A29369:326
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.
Sermons › Sermon 5: THE CARNALITY OF Professors.Sermons › Sermon 5: THE CARNALITY OF Professours.
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.
Answ. Yes, much if Professors be Godly, for all Professors are not Godly. For though a Professing good man may labour under much carnality, and be too fleshly, yet he is not born after the flesh; for saith the Ap stle Paul, Abraham had two sons, Galat. 4.22. The one by a Bond-woman, the other by a free-woman, but he who was of the bond-woman, was born after the flesh, but he of the free-woman, by the promise. Which things are an Allegory, for ⟨p. 122⟩these are the two Covenants; that is, the legal Covenant, and the Covenant of grace. Now we brethren, saith he, verse 28. as Isaac was, are the children of Promise. We are born after the promise the promise comes and works grace in us; we are regenerated and born again by the word of the promise; and therefore though these children of Abraham may labour under much carnality; yet they are not born after the flesh, as carnal, unregenerate men are, who are the children of the bond woman, and belong to the legal Covenant.
2ly, Though Professing good men may be very carnal, yet there is a grace and goodness that doth run along therewithal, for they are the smoking flax, and though there may be much smoke and carnality that may offend the eyes of beholders; yet there is a fire of grace and zeal that runs out therewithal. What a smoke did Jonah make when he ran away from God, and was froward and peevish even with God himself? But though therein he was very carnal, yet still there was a grace and goodness that did go along therewith.
2ly, Though Professing good men may be very carnal, yet there is a grace and goodness that doth run along therewithall, for they are the smoking flax, and though there may be much smoke and carnality that may offend the eyes of beholders; yet there is a fire of grace and zeal that runs out therewithall. What a smoke did Jonah make when he ran away from God, and was froward and peevish even with God himself? But though therein he was very carnal, yet still there was a grace and goodness that did go along therewith.