Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk3.djvu/44

44 116. At another time, as I sat by the fire in my house, and musing on my wretchedness, the Lord made that also a precious word unto me: "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Heb. ii. 14, 15). I thought that the glory of those words was then so weighty on me that I was both once and twice ready to swoon as I sat; yet not with grief and trouble, but with solid joy and peace.

117. At this time I also sat under the ministry of holy Mr. Gifford, whose doctrine, by God's grace, was much for my stability. This man made it much his business to deliver the people of God from all those false and unsound tests that by nature we are prone to. He would bid us take special heed that we took not up any truth upon trust, but cry mightily to God that he would convince us of the reality thereof, and set us down therein by his own Spirit in the holy Word: "for," said he, "if you do otherwise, when temptation comes, if strongly, upon you, you, not having received them with evidence from heaven, will find you want that help and strength new to resist that once you thought you had."

118. This was as seasonable to my soul as the former and latter rains in their seasons; for I had found, and that by sad experience, the truth of these his words. Wherefore I found my soul; through grace, very apt to drink in this doctrine, and to incline to pray to God that in nothing that pertained to God's; glory and my own eternal happiness he would suffer me to be without the confirmation thereof from heaven: for now I saw clearly the difference betwixt the notion of the flesh and blood and the revelation God in heaven; also a great difference betwixt that faith that is feigned, and according to man's wisdom and that which comes by a man's being born thereunto of God (Matt. xvi. 15–17; 1 John v. 1.)