Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk3.djvu/67

Rh namely, a further confirmation of the certainty of the way of salvation, and that the Scriptures were the Word of God. Oh, I cannot now express what I then saw and felt of the steadiness of Jesus Christ, the rock of man's salvation! what was done could not be undone, added to, nor altered. I saw, indeed, that sin might drive the soul beyond Christ, even the sin which is unpardonable; but woe unto him that was so driven, for the word would shut him out!

187. Thus was I always sinking, whatever I did think or do. So one day I walked to a neighbouring town, and sat down upon a settle in the street, and fell into a very deep pause about the most fearful state my sin had brought me to; and after long musing I lifted up my head, but methought I saw as if the sun that shineth in the heavens did grudge to give light, and as if the very stones in the street and tiles upon the houses did bend themselves against me. Oh, how happy now was every creature to what I was! For they stood fast and kept their station, but I was gone and lost.

188. Then breaking out into the bitterness of my soul, I said to myself with a grievous sigh, How can God comfort such a wretch as I? I had no sooner said it but this returned upon me, as an echo doth answer a voice, This sin is not unto death. At which I was as if I had been raised out of the grave, and cried out again, Lord, how coulds't thou find out such a word as this? for I was filled with admiration at the fitness and at the unexpectedness; of the sentence. The power and sweetness and light and glory that came with it also were marvellous to me to find. I was now for the time out of doubt as to that about which I so much was in doubt before. My fears before were that my sin was not pardonable, and so that I had no right to pray, to repent, etc.; or that if I did, it would be of no advantage or profit to me. But. now, thought I, if this sin is not unto death, then it is pardonable; therefore from this I have