_Hopeful._ Yes; but I had not reformed my heart. I found that was still as bad, or worse than ever; full of anger, pride, lust, and what not? I found my _inward parts were very wickedness_; that I was _earthly, sensual, and devilish_, having still a _carnal mind that was enmity against God_, and _brought me into captivity to sin and death_. I saw more and more, that there _dwelt in me no good thing_; no love of God; no true love of my neighbour. Above all, I was convinced I had not faith; not _that faith which overcometh the world_: and that was always sounding in my ears, _He that believeth not shall be damned_. _Christian._ And what effect had this? _Hopeful._ I then remembered that it is written, _All our righteousness is as filthy rags_, availing nothing toward our reconciliation with God, or the forgiveness of our sins. I saw that all I could do all my life long, would not atone for one sin that was past; nay, though I could now keep all God’s law, and offend in no point. For if a man (thought I) runs a hundred pounds into a merchant’s debt, and after that pays for all that he takes; yet if this old debt stands still in the book uncrossed, the merchant may sue him, and cast him into prison, till he shall pay the whole. _Christian._ How did you apply this to yourself? _Hopeful._ Why I thought with myself, I have by sin run far in debt with God, and my reforming now will not pay that debt. How then shall I be freed from that damnation, to which I know myself to be justly exposed, by my former transgressions? Besides, I still saw sin mixing itself with the best actions I could do: So that I was forced to conclude, that, notwithstanding my former opinion of myself, I committed sin enough in one day to send me to hell, though my former life had been faultless. _Christian._ And what did you do then?