220 THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS.

natures to His office, giveth authority to that righteousness to do the work for which
it was ordained.

So, then, here is a righteousness that Christ, as God, has no need of; for He is God
without it. Here is a righteousness that Christ, as man, has no need of to make Him
so; for He is perfect man without it. Again: there is righteousness that Christ, as
God-man, has no need of ; for He is perfectly so without it. Here, then, is a righteous-
ness that Christ, as God and as God-man, has no need of with reference to Himself,
and therefore He can spare it; a justifying righteousness, that He for Himself wanteth
not, and therefore he giveth it away. Hence it is called the gift of righteousness.”
This righteousness, since Christ Jesus the Lord has made Himself under the law, must
be given away; for the law doth not only bind him that is under it to do justly, but
to use charity: wherefore he must, or ought by law, if he hath two coats, to give one
to him that hath none. Now, our Lord indeed hath two coats, one for Himself and
one to spare; wherefore He freely bestows one upon those that have none. And thus,
Christiana and Mercy, and the rest of you that are here, doth your pardon come by
deed, or by the work of another man. Your Lord Christ is He that worked, and has
given away what He wrought for to the next poor beggar He meets.

But again: in order to pardon by deed, there must something be paid to God as a
price, as well as something prepared to cover us withal. Sin has delivered us up to
the just curse of a righteous law. Now, from this curse we must be justified by way
of redemption, a price being paid for the harms we have done; and this is by the
blood of your Lord, who came and stood in your place and stead, and died your death
for your transgressions. Thus has He ransomed you from your transgressions by
blood, and covered your polluted and deformed souls with righteousness,” for the
sake of which God passeth by you, and will not hurt you when He comes to judge
the world.”

Cur. This is brave! Now I see that there was something to be learnt by our being
pardoned by word and deed. Good Mercy, let us labor to keep this in mind; and,
my children, do you remember it also. But, sir, was not this it that made my good
Christian’s burden fall from off his shoulders, and that made him give three leaps for
joy?

GREAT. Yes, it was the belief of this that cut off those strings that could not be cut
by other means; and it was to give him proof of the virtue of this that he was suffered
to carry his burden to the Cross.

Cur. I thought so; for though my heart was lightsome and joyous before, yet it is
ten times more lightsome and joyous now. And I am persuaded by what I have felt,