"CHARITY discharging all the duties of love to God and to our fellow-men."[1]
"CHARITY endears the members one to another!”[1]
"CHARITY continues the communion and fellowship of heart with heart. She inquires about his home and family, and how it is they have not joined him in his pilgrimage, and whether blame attaches to him for any neglect on his part of their spiritual interests. To all these inquiries CHRISTIAN answers truthfully and well. His wife would not resign the world and the pleasures of the world; and his children would not surrender the pleasures of youth; and thus did the spell of worldliness bind them to carnal things."[1]
Showing posts with label Palace Beautiful. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Palace Beautiful. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Discretion
"DISCRETION appertaining to the intellect and judgment."[1]
"DISCRETION governs"[1]
"The introduction of the Pilgrim to the palace devolves upon DISCRETION, who also conducts the preliminary conversation. She ascertains the past history of CHRISTIAN—whence he has come, and whither he is going. He is also straitly questioned as to how he entered the way; for none can be made partakers of the blessedness of that fair house and of its goodly company, but they who have entered by the Wicket-gate. Last of all, she inquires his name. Names are no passport in spiritual things; it is the inward man, and not the outward name, that ensures admittance to the true fellowship of the saints and of the household of God. Therefore, not the first, but the last of the questions, is that concerning the Pilgrim’s name."[1]
"DISCRETION governs"[1]
"The introduction of the Pilgrim to the palace devolves upon DISCRETION, who also conducts the preliminary conversation. She ascertains the past history of CHRISTIAN—whence he has come, and whither he is going. He is also straitly questioned as to how he entered the way; for none can be made partakers of the blessedness of that fair house and of its goodly company, but they who have entered by the Wicket-gate. Last of all, she inquires his name. Names are no passport in spiritual things; it is the inward man, and not the outward name, that ensures admittance to the true fellowship of the saints and of the household of God. Therefore, not the first, but the last of the questions, is that concerning the Pilgrim’s name."[1]
Piety
"PIETY regulating the devotions of the soul and spirit."[1]
"In the conversations that ensue, PIETY is the first to speak. She inquires into the inward motives that prompted the Pilgrim to this pilgrimage. CHRISTIAN’S answer to this inquiry opens up afresh the memory of his flight from the City of Destruction. He tells of the 'dreadful sound' by which he was 'driven out' of his native land. Wrath from without, conviction from within, and both these working upon conscience—deep calling unto deep—created that “dreadful sound,” so that the man was 'driven' to flight. The further questions proposed by PIETY reproduce the narrative of the preceding scenes of the pilgrimage, including the Wicket-gate, the illustrations of the Interpreter’s House, the sight of One who did hang bleeding upon a tree, the tokens and credentials given him at the Cross, and the unworthy companions that met him on the way. Then the Pilgrim reports progress, and explains his past experiences."[1]
"In the conversations that ensue, PIETY is the first to speak. She inquires into the inward motives that prompted the Pilgrim to this pilgrimage. CHRISTIAN’S answer to this inquiry opens up afresh the memory of his flight from the City of Destruction. He tells of the 'dreadful sound' by which he was 'driven out' of his native land. Wrath from without, conviction from within, and both these working upon conscience—deep calling unto deep—created that “dreadful sound,” so that the man was 'driven' to flight. The further questions proposed by PIETY reproduce the narrative of the preceding scenes of the pilgrimage, including the Wicket-gate, the illustrations of the Interpreter’s House, the sight of One who did hang bleeding upon a tree, the tokens and credentials given him at the Cross, and the unworthy companions that met him on the way. Then the Pilgrim reports progress, and explains his past experiences."[1]
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Prudence
"PRUDENCE affecting the interests of the life now present and also of that which is to come"[1]
"She enters not so much into the motives and feelings of the past, as into his thoughts and feelings for the present—those inward phases of the soul’s reflection, when, having forsaken the old things, a new life is to be lived, on new and better principles. It is important we should ourselves inquire whether any vain regrets intertwine themselves with our present obedience; whether an earnest strife is waged against the carnal thoughts that rise within us; and whether that strife is crowned with victory, so that carnal things are 'vanquished,' and die within us."[1]
"She enters not so much into the motives and feelings of the past, as into his thoughts and feelings for the present—those inward phases of the soul’s reflection, when, having forsaken the old things, a new life is to be lived, on new and better principles. It is important we should ourselves inquire whether any vain regrets intertwine themselves with our present obedience; whether an earnest strife is waged against the carnal thoughts that rise within us; and whether that strife is crowned with victory, so that carnal things are 'vanquished,' and die within us."[1]
Friday, October 2, 2009
Palace Beautiful
"In the Palace Beautiful our Pilgrim finds comfort, refreshment, and renewed strength, after the loneliness and desolation of that memorable day, and that eventful eventide. All his loss of peace, and loss of confidence, and loss of time is now compensated by the unspeakable gain of this godly communion and Christian fellowship, in which he abides from day to day, and through which he is enabled, in Christian conversation, to review the past, thereby impressing the thoughts and scenes of the pilgrimage more and more upon his mind and conscience. His external circumstances, and the concerns of his inward state, form profitable topics of conversation with those who fear the Lord. CHRISTIAN is thereby refreshed in his mind; he is instructed more deeply in the things of God, and in the wondrous histories of his servants. He is, moreover, armed for his future conflicts, and is shown some effects of the might and prowess of the brave warriors and good soldiers of the Cross who have passed that way before him."[1]
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