April 12

All our righteousnesses are as filthy rays.—Isaiah 64:6.

DO I feel that my best actions are so imperfect, and come so far short of the divine standard of duty, that I cannot count them as righteous? Do I regard all that God's grace enables me to do, as only duty, and duty at best but imperfectly performed? And do I look only to the spotless robe of Christ's righteousness, to cover my imperfections and weaknesses and sins, that so I may stand accepted as righteous for Jesus' sake?

Morality without religion, is only a kind of dead reckoning, an endeavor to find our place on a cloudy sea by measuring the distance we have run, but without any observation of the heavenly bodies.—LONGFELLOW.

There is none truly purged by the blood of Christ, that doth not endeavor after purity of heart and life. But yet it is the blood of Christ, by which they are fair, so that there is no spot in them.—LEIGHTON.

Not the labors of my hands Can fulfill the law's demands; Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears for ever flow, All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and thou alone. Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to thy cross I cling! — TOPLADY.