It was the saying of a
precious saint--that he was more afraid of his duties than
of his sins; for his duties often made him proud--but his
sins always made him humble.
It was good counsel Luther gave, "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 saviors. It is necessary we do them
--but it is dangerous to rely upon them. If the devil cannot
dissuade us from performing pious duties--then his next work
will be to persuade us to rely upon them, to make saviors of
them; because this will as certainly ruin our souls, as if
we had wholly neglected them.
Resting in your own righteousness, will as certainly and
eternally undo you--as the greatest and foulest atrocities!
Open wickedness slays her thousands--but a secret resting
upon duties, slays her ten thousands!
Open profaneness is the broad dirty way which leads to hell;
but trusting in pious duties is as sure a way, though
a cleaner way to hell.
Ungodly people and formal professors shall meet at last in
the same hell.
Now, let all these things work you to renounce your own
righteousness--and to take sanctuary alone in the pure,
perfect, and most glorious righteousness of Jesus Christ,
and in the free grace of God.
