There is a man of an ill-favored countenance who hath too high a conceit of his heauty, and wanting the benefit of a glass, he still stands in his own conceit.  At last a limner is sent unto him, who draweth his ill-favored face to the life.  Now, looking thereon, he hegins to be convinced that he is not half so handsome as he thought he was.  Coming sinner, thy temptations are these painters; they have drawn out thy ill-favored heart to the life, and have set it before thine eyes, and now thou seest how ill-favored thou art.

Some that are coming to Christ cannot lie persuaded, until the temptation comes, that they are so vile as the scripture saith they are.  True, they see so much of their wretchedness as to drive them to Christ.  But there is an over and above of wickedness which they see not.  Peter little thought that he had had in his heart cursing and swearing and lying, and an inclination to deny his Master, before the temptation came; but when that indeed came upon him, then he found it there to his sorrow.

It may be that thy graces must be tried in the fire, that that rust which cleaveth to them may be taken away, and themselves proved, both before angels and devils, to be far better than gold that perisheth.  It may be also, that thy graces are to receive special praises and honor and glory, at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to judgment, for all the exploits that thou hast acted by them against hell and its infernal crew, in the day of thy temptation.

But to conclude this, put the worst to the worst, and then things will be bad enough:  suppose that thou art to this day without the grace of God; yet thou art but a miserable creature, a sinner that has need of a blessed Saviour; and the text presents thee with one as good and kind as heart can wish, who also for thy encouragement saith, “And him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out.”

Mercy’s experience.

So the Interpreter addressed him to Mercy, and said unto her, “And what moved thee to come hither, sweetheart?”

Then Mercy blushed and trembled, and for a while continued silent.

Then said he, “Be not afraid; only believe, and speak thy mind.”

Then she began, and said, “Truly, sir, my want of experience is that which makes me covet to be in silence, and that also that filleth me with fears of coming short at last.  I cannot tell of visions and dreams as my friend Christiana can, nor know I what it is to mourn for my refusing of the counsel of those that were good relations.”

Interpreter.  “What was it then, dear heart, that hath prevailed with thee to do as thou hast done?”