Beautiful Motion but No Progress

Romans 4:1-8; Titus 3:5, 8; Ephesians 2:8-9
Many people are working and working, as Rowland Hill said, like children on a rocking-horse — it is a beautiful motion, but there is no progress. Those who are working for salvation are like men on a treadmill, going round and round and round; toiling and toiling and toiling; but nothing comes of it all. There is no progress, and there cannot be until you have the motive power within, till the breath of life comes from God, which can alone give you power to work for others.