 I feared, therefore, that this wicked sin of mine might be that sin unpardonable of which he there thus speaketh, but he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiven us, but is in danger of eternal damnation. Mark 3 29. And I did the rather give credit to this, because of that sentence in the Hebrews, for ye know how that afterward when he would have inherited the blessing he was rejected, for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. And this stuck always with me. And now was I both a burden and a terror to myself, nor did I ever so know as now what it was to be weary of my life and yet afraid to die. Oh, how gladly now would I have been anybody but myself, anything but a man, and in any condition but mine own, for there was nothing did pass more frequently over my mind than that it was impossible for me to be forgiven my transgression and to be saved from wrath to come. And now began I to labor to call again time that was past, wishing a thousand times twice told that the day was yet to come when I should be tempted to such a sin, concluding with great indignation both against my heart and all assaults, how I would rather have been torn in pieces than found a concenter there too. But alas, these thoughts and wishings and resolveings were now too late to help me. The thought had passed my heart. God hath let me go, and I am fallen. Oh, thought I, that it was with me as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me. Job 29, too. Then again, being low than unwilling to perish, I began to compare my sin with others, to see if I could find that any of those that were saved had done as I had done. So I considered David's adultery and murder, and found them most heinous crimes, and those too committed after light and grace received. But yet, by considering, I perceived that his transgressions were only such as were against the law of Moses, from which the Lord Christ could, with the consent of his word, deliver him. But mine was against the gospel, yea, against the mediator thereof. I had sold my Saviour. Now again should I be as if racked upon the wheel, when I considered that, besides the guilt that possessed me, I should be so void of grace, so bewitched. What thought I, must it be no sin but this? Must it needs be the great transgression? Psalm 19, 13. Must that wicked one touch my soul? 1 John 5, 18. Oh, what stings did I find in all these sentences? What thought I, is there but one sin that is unpardonable? Not one sin that layeth the soul without the reach of God's mercy, and must I be guilty of that? Must it needs be that? Is there but one sin among so many millions of sins for which there is no forgiveness, and must I commit this? Oh, unhappy sin, oh unhappy man! These things would so break and confound my spirit that I could not tell what to do. I thought at times they would have broke my wits, and still, to aggravate my misery that would run in my mind, ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected. Oh, none knows the terrors of those days but myself. After this I came to consider of Peter's sin, which he committed in denying his master, and indeed this came niest to mine, of any that I could find, for he had denied his saviour, as I, and that after light and mercy received, yea and that too, after warning given him. I also considered that he did it both once and twice, and that after time to consider betwixt. But though I put all these circumstances together, that if possible I might find help, yet I considered again that his was but a denial of his master, but mine was a selling of my saviour. Wherefore I thought with myself that I came nearer to Judas than either to David or Peter. Here again my torment would flame out and afflict me, yea it would grind me, as it were, to powder, to discern the preservation of God towards others, while I fell unto the snare, for in my thus considering of other men's sins, and comparing of them with my own, I could evidently see how God preserved them, notwithstanding their wickedness, and would not let them, as he had let me, to become a son of perdition. But oh, how did my soul at this time prize the preservation that God did set about his people. Ah, how safely did I see them walk, whom God had hedged in. They were within his care, protection, and special providence, though they were full as bad as I by nature, yet because he loved them, he would not suffer them to fall without the range of mercy. But as for me, I was gone, I had done it. He would not preserve me, nor keep me, but suffered me, because I was a reprobate to fall as I had done. Now did those blessed places, that spake of God's keeping his people, shine like the sun before me, though not to comfort me, but to show me the blessed state and heritage of those whom the Lord had blessed. Now I saw, that as God had his hand in all providences and dispensation that overtook his elect, so he had his hand in all the temptations that they had to sin against him, not to animate them unto wickedness, but to choose their temptations and troubles for them, and also to leave them for a time to such sins only as might not destroy, but humble them, as might not put them beyond, but lay them in the way of the renewing of his mercy. But oh, what love, what care, what kindness, and mercy did I now see, mixing itself with the most severe and dreadful of all God's ways to his people. He would let David, Hezekiah, Solomon, Peter, and others fall, but he would not let them fall into sin unpardonable, nor into hell for sin. Oh, thought I, these be the men that God hath loved, these be the men that God, though he chastiseth them, keeps them in safety by him, and them whom he makes to abide under the shadow of the Almighty. But all these thoughts added sorrow, grief, and horror to me, as whatever I now thought on it was killing to me. If I thought how God kept his own, that was killing to me. If I thought of how I was falling myself, that was killing to me. As all things wrought together for the best, and to do good to them that were the called according to his purpose, so I thought that all things wrought for my damage, and for my eternal overthrow. Then again I began to compare my sin with the sin of Judas, that if possible I might find that mine differed from that which, in truth, is unpardonable. But oh, thought I, if it should differ from it, though but the breadth of an hair, what a happy condition is my soul in. And by considering I found that Judas did his intentionally, but mine was against my prayer and strivings. Besides his was committed with much deliberation, but mine in a fearful hurry, on a sudden. All this while I was tossed to and fro like the locusts, and driven from trouble to sorrow, hearing always the sound of Esau's fall in mine ears, and of the dreadful consequences thereof. Yet this consideration about Judas, his sin, was for a while some little relief unto me, for I saw I had not, as to the circumstances, transgressed so foully as he. But this was quickly gone again, for I thought with myself there might be more ways than one to commit the unpardonable sin. Also I thought that there might be degrees of that, as well as of other transgressions, wherefore for ought I yet could perceive this iniquity of mine might be such, as might never be passed by. I was often now ashamed that I should be like such an ugly man as Judas. I thought also how loathsome I should be unto all the saints at the day of judgment, insomuch that now I could scarce see a good man that I believed had a good conscience, but I should feel my heart tremble at him while I was in his presence. Oh, now I saw a glory in walking with God, and what a mercy it was to have a good conscience before him. I was much about this time tempted to content myself by receiving some false opinion, as that there should be no such thing as a day of judgment, that we should not rise again, and that sin was no such grievous thing, the tempter suggesting thus, for if these things should indeed be true, yet to believe otherwise would yield you ease for the present. If you must perish, never torment yourself so much beforehand. Drive the thoughts of damning out of your mind, by possessing your mind with some such conclusions that atheists and ranters do use to help themselves with all. But oh, when such thoughts have led through my heart, how as it were within a step hath death and judgment been in my view. Me thought the judge stood at the door. I was as if it was come already, so that such things could have no entertainment. That me thinks I see by this that Satan will use any means to keep the soul from Christ. He loveth not an awakened frame of spirit. Security, blindness, darkness, and error is the very kingdom and habitation of the wicked one. I found it hard work now to pray to God, because despair was swallowing me up. I thought I was, as with a tempest, driven away from God, for always when I cried to God for mercy this would come in. It is too late. I am lost. God hath let me fall. Not to my correction, but condemnation. My sin is unpardonable. And I know concerning Esau how that after he had sold his birthright he would have received the blessing but was rejected. About this time I did light on that dreadful story of that miserable mortal Francis Spira, a book that was to my troubled spirit as salt when rubbed into a fresh wound. Every sentence in that book, every groan of that man, with all the rest of his actions in his dolers, as his tears, his prayers, his gnashing of teeth, his ringing of hands, his twining and twisting, languishing and pining away under that mighty hand of God that was upon him, was as knives and daggers in my soul. Especially that sentence of his was frightful to me. Man knows the beginning of sin, but who bounds the issues thereof? Then with that former sentence as the conclusion of all fall like a hot thunderbolt again upon my conscience. For