Seven sermons on several select subjects preached

Secondly, This kissing of Christ by Faith, it is hard; it is not an easy matter. It is easy to profess this Son of God; but it is not easy to kiss this Son. That which makes this work ⟨p. 88⟩of believing, lies in these two things.

Secondly, This kissing of Christ by Faith, it is hard; it is not an easie matter. It is easie to profess this Son of God; but it is not easie to kiss this Son. That which makes this work ⟨p. 88⟩of believing, lies in these two things.

First, Because man sets up the Idol of Self-righteousness: he is apt to think he hath something of his own growth in him; righteousness of his own: his prayers, his tears, his alms, he would make a Christ of them. Instead of kissing the Son, he doth idolize himself. Man's a proud piece of flesh; he would see some worthiness in himself; he would give part to himself, and part to Christ: he is loth to be beholden to grace only; he would grow upon his own Root, and not be grafted upon the Stock of Christs righteousness, Rom. 10.3. Going about to establish a righteousness of their own, they have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. O! it's wonderful to see a proud sinner humble; to go out of himself to Christ for righteousness. That's one thing.

Secondly, That which makes this work of believing so hard, is this; because believing, it's a work above the power of nature to produce; it's a ⟨p. 89⟩