Pilgrim's progress - Bunyan - XI

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: 'And I slept and dreamed again, and saw the same two pilgrims going down the Mountains along the highway towards the City.  Now a little below these Mountains, on the left hand, lieth the country of Conceit...'

My notes and thoughts
Today our pilgrims spend some time at Doubting-Castle and then at the Delectable Mountains.

The Giant Despair at Doubting-Castle is a formidable foe for the Christians.  Despair not only harms them but drives them toward suicide: '...he told them that since they were never like to come out of that place their only way would be forthwith to make an end of themselves, either with knife, halter or poison.'  Thankfully Christian makes a stand against suicide: '...yet let us consider, the Lord of the country to which we are going hath said, Thous shalt do no murther, no not to another man's person; much more then are we forbidden to take his counsel to kill ourselves.'  May we as Christians today learn from Bunyan to deplore any thought of suicide, no matter how trying the circumstances.

The time with the Shepherds on the Delectable Mountains is refreshing and yet a time of warning as well - kind of like the earlier pit-stop at the House of the Interpreter.  Upon leaving the pilgrims sing the song:
'Thus by the shepherds, secrets are revealed,
Which from all other men are kept concealed:
Come to the shepherds then, if you would see
Things deep, things hid, and that mysterious be.'
As the shepherd of my little flock here in Australia, I pray that I am able to reveal the secrets of the kingdom as these shepherds did for Christian and Hopeful.

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

Pilgrim's progress - Bunyan - X

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 beheld in my dream that they had not journeyed far but the River and the way for a time parted.  At which they were not a little sorry, yet they durst not go out of the way.'

My notes and thoughts
Today interaction continues with Mr By-ends and our pilgrims come across a silver mine, a pillar and a river.

The majority of today's reading concerns Mr By-ends and his friends trying to persuade Christian and Hopeful that seeking money is a noble desire if it causes one to strengthen his religious activities.  Mr Money-Love says: 'Suppose a minister, a worthy man, possessed but of a very small benefice, and has in his eye a greater, more fat and plump by far; he has also now an opportunity of getting of it; yet so as by being more studious, by preaching more frequently and zealously , and because the temper of the people requires it, by altering of some of his principles, for my part I see no reason but a man may do this...'  Kind of like saying, 'the means justifies the ends'! 

Christian's response is direct from Scripture: 'For if it be unlawful to follow Christ for loaves, as it is, how much more abominable is it to make of him and religion a stalking horse to get and enjoy the world.'  Christian also concludes with the great insight: '...man that takes up religion for the world will throw away religion for the world...'  A few popular preachers already jump into my mind who have taken up religion for the world - it's only a matter of time until they drop even the religion that they have for the world.

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

Pilgrim's progress - Bunyan - IX

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 Christian and Hopeful forsook him, and kept their distance before him, but one of them looking back saw three men following Mr By-ends...'

My notes and thoughts
Today Pilgrim and Faithful enter into the town called Vanity and its fair.  Our travelers get into hot water when they refuse to partake of any of the merchandise sold there (e.g. houses, lands, trades, places, honours, preferments, titles, countries, kingdoms, lusts, pleasures, delights of all sorts, whores, bawds, wives, husbands, children, masters, servants, lives, blood, bodies, souls, silver, gold, pearls, precious stones).  While Christian escapes, sadly Faithful is tortured and then burnt to death after a trial before the judge known as Lord Hategood. Yet from the terrible ordeal Hopeful is born: 'Now I saw in my dream, that Christian went not forth alone, for there was one whose name was Hopeful (being made so by the beholding of Christian and Faithful in their words and behaviour, in their sufferings at the Fair) who joined himself unto him, and entering into a brotherly covenant, told him that he would be his companion.  Thus one died to make testimony to the truth, and another rises out of his ashes to be a companion with Christian.  This Hopeful also told Christian that there were many more of the men in the Fair that would take their time and follow after.'  I love the hope that Bunyan is giving to those who are persecuted - a legacy is left that will last for eternity.

We also today meet with Mr By-Ends who represents all those ministers who compromise on truth to make their lives comfortable: 'Tis true, we somewhat differ in religion from those of the stricter sort, yet but in two small points: first, we never strive against wind and tide; secondly, we are always most zealous when religion goes in his silver slippers; we love much to walk with him in the street if the sun shines and the people applaud it.'  Such men are still here today, sucking the church dry as they advance their own kingdom instead of Christ's.

