A29368:467
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.
In regard of his decree, his love is ⟨p. 163⟩from Eternity, and yet the same man may seem to be a child of wrath in regard of the dispensation: every Elect person is a child of God from Eternity in regard of Gods decree, and yet he is a child of wrath until he be converted in regard of Gods dispensations. So when I say, that God seems to be at a stand, and unresolved, and that if men do not come unto him he will then go forth against them: This is not to be understood in regard of his decree, but in regard of his dispensations. But
Secondly, For the proof of it: it is said, God will not always strive with the Children of men, neither will he always wait, and expect fruit from a fruitless and barren people, Read the parable of the figtree Luke 13.7. A certain man had a figtree &c. and he said unto the dresser of his Vineyard, behold these three years I come, seeking fruit on this figtree, and find none, cut it down why cumbreth it the ground. Now though this parable doth concern the Jews, and it concerns us also, wherein we may see there are three times, which go over the heads of all those that sit under the Gospel.
Secondly, For the proof of it: it is said, God will not alwayes strive with the Children of men, neither will he alwayes wait, and expect fruit from a fruitles and barren people, Read the parable of the figtree Luke 13.7. A certain man had a figtree &c. and he said unto the dresser of his Ʋineyard, behold these three years I come, seeking fruit on this figtree, and find none, cut it down why cumbreth it the ground. Now though this parable doth concern the Jews, and it concerns us also, wherein we may see there are three times, which go over the heads of all those that sit under the Gospel.