this, it is the carnal, careless duty. Do not legalize the gospel, as if part did remain for thee to do and suffer, and Christ were but an half Mediator, and thou must bear part of thy own sin, make part satisfaction, Let sin break thy heart, but not thy hope in the gospel,
Look more at justification than sanctification. In the highest commands, consider Christ, not as an exactor, to require, but a debtor, and an undertaker, to work. If thou hast looked at workings, duties, qualifications, &c. more than at the merits of Christ, it will cost thee dear: No wonder thou goest complaining. Graces may be evidences, the merits of Christ alone, without them, must be the foundation of thy hope to bottom on. Christ only can be the hope of glory, Col. i. 27.
When we come to God, we must bring nothing but Christ with us. Any ingredients, or any previous qualifications of our own, will poison and corrupt faith. He that builds upon duties, graces, &c. knows not the merits of Christ. This makes believing so hard, so far above nature; if thou believest, thou must every day renounce, as dung and dross, Phil. in. 7,8, thy privileges, thy obedience, thy baptism, thy sanctification, thy duties, thy graces, thy tears, thy meltings, and thy humblings,
