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

1. Such as are persuaded of the truth of the Gospel only from tradition: the bottom of many mens persuasions is the profession and judgment of such men among whom they live: this is the doctrine that they have been bred up in, the principle that their Parents have taught them: they abhor to have any thoughts to the contrary, because they have been Educated in this way, upon the same ground that a ⟨p. 222⟩Mahometan and Papist is tenacious of the religion of his Country: and as the Heathen were wont to stick to the religion of their Forefathers, Jer. 2.11, 14. Mic. 5. upon this account many receive the Gospel; and this may be a great advantage to men, because they are brought under means, and are kept from prejudices against the Gospel; and so tradition cannot be true faith: men cannot be assured of the Gospel upon this foundation; this can only be the bottom of a strong opinion, and conjecture, not of Assurance.

1. Such as are perswaded of the truth of the Gospel only from tradition: the bottonie of many mens perswasions is the profession and judgment of such men among whom they live: this is the doctrine that they have been bred up in, the principle that their Parents have taught them: they abhor to have any thoughts to the contrary, because they have been Educated in this way, upon the same ground that a ⟨p. 222⟩Mahometan and Papist is tenacious of the religion of his Country: and as the Heathen were wont to stick to the religion of their Forefathers, Jer. 2.11, 14. Mic. 5. upon this account many receive the Gospel; and this may be a great advantage to men, because they are brought under means, and are kept from prejudices against the Gospel; and so tradition cannot be true faith: men cannot be assured of the Gospel upon this foundation; this can only be the bottom of a strong opinion, and conjecture, not of Assurance.