conceits of blind superstitious papists. The idea of performing them is arrogant in the extreme. None can entertain it in their minds without involving their souls in utter ruin. The point is decided for us by the voice of inspiration0.]
The justness of the comparison being made to appear, we proceed to consider, II. The command grounded upon it —
The injunction in the text is manifestly grounded on the preceding comparison. It imports,
1. That we should not be puffed up with a conceit of our high attainments —
[There is no notice taken of our manifold defects. It is supposed that we actually do all that is commanded us ; yet even on that supposition we have nothing to boast of. How- ever perfect our obedience were in all other respects, pride would at once debase it all : God will have no flesh to glory in his presence. The very angels, who never fell, are constrained to give all the glory to Godp. The Seraphim around the throne veil their faces and their feet as unworthy to behold or to serve their Maker0-; and the glorified saints cast their crowns at the feet of Jesus, ascribing all their happiness to him alone r. Sinful man therefore can never have whereof to glory before God. His zeal and holiness can be of no account with God if once they be made the grounds of his confidence. God, so far from approving such a proud boaster, would abhor hims, and would surely abase him in the day of judgment*.]
2. That we should be humbled under a sense of our unprofitableness —
[It is not possible that our works should profit Godu. Nothing that we can do can render him more happy or more glorious x. We should live and act under a sense of this. The Apostles themselves were directed to consider their best works as worthless y. Indeed, the truly enlightened in all ages have judged thus of themselves. Job abhorred himself in dust and ashes z. Isaiah seemed to himself like a poor leper, at the very moment that he was favoured with a heavenly vision3. Paul accounted himself " less than the least of all saints," yea, the very " chief of sinners b." In this light should we continually view our best performances, and acknowledge that " our very righteousnesses are as filthy rags0."]
0 Rom. xi. 35, 36. P Rev. v. 11, 12. °. Isai. vi. 2.
r Rev. iv. 10, s Jam. iv. 6. l Prov. xvi. 5,
» Ps. xvi. 2. * j0b xxii. 2, 3. y The text.
'■ Job xl. 4. xlii. 6. a Isai. vi. 5:
b Eph. iii. 8. 1 Tim. i. 15. c isaj. ixiv. 6.