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

3. That God does sometimes draw nigh to them, and quicken and encourage them, when they have been serving him: sometimes when they have been at prayer, God has greatly enlarged their hearts; so in hearing of the Word and other Ordinances, their heart does many times melt, God assists them, and don't leave them to a dry sapless spirit in the practise ⟨p. 184⟩of Religion, but he warms their hearts, and kindles gracious affections in them, while others are sleeping in the House of God; their hearts are greatly affected with spiritual things, and they look upon this as a sign that their ways are pleasing unto God: they count that now they have communion with God, and now and then they have had some special encouraging words set home upon their hearts: some promises have come to them, that have much revived them: and this they think evidences the favour of God, and the excellency of their carriages.

3. That God does sometimes draw nigh to them, and quicken and encourage them, when they have been serving him: sometimes when they have been at prayer, God has greatly enlarged their hearts; so in hearing of the Word and other Ordinances, their heart does many times melt, God assists them, and don't leave them to a dry sapless spirit in the practise ⟨p. 184⟩of Religion, but he warms their hearts, and kindles gracious affections in them, while others are sleeping in the House of God; their hearts are greatly affected with spiritual things, and they look upon this as a sign that their wayes are pleasing unto God: they count that now they have communion with God, and now and then they have had some special incouraging words set home upon their hearts: some promises have come to them, that have much revived them: and this they think evidences the favour of God, and the excellency of their carriages.

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;