Doth this water of life run like a river, like a broad, full, and
deep river? Then let no man, be his transgressions never so many,
fear at all but there is enough to save his soul and to spare.
Nothing has been more common to many, than to doubt the grace of
God: a thing most unbecoming a sinner of any thing in the world. To
break the law, is a fact foul enough; but to question the
sufficiency of the grace of God to save therefrom, is worse than
sin, if worse can be. Wherefore, despairing soul, for it is to thee
I speak, forbear thy mistrusts, cast off thy slavish fears, hang thy
misgivings as to this upon the hedge, and believe; thou hast an
invitation sufficient thereto, a river is before thy face. And as
for thy want of goodness and works, let that by no means daunt thee;
this is a river of water of life, streams of grace and mercy. There
is, as I said, enough therein to help thee, for grace brings all
that is wanting to the soul. Thou, therefore, hast nothing to do--I
mean as to the curing of thy soul of its doubts and fears and
despairing thoughts--but to drink and live for ever.
PRUDENCE. Can you remember by what means you find your annoyances,
at times, as if they were vanquished?
CHRISTIAN. Yes; when I think on what I saw at the cross, that will
do it; and when I look upon my embroidered coat, that will do it;
and when I look into the roll that I carry in my bosom, that will do
it; and when my thoughts wax warm about whither I am going, that
will do it.
PRUDENCE. And what is it that makes you so desirous to go to mount
Zion?
CHRISTIAN. Why, there I hope to see him alive that did hang dead on
the cross, and there I hope to be rid of all those things that to
this day are in me, an annoyance to me: there, they say, there is no
death; and there shall I dwell with such company as I like best.
For, to tell you the truth, I love him because I was by him eased of
my burden; and I am weary of my inward sickness. I would fain be
where I shall die no more, and with the company that shall
continually cry, "Holy, holy, holy!"
Be often remembering what a blessed thing it is to be saved, to go
to heaven, to be made like angels, and to dwell with God and Christ
to all eternity.