Faithful's Song - Pilgrim's Progress

My girls and I spent much time in Palace Beautiful learning along with Christian the blessing and benefit of the local church when it is truly one of God's House Beautifuls. Together we descended into the Valley of Humiliation where fierce battle was made with Apollyon. There we examined the battle in detail, the weapons successful, the cause and condition of the battle. And then into the Valley of the Shadow of Death. We took note and hope with Christian as he heard brother Faithful speaking from the dark of the valley ahead of him. We saw giants Pagan and Pope. And then we, with self-searching contrition read of Christian's running on ahead and overtaking Faithful only to smile vain-gloriously and fall.

But the solid brother Faithful helps Christian to his feet and they began to converse in that heavenly conversation. That comfort whereby we comfort one another with the same comfort we have been comforted with. Christian asks Faithful to relate his own trials and experience with God. For certainly he knew Faithful had had his own or the lack thereof "would have been writ for a wonder" in and of itself.

We read of Adam the first the old man who tempted Faithful. Of that deceitful woman, Wanton, also - and Faithful's confession that he may not have escaped totally unscathed from these feeling in himself their pull.

But Faithful did escape, he escaped from Moses also who beat him with no mercy, For as we also learned from Romans Chapter Two, the law condemns it contains no promise or grace. The law can very well show us what we must do but it does not give us the power to keep it.

Oh! and then we read of one of Faithful's greatest trials in the person of SHAME.

click here for context:
I could scarcely shake him out of my company; yea, he would be haunting of me, and continually whispering me in the ear, with some one or other of the infirmities that attend religion. But at last I told him, that it was but in vain to attempt farther in this business; for those things that he disdained, in those did I see most glory: and so at last I got past this importunate one. And when I had shaken him off, then I began to sing,

“The trials that those men do meet withal,
That are obedient to the heavenly call,
Are manifold, and suited to the flesh,
And come, and come, and come again afresh;
That now, or some time else, we by them may
Be taken, overcome, and cast away.
O let the pilgrims, let the pilgrims then,
Be vigilant, and quit themselves like men.”

And so this morning over a nice breakfast at the local grocery-with-cafeteria we enjoyed Faithful's song.

TRIALS MANIFOLD:
How in Jam 1:2 we see there are many trials.
In 1Pe 1:6 these trials are manifold.

HEAVENLY CALL:
Discussing comparing the general call:
Mat 20:16
Acts 17:30

and the effectual call which obtains its end.
Rom 8:29-30

TRIALS SUITED TO THE FLESH:
How the trials we find are trials because they do appeal to the flesh.
James 1:13-14

The Believers Need TAKE HEED:
John 15:1-2
John 15:6
In the above passages we see the branches not bearing fruit taken away, gathered of men, and cast into a fire.

1Cor 9:24-27
Where we read of Paul who is very diligent to run and so run as to obtain. He has a Holy fear of falling short as a great means of perserverance.

1Cor 16:13
Faithful's last song almost word for word quoting. So prick Bunyan anywhere and bleeds pure bibline.
1Co 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

"Quit you Like Men" one word in the Greek language. Behave like men, live like men, that is mature, watchful, sober against sin.

John Gill on Quit You Like Men:
Quit you like men; like men of wisdom and understanding; be not like children for non-proficiency, instability, and weakness; see 1Co_14:20; act the part of men; believe not every spirit; be not carried and tossed about with every wind of doctrine; search the Scriptures, and try every doctrine by them; and having found what is truth abide by it, and be proficients in it, instructing and establishing yourselves and others........

do thou. Or play the man, as in 2Sa_10:12; act like men of valour and courage, stand fast, keep your ground, and contend earnestly for the faith; be valiant for the truth on earth; fight the good fight of faith: it is a good cause believers are engaged in; they have a good Captain and Commander at the head of them; they are provided with good weapons, may be sure of victory, and of having the crown of righteousness, life, and glory:

Those last two verses hit me the hardest:
O let the pilgrims, let the pilgrims then,
Be vigilant, and quit themselves like men.

So should my heart cry out in prayer for the church of the living God, for myself, my brothers and sisters in Christ, my family, my wife.

O' LET THE PILGRIMS, GOD O' GOD LET THE PILGRIMS THEN,
BE VIGILANT AND BEHAVE LIKE MEN!!!!

And so in heart prayer, silent prayer, I cry for the church. Ooooooh let the pilgrims be vigilant, filled with your spirit, dying to self and sin and living to you GOD, living to you, our glorious GOD. Give grace and mercy for your own glorious name's sake. O let the pilgrims, Oh let the pilgrim's then, Be vigilant and quit themselves like men.