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In believing, what you first look at you expect stability from, and make the foundation of your hope. Go to Christ, in sight of thy misery, not of thy grace and holiness. Have nothing to do with graces and sanctification-they will but veil Christ-till thou hast seen Him first.- He that looks upon Christ through his own graces, is like one that sees the sun in water,- which wavereth and moves as she water doth.- Look upon Christ only as shining in the firmament of the Father's love and grace:-then you will see him in his own glory, which is unspeakable.

Pride and unbelief will put you upon seeing somewhat in yourself first; but faith will have to do with none but Christ, who is inexpressibly glorious, and must swallow up thy sanctification as well as thy sin; for God made him both for us, and we must make him both, 1 Cor. i. 30. He that sets up his sanctification to look at for comfort, sets up a great idol, which will but strengthen his doubts and fears. Do but look off from Christ, and presently, like Peter, you sink in doubts.

A Christian never wants comfort, but by breaking the order and method of the gospel, looking on his own, and looking off from Christ's perfect righteousness, which is to chuse rather to live by candle light than by the light of the sun. The