This month we are going on a conducted tour through the rooms of John Bunyan's Interpreter's House. The Interpreter is the man who is going to teach the Pilgrim – Christian many things concerning his new found faith, and within the wall of his unique building there are seven illustrations placed before us as we move from room to room.
In the first instance, the Interpreter is a type of the Christian minister and the Interpreter's House a type of an Evangelical Church where the way of the Lord is expounded to those who are "Marching to Zion". But, in a broader sense, every believer, in some measure, should be an Interpreter of the way of salvation and the believer's heart and mind should be an Interpreter's House – well – stocked with "pictures" and "illustrations" which make the way of salvation plain to those who seek it.
We won't be able to visit all of Interpreter's rooms this month, or linger around all of his illustrations; however, our purpose will be served in spending a few moments with a few of Interpreter's lessons. This month we need simply refer directly to the words of the Pilgrim's Progress and see for ourselves the greatness of this great book.
(1) Let us look, first of all, at that room in the Interpreter's House where "The Gospel Sprinkler" does her work. In this room we are shown. (a) Man in his natural state; (b) the workings of the Law of God on man's heart; (c) the effects of the gospel of Christ. "Then he took him by the hand," Bunyan tells us, "and led him into a very large parlour, that was full of dust, because never swept; … the Interpreter called for a man to sweep. Now, when he began to sweep, the dust began so abundantly to fly about that Christian had almost been choked. Then said Interpreter to a damsel that stood by, 'Bring hither water and sprinkle the room;' the which, when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with pleasure. Then said Christian 'What means this?' The Interpreter answered 'This parlour is the heart of a man that was never sanctified by the sweet grace of the gospel. The dust is his original sin and inward corruptions that have defiled the man. He that began to sweep at first is the Law; but she that brought water and did sprinkle it, is the gospel.'"
The Law, when it sets to work on a heart, doesn't cleanse that heart from its sin, but only makes the sin "appear exceedingly sinful." Only the gospel brings "peace in believing".
(2) Passion and Patience. This is really the story of the Prodigal son, and is an illustration of Christian contentment. "I saw moreover in my dream that the Interpreter took him by the hand and led him into a little room where sat two little children, each one on his own chair. The name of the eldest was Passion and the name of the other Patience. Passion seems to be much discontented, but patience was very quiet. Then Christian asked 'What is the reason of the discontent of Passion?' The Interpreter answered 'The governor of them would have him stay for his best things until the beginning of next year, but he will have all now; Patience is willing to wait'".
(3) The Fire in the Wall is a lovely picture of comfort and encouragement for the heavy-laden believer, because it tells of the Lord's Persevering Grace that has been shed abroad in our hearts. On one side of this wall there is a man standing throwing buckets of water upon this fire in an effort to put it out; "Yet did the fire burn higher and hotter," we are told. "Why is this?" Pilgrim asks Interpreter. It's the devil who throws water upon the fire of grace which burns in the believer's heart, Pilgrim is told; but see, on the other side of the wall, there is another pouring oil upon that same fire, and that's why it burns and keeps on burning. "This is Christ," Interpreter explains, "who continually, with the oil of His grace, maintains the work already begun in the heart". He stands hidden, on the other side of the wall, the Interpreter goes on, but this is to show that sometimes it is hard for us to realise that Christ really is still maintaining His work in our souls.
How much Interpreter had to show the Pilgrim – Christian; and yet, before they were hardly half-way round the building the young Pilgrim wanted to be on his way. "Now," said Christian, "let us go hence". How typical of us all! How quick we are to leave the place of instruction, even though we are being taken by the hand by the Divine Interpreter Himself. Never let us be quick to say "Now, let us go hence;" for surely our Divine Interpreter will always say to us, as Bunyan's Interpreter said to his Pilgrim, "Nay, stay until I have showed thee a little more."
This Page Title – The Interpreter's House, from Pilgrim's Progress The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 53 – placed on line March 2005 |