A29371:747
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.
Surely he will, and therefore, though these distractions do crowd in upon you, here is matter of affliction, but not of Discouragement.
Surely he will, and therefore, though these distractions do croud in upon you, here is matter of affliction, but not of Discouragement.
Thirdly: If these distractions in Duties, do move the Lord to pity; then thou hast no reason to be quite discouraged, though humbled under these distractions. Ye know how it is with a loving Father; a Father hath a Son whom he loves dearly, this Child of his is crazy-brained,; but be hath his Lucida intervalla, and he will speak very good reason sometimes, his Father loves to ⟨p. 102⟩hear this Child speak, when he speaks reason; but all on a sudden the Child is out; What then? doth his Father hate him for that? No, but the bowels of the man yearns, O! now my Child is out; then the Fathers heart doth ache over this Child whom he takes pleasure in. Thus it is between God and a poor soul, God loves his Children dearly,1 he loves to hear them pray, Let me hear thy voice, and see thy face, saith Christ, for thy voice is sweet, and thy countenance is comely. God loves to hear his Children pray, but every foot they are out; in, and then out again; out, and then in again: But what then? is the Lord moved hereby to destroy his Children? No, but now the heart of your Father aches, and now his bowels yearn: Shall there be bowels in the heart of an Earthly Father this way? and shall there not be bowels in the heart of God our Heavenly Father this way? Surely there is. Well therefore, though in regard of thy distractions, thou hast cause for ever to be humbled, ye certainly thou hast no cause to be quite discouraged.
Thirdly: If these destractions in Duties, do move the Lord to pity; then thou hast no reason to be quite discouraged, though humbled under these distractions. Ye know how it is with a loving Father; a Father hath a Son whom he loves dearly, this Child of his is crazy-brained,; but be hath his Lucida intervalla, and he will speak very good reason somtimes, his Father loves to