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

Don't forget to vote for the next title

Just a reminder that time is running out to vote for which title we will read after Christianity and Liberalism by JG Machen. You can choose from either: Profiting from the Word by AW Pink OR Old Paths by JC Ryle. Go to the side bar on the righthand of the site to vote: http://reformedbookclub.blogspot.com/

Pilgrim's progress - Bunyan - VIII

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: 'Then I saw in my dream that when they were got out of the wilderness they presently saw a town before them and the name of that town is Vanity; and at the town there is a fair kept called Vanity-Fair.'

My notes and thoughts
The majority of today is concerned with our pilgrims' interaction with Talkative.  At the end of the reading there is a brief time spent in a wilderness and with Evangelist.

Talkative sounds good, but is someone whose behaviour does not match his words.  Christian's assessment of him is as follows: 'He [Talkative] talketh of prayer, of repentance, of faith, and of the new birth: but he knows but only to talk of them.  I have been in his family, and have observed him both at home and abroad; and I know what I say of him is the truth.  His House is as empty of religion, as the white of an egg is of savour.  There is neither prayer nor sign of repentance for sin...'

I think that Bunyan does well to introduce such a character, as our churches are often full of such people who only bring trouble upon the flock and repel unbelievers from the Lord.  Faithful is right to challenge Talkative and I agree with Christian's lament that it would be better if more Christians would challenge our own Talkatives: 'You do well to talk so plainly to him as you did; there is but little of this faithful dealing with men nowadays, and that makes religion so stink in the nostrils of many, as it doth: for they are these talkative fools, whose religion is only in word, and are debauched and vain in their conversation, that being so much admitted into the fellowship of the godly do stumble the world, blemish Christianity and grieve the sincere.'

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

Pilgrim's progress - Bunyan - VII

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: 'Moreover I saw in my dream, that as they went on, Faithful, as he chanced to look on one side, saw a man whose name is Talkative...'

My notes and thoughts
Today is a dialogue between Christian and Faithful as they compare notes about their experiences.  One of the points that I think was being made between the lines, is that individual Christians struggle with different sins.  For example Faithful missed the slough of despond but struggled with Moses.  We cannot think that because someone else hasn't had our experience that they are an inferior Christian and we are superior ones.

My favourite section today was Faithful's encounter with shame.  This has to be one of the greatest battles that Christians face as it encourages that sin that breeds all other sin, our pride.  Why do we see more women than men in church?  Shame has got to them: 'he [Shame] said that a tender conscience was an unmanly thing.'  Why do so many turn their back on Christianity?  Shame has convinced them that Science disproves it and that they will look like idiots:  'He [Shame] objected the base and low estate and condition of those that were chiefly pilgrims; also their ignorance of the times in which they lived, and want of understanding in all natural science.'

But Faithful sorts Shame out: 'I began to consider, that that which is highly esteemed among men, is had in abomination with God.  And I thought again, this Shame tells me what men are, but it tells me nothing what God or the Word of God is...For those things that he [Shame] disdained, in those did I see most glory: and so at last I got past this importunate one.'  If only we were as successful as Faithful in defeating Shame!

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

Pilgrim's progress - Bunyan - VI

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 as Christian went on his way he came to a little ascent, which was cast up on purpose that pilgrims might see before them: up therefore Christian went, and looking forward he saw faithful before him, upon his journey...'

My notes and thoughts
Today Christian fights Apollyon and journeys through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

I noticed that Satan's last question to Christian concerned Christian's prior unfaithfulness on the journey: 'Thou hast already been unfaithful in thy service to him, and how dost thou think to receive wages of him?'  One of Satan's last attacks is to remind us of the sins we have committed since becoming the Lord's with the purpose of causing us to doubt Jesus' ongoing forgiveness.  Christian's answer is a good one: 'All this is true, and much more, which thou hast left out; but the Prince whom I serve and honour is merciful and ready to forgive.'  I love that - remind Satan that we are worse sinners than even he is making out!

In the middle of the journey through the Valley of the Shadow of Death we have a brief three point sermon on Psalm 23:4 'Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear none ill, for thou art with me.'  Christian was glad because (i) 'some who feared God were in this Valley as well as himself'; (ii) 'God was with them'; (iii) 'he hoped (could he overtake them) to have company by and by'.

Interesting description of the giant called Pope at the end: 'though he be yet alive he is by reason of age, and also fo the many shrewd brushes that he met with in his younger days, grown so crazy and stiff in his joints that he can now do little more than sit in his cave's mouth, grinning at pilgrims as they go by, and biting his nails, because he cannot come at them.'

