VALIANT FOR THE TRUTH
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Law and Gospel
Allegories
by
John Bunyan
Some accounts of the Law and Gospel by John Bunyan:
In the Interpreters House:
Then he took him by the hand, and led him into a very large parlour that was full of dust, because never swept; the which, after he had reviewed a little while, the INTERPRETER called for a man to sweep. Now, when he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly to fly about, that CHRISTIAN had almost therewith been choked. Then said the INTERPRETER to a damsel that stood by, "Bring hither the water, and sprinkle the room; "the which, when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with pleasure.
Chr. Then said CHRISTIAN, "What means this?"
Inter. The INTERPRETER answered, "This parlour 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 (#Ro 5:20 7:9 1Co 15:56).
"Again, as thou sawest the damsel sprinkle the room with water, upon which it was cleansed with pleasure (ease)--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 by 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 (#Joh 15:3 Ac 15:9 Ro 16:25,26 Eph 5:26).
Faithful's account to Christian:
Now when I had got about halfway up, I looked behind me, and saw one coming after me, swift as the wind; so he overtook me just about the place where the bench stands.
Chr. "Just there, "said CHRISTIAN, "did I sit down to rest me; but, being overcome with sleep, I there lost this roll out of my bosom."
Faith. But, good brother, hear me out: so soon as the man overtook me, he was but a word and a blow; for down he knocked me, and laid me for dead. But when I was a little come to myself again, I asked him wherefore he served me so? He said, because of my secret inclining to Adam the first; and with that he struck me another deadly blow on the breast, and beat me down backward, so I lay at his foot as dead as before. So when I came to myself again, I cried him mercy; but he said, "I know not how to show mercy, "and with that knocked me down again. He had doubtless made an end of me, but that one came by, and bade him forbear.
Chr. Who was that that bade him forbear?
Faith. I did not know him at first; but as he went by, I perceived the holes in his hands and in his side; then I concluded that He was our Lord. So I went up the hill.
Chr. That man that overtook you was Moses; he spares none, neither knows he how to show mercy to those that transgress his law.
Faith. I know it very well; it was not the first time that he has met with me. 'Twas he that came to me when I dwelt securely at home, and that told me he would burn my house over my head if I stayed there.
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If you would like to suggest additional Bunyan pictures to add to this page to further illustrate the Law and the Gospel please write me.
Scott D. Andersen
1Cor 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
