Bunyan's Holy War (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 17 and 18.
Lord Incredulity makes one last attempt to take Mansoul. This time with an army of Doubters but also with an army of Bloodmen who have the captains Cain, Nimrod, Ishmael, Esau, Saul, Absalom, Judas and Pope.
Emmanuel sends out his captains to fight with orders to destroy the Doubters, but to take alive the Bloodmen. The Captains carry out their orders and bring the Bloodmen to be judged by Emmanuel.
The rest of Chapter 17 concerns the capture of Mr Evil-questioning and some leftover Doubters. They are all put on trial and condemned.
Chapter 18 relates further trials and condemnations of Diabolonians and concludes the book with a magnificent speech from Emmanuel reminding Mansoul of his graciousness and exhorting them to stand firm till they are removed to the heavenly city.
Now that we have ended the book I can reflect on how I was surprised to see little mention of the cross. In his speech at the end Emmanuel makes mention of it, but there is no scene in the book where Emmanuel is crucified as a substitute for Mansoul. Interesting...
What grabbed me particularly today was the trial of Election-Doubter: 'Judge: Then it was replied, To question election, is to overthrow a great doctrine of the gospel; to wit, the omniscience, and power, and will of God; to take away the liberty of God with his creature; to stumble the faith of the town of Mansoul; and to make salvation to depend upon works, and not upon grace. It also belied the word, and disquieted the minds of the men of Mansoul; therefore, by the best of laws he must die.'
I think few Arminians realise that if they truly think it is their own decision to accept Jesus' sacrifice that saves them, then they are depending upon a 'work' of theirs for salvation. I think God is gracious in that many Arminians live inconsistently with their own teaching and so do depend completely upon God's grace, but if they were true to their doctrine they would be on the wrong side of the kingdom as Bunyan says.
One Sentence Final Verdict
Bunyan provides an entertaining and edifying illustration of the spiritual conflict between man and Satan this side of heaven.
Next week we begin our first 'Saturday Serious Study' work which is Tracts and Letters by John Calvin (Available from Amazon or free here). On Saturdays we will now be reading a slightly larger section than the other days of the week (30-40 pages) and so if you want to join please read from Volume 1 the Preface and commence the Life of Calvin by Beza up to page xxxvi (stop at the paragraph that starts 'These were Calvin's studies at Strasburgh until the year 1541').
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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