John Trapp on Isaiah 64:6

Ver. 6. But we are all as an unclean thing] Both our perſons and our actions are ſo: for who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? What a mercy is it then, that God ſhould look upon ſuch walking dunghils as we are, and accept the work of our hands?

And all our righteouſneſſes are as filthy rags] Or, as a coat of patches, Panno ancumulenta. Scultet. a beggers coat, veſtis centonum, veſtis è vilibus paniculis conſuta, Heb. a cloth of ſeparations, a matury rag, a menſtrous clout, nauſeons and odious, ſuch as a man would loath to touch, much more to take up. Such are our beſt works, as they proceed from us: when there ſpringeth up any ſweet fountain of grace within us, our hearts cloſely caſt in their filthy dirt, as the Philiſtines dealt by Iſaac: they drop down from their impure hands ſome filth upon that pure web the Spirit weaveth, and make it a menſtruous cloth. Where then are Juſtitiaries our Merit-mongers? &c. Thoſe that ſeek to be ſaved by their works, Luther fitly calleth the Devils Martyrs; they ſuffer much, and take great pains to go to Hell. We are all apt to weave a web of righteouſneſs of our own, to ſpin a thred of our own, to climb up to Heaven by: but that cannot be. We muſt do all righteouſneſſes, reſt in none but Chriſts; diſclaiming our own beſt, as ſpotted and imperfect.

And we all fade as a leaf] That falleth to the ground in Autumn. The Poet could ſay, [non-Latin text not transcribed].Hom

And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away] Out of thy preſence; and will hurry us to Hell, if thou foreſend not.