you know how that afterward when he would have inherited the blessing he was rejected, for he found no place of repentance though he sought it carefully with tears. Then was I struck into a very great trembling, and so much that at some times I could, for whole days together, feel my very body as well as my mind to shake and totter under the sense of the dreadful judgment of God that should fall on those that have sinned that most fearful and unpardonable sin. I felt also such a clogging and heat at my stomach by reason of this my terror that I was, especially at some times, as if my breastbone would have split in thunder. Then I thought of that concerning Judas, who by his fallen headlong burst a thunder and all his bowels gushed out, Acts 1, 18. I feared also that this was the mark that the Lord did set on Cain, even continued fear and trembling under the heavy load of guilt that he had charged on him for the blood of his brother Abel. Thus did I wind and twine and shrink under the burden that was upon me, which burden also did so oppress me that I couldn't either stand nor go nor lie, either at rest or quiet. Yet that Cain would sometimes come to my mind. He hath received gifts for the rebellious, Psalm 68, 18. The rebellious thought I, why surely they are such as once were under subjection to their prince, even those who, after they have sworn subjection to his government, have taken up arms against him. And this thought I is my very condition. Once I loved him, feared him, served him. But now I am a rebel. I have sold him. I have said let him go, if he will. But yet he has gifts for rebels. And then why not for me? This sometimes I thought on, and should labor to take hold thereof, that some, though small, refreshment might have been conceived by me. But in this also I missed of my desire. I was driven with force beyond it. I was like a man that is going to the place of execution, even by that place where he would feign, creep in, and hide himself, but may not. Again after I had thus considered the sins of the saints in particular, and found mine went beyond them, then I began to think thus with myself. Yet the case I should put all theirs together, and mine alone against them. Might I not then find some encouragement? For if mine, though bigger than any one, should but be equal to all, then there is hopes, for that blood that hath virtue enough in it to wash away all theirs, hath also virtue in it to do away mine, though this one be full as big if no bigger than all theirs. Here again I should consider the sin of David, of Solomon, of Manasseh, of Peter, and the rest of the great offenders, and should also labor what I might with fairness to aggravate and heighten their sins by several circumstances, but alas it was all in vain. 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 continuance and 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? Then I thought on Solomon and how he sinned in loving strange women, and falling away to their idols, and building them temples, and 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 now remain no more sacrifice for sin. I would add to those 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, was a wizard, had his familiar spirits, burned his children in the fire and sacrificed to devils, and made the streets of Jerusalem run down with the blood of innocents. These I thought are great sins, sins of a bloody color. Yea, 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. This one consideration would always kill my heart. My sin was point blank against my Saviour, and that too at that height that I had in my heart said of him, let him go, if you will. Oh, me thought this sin was bigger than the sins of a country, of a kingdom, or of the whole world. No one pardonable, nor all of them together, was able to equal mine. Mine outwent them every one. Now I should find my mind to flee from God, as from the face of a dreadful judge. Yet this was my torment. I could not escape his hand. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, Hebrews 10, 31. But blessed be his grace, that scripture in these flying sins would call as running after me. I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins return unto me, for I have redeemed thee, Isaiah 44, 22. This I say would come in upon my mind when I was fleeing from the face of God, for I did flee from his face, that is, my mind and spirit fled before him. By reason of his highness I could not endure, then with the text cry, return unto me, for I have redeemed thee. Indeed, this would make me make a little stop, and, as it were, look over my shoulder behind me, to see if I could discern that the God of grace did follow me with a pardon in his hand. But I could no sooner do that, but all would be clouded and darkened again by that sentence. For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Wherefore I could not return, but fled, though at some times it cried, return, return, as if it did hello after me. But I feared to close in therewith, lest it should not come from God. For that other, as I said, was still sounding in my conscience. For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected, et cetera. Once as I was walking to and fro in a good man's shop, bemoaning of myself in my sad and doful state, afflicting myself with self- abhorrence for this wicked and ungodly thought, lamenting also this hard half of mine, for that I should commit so great a sin, greatly fearing I would not be pardoned, praying also in my heart that if this sin of mine did differ from that against the Holy Ghost the Lord would show at me. And being now ready to sink with fear, suddenly there was, as if there had rushed in at the window, the noise of wind upon me, but very pleasant, and as if I heard a voice speaking, didst ever refuse to be justified by the blood of Christ? And with all my whole life and profession past was, in a moment, open to me, wherein I was made to see that designedly I had not, so my heart answered groaningly, no. Then fell with power that word of God upon me, see that she refused not him that speaketh, Hebrews 12, 25. This made a strange seizure upon my spirit, it brought light with it, and commanded a silence in my heart of all those tumultuous thoughts that before did use, like masterless hellhounds, to roar and bellow and make a hideous noise within me. It showed me also that Jesus Christ had yet a word of grace and mercy for me, that he had not, as I had feared, quite forsaken and cast off my soul. Yea, this was a kind of chide from my proneness to desperation, a kind of a threatening me, if I did not, notwithstanding my sins and the heinousness of them, venture my salvation upon the Son of God. But as to my determining about this strange dispensation, what it was I knew not, from whence it came I knew not. I had not yet, in twenty years time, been able to make a judgment of it. I thought then, what here I shall be loath to speak. But verily, that sudden rushing wind was as if an angel had come upon me. But both it and the salvation I will leave until the day of judgment. Only this, I say, it commanded a great calm in my soul. It persuaded me there might be hope. It showed me, as I thought, what the sin unpardonable was, and that my soul had yet the blessed privilege to flee to Jesus for mercy. But I say concerning this dispensation I know not what yet to say unto it, which was also in truth the cause that, at first, I did not speak of it in the book. I do now also leave it to be thought on by men of sound judgment. I lay not the stress of my salvation thereupon, but upon the Lord Jesus, in the promise. Yet seeing I am here unfolding of my secret things, I thought it might not be altogether inexpedient to let this also show itself, though I cannot now relate the matter as there I did experience it. This lasted in the savor of it for about three or four days, and then I began to mistrust and to despair again. Wherefore, still my life hung in doubt before me, not knowing which way I should tip. Only this I found my sole desire, even to cast itself at the foot of grace by prayer and supplication. But oh it was hard for me now to bear the face to pray to this Christ for mercy, against whom I had thus most violently sinned. It was hard work, I say, to offer to look him in the face against whom I had so violently sinned, and indeed I have found it as difficult to come to God by prayer after backsliding from him as to do any other thing. Oh, the shame that did now attend me, especially when I thought I am now going to pray to him for mercy that I had so lightly esteemed but a while before. I was ashamed, yea even confounded, because this villainy had been committed by me. I saw there was but one way with me. I must go to him and humble myself unto him, and beg that he of his wonderful mercy would show pity to me, and have mercy upon my wretched, sinful soul. Which when the temp to perceive he strongly suggested to me, that I ought not to pray to God, for prayer was not for any in my case, neither could it do me good, because I had rejected the mediator, by whom all prayer came with acceptance to God the Father, and without whom no prayer could come into his presence. Wherefore now to pray is but to add sin to sin. Yea, now to pray, seeing God has cast you off, is the next way to anger and offend him more than you ever did before. For God, saith he, hath been weary of you for these several years already, because you are none of his. Your ballings in his ears hath been no pleasant voice to him, and therefore he let you sin this sin that you might be quite cut off. And will you pray still? This the devil urged, and set forth that in numbers when Moses said to the children of Israel, that because they would not go up to possess the land when God would have them, therefore for ever after God did bar them out from fence, though they prayed they might, with tears, numbers fourteen, thirty-six and thirty-seven, etc. As it is said in another place, Exodus twenty-one-fourteen, the man that sims presumptuously shall be taken from God's altar that he may die, even as Joab was by King Solomon when he thought to find shelter there, first Kings two, twenty-eight, etc. These places did pinch me very sore, yet my case being desperate I thought with myself I can but die, and if it must be so it shall once be said that such in one died at the foot of Christ in prayer. Yes I did, but with great difficulty God doth know, and that because together with this still that saying about Esau would set at my heart, even like a flaming sword, to keep the way of the tree of life, lest I should taste thereof and live. Oh, who knows how hard a thing I found it to come to God in prayer. End of part five. Part six of Grace abounding to the chief of sinners. This is a Librivox recording. All Librivox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit Librivox.org. Recording by Stephen Escalara. Grace abounding to the chief of sinners. By John Bunyan. Part six. I did also desire the prayers of the people of God for me, but I feared that God would give them no heart to do it. Yea, I trembled in my soul to think that some or other of them would shortly tell me that God had said those words to them that he once did say to the prophet concerning the children of Israel. Pray thou not for this people, for I have rejected them. Jeremiah 11 14. So pray not for him, for I have rejected him. Yea, I thought that he had whispered this to some of them already, only they durst not tell me so. Neither durst I ask them of it, for fear if it should be so it would make me quite beside myself. Man knows the beginning of sin, said Spira, but who bounds the issues thereof? About this time I took an opportunity to break my mind to an ancient Christian, and told him all my case. I told him also that I was afraid that I had sinned the sin against the Holy Ghost, and he told me he thought so too. Here therefore I had but cold comfort, but talking a little more with him I found him, though a good man, a stranger to much combat with the devil. Therefore I went to God again, as well as I could, for mercy still. Now also did the tempter begin to mock me in my misery, saying that sin I had thus parted with the Lord Jesus, and provoked him to displeasure, who would have stood between my soul and the flaming of devouring fire, there was now but one way, and that was to pray that God the Father would be the mediator betwixt his son and me, that we might be reconciled again, and that I might have that blessed benefit in him that his blessed saints enjoyed. Then did that scripture seize upon my soul, he is of one mind, and who can turn him? Oh, I saw it was as easy to persuade him to make a new world, a new covenant, or a new Bible, besides that we have already, as to pray for such a thing. This was to persuade him that what he had done already was mere falling, and persuade with him to alter, yea, to disannul the whole way of salvation, and then would that sane rend my soul asunder. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven, given among men whereby we must be saved. Acts 4.12 Now the most free and full and gracious words of the Gospel were the greatest torment to me. Yea, nothing so afflicted me as the thoughts of Jesus Christ, the remembrance of a Savior, because I had cast him off, brought forth the villainy of my sin, and my loss by it to nothing did twinge my conscience like this. Every time that I thought of the Lord Jesus, of his grace, love, goodness, kindness, gentleness, meekness, death, blood, promises, and blessed exhortations, comforts, and consolations, it went to my soul like a sword. For still unto these my considerations of the Lord Jesus, these thoughts would make place for themselves in my heart. I, this is the Jesus, the loving Savior, the Son of God whom thou hast parted with, whom you slighted, despised, and abused. This is the only Savior, the only Redeemer, the only one that could so love sinners as to wash them from their sins in his own most precious blood. But you have no part nor lot in this Jesus. You have put him away from you. You have set in your heart. Let him go, if he will. Now therefore you are severed from him. You have severed yourself from him. Hold then his goodness, but you yourself be no partaker of it. Oh, thought I, what have I lost? What have I parted with? What have I disinherited my poor soul of? Oh, it is sad to be destroyed by the grace and mercy of God, to have the Lamb, the Savior, turn lion, and destroyer. Revelation 6 I also trembled, as I have said, at the sight of the saints of God, especially at those that greatly loved him, and that made it their business to walk continually with him in this world. For they did, both in their words, their carriages, and all their expressions of tenderness and fear to sin against their precious Savior, condemn, lay guilt upon, and also add continual affliction and shame unto my soul. The dread of them was upon me, and I trembled at God's Samuels. 1 Samuel 16.4 Now also the tempter began afresh to mock my soul in another way, saying that Christ indeed did pity my case, and was sorry for my loss. But for as much as I had sinned and transgressed, as I had done, he could by no means help me, nor save me from what I feared. For my sin was not of the nature of theirs for whom he bled and died, neither was it counted with those that were laid to his charge when he hanged on the tree. Therefore, unless he should come down from heaven and die anew for this sin, though indeed he did greatly pity me, yet I could have no benefit of him. These things may seem ridiculous to others, even as ridiculous as they were in themselves, but to me they were most tormenting cogitations. Every of them augmented my misery, that Jesus Christ should have so much love as to pity me when he could not help me. Nor did I think that the reason why he could not help me was because his merits were weak, or his grace and salvation spent on them already, but because his faithfulness to his threatening would not let him extend his mercy to me. Besides I thought, as I have already hinted, that my sin was not within the bounds of that pardon that was wrapped up in a promise, and if not, then I knew assuredly that it was more easy for heaven and earth to pass away than for me to have eternal life. So that the ground of all these fears of mine did arise from a steadfast belief that I had of the stability of the holy word of God, and also from my being misinformed of the nature of my sin. But oh, how this would add to my affliction, to concede that I should be guilty of such a sin for which he did not die. These thoughts would so confound me, and imprison me, and tie me up from faith that I knew not what to do, but oh, I thought that he would come down again, oh, that the work of man's redemption was yet to be done by Christ. How would I pray him and entreat him to count and reckon this sin amongst the rest for which he died? But this scripture would strike me down as dead. Christ, being raised from the dead, dyeth no more. Death hath no more dominion over him. Romans 6.9. Thus by the strange and unusual assaults of the tempter was my soul like a broken vessel, driven as with the winds, and tossed sometimes headlong into despair, sometimes upon the covenant of works, and sometimes to wish that the new covenant and the conditions thereof might, so far forth as I thought myself concerned, be turned another way, and changed. But in all these I was, but as those that jostle against the rocks, more broken, scattered, and rent, oh, the unthought of imaginations, frights, fears, and terrors that are affected by a thorough application of guilt, yielded to desperation. This is the man that hath his dwelling among the tombs, with the dead, that is, always crying out and cutting himself with stones. Mark 5. 2-5. But I say, all in vain, desperation will not comfort him. The old covenant will not save him. Nay heaven and earth shall pass away before one jot or tittle of the word and law of grace shall fall or be removed. This I saw, this I felt, and under this I groaned. Yet this advantage I got thereby. Only 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 then I 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 to him that was so driven for the word would shut him out. Thus was I always sinking, whatever I did think or do. So one day I walked to a neighboring 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 me thought 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. Me thought that they all combined together to banish me out of the world. I was a port of them, an unfit to dwell among them, or be partaker of their benefits, because I had sinned against the Saviour. Oh, how happy now was every creature over what I was, for they stood fast and kept their station, but I was gone and lost. Then breaking out in 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 a grave, and cried out again, Lord, how could us now find out such a word as this, for I was filled with admiration at the fitness, and also at the unexpectedness of the sentence, the fitness of the word, the rightness of the timing of it, the power and sweetness and light, and the glory that came with it was marvelous 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 encouragement to come to God, by Christ for mercy, to consider the promise of forgiveness as that which stands with open arms to receive me as well as others. This therefore was a great easement to my mind, to wit that my sin was pardonable, that it was not the sin unto death, 1 John 5, 16, and 17. None but those that know what my trouble by their own experience was can tell what relief came to my soul by this consideration. It was a release to me from my former bonds and a shelter from my