If I could, I would say to my littles, “If you get nothing else, get this.” I’m not sure I’m the teacher I should be with this, but I do want to be. Reading this book brought me closer than before and reading Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan with my littles has reminded me. Maybe today you need to be reminded of the cleansing pleasure of the grace of the Gospel?
Then he took him by the hand, and led him into a very large parlor 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 there with 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.
Then said Christian, What means this?
The Interpreter answered, This parlor 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 safest 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 almost choked therewith; this is to shew 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.
Again, as thou safest the Damsel sprinkle the room with Water, upon which it was cleansed with pleasure; this is to show thee, that when the Gospel comes in the sweet and previous influences thereof to the heart, then I say, even as thou safest 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.
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