Grace Abounding is the spiritual autobiography of John Bunyan, who also penned Pilgrim’s Progress, perhaps one of the most significant pieces of Christian literature, second only to the Bible. Grace Abounding follows Bunyan’s struggle to find true repentance and forgiveness, his battle with Satan’s temptations of unbelief, his comfort found in the Bible and his overarching victory gotten by the grace of God through Jesus Christ his Son. Readers familiar with Pilgrim’s Progress will recognize that many of the allegorical points in his famous work came out of Bunyan’s own struggles and discoveries, and it has been said that Bunyan could not have written Pilgrim’s Progress without first going through the battles chronicled in Grace Abounding.
, they were all that God would save in those parts;
and that I came too late, for these had got the blessing before I came.
67. Now I was in great distress, thinking in very deed that this
might well be so; wherefore I went up and down, bemoaning my sad condition;
counting myself far worse than a thousand fools for standing off thus
long, and spending so many years in sin as I had done; still crying
out, Oh! that I had turned sooner! Oh! that I had turned seven
years ago! It made me also angry with myself, to think that I
should have no more wit, but to trifle away my time, till my soul and
heaven were lost.
68. But when I had been long vexed with this fear, and was scarce
able to take one step more, just about the same place where I received
my other encouragement, these words broke in upon my mind, Compel
them tocome in, that my house may be filled; and yet
there isroom. Luke xiv. 22, 23. These words,
but especially those, And yet there is room, were sweet words
to me; for truly I thought that by them I saw there was place enough
in heaven for me; and moreover, that when the Lord Jesus did speak these
words, He then did think of me: and that He knowing that the time would
come, that I should be afflicted with fear, that there was no place
left for me in His bosom, did before speak this word, and leave it upon
record, that I might find help thereby against this vile temptation.
This I then verily believed.
69. In the light and encouragement of this word I went a pretty
while; and the comfort was the more, when I thought that the Lord Jesus
should think on me so long ago, and that He should speak those words
on purpose for my sake; for I did think verily, that He did on purpose
speak them to encourage me withal.
70. But I was not without my temptations to go back again; temptations
I say, both from Satan, mine own heart, and carnal acquainta
His dated writing style was challenging to listen to, but still so encouraging.