第 11 节
作者:童舟      更新:2021-02-20 15:23      字数:9321
  was thus tempted; I would  say in myself; NOW I AM AT MEAT; LET ME MAKE AN END。  NO; said he;  YOU MUST DO IT NOW; OR YOU WILL DISPLEASE GOD; AND DESPISE CHRIST。   Wherefore I was much afflicted with these things; and because of  the sinfulness of my nature (imagining that these were impulses  from God); I should deny to do it; as if I denied God; and then  should I be as guilty; because I did not obey a temptation of the  devil; as if I had broken the law of God indeed。
  139。  But to be brief:  one morning as I did lie in my bed; I was;  as at other times; most fiercely assaulted with this temptation; TO  SELL AND PART WITH CHRIST; the wicked suggestion still running in  my mind; SELL HIM; SELL HIM; SELL HIM; SELL HIM; SELL HIM; as fast  as a man could speak:  against which also; in my mind; as at other  times; I answered; NO; NO; NOT FOR THOUSANDS; THOUSANDS; THOUSANDS;  at least twenty times together:  but at last; after much striving;  even until I was almost out of breath; I felt this thought pass  through my heart; LET HIM GO; IF HE WILL; and I thought also; that  I felt my heart freely consent thereto。  Oh! the diligence of  Satan!  Oh! the desperateness of man's heart!
  140。  Now was the battle won; and down fell I as a bird that is  shot from the top of a tree; into great guilt; and fearful despair。   Thus getting out of my bed; I went moping into the field; but God  knows; with as heavy a heart as mortal man; I think; could bear;  where for the space of two hours; I was like a man bereft of life;  and; as now; past all recovery; and bound over to eternal  punishment。
  141。  And withal; that scripture did seize upon my soul:  OR  PROFANE PERSONS AS ESAU; WHO FOR ONE MORSEL OF MEAT; SOLD HIS  BIRTHRIGHT:  FOR YE KNOW; HOW THAT AFTERWARD; WHEN HE WOULD HAVE  INHERITED THE BLESSING; HE WAS REJECTED; FOR HE FOUND NO PLACE OF  REPENTANCE; THOUGH HE SOUGHT IT CAREFULLY WITH TEARS。  Heb。 xii。  16; 17。
  142。  Now was I as one bound; I felt myself shut up unto the  judgment to come; nothing now; for two years together; would abide  with me; but damnation; and an expectation of damnation:  I say;  nothing now would abide with me but this; save some few moments for  relief; as in the sequel you will see。
  143。  These words were to my soul; like fetters of brass to my  legs; in the continual sound of which I went for several months  together。  But about ten or eleven o'clock on that day; as I was  walking under an hedge (full of sorrow and guilt; God knows); and  bemoaning myself for this hard hap; that such a thought should  arise within me; suddenly this sentence rushed in upon me; THE  BLOOD OF CHRIST REMITS ALL GUILT。  At this I made a stand in my  spirit:  with that this word took hold upon me; THE BLOOD OF JESUS  CHRIST HIS SON; CLEANSETH US FROM ALL SIN。  1 John i。 7。
  144。  Now I began to conceive peace in my soul; and methought I  saw; as if the tempter did leer and steal away from me; as being  ashamed of what he had done。  At the same time also I had my sin;  and the blood of Christ; thus represented to me; That my sin; when  compared to the blood of Christ; was no more to it; than this  little clod or stone before me; is to this vast and wide field that  here I see。  This gave me good encouragement for the space of two  or three hours; in which time also; methought; I saw; by faith; the  Son of God; as suffering for my sins:  but because it tarried not;  I therefore sunk in my spirit; under exceeding guilt again。
  145。  But chiefly by the aforementioned scripture concerning ESAU'S  selling of his birthright; for that scripture would lie all day  long; all the week long; yea; all the year long in my mind; and  hold me down; so that I could by no means lift up myself; for when  I would strive to turn to this scripture or that; for relief; still  that sentence would be sounding in me; FOR YE KNOW; HOW THAT  AFTERWARDS; WHEN HE WOULD HAVE INHERITED THE BLESSING; HE FOUND NO  PLACE OF REPENTANCE; THOUGH HE SOUGHT IT CAREFULLY WITH TEARS。
  146。  Sometimes; indeed; I should have a touch from that in Luke  xxii。 31; I HAVE PRAYED FOR THEE THAT THY FAITH FAIL NOT; but it  would not abide upon me; neither could I; indeed; when I considered  my state; find ground to conceive in the least; that there should  be the root of that grace in me; having sinned as I had done。  Now  was I tore and rent in an heavy case for many days together。
