Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk3.djvu/93

Rh savouring in my spirit, yet suddenly there fell upon me a great cloud of darkness, which did so hide from me the things of God and Christ that I was as if I had never seen or known them in my life. I was also so overrun in my soul with a senseless, heartless frame of spirit, that I could not feel my soul to move or stir after grace and life by Christ; I was as if my loins were broken, or as if my hands and feet had been tied or bound with chains. At this time also I felt some weakness to seize upon my outward man, which made still the other affliction the more heavy and uncomfortable to me.

262. After I had been in this condition some three or four days, as I was sitting by the fire I suddenly felt this word to sound in my heart, I must go to Jesus. At this my former darkness and atheism fled away, and the blessed things of heaven were set in my view. While I was on this sudden thus overtaken with surprise, Wife, said I, is ever such a scripture, I must go to Jesus? She said she could not tell. Therefore I stood musing still, to see if I could remember such a place. I had not sat above two or three minutes but that came bolting; in upon me, "and to an innumerable company of angels;" and withal the twelfth chapter of Hebrews, about the Mount Sion, was set, before mine eyes (ver. 22).

263. Then with joy I told my wife, Oh, now I know, I know! But that night was a good night to me; I have had but few better. I longed for the company of some of God's people, that I might have imparted unto them what God had showed me. Christ was a precious Christ to my soul that night; I could scarce lie in my bed for joy, and peace triumph through Christ. This great glory did not continue upon me until morning, yet the twelfth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews, verse 22, was a blessed scripture to me for many days together after this.

264.The words are these: "Ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general