A29371:740
I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet.…
I. Scripture-light the most sure light ... delivered in three sermons on 2 Pet. I. 19 : II. Christ in travel ... in three sermons on Isai. 53. 11 : III. A lifting up for the down-cast ... delivered in thirteen sermons on Psal. 42, 11 : four several sermons ... / preached by William Bridge ...
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1656
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.
Fourthly: It is usual with the Lord to restrain Prayer, before he doth give enlargement, and to make a man speechless before he openeth his Mou•h: Luke, 1. we read so of Zechariah, a gracious and holy man, at the 67. verse, it is said of him, that, He was filled with the Holy Ghost, and he prophesied. Yet if you look into the former part of the Chapter, you shall find, that before he was thus filled with the Holy Ghost, and Prophesied, he was ⟨p. 99⟩dumb, and stricken with dumbness; verse 20. saith the Angel to him, And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak: So he continued dumb, before he was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied. It may be here is a further Mystery in this,1 for Zechariah was a Levitical, and a Legal Priest; and our Lord and Saviour Christ being to come into the world immediately, who knows but that Zechariah was thus stricken with dumbness, to show, that the Lord will silence all our Legal Performances, before he will enlarge us with the enlargements of Christ, and of the Gospel. This is Gods usual way with his People. it may be thou hast gone on in Duty in a Legal manner, and now thou art stricken with dumbness; yet if God have a design to discover more of Christ to thy soul, and to enlarge thee with the Enlargements of the Holy Ghost, have you any cause to complain?
Fourthly: It is usual with the Lord to restrain Prayer, before he doth give enlargement, and to make a man speechless before he openeth his Mou•h: Luke, 1. we read so of Zacharias, a gracious and holy man, at the 67. verse, it is said of him, that, He was filled with the Holy Ghost, and he prophesied. Yet if you look into the former part of the Chapter, you shall find, that before he was thus filled with the Holy Ghost, and Prophesied, he was ⟨p. 99⟩dumb, and stricken with dumbness; verse 20. saith the Angel to him, And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak: So he continued dumb, before he was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied. It may be here is a further Mystery in this,