the best of you; but mark what he says of himself in the 7, 8 and 9 verses, ‘But what things were gain to me; those I counted loss for Christ, yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ: Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.’ There is that which ye must only rest on, and no where else, at upon the compleat and inherent righteousness of Jesus Christ; therefore take heed how ye build.
Thirdly, These come not unto Jesus Christ, who feed themselves up in that deluding fancy, that they have not so much need of him, as others have, by reason of their thinking their sins but little sins. O, say some, I am not like the profane and wicked; What then need I fear? O poor fool, mind what the Apostle tells thee, Gal. iii. 10. ‘For in such a case, thou art under the law, and as many as are of the works of the law, are under the curse, for it is written, cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the law, to do them.’ A penknife can take away the life as well as a broad sword: Indeed I think the case of the wicked and profane is more hopeful than thy case, because they will be sooner gotten convinced of the necessity of repentance than thou wilt.
Fourthly, These come not unto Christ, who because they meet with favourable dispensations, and great proofs of the Lord’s general providences, thereupon conclude all is well with them. Think upon what David says, Psal. xvii. 14. ‘From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portions in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they
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