former storm. I seemed now to stand upon the same ground with other sinners, and to have as good right to the Word and prayer as any of them. Now I say I was in hopes that my sin was not unpardonable, but that there might be hopes for me to obtain forgiveness. But O how Satan did now lay about him for to bring me down again. But he could by no means do it, neither this day nor the most part of the next, for this sentence stood like a mill post at my back. Yet towards the evening of the next day I felt this Word begin to leave me and to withdraw its supportation from me, and so I returned to my old fears again, but with a great deal of grudging and peevishness, for I feared the sorrow of despair, nor could my faith now longer retain this Word. But the next day at evening, being under many fears I went to seek the Lord, and as I prayed I cried and my soul cried to him in these words, with strong cries, O Lord, I beseech thee, show me that thou hast loved me with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31.3. I had no sooner said it, but with sweetness this returned upon me as an echo were sounding again. I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Now I went to bed at quiet. Also when I awakened the next morning it was fresh upon my soul, and I believed it. But yet the tempter left me not, for it could not be so little as an hundred times that he that day did labor to break my peace. O, the combats and conflicts that I did then meet with as I strove to hold upon this Word, that of Esau would fly in my face like to lightning. I should be sometimes up and down twenty times in an hour, yet God did bear me up and keep my heart upon this world, from which I had also, for several days together, very much sweetness and comfortable hopes of pardon. For thus it was made out to me. I loved thee whilst thou wast committing this sin. I loved thee before. I loved thee still. And I will love thee for ever. Yet I saw my sin most barbarous and a filthy crime, and could not but conclude, and that with great shame and astonishment that I had horribly abused the holy Son of God, wherefore I felt my soul greatly to love and pity him, and my bowels to yearn towards him. For I saw he was still my friend, and did reward me good for evil. Yea, the love and affection that then did burn within to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, did work at this time such a strong and hot desire of revengement upon myself. For the abuse I had done unto him, that to speak as I then thought, had I a thousand gallons of blood within my veins, I could freely then have spilt it all at the command and feet of this my Lord and Savior. And as I was thus amusing and in my studies, considering how to love the Lord and to express my love to him, that same came in upon me. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. Psalm 130, verse 3 and 4. These were good words to me, especially the latter part thereof, to wit that there is forgiveness with the Lord, that he might be feared, that is, as then I understood it, that he might be loved and had in reverence, for it was thus made out to me that the great God did set so high an esteem upon the love of his poor creatures, that rather than he would go without their love he would pardon their transgressions. And now was that word fulfilled on me, and I was also refreshed by it. Then shall they be ashamed and confounded, and never open their mouth any more because of their shame, when I am pacified towards them for all that they have done, sayeth the Lord God. Ezekiel 1663. Thus was my soul at this time, and as I then did think, for ever, set at liberty from being again afflicted with my former guilt and amazement. But before many weeks were over I began to despond again, fearing lest, notwithstanding all that I had enjoyed, that yet I might be deceived and destroyed at the last. For this consideration came strong into my mind, that whatever comfort and peace I thought I might have from the word of the promise of life, yet unless there could be found in my refreshment a concurrence and agreement in the scriptures, let me think what I will thereof, and hold it never so fast, I should find no such thing at the end, for the scripture cannot be broken. John 1035. Now began my heart again to ache and fear I might meet with disappointment at the last, wherefore I began with all seriousness to examine my former comfort, and to consider whether one that had sinned as I had done might with confidence trust upon the faithfulness of God, laid down in those words by which I had been comforted, and on which I had leaned myself. But now were brought those sayings to my mind, for it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away to renew them again unto repentance. Hebrews 6.4-6. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth that remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries. Hebrews 10.26-27. Even as Esau who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright, for ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. Hebrews 12.16-17. Now was the word of the gospel forced from my soul, so that no promise or encouragement was to be found in the Bible for me, and now would that saying work upon my spirit to afflict me. Nor is not, O Israel, for joy as other people, Hosea 9.1. For I saw indeed there was cause of rejoicing for those that held unto Jesus, but as for me I had cut myself off by my transgressions, and left myself neither foothold nor handhold amongst all the stays and props in the precious word of life. And truly I did now feel myself to sink into a gulf as in house whose foundation is destroyed. I did liken myself, in this condition, unto the case of a child that was fallen into a mill-pit, who, though it could make some shift to scrabble and sprawl in the water, yet because it could find neither hold for foothold nor hand, therefore at last it must die in that condition. So soon as this fresh assault had fastened on my soul that scripture came into my heart. This is for many days, Daniel 10.14. And indeed I found it was so, for I could not be delivered, nor brought to peace again until well nigh two years and a half were completely finished. Wherefore these words, though in themselves they tended to discouragement, yet to me, who feared this condition would be eternal, they were at some times as in help and refreshment to me. Four, thought I, many days are not for ever, many days will have an end, therefore seeing I was to be afflicted, not a few, but many days, yet I was glad it was but for many days. Thus I say I could recall myself sometimes and give myself a help, for as soon as ever the words came into my mind at first I knew my trouble would be long, yet this would be but sometimes, for I could not always think on this, nor ever be helped by it, though I did. Now while these scriptures lay before me and laid sin anew at my door, that saying in the eighteenth of Luke with others did encourage me to prayer. Then the tempter again laid at me very sore, suggesting that neither the mercy of God, nor yet the blood of Christ, did at all concern me, nor could they help me for my sin, therefore it was in vain to pray. Yet thought I, I will pray. But said the tempter, your sin is unpardonable. Well, said I, I will pray. It is to no boot, sayeth he, yet, said I, I will pray. So I went to prayer to God, and while I was at prayer I uttered words to this effect. Lord Satan tells me that neither thy mercy nor Christ's blood is sufficient to save my soul. Lord shall I honor thee most by believing thou wilt and canst, or him by believing thou neither wilt nor canst. Lord I would feign honor thee by believing thou wilt and canst. And as I was thus before the Lord, that scripture fastened on my heart, O woman, great is thy faith, Matthew 15, 28, even as if one had clapped me on the back as I was on my knees before God. Yet I was not able to believe this, that this was a prayer of faith, till almost six months after, for I could not think that I had faith, or that there should be a word for me to act faith on. Therefore I should still be as sticking in the jaws of desperation and went morning up and down in a sad condition crying, is his mercy clean gone? Is his mercy clean gone forever? And I thought sometimes, even when I was groaning in these expressions they did seem to make a question whether it was or no, yet I greatly feared it was. There was nothing now that I longed for more than to be put out of doubt as to this thing in question, and as I was vehemently desiring to know if there was indeed hopes for me these words came rolling into my mind. Will the Lord cast off forever? And will he be favorable no more? Is his mercy clean gone forever? Doth his promise fail forevermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Psalm 77, 7-9. And all the while they run in my mind, me thought I had this still as the answer. It is a question whether he had or no. It may be he hath not. Yea, the interrogatory seemed to me to carry in it a sure affirmation that indeed he had not, nor would so cast off, but would be favorable, that his promise doth not fail, and that he had not forgotten to be gracious, nor would in anger shut up his tender mercy. Something also there was upon my heart at the same time, which I now cannot call to mind, which with this text did sweeten my heart, and made me conclude that his mercy might not quite be gone, nor clean gone forever. At another time I remember I was again much under the question whether the blood of Christ was sufficient to save my soul. In which doubt I continued from morning till about seven or eight at night, and at last when I was, as it were, quite worn out with fear, lest it should not lay hold on me, these words did sound suddenly within my heart. He is able. But me thought this word, able, was spoke so loud unto me, it showed such a great word, it seemed to be writ in great letters, and gave such a jostle to my fear and doubt. I mean for the time it tarried with me, which was about a day, as I never had from that all my life, either before or after that. Hebrews 7.25 But one morning when I was again at prayer, and trembling under the fear of this, that no word of God could help me, that piece of a sentence darted in upon me, my grace is sufficient. At this me thought I felt some stay, as if there might be hope. But oh, how good a thing it is for God to send his word. For about a fortnight before I was looking on this very place, and then I thought it could not come near my soul with comfort, therefore I threw down my book in a pet. Then I thought it was not large enough for me. No, not large enough. But now it was as if it had arms of grace so wide, that it could not only enclose me, but many more besides. By these words I was sustained, yet not without exceeding conflicts, for the space of seven or eight weeks. For my peace would be in and out, sometimes twenty times a day, comfort now and trouble presently, peace now and before I could go a furlong as full of fear and guilt as ever heart could hold, and this was not only now and then, but my whole seven weeks experience. For this about the sufficiency of grace, and that of Esau's parting with his birthright, would be like a pair of scales within my mind, sometimes one end would be uppermost, and sometimes again the other, according to which would be my peace or trouble. End of Part 6 Part 7 of Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Stephen Escalara Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners By John Bunyan Part 7 Therefore I still did pray to God that he would come in with this scripture more fully on my heart, to wit that he would help me to apply the whole sentence, for as yet I could not. That he gave, I gathered, but farther I could not go, for as yet it only helped me to hope there might be mercy for me. My grace is sufficient, and though it came no farther, it answered my former question, to wit that there was hope. Yet because for thee was left out, I was not contented, but prayed to God for that also. Wherefore one day, as I was in a meeting of God's people, full of sadness and terror, for my fears again were strong upon me, and as I was now thinking my soul was never the better, but my case most sad and fearful. These words did, with great power, suddenly break in upon me. My grace is sufficient for thee. My grace is sufficient for thee. My grace is sufficient for thee. Three times together, and oh, me thought that every word was a mighty word unto me. As my, and grace, and sufficient, and for thee, they were then, and sometimes are still far bigger than others be. At which time my understanding was so enlightened that I was as though I had seen the Lord Jesus look down from heaven through the tiles upon me, and direct those words unto me. This sent me morning home, it broke my heart, and filled me full of joy, and laid me low as the dust. Only it stayed not long with me, I mean in this glory and refreshing comfort, yet it continued with me for several weeks, and did encourage me to hope. But so soon as that powerful operation of it was taken off my heart, that other about Esau returned upon me as before. So my soul did hang as in a pair of scales again, sometimes up, and sometimes down, now in peace, and a non again in terror. Thus I went on for many weeks, sometimes comforted, and sometimes tormented, and especially at sometimes my torment would be very sore, for all those scriptures forenamed in the Hebrews would be set before me as the only sentences that would keep me out of heaven. Then again I should begin to repent that ever that thought went through me. I should also think thus with myself, why, how many scriptures are there against me? There are but three or four, and cannot God miss them and save me for all of them? Sometimes again I should think, oh, if it were not for these three or four words, now how I might be comforted. And I could hardly forbear, at some times, to wish them out of the book. Then me thought I should see as if both Peter and Paul and John, and all the writers, did look with scorn upon me and hold me in derision, and as if they said unto me, all our words are truth, one of as much force as another. It is not that we have cut you off, but you have cast away yourself. There is none of our sentences that you must take hold upon, but these, and such as these. It is impossible. There remains no more sacrifice for sin—Hebrews chapter 6—and it had been better for them not to have known the will of God than after they had known it to turn from the Holy Commandment delivered unto them—2 Peter 221—for the scriptures cannot be broken. These as the elders of the city of refuge I saw were to be the judges both of my case and me, while I stood with the Avenger of Blood at my heels, trembling at their gate for deliverance, also with a thousand fears and mistrusts I doubted that they would shut me out forever, Joshua 20, 3 and 4. Thus was I confounded, not knowing what to do, nor how to be satisfied in this question, whether the scriptures could agree in the salvation of my soul. I quaked that the apostles I knew their words were true, and that they must stand forever. And I remember one day, as I was in diverse frames of spirit, and considering that these frames were still according to the nature of the several scriptures that came in upon my mind, if this of grace then was I quiet, but if that of Esau then tormented. Lord thought I if both these scriptures would meet in my heart at once I would which of them would get the better of me. So me thought I had a longing mind that they might come both together upon me, yea I desired of God they might. Well about two or three days after, so they did indeed. They bolted both upon me at a time, and did work, and struggle strangely in me for a while. At last that about Esau's birthright began to wax weak and withdraw, and vanish, and this about the sufficiency of grace prevailed with peace and joy. And as I was in amuse about this thing, that scripture came home upon me. She rejoiceth against judgment, James 2, 13. This was a wonderment to me. Yet truly I am apt to think it was of God, for the word of the law and wrath must give place to the word of life and grace, because though the word of condemnation be glorious, yet the word of life and salvation doth far exceed in glory. Second Corinthians 3, 8 through 12, and Mark 9, 5 through 7. So that Moses and Elias must both vanish and leave Christ and his saints alone. This scripture did also most sweetly visit my soul, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6, 37. Oh, the comfort that I have had from this word in no wise, as who should say by no means for no thing whatever he hath done. But Satan would greatly labor to pull this promise from me, telling of me that Christ did not mean me in such as I, but sinners of a lower rank that hath not done as I had done. But I should answer him again, Satan, here is in this word no such exception, but him that cometh, him any him, him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. And this I will remember still, that of all the slights that Satan used to take this scripture from me, yet he never did so much as put this question, but do you come aright? And I have thought the reason was, because he thought I knew full well what coming aright was, for I saw that to come aright was to come as I was, a vile and ungodly sinner, and to cast myself at the feet of mercy condemning myself for sin. If ever Satan and I did strive for any word of God in all my life, it was for this good word of Christ, he at one end and I at the other. Oh, what a work did we make. It was for this in John, I say, that we did so tug and strive, he pulled and I pulled. But God be praised, I got the better of him, I got some sweetness from it. But notwithstanding all these helps and blessed words of grace, yet that of Esau's selling of his birthright would still at times distress my conscience. For though I had been most sweetly comforted, and that but just before, yet when that came into my mind it would make me fear again I could not be quite rid thereof. It would every day be with me. Wherefore now I went another way to work, even to consider the nature of this blasphemous thought. I mean, if I should take the words at the largest and give them their own natural force and scope, even every word therein. So when I had thus considered I found that if they were fairly taken they would amount to this, that I had freely left the Lord Jesus Christ to his choice, whether he would be my Savior or no. For the wicked words were these, let him go if he will. Then that scripture gave me hope, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13.5. O Lord, said I, but I have left thee. Then it answered again, but I will not leave thee. For this I thank God also. Yet I was grievously afraid he should and found it exceedingly hard to trust him, seeing I had so offended him. I could have been exceedingly glad that this thought had never befallen, for then I thought I could, with more ease and freedom and abundance, have leaned upon his grace. I see it was with me as it was with Joseph's brethren. The guilt of their own wickedness did often fill them with fears that their brother would at last despise them. Genesis 50, 15 through 17. But above all the scriptures that I yet did meet with, that in the twentieth of Joshua was the greatest comfort to me, which speaks of the slayer that was to flee for refuge. And if the Avenger of Blood pursued the slayer, then, saith Moses, they that are the elders of the city of refuge, shall not deliver him into his hand, because he smote his neighbor unwittingly, and hated him not a foretime. O, blessed be God for this word, I was convinced that I was the slayer, and that the Avenger of