IGNORANCE FALLS BEHIND, 159

as we list; for what matter how we live, if we may be justified by Christ’s personal
righteousness from all when we believe it ?

Curis. Ignorance is thy name, and as thy name is, so art thou; even this thy
answer demonstrateth what I say. Ignorant thou art of what justifying righteousness
is, and as ignorant how to secure thy soul, through the faith of it, from the heavy
wrath of God. Yea, thou also art ignorant of the true effects of saving faith in this
righteousness of Christ, which is, to bow and win over the heart to God in Christ, to
love his name, His Word, ways and people, and not as thou ignorantly imaginest.

Horr. Ask him if ever he had Christ revealed to him from heaven.

enor. What! you are a man for revelations! I believe that what both you and
all the rest of you say about that matter is but the fruit of distracted brains.

Horr. Why, man! Christ is so hid in God from the natural apprehensions of the
flesh, that He cannot by any men be savingly known, unless God the Father reveals
Him to them.

Tenor. That is your faith, but not mine; yet mine, I doubt not, is as good as yours,
though I have not in my head so many whimsies as you.

Curis. Give me leave to put ina word. You ought not so slightly to speak of this
matter; for this I will boldly affirm, even as my good companion hath done, that no
man can know Jesus Christ but by the revelation of the Father; yea, and faith too,
by which the soul layeth hold upon Christ, if it be right, must be wrought by the
exceeding greatness of His mighty power;** the working of which faith, I perceive,
poor Ignorance, thou art ignorant of. Be awakened, then; see thine own wretchedness
and fiy to the Lord Jesus; and, by His righteousness, which is the righteousness of
God (for He Himself is God), thou shalt be delivered from condemnation.

Ienor. You go so fast, I cannot keep pace with you. Do you go on before: I must
stay awhile behind.

Then they said:

“Well, Lenorance, wilt thou yet foolish be,
To slight good counsel, ten times given thee ?
And if thou yet refuse it, thou shalt know,
Ere long, the evil of thy doing so.
Remember, man, in time; stoop, do not fear ;
Good counsel, taken well, saves; therefore hear :
But, if thou yet shalt slight it, thou wilt be
The loser, Ignorance, ll warrant thee.”

Then Christian addressed himself thus to his fellow :
Curis. Well, come, my good Hopeful; I perceive that thou and I must walk by

ourselves again.