The necessary and constant dependance of the new creature on its fountain and author, makes a Christian to be a very needy creature. The dependance of the beams on the sun is not more necessary, than the dependance of a Christian on Christ: “Without Me (or separate from Me) ye can do nothing,” John 15: 5. The Christian’s life is by a continual efflux from Christ, and to be sought and maintained by a constant dependance on Him as light from the sun. Never was there, nor can there ever be a room so full of light from the sun-beams, but if either the sun withdraw, or if you exclude its light by closing doors and windows, it immediately becomes dark, and that necessarily. It is so with Christians. If it were not that the new covenant hath assured us that there shall be no final and total separating of the fountain from the stream, there would soon be an expiring of all that good that is in the best of saints.
What can a man do about his own salvation? “He that hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ,” Phil. 1: 6. Put hand to your work for help is near. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” hath the height of duty in it; so the argument, “For it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure” doth deeply debase man’s sufficiency, and highly advance both the sovereignty and efficiency of His assisting grace. “Our sufficiency is of God.” 2nd Cor. 3: 5.
From: ROBERT TRAIL’S WORKS