A30143:52
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners
Grace abounding to the chief of sinners, or, A brief and faithful relation of the exceeding mercy of God in Christ, to his poor servant John Bunyan wherein is particularly showed, the manner of his conversion, his fight and trouble for sin, his dreadful temptations, also how he despaired of Gods mercy, and how the Lord at length through [sic] Christ did deliver him from all the guilt and terror that lay upon him : whereunto is added, a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with in prison : all which was written by his own hand there, and now published for the support of the the weak and tempted people of God.Grace abounding to the chief of sinners, or, A brief and faithful relation of the exceeding mercy of God in Christ, to his poor servant John Bvnyan wherein is particularly shewed, the manner of his conversion, his fight and trouble for sin, his dreadful temptations, also how he despaired of Gods mercy, and how the Lord at length thorow [sic] Christ did deliver him from all the guilt and terrour that lay upon him : whereunto is added, a brief relation of his call to the work of the ministry, of his temptations therein, as also what he hath met with in prison : all which was written by his own hand there, and now published for the support of the the weak and tempted people of God.
London: printed by George Larkin, 1666
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
35. And as I went on and read, I lighted on that passage, To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit, and to another Faith, &c. 1 Cor. 12. And though, as I have since seen, that by this Scripture the holy Ghost intends, in special, things extraordinary, yet on me it then did fasten with conviction, that I did, want things ordinary, even that understanding and wisdom that other Christians had. On this word I mused, and could not tell what to do, for I feared it shut me out of all the blessings that other good people had given them of God: but I was ⟨p. 13⟩loath to conclude I had no Faith in my soul: for if I do so, thought I, then I shall count my self a very Cast-away indeed.
35. And as I went on and read, I lighted on that passage, To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdome, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit, and to another Faith, &c. 1 Cor. 12. And though, as I have since seen, that by this Scripture the holy Ghost intends, in special, things extraordinary, yet on me it then did fasten with conviction, that I did, want things ordinary, even that understanding and wisdome that other Christians had. On this word I mused, and could not tell what to do, for I feared it shut me out of all the blessings that other good people had given them of God: but I was ⟨p. 13⟩loath to conclude I had no Faith in my soul: for if I do so, thought I, then I shall count my self a very Cast-away indeed.
36. No, said I with my self, though I am convinced that I am an ignorant Sot, and that I want those blessed gifts of knowledge and understanding that other good people have, yet at a venture I will conclude I am not altogether faithless, though I know not what Faith is. For it was showed me, and that too (as I have since seen) by Satan, That those who conclude themselves in a faithless state, have neither rest nor quiet in their Souls; and was loath to fall quite into despair.