Derek Thomas

And thirdly, he suggests a way that can only lead to death, the way of works. Now Bunyan says in his own autobiography, and I'm quoting here from Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. This is what Bunyan says, "'Thus I continued about a year. Our neighbors did take me to be a very godly man, a new religious man.'" He turned over a new leaf. He had pulled himself up by his bootstraps.

He had tried to live an obedient life. And to the outward world, to the outward observance, he looked as if he was a new man. And indeed, so I was. Though yet I knew not Christ, nor grace, nor faith, nor hope." So, Bonilla is saying something very important here, that the way out of a conviction of sin is not going to be along the road of obedience.

He had tried to live an obedient life. And to the outward world, to the outward observance, he looked as if he was a new man. And indeed, so I was. Though yet I knew not Christ, nor grace, nor faith, nor hope." So, Bonilla is saying something very important here, that the way out of a conviction of sin is not going to be along the road of obedience.

It's not going to be along the road of obeying the Ten Commandments, of doing good works. Now, Bunyan, in his own personal life, was fond of the sound of tintinabulation. I wonder if you know that word, tintinabulation. It's church bells, listening to church bells. And as a married man now to his wife, he would love to go into the church in Bedford and listen to the bell ringers in Elstow Church.

It's not going to be along the road of obeying the Ten Commandments, of doing good works. Now, Bunyan, in his own personal life, was fond of the sound of tintinabulation. I wonder if you know that word, tintinabulation. It's church bells, listening to church bells. And as a married man now to his wife, he would love to go into the church in Bedford and listen to the bell ringers in Elstow Church.

And he would go up right to the wood and put his ear next to the wood so that he could hear the reverberation of these bells. But as the conviction of his sins grew more and more intense, he began to fear that one of these bells would become unstuck and fall and kill him. This was part of his conviction that God was out to get him, that the wrath of God would catch him and destroy him.

And he would go up right to the wood and put his ear next to the wood so that he could hear the reverberation of these bells. But as the conviction of his sins grew more and more intense, he began to fear that one of these bells would become unstuck and fall and kill him. This was part of his conviction that God was out to get him, that the wrath of God would catch him and destroy him.

Now, that's his own personal experience, and some of that, I think, is playing out here in Pilgrim's Progress. So, Worldly Wiseman's advice then was to go to a town called Morality and to meet this man, Mr. Legality. It sounded like good advice to Christian.

Now, that's his own personal experience, and some of that, I think, is playing out here in Pilgrim's Progress. So, Worldly Wiseman's advice then was to go to a town called Morality and to meet this man, Mr. Legality. It sounded like good advice to Christian.

So, he sets off in the direction of the town called Morality and discovers that this town is on the top of a very steep hill, and his burden is such that he thinks he cannot climb this hill.

So, he sets off in the direction of the town called Morality and discovers that this town is on the top of a very steep hill, and his burden is such that he thinks he cannot climb this hill.

And in illustrative volumes of Pilgrim's Progress now, you'll have a little tableau, and you'll see Christian with this huge burden on his back, and he's climbing this very steep hill, and he doesn't feel as though he's going to make it to the top. Listen to Bunyan's description of it. So Christian turned out of his way to go to Mr. Legality's house for help.

And in illustrative volumes of Pilgrim's Progress now, you'll have a little tableau, and you'll see Christian with this huge burden on his back, and he's climbing this very steep hill, and he doesn't feel as though he's going to make it to the top. Listen to Bunyan's description of it. So Christian turned out of his way to go to Mr. Legality's house for help.

But behold, when he was got now hard by the hill, it seemed so high, and also that side of it that was next to the wayside did hang so much over that Christian was afraid to venture further, lest the hill should fall on his head. Wherefore, there he stood still, and he wot not what to do. Also his burden now seemed heavier to him than while he was in the way.

But behold, when he was got now hard by the hill, it seemed so high, and also that side of it that was next to the wayside did hang so much over that Christian was afraid to venture further, lest the hill should fall on his head. Wherefore, there he stood still, and he wot not what to do. Also his burden now seemed heavier to him than while he was in the way.

There came also flashes of fire out of the hill that made Christian afraid that he should be burned. Here, therefore, he sweat and did quake for fear." And then Bunyan introduces some of his poetry. Bunyan's poetry isn't always great poetry. It's always good theology, but he wasn't a great poet. When Christians unto carnal men give ear, out of their way they go and pay for it dear.

There came also flashes of fire out of the hill that made Christian afraid that he should be burned. Here, therefore, he sweat and did quake for fear." And then Bunyan introduces some of his poetry. Bunyan's poetry isn't always great poetry. It's always good theology, but he wasn't a great poet. When Christians unto carnal men give ear, out of their way they go and pay for it dear.

For master worldly wise men can but show a saint the way to bondage and to woe. That's an example of Bunyan's poetry, not great poetry. And now Christian began to be sorry that he had listened to the advice of Mr. Worldly Wiseman. It's, of course, Bunyan preaching the gospel. He's preaching Paul. He's preaching Romans 3.20. By the deeds of the law shall no man be justified.

For master worldly wise men can but show a saint the way to bondage and to woe. That's an example of Bunyan's poetry, not great poetry. And now Christian began to be sorry that he had listened to the advice of Mr. Worldly Wiseman. It's, of course, Bunyan preaching the gospel. He's preaching Paul. He's preaching Romans 3.20. By the deeds of the law shall no man be justified.

This was the discovery of Luther in the previous century to Bunyan. That by obedience, by acts of obedience to the law, by the works of the law, that no one, no man, no woman can be justified. Not the labor of my hands can fulfill thy law's demands. Could my zeal no respite know? Could my tears forever flow? All for sin could not atone. Thou must save, and thou alone.