Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk3.djvu/59

Rh, to aggravate and heighten their sins by several circumstances.

169. I should think with myself that David shed blood to cover his adultery, and that by the sword of the children of Ammon; a work that could not be done but by deliberate contrivance, which was a great aggravation to his sin. But then this would turn upon me: Ah! but these were but sins against the law, from which there was a Jesus sent to save them; but yours is a sin against the Saviour, and who shall save you from that?

170. Then I thought on Solomon, and how he sinned in loving strange women, in falling away to their idols, in building them temples, in doing this after light, in his old age, after great mercy received. But the same conclusion that cut me off in the former consideration cut me off as to this—namely, that all those were but sins against the law, for which God had provided a remedy; but I had sold my Saviour, and there remained no more sacrifice for sin.

171. I would then add to these men's sins the sins of Manasseh—how that he built altars for idols in the house of the Lord; he also observed times, used enchantments, had to do with wizards, had his familiar spirits, burned his children in the ﬁre in sacrifice to devils, and made the streets of Jerusalem run down with the blood of innocents. These, thought I, are great sins—sins of a bloody colour, But yet it would turn again upon me, They are none of them of the nature of yours; you have parted with Jesus, you have sold your Saviour.

172. This one consideration would always kill my heart: my sin was point-blank against my Saviour, and that, too, at that height that Thad in my heart said of him, Let him go if he will. Oh, methought this sin was bigger than the sins of a country, of, a kingdom, or of the whole world; no one pardonable—not all of them together—was able to equal mine; mine out went them every one.