An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the eighth, ninth and tenth chapters of…

First, Man is unsufficient. How can he, who is ignorant, weak and unrighteous, plead his cause with God, who is infinite in wisdom, righteousness and holiness? And therefore mans own mouth will condemn him, his words will speak him guilty, while he pleads, Not guilty.

First, Man is unsufficient. How can he, who is ignorant, weak and unrighteous, plead his cause with God, who is infinite in wisdome, righteousnesse and holinesse? And therefore mans own mouth will condemn him, his words will speak him guilty, while he pleads, Not guilty.

Secondly, He that justifies himself must appear in his own commendation, he must bring forth all his good works, and show the Lord how he hath fasted, prayed and mourned, how humble, how liberal he hath been, what alms he hath given, he must (as it were) paint and adorn himself in all his excellencies, and stand before the Lord in this array. Now mans own mouth must condemn him, if he do thus.¹ The Heathen could say by the light of nature, That a mans praises are sullied by passing through his own lips. To sound our own praise, sounds our own shame. If a man have never so much worth in him, he dishonours himself by being the trumpet of it.

Secondly, He that justifies himself must appear in his own commendation, he must bring forth all his good works, and shew the Lord how he hath fasted, praied and mourned, how humble, how liberall he hath been, what alms he hath given, he must (as it were) paint and adorn himself in all his excellencies, and stand before the Lord in this aray. Now mans own mouth must condemn him, if he doe thus.¹ The Heathen could say by the light of nature, That a mans praises are sullied by passing thorow his own lips. To sound our own praise, sounds our own shame. If a man have never so much worth in him, he dishonours himself by being the trumpet of it.