BOOK XI: That an unregenerate man is highly guilty, by reason of the numberless account of actual si
righteousness, and then climb up to the state of grace, to see himself as low and vile as the profanest man in the world, as every man when he is humbled doth. Besides, if it were so, that a man were only to be restored to legal righteousness, which man had in innocency, and to the acts thereof, then indeed there would be a great nearness between civility and it; but as to evangelical righteousness, and that of faith, which is founded upon a denial of a man's own righteousness, a mere civil and moral man is at the greatest distance.
BOOK XI:
That an unregenerate man is highly guilty, by reason of the numberless account of actual sins which he daily commits All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out? I applied my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness: and I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her. Behold, this have
I found (saith the Preacher), counting one by one, to find out the account; which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made