Pilgrim's progress - Bunyan - III

Required reading
Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Up to the paragraph that begins: 'Now I saw in my dream, that the highway up which Christian was to go, was fenced on either side with a Wall, and that Wall is called Salvation.'

My notes and thoughts
Today Christian enters the gate opened by Good-Will and visits the House of the Interpreter.

Good Will encourages Christian with the wonderful news 'An open door is set before thee, and no man can shut it.'

At the House of the Interpreter Christian sees seven things:
1) A picture of the one who 'is the only man whom the Lord of the Place whither thou art going hath authorized to be thy guide in all difficult places thou mayest meet with in the way'.
2) A dusty room showing 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.'  But also shown is that the water of the Gospel is able to help: '...even as thou sawest the damsel lay the dust by sprinkling the floor with waters, so is sin vanquished and subdued.'
3) Two children representing Passion and Patience - Passion has now but loses everything, whereas Patience lacks now but gains for eternity.
4) A burning wall (grace) that is secretly fueled with oil by Christ so it continues to burn though the Devil throws water at it.
5) A palace that is stormed by a Christian clothed in the armour of God.
6) An apostate man in an iron cage who has no hope: 'I have so hardened my heart, that I cannot repent.'
7) A man having a nightmare about the day of judgement.

The first five were either encouraging or had at least had hints of encouragement.  But then the last two I think were designed to bring Christian back into careful reflection, particularly the apostate in the cage!  Therefore when asked, 'Hast thou considered all these things?', Christian says, 'Yes, and they put me in hope and fear.'  We have reason for much hope, but should still walk with some fear and trembling.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.