These blasphemers
These blasphemers might almost persuade those to imagine themselves guiltless who, in the contrary extreme, hope to fulfill the commands of God without taking any pains at all. Vain hope! That a child of Adam should ever expect to see the kingdom of Christ and of God without striving, without agonizing first to enter in at the strait gate (Luke 13:24). That one who was conceived and born in sin (Psalm 51:5), and whose inward parts are very wickedness, should once entertain a thought of being purified as his Lord is pure, unless he treads in his steps and takes up his cross daily (Luke 9:23); unless he cuts off his right hand, and plucks out the right eye (Matthew 5:29-30) and casts it from him. That he should ever dream of shaking off his old opinions, passions, and tempers, of being sanctified throughout in spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23), without a constant and continued course of general self-denial.
1771 text
7. These blasphemers might almost persuade those, to imagine themselves guiltless, who in the contrary extreme, hope to fulfil the commands of God, without taking any pains at all. Vain hope! that a child of Adam should ever expect, to see the kingdom of Christ and of God, without striving, without agonizing first, to enter in at the strait gate! That one who was conceived and born in sin, and whose inward parts are very wickedness, should once entertain a thought, of being purified as his Lord is pure, unless he tread in his steps, and take up his cross daily; unless he cut off his right-hand, and pluck out the right-eye and cast it from him; that he should ever dream of shaking off his old opinions, passions, tempers, of being sanctified throughout in spirit, soul, and body, without a constant and continued course of general self-denial!