Bunyan, John, 1628-1688 -- Criticism and interpretation
If you think that I am exaggerating and magnifying the parish pulpit of
Mansoul, take this out of the parish records for yourselves. 'And now,'
you will read in one place, 'it was a day gloomy and dark, a day of
clouds and thick darkness with Mansoul. Well, when the Sabbath-day was
come he took for his text that in the prophet Jonah, "They that observe
lying vanities forsake their own mercy." And then there was such power
and authority in that sermon, and such dejection seen in the countenances
of the people that day that the like had seldom been heard or seen. The
people, when the sermon was done, were scarce able to go to their homes,
or to betake themselves to their employments the whole week after. They
were so sermon-smitten that they knew not what to do. For not only did
their preacher show to Mansoul its sin, but he did tremble before them
under the sense of his own, still crying out as he preached, Unhappy man
that I am! that I, a preacher, should have lived so senselessly and so
sottishly in my parish, and be one of the foremost in its transgressions!
With these things he also charged all the lords and gentry of Mansoul to
the almost distracting of them.' It was Sabbaths like that that made the
people of Mansoul call their minister a seer.
5. And, then, there was another thing that I do not know how better to
describe than by calling it the true catholicity, the true humility, and
the true hospitality of the man. It is true he had no choice in the
matter, for in setting up a standing ministry in Mansoul Emmanuel had
done so with this reservation and addition. We have His very words. 'Not
that you are to have your ministers alone,' He said. 'For my four
captains, they can, if need be, and if they be required, not only
privately inform, but publicly preach both good and wholesome doctrine,
that, if heeded, will do thee good in the end.' Which, again, reminds me
of what Oliver Cromwell wrote to the Honourable Colonel Hacker at
Peebles. 'These: I was not satisfied with your last speech to me about
Empson, that he was a better preacher than fighter--or words to that
effect. Truly, I think that he that prays and preaches best will fight
best. I know nothing that will give like courage and confidence as the
knowledge of God in Christ will. I pray you to receive Captain Empson
lovingly.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account