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

we do deny them their due honour, but the exercise of Faith is a practical acknowledgement of their glory: and this is one part of that way of holiness, wherein the people of God are walking unto salvation: the first act of Faith in Christ is the fulfilling of the Covenant, other acts of Faith are a part of our attending that way of holiness which is the way of life. 2. This is the way of our comfort: we need to be from time to time renewing the acts of Faith, that we may live a comfortable life: this is a way to have a stable and well grounded comfort: for in this way of salvation, God has given us everlasting consolation and good hope, 2 Thess. 2.16. the actings of unbelief fill the soul with trouble: that saint must needs live a sorrowful life, that is much carried away with an unbelieving heart: such a life is attended with many terrors and fears: unbelief is the sinking of the heart: the prevailings of a spirit of discouragement, bring a man into a most perplexed condition: and he that lives in a way of carnal confidence will live a life of trouble: though at times his joy may be great, yet there will often be such discoveries of his heart, and convictions of his danger, as will fill his soul with fear and trembling: the only way to live a sweet and comfortable life is to live by Faith upon Christ: the actings of Faith give rest unto the heart: there will be some measure of comfort wherever Faith is in exercise, ⟨p. 312⟩though a man be in the dark about his condition, yet the very actings of Faith will support his heart: Faith discovers a resting place for the soul: in the exercise of Faith, the soul is receiving of encouragement: therefore Faith is often expressed in Scripture by joy, Phil. 3.3. Hab. 3.18. indeed there is a sweetness and pleasingness in the exercises of every grace, because they are suitable to that new nature that God has put into his Saints; but there is a special sweetness in the exercise of Faith, because the nature of it is to entertain a well grounded comfort and encouragement: the very actings of Faith have a great deal of comfort in them, and the reflection of the soul upon those acts of Faith has a great deal of comfort in them: Faith it self is comfortable, and the sight of Faith is comfortable: Faith comforts as it entertains the glad tidings of the Gospel, as it discovers a door of hope: