Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons

1. Though you must do Gods work withal your might, yet your moderation must be known unto all men; Some will not let Gods work pass through their hands, but they will have some toll for their own interest. Joshua did not so, he conquered the land of Canaan, and when he came to divide it, what a little Thong did he cut out of that Leather for himself and Family; Some will not do Gods work, but they will carry it on with their own passion. It's said of Scanderbeg, that great Soldier, that when he spake sometimes of Christ, he would be so earnest that the blood would spurt out of his lips: But as Gods grace has no need of our sin, so his work hath no need of our passions; Though therefore you do the work of the Lord with all your might, yet you are to manage it with mildness and sweetness, therein also your moderation is to be known to all.

1. Though you must do Gods work withall your might, yet your moderation must be known unto all men; Some will not let Gods work pass through their hands, but they will have some tole for their own interest. Joshua did not so, he conquered the land of Canaan, and when he came to divide it, what a little Thong did he cut out of that Leather for himself and Family; Some will not do Gods work, but they will carry it on with their own passion. It's said of Scanderbeg, that great Souldier, that when he spake sometimes of Christ, he would be so earnest that the bloud would spirt out of his lips: But as Gods grace has no need of our sin, so his work hath no need of our passions; Though therefore you do the work of the Lord with all your might, yet you are to manage it with mildness and sweetness, therein also your moderation is to be known to all.

2. Though you do the work of your hand with all your might, yet you must not look upon the success of your work as the fruit of your hand, but of Gods hand; when Israel went out against Amaleck, Moses lift up his hands, and Israel prevailed; then Joshua built an Altar, and called it Jehovah-nissi; for says the Text, Exod. 17.15. The Lord hath sworn that he will have war with Amaleck; but ver. 16. in the Hebrew, as the Margin tells, It is the hand on the Throne of the Lord, and why says Glassius, is it said the hand on the throne of the Lord, but to show that this victory was not from Moses hand, though it was a praying hand, but from Gods hand. Luther tells us of Staupitius, that when he came to his Government he said, I will govern according to Law; But when he saw that his Government did not succeed, then he said I will govern according to the customs of the place; When he saw that succeeded not, then said he, I will govern by the Scripture; When he saw that succeeded not well, then said he, I will do what I can according to Scripture and Law, and leave the success unto God; and then his Government prospered. And you see how it is with a Child, a Father bids him do this or that which he knows the child cannot do; therefore he secretly puts his own hand to the work, and he praises his child, and the child thinks that his hand did it. So here God bids us do his work, with all our might, & we do so & have success in the work, and we think the success is the fruit of our hand, whereas in truth it is the fruit of our fathers hand. Mark therefore what follows in the next words to the Text, in this verse saith Solomon, Whatever thou findest in thy hand to do,