Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk3.djvu/82

82 to, that objection, to wit, that the Scriptures could not agree in the salvation of my soul. And now remained only the hinder part of the tempest, for the thunder was gone beyond me; only some drops did still remain, that now and then would fall upon me. But because my former frights and anguish were very sore and deep, therefore it oft befell me still,as it befalleth those that have been scared with fire—I thought every voice was Fire! fire! Every little touch would hurt my tender conscience.

229. But one day, as I was passing into the field, and that too with some dashes on my conscience, fearing lest yet all was not right, suddenly this sentence fell upon my soul, Thy righteousness is in heaven. And methought withal I saw, with the eyes of my soul, Jesus Christ at God's right hand. There, I say, was my righteousness; so that wherever I was, or whatever I was doing, God could not say of me, He wants my righteousness, for that was just before him. I also saw, moreover, that it was not my good frame of heart that made my righteousness better, nor yet my bad frame that made my righteousness worse; for my righteousness was Jesus Christ himself, "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" (Heb. xiii. 8).

230. Now did my chains fall off my legs indeed; I was loosened from my afflictions and irons; my temptations also fled away: so that from that time those dreadful scriptures of God left off to trouble me; now went I also home rejoicing for the grace and love of God. So when I came home I looked to see if I could find that sentence, Thy righteousness is in heaven; but could not find such a saying. Wherefore my heart began to sink again; only that was brought to my remembrance, "who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Cor. i. 30). By this word I saw the other sentence true.

231. For by this scripture I saw that the man Christ Jesus, as he is distinct from us as touching his bodily