Showing posts with label Pilgrim's Progress. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pilgrim's Progress. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

The Sinner's Prayer in The Pilgrim's Progress (1678)

Here's a prayer sometimes cited as a "sinner's prayer" in John Bunyan's classic allegory, The Pilgrim's Progress (1678):

God be merciful to me a sinner, and make me to know and believe in Jesus Christ; for I see, that if his righteousness had not been, or I have not faith in that righteousness, I am utterly cast away. Lord, I have heard that thou art a merciful God, and hast ordained that thy Son Jesus Christ should be the Savior of the world; and moreover, that thou art willing to bestow him upon such a poor sinner as I am—and I am a sinner indeed. Lord, take therefore this opportunity, and magnify thy grace in the salvation of my soul, through thy Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

There are a few parts we've referred to as "Parts of a Sinner's Prayer," in an earlier blog post. Pilgrim refers to himself as a Sinner, requests mercy (Forgiveness), and there's a vague allusion to God's bestowing Jesus on sinners (as a Sacrifice?).

In addition, we find some familiar words: righteousness, faith, mercy, grace and salvation.