Derek Thomas

And I suppose Pilgrim's Progress is at the opposite end of the spectrum from views of Christianity that might suggest, come to Jesus and all your troubles will disappear. Now, I was told something of that kind when I became a Christian, and actually what I discovered was that I came to Jesus and I discovered problems I didn't have before. And I think that Bunyan is wanting to prepare Christians

Christians and his readers for the difficulty of the Christian life, that the Christian life is going to be a battle from beginning right up to the point of entry to the celestial city. Well, he comes to the house of Interpreter, and Interpreter lights a candle and gives Christian a tour of the house. And what kind of issues now emerge?

Christians and his readers for the difficulty of the Christian life, that the Christian life is going to be a battle from beginning right up to the point of entry to the celestial city. Well, he comes to the house of Interpreter, and Interpreter lights a candle and gives Christian a tour of the house. And what kind of issues now emerge?

Seven in particular, and I'm going to stress a couple of them more than the others, but he's basically taken to seven different rooms. He comes, first of all, he sees a picture of

Seven in particular, and I'm going to stress a couple of them more than the others, but he's basically taken to seven different rooms. He comes, first of all, he sees a picture of

portrait and it's a very grave person with his eyes lifted up to heaven and he has the best of books in his hands and the law of truth upon his lips and the world behind his back and he is pleading with men and a crown of gold hangs over his head. Well, it might be special pleading on my part to say Bunyan is, of course, thinking here about a minister. He's thinking about a gospel preacher.

portrait and it's a very grave person with his eyes lifted up to heaven and he has the best of books in his hands and the law of truth upon his lips and the world behind his back and he is pleading with men and a crown of gold hangs over his head. Well, it might be special pleading on my part to say Bunyan is, of course, thinking here about a minister. He's thinking about a gospel preacher.

He's thinking about an evangelist. He's thinking about the Puritan preacher of the 17th century. And I think in Bunyan's mind, this is his own minister, John Gifford in the Baptist church, a man who influenced Bunyan a great deal in his early pilgrimage and in his early discipleship. And he's characterized by several things. He's characterized by the fact that he has the Bible in his hands.

He's thinking about an evangelist. He's thinking about the Puritan preacher of the 17th century. And I think in Bunyan's mind, this is his own minister, John Gifford in the Baptist church, a man who influenced Bunyan a great deal in his early pilgrimage and in his early discipleship. And he's characterized by several things. He's characterized by the fact that he has the Bible in his hands.

And he's an honorable man. He's a man of truth and integrity. He's also an evangelist. He's pleading with men and women to come to the Savior. And a crown of gold hangs over his head.

And he's an honorable man. He's a man of truth and integrity. He's also an evangelist. He's pleading with men and women to come to the Savior. And a crown of gold hangs over his head.

This is a typical depiction of a 17th century evangelical, reformed, Puritan preacher of the gospel, concerned with proclaiming the truth of the Bible, but also concerned about bringing men and women to faith and to a knowledge of the gospel. So this man is like evangelist that we've seen. He's also like the character help that we've seen.

This is a typical depiction of a 17th century evangelical, reformed, Puritan preacher of the gospel, concerned with proclaiming the truth of the Bible, but also concerned about bringing men and women to faith and to a knowledge of the gospel. So this man is like evangelist that we've seen. He's also like the character help that we've seen.

He's also a bit like the man goodwill that we've seen who pulled him through the wicked gate. And there'll be more such characters, all of them depicting the office of one who proclaims and preaches the gospel. Then secondly, he sees a man sweeping a room. And all he's achieving is producing a lot of dust. Until a girl brings water and sprinkles the room.

He's also a bit like the man goodwill that we've seen who pulled him through the wicked gate. And there'll be more such characters, all of them depicting the office of one who proclaims and preaches the gospel. Then secondly, he sees a man sweeping a room. And all he's achieving is producing a lot of dust. Until a girl brings water and sprinkles the room.

And then the dust gathers and can be swept away properly. What is this picture about? And it's about the law. Bunyan reflects on Romans 7, 9. When the commandment came, sin revived and I died.

And then the dust gathers and can be swept away properly. What is this picture about? And it's about the law. Bunyan reflects on Romans 7, 9. When the commandment came, sin revived and I died.

Of course, Bunyan is understanding that section of Romans 7 as biographical of the Apostle Paul's own experience of salvation, and that when the law came, it stirred up things like dust in the air, but actually didn't bring assurance of salvation. Only the water of the gospel could bring assurance of salvation.

Of course, Bunyan is understanding that section of Romans 7 as biographical of the Apostle Paul's own experience of salvation, and that when the law came, it stirred up things like dust in the air, but actually didn't bring assurance of salvation. Only the water of the gospel could bring assurance of salvation.

And again, it's a way of depicting pictorially the fact that the law has this character, this function of raising within us an even greater awareness of our sinfulness, that the law convicts, that the law brings further evidence of our transgressions. Then thirdly, he sees two little children. One is called reason and the other is called patience.