PART III. of gracious AJe1ions, 3 1 3 or Temptations (which I before obferved are both Words of the furie Signification.) The Things that put it to the Proof whether Men will prefer God to other Things in Praélice, are the Difficulties of Religion, or thofe Things which occur that make the Praetice of Duty difficult and- crofs to other Principles befides the Love of God becaufe in them, God and other Things are both fet before Men tò- gether, for their aaual and praaical Choice ; and it cams to this, that we can't hold to both, but one or the other mull be fofckcn. And there Things are all over the Scripture called by the Name of Trials or Proofs. -f- And they are called by this Name, becaufe hereby Profeffors are try'd and proved of what Sort they be, whether they be really what they profefs and appear to be ; and becaufe in them, the Reality of a fupream Love to God is brought to the Tell: of Experiment and Fag ; They are the proper Pro: fs, in which it is truly determined by 'Experience, whether Men have a thorough Dif position of Heart to cleave to God or no; Dent. 8. 2. find thou ,/halt remember all the Way which the Lord thy God led thee, theft forty Years in the TI/ildernefi, to humble thee, and to prove thee, whether thou would/} keep his Commandments or no. judges 2. 21, 22. I allo will not hencc- forth drive out anyfrom before them,of theNations whichfofhua left when he died ; that thro' them I may prove Ifrael, whether they will keep the TVay of the Lord. So Chap. 3. i, 4. and Exod. /6. 4. And the Scripture, when it calls there Difficulties of Religion by the Name of Temptations or Trials, explains it felf to mean thereby, the Trial or .Experiment of their Faith, jam. I. 2, 3. My Brethren, count it all 'joy when ye fall into divers Temptations, knowing this, that the Trying of your Faith worketh Patience. r Pet. r. 6, 7. A'owfor a Seafon ye are in Heavinefs, thro' manifold Temptations ; that the Trial ofyour Faith, being much more precious than of Gold, &c. So the Apof+le Paul fpeaks of that expenfive Duty of parting with our Subfiance to the Poor, as the Proof of the Sincerity of the Love of Chriffians, 2 Cor. 8. 8. And the Difficulties of Religion are often reprefented in Scripture as being the Trial of Profeffors, in the fame Manner that the Furnace is the proper Trial of Gold and Silver ; Pfal. 66. i o, r r. Thou, O God, haft proved us, thou haft tried us, as Silver is tried: Thou brought - us into the Net ; 'thou laid/l Zfliotion upon our Loins, Zech. 13. 9. And I will bring the third Part of them through the Fire : And I will - 1- 2 Cor. 8. 2. Heb. i t . 36. i Pet. r. ; . Chap. 4. 12. Gen. 22. I. Deut. 8. 2, i6. Chap. 13. 3. Exod. 15. 25. and 16. 4. judges 2. 22. Chap. 3. I, 4, Pfal. 66. 10, Ir. Dan. 12. io. Rev. 3. to. Job 23. 10. Zech,. 13. 9. jam, 1. 12. Rev. 2. ro. Luke o, 13, Aas 20- $ 9. jam, I. î, 3. 1 l'et. I: .F?.
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