A77355:227
The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel College in CambridgeThe works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge
The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel College in Cambridge; now preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth. The first volume. Viz. I. The great Gospel-mystery of the saints comfort and holiness, opened and applied from Christs priestly office. II. Satan's power to tempt; and Christs love to, and care of his people under temptation. III. Thankfulness required in every condition.The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge; now preacher of the Word of God at Yarmouth. The first volume. Viz. I. The great Gospel-mysterie of the saints comfort and holinesse, opened and applyed from Christs priestly office. II. Satans power to tempt; and Christs love to, and care of his people under temptation. III. Thankfulnesse required in every condition.
London: printed for Peter Cole, 1649
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.
First If ye ask me, What the Blessing of Christ, Quest. 1 and of the Gospel is; and wherein it consists?
First If ye aske me, What the Blessing of Christ, Quest. 1 and of the Gospel is; and wherein it consists?
I answer First in the General, That the Blessing of the Gospel, Answ. and of Christ, consisteth in Spiritual things especially, and not in Temporal. And therefore saith the Apostle, in that 1. of the Ephesians, and the 3. verse: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us, with all Spiritual blessings, in Heavenly places in Christ. The Curse, and Judgments of God, that do befall men now under the Gospel, are not in outward afflictions, and bodily troubles so much; as in Spiritual miseries, Blindness of mind, and Hardness of heart: And so also on the contrary, the blessing of the Gospel, doth not consist much in Outward things, as in Spiritual, Who hath blessed us with Spiritual blessings. Indeed, if we look into the old Testament we ⟨p. 78⟩shall find, That when Moses did bless the people, he blest them much in Temporal blessings. in the 28. of Deuteronomy, and the 2. verse. All these things shall come upon thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God. What blessings are those? Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field: blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep: blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. Thus he goes on in outward blessings. But now, if we look into the Gospel, and consider the blessings of Jesus Christ, and lay them together with Moses, we shall find them to be Spiritual blessings. In the 5. of Matthew, and the 3. verse, &c. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their's is the Kingdom of Heaven: Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Indeed the promise of the earth comes is at the 5. vers; but he returns again to Spiritual blessings: Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled. Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God. Here are Spiritual blessings; this is the stream of the Gospel, it runs this way. When the Lord blesseth a man, he gives him that which is suitable to him. In the times of the Gospel, men are more Spiritual than they were in the times of the Law; therefore Gospel-blessings, they are Spiritual blessings. Every thing gives, and communicates to another, according to what it hath it self: The Sun communicates light unto the world; because it hath light it self: