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

Ministers do know what is in your hearts, though they do not know what actual transgressions in particular you have been guilty of: how your corrupt inclinations have wrought; yet they do know what sinful inclinations are in your heart, and a great deal better than you do your selves: they understand the state of man by nature, and how the heart is wont to work under divers dispensations: you do not see so much of your own badness as they can tell you of; yet that does not discourage them.

2. How bad soever you are or have been they have a sufficient warrant for their encouraging of you to believe: they are not concerned to enquire how bad men have been, unless they know you to be guilty of the unpardonable sin, they have ground to encourage you to come to Christ: if you were worse than you are you are included in the call of the Gospel: Jesus Christ himself preached the Gospel in great Assemblies, and offered Salvation to any that would accept of it, Mat. 4.23. and he has commanded his Ministers to Preach it unto you, Mark 16.15. Go into all the World and preach the Gospel to every creature; that is, every humane creature: Ministers have as good a warrant to preach it to them that are or have been profane as to those that have lived a civil life; to those that have had more violent workings of corruptions ⟨p. 293⟩as to those that have been more restrained; the promise of the Gospel is universal, it is not limited to such or such sinners, but it comprehends you as well as others, Joh. 3.16. if the Minister did know all the sins that you have been guilty of from your Childhood to this day, he could not with a good conscience neglect to offer Salvation unto you.

2. How bad soever you are or have been they have a sufficient warrant for their incouraging of you to believe: they are not concerned to enquire how bad men have been, unless they know you to be guilty of the unpardonable sin, they have ground to encourage you to come to Christ: if you were worse than you are you are included in the call of the Gospel: Jesus Christ himself preached the Gospel in great Assemblies, and offered Salvation to any that would accept of it,