Here's a curious fact: you can actually be proud of grace. A man says, "I have great faith—I will not fall! Poor little faith may, but I never will." Another boasts, "I have fervent love! I can stand! There's no danger of me going astray!"

He who boasts of grace has little grace to boast of.

Some who talk this way imagine their graces can keep them safe. They don't know that the stream must flow constantly from the fountain head, or else the brook will soon be dry. If a continuous stream of oil doesn't come to the lamp, though it burn brightly today, it will smoke tomorrow, and noxious will be its scent.

Take heed that you glory not in your graces, but let all your glorying and confidence be in Christ and his strength—for only so can you be kept from falling.

Be much more in prayer. Spend longer time in holy adoration. Read the Scriptures more earnestly and constantly. Watch your lives more carefully. Live nearer to God. Take the best examples for your pattern. Let your conversation be redolent of heaven. Let your hearts be perfumed with affection for men's souls. So live that men may take knowledge of you that you have been with Jesus, and have learned of him.

And when that happy day shall come, when he whom you love shall say, "Come up higher," may it be your happiness to hear him say, "You have fought a good fight, you have finished your course, and henceforth there is laid up for you a crown of righteousness which fades not away."

On, Christian, with care and caution! On, with holy fear and trembling! On, with faith and confidence in Jesus alone, and let your constant petition be, "Uphold me according to your word."

He is able—and he alone—to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.