rkness is as light, and to flee from him whose kingdom is over all, and
who is present in all the corners of his universal kingdom,--in hell, in
heaven, in the utmost corners of the earth. But this silly invention shows
how hopeless the case was.

Though this be the case and condition of man by nature, yet strange it is,
to see every man by nature attempting his own delivery, and fancying a
probability, yea, a certainty of that which is so impossible, that is an
attaining of life by ourselves, according to the law and first covenant of
works. Though our strength be gone, yet, like Samson, men rise up and
think to walk and rouse up themselves as in former times, as if their
strength were yet in them, and many never perceive that it is gone, till
they be laid hold on by Satan according to the law's injunction, and bound
in the chains of everlasting darkness. But then, alas! it is too late, for
they cannot save themselves, and the season of a Saviour is gone. And
this, no doubt, will be the accession of the bitterness and torment that
damned souls shall be into,--that they dreamed of attaining life by a law
that now is nothing but a ministration of death,--that they lost life by
seeking their own righteousness, and made the law more able to condemn
them, by their apprehending in themselves an ability to satisfy it, and by
resting in a form of obedience to it. There is something natural in it.
Adam and all his posterity were once to be saved this way,--so the terms
run at first, "do this and live." No wonder that something of that
impression be retained; but that which was a virtue in Adam, while he
retained integrity, and fulfilled his duty, is a mighty fault, and
presumptuous madness in us, who have fallen from that blessed estate. If
man, doing his duty, expected a reward, according to the promise, it was
commendable, but for man, now rebellious and stubborn, and come short of
the glory of God, to look for a reward from God, against whom he warneth
continually, and that for rebellion and enmity, it is damnable. But
besides this, I think this principle of self righteousness is much
corrupted in man now, by what it was in Adam. I conceive, though Adam
looked for life upon obedience, according to the promise, yet he rested
not on, and trusted not in, his obedience. I believe, a holy and righteous
man would be a humble man too, and would rather glory in God's grace than
in his own works. The sense of a free and undeserved prom