Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/148

144 Dan. xi. 10), with all my heart and soul, the Father to reveal him to me. Then I asked him further, how I must make my supplications to him. And he said, Go, and thou shalt find him upon a mercy-seat (Exod. xxv. 22. Lev. xvi. 2. Heb. iv. 16), where he sits all the year long, to give pardon and forgiveness to them that come. I told him that I knew not what to say when I came. And he bid me say to this effect: God be merciful to me a sinner, and make me to know and believe in Jesus Christ; for I see that if His righteous ness 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 Saviour 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.

Chr. And did you do as you were bidden?

Hope. Yes, over, and over, and over.

Chr. And did the Father reveal the Son to you?

Hope. No, not at the first, nor second, nor third, nor fourth, nor fifth, no, nor at the sixth time neither.

Chr. What did you then?

Hope. What! why, I could not tell what to do.

Chr. Had you no thoughts of leaving off praying

Hope. Yes; and a hundred times twice told.

Chr. And what was the reason you did not?

Hope. I believe that it was true which hath been told me,to wit, that without the righteousness of this Christ, all the world could not save me: and therefore, thought I with myself, if I leave off I die, and I can but die at the throne of grace. And withal this came into my mind, "Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." (Heb. ii. 3.), So I continued praying until the Father showed me his Son."