Many have passed the rocks of gross sins who have suffered shipwreck upon the sands of self-righteousness.
It was the saying of one, that he "would swim through a sea of brimstone if he might but arrive safely at heaven." Ah, how would natural men soar to heaven upon the pinions of their own merit!
The sunbeams of Divine justice will soon melt such weak and wax wings!
He who has no better righteousness than what is of his own providing, shall meet with no higher happiness than what is of his own deserving. "They disregarded the righteousness from God and attempted to establish their own righteousness." They are determined to sail in their own ship though they sink in the ocean!
We are so far from paying the utmost farthing, that at our utmost we have not even a farthing to pay! That man will be a miserable spectacle of vanity who stands upon the lame feet of his own ability!
Duties are but dry pits, though ever so meticulously wrought until Christ fills them. Reader, I would neither have you be idle in duties nor make an idol of duties.
What are duties without Christ but like a fine cabinet without a jewel or a golden cup without a cordial? The most diligent saint has been the most self-distrusting saint, "that I may gain Christ and be found in him not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ he righteousness that comes from God and is by faith."
If you are found in your own righteousness, you will be lost by your own righteousness. That garment which was worn to shreds on Adam's back ill never make a complete covering for you.
Duties may be good crutches to go upon but they are bad Christs to lean upon. It is the greatest
disparagement that professors can offer to Christ to put their services
in the scale with His sufferings. The beggarly rags of the first
Adam—must never be put on with the princely robe of the second
Adam!
[William Secker]
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1 Corinthians 15:47-48 ... The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
Galatians 2:16 ... Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
John 15:5 ... I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. ❤
