A29372:400
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.
Sermon 4: The two Witnesses, their Testimony.Sermon 4: The two VVitnesses, their Testimony.
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 when did the Roman Empire fall asunder into ten Kingdoms? About the year 400. 'Tis observed by good Historians, and divers, that in the year 406. Brittany and these Nations fell off from the Roman Empire, to be a Kingdom standing by it self.—Now then, if the time did begin about 400. surely the end of the time we must needs be about. I confess indeed: It is a sad thing for Christ's Witnesses to lie in Sackcloth; and to lie in Sackcloth 1260. years, but so it must be, not a day abated, but to a year, to a day. Why should you be offended friends then, at the Sackcloth and mourning condition of the Church, and Saints, and ⟨p. 115⟩People of God?—Why, is not this the habit of the Witnesses, Sackcloth: and will not you be content to be habited as they are habited, as Christ's Witnesses are habited, to wear the same clothes that Christ's Witnesses do? And if Christ's Witnesses shall lie in Sackcloth 1260. years, will not you be contented to be in Sackcloth three or four years? Christians, will not you be contented to be in Sackcloth three or four years? Me thinks we should rather look to the duty of a Sackcloth condition; there should our hearts and our thoughts be: But we are very apt evermore, (and consider what I say, not only in reference to this point, but to others) we are very apt to mind Gods work, and neglect our own: 'Tis Gods work to ful••l the Promise, 'tis our work to apply the Promise; but we mind the fulfilling on't, and neglect the applying on't; mind Gods work, and neglect our own work!
'Tis Gods work to deliver his people, 'tis their work to be humbled under the mighty hand of God: But we mind deliverance, which is Gods work, and neglect our own work, humiliation under the mighty hand of God.
'Tis Gods work (saith the Martyr) to take care, 'tis our work to cast care: Cast all your care upon God; there's your work: for he careth for you, that's Gods work. To take care is Gods work, to cast care is our work, but we mind Gods work, and are taking care, and neglect our own work, which is to cast all our care upon God.