BUNYAN'S "PILGRIM'S PROGRESS."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3207, 5 June 1909, Page 7

BUNYAN'S "PILGRIM'S PROGRESS."

ADDRESS BY THE REV. C. E, PORTER.

Last Wednesday evening the Rev. C. E. Porter continued the addresses in the Methodist Schoolroom, on the characters ol Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress." The speaker dealt with "Help," of whom became conj ecious as he was struggling to get out of the "Slough of Despond,"- and who took him by the hand and helped him out. By "Help" Bunyan means God, Who is a very present help in time of need. A number of passages from the Psalms were quoted to show' how the ancient Hebrews realised God as their helper, and the upeaker went on to show that the _ help of God is never before the time, nor after the time, but at the time, "a very present" help. As the "Uhristian" is walking "solitarily by himself" he is met by "Mr Worldly Wiseman." ' He dwelt in the town of "Carnal Policy," no; hr from the' City ®f Destruction.' His town indicated bis character. The contrast between " Worldly Wise maw"* and the "Christian" was then brought out. "Worldly Wiseman" is intensely conscious of, and concerned for, tins world. He is wise for, and in, this world. To him the Invisible has neither reality nor value. "Christian" is the man who feels the powers of the world to come. He represents tne man who is increasingly conscious of the Unseen and Eternal, and who longs above all else tu be in harmony with all. "Worldly. Wiseman" discouraged "Christian" from continuing in the way pointed out by "Evangelist," because of the hardness of it. and advised him to go to :he town of "Morality" and consult one "Mr Morality," »vho had considerable skill in removing burdens duch tis he whs taring, and w'-ich were SUBH a fIOUFCe of trouble," 1 Onee there he coiiici afcnd for his wifd i»nd children, and b8 exceedingly happy all his life. He tafctis' the advice, and on the way to the town Morality" has great sufferings and feafg, in the midst of which 'Evangelist' meets him and rebukes him for his fife in heeding to "Worldly Wiseman's" counsel,, who strove to turn his fee* out of the narrow way, to make the' Cross odious to him, and to lead hi.r. to death. "Christian" bitterly repeats, is forgiven, and once more is travelling along the narrow part toward the place'where he is to lose his burden. Mr Porter next explained what it meant to be worldly and what ought to be the attitude of the Christian to the world around him, Worldliness did not consist in going to the races, or the theatres. Many world people never patronised the one or the other, attendance at such I places may be the expression of | worldliness. Worldliness consisted !| in living one's life without God. The !j state in which men and women ;! are conscious Df and care, only for ! the things of this world. Some i Christians adopt the attitude of j isolation as far as the world is con- ! cerned. They declare that they have | nothing to do with it; they ignore ! its politics, grfeat social problems, but they take advantage of its commerce and enjoy the privileges which are the results of political activity. This attitude was condemned as unchristian and unscriptural. Christians are to be in the world to live in contact with it, and to so order their lives that ultimately the kingdoms of this world shall become the Kingdoms of our God and of His Christ. As the steam ship is made for the ocean and uses the ocean as the means by which it fulffills its mission life's but becomes utterly ruined if the ocean is allowed to pour into it, so tho Christian is made for this world, but whilst he is in he must not be of the world. He must not allow the world spirit to enter in and swamp his life. The subject for the next lecture will be: "The Interpreter's House."