274 The twelfth Sign PRAT III. But that in Perfeverance in Obedience, which is chiefly infifted on in the Scripture, as a fpecial Note of the Truth ofGrace, is the Con- tinuance of Profeffors in the Pra&ice of their Duty, and being ftedfaft in an holy Walk, through the various Trials that they meet with. By Trials, here I mean, thofe Things that occur, and that a Pro- feffor meets with inhis Courfe, that do efpecially render his Continu- ance in his Duty, and Faithfulnefs toGod, difficult to Nature. Thefe Things are from Time to Time called in Scripture by the Name of Trials, or Temptations (which are Words of the fame Signification ) Thefe are of various Kinds : There are manyThings that render Per- fons Continuance in the Way of their Duty difficult, by their Ten- dency to cherifh and foment, or to fir up and provoke their Lulls and Corruptions. Many Things make it hard to continue in the Way of Duty, by their being of an alluring Nature, and having a Tendency to entice Perfons to Sin ; or by their Tendency to take offReftraints, and embolden 'em in Iniquity. Other Things are Trials of the Soundnefs and Steadfaftnefs ofProfeffors, by their Tendency to make their Duty appear terrible to 'em, and fo to affright and drive 'em from it : Such as the Sufferings which their Duty will expofe 'em to ; Pain, Ill-will, Contempt, and Reproach, or Lofs of outward Poffeffi- ons and Comforts. If Perfons, after they have made a Profeffion of Religion, live any confiderable Time, in thisWorld which is fo full of Changes, and fo full of Evil, it can't be otherwife, than that they fhould meet with many Trials of their Sincerity and Steadfaftnefs. And betides, 'tis God's Manner, in his Providence, to bring Trials on his profefling Friends and Servants defignedly, that he may mani- left them, and may exhibit fufficient Matter of Convilion of the State which they are in, to their own Confciences ; and often-times,to the World. As appears by innumerable Scriptures ; fome are refer'd to the Margin. 1- True Saints may be guilty of fome Kinds and Degrees of Backili- ding, and may be foil'd by particular Temptations, and may fall into Sin, yea great Sins : But they can never fall away fo, as to grow wea- ry of Religion, and the Service of God, and habitually to diflike it and neglect it ; either on its ownAccount,or on Account of theDifficulties that attend it : As is evident byGal.6.9. Rom.2.7. Heb.io.36. Ifai.43. 22. Mal. I.13. They can never backflide,fo as to continue no longer Gen. 22. I. Exod. 15. 25. Chap. 16. 4. Dew. 8. 2, 15, 16. Chap. 13. 3: fudges 2. 22. Chap. 3. 1, 4. 'fob 23. 10. Pfal. 66. ro, I I. Ezek. 3. 2o. Dan. 12. IO. Zech. 13. 9. Matth. 8. 19, 20. Chap. 18. 21, 22. Luke I. 35. i Cor. II. 19. 2 Cor. 8. 8. `Jam. I. 12. I Pet. 4 12. I ;j`ohn 2. 19. Heb. Ir. 17. Rev. 3. Io. flide,
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