Bunyan's Holy War (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 12.
Now things take a turn for the worse.
A Diabolian called Mr Carnal-security goes about the town crying up their might and their glory so that they begin to trust in themselves rather than Emmanuel. This leads Mansoul to neglect Emmanuel by not visiting him and not noticing whether he visits them.
As a result Emmanuel gradually withdraws from Mansoul.
Then Mr Godly-fear makes a speech to the people at one of their feasts that provokes them to realise their neglect of Emmanuel. Mansoul burns Mr Carnal-security, listens to its Preacher and repeatedly petitions Emmanuel to return to Mansoul. But to no avail.
I liked the the impact that preaching had upon the town - even the preacher himself is convicted by his message: 'He did not only show to Mansoul their sin, but did tremble before them, under the sense of his own, still crying out of himself, as he preached to them, ‘Unhappy man that I am! that I should do so wicked a thing! That I, a preacher! whom the Prince did set up to teach to Mansoul his law, should myself live senseless and sottishly here, and be one of the first found in transgression! This transgression also fell within my precincts; I should have cried out against the wickedness; but I let Mansoul lie wallowing in it, until it had driven Emmanuel from its borders!’ '
Preachers are also prone to trust in themselves instead of Emmanuel.
Read Chapter 13.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
No comments:
Post a Comment