Read the Introduction by Rev. Robert Maguire, D. D.
Showing posts with label Gates - The Five City Gates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gates - The Five City Gates. Show all posts

Feel-Gate

"The army of doubt always assails the feelings; and this is the weak point of too many believers, especially, when their faith is wounded, their experience low, and their hope laid prostrate. When faith is full, and strong, and sure, it triumphs over mere feeling, and subordinates all the rising doubts and fears to its dominion and command. The feelings demand palpable evidences—but faith is satisfied with the promise of Jesus. The unbelieving Jews sought to see “signs and wonders;” but the nobleman, exercising implicit faith, 'believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way,' John 4:48–50."[2]

Mouth-Gate

"Through Mouth-gate Mansoul prayed. The mouth is the highway of prayer, from the heart of man to the throne of God. It is the 'sally-port' of the soul for supplication. Prayer is the preserver of the soul, as the salt preserves the sea. Prayer is the pillar of the soul, against which it leans, and supports its failing strength. DIABOLUS may talk of Goliath, the proud Philistine, and disdain him, as the Philistine disdained the stripling David; but, in the praying soul, Satan has to deal with more than a Goliath; yea, the giant of Gath stood not in half such strength! 'O Lord, open thou our lips, and our mouth shall show forth thy praise.'"[2]

Ear-gate


"This was the gate of audience, and through this gate the words of the tempter must penetrate, if the temptation is to be successful. Into the ears of our first mother did the wily serpent whisper the glozing words of his seductive wiles; and through Ear-gate he assailed her heart, and won it. To give audience to the tempter is the next step to yielding up obedience to his will."[2]

Gates - The Five City Gates

"Ear-gate, Eye-gate, Mouth-gate, Nose-gate, and Feel-gate. The five senses are very properly described as so many gates of the city, for these are the doors by which good or evil must enter."[1]

Sources


1. Rev. George Burder, Explanatory, Experimental and Practical Notes. The Holy War. By John Bunyan. Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication, [Pref. 1803.]
2. Rev. Robert Maguire, Annotations. The Holy War. By John Bunyan. London: Cassell, Petter and Galpin, c1866.
3. John Bunyan, The Holy War.
4. Charlie Doe, my own comments.