Page:The Pilgrim's Progress, the Holy War, Grace Abounding Chunk1.djvu/88

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84
The Pilgrim's Progress.

Then Faithful stepped forward again, and said to Talkative, Come, what cheer? How is it now?

Talk. Thank you, well; I thought we should have had a great deal of talk by this time.

Faith. Well, if you will, we will fall to, it now; and since you left it with me to state the question, let it be this: How doth the, saving grace of God discover itself when, it is in the heart of man?

Talk. I perceive, then, that our talk, must be about the power of things. Well, it is a very good question, and I shall be, willing to answer you; and take my answer in brief thus: First, where the grace of God is in the heart, it causeth there a great outcry against sin. Secondly—

Faith. Nay, hold; let us consider of one at once. I think you should rather say, It shows itself by inclining the soul to abhor its sin.

Talk. Why, what difference is there between crying out against and abhorring of sin?

Faith. Oh! a great deal. A man may cry out against sin, of policy; but he cannot abhor it but by virtue of a godly antipathy against it. I have heard many cry out against sin in the pulpit, who yet can abide it well enough in the heart, house, and conversation. Joseph's mistress cried out with a loud. voice, as if she had been very chaste; but she would willingly, notwithstanding, that, have committed uncleanness with; (Gen. xxxix. 12–15.) Some cry out against sin, even as the mother cries out against her child in her lap, when she calls it slut and naughty girl, and then falls to hugging and kissing it.

Talk. You lie at the catch, I-perceive.

Faith. No, not I; I am only for setting things right. But what is the second thing whereby you: would prove a discovery of a work of grace inn the heart?

Talk. Great knowledge:of gospel mysteries.

Faith. This sign should have been first: but, first or last,