3. With respect to duties. Here also are two notes.
[1.] When men are not actually sensible of their own weakness, unprofitableness, and defects in duties. Men set a high value on their actions, and therefore reckon of the merit of them. The elder brother pleaded : Luke xv. 29, 'Lo, these many years do I serve thee; neither at any time transgressed I thy commandment.' We rest upon that of which we are conceited. Formal men have least cause, and yet are most apt, to rest in duties, because they go on in a dead course, with- out feeling their defects, or being sensible of their needing the supplies of the Spirit; as painted fire needeth no fuel. But the children of God perform them with more feeling of their own weakness and wretched- ness ; and so tlieir hearts are kept liumble and thankful, both which check merit. Thankiul : 1 Chron. xxix. 14, ' Of thine own have we given thee.' Humble, for there may be a show of thankfulness, and yet the heart may be conceited : Luke xviii. 11, ' God, I thank thee I am not as other men are ; ' but ' all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags,' Isa. Ixiv. 6. Kow we must have actual distinct thoughts of this, or else it is impossible that such a proud creature as man should go out of him- self. Christ requireth it in every duty : Luke xvii. 10, ' When ye shall have done all those things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants ; ' therefore you do not discern this secret vein of guilt by gross thoughts of merit, but by high thoughts of duty. When a man is not always sensible of the imperfections of his services, he is apt to build upon them. How do you come off from duty P You have more cause to be htimble than to be lifted up ; for what is God's be thankful, for what is your own be humbled, and pray, God be merciful to me!
[2.] When men are more careful of the work wrought than of the interest of the person ; when we would have the person accepted for the works sake rather than for Christ's sake, they lay the foundation ol ilieir comfort within themselves. Now this is not only by common pcdple, who hope to be accepted for tlieir prayers and their good mean- ings, but in those that are careless to 2;et an interest in Christ : James
8 SEKMONS UPON HEBREWS XI. [SeR. XVIII.
V. 16, * The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Most men look to the qualification of the duty, not of the person ; but the person must be righteous, as well as the prayer fervent. It is not duty that worketh out your atonement with God ; our acceptation with God doth not depend upon the worth and merit of works. Do not think duties will serve the turn ; 2 Cor. xiii. 5, ' Know ye not your own selves, how that Chri-st is in you, except ye be reprobates? ' The word dSoKiixoi, reprobate, is there taken in a mollified sense for those that are not in Christ ; and therefore, before duties, your great care should be not only to raise the lieart, but to examine the state.
4. With respect to peace and comfort, take these notes,
[1.] If you were never driven to change your opy and tenure. All Adam's posterity is under a covenant of works, and seek to hd saved by doing. Those that never saw they rested in works, and were never driven to settle their comfort upon gospel terms, are in a dangerous case. The voice of nature is, AVliat shall we do ? and till we are frighted out of ourselves we never look farther. When the Israelites heard the thuuderings, they were affrighted. Nature is put to flight : Heb. vi, 18, 'Who have fled for refuge, to lay hold upon the hoyie set before us;' Phil. iii. 9, 'And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, wdiich is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness wliich is of God by faith ; ' Gal. ii. 19, ' For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live to God.' A man goes not to chancery till he is cast at common law.
[2.] When conscience is awakened, if men fetch their comfort from their duties. The law leaveth men wounded and raw, and they lick them- selves whole again by some ofters of obedience. Carnal men are careful of worship only upon some gripes ; they use their duties as men do strong waters in a Jiang ; duties should be a thank-offering, and they make them a sin-oftering — a sleeping sop to allay conscience. As when men liave oftended their superiors, for a while they become more pliant and obsequious. It is good in gripes of conscience to observe wlience you fetch your comfort, and how it groweth upon you ; the trial is most sensible: Ps. xciv. 19, 'In the multitude of my thoughts withiji me thy comforts delight my soul.' Though every child of God hath not peace of conscience, yet it would mucli undeceive our hearts if we did observe how we come to be satisfied with our estate, and from whence that peace which we have doth arise.