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

2. Where there is an holy life, this walking in Gods commands is in a course: that is their way, and manner and trade: whatever exactness a man may have for a fit, that will not denominate his life holy: he that l•ads an holy life, is in his ordinary course attending the rules of holiness, and that not only rules of external obedience, but also of internal, reaching after the glory of God, labouring to do duties with an upright heart• ▪ watchful against the secret motions of sin, Act. 24.16. and herein do I exercise my self, to have always a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man: such persons as have pangs upon their hearts to walk in ⟨p. 253⟩Gods ways, and then leave off again are far from an holy life: that is the spirit of a wicked man, Psal. 36.31. he hath left off to be wise and to do good: none can be said to live an holy life, but such as in a course are practising of the ways of God; and it is thus where there is an inward principle of holiness: tho' habitual holiness be not sufficient in order to the practise of holiness without divine assistance: yet Gods ordinary manner is to assist all sorts of principles which he has put into his creatures; and he has promised also special assistance unto grace: so that they that have a principle of grace, are walking in their ordinary course in the way of holiness, Prov. 2.22. That thou mayst walk in the way of good men.

But though they that lead an holy life keep Gods commands in a course, yet they are guilty of continual sin•ing against God: the corruption that is in the heart of a Saint, is making continual opposition unto holiness: as for the external part of it, many a man attends that, that has not a spark of grace, and there is a great deal in a Saint besides grace that helps him to observe the outward part of his duty; pride, covetousness, slavish fear contribute much to that: but there is abundance of opposition to the inward part of obedience, faith, love, &c. and though there be a course of holiness, nd time after time an exercise of grace, yet it does not follow, that the inward actings of grace are more frequent than the actings of corruption: without question the case is far otherwise: though grace through the special presence of God is getting forward: yet there are in the heart of a Saint abundance more of the workings of pride then humility, unbelief than faith, earthliness than heavenly mindedness, the best of