We Are Justified, Not By Giving Anything

How Can God Stoop Lower Than To Come And Dwell With A Poor Humble Soul? Which Is More Than If He Had Said, Such A One Should Dwell With Him; For A Beggar To Live At Court Is Not So Much As The King To Dwell With Him In His Cottage.

Indeed All The Saints Are Taught The Same Lesson - To Renounce Their Own Strength, And Rely On The Power Of God; Their Own Policy, And Cast Themselves On The Wisdom Of God; Their Own Righteousness, And Expect All From The Pure Mercy Of God In Christ, Which Act Of Faith Is So Pleasing To God, That Such A Soul Shall Never Be Ashamed.

God Is Very Precise In This Point; He Will Say To Such As Invent Ways To Worship Him Of Their Own, Coin Means To Mortify Corruption, Obtain Comfort In Their Own Mint: 'who Hath Required This At Your Hands?' This Is Truly To Be 'righteous Over-much,' As Solomon Speaks, When We Will Pretend To Correct God's Law, And Add Supplements Of Our Own To His Rule.

The Possessions God Allows Us To Have Are Intended For Our Use, Not Our Enjoyment. Trying To Squeeze Something Out Of Them That Was Never In Them In The First Place Is A Futile Endeavor. A Cow's Udders, Gently Pressed, Will Yield Sweet Milk, Nourishing And Refreshing. Applying More And More Pressure Will Not Produce Greater Quantities Of Milk. We Lose The Good Of Material Things By Expecting Too Much From Them. Those Who Try Hardest To Please Themselves With Earthly Goods Find The Least Satisfaction In Them.

Justifying Faith Is Not A Naked Assent To The Truths Of The Gospel.