A cleaner way to hell -brooks

[b]A cleaner way to hell[/b]

(Thomas Brooks, "A Cabinet of Choice Jewels" 1669)

It was the saying of a precious saint--that he was more
afraid of his duties than of his sins; for his duties often
made him proud--but his sins always made him humble.

It was good counsel Luther gave, "We must take heed
not only of our sins--but of our good works."

Duties can never have too much diligence used about
them--nor too little confidence placed in them. They are
good helps--but bad saviors. It is necessary we do them
--but it is dangerous to rely upon them. If the devil cannot
dissuade us from performing pious duties--then his next
work will be to persuade us to rely upon them, to make
saviors of them; because this will as certainly ruin our
souls, as if we had wholly neglected them.

Resting in your own righteousness, will as certainly and
eternally undo you--as the greatest and foulest atrocities!

Open wickedness slays her thousands--but a secret
resting upon duties, slays her ten thousands!

Open profaneness is the broad dirty way which leads
to hell; but trusting in pious duties is as sure a way,
though a cleaner way to hell. Ungodly people and
formal professors shall meet at last in the same hell.

Now, let all these things work you to renounce your own
righteousness--and to take sanctuary alone in the pure,
perfect, and most glorious righteousness of Jesus Christ,
and in the free grace of God.

It was the saying of a precious saint--that he was more
afraid of his duties than of his sins; [b]for his duties often
made him proud--but his sins always made him humble.[/b]

It was good counsel Luther gave, "We must take heed
not only of our sins--but of our good works."

This is really good. I've never thought of duties quite in this light...but there is a lot of truth to the fact that doing good will often 'puff' us up, unless we do it 'heartily as to the Lord' and then we will be so grateful for the smallest opportunity to serve our Lord.

"Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free." Ephesians 6:5-8