_Hopeful._ I was filled with _a peace that passeth all understanding. I rejoiced with joy unspeakable. The love of God was shed abroad in my heart; and sin had no more dominion over me_; but _I ran the way of his commandments, now he had set my heart at liberty_. I saw then in my dream, that _Hopeful_ looked back, and saw _Ignorance_, whom he had left behind, coming after. Then, said he come away, man: why do you stay behind? Come, how do you do? How stands it now between God and your soul? _Ignorance._ I hope well, for I am full of good thoughts. _Christian._ What good thoughts? _Ignorance._ Why, I think of God and heaven. _Christian._ So do the devils and damned souls. _Ignorance._ But I desire them too. _Christian._ So do many that never came there. _The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing._ _Ignorance._ Nay but I leave all for them. _Christian._ I doubt that. Why dost thou think so? _Ignorance._ My heart tells me so. _Christian._ _He that trusteth his own heart, is a fool._ _Ignorance._ Ay if his heart be evil; but mine is good. _Christian._ How dost thou prove that? _Ignorance._ Why I lead a good life. _Christian._ Who told thee thou leadest a good life? _Ignorance._ Who told me! My own heart. _Christian._ Ask my fellow if I be a thief. Thy heart tells thee so! Except the word of God bear witness in this matter, other testimony is nothing worth. Hast thou the peace of God? Hast thou joy in the Holy Ghost? Is the love of God shed abroad in thy heart? Doth his Spirit witness with thy spirit, that thou art a child of God? Hast thou redemption in Christ’s blood, the forgiveness of thy sins? Art thou dead unto sin, and alive unto God? Hast thou crucified the flesh, with its affections and lusts? Hath the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, made thee free from the law of sin and death? _Ignorance._ You talk too high for me? I am a poor sinner, and I believe in Christ, and that is enough. _Christian._ I fear, hell is full of such poor sinners as thou. But how dost thou believe in Christ? _Ignorance._ Why, I believe Christ died for sinners, and that my sins will be forgiven, through God’s gracious acceptance of my sincerity and best endeavours to obey his laws. _Christian._ 1. Thou believest then with a fantastical faith; for this faith is no where described in the word. 2. Thou believest with a false faith; because thou takest justification from the blood and righteousness of Christ, and appliest it to thy own. 3. This first maketh Christ not a justifier ♦of thy person, but of thy actions; and of thy person, for the sake of thy actions. Therefore this faith is utterly deceitful, and will leave thee under wrath in the day of the Lord. ♦ “rf” replaced with “of”