The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

I must entreat the Father upon my knees and with all my heart and soul
— to reveal the Lord Jesus to me.
"Then I asked him further, how I must make my petition to Him? And
he said, 'Go, and you shall find Him upon a mercy-seat, where He sits all
the year long, to give pardon and forgiveness to those who come.’
"I told him that I did not know what to say when I go. And he bid me to
say something to this effect: 'God be merciful to me a sinner — and
make me to know and believe in Jesus Christ. For I see that if He had not
provided His perfect righteousness, or if I have not faith in His
righteousness — then I am utterly cast away. Lord, I have heard that You
are a merciful God, and have ordained that Your Son Jesus Christ
should be the Savior of the world; and moreover, that you are willing to
bestow Him upon such a poor sinner as I am — and I am a poor sinner
indeed. Lord, be pleased to magnify Your grace in the salvation of my
soul, through Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.'"
CHRISTIAN: "And did you do as you were bidden?"
HOPEFUL: "Yes — over, and over, and over."
CHRISTIAN: "And did the Father reveal His Son to you?"
HOPEFUL: "Not at the first, nor the second, nor the third, nor the
fourth, nor the fifth — no, not even at the sixth time."
CHRISTIAN: "What did you do then?"
HOPEFUL: "What! Why I could not tell what to do!"
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