BUNYAN'S "PILGRIM'S PROGRESS."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9539, 10 July 1909, Page 7

BUNYAN'S "PILGRIM'S PROGRESS."

ADDRESS BY THE REV. C. E. PORTER. There was a very fair attendance at the Methodist Church on Wednesday evening last, when the Rev. C. E. Porter resumed his lecturettes on the characters m John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress." The speaker said that shortly after "Christian" lost his burden at the Cross ne came upon three men, whose names he described to be "Simple," "Sloth," and "Presumption." Bunyati mentions three facts concerning them. 1. They were a "little out of the way." They were not far from the narrow path, but they were not on it. They had not wandered milas away into "Vanity Fair," or the town of "Vain Glory," but they were out of the way. "Christian" could see thein as he journeyed, but they were on the wrong side of the boundary. This is the condition of a great many pilgrimß. They were once fairly on the centre of the narrow path, 'lhey were careful to keep as far away as [ possible from the line of danger, but almost imperceptibly their feet became diverted until now they are off the track, although not far from it. All such should ask "Whither am 1 tending?" " What and where shall be my destination if I pursue this way?" 1 The important thing to consider is the direction, the tendency, and the bias of our lives. If the direction is wrong the ending cannot be right. Lot pitched his tent in the direction of Sodom, and ultimately he and his family were settled in that city of sin. 2. The three men were asleep. They had become unconscious of their position and condition. They were out of the way, but did not realise or acknowledge the fact. They represent those pilgrims who are asleep to their privileges, responsibilities and danger. 3. They were fettered. The had irona on their hsels. These fetters were fixed as they slept. They illustrate how, all unoonscioußly we become the slaves of habit. The explanation of their state is suggested by their names. 1. They were smple: By I this Bunyan means they were silly. When "Christian" urged them to rouse themselves, the first replied "1 see no danger." 2. They werr Slothful. The second repi.'ed, "Yet a little more slumber." Spiritual lethargy or sloth explains why so many are out of the way. They will not arouse, exert, or exercise themselves in the spiritual life, and the consequence is that they go to sleep and become fettered. 3. They were presumptuous. "Presumption" replied to "Christian's" entreaty by saying. "Every tub must stand upon its own bottom." The speaker concluded by referring to the attitude of "Christian" to the sleepers. He didn't pass by indifferent to their state. He realised their danger and aroused them out of their sleep. He tried to reason with them and was anxious to help them off with their fetters. Christians dare not be indifferent to the spiritual state of those they pass on life's journey. They must cry to the sleepers, "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall givt thee light." Christians are not responsible for the salvation of their neighbours, but they are responsible for the effort to arouse and awaken the careless, theindiffei'ent, and the actively wicked, to a sense of their danger, both" inC this world, and in relation to'that which is to come. Next Wednesday evening Mr Porter will deal with "Forma)i9t" and "Hypocrisy."*