The souls humiliationThe soules humiliation

First, This carnal confidence in what we have, and do shut a man out from having any part in Christ. He that is guilty of this sin, withdraws ⟨p. 48⟩himself from the favour of the Lord, and he becomes uncapable of that mercy and good which God hath revealed; and Christ hath purchased for poor distressed sinners. For this is all that the Lord looks for at our hands, that we should deny our selves, and wholly cast our selves upon his goodness and mercy. nay, that man which relies upon what he doth, puts himself without the reach of all that mercy and great salvation that is in Jesus Christ. Christ came not to call the righteous to repentance, nor them that trust in themselves; nor them that think they can save themselves, but he came to call sinners to repentance, and those that see an utter insufficiency in themselves to save or succour themselves in the day of trouble, there is great salvation in Christ, and plenteous redemption purchased by Christ, and you hear of all this, and it is all true, but this I must tell you, all that Christ hath done and deserved shall never do you good, if you rest upon your selves. You do think that it is such a great sin, as indeed it is, sometimes you make conscience of drunkenness and other sins, if you make conscience of any thing, then know that this is the greatest sin in the world.¹ See how the Apostle sets himself against this carnal confidence, where speaking to the Galatians that trusted in their own circumcision, that answers to our Baptism: Behold (saith he) I Paul, say, I, not a bare man, but I, Paul inspired with the Spirit in an extraordinary manner, and I, an Apostle that do not, nay that cannot err, I that have received a commission from the Lord, I say, that if you be Circumcised, that is, if you trust in your ⟨p. 49⟩Circumcision, Christ shall profit you nothing. nay, (saith he) Jesus Christ is made of none effect to you if you seek to be justified by the works of the Law. ²If you rest in the merit of your prayer, Christ is made of none effect to you, and you shall never receive any power from the death of Christ: the blood of Christ will never purge those filthy hearts of yours, and his resurrection shall never quicken you.