The Christians two chief lessons viz. self-denial, and self-trial. As also the privilege of…The Christians tvvo chiefe lessons viz. selfe-deniall, and selfe-tryall. As also the priviledge of…

Third mark. That new obedience, where it flows from the seed of grace in the heart, is joined with perseverance, continuance, holding out in the good ways we walk in: so that howsoever there be through our weakness and Satan's malice, actual infirmities, yet there is always an habitual ⟨p. 276⟩disposition of the heart for well-doing, Psal. 119.112.¹ I have applied my heart to fulfil thy statutes alway, even unto the end, Pro. 23.17. Let thine heart be in the fear of the Lord continually, Luke 1.75.² We are redeemed out of the hands of our enemies, that we should serve God in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life. New obedience must not be only in a good mood, and then given over, but it must be steady, constant. Now we shall make trial of the constancy of it. 1 If we do not lose our hold even when we are provoked by many occasions and temptations unto evil, then to forbear, and cleave close to the Lord, is an argument of the truth of our obedience, in regard of continuance. It is nothing to be chaste where we have no allurements to unchastity; nothing to be meek, when no injuries to distemper us, nothing to be good among good, so are men that are stark naught: but to be good among evil, to be meek in the midst of wrongs and injuries; to be chaste among unchaste provocations, that is the true means of discovery. Out of temptation, sin forbears us, not we it; and a Christian is no more for obedience, then he is in the day of temptation: if then he faint, it is because his strength is small, or nothing at all. Noah's renown was, that he was righteous in that wicked age. Lots commendation, that he was chaste in Sodom; Josephs chastity for ever approved, for that it held out in the day of temptation; the Philippians, that they did shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, Phil. 2.15.³