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
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