A29369:162
Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons
Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons ... by that learned and judicious divine, Mr. William Bridge ...
London : Printed and are to be sold by John Hancock Senior and Junior ..., 1673
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.
3 Be sure that you make use of the variety in the ways of God, which he hath given you, varietas refocillat; variety is refreshing and affecting, God hath given us divers ordinances to be exercised in, that if we be dull and weary in one, we may go to another, if you be weary in prayer, you may go to reading; if weary in reading, then go to meditating; if weary in meditation, you may go to conference; if you will spend your self only in one duty, there will grow a dullness and deadness upon you; but if you exercise your self according to that variety which God hath given you, your heart will be kept up with an holy freshness unto things above. But,
3 Be sure that you make use of the varietie in the ways of God, which he hath given you, varietas refocillat; variety is refreshing and affecting, God hath given us divers ordinances to be exercised in, that if we be dull and weary in one, we may go to another, if you be weary in prayer, you may go to reading; if weary in reading, then go to meditating; if weary in meditation, you may go to conference; if you will spend your self only in one duty, there will grow a dulness and deadness upon you; but if you exercise your self according to that variety which God hath given you, your heart will be kept up with an holy freshness unto things above. But,
4. Because that we are much affected with new things, therefore study the words and works of God much, and be always digging in them, then some new truth, or new discovery will arise upon you, which will affect your heart, and ever heap up your affections unto things above. And
5. In case that you have any great affections unto what is good, be sure that you labour more and more to refine that affection; things refined keep longest, Distilled Waters keep longer then the leaves out of which the waters are distilled; if ye have Rose leaves they will not keep fresh so long as the water that you distil from them; those affections that you now have, it may be, are sweet unto you, but they are as the Rose leaves, somewhat of a drossier matter, which doth adhere to them, if you would now take those very good affections and Refine or Distil the same, then would they keep the longer. Go then and carry in your Rose leaves unto Gods-Still, and labour more and more to refine your best affections. Thus your affections shall not only be set on things above, but be settled on them.