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

Pilgrim's progress - Bunyan - V

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: 'So he went on, and Apollyon met him; now the monster was hideous to behold, he was clothed with scales like a fish...'

My notes and thoughts
Today's reading is basically Christian at the porter's house.  He enters it after realising that the lions outside are chained and so as long as he 'keep in the midst of the path, and no hurt shall come unto thee.'  Then follows a time of questioning and instruction at the House with four girls at the place: Discretion, Prudence, Piety and Charity. 

Interestingly, amongst the questions there was a particular concern for Christian's family and Christian is encouraged that his witness to them 'hast delivered thy soul from their blood.'  I think that we need to take the warning of Ezekiel that Bunyan is picking up on here more seriously than we tend to do.  We have a tremendous responsibility to those non-Christians surrounding us - if we don't warn them we are guilty of their blood.

Also, along with his instruction Christian is kitted up with the armour of God which actually later leads him to not turn his back and flee from Apollyon at the end of today's reading: 'Then did Christian begin to be afraid, and to cast in his mind whether to go back, or to stand his ground.  But he considered again that he had no armour for his back and therefore thought that to turn the back to him might give him greater advantage with ease to pierce him with his darts; therefore he resolved to venture and stand his ground.'  Great point, there is no God given protection for cowards.  Let the darts bounce off your breastplate, not sink into your back!

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

Pilgrim's progress - Bunyan - IV

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: 'So I saw in my dream that he made haste and went forward, that if possible he might get lodging there.  Now before he had gone far, he entered into a very narrow passage, which was about a furlong off of the porter's lodge, and looking very narrowly before him as he went, he espied two lions in the way.'

My notes and thoughts
Firstly we see the wonderful moment where Christian loses his burden at the foot of the cross.  Good reflection from Bunyan: 'Then he stood still a while to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him that the sight of the Cross should thus ease him of his burden.'  It is too easy to forget how remarkable it is that the cross is God's plan of salvation.

Next Christian meets three men who are fast asleep and therefore prone to danger, Simple, Sloth and Presumption.  Three sins definitely worth avoiding.

Then Christian meets Formalist and Hypocrisy who climb in over the wall rather than come through the gate.  They believe it is within the law because 'They told him that custom, it being of so long a standing as above a thousand years, would doubtless now be admitted as a thing legal, by any impartial judge.'  Just because people have been doing the wrong thing for a long time doesn't make it right!

Finally we see Christian climb the hill called Difficulty.  While sleeping he loses his scroll which is his 'assurance of his life, and acceptance at the desired haven' and the Penguin edition footnote informs us is his 'personal assurance of election from God'.  Christian travels for a while without the roll and meets two men, Timorous and Mistrust fleeing from lions up ahead.  Christian pushes on because 'to go back is nothing but death, to go forward is fear of death and life everlasting beyond it.'  After this Christian realises his loss of the roll and heads back to find it.  Upon discovering the roll again, 'oh how nimbly now did he go up the rest of the Hill!'  So true - having assurance can move Christians along at great speed.

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

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.

Pilgrim's progress - Bunyan - II

Required readingPilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Up to the paragraph that begins: 'At last there came a grave person to the Gate named Good Will, who asked who was there, and whence he came, and what he would have.'

My notes and thoughts
And so the journey really begins.  Today we meet a few characters that I'm sure are very familiar to us if we have been a Christian for any length of time.

Obstinate represents those who refuse to understand why anyone is a Christian: 'I will be no companion of such misled fantastical fellows.'

Pliable represents those who are happy to 'walk the walk' when hearing about all the treasures of heaven.  But as soon as they meet any hardship (represented in the slough of despond) they flee: 'Is this the happiness you have told me all this while of?  If we have such ill speed at our first setting out, what may we expect, 'twixt this and our journey's end?'

Worldly-Wiseman represents those who trust in their own morality to relieve themselves of the burden of sin and thus encourage legalism and civility.  Yet Evangelist is right: '...for by the deeds of the law no man living can be rid of his burden: therefore Mr Worldly-Wiseman is an alien, and Mr Legality a cheat, and for his son Civility, notwithstanding his simpering looks, he is but an hypocrite, and cannot help thee.'

One of the sad parts of this section for me was when Pliable was ridiculed for turning back and then joins the others in slandering Christian: 'So Pliable sat sneaking among them.  But at last he got more confidence, and then they all turned their tales, and began to deride poor Christian behind his back.'  How many of our friends became Christians for a time and then turned on us when peer pressure kicked in?

