A30143:78
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.
61. How lovely now was every one in my eyes, that I thought to be converted men and women? they shone, they walked like a people that carried the broad Seal of Heaven about them. Oh I saw the lot was fallen to them in pleasant places, and they had a goodly heritage. But that which made me sick, was that of Christ, in Mark, He went up into a Mountain, and called to him whom he would, and they came unto him, Mark 3.13.
62. This Scripture made me saint and fear, yet it kindled fire in my Soul. That which made me fear, was this, lest Christ should have no liking to me, for he called whom he would. But on the glory that I saw in that condition, did still so engage my heart, that I could seldom read of any that Christ did call, but I presently wished, Would I had been in their clothes, would I had been born Peter, ⟨p. 21⟩would I had been born John, or would I had been by, and had heard him when he called them, how would I have cried, O Lord, call me also! but oh I feared he would not call me.
62. This Scripture made me saint and fear, yet it kindled fire in my Soul. That which made me fear, was this, lest Christ should have no liking to me, for he called whom he would. But on the glory that I saw in that condition, did still so engage my heart, that I could seldome read of any that Christ did call, but I presently wished, Would I had been in their cloaths, would I had been born Peter, ⟨p. 21⟩would I had been born John, or would I had been by, and had heard him when he called them, how would I have cryed, O Lord, call me also! but oh I feared he would not call me.