Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk3.djvu/36

36 two words, "my love," his chief and subject matter, from which, after he had a little opened the text, he observed these several conclusions: (1.) That the church, and so eyery saved soul, is Christ's love, when loveless; (2.) Christ's love without a cause; (3.) Christ's love which hath been hated of the world; (4.) Christ's love when under temptation and under destruction; (5.) Christ's love from first to last.

90. But I got nothing by what he said at present; only, when he came to the application of the fourth particular, this was the word he said: If it be so that the saved soul is Christ's love when under temptation and destruction, then, poor, tempted soul, when thou art assaulted and afflicted with temptations and the hidings of face, yet think on these two words, "my love," still.

91. So, as I was going home, these words came again into thoughts; and I well remembered, they came in, I said thus in my? heart, What shall I get by thinking on these two words? This thought had no sooner passed through my heart but these words began thus to kindle in my spirit: Thou art my love, thou art my love, twenty times together; and still, as they ran in my mind, they waxed stronger and warmer, and began to make me look up. But being as yet between hope and fear, I still replied in my heart, But is it true? but is it true? At which that sentence fell upon me: He "wist not that it was true which was done by the angel" (Acts xii. 9).

92. Then I began to give place to the word, which with power did over and over make this joyful sound within my soul, Thou art my love, and nothing shall separate thee from my love. Ans with that my heart was filled full of comfort and hope, and now I could believe that my sins would be forgiven me; yea, I was now so taken with the love and mercy of God that I could not tell how to contain till I got home. I thought I could have spoken of his love, and told of his mercy to me, even to the very