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

Pilgrim's progress - Bunyan - I

Today we begin Bunyan's classic, Pilgrim's progress.  I will be reading a 'Penguin Classics' copy but there are multiple editions by multiple publishers available on the market.  Also there are many free digital copies on the internet (e.g. over at Internet Archive).

Required reading
Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan - Bunyan's apology and then the first few pages of 'The first part' (up to the paragraph that begins : 'The neighbours also came out to see him run...').  Just a quick warning that the divisions are going to be tricky to understand as we read this together, primarily because there are no chapters.  I've tried to stop and start the readings when there is an end to a dialogue and a continuation of the journey.

My notes and thoughts
Today's reading firstly involves Bunyan's apology which is probably the strangest introduction I've ever come across in a book.  Initially Bunyan tells us that the book came easily to him, then he relates the debate that ensued between his friends whether he should print it.  The rest of the section is basically a defense for his use of allegory.  And the whole thing is a poem!

Also today, we are introduced to Christian who is troubled with the thought of hell: 'I am for certain informed that this our city will be burned with fire from Heaven, in which fearful overthrow, both myself, with thee, my wife, and you my sweet babes, shall miserably come to ruin.'  A good reminder to not be ashamed to declare the truth of hell to our non-Christians friends and family, no matter how politically incorrect it may be.  For it is usually a healthy fear of the wrath of God that leads men to salvation.

It was also interesting the non-Christian response to Christian's distress.  They at first think he simply needs sleep then 'they also thought to drive away distemper by harsh and surly carriages to him: sometimes they would deride, sometimes they would chide, and sometimes they would quite neglect him...'  Nothing has changed.  How soon our society is ready to respond in this way whenever someone begins to feel the weight of their sin.

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

Mystery of Providence - Flavel - XVII - Chapter 12 completed and Chapter 13

Required reading 
Mystery of Providence by John Flavel (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 12 (Section 'How may we attain to an evenness and steadiness of spirit...' to the end) and Chapter 13.

My notes and thoughts
This last part of chapter 12 concerns how we may be steady no matter what circumstances providence brings us.

When we experience comfortable providences Flavel advises that 'the great danger is lest the heart be lifted up with pride and vanity, and fall into a drowsy and remiss condition.  To prevent this, we had need urge humbling and awakening considerations upon our own hearts.'  Meanwhile when we are under uncomfortable providences '...we are in equal danger of the other extreme, viz., despondency and sinking under the frowns and strokes of contrary providences.'  Flavel then spends the rest of the chapter discussing remedies to this second situation.  My favourite was: 'We may, by struggling against God, increase, but not avoid or lighten our troubles.'  So true!

Chapter 13 concluded the book with an exhortation to keep a record of the providences God has shown us.  I admire his zeal, but I'm not much of a journal person (although I love reading other people's journals).  Maybe when I more mature I'll think better of Flavel's advice!

Final verdict
Flavel's book is an excellent meditation on the important doctrine of the providence of God.  He convincingly demonstrates that God sovereignly cares for his flock in all areas of life and encourages the Lord's people to bear dutifully up under both comfortable and uncomfortable providences of God.  God is always working for our good and Flavel's work is a helpful reminder to this fact.  All Christians would do well to read this small book.

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

Mystery of Providence - Flavel - XVI - Chapter 12 continued

Required reading 
Mystery of Providence by John Flavel (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Chapter 12 continued (Sections 'How may a Christian discern when a providence is sanctified and comes from the love of God to him?)

My notes and thoughts
Today's reading tackles the problem of how you can tell if what is happening to you is part of God's love for you.  Flavel basically solves the dilemma right away by saying that either everything that happens to you is part of God's love for you (Christians) and or everything is against you (non-Christians).  To look at providences for signs of God's love is the wrong thing to do: 'If prosperous providences befall us we cannot say, This is a sure sign that God loves me, for who have more of those providences than the people of his wrath....And from adverse afflictive providences we cannot know his hatred.' Great line:  'Outward things are promiscuously dispensed, and no man's spiritual state is discernible by the view of his temporal.'  But how prone we are to look at our circumstances as a sign of God's favour or disfavour!

The rest of the section proves Flavel's point quite convincingly.

(Also, sorry about making no post yesterday.  I had an accident last night washing up a glass and spent my evening in the hospital emergency room receiving 5 stitches.  I thought about making a catchup post today, but decided to just start Bunyan a day late.)

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