Subordinate Preacher

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.