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

6. Let us consider the vanity of mens trusting in their own righteousness: men do please themselves with an idle dream, when they put their confidence in their own Righteousness: all that they gain by it is to go the more pleasantly to hell: mens own righteousness is but a sandy Foundation to build upon: the hopes of such men shall be cut off, and their trust prove a spiders web: it is a needless thing for men to trust in their own righteousness, there is foundation enough for Faith without that: there is no need of our own righteousness to draw the heart of God to us, the love of God is free and independent, there is no need of our own righteousness to satisfy the Law for us, Jesus Christ has done that fully; there needs no addition of our own to perfect his work, and it is a vain thing for men to trust in their own righteousness; they idolize it and give an honour ⟨p. 191⟩that does not belong to it, yea such persons do cast great reflections upon Christ, as if he laid down his life to no purpose, they cast disparagement upon God, they despise the love of God in sending Jesus Christ, cast reflection on him, as if he might have spared that cost: they do what in them lies to make the death of Christ in vain: yea it is a dangerous thing, men think it is a great venture, to depend up on the righteousness of Christ: but it is a desperate venture, for men to depend upon their own righteousness: such whose eyes God has opened, would not for a thousand worlds venture their souls upon that foundation: there is not only hazard of miscarrying, but certain ruin in that way: the expectations of such men will end in miserable disappointment: though Paul had done as much for God as any man alive, yet he durst not entertain such a thought of appearing before God in his own righteousness, Phil. 3.9. That I may be found in him not having mine own righteousness which is of the Law: he that trusts in his own righteousness, takes as certain a course to ruin his own soul, as he that lives in ways of unrighteousness.

6. Let us consider the vanity of mens trusting in their own righteousness: men do please themselves with an idle dream, when they put their confidence in their own Righteousness: all that they gain by it is to go the more pleasantly to hell: mens own righteousness is but a sandy Foundation to build upon: the hopes of such men shall be cut off, and their trust prove a spiders web: it is a needless thing for men to trust in their own righteousness, there is foundation enough for Faith without that: there is no need of our own righteousness to draw the heart of God to us, the love of God is free and independent, there is no need of our own righteousness to satisfie the Law for us, Jesus Christ has done that fully; there needs no addition of our own to perfect his work, and it is a vain thing for men to trust in their own righteousness; they idolize it and give an honour