Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons

Seventhly, It will hinder the advance and progress in the ways of God, and knowledge of Christ: For what growth or advance can a people make in their practices, when Ministers cannot advance them in their Preachings. Now says the Apostle here, I could not deliver to you strong meat; why? Because ye are carnal. Wherefore says the Apostle, Would ⟨p. 129⟩you grow in grace? then laying aside all malice and superfluity of naughtiness, as new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. How is it therefore with me? Am I a Professor, and yet carnal? Then do I walk contrary unto my Profession; Then am I thereby unfit to do good, or receive good; Then am I fit to take, and to give offence; Then may I dishonour God more by the carnality of my profession, then I may honour him by my profession; Yea, and thereby do I expose my self to the temptations of Satan, and the world. Then shall I lose the sweetness of Christian Communion, and be kept from growth in Grace. Surely therefore it is an evil thing, and very evil for the Professors of the Gospel to be carnal; yet this may be possibly in great Professors, Members of Churches, and men of great parts and gifts, and a good man too may be very carnal; such were these Corinthians: Possibly therefore, a man may be a great Professor, yet he may be very carnal. That s the Doctrine.

Seventhly, It will hinder the advance and progress in the ways of God, and knowledge of Christ: For what growth or advance can a people make in their practices, when Ministers cannot advance them in their Preachings. Now says the Apostle here, I could not deliver to you strong meat; why? Because ye are carnal. Wherefore says the Apostle, Would ⟨p. 129⟩you grow in grace? then laying aside all malice and superfluity of naughtiness, as new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. How is it therefore with me? Am I a Professor, and yet carnal? Then do I walk contrary unto my Profession; Then am I thereby unfit to do good, or receive good; Then am I fit to take, and to give offence; Then may I dishonour God more by the carnality of my profession, then I may honor him by my profession; Yea, and thereby do I expose my self to the temptations of Satan, and the world. Then shall I lose the sweetness of Christian Communion, and be kept from growth in Grace. Surely therefore it is an evil thing, and very evil for the Professors of the Gospel to be carnal; yet this may be possibly in great Professours, Members of Churches, and men of great parts and gifts, and a good man too may be very carnal; such were these Corinthians: Possibly therefore, a man may be a great Professor, yet he may be very carnal. That s the Doctrine.