The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel College in CambridgeThe works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge

We know how it was with Nicodemus, Answ. and the woman that came trembling, and touched the hem of Christs garment. And we must know that in every duty, that we do perform, there are Two things: There is the Sacrifice; and there is the Obedience in offering the Sacrifice. Though the Sacrifice may be imperfect, yet your Obedience in offering the Sacrifice, may be perfect, with Gospel-perfection. 'Tis in regard of our Duties, as in regard of our Persons; never think that God will deal otherwise with our Duties, than he deals with our Persons. The Lord ⟨p. 64⟩came and justified the ungodly, when he justified you: He comes, and he finds a poor soul in a sinful condition, & he imputes his righteousness unto that soul, and justifies an ungodly one, not justifying him so, as to go on in sin; it is the word of the Apostle, He justifies the ungodly. So the Lord comes, and finds a great deal of ungodliness in your Duty, and he imputes his righteousness unto that Duty; and he justifies the Duty, which in your eye is an ungodly duty. This indeed is the wonder of all, that he should deal thus by us: For, did we ever hear of any garment, that would make the crooked straight? If a man have a crooked back; come and put velvet upon him, silk, scarlet upon him, it may make him handsomer, but it will not change his back, and make him strait. But when the Lord Christ comes, he finds all our souls crook-backed, as it were, and he puts on his righteousness, and this garment makes that that was crooked to become strait; it makes the very crook-backed Duty, to become a strait Duty. Did we ever hear, or read, of any Seal, that when it was set upon the wax, would change the wax into gold, or into silver like the seal? it may leave it's impression, but it does not change the wax into it's own metal. If there be a stamp set upon silver, or gold, the metal remains as it was before: But if a stamp be set upon brass, it don't make it silver; or if it be set upon silver, it don't make it gold. I but when the Lord Jesus Christ comes unto a Duty, and sets his own stamp, and his own righteousness upon a Duty, that which was brass before; full of failings, and much unrighteousness before, changes it into gold, into silver. He only hath the Philosophers stone (as I may so speak) all that Christ touches turns into gold; turns all our Duties into gold:

We know how it was with Nicodemus, Answ. and the woman that came trembling, and touched the hem of Christs garment. And we must know that in every duty, that we do performe, there are Two things: There is the Sacrifice; and there is the Obedience in offering the Sacrifice. Though the Sacrifice may be imperfect, yet your Obedience in offering the Sacrifice, may be perfect, with Gospel-perction. 'Tis in regard of our Duties, as in regard of our Persons; never think that God will deal otherwise with our Duties, than he deals with our Persons. The Lord