A77355:246
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.
For Answer, Answ. 1 It is a hard thing (sometimes) unto a Christian for to discern-this Blessing of Christ. Ye can see the Boughs, ⟨p. 84⟩Fruit, Body, Bark of the Tree; but if ye will see the Root, ye must dig, and take pains for to see it: it's an easy thing to see the Leaves, &c. but if you would see the Root, ye must dig and take pains for it. This Blessing of Jesus Christ, it is the Root of all; and if you will see this, you must dig and take pains to see it, it does not lie open to every ones view. The Lord Jesus Christ our High-Priest, does not Bless as man blesses; and so his Blessing is very much hidden from our eyes; he does not bless as we do; he does not bless as the world does: if the world sees a Rich man, it pronounces him blessed: Oh! there's a blessed man, and there's a happy man! what an excellent Dwelling hath he, how healthful! his Table is spread &c. The world blesses Rich men, pronounces them Happy and blessed. But our Lord Jesus Christ, he does as Jacob did; when Joseph brought his two Sons to Jacob to be blest by him; he set Ephraim the younger at the left hand of Jacob; and he set Manasseh the elder at the right hand of Jacob; that Jacob might give the right-hand blessing to the Elder, and the left-hand blessing to the Younger: but when Joseph had set them thus before Jacob, Jacob crosses hands, and he turns the right-hand blessing to the Younger. So, two men are brought before Christ; a Rich man (it may be) and a Poor man: and in the eye of the world, the Rich man must carry the blessing: Oh! but our Lord Christ, he crosses hands, and he lays the blessing upon the younger brother many times. And so in regard of Ordinances. Two sorts of Ordinances are brought before Christ; Gods Ordinance, and Mans Ordinance; and Mans Ordinance, in the eye of the world, is the Elder brother, and Gods Ordinance the Younger brother; and both these are brought before Christ for a blessing, and the Ordinance of Man is set at the right hand of Christ by the world; but the Lord Christ, he crosses hands, and he lays the blessing upon the younger brother in this respect. And so, two men are brought before him; a proud Pharisee, and a poor broken-hearted sinner; the Pharisee comes unto the right-hand of Christ, & thinks for ⟨p. 85⟩to carry the blessing:
For Answer, Answ. 1 It is a hard thing (sometimes) unto a Christian for to discern-this Blessing of Christ. Ye can see the Boughs,