"The Interpreter answered; This Parlor 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 whole Man; He that began to sweep at first, is the Law; but She that brought water, and did sprinkle it, is the Gospel."

— Bunyan, John (bap. 1628, d. 1688)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Nath. Ponder
Date
1678
Metaphor
"The Interpreter answered; This Parlor 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 whole Man; He that began to sweep at first, is the Law; but She that brought water, and did sprinkle it, is the Gospel."
Metaphor in Context
The Interpreter answered; This Parlor 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 whole Man; He that began to sweep at first, is the Law; but She that brought water, and did sprinkle it, is the Gospel: Now, whereas thou sawest that so soon as the first began to sweep, the dust did so fly about that the Room by him could not be cleansed, but that thou wast almost choaked therewith. This is to shew thee, that the Law, instead of cleansing the heart (by its working) from sin, d doth revive, put e strength into, and f increase it in the soul, as it doth discover and sorbid it, but doth not give power to subdue.
(pp. 21-22)
Provenance
Reading
Citation
See The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come Delivered Under the Similitude of a Dream, Wherein Is Discovered the Manner of His Setting out, His Dangerous Journey, and Safe Arrival at the Desired Countrey. (London: Printed for Nath. Ponder, 1678). <Link to EEBO-TCP>

Reading The Pilgrims's Progress, ed. Cynthia Wall (New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2009).
Date of Entry
09/02/2014

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.