A29372:34
Seasonable truths in evil-times in several sermons / lately preached in and about London
Seasonable truths in evil-times in several sermons / lately preached in and about London by William Bridge, late preacher of the word of God at Yarmouth.Seasonable truths in evil-times in several sermons / lately preached in and about London by Willam Bridge, late preacher of the word of God at Yarmouth.
London: printed for Nath. Crouch, 1668
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
But besides, good people do mistake because of their ignorance, whereby they call that sin which is grace, and that grace which is sin. Thus I mean: it's a great sin […] a man to doubt of Gods love, and to lie down upon his face, and to be discouraged, as if there were no hope for him in God: why many that are weak now, they look upon this as a great virtue, to doubt of their condition, and to call all into question: afterwards they are freed from these doubtings, and so they do grow in grace: but because they do look upon these doubtings as marks of virtue, they think because they have lost these, that now they are quite declined, whereas indeed they are grown in grace.
But besides, good people do mistake because of their ignorance, whereby they call that sin which is grace, and that grace which is sin. Thus I mean: it's a great sin 〈…〉 a man to doubt of Gods love, and to lie down upon his face, and to be discouraged, as if there were no hope for him in God: why many that are weak now, they look upon this as a great vertue, to doubt of their condition, and to call all into question: afterwards they are freed from these doubtings, and so they do grow in grace: but because they do look upon these doubtings as marks of vertue, they think because they have lost these, that now they are quite declined, whereas indeed they are grown in grace.
But secondly, in answer to this, you must know that our Christian growth is fourfold.
1. There is a growth of affection. 2. Growth in extension. 3. Growth in regard of firmness and rootedness. ⟨p. 13⟩4. And g•••th in regard of spiritualness.