Roger Duke
Feb 272 min read
Roger Duke
Feb 272 min read
February 22 - With Whom I Shall Worship?
Roger Duke
appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught: avoid them”
Romans 16: 17
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)
Now then, I dare not have communion with them that profess not faith and holiness or that are not visible saints by calling. But note that by this assertion, I meddle not with the [God’s] elect. But as he is a visible saint by calling neither do I exclude the secret hypocrite, if he is hidden from me by visible saintship [one who is a confessed and practicing Christian]. Wherefore I dare not have communion with men from this single supposition, that they may be elect. Neither dare I exclude the other from a single supposing that he may be a secret hypocrite. I meddle not here with these things. I only exclude him that is not a visible saint. Now he that is visibly or openly prophane, cannot be then a visible Saint. For the one that is a visible saint must profess faith, and repentance, and consequently holiness of life: And with none other dare I communicate [fellowship in worship].
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.
