Faith, If It Be A Living Faith,

Though We Are Commanded To 'wash Ourselves', To 'cleanse Ourselves From Sins', To 'purge Ourselves From All Our Iniquities', Yet To Imagine That We Can Do These Things By Our Own Efforts Is To Trample On The Cross And Grace Of Jesus Christ. Whatever God Works In Us By His Grace, He Commands Us To Do As Our Duty. God Works All In Us And By Us.

We Ought As Much To Pray For A Blessing Upon Our Daily Rod As Upon Our Daily Bread.

Consider That It Is Not Failing In This Or That Attempt To Come To Christ, But A Giving-over Of Your Endeavors, That Will Be Your Ruin.

Sin Is Never Less Quiet Than When It Seems To Be Most Quiet.

Great Winds And Storms Help Fruit-bearing Trees. So Also Do Corruptions And Temptations Help The Fruitfulness Of Grace And Holiness. The Storm Loosens The Earth Round Its Roots So The Tree Is Able To Get Its Roots Deeper Into The Earth, Where It Receives Fresh Supplies Of Nourishment. But Only Much Later Will It Be Seen To Bring Forth Better Fruit. So Corruptions And Temptations Develop The Roots Of Humility, Self-abasement And Mourning In A Deeper Search For That Grace By Which Holiness Grows Strong. But Only Later Will There Be Visible Fruits Of Increased Holiness.