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

1. They may attain to as much as any Saint, as to the external part of Religion: all the external acts of holiness may be done by him that has no principle of holiness: the external acts of grace may be so imitated that no man can discern the difference: though ordinarily the conversation of the saints be better than the conversation of other men, yet others may attend the external part of godliness as much as any saint; for 'tis not grace that gives men power to do that which is externally good: nature gives men the power to do the action, and grace gives men power to do it in a right manner, and for a right end: and the corruption in natural men be strong to hinder them from the external acts of Religion, yet that may be over-ruled: natural men have a power to do the external duty, and they may have a will too through some over-ruling consideration: Paul tho a Pharisee, may have a blameless conversation; tho Urith was ⟨p. 169⟩not a faithful Priest, yet he was a faithful Witness, Isai 8.4. many a natural man is of chaste conversation, temperate in the use of meat and drink, just in his dealings with men, charitable to the poor, strict in observing of the Sabbath: he may be greatly instrumental in promoting the public good; abound in Fasting and Prayer, fall in with the better party; take much pains for the conversion of others: yea the Apostle intimates that a man may give all his goods to feed the poor, and his body to be burned, and not have charity, 1 Cor. 13.3. an opinion of merit is sufficient to make many men give all they have to the poor: and men may suffer death in the cause of God, that have no grace, either from sturdiness of spirit: some are men of high spirits, and count it a disgrace to them to yield: they scorn that others should get the day of them: they will not disparage themselves nor humour their enemies so as to yield to them: or from confidence of their salvation; lotting upon it, that if they dye in such a cause, they shall surely go to heaven.

1. They may attain to as much as any Saint, as to the external part of Religion: all the external acts of holiness may be done by him that has no principle of holiness: the external acts of grace may be so imitated that no man can discern the difference: though ordinarily the conversation of the saints be better than the conversation of other men, yet others may attend the external part of godliness as much as any saint; for 'tis not grace that gives men power to do that which is externally good: nature gives men the power to do the action, and grace gives men power to do it in a right manner, and for a right end: and the corruption in natural men be strong to hinder them from the external acts of Religion, yet that may be over-ruled: natural men have a power to do the external duty, and they may have a will too through some over-ruling consideration: Paul tho a Pharisee, may have a blameless conversation; tho Ʋrith was