Nebuchadnezzar's vision ; the parts of which could never cohere, nor form any permanent basis for the superincumbent weight. Others rather think to enter into a composition with the Lord, and agree to render him service, if he will impart to them salva- tion. Thus, though they do not expressly unite their merits with his, they make their obedience the ground on which they hope for an interest in him ; and, to a certain degree, a price, which they propose to pay for it. It never occurs to them, that they have nothing but sin and misery to present to him ; and that therefore their entire hope must be in his sovereign grace and mercy. They forget that they are to receive all " without money and without price." Others refine yet more ; and, conceiving themselves willing to give to the Lord Jesus all the glory of their salvation, they only look to themselves for their warrant to believe in him : either they dare not go to him, because they are so vile, and therefore they will endeavour to make themselves better, in order that they may venture into his presence, and indulge a hope of acceptance with him ; or, they have a good hope that he will apply to them all the bene- fits of his passion, because they have not transgressed beyond the common bounds of human frailty. But the plain answer to all these delusions is this : Sal- vation must be wholly of works, or wholly of grace : as the Apostle has said, " If it be of grace, then is it no more of works ; otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace ; other- wise work is no more workk." You perceive, there- fore, that you must not attempt to blend the two covenants in any respect : if you cleave in any degree to the covenant of works, you can have nothing to do with the covenant of grace : if you come not solely, and with your whole hearts, to the Lord Jesus Christ, to be saved by his blood and righteousness, laying aside and renouncing every other hope, you must go back to the covenant of works, and seek for accept- ance through it. But do you not hear the law? Do
k Rom. xi. 6.