ccount any more. I
will serve God, because it is my duty, but life I will not expect by my
service; when I have done all, it is wholly mercy that I am accepted, my
good works shall never come in remembrance; I resolve to be found, not
having my own righteousness. I will appear among the ungodly sinners, as
one that hath no righteousness, that I may be justified only by faith in
Jesus Christ. I say, drink in this truth, and let it settle in your
hearts, and then we would hear numbers cry, "O what shall I do to be
saved?"

Now, _Secondly_, As for you who have fled unto Christ's righteousness
only, and have cast away your own as dung and dross, as filthy rags; as
you have done right in the point of justification, judge so likewise after
it. We would exhort you to judge so of your best actions that are the
fruits of the Spirit, judge so of them as you have a hand in them.

"All our righteousness." Mark, Isaiah, a holy prophet, joineth himself in
with the multitude. And the truth is, the more holiness, the more humility
and self-abasing; for what is holiness, I pray you, but self-denial, the
abasing of the creature, and exalting of Christ Jesus? This is the cross
that the saints must all bear, "Deny yourself, and follow me." Grace doth
not swell men above others; it is gifts, such as knowledge, that puffeth
up; charity or love puffeth not up. Men are naturally high-minded, for
pride was the first sin of Adam, and grace cometh to level men, to make
the high mountains valleys for Christ's chariot; it maketh men stoop low
to enter the door of the kingdom. Therefore, if you have attained any
measure beyond others, if you would prove it real grace and holiness, do
not exalt yourselves above others, be not high-minded, come down and sit
among the ungodly, among the unclean, and let not grace given diminish the
low estimation of yourself in yourself. There is a growing that is but a
fancy, and men's conceit; when men grow above ordinances, above other
Christians, and can see none or few Christians but themselves, such a
growth is not real. It is but fancy, it is but swelling and wind, and must
be pricked to let it out. A holy prophet came in among an unclean people;
he did not say, "Stand by, I am holier than thou." Such a man as can find
no Christian about him, even though to the judgment of all others, they
seek God more than he, such a man hath not real solid grace,--his holiness
is profane holiness, and proud holiness; for true