Then said Christian to the man, "What art thou?" The man answered,
"I am what I was not once."
CRISTIAN. "What wert thou once?"
The man said, "I was once a fair and flourishing professor, both in
mine own eyes, and also in the eyes of others; I once was, as I
thought, fair for the celestial city, Luke 8:13, and had then even
joy at the thoughts that I should get thither."
CHRISTIAN. "Well, but what art thou now?"
MAN. "I am now a man of despair, and am shut up in it as in this
iron cage. I cannot get out: O NOW I cannot."
CHRISTIAN. "But how earnest thou in this condition?"
MAN. "I left off to watch and be sober; I laid the reins upon the
neck of my lusts; I sinned against the light of the word, and the
goodness of God; I have grieved the Spirit, and he is gone; I
tempted the devil, and he is come to me; I have provoked God to
anger, and he has left me; I have so hardened my heart that I CANNOT
repent."
Then said Christian to the Interpreter, "But is there no hope for
such a man as this?" "Ask him," said the Interpreter.
Then said Christian, "Is there no hope but you must be kept in the
iron cage of despair?"
MAN. "No, none at all."
CHRISTIAN. "Why? the Son of the Blessed is very pitiful."
MAN. "I have crucified him to myself afresh; I have despised his
person, I have despised his righteousness, I have counted his blood
an unholy thing.
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