While I was in prison, diverse professors
came to discourse with me. I had a sense,
before they spoke, that they came to plead
for sin and imperfection. I asked them whether they were
believers and had faith.
They said, “Yes.” I asked them, “In whom?” They
said, “In Christ.” I replied, “If ye are true believers in Christ, you are
passed from death to
life; and if passed
from death, then
from sin that
bringeth death; and
if your faith be true,
it will give you victory
over sin and the
devil, purify your
hearts and consciences
(for the true
faith is held in a pure
conscience), and bring you to please God, and give you
access to Him again.”
But they could not endure to hear of purity, and of
victory over sin and the devil. They said they could not
believe any could be free from sin on this side of the
grave. I bade them give over babbling about the Scriptures,
which were holy men’s words, whilst they pleaded
for unholiness.
At another time a company of professors came, who
also began to plead for sin. I asked them whether they
had hope. They said, “Yes, God forbid but we should
have hope.”
I asked them, “What hope is it that you have? Is
Christ in you the hope of your glory? Doth it purify you,
as He is pure?” But they could not abide to hear of being
made pure here.
Then I bade them forbear talking of the scriptures,
which were the holy men’s words, “for,” said I, “the holy
men that wrote the scriptures pleaded for holiness in
heart, life, and conversation here, but since you plead for
impurity and sin, which is of the devil, what have you to
do with the holy men’s words?”
