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

That God passes by many others, and does not bestow salvation upon them, there be many whole Nations that God passeth over, and leaves to perish, and many particular men among his visible people: many are called but few are chosen, Mat. 20.16. and they can't see any reason why God should bestow salvation upon them, when he does deny it to multitudes of others, why God should make such a difference between them and others: when they are called on to believe on Christ, they are afraid to do it, it damps their hearts to think that there are so few that God does save, so many rejected, and they can fee nothing in themselves to incline the heart of God to them, God passes over many wise men, noble men, valiant men, rich men, learned men, good natured men, men of great accomplishments, and don't bestow salvation on them; if they could but see any reason why God should set his heart upon them, and make such a difference between ⟨p. 325⟩them and others it would not be so hard to them to believe; but when they consider what kind of men God has cast off and rejected, it makes them fear that God will reject them also: the severity of God upon others discourages them, as if there were little likelihood of their salvation: they are frighting of themselves, as if there were little hopes for them; it is a sinking thing to them, that many men more probable than they have fallen short of Salvation: if they could give a reason why God should set his heart upon them, when he rejects others, it would mightily satisfy them, but because they can't they are full of doubts.