"Among the multitude of Puritan books which have survived the 17th Century The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan has often been regarded as one of the few which can be called uncontroversial. It is an incorrect judgment, for Part I of Bunyan’s classic, published in 1678, describes the process by which Pilgrim became a Christian in terms which are by no means acceptable to all Christian traditions. One last-century preacher, H. H. Almond, went as far as to declare that ‘There is not an instance in the New Testament of a convert made after the manner of Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress, driven to distraction, dreaming hideous dreams, and uttering lamentable cries’. While we question the fairness of this representation, it has to be accepted that Almond does identify the fundamental issue, namely, the nature of a true conversion experience. Plainly, Bunyan saw conversion as no simple, easy event, no single step from unconcern to immediate assurance of salvation. Much more was involved. When Pilgrim left the City of Destruction, crying, ‘What shall I do to be saved?’ there was, Bunyan narrates, ‘a very wide field’ to cross, and a ‘slough of despond’ to be met, before he came to the wicket gate. Even with that gate passed, Christian—as we now see him to be had further to go before he obtained the joy of assurance. Of course, Bunyan did not intend his leading character to be the model of every conversion experience, yet the opening pages of The Pilgrim’s Progress undoubtedly reflect a general consensus of Puritan teaching on the subject of conversion."

Iain Murray, the well-known author has brought forth a much needed survey on one particular Puritan, Thomas Hooker, specifically Hooker's views on the doctrine of conversion. This is surely an antidote to the current preaching and teaching found in most churches today, both theologically Reformed and non-Reformed. To be sure, Hooker was not unique in his view of conversion but rather what he believed, based squarely upon Scripture, was widely held among the Puritans, both before and after him. The abuse of this doctrine is prolific, most emphasizing one aspect of it to the detriment or even denial of the other.

The issues at stake are profound and have eternal consequences. What Hooker sought to do in his preaching is to expose the fallacy of false conversion but at the same time to comfort those who had been genuinely converted yet lacked assurance that they were united to Christ by a living faith. This is no mean task. To preach the truth in all its fulness for the benefit of all is something which burdens the hearts of all true ministers of God and even to those who seek to bring the Gospel to the world in their everyday lives.

Because of the importance of this subject, this article is one which EVERYONE should read and contemplate prayerfully, not only in regard to what is being preached but what has taken place in your own heart. (2Cor 13:5; 2Pet 1:8-11)

This article can be found HERE.

In His service and grace,


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simul iustus et peccator

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