Roger Duke
Feb 272 min read
Roger Duke
Feb 272 min read
February 27 - Reasons of My Worship Practice(s) - Reasons Five and Six
Roger Duke
“You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together”
Deuteronomy 22: 10
This entry is taken from Daily Readings - John Bunyan a 366 day devotional edited by (and posted with permission from) Roger D. Duke, Scholar-in-Residence at Stage & Story, and published by Christian Heritage Press.
Each month focuses on a different book or writing by Bunyan. For February: My Confession of Faith (or A Confession of My Faith and a Reason of My Practice, or, With Who, and Who Not, I can Hold Church-fellowship, or the Communion of Saints)
Reason Five and Six
Fifthly, I dare not hold communion with the open prophane.
Because this would be plowing with on ox and an ass together: Heavenly things suit best for communion in heavenly matters (Deuteronomy 22: 10).
It subjected not the nature of our discipline, which is not forced, but free in a professed subjection to the will and commandment of Christ: Others being excluded by God's own prohibition (Leviticus 1: 3; Romans 6: 17; 2 Corinthians 8: 12). Paul also exhorted Timothy to follow: Righteousness: faith, charity, peace, etc. (([These] are the bowels (the seat of pity, tenderness, and courage) of Church communion)); he said do it with those who call on the name of the Lord, out of a pure heart (2 Timothy 2: 22).
Sixthly, in a word, to hold communion with the open prophane is most pernicious and destructive.
It was the wicked multitude that fell into lusting and that tempted Christ in the desert (Numbers 11: 4).
It was the prophane heathen, from whom Israel learned, to worship idols. They were mingled among the heathen, learned their works, and served their idols, which became a snare to them (Psalm 106: 25-27),
It was this [inter]mingled people that God hath threatened to bring a plague with those deadly punishments of his. With which he threatened to punish Babylon herself: Saying; A sword is upon her mighty [men], her chariots and treasures; a sword also shall be upon the mingled people that are in the midst of her.
John Bunyan was a preacher, theologian and author, whose best-known work, The Pilgrim's Progress, has challenged and influenced readers for almost 350 years.
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