Derek Thomas

Bunyan is telling us the way of salvation and for Bunyan in the 17th century the way of salvation begins with conviction of sin. Unless you understand sin, unless you understand the weightiness of sin, the gravitas of sin, unless you have a conviction of sin and sinfulness, then the doctrine of salvation makes no sense.

So the first, actually the first 20 pages or so, is an extended consideration of this issue of sin. Perhaps in Bunyan's mind is not only his own experience of salvation, but perhaps the template for salvation for Bunyan is the Philippian jailer in Acts chapter 16 who cries out, having come under a conviction of sin with Paul and Silas in prison in Philippi, what must I do to be saved?

So the first, actually the first 20 pages or so, is an extended consideration of this issue of sin. Perhaps in Bunyan's mind is not only his own experience of salvation, but perhaps the template for salvation for Bunyan is the Philippian jailer in Acts chapter 16 who cries out, having come under a conviction of sin with Paul and Silas in prison in Philippi, what must I do to be saved?

And Bunyan gives us a little description of what has happened to bring this man into this melancholy state of mind. I'm quoting now from Pilgrim's Progress. I looked and saw him open the book and read therein. And as he read, he wept and trembled. And not being able longer to contain, he break out with a lamentable cry saying, what shall I do?

And Bunyan gives us a little description of what has happened to bring this man into this melancholy state of mind. I'm quoting now from Pilgrim's Progress. I looked and saw him open the book and read therein. And as he read, he wept and trembled. And not being able longer to contain, he break out with a lamentable cry saying, what shall I do?

And the background, you can hear the background of Acts 16 and the Philippian jailer, what must I do to be saved? Well, this is Bunyan telling you the way of salvation.

And the background, you can hear the background of Acts 16 and the Philippian jailer, what must I do to be saved? Well, this is Bunyan telling you the way of salvation.

This is Bunyan giving you evangelism in the 17th century, and it begins with the book, begins with the Bible, begins with the Word of God, and it comes to this man as he reads the Bible, perhaps for the first time in his life, and it brings him under this conviction of sin. The Bible then has convicted him of the danger of his position.

This is Bunyan giving you evangelism in the 17th century, and it begins with the book, begins with the Bible, begins with the Word of God, and it comes to this man as he reads the Bible, perhaps for the first time in his life, and it brings him under this conviction of sin. The Bible then has convicted him of the danger of his position.

Now Bunyan was born in 1628 to Thomas and Margaret Bunyan in a little village called Elstow in Bedfordshire and about a mile or so outside of Bedford itself in Bedfordshire. And John Bunyan was raised in Bedfordshire. very humble circumstances.

Now Bunyan was born in 1628 to Thomas and Margaret Bunyan in a little village called Elstow in Bedfordshire and about a mile or so outside of Bedford itself in Bedfordshire. And John Bunyan was raised in Bedfordshire. very humble circumstances.

His father was a tinker or a brassier, that is a man who would go from house to house, perhaps from farm to farm, to mend pots and pans, anything really made of metal. These days, if your saucepan doesn't have that Teflon non-stick surface on it and it's not working as it did, you toss it and you go to Walmart or somewhere and you buy a new one.

His father was a tinker or a brassier, that is a man who would go from house to house, perhaps from farm to farm, to mend pots and pans, anything really made of metal. These days, if your saucepan doesn't have that Teflon non-stick surface on it and it's not working as it did, you toss it and you go to Walmart or somewhere and you buy a new one.

Well, in Bunyan's day, you called Bunyan's father and he would come and he would fix it. And he would go from home to home. He lives in this location for 16 years, until he's 16. We need to remember that this is the 1640s. And England is in civil war. Parliament against the king.

Well, in Bunyan's day, you called Bunyan's father and he would come and he would fix it. And he would go from home to home. He lives in this location for 16 years, until he's 16. We need to remember that this is the 1640s. And England is in civil war. Parliament against the king.

It's the only period of civil war in English history that would result in England becoming a republic for a decade during the 1650s and under the rule or tyranny, depending on how you look at it, of Oliver Cromwell. And then in 1660, the restoration of Charles II.

It's the only period of civil war in English history that would result in England becoming a republic for a decade during the 1650s and under the rule or tyranny, depending on how you look at it, of Oliver Cromwell. And then in 1660, the restoration of Charles II.

But in 1649, Charles I, the king, would be taken out into the streets of London and his head would be severed from his body to a great crowd and a roar. And one of the Puritans, Thomas Goodwin, I think it was, who was there, maybe it was Richard Sibbes, and he fainted when he saw Charles I's head being severed from his body. Well, some events occur in Bunyan's home.

But in 1649, Charles I, the king, would be taken out into the streets of London and his head would be severed from his body to a great crowd and a roar. And one of the Puritans, Thomas Goodwin, I think it was, who was there, maybe it was Richard Sibbes, and he fainted when he saw Charles I's head being severed from his body. Well, some events occur in Bunyan's home.

His mother dies, and then within months, his sister dies. And within three months of the death of his mother, his father remarries. Very quickly, on whatever consideration you look at that, that was very quick. And Bunyan left home. and didn't have a great relationship, I think, with the new stepmother.