with mine own amendments, I had called him fool for his pains; but now, since I see mine own infirmity, and the sin which cleaves to my best performance, I have been forced to be of his opinion.
Chr. But did you think, when at first he suggested it to you, that there was such a man to be found, of whom it might justly be said that he never committed sin?
Hope. I must confess the Words at first sounded strangely; but after a little more talk and company With him, I had full conviction about it.
Chr. And did you ask him What man this was, and how you must be justified by him (Rom. iv. Col. i. Heb. x. 2 Pet. i.)
Hope. Yes; and he told me it was the Lord Jesus, that dwelleth on the right hand of the Most High. And thus, said he, you must be justified by him, even by trusting to what he hath. done by himself in the days of his flesh, and suffered when he did hang on the tree. I asked him, further, how that man's righteousness could be of such efficacy to justify another before God. And he told me he was the mighty God, and did What he did, and died the death also, not for himself, but for me, to Whom his doings, and the worthiness of them, should be imputed, if I believed on him.
Chr. And What did you do then?
Hope. I made my objections against my believing, for that I thought he was not Willing to save me.
Chr. And what said Faithful to you then?
Hope. He bid me go to him and see. Then I said it was presumption, He said, No; for I was invited to come. (Matt. xi. 28.) Then he gave me a book of Jesus' inditing, to encourage me the more freely to come; and he said concerning that book, that every jot and tittle thereof stood firmer than heaven and earth. (Matt, xxiv. 35.) Then I asked him What I must do when I came. And he told me I must entreat upon my knees (Ps. xcv. 6. Jer. xxix. 12, 13.
