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Of the healing of Duties.

I dare not but obey though all the Duties in the World are
insufficient to recompense the bowels of Gods mercies in
Christ I must not therefore cast away Duties. It is true I
cannot but win in all I do, my best Duties markedly and barely
considered in themselves are tainted poisoned and mingled
with sin But will it follow That because I cannot be
more clean, therefore I must be more filthy than need?
Nay O my Soul if thou art married to that Bridegroom
Christ Duties and all things else are clean to thee.

The whole filth of our works through faith in Christ,
is extracted by Christ and he presenting the same purged
by himself alone and then accepted with God In this
respect there is an healing of Duties if we be in Christ.
Certainly that fruit which cometh from a root of Faith
must need be good fruit I believe therefore I speak faith
the Psalmists O my soul canst thou say this? I believe
therefore I pray I believe therefore I sanctify the Lord's day
I believe Therefore I do all Duties of obedience thy obedience
then is the fruit of Paradise for it grows on the very tree
of Life. Christ is the Sun of Righteousness that ariseth with
healing in his wings Christ is that Sun that by his heat of
love extracts all the filth of sin out of thy Duties performed
and so thy Duties are healed the Spiritual part of them being
presented by the interception of Christ and the carnal defects
covered by the Righteousness of Christ in whom the Father
is always well pleased.

Ambrose.