Blood pursued me, that I felt with great terror. Only now it remained that I inquire whether I have right to enter the city of refuge. So I found that he must not who lay in wait to shed blood. It was not the willful murderer, but he who unwittingly did it, he who did unaware shed blood, not of spite or grudge or malice, he that shed it unwittingly. Even he who did not hate his neighbor before. Wherefore I thought verily I was the man that must enter, because I had smitten my neighbor unwittingly, and hated him not a foretime. I hated him not a foretime. No, I prayed unto him, was tender of sinning against him, yea, and against this wicked temptation I had strove for twelve months before. Yea, and also when it did pass through my heart, it did in spite of my teeth. Wherefore I thought I had a right to enter this city, and the elders, which are the apostles, were not to deliver me up. This therefore was a great comfort to me, and did give me much ground of hope. Yet being very critical, for my smart had made me that I knew not what ground was sure enough to bear me, I had one question that my soul did much desire to be resolved about, and that was, whether it be possible for any soul that hath indeed sinned the unpardonable sin, yet after that to receive, though but the least true spiritual comfort from God through Christ. The which, after I had much considered, I found the answer was no, they could not, and that for these reasons. First, because those that have sinned that sin, they are debarred a share in the blood of Christ, and being shut out of that, they must needs be void of the least ground of hope, and so of spiritual comfort, for to such there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. Hebrews 10, 26. Secondly, because they are denied a share in the promise of life, they shall never be forgiven, neither in this world, neither in that which is to come. Matthew 12, 32. Thirdly, the Son of God excludes them also from a share in his blessed intercession, being for ever ashamed to own them before his holy Father, and the blessed angels in heaven. Mark 8, 38. When I had, with much deliberation, considered of this matter, and could not but conclude that the Lord had comforted me, and that too after this my wicked sin, then me thought I durst venture to come nigh into those most fearful and terrible scriptures, with which all this while I had been so greatly affrighted, and on which indeed before I durst scarce cast my nigh, yea, had much ado and hundred times to forbear wishing them out of the Bible, for I thought they would destroy me, but now I say I began to take some measure of encouragement to come close to them, to read them, and consider them, and to weigh their scope and tendency. The which, when I began to do, I found their visage changed, for they looked not so grimly on me as before I thought they did. And first I came to the sixth of Hebrews, yet trembling for fear it should strike me, which, when I had considered, I found that the falling there intended was a falling quite away, that is, as I conceived, a falling from, and an absolute denial of the gospel of remission of sins by Christ, for from them the apostle begins his argument, verses one through three. Secondly I found that this falling away must be openly, even in the view of the world, even so as to put Christ to an open shame. Thirdly I found that those he there intended were for ever shut up of God, both in blindness, hardness, and impenitency. It is impossible that they should be renewed again unto repentance. By all these particulars I found to God's everlasting praise my sin was not the sin in this place intended. First I confessed I was fallen, but not fallen away, that is, from the profession of faith in Jesus unto eternal life. Secondly I confessed that I had put Jesus Christ to shame by my sin, but not to open shame. I did not deny him before men, nor condemn him as a fruitless one before the world. Secondly nor did I find that God had shut me up, or denied me to come, though I found it hard work indeed to come to him by sorrow and repentance. Blessed be God for unsearchable grace. Then I considered that in the tenth of the Hebrews, and found that the willful sin there mentioned is not every willful sin, but that which doth throw off Christ, and then his commandments too. Secondly that must also be done openly before two or three witnesses to answer that of the law. Thirdly this sin cannot be committed, but with great despite done to the spirit of grace, despising both the dissuasions from that sin and the persuasions to the contrary. But the Lord knows, though this my sin was devilish, yet it did not amount to these. And as touching that in the twelfth of the Hebrews about Esau selling his birthright, though this was that which killed me and stood like a spear against me, yet now I did consider, first, that his was not a hasty thought against the continual labor of his mind, but a thought consented to and put in practice likewise, and that too after some deliberation, Genesis 25. Secondly it was a public and open action even before his brother, if not before him any more. This made his sin of a far more heinous nature than otherwise it would have been. Secondly he continued to slight his birthright. He did eat and drink and went his way, thus Esau despised his birthright. Verse 34. Yea, twenty years after he was found to despise it still. And Esau said, I have enough, my brother, keep that thou hast unto thyself. Genesis 33.9. Now as touching this, that Esau sought a place of repentance, thus I thought first, this was not for the birthright, but for the blessing. This is clear from the apostle, and is distinguished by Esau himself. He took away my birthright, that is, formally, and behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. Genesis 27.36. Secondly now this being thus considered, I came again to the apostle, to see what might be the mind of God, in a New Testament style and sense concerning Esau's sin. And so far as I could conceive, this was the mind of God, that the birthright signified regeneration, and the blessing the eternal inheritance. For so the apostle seems to hint, lest there be any profane person as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright, as if he should say, lest there be any person amongst you that shall cast off all those blessed beginnings of God, that at present are upon him, in order to a new birth, lest they become as Esau even be rejected afterwards, when they would inherit the blessing. For many there are, who in the day of grace and mercy, despise those things which are indeed the birthright to heaven, who yet, when the deciding day appears, will cry as loud as Esau, Lord, Lord, open to us. But then, as Isaac would not repent, no more will God the Father, but will say, I have blessed these, yea, they shall be blessed. As for you, depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. Genesis 27, 33, Luke 13, 25 through 27. When I had thus considered these scriptures, and found that thus to understand them was not against, but according to other scriptures, this still added further to my encouragement and comfort, and also gave a great blow to that objection, to wit that the scripture could not agree in the salvation of my soul. And now remained only the hinder part of the tempest, for the thunder was gone behind 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 did oft befall me still, as it befalleth those that have been scarred with fire. I thought every voice was fire, fire, every little touch would hurt my tender conscience. But one day, as I was passing in 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 me thought with all I saw with the eyes of my soul, Jesus Christ at God's right hand. There I say is my righteousness. So that wherever I was, or whatever I was at 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 today, and forever. Hebrews 13.8 Now did my chains fall off my legs indeed. I was loosed from my affliction and irons. My temptations had fled away, so that from that time those dreadful scriptures of God left off to trouble me now. Now when 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, he of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. By this word I saw the other sentence true. 1 Corinthians 130 For by this scripture I saw that the man Christ Jesus, as he is distinct from us, as touching his bodily presence so he is our righteousness and sanctification before God. Here therefore I lived for some time very sweetly at peace with God through Christ. Oh, me thought, Christ, Christ, there was nothing but Christ that was before my eyes. I was not only for looking upon this and the other benefits of Christ apart, as of his blood, burial, or resurrection, but considered him as a whole Christ. As he in whom all these, and all other his virtues, relations, offices, and operations met together and that as he sat on the right hand of God in heaven. It was glorious to me to see his exaltation, and the worth and prevalency of all his benefits, and that because of this, now I could look from myself to him, and should reckon that all those graces of God that now were green in me were yet but like those cracked grotes and four-pence half-pennings that rich men carry in their purses, when their gold is in their trunks at home. Oh, I saw my gold was in my trunk at home. In Christ, my Lord and Savior, now Christ was all, all my wisdom, all my righteousness, all my sanctification, and all my redemption. Further the Lord did also lead me into the mystery of union with the Son of God, that I was joined to him, that I was flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone, and now was that a sweet word to me in Ephesians 5.30. By this also was my faith in him, as my righteousness the more confirmed to me, for if he and I were one, then his righteousness was mine, his merits mine, his victory also mine. Now could I see myself in heaven and earth at once, in heaven by my Christ, by my head, by my righteousness in life, though on earth my body or person. Now I saw Christ Jesus was looked on of God, and should also be looked on by us, as that common or public person in whom all the whole body of his elect are always to be considered and reckoned, that we fulfilled the law by him, rose from the dead by him, but the victory over sin, death, the devil, and hell by him. When he died, we died, and so of his resurrection. Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise, saith he, Isaiah 26, 19, and again after two days will he revive us, and the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight, Hosea 6, 2, which is now fulfilled by the sitting down of the Son of Man on the right hand of the Majesty and the Heavens, according to that of the Ephesians. He hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2, 6. Ah, these blessed considerations and scriptures, with many others of alike nature, were in those days made to spangle in my eyes, so that I have caused to say, Praise ye the Lord, praise God in his sanctuary, praise him in the firmament of his power, praise him for his mighty acts, praise him according to his excellent greatness. Psalm 150, 1 and 2. Having thus, in few words, given you a taste of the sorrow and affliction that my soul went under, by the guilt and terror that this my wicked thought did lay me under, and having given you also a touch of my deliverance therefrom, and of the sweet and blessed comfort that I met with afterwards, which comfort dwelt about a twelve month with my heart to my unspeakable admiration. I will now, God willing, before I proceed any farther, give you in a word or two what, as I conceive, was the cause of this temptation, and also after that what advantage at the last it became unto my soul. End of Part 7 Part 8 of Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners This is a LibriVox recording. While LibriVox recordings are in the public domain, for more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org, recording by Stephen Escalara. Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners By John Bunyan Part 8 For the causes I conceived there were principally two, of which two I also was deeply convinced all the time this trouble lay upon me. The first was, for that I did not, when I was delivered from the temptation that went before, still prayed to God to keep me from temptations that were to come. For though, as I can say in truth, my soul was much in prayer before this trial seized me, yet then I prayed only, or at the most principally for the removal of present troubles, and for fresh discoveries of his love in Christ, which I saw afterwards was not enough to do. I also should have prayed that the great God would keep me from the evil that was to come. Of this I was made deeply sensible by the prayer of Holy David, who, when he was under present mercy, yet prayed that God would hold him back from sin and temptation to come. Then, sayeth he, shall I be upright? I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Psalm 19, 13 By this very word was I galled and condemned, quite through this long temptation. That also was another word that did much condemn me for my folly in the neglect of this duty, Hebrews 4, 16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. This I then, sayeth he, shall I be upright? I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Psalm 19, 13 By this very word was I galled and condemned, quite through this long temptation. That also was another word that did much condemn me for my folly in the neglect of this duty, Hebrews 4, 16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. This I had not done, and therefore was suffered thus to sin and fall, according to what is written, pray that ye enter not into temptation. And truly this very thing is to this day of such weight and all upon me that I dare not, when I come before the Lord, go off my knees until I entreat him for help and mercy against the temptations that are to come. And I do beseech thee, reader, that thou learn to beware of my negligence by the affliction that for this thing I did for days and months and years with sorrow undergo. Another cause of this temptation was that I had tempted God, and on this manner did I do it. On a time my wife was great with child, and before her full time was come, her pangs, as of a woman in travail, were fierce and strong upon her, even as she would have immediately fallen in labor and been delivered of an untimely birth. Now at this very time it was that I had been so strongly tempted to question the being of God, wherefore as my wife lay crying by me, I said, but with all secrecy imaginable, even thinking in my heart, Lord, if thou wilt now remove this sad affliction from my wife, and cause that she be troubled no more therewith this night, and now were her pangs just upon her, then I shall know that thou canst discern the most secret thoughts of the heart. I had no sooner said it in my heart, but her pangs were taken from her, and she was cast into a deep sleep, and so she continued till morning. At this I greatly marveled, not knowing what to think. But after I had been awake a good while, and heard her cry no more, I fell to sleeping also. So when I waked in the morning it came upon me again, even what I had said in my heart the last night, and how the Lord had showed me that he knew my secret thoughts, which was a great astonishment unto me for several weeks after. Well, about a year and a half afterwards that wicked sinful thought, of which I have spoken before, went through my wicked heart, even this thought, let Christ go if he will. So when I was fallen under guilt for this, the remembrance of my other thought, and of the effect thereof, would also come upon me with this retort, which also carried rebuke along with it. Now you may see that God doth know the most secret thoughts of the heart. And with this, that of the passages that were betwixt the Lord and his servant Gideon fell upon my spirit. Now because that Gideon tempted God with his fleece both wet and dry, when he should have believed and ventured upon his words, therefore the Lord did afterwards so try him as to send him against an innumerable company of enemies, and that too as to outward appearance without any strength or help, judges six and seven. Thus he served me, and that justly, for I should have believed his word, and not have put an if upon the all-seeingness of God. Now to show you something of the advantages that I also gained by this temptation. And first, by this I was made continually to possess in my soul a very wonderful sense, both of the being and glory of God and of his beloved Son. In the temptation that went before, my soul was perplexed with unbelief, blasphemy, hardness of heart, questions about the being of God, Christ, the truth of the word, and certainty of the world to come. I say, then I was greatly assaulted and tormented with atheism. But now the case was otherwise, now was God and Christ continually before my face, though not in a way of comfort, but in a way of exceeding dread and terror. The glory of the holiness of God did at this time break me to pieces, and the bowels and compassion of Christ did break me as on the wheel, for I could not consider him but as it lost and rejected Christ, the remembrance of which was as the continual breaking of my bones. The scriptures now also were wonderful things to me. I saw that the truth and verity of them were the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Those that the scriptures favor, they must inherit bliss, but those that oppose and condemn must perish evermore. O, this word, for the scriptures cannot be broken, would render the call of my heart, and so would that other, whose so ever sins you remit, they are remitted unto them, and whose so ever sins you retain, they are retained. Now I saw the apostles to be the elders of the city of refuge, Joshua 20 verse 4. Those that they were to receive in were received to life, but those that they shut out were to be slain by the avenger of blood. O, one sentence of the scripture did more afflict and terrify my mind. I mean those sentences that stood against me, as sometimes I thought they every one did, more I say than an army of forty thousand men that might have come against me. Woe be to him against whom the scriptures bend themselves. By this temptation I was made to see more into the nature of the promises than ever I was before, for I lying now trembling under the mighty hand of God, continually torn and rent by the thunderings of his justice. This made me with careful heart and watchful eye, with great seriousness to turn over every leaf, and with much diligence mixed with trembling to consider every sentence together with its natural force and latitude. By this temptation also I was greatly beaten off my former foolish practice of putting by the word of promise when it came into my mind. For now, though I could not suck that comfort and sweetness from the promises I had done at other times, yea, like to a man as sinking I should catch at all I saw. Formerly I thought I might not meddle with the promises unless I felt its comfort, but now it was no time thus to do. The Avenger of Blood too hardly did pursue me. Now therefore I was glad to catch at that word, which yet I feared I had no ground or right to own, and even to leap into the bosom of that promise, that yet I feared did shut its heart against me. Now also I should labor to take the word as God had laid it down without restraining the natural force of one syllable thereof. Oh, what did I now see in that blessed sixth of John, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. Verse 37. Now I began to consider with myself that God had a bigger mouth to speak with than I had a heart to