they perceive no progress nor growth in grace for all this, but rather
corruption as strong and troublesome as ever, I would say a few things
to them.

1. Let them search and try, whether their shortcoming and disappointment
doth not much proceed from this, that the matter is not so cleanly cast
over on Christ as it should be; is it not too oft found, that they go
forth to the battle in their own strength, lippening to their own stock
of grace, to their own knowledge, or to their duties, or the like? How
then can they prosper?

2. Let them mourn as they get any discovery of this, and guard against
that corrupt bias of the heart, which is still inclining them to an
engagement without the Captain of their salvation, and a fighting
without the armour of God.

3. Let them try and see, if, in studying holiness, they be not led by
corrupt ends; and do not more labour after sanctification, that they may
be more worthy and the better accepted of God, and that they may have
quietness and peace as to their acceptance with God, as if this were any
cause, matter, or condition of their righteousness and justification
before God, than that they may shew their obedience to the command of
God, 1 Thes. iv. 3. Eph. ii. 10. John xv. 16; and express their
thankfulness to him, and glorify God, Mal. i. 6. Matt. iii. 16. John
xvii. 10. Eph. iv. 30; and if so, they ought to acknowledge God's
goodness in that disappointment, seeing thereby they see more and more a
necessity of laying aside their own righteousness, and of betaking
themselves to the righteousness of Christ, and of resting on that alone
for peace and acceptance with God.