A29368:312
The freeness of the grace and love of God to believers discovered in reference…
The freeness of the grace and love of God to believers discovered in reference to 1. their services and suffering, 2. their consolations, and 3. their salvation and eternal glory : together with the excellency of the fear of God, the goodness and pleasantness of brotherly love, the wisdom of hearing the voice of the rod, repentance the only way to prevent judgements / delivered in several sermons by the late reverend and faithful minister of Christ, Mr. William Bridge ...The freeness of the grace and love of God to believers discovered in reference to 1. their services and suffering, 2. their consolations, and 3. their salvation and eternal glory : together with the excellency of the fear of God, the goodness and pleasantness of brotherly love, the wisdom of hearing the voice of the rod, repentance the only way to prevent judgements / delivered in several sermons by the late reverend and faithful minister of Christ, Mr. William Bridg ...
London: printed for Nath. Crouch, 1671
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And a man that loves truly, declares that he is loosened from the world, and that he is one that is wrought upon by ⟨p. 116⟩the Holy Ghost: In the Primitive times, it was said that they were all of one heart, and all things were common among them; and when we are thus of one heart and of one mind; it doth declare that we have been wrought upon by the Holy Ghost; and therefore certainly, there is a great mistake in mens love, all men say they love the saints; they love them in words, though I am afraid many love them but little in their hearts.
And a man that loves truly, declares that he is loosned from the world, and that he is one that is wrought upon by ⟨p. 116⟩the Holy Ghost: In the Primitive times, it was said that they were all of one heart, and all things were common among them; and when we are thus of one heart and of one mind; it doth declare that we have been wrought upon by the Holy Ghost; and therefore certainly, there is a great mistake in mens love, all men say they love the saints; they love them in words, though I am afraid many love them but little in their hearts.
But you will say, how far is our love to be exercised, upon whom, and how far? I say no more but this, so far as the word Brethren doth extend, so far this union and love ought to go, Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity. So far I say, as this word brethren extends; and that is so far, as God is their Father, it matters not for opinion, or what judgement they are of; if God be their Father, they are your brethren, and are to be beloved by you, and so far is your love to reach and extend.
But you will say, how far is our love to be exercised, upon whom, and how farr? I say no more but this, so far as the word Brethren doth extend, so far this union and love ought to go, Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity. So far I say, as this word brethren extends; and that is so far, as God is their Father, it matters not for opinion, or what judgement they are of; if God be their Father, they are your brethren, and are to be beloved by you, and so far is your love to reach and extend.