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

3. It is against the rule of Justice for men to be saved in that way: it is against the justice of the Law: the Law puts in an unanswerable objection against the salvation of such men; the law allows the salvation of those that believe on Christ, Rom. 3.26. it has not a word to gainsay: but it stands as a flaming sword to keep other men out of paradise: in a way of confidence in mans own righteousness, there is no way to reconcile the justice of God and mens salvation: if men be saved in such a way, what will become of the Law, and what will become of the justice of God that stands engaged to fulfil the ⟨p. 196⟩Law: what warrant have men to expect salvation in such a way, wherein God must part with his own glory, before he can bestow glory upon them, wherein he must deny his nature, before he can satisfy their expectation; how can men think, that God is so in love with their performances, as to pervert Judgment for their sakes, and pull them into heaven by force, though the Law does possibly declare against such proceedings. God would not save believers but with the leave of the Law, till care was taken that that might be satisfied, and will he save these men to the overthrow of his Law, and everlasting reproach of his justice, the righteousness of the Law does not admit of their salvation.

3. It is against the rule of Justice for men to be saved in that way: it is against the justice of the Law: the Law puts in an unanswerable objection against the salvation of such men; the law allows the salvation of those that believe on Christ, Rom. 3.26. it has not a word to gainsay: but it stands as a flaming sword to keep other men out of paradice: in a way of confidence in mans own righteousness, there is no way to reconcile the justice of God and mens salvation: if men be saved in such a way, what will become of the Law, and what will become of the justice of God that stands engaged to fulfil the ⟨p. 196⟩Law: what warrant have men to expect salvation in such a way, wherein God must part with his own glory, before he can bestow glory upon them, wherin he must deny his nature, before he can satisfie their expectation; how can men think, that God is so in love with their performances, as to pervert Judgment for their sakes, and pull them into heaven by force, though the Law does possibly declare against such proceedings. God would not save believers but with the leave of the Law, till care was taken that that might be satisfied, and will he save these men to the overthrow of his Law, and everlasting reproach of his justice, the righteousness of the Law does not admit of their salvation.