The Soul's Conflict with Itself

And for any works that proceed from grace, by trusting thereunto they ¹prove like the reed of Egypt, which not only deceives us, but hurts us with the splinters: Good works are good, but confidence in them is hurtful; and there is more of our own in them (for the most part) to humble us, then of Gods spirit to embolden us so far as to trust in them. Alas they have nothing from us, but weakness and defilement, and therefore since the fall, GOD would have the object of our trust to be (out of our selves) in him; and to that purpose he useth all means to take us out of our selves, and from the creature, that he only might be our trust.

And for any workes that proceed from grace, by trusting thereunto they ¹prove like the reede of Aegypt, which not only deceives us, but hurts us with the splinters: Good workes are good, but confidence in them is hurtfull; and there is more of our owne in them (for the most part) to humble us, then of Gods spirit to embolden us so farre as to trust in them. Alas they have nothing from us, but weaknesse and defilement, and therefore since the fall, GOD would have the object of our trust to be (out of our selves) in him; and to that purpose he useth all meanes to take us out of our selves, and from the creature, that he only might be our trust.

1. 13.

Yea we must not trust trust it self, but God whom it relies on, who is ¹therefore called our trust. All the glorious ⟨p. 327⟩things that are spoken of trust are only made good by God in Christ, who (as trusted) doth all for us.