Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons

6, If a Professor •f the Gospel do use carnal engines to obtain his designs, is he not carnal therein? now thus it may be possibly with some great Professors of the Gospel. Abraham was a good man, and a great Professor, yet when he would secure and preserve himself, he said to Sarah, say, Thou art my Sister. The thing was true, and no lye, but it was a carnal engine that he then used to obtain that design. We read of Abner, that when he would bring about the Kingdom to David, for his own preferment, then he went to the heads of Israel and told them of the promise that God made to David. Here Ne quis in honestas cupiditates religionis glaucomate obtegato Vide Cluveri Histor. Mundi p. 108. ⟨p. 118⟩he made use of a Religious Engine to obtain his own carnal ends. Sometimes men use their carnal Engines to obtain Religious designs; Sometimes they use Religions Engines to obtain their carnal ends, and what more ordinary then this, even amongst Professors. Why? But because they are carnal.

Seventhly, the more selfish any man is in seeking his own particular interest in the time or cause of public concernments, the more carnal he is, a selfish principle is a carnal principle; now this may be amongst Professors, Judges 5. Why says the Holy Ghost to Reuben, Why abidest thou amongst the Sheepfolds to hear the bleatings of the Flock; and why did Dan remain in Ships; there was a great cause a foot, Zebulon and Naphtali came forth, but as for Asher they abode in the Creeks, Dan in the Ships, and Reuben abode among the Sheep-folds to hear the bleatings &c. that is, says Peter Martyr, ¹Plus pecudum balatu, quam Reipublicae cura; they were taken with their own particular interest, more then with the public concernments. Do I therefore mind my own particular interest more then the public concernment, and in times of public concernments or calamities, do I seek to raise my self and to get a place, a preferment, and great things in this world, then am I carnal. Yet thus even thus it is with many Professors at this day. Why; because they are carnal; possibly then great Professors may be