Bridge's remains, being VIII sermons

Yea fifthly, Thereby also you will be able to answer unto your Temptations, especially that great Temptation that lies so hard upon some. You are now in a good condition; but suppose it were so and so with you! What would you do then? Why, if ye have resigned your self unto God, you'll be able to say, I do not know what may befall me; but I am sure nothing shall come amiss; for I have resigned my self and my Will unto God. Thus this holy Resignation is (ye see) an In-let to many g aces and duties.

Yea fifthly, Thereby also you will be able to answer unto your Temptations, especially that great Temptation that lies so hard upon some. You are now in a good condition; but suppose it were so and so with you! What would you do then? Why, if ye have resigned your self unto God, you'l be able to say, I do not know what may befall me; but I am sure nothing shall come amiss; for I have resigned my self and my Will unto God. Thus this holy Resignation is (ye see) an In-let to many g aces and duties.

Thirdly, As it is an In-let unto many graces; So it is an In-let also unto many comforts; yea indeed, unto all our comforts: For what comfort can a man have in himself or condition, till he hath truly resigned and given up himself, and Soul, and Will unto God; but being done, ye may freely go about your business. If a man have a Suit in Law, and have left his Cause in the hand of an able careful friend and Lawyer, he is quiet: Much more may we be quiet, when we have left and lodged our Case, and Way, and Soul with God. Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established, Prov. 16.3. Not thy business and works, but thy thoughts shall be then at rest. Do not all things rest in their Centre? And is not God our Centre? The more indifferently that a mans heart is carried out ⟨p. 170⟩towards changes, the more quiet and sedate is his spirit. Now when a man hath resigned himself up to God, then he will be more indifferent unto all conditions. The private Soldier doth march indifferently, this way or that way, at the command of his Leader; Why? Because he hath resigned up himself to the wisdom of his Commander. The Sheep is indifferently led into this Pasture, or the other; Why? Because resigned up to the will of the Shepherd. So if our Souls be truly resigned up to God, we shall be indifferently carried to this or that Pasture: for we are the sheep of Christ. I remember a notable speech that Luther had to Melanchthon; Melanchthon being much troubled about the affairs of the Churches, and the low estate of the same, Luther wrote a Letter to him; and in that Letter he hath this expression; Thou art much troubled and afflicted, O Melancthon; et Philip is to be admonished and desired to leave governing the world: