The safety of appearing at the day of judgement, in the righteousness of Christ

If Christs Righteousness be that which the Law requires of us, then God would deal with those that have an interest in that, as he would have done if they had ⟨p. 59⟩performed that righteousness themselves, as he would have done if Adam had kept the covenant of works: but he don't do thus: the promise in the covenant of works is life, which includes all manner of felicity: but Believers are far short of felicity, they have much sin remaining in them, are left to fall into many sins, they are liable to very sore and dreadful afflictions, and to death: the promise of the Law is not fulfilled to them, therefore it seems they have not the righteousness of the Law.

Ans. 1. These sorrows do not come upon the People of God for want of a perfect righteousness, or for want of complete satisfaction: and this is an evidence of it, because those sorrows do not come in a way of vindictive justice or vengeance; though they are for the matter of them, the same with the curses of the Law, yet not for the manner: they do not come to satisfy God for sin: those Saints that have the most sin have not always the most sorrow; to be left unto sin is not a curse to the people of God; Hezekiah was left to sin in mercy: 2 Chron: 32.31: It was that be might know what is in his heart: and so their afflictions, Rev. 3.19. Whom I love, I rebuke and chasten, Jer: 24:5: I have sent them into the land of the Chaldeans for their good: Sin opens a door to afflictions, but God brings them in mercy: All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth to such as keep his covenant and his testimonies, Psal. 25.10.

Ans. 1. These sorrows do not come upon the People of God for want of a perfect righteousness, or for want of compleat satisfaction: and this is an evdence of it, because those sorrows do not come in a way of vindictive justice or vengeance; though they are for the matter of them, the same with the curses of the Law, yet not for the manner: they do not come to satisfie God for sin: those Saints that have the most sin have not always the most sorrow; to be left unto sin is not a curse to the people of God; Hezekiah was left to sin in mercy: 2 Chron: 32.31: It was that be might know what is in his heart: and so their afflictions,