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

Is it not a comfortable thing, for a man to know, that his Duties are not lost? that his Prayer is not lost? that his Hearing the word is not lost? that his Searching the Scriptures is not lost? that his Conference, and Communion is not lost? A man is unwilling to lose any thing: and the more precious it is, the more unwilling to lose it. If we have a venture at Sea; we are unwilling to lose our venture: and the greater our venture is, the more unwilling to lose it. If a man have but a quarter of his Estate in a vessel, he is unwilling to lose it; more unwilling if he have half his Estate; most if he have all, and his children there in the vessel too. Now as men are unwilling to lose their worldly venture: So, a man that is sensible of his soul, is very unwilling to lose his souls venture; to lose his Prayers, and to lose all his Duties. (Friends) here's an Insuring-Office; The Lord Jesus Christ is our great Insurer in this respect: and he doth as he is our High-Priest, offering up our Gifts unto God the Father, assure us that none is lost, not any lost. Indeed, if we had such an High-Priest, as were not able to take notice of the Circumstances of our Duties, much might be lost: but, this our Lord Christ, our great High-Priest, doth not only take notice of our Duty what ever it be; but of all the Circumstances of our Duties, and so presents them unto God the Father, in the full latitude, in all the gracious Circumstances of them. Therefore saith he, unto the Angel of the Church of Pergamos in the 2. of the Revelation, and the 13. verse; I know thy works. Why, but Lord, though thou doest know our works, yet it may be thou doest not take notice where our work is done: Lord, it may be thou doest take notice of my Prayer, but Lord, thou doest not take notice where I dwell, and live, and in what family I do pray unto thee; Lord, I am in a wicked, and a wretched family, that does oppose Prayer: Lord, may be thou doest take notice of my Prayer, but thou doest not take notice, of this Circumstance: Yes, (says he) I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is. Well, and thou holdest fast my Name, and hast ⟨p. 66⟩not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. It's remarkable, The Lord Jesus Christ takes notice, not only of our Duty;

Is it not a comfortable thing, for a man to know, that his Duties are not lost? that his Prayer is not lost? that his Hearing the word is not lost? that his Searching the Scriptures is not lost? that his Conference, and Communion is not lost? A man is unwilling to lose any thing: and the more precious it is, the more unwilling to lose it. If we have a venture at Sea; we are unwilling to lose our venture: and the greater our venture is, the more unwilling to lose it. If a man have but a quarter of his Estate in a vessel, he is unwilling to lose it; more unwilling if he have half his Estate; most if he have all, and his children there in the vessel too. Now as men are unwilling to lose their worldly venture: So, a man that is sensible of his soul, is very unwilling to lose his souls venture; to lose his Prayers, and to lose all his Duties. (Friends) here's an Insuring-Office; The Lord Jesus Christ is our great Insurer in this respect: and he doth as he is our High-Priest, offering up our Gifts unto God the Father, assure us that none is lost, not any lost. Indeed, if we had such an High-Priest, as were not able to take notice of the Circumstances of our Duties, much might be lost: but, this our Lord Christ, our great High-Priest, doth not only take notice of our Duty what ever it be; but of all the Circumstances of our Duties, and so presents them unto God the Father, in the full latitude, in all the gracious Circumstances of them. Therefore saith he, unto the Angel of the Church of Pergamos in the 2. of the Revelation, and the 13. verse; I know thy works. Why, but Lord, though thou doest know our works, yet it may be thou doest not take notice where our work is done: Lord, it may be thou doest take notice of my Prayer, but Lord, thou doest not take notice where I dwell, and live, and in what family I do pray unto thee; Lord, I am in a wicked, and a wretched family, that does oppose Prayer: Lord, may be thou doest take notice of my Prayer, but thou doest not take notice, of this Circumstance: Yes, (saies he) I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satans seat is. Well, and thou holdest fast my Name, and hast