“It is impossible for me to guess,” said I.
“‘Let us go to rest, my love; your fears are all groundless.’”
CHAPTER LXXVII.
Getting Late—Seven Years Old—Chastening—Go Forth—London Bridge—Same Eyes—Common Occurrence—Very Sleepy.
“And so I still say,” said Winifred, sobbing. “Let us retire to rest, dear husband; your fears are groundless. I had hoped long since that your affliction would have passed away, and I still hope that it eventually will; so take heart, Peter, and let us retire to rest, for it is getting late.”
“Rest!” said Peter; “there is no rest for the wicked!”
“We are all wicked,” said Winifred; “but you are afraid of a shadow. How often have I told you that the sin of your heart is not the sin against the Holy Ghost: the sin of your heart is its natural pride, of which you are scarcely aware, to keep down which God in His mercy permitted you to be terrified with the idea of having committed a sin which you never committed.”
“Then you will still maintain,” said Peter, “that I never committed the sin against the Holy Spirit?”
“I will,” said Winifred; “you never committed it. How should a child seven years old commit a sin like that?”
“Have I not read my own condemnation?” said Peter. “Did not the first words which I read in the Holy Scripture condemn me? ‘He who committeth the sin against the Holy Ghost shall never enter into the kingdom of God.’”