The Riches of Bunyan: Selected from His WorksBunyan, John
Religion
The Riches of Bunyan: Selected from His Works
Bunyan, John
Theology, Doctrinal
The Interpreter answered, "This parlor is the heart of a man that
was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the gospel; the dust is
his, original sin and inward corruptions that have defiled the whole
man. He that began to sweep at first is the law; but she that
brought water and did sprinkle it, is the gospel. Now whereas thou
sawest that so soon as the first began to sweep, the dust did so fly
about that the room by him could not be cleansed, but that thou wast
almost choked therewith: this is to show thee that the law, instead
of cleansing the heart by its working, from sin, doth revive, put
strength into, and increase it in the soul, even as it doth discover
and forbid it; for it doth not give power to subdue it. Rom. 5: 20;
7:11; 1 Cor. 15:56."
Again, as thou sawest the damsel sprinkle the room with, water,
upon which it was cleansed with pleasure this is to show thee that
when the gospel comes in the sweet and precious influences thereof
to the heart, then, I say, even as thou sawest the damsel lay the
dust fry sprinkling the floor with water, so is sin vanquished and
subdued, and the soul made clean through the faith of it, and
consequently fit for the King of glory to inhabit. John 14: 21-23;
15:3; Acts 15:9; Rom. 16: 25, 26; Eph. 5:26.
When Christ dwells in my heart by faith and the moral law dwells in
my members, the one to keep up peace with God, the other to keep my
conversation in a good decorum, then am I right, and not till then.
But this will not be done without much experience, diligence, and
delight in Christ. For there is nothing that Satan more desires,
than that the law may abide in the conscience of an awakened
Christian, and there take up the place of Christ and faith; for he
knows if this may be obtained, the veil is presently drawn over the
face of the soul, and the heart darkened as to the knowledge of
Christ; and being darkened, the man is driven into despair of mercy,
or is put upon it to work for life. There is therefore much
diligence required of him that will keep these two in their places
assigned them of God; much diligent study of the word, diligent
prayer, with diligence to walk with God in the world.
When this law with its thundering threatenings doth attempt to lay
hold on thy conscience, shut it out with a promise of grace: cry,
The inn is taken up already; the Lord Jesus is here entertained, and
here is no room for the law. Indeed, if it will be content with
being my informer, and so lovingly leave off to judge me, I will be
content; it shall be in iny sight, I will also delight therein: but
otherwise, I being now made upright without it, and that too with
that righteousness which this law speaks well of and approveth, I
may not, will not, cannot, dare not make it my saviour and judge,
nor suffer it to set up its government in my conscience; for by so
doing I fall from grace, and Christ Jesus doth profit me nothing.
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account