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

That Saints are very apt to be discouraged from believing is evident from the universal experience of the people of God; they find it a difficult thing to live a life of Faith, and find many doubtings arising in their hearts, many jealousies that their hearts are suggesting: they are apt to be discouraged from believing for other things, outward blessings, divine assistance, and whatever God has promised, and thus it is also with respect unto their acceptance with God: were they not so apt to be discouraged they would live a more sweet and comfortable life than they do: the Disciples of Christ were slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have written, Luk. 24.25. Saints are ⟨p. 315⟩ready to say as he, I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips, Isai. 6 5. their Faith would many time fail if there were not special assistance given unto them, Luk 22.32. I have prayed for thee that thy Faith fail not: the Apostle Paul plainly implies that he found great want of Faith when he expresses his care to know Christ and the power of his resurrection, Phil. 3.10 and hence it is, that God is so often stirring us up in his Word to believe, and has appointed so many means for the confirmation and establishment of our Faith: and if we consider the state of the people of God, it is no wonder that they have many doubtings and risings of discouragement in their hearts: for the same principles that do so discourage natural men are in Saints; though they be in part mortified, yet they do remain there▪ ignorance of God, carnal reason, pride of heart are remaining in them: and Satan is busy to stir up jealousies in their hearts, he is striking at their Faith, casting in his fiery darts into them, Eph 6.16. and they have many discouraging temptations before their eyes, which are matter for carnal reason to work upon; which are next to be spoken unto.

That Saints are very apt to be discouraged from believing is evident from the universal experience of the people of God; they find it a difficult thing to live a life of Faith, and find many doubtings arising in their hearts, many jealousies that their hearts are suggesting: they are apt to be discouraged from believing for other things, outward blessings, divine assistance, and whatever God has promised, and thus it is also with respect unto their acceptance with God: were they not so apt to be discouraged they would live a more sweet and comfortable life than they do: the Disciples of Christ were slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have written,