A cabinet of choice jewels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…A cabinet of choice jevvels, or, A box of precious ointment being a plain…

Thirdly, Trusting in our own duties, and resting on our §3own righteousness (and not on Christ's solely) is a close, secret, ⟨p. 376⟩spiritual,¹ dangerous and unperceivable sin, which the nature of man is exceedingly prone unto. The Pharisees were mightily given up to trust in their own righteousness, to rest on their own righteousness,² and to boast and glory in their own righteousness; and this proved their mortal disease, their damning sin: trusting in their own righteousness had so besotted and benumbed them, that they had no mind, no heart to open the gates of their souls, that the King of glory might enter in. And this was that which undid the Jews, Rom. 10.3. For they being ignorant of Gods righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. And 'tis observable, the Apostle useth an emphatical word of a Jew, Rom. 2.17. Thou restest in the Law,³ [Greek or Hebrew], thou art secure in the Law, as in some admirable privilege and signal testimony of Gods love. This was Bernards temptation, when being assisted in duty he could stroke his own head with been fecisti Bernard; O Bernard, this was gallantly done, now cheer up thy self. It was the saying of a precious Saint, That he was more afraid of his duties than of his sins, for the one made him often proud, and the other made him always humble. It was good counsel Luther gave, Cavendum est non solum à peccatis, sed à bonis operibus; We must take heed not only of our sins, but of our good works. Duties can never have too much diligence used about them, nor too little confidence placed in them; they are good helps, but bad Saviours; it is necessary we do them, but it is dangerous to rely upon them. If the devil cannot dissuade us from performing Religious duties, then his next work will be to persuade us all he can to rely upon them to make Saviours of them, because this will as much gratify Satan, and as certainly ruin our souls, as if we had wholly neglected them. O man, thine own righteousness rested in, will as certainly and eternally undo thee as the greatest and foulest enormities. This soul-sickness is that spiritual Idolatry that will undo thee, for thou makest thy self a Saviour, and thy duties a Saviour, and sayest of thy duties, as they did of the golden Calf; These are the gods that brought thee out of the Land of Egypt.