conceive with. I thought also with myself that he spake not his words in haste, or in unadvised heat, but with infinite wisdom and judgment, and in very truth and faithfulness. I should in these days, often in my greatest agonies, even flounce towards the promise, as the horses do towards sound ground that yet stick in the mire, concluding, though as one almost bereft of his wits through fear, on this I will rest and stay, and leave the fulfilling of it to the God of heaven that made it. Oh, many a pool hath my heart had with Satan for that sixth of John. I did not now, as at other times, look principally for comfort, though, oh, how welcome would it have been unto me. But now a word, a word to lean a weary soul upon, that I might not sink for ever, it was that I hunted for. Ye often, when I have been making to the promise, I have seen as if the Lord would refuse my soul for ever. I was often as if I had run upon the pikes, and as if the Lord had thrust at me to keep me from him as with a flaming sword. Then I should think of Esther, who went to petition the king contrary to the law, Esther 4.16. I thought also of ben Hadad's servants, who went with ropes upon their heads to their enemies for mercy, 1 Kings 20.31. The woman of Canaan also that would not be daunted, though called dog by Christ, Matthew 15.21.28. And the man that went to borrow bread at midnight, Luke 11.5.8, were great encouragements unto me. I never saw those heights and depths and grace and love and mercy, as I saw after this temptation. Great sins to draw out great grace, and where guilt is most terrible and fierce, there the mercy of God in Christ, when showed to the soul appears most high and mighty. When Job had passed through his captivity, he had twice as much as he had before, Job 42.10. Blessed be God for Jesus Christ our Lord! Many other things I might here make observation of, but I would be brief, and therefore shall at this time omit them, and depray God that my harms may make others fear to offend, lest they also be made to bear the iron yoke as I did. I had two or three times at about my deliverance from this temptation, such strange apprehensions of the grace of God, that I could hardly bear up under it. It was so out of measure amazing, when I thought it could reach me, that I do think, if that sense of it had abode long upon me, it would have made me incapable for business. Now I shall go forward to give you a relation of other of the Lord's leadings with me, of his dealings with me at sundry other seasons, and of the temptations I then did meet with all. I shall begin with what I met when I first did join in fellowship with the people of God in Bedford. After I had propounded to the church that my desire was to walk in the order and ordinances of Christ with them, and was also admitted by them, while I thought of that blessed ordinance of Christ, which was his last supper with his disciples before his death, that scripture, this due in remembrance of me, Luke 22 19, was made a very precious word unto me. For by it the Lord did come down upon my conscience with the discovery of his death for my sins, and as I then felt, did as if he plunged me in the virtue of the same. But behold, I had not been long a partaker at that ordinance, but such fierce and sad temptations did attend me at all times therein, both to blaspheme the ordinance, and to wish some deadly thing to those that then did eat thereof. That lest I should at any time be guilty of consenting to these wicked and fearful thoughts, I was forced to bend myself all the while to pray to God to keep me from such blasphemies, and also to cry to God to bless the bread and cup to them as it went from mouth to mouth. The reason of this temptation I have thought since was because I did not, with that reverence as became me, at first approach to partake thereof. Thus I continued for three quarters of a year, and could never have rest nor ease, but at last the Lord came in upon my soul with that same scripture by which my soul was visited before. And after that I have been usually very well and comfortable in the partaking of that blessed ordinance, and have, I trust, therein discern the Lord's body as broken for my sins, and that his precious blood hath been shed for my transgressions. Upon a time I was somewhat inclining to a consumption wherewith about the spring I was suddenly and violently seized with much weakness in my outward man, and so much that I thought I could not live. Now began I afresh to give myself up to a serious examination after my state and condition for the future, and of my evidences for that blessed world to come. For it hath I blessed the name of God, been my usual course, as always, so especially in the day of affliction, to endeavor to keep my interest in the life to come clear before my eye. But I had no sooner began to recall to mind my former experience of the goodness of God to my soul, but there came flocking into my mind an innumerable company of my sins and transgressions amongst which these were at this time most to my affliction, namely my deadness, dullness, and coldness in holy duties, my wanderings of heart, of my weary sum in all good things, my want of love to God, his ways and people with this at the end of all. Are these the fruits of Christianity? Are these the tokens of a blessed man? At the apprehension of these things my sickness was doubled upon me, for now was I sick in my inward man, my soul was clogged with guilt. Now also was my former experience of God's goodness to me quite taken out of my mind, and hid, as if it had never been nor seen. Now was my soul greatly pinched between these two considerations. Live I must not, die I dare not. Now I sunk and fell in my spirit, and was giving up all for lost. But as I was walking up and down in the house, as a man in a most woeful state, that word of God took hold of my heart. Ye are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Romans 3, 24. But oh what a turn it made upon me! Now was I, as one awakened out of some troublesome sleep, and dream, and listening to this heavenly sentence, I was as if I had heard it thus expounded to me, Sinner, thou thinkest that because of thy sins and affirmities I cannot save thy soul. But behold, my son is by me, and upon him I look, and not on thee, and I will deal with thee, according as I am pleased with him. At this I was greatly lightened in my mind, and made to understand that God could justify a sinner at any time. It was but his looking upon Christ, and imputing of his benefits to us, and the work was forthwith done. And as I was thus in amuse, that scripture also came with great power upon my spirit. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, etc., Titus 3, 5, 2 Timothy 1, 9. Now was I God on high. I saw myself within the arms of grace and mercy, and though I was before afraid to think of a dying hour, yet now I cried, Let me die! Now death was lovely and beautiful in my sight, for I saw we shall never live indeed till we be gone to the other world. Oh, me thought this life is but a slumber in comparison of that above. At this time also I saw more in those words, heirs of God, Romans 8, 17, than ever I shall be able to express while I live in this world. Heirs of God! God himself is the portion of the saints. This I saw and wondered at, but cannot tell you what I saw. Again as I was at another time very ill and weak, all that time also the tempter did beset me strongly, for I find he is much for assaulting the soul when it begins to approach towards the grave. Then is his opportunity, laboring to hide from me my former experience of God's goodness. Also setting before me the terrors of death and the judgment of God, in so much that at this time, through my fear of miscarrying forever, should I now die, I was as one dead before death came, and was as if I had felt myself already descending into the pit. Me thought I said there was no way, but to hell I must. But behold, just as I was in the midst of those fears, these words of the angels carrying Lazarus into Abraham's bosom darted in upon me, as who should say, So it shall be with thee when thou dost leave this world. This did sweetly revive my spirit, and help me to hope in God, which when I had with comfort mused on awhile, that word fell with great weight upon my mind. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? At this I became both well in body and mind at once, for my sickness did presently vanish, and I walked comfortably in my work for God again. At another time, though just before I was pretty well and savory 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, 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. 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 within my view. While I was on this sudden, thus overtaken with surprise, wife, said I, is there ever such a scripture, I must go to Jesus? She said she could not tell. Before I sat 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 with all, Hebrews XII about the Mount Zion was set before my eyes, verses 22-24. Then with joy I told my wife, oh, now I know, I know. But that night was a good night to me. I never 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 and triumph through Christ. This great glory did not continue upon me until morning, yet that twelfth of the author of Hebrews XII, 22-24, was a blessed scripture to me for many days together after this. The words are these. We are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the General Assembly, and Church of the First Worn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better than things than that of Abel. Through this blessed sentence the Lord led me over and over, to this word, and then to that, and showed me wonderful glory in every one of them. These words also have oft since this time been great refreshment to my spirit. Blessed be God in having mercy on me. End of Part 8