  147。  Then began I with sad and careful heart to consider of the  nature and largeness of my sin; and to search into the word of God;  if I could in any place espy a word of promise; or any encouraging  sentence; by which I might take relief。  Wherefore I began to  consider that of Mark iii。 28:  ALL SINS SHALL BE FORGIVEN UNTO THE  SONS OF MEN; AND BLASPHEMIES WHEREWITH SOEVER THEY SHALL BLASPHEME。   Which place; methought at a blush; did contain a large and glorious  promise for the pardon of high offences; but considering the place  more fully; I thought it was rather to be understood; as relating  more chiefly to those who had; while in a natural estate; committed  such things as there are mentioned; but not to me; who had not only  received light and mercy; but that had both after; and also  contrary to that; so slighted Christ as I had done。
  148。  I feared; therefore; that this wicked sin of mine; might be  that sin unpardonable; of which He there thus speaketh。  BUT HE  THAT SHALL BLASPHEME AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST; HATH NEVER  FORGIVENESS; BUT IS IN DANGER OF ETERNAL DAMNATION。  Mark iii。 29。   And I did the rather give credit to this; because of that sentence  in the Hebrews:  FOR YOU KNOW HOW THAT AFTERWARDS; WHEN HE WOULD  HAVE INHERITED THE BLESSING; HE WAS REJECTED; FOR HE FOUND NO PLACE  OF REPENTANCE; THOUGH HE SOUGHT IT CAREFULLY WITH TEARS。  And this  stuck always with me。
  149。  And now was I both a burthen and a terror to myself; nor did  I ever so know; as now; what it was to be weary of my life; and yet  afraid to die。  Oh! how gladly now would I have been anybody but  myself! anything but a man; and in any condition but my own!  For  there was nothing did pass more frequently over my mind; than that  it was impossible for me to be forgiven my transgression; and to be  saved from the wrath to come。
  150。  And now I began to call again time that was spent; wishing a  thousand times twice told; that the day was yet to come when I  should be tempted to such a sin; concluding with great indignation;  both against my heart; and all assaults; how I would rather have  been torn in pieces; than be found a consenter thereto。  But alas!  these thoughts; and wishings; and resolvings were now too late to  help me; this thought had passed my heart; God hath let me go; and  I am fallen。  Oh! thought I; THAT IT WERE WITH ME AS IN MONTHS  PAST; AS IN THE DAYS WHEN GOD PRESERVED ME!  Job xxix。 2。
  151。  Then again; being loth and unwilling to perish; I began to  compare my sin with others to see if I could find that any of those  that were saved; had done as I had done。  So I considered DAVID'S  adultery; and murder; and found them most heinous crimes; and those  too committed after light and grace received:  but yet by  considering that his transgressions were only such as were against  the law of MOSES; from which the Lord Christ could; with the  consent of His word; deliver him:  but mine was against the gospel;  yea; against the Mediator thereof; I had sold my Saviour。
  152。  Now again should I be as if racked upon the wheel; when I  considered; that; besides the guilt that possessed me; I should be  so void of grace; so bewitched。  What; thought I; must it be no sin  but this?  Must it needs be the GREAT TRANSGRESSION?  Ps。 xix。 13。   Must THAT WICKED ONE touch my soul?  1 John v。 18。  Oh! what sting  did I find in all these sentences?
  153。  What; thought I; is there but ONE sin that is unpardonable?  but ONE sin that layeth the soul without the reach of God's mercy;  and must I be guilty of THAT? must it needs be that?  Is there but  one SIN among SO MANY millions of sins; for which there is no  forgiveness; and must I commit this?  Oh! unhappy SIN!  Oh! unhappy  MAN!  These things would so break and confound my spirit; that I  could not tell what to do; I thought at times; they would have  broke my wits; and still; to aggravate my misery; that would run in  my mind; YOU KNOW; HOW; THAT AFTERWARDS; WHEN HE WOULD HAVE  INHERITED THE BLESSING; HE WAS REJECTED。  OH! NO ONE KNOWS THE  TERRORS OF THOSE DAYS BUT MYSELF。
  154。  After this I began to consider of PETER'S sin; which he  committed in denying his Master:  and indeed; this came nighest to  mine of any that I could find; for he had denied his Saviour; as I;  after light and mercy received; yea; and that too; after warning  given him。  I also considered; that he did it both once and twice;  and that; after time to consider betwixt。  But though I put all  these circumstances together; that; if possible I might find help;  yet I considered again; that his was but A DENIAL OF HIS MASTER;  but mine was; A SELLING OF MY SAVIOUR。  Wherefore I thought with  myself; that I came nearer to JUDAS; than either to DAVID or PETER。
  155。  Here again my torment would flame out and afflict me; yea; it  would grind me; as it were