REFLECTIONS

The Holy War

Then lend thine ear to what I do relate

Touching the town of Mansoul and her state:

How she was lost, took captive, made a slave;

And how against him set, that should here save,

Yea, how by hostile ways she did oppose

Her Lord, and with his enemy did close.

For they are true: he that will them deny

Must needs the best or records vilify.

For my part, I myself was in the town

Both when ‘twas set up, and when pulling down.

I saw Diabolus in his possession

And Mansoul also under his oppression.

Yea, I was there when she own’d him for lord,

And to him did submit with one accord.

When Mansoul trampled upon things divine,

And wallowed in filth as doth a swine;

When she betook herself unto her arms,

Fought her Emmanuel, despised his charms;

Then I was there, and did rejoice to see

Diabolus and Mansoul so agree.

Let no men, then, count me a fable-maker

Nor make my name or credit a partaker

Of their derision: what is here in view,

Of mine own knowledge, I dare say is true.

I saw Prince’s armed men come down

By troops, by thousands, to besiege the town;

I saw the captains, heard the trumpets sound,

And how his forces covered all the ground.

Yea, how they set themselves in battle-‘ray,

I shall remember to my dying day.

I saw the colors waving in the wind,

And they within to mischief how combined

To ruin Mansoul, and to make away

Her primium mobile without delay.

I saw the mounts cast up against the town,

And how the slings were placed to beat ears it down;

I heard the stones fly whizzing by mine ears,

(What longer kept in mind than got in fears?)

I heard them fall, and saw what work they made,

And how old Mors did cover with his shade

The face of Mansoul; and I heard her cry,

“Woe worth the day, in dying I shall die!”

I saw the battering-rams, and how they play’d

To beat open Ear-gate; and I was afraid

Not only Ear-gate, but the very town

Would by those battering-rams be beaten down.

I saw the fights, and heard the captains shout,

And in each battle saw who faced about:

I saw who wounded were, and who was slain;

And who, when dead, would come to life again.

I heard the cries of those that wounded were,

(While others fought like men bereft of fear,)

And while the cry, “Kill, kill,” was in mine ears,

The gutters ran, not so with blood as tears.

Indeed, the captains did not always fight,

But then they would molest us day and night;

Their cry, “Up, fall on, let us take the town,”

Kept us from sleeping, or from lying down.

I was there when the gates were broken ope,

And saw how Mansoul then was stripp’d of hope;

I saw the captains march into town

How there they fought, and did their foes cut down.

I heard the prince bid Boanerges go

Up to the castle, and there seize his foe;

And saw him and his fellow bring him down

In chains of great contempt quite through the town

I saw Emmanuel, when he possess’d

His town of Mansoul; and how greatly blest

A town his gallant town of Mansoul was

When she received his pardon, loved his laws.

When the Diabolonians were caught

When tried, and when to execution brought,

Then I was there; yea, I was standing by

When Mansoul did the rebels crucify.

I also saw Mansoul clad all in white,

And heard her Prince call her his heart’s delight.

I saw him put upon her chains of gold,

And rings, and bracelets, goodly to behold.

What shall I say? I heard the people’s cries,

And saw the Prince wipe tears from Mansoul’s eyes.

I heard the groans, and saw the joy of many:

Tell you of all, I neither will, nor can I.

But by what here I say, you well may see

That Mansoul’s matchless wars no fables be.

-From The Holy War (1682) by John Bunyan  Published by Moody Press  Chicago, IL 1948.

REFLECTIONS

Brotherly Love Rather Than Race-Hatred

“For we also were sometimes foolish, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.” –Tit. iii.3.

“What a dark picture of the state of human nature and of human society! Whence comes such a sad condition of things, worse even than we see among animals? The answer is: “From Adam’s Fall.” Just think how Cain, the first child born on earth, born of man whom God had created, shed the blood of his brother Abel. Yes, the first child born on earth was the murderer of his own brother, and came under the power of the devil, who “was a murderer from the beginning.” “God saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” No wonder that he destroyed mankind by a flood. Yet soon after the flood there were signs that man was still under the power of sin.

No wonder that man’s love of his own people, implanted in his heart by nature, soon changed to hatred of other peoples. Love of country became the fruitful source of race-hatred, war, and bloodshed. Note how, here in South Africa, God has placed the two races side by side, as in a school, to see if our Christianity will enable us to overcome race-hatred, and in the power of Christ’s love, prove that “in the new creature there is neither Greek nor Jew, barbarian nor Scythian, bond or free, but are all one in Christ Jesus.”

What an opening there is for the Church of Christ and her ministers to preach and proclaim the love of God, and to prove its might to change race-hatred into brotherly love! God has abundant power to bring this to pass.

What a call to every Christian to pray for himself and his brethren, that we may not make the Word of God of none effect by our unbelief!

 

O God, make known to us Thy love in Heavenly power, and let it take full possession of our lives!”

-Andrew Murray, (1828-1917) Reformed Pastor in South Africa, from God’s Best Secrets  Published by Zondervan 1979  USA  September 13 Meditation.