5. The fifth temptation is, that they don't know any other way to get the favour of God but by their own righteousness: it is a dreadful thing unto them to go without the favour of God: they have had convictions of the dreadfulness of Hell; and they tremble to think of being rejected, they would not for a world be cast away; it is an amazing thing to them to think of dwelling with devouring fire: so that they are pressed in spirit if it be possible to secure their salvation, and get as strong and sure a title to heaven as they can; and they don't know any other way but this, by their own righteousness: there is another way proposed unto them; they hear often of the way of salvation by Christ, but it is a mere mystery unto them: they do not conceive the safety that is in this way, their reason does not reach it, what ever is said unto them they look upon it unlikely, they are not satisfied in the justice of it, or that God can find in his heart to pardon them in this way: they are full of reasonings against it, tho God testify plainly unto this way of salvation, yet they dare not venture it; this way is hidden from them; 2 Cor. 4.4. If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; hence they dare not ⟨p. 185⟩give over seeking by their own righteousness; and let go their carnal confidences: 'tis with them as with a man that is falling down some steep place, or a man that is drowning, they catch hold on a twig, or a rotten stick, though it be insufficient to help them: or as with a Traitor that gets into a Castle, because he sees no other way of preservation: so awakened sinners are seeking by their own righteousness to make their peace, because they know no other way, they dare do no other, tho they have many misgivings of heart, that all their righteousness will not do, yet they look on this as the most probable way, and hence dare not take any other course: This appears,
1. Because terrors of Conscience put them upon their duties: tho afterwards they may find some delight in them, and some affections to God and his ways; yet the first thing that sets them going is terror, fear makes them reform and pray, they are scared into Religion, they are forced out of these sinful practises, and fired out of those ways of sin that they were addicted unto: their fear does direct them unto this way as the safest:
5. The fifth temptation is, that they don't know any other way to get the favour of God but by their own righteousness: it is a dreadful thing unto them to go without the favour of God: they have had convictions of the dreadfulness of Hell; and they tremble to think of being rejected, they would not for a world be cast away; it is an amazing thing to them to think of dwelling with devouring fire: so that they are pressed in spirit if it be possible to secure their salvation, and get as strong and sure a title to heaven as they can; and they don't know any other way but this, by their own righteousness: there is another way proposed unto them; they hear often of the way of salvation by Christ, but it is a meer mystery unto them: they do not conceive the safety that is in this way, their reason does not reach it, what ever is said unto them they look upon it unlikely, they are not satisfied in the justice of it, or that God can find in his heart to pardon them in this way: they are full of reasonings against it, tho God testifie plainly unto this way of salvation, yet they dare not venture it; this way is hidden from them; 2 Cor. 4.4. If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost; hence they dare not ⟨p. 185⟩give over seeking by their own righteousness; and let go their carnal confidencies: 'tis with them as with a man that is falling down some steep place, or a man that is drowning, they catch hold on a twig, or a rotten stick, though it be insufficient to help them: or as with a Traitor that gets into a Castle, because he sees no other way of preservation: so awakened sinners are seeking by their own righteousness to make their peace, because they know no other way, they dare do no other, tho they have many misgivings of heart, that all their righteousness will not do, yet they look on this as the most probable way, and hence dare not take any other course: This appears,
1. Because terrors of Conscience put them upon their duties: tho afterwards they may find some delight in them, and some affections to God and his wayes; yet the first thing that sets them going is terror, fear makes them reform and pray, they are scared into Religion, they are forced out of these sinful practises, and fired out of those wayes of sin that they were addicted unto: their fear does direct them unto this way as the safest:
