personification of the desire of Christians to be wealthy and secure in this life. These could be described as corporate characters of the Bride of Christ. Bunyan often refers to the original inhabitants of the town of Mansoul. These are the pre-fall characteristics of man. “There was not a rascal, rogue, or traitorous person then within its walls; they were all true men”. God created the world “good” or perfect. After the fall, sin is represented by a myriad of characters (for example Mr Forget-good the fallen recorder). The putting to death of characters is representative of mortification of sin. It was not intended to suggest that sinners are to be killed.
This is evident for example on p 60 when we read of the earliest casualties at the had of Shaddai Mr Swearing, Mr Whoring, Mr Fury, Mr Stand-to-lies, Mr drunkenness, and Mr Cheating. Later on (p 93) Emmanuel states “all manner of Diabolonians that now are, or that at any time shall be found in Mansoul, shall not only lose their lands and liberties, but also their lives”.
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