" So he had him about to the backside of the wall,
where he saw a man with a vessel of oil in his hand, of which he did
also continually cast, but secretly, into the fire.
Then said Christian, "What means this?"
The Interpreter answered, "This is Christ, who continually with the
oil of his grace maintains the work already begun in the heart; by
the means of which, notwithstanding what the devil can do, the souls
of his people prove gracious still. 2 Cor. 12: 9. And in that thou
sawest that the man stood behind the wall to maintain the fire; this
is to teach thee that it is hard for the tempter to see how this
work of grace is maintained in the soul."
There is to be seen at the bottom of this holy river, the glory of
God. We are saved, saved by grace, saved by grace through the
redemption that is in Christ, to the praise and glory of God. And
what a good bottom is here. Grace will not fail, Christ has been
sufficiently tried, and God will not lose his glory; therefore they
that drink of this river, shall doubtless be saved; to wit, they
that drink of it with a spiritual appetite to it.
It pleased God, for the glory of his wisdom, to make this the way;
to wit, to set up grace to reign. I have often thought, and
sometimes said, If God will be pleased with any way, surely he will
be pleased with his own.
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