272 OP SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. know not, they seek not after, any other righteous- ness but what is of their own working out. Whatev- er notions they may have of the righteousness of faith, of the righteousness of Christ, that which they practically trust to is their own ; and it discovers itself so to be, in their own consciences, on every trial that befalls them. Yea, when they cry to the Lord, and pretend to faith in Christ, they quickly make it evi- dent that their principal trust is resolved in themselves. Now in all that they can plead in a way of duties or obedience, nothing carrieth a fairer pretence to a righteousness, than what they do, in the worship of God, and the exercise of the acts of religion towards him. This is that which he expects at their hands, what is due to him, in the light of their consciences, the best that they can do to please him; which there- fore they must put their trust in, or nothing. They secretly suppose, not only that there is a righteous- ness in these things, which will answer for itself, but such also as will make compensation- in some measure for their sins; and therefore, whereas they cannot but frequently fall into sin, they relieve themselves from the reflection of their consciences by a multiplication of duties, and renewed diligence in them. It is inconceivable what delight and satisfaction men will take in any think that seems tocontribute so much to a righteousness of their own : for it is suitable to, and pleaseth all the principles of nature, as corrupt, after it is brought under the power of a conviction concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment. This made the Jews of old so pertinaciously adhere to the ceremonies and sacrifices of the law, and to prefer them above the gospel, the kingdom of God, and the righteousness thereof. Rom. x. 3, 4. They
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