A29369:434
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 7: Soul-Resignation, Into the hands of God.
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. 1. It is not to be done slightly and overly, but seriously and solemnly. It is an ordinary thing with men to say, The will of the Lord be done. Gods will be done, and the like. But it is one thing for a man to be indifferent in a business, saying, The will of the Lord be done; and another thing for a man to give up himself and will effectually unto God. It is one thing for a man to do this in a slight and general way, saying, The will of the Lord be done; and another thing, to make a distinct and clear Resignation of his will to the will of God in particular things. Look into Scripture, and ye shall find, that wherever this work was done truly, it was done solemnly, and seriously.
Answ. 1. It is not to be done sleightly and overly, but seriously and solemnly. It is an ordinary thing with men to say, The will of the Lord be done. Gods will be done, and the like. But it is one thing for a man to be indifferent in a business, saying, The will of the Lord be done; and another thing for a man to give up himself and will effectually unto God. It is one thing for a man to do this in a sleighty and general way, saying, The will of the Lord be done; and another thing, to make a distinct and clear Resignation of his will to the will of God in particular things. Look into Scripture, and ye shall find, that wherever this work was done truly, it was done solemnly, and seriously.
Secondly, As this work is not to be done slightly and overly; So neither is it to be done forcedly and lastly, but freely and firstly. The first thing I do, I must commit my self, and cause, and will unto God. If a City or Town be besieged, it yields and resigns at the last, because it can hold out no longer: But this Resignation is a forced work; the Resignation of our selves and wills unto God is not such. When Pharaoh could stand out no longer, then he resigned up the Israelites: And so when men can hold out no longer, then they say, Well, it is the will of God that this thing should be; wherefore now the will of the Lord be done. When they can do no other, Then they resign up the thing and themselves unto God. But this true Resignation is done freely and firstly, not forcedly, and at last.