When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down...
BigDog
Where is the section that talks about going through the "Slew of
Despond" or "Slough of Despair" or whatever it is called...
ccel.org is down (at the moment) so I can't find the section I am
looking for in Pilgrim's Progress ....
I am thinking of a song in relation to sinking down in the mire of sin,
and sinking down in desperation and depression.
I was reminded of this while singing "What Wonderous Love is This?" on
Friday morning in chapel at Asbury College...
Verse two of the song is:
When I was sinking down,
Sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down
Beneath God,s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown
For my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.
You can see the whole song here:
1. Cyber Hymnal version:
-> http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/h/a/whatwond.htm
2. RUF Indelible Grace version:
-> http://www.igracemusic.com/pilgrimdays-cd/pilgrimdays-10.html
** You can also listen to the song.
Also thinking of it in relation to Pastor Ralph Rebandt's recent sermon
on the Sovereignty of God Over Salvation, where he gave the
illustration of a man drowning.
The drowing man cries out and goes down, and then bobs up again gasping
for a breath. The man screams for help and screams again for anyone to
help. The man is drowning and will die soon. A man calls out to him
from the shore to think positive thoughts and tells him to swim
harder.... and the man drowns.
Our only hope is for Christ to walk out onto the water and to lift us
up -- just as he did for Peter. That is the only way we are saved. When
He (Jesus Christ) reaches out and grabs our hand and saves us -- then
we are saved. There is nothing we can do of ourselves.
BigDog
look this up.
They number the paragraph's on the Bartleby version...and one of the
sections in paragraph 126...
see: http://www.bartleby.com/15/1/102.html
Here Christian and Good-will are talking about the journey thus far and
why is Christian walking alone...
Chr. Yes, both Obstinate and Pliable; but when they saw that they
could not prevail, Obstinate went railing back, but Pliable came with
me a little way. 124
Good-will. But why did he not come through? 125
Chr. We indeed came both together, until we came to the Slough of
Dispond, into the which we also suddenly fell. And then was my Neighbor
Pliable discouraged, and would not adventure further. Wherefore getting
out again on that side next to his own house, he told me I should
possess the brave country alone for him; so he went his way, and I came
mine: he after Obstinate, and I to this Gate. 126
A man may have company when he sets out for heaven, and yet go thither
alone (this is a later editors comment.)
I will try to find the passage where Christian first enters the "Slough
of Dispond" and provide a link...
Daniel Vos
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext94/plgrm11h.htm
and go down to section 29.
FWIW, the Pilgrim's Progress is a brilliant work of literature! I am happy
that you are encouraging us to re-discover it.
One of our Bible teachers at Faith Christian is fond of describing the Bible
as an "R-rated" book. In this light, the pilgrim's reaction to his initial
reading of the Bible is fascinating: "As he read, he wept, and trembled;
and, not being able longer to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry,
saying, 'What shall I do?'"
He read the Bible...
Then:
He wept!
He trembled!
He cried out!
This (the Bible) is no ordinary book! What it has to say matters enormously!
Daniel