Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk3.djvu/11

 TO THE

CHIEF OF SINNERS.

1. this my relation of the merciful working of God upon my soul, it will not be amiss if, in the first place, I do, in a few words, give you a hint of my pedigree and manner of bringing up, that thereby the goodness and bounty of God towards me may be the more advanced and magnified before the sons of men.

2. For my descent, then, it was, is well known by many, of a low and inconsiderable generation, my father's house being of that rank that is meanest and most despised of all the families of the land. Wherefore I have not here, as others, to boast of noble blood and of high—born state. according to the flesh; though, all things considered, I magnify the heavenly majesty, for that by this door he brought me into the world to partake of the grace and life that is in Christ by the gospel.

3. But yet, not withstanding the meanness and inconsiderableness of my parents, it pleased God to put into their hearts to put me to school, to learn me both to read and write; the which I also attained according to the rate of other poor men's children, though, to my shame, I confess I