The free grace of God!

(Letters of John Newton)

"By the grace of God I am what I am!"
 1 Corinthians 15:10

The true Christian is sensible and mindful of
indwelling sin. He confesses that in everything
he comes exceedingly short, and that his best
services are not only defective—but defiled. He
accounts himself as an unprofitable servant—and
is abased in his own eyes. He knows that all that
distinguishes him from the vilest of men—is the
free grace of God!

He derives all his hope and comfort, as well as his
strength—from Jesus, whom he has known, received
and loved, and to whom he has committed his soul.
He renounces all confidence in the flesh, and esteems
all things as loss—compared to the surpassing greatness
of knowing Jesus Christ his Lord, for whose sake he has
lost all things—considering them rubbish, that he may
gain Christ!