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

Jesus Christ has made a complete purchase of Salvation: ⟨p. 263⟩he has bought off the guilt of sin, and has bought blessedness and life eternal for sinners: and God has stated this law of Grace, that he that believes in Christ shall be saved by him: God has constituted a rule of forgiveness and salvation: God has constituted a new covenant according to which he will dispense life unto sinners: he tenders a new Covenant unto us, according to which we may receive justification from Christs righteousness: God tells us upon what terms we shall have life: he has stated the method wherein he will bestow mercy: he has laid out the way in the Gospel, and declares that whoever believes on Christ shall have everlasting life, John 3.16.36. this is the only way wherein men shall receive Salvation from Christ: if men come not to these terms they shall perish notwithstanding the purchase of Christ: 'tis only in a way of believing that men come to have any saving benefit by Christ: believing in Christ is the condition of the covenant of grace: this is indeed a suitable way for our partaking of the benefits of Christ: 'tis suitable that they should accept of the grace of God and righteousness of Christ that are saved by them: it is very meet that salvation should be in such a way, that the honour of Gods grace and Christs righteousness may be preserved, yet the great reason of Gods stating this way of salvation by Faith was his sovereign pleasure: there was no absolute necessity of this, that salvation by Christ should be obtained in a way of believing: Faith interests us in Christ, but it is not through any natural virtue in Faith, but by the free constitution of God: the influence that Faith has into our justification and salvation, is by Gods appointment: God has voluntarily stated his law of grace: there was no necessity that there should be any condition at all laid ⟨p. 264⟩upon us: God might without the performing of any condition by us have justified by Christ: as we were made sinners by the sin of Adam without our consent, so might we have been made righteous without our consent: but it pleases God to require a condition, which seems to be partly that we may have salvation in the way of a covenant which is for our comfort: partly to render them that refuse the condition